A Night to Remember
Back at Wolfsrein Headquarters, they stopped by the first-floor mart to grab beer and snacks before heading up to the dorms.
"So this is what a guys' room looks like. The window's all glass? Whoa, check out the view."
Yoon Ji-young looked around the room in wonder as she spoke.
"Not all of them are like this. This one's at the end, so it gets the view." Taemin gave a quick explanation, then set up the table in the middle of the room and unpacked their haul. From beer to soju and whiskey, plus a full spread of side dishes—it was a proper feast.
Yoon Ji-young stared at it all, unable to make sense of it no matter how hard she tried.
"But why'd you buy so much? It's just the two of us. How are we supposed to finish all this?"
"Whatever's left, we can eat later." Taemin shrugged it off casually as he mixed half a glass of soju with half a glass of beer and handed it to her. She couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"What, you expect me to drink this?"
"Huh? Too much? This is how I always do it. If you don't want it, give it back. I'll drink it and refill."
As Taemin reached for the glass, she pushed his hand away with a laugh.
"No, it's fine. I'll drink it. Let's eat."
"I knew it from back when you helped me out."
"Knew what?"
"You're the bold type."
"How's that bold?"
"Just a figure of speech. Anyway, cheers."
They both downed their first shots in one go.
"Ahh, hits the spot. Booze is always better with friends."
As Taemin sighed in satisfaction, she refilled his glass and asked, "You hold your liquor well?"
"Me? Decent amount. Like three bottles?"
"Hah, that much?"
"Is that a lot? What about you?"
"Me... soju? One bottle?"
"Hmm. That's a problem. We've gotta polish off at least half of this tonight." Taemin pointed to the lineup of soju and beer bottles by the table. She recoiled in horror.
"How? We can't finish it all. Save it for next time. I'm stopping after one bottle max."
"Fair enough. Too much is bad for you anyway. One more round."
The mood was warm and easygoing as everyday chit-chat flowed between them. Starting with hunter life and hunts, it drifted to the smallest trivialities. Before long, they were trading jokes, feeling even closer.
"Back then, if you hadn't helped, I'd still be struggling with those wild dogs."
"Nah, no way."
"You didn't see me? I went pale at the sight of a Tinkerbell. Scariest moment of my life."
"True, I was freaked out too."
"Those things look terrifying. No way I'd solo one."
She gazed at him warmly as he shuddered dramatically.
"And now look at you, taking down tough ones solo. You've changed so much. I never imagined."
"Same here. Didn't know you were in the guild."
"Me neither."
"Anyway, thanks. I made it this far because of you."
"I'm more grateful. Sitting here drinking like this—it's thanks to you. But what were you thinking, jumping in back then? I heard from others it was a hopeless mess."
"Just instinct?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, really."
He said that, but the truth was Taemin had jumped in because he couldn't bear to lose her. She was his first real benefactor, and from the day they met, spending time with her had sparked strong feelings. Funny enough, he'd already liked her back then. It started as admiration for how amazing she seemed, but her kind heart and stunning looks had shaken him to the core.
But at the time, Taemin had been a total nobody. She was leveling up and joining a guild, while he was a fresh hunter trembling at Tinkerbells.
As the drinking session heated up, their postures started to loosen. Around then, Yoon Ji-young set her glass down.
"I'm done. Feeling tipsy."
"Already? Still so much left."
"Think I overdid it. What time is it?"
Taemin checked his watch. "A bit past eleven. Why? Heading out? Duty's not till afternoon tomorrow."
"Yeah... it's late, and my roommate's sensitive to noise. Better head back before bed."
The vibe was just picking up, so Taemin felt a pang of regret at her leaving.
"Stay a bit longer. Or..."
She tilted her head at his trailing words. "Or?"
"Nah, nothing."
"What? Spit it out. Now I'm curious."
"Just... feels like a waste to end it like this. Who knows when we'll next get a chance."
Yoon Ji-young smiled at his words. "You're the busy one. Out every morning, back at night."
"True, but... fine, let's just finish what's here and call it clean. Sound good? If it's too much, just go."
With him insisting, she nodded reluctantly. "Alright. Just these then. Hate to waste it."
