Chapter 104: Party (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 104: Party (5)
In front of the Gaon Dormitory.
The limousine door opened quietly.
I slowly stepped out of the car and closed the door.
“Thank you, Knight.”
As I got out, I politely thanked the Knight who had driven me here.
I was supposed to take a Portal back to Gaon, but the Portal Clearance Office had closed because it was so late. Instead, one of Glory's exclusive Knights drove me here personally.
I’d ridden in one several times today alone, but it still felt unfamiliar.
Both riding in a car like this and getting out of it so naturally.
Sigh.
A long sigh escaped me.
I took off my suit jacket and slung it over my shoulder.
This suit, which I thought I had borrowed, was actually a gift from Kang A-rin.
She said she bought it on the spot. The price… I’d rather not know.
The fatigue from the day wasn't just physical.
Of course, for all the exhaustion, I had also gained a lot.
Getting acquainted with the Hero Association President, guild leaders, and other high-ranking officials.
Meeting them face-to-face and exchanging names was a significant achievement.
I’d thought it was an opportunity I wouldn't get until much later in my career.
And above all, meeting Yu Serin on the rooftop…
...that could be considered a huge, unexpected gain.
Seeing her state back then, it was clear she was lost and breaking down.
If a little advice could save someone, then saving them was the right thing to do.
Of course, from here on, the choice is hers.
Whether she’ll stay cooped up in her crumbling nest, living a life of hollow comfort with broken wings until a snake devours her, or leave the nest and spread those wings wide.
I was curious to see what she would do, too.
Lost in thought, I found myself at the dormitory door before I knew it.
Since it was late, I quietly pressed the keypad on the door and stepped inside.
The familiar unlocking chime.
The moment I opened the door, a familiar scent tickled my nose.
“…Huh?”
I stopