Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Ideal Type
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While Yeo So-cheon was out buying liquor, I waited for her in our room at the inn.
Sure, part of it was my own laziness, but the main reason was that her face wasn't as notorious as mine.
Well, to be precise, no one could even see my face, so it couldn't be recognized—but there was no other mysterious figure in the Central Plains cloaked in a suspicious mantle shrouded in unnatural darkness, their features completely hidden.
And with my description plastered all across the region, stepping outside?
Anyone with halfway decent eyes would spot me as the infamous Faceless Golden Ghost in an instant.
The same went for renting the room.
Like most inns, the first floor was a rowdy tavern scene, with rooms for lodging starting on the second floor.
Getting past the first floor unscathed was the real trick.
So when I rented the room, I'd taken off the cloak before going in.
I had other ways to hide my face besides the cloak, after all.
[Phantom's Mask]
It was an item I hadn't used much since buying the Hermit's Cloak, but I remembered using it to conceal my face while training under Dang Ayoung.
The mask never came off unless the wearer willed it, and while it was more conspicuous than the Hermit's Cloak, it beat showing my bare face.
My master had told me to keep my face hidden at all times, anyway.
'...Though I've already been exposed plenty of times.'
It felt a bit late for precautions now, but better to cover up a little more where I could.
That's what I figured.
'...Come to think of it, is all this trouble because my face got exposed?'
Lately, it seemed like I'd been through more hardships than usual. Maybe that was why.
She'd warned me my face would bring me grief.
Anyway, having someone else buy the booze while I waited in the room was a first for me.
Usually, I'd fetch it myself or have it prepped ahead. Sitting here twiddling my thumbs for liquor? Unheard of.
'I wonder if Yeo So-cheon even knows good stuff... Should've told her to grab whatever tasted best.'
-Rattle!
"I'm back!"
-Thud!
Yeo So-cheon burst into the room lugging a massive crate.
Expecting maybe three or four bottles, the sheer scale left me stunned.
"...That's all booze?"
"Huh? Yeah. You said to buy a lot."
Counting now, it was ten bottles.
Considering how potent Central Plains liquor tended to be, that was... no, downright brutal.
For just two people, ten bottles could fill your belly with nothing but alcohol.
Hell, you might burst from it.
"...Can we even drink all that?"
"You're the one drinking it."
"Huh?"
"What? Don't you hold your liquor?"
No, even a heavy drinker had limits.
Ten bottles, no snacks?
With this little body?
Even shoving most on her, I'd still have to down six or seven.
'Yesterday she crushed my dick, so today she's going for my liver?'
Working her way up, next might be my heart.
I sighed and hauled the crate next to the table where I'd set out cups in advance.
Fine. Whatever. Ten bottles.
With this freakishly booze-proof body of mine, it was doable.
Last time with the Sword Empress at the tavern, I'd probably knocked back about ten, too.
My memory cut out midway, but yeah, something like that.
So, ten bottles? Totally manageable...
-Thud
"...Aren't these bottles kinda big?"
"Huh? That's just how they gave them to me."
"What'd you order?"
"The expensive ones, ten bottles, in sequence."
Staring at the oversized bottles—bigger than standard—I started worrying she'd been dumped with some shady stock.
.
.
.
Thankfully, that wasn't the case.
-Gulp!
"Urgh..."
The sharp, throat-stinging burn of alcohol flooded my mouth and spread through my body.
How long had it been since I'd felt this?
At least a month, I figured.
"Yeah... this is it... this is life..."
"...It just tastes bitter."
"Life's supposed to be bitter."
"...Hearing that from someone way younger than me feels... profoundly weird."
-Sip
Yeo So-cheon grimaced and sipped daintily from her cup.
Not even a big cup, and she was nursing it like that?
"That's no way to treat good liquor! What's with the tiny sips when we've got so much?"
"Pfft. As long as I finish it all, who cares..."
"This is why liquor newbies are..."
At least the Sword Empress listened when I spoke up.
Being in similar positions, comparisons were inevitable.
Getting raped by both of them? From this angle, it sounded like some epic feat—but I had zero interest in achievements like that.
Unlike Yeo So-cheon, the Sword Empress had only been trying to heal me.
"Still, you picked some damn fine booze."
-Gulp
And yeah, it tasted better than expected.
I'd suspected the tavern keeper offloading junk, but no—these were premium bottles too pricey for a regular spot.
Probably cleared out some dead stock while she was there. Win-win: they dump unsold booze, we score top-shelf for cheap.
Everyone happy.
"Liquor saves the world..."
"...You know your personality gets weird when you drink, right?"
"Dunno... just feels good..."
Had Yeo So-cheon ever drunk with me before?
'Whatever... she probably divined it.'
I let the buzz wash over me, relaxing into it.
Maybe she didn't like seeing me so loose?
"...Still, when drinking with a lady, you should at least focus on her."
Yeo So-cheon grumbled and refilled my empty cup.
The clear liquid glugged in.
-Drip
"Huh."
"Downed it already..."
As she bent for another from the crate, spotting the empty:
"W-Wait a sec!"
"?"
"Th-That bottle... save it for last."
"Eh...?"
"Th-The tavern guy said it was their priciest, best one! Don't you save the good stuff for the finale?"
"Oh..."
Never crossed my mind.
I grinned dopily and grabbed a different bottle.
"Perfect attitude! End on a high note—nothing beats wrapping up buzzed and happy!"
"R-Right? That's what I thought!"
"Heh..."
-Clink
Halfway through—maybe a bit more—and the buzz was hitting hard.
Just a stupid, grinning good mood.
I could suppress it with internal energy, but...
Somehow, Yeo So-cheon's flushed face looked all the prettier.
.
.
.
"Last bottle!"
-Thud!
After polishing off the ninth, I bounced on my toes, eager for the finale.
How good could it be to save it for last?
Among these pricey ones, it had to be killer.
"L-Let me pour. Gimme your cup."
Yeo So-cheon took my cup, poured into both hers and mine.
"Pour awaaay!"
I waited, hands out, practically drooling.
She stared solemnly at the two full cups before her.
"...One question before we drink."
"After?"
"N-No. Answer first."
"...Fine, hurry up!"
Desperate for that booze, I rushed her.
"...Do you think my personality's weird?"
"Huh?"
Her unexpectedly serious tone made me tilt my head.
"I know it, okay? Kinda childish... brash... snappy... dishonest... hard to talk to."
"Uh... yeah...?"
"So... if you don't like it... I'll try to change. Be honest. You like the Sword Empress type, right? Looks and all."
"Hmm..."
I tilted my head the other way at her words.
Change her personality?
"No real need, I think."
"Huh?"
"Personality doesn't flip overnight on a whim. Sounds like you've been this way for twenty years. Why change now?"
"B-But you..."
"The Sword Empress type isn't exactly my ideal, either."
She looked flustered. Honestly, so was I.
Why'd she assume that?
"R-Really?"
"Yeah... She's cool, great personality, kind... but ideal...? Not quite...?"
I'd never really thought about an ideal type.
Back with my master, she was the only person I saw.
After, I figured I'd return to the mountains anyway—no dreams of romance.
"Th-Then what's your type?"
"Hmm... Never really pondered it, but..."
First thing that popped up:
"Someone who doesn't deceive me...?"
"..."
"Most important thing. Lies are bad. Not that I'm one to talk."
"....."
Maybe the alcohol fog? Thoughts weren't flowing.
"And... doesn't leave me alone...?"
"Hmm..."
Yeo So-cheon wore a complicated expression—deep in thought, or maybe guilt?
"There. Happy? Gimme—head's spinning..."
As I reached for my cup:
-Clack!
She snatched both with both hands.
-Gulp gulp!
"Ah?!"
My long-awaited prize, stolen before my eyes.
"Cough cough... W-Wait... lemme explain."
"...Explain what."
"Th-The truth... this bottle's laced... I slipped in the meds from the inn."
"Why?!"
"S-Sorry! I just... lost control of my urges for a sec..."
She spilled the story in a panic.
She'd swiped the leftover aphrodisiac from the inn and dosed the booze to feed me.
Wait a minute.
"But then what about you drinking it?"
"Ah."
"..."
Buzzed, body and mind unraveling.
In this state, I had seconds to escape Yeo So-cheon.
If I wanted to wake up safe tomorrow morning.