One shot from you, one from me—they polished off what they'd cracked open. Yoon Ji-young's face flushed deeper, way past her limit.
"Ah... gotta hit the bathroom."
"Yeah, hold on."
He kindly opened the bathroom door for her as she wobbled up. Sitting back down, he started tidying the table while waiting.
Soon, she emerged and said to Taemin, "I'm heading out now."
"Huh? Yeah, you good to find your way?"
"Pfft, I'm not that gone."
Still regretting it, Taemin stood to see her off, hoping for next time.
Right then—
"Whoa."
Yoon Ji-young stumbled and toppled toward the floor. Taemin lunged, catching her in his arms.
"You okay?"
"Huh... yeah, just tripped a bit."
"Good."
Taemin tried to help her stand. That's when their eyes met head-on. Her eyes half-lidded from the booze, cheeks rosy, small lips a vivid red—his heart pounded wildly.
Without thinking, Taemin whispered her name.
"Ji-young-ah..."
"Huh?"
"Sorry."
"What are y—mmph?"
His lips pressed to hers. Stunned at first by his boldness, Yoon Ji-young soon melted into it. She felt the same pull toward him, after all.
They shared a sweet kiss, soon tumbling onto the bed.
And so the deep night passed.
* * *
The next morning, Taemin woke with a hangover and instinctively glanced beside him. No sign of her—no trace of the woman he'd shared the bed with after last night's deed(?).
"Gone already? Ugh, my head."
Clutching his throbbing skull, he rolled out of bed and headed to the kitchen for water. His eyes caught on the table—there sat a memo, presumably in Yoon Ji-young's handwriting.
I've made soup in the kitchen. Wanted to make it tasty, but no ingredients. Eat some rice before you head out—;
A smile spread across Taemin's face as he read it. Lifting the pot lid revealed bubbling bean sprouts. Just sprouts and salt, nothing else—but he scarfed down a full bowl of rice with it.
"Tasteless, but why's it so good?"
Grinning nonstop, he slurped the rest of the soup, showered, and was about to do some laundry when his phone rang—Yoon Ji-young.
"Hey, Ji-young-ah."
-You up?
-Eat yet?
"Yeah. That bean sprout soup was killer. Even my mom can't make it like that. Best soup I've ever had."
-Huh? Really? Just sprouts and salt... Didn't have much at home to work with. Stop living on instant ramen—buy stuff and cook properly. They make good lunch packs these days. Or wanna hit the market later?
"Market? Sounds good. But what about border duty?"
-Afternoon shift, so time to spare. Mart opens soon—meet there?
"Sure. But Ji-young-ah."
-Yeah?
"Last night... us. I mean, from today on, we're... that, right?"
-That what?
She sounded clueless, leaving Taemin scrambling for words. It'd been so long since he'd dated, his romance cells were dead.
After agonizing, he squeezed his eyes shut and blurted, "Day 1, right?"
No response. 'Did I misread?' Cold sweat beaded as doubt hit—
-Day 2.
"Right, yeah!"
Taemin's face lit up in relief.
-See you later.
"Yeah."
Hanging up, he flopped onto the bed, silently cheering. He'd given up on dating after 20, but now he had a girlfriend. His ideal woman, no less.
'Yoon Ji-young. I'll love you forever.'
That morning, after shopping with her, he ran into Yoo Hyuk at the plateau entrance on his way out to hunt.
"Oh? Taemin-ssi. Heading out?"
"Hunting."
"Where to?"
"Plateau, obviously. What else?"
"Ah. Free tomorrow by any chance?"
"Why?"
"We snagged a ruin field spot tomorrow. If you could check attributes like last time?"
"Sure, happy to."
Taemin nodded eagerly. Solo grinding the Crystal Plateau wouldn't level him up much anymore. Plus, just checking attributes—no potions or costs.
"What time?"
"By 8 a.m., same spot as before. Got a solid DPS lineup this time—should be faster."
"Got it. See you tomorrow. Good luck."
Buoyed by the unexpected gig, Taemin grinned as he drove to the Crystal Plateau. EXP was meh, but desired items cost a fortune in materials. Had to farm whenever possible to max skill efficiency.
"Alright, let's roll."
Entering the plateau, he activated Arrainba and charged forward at full speed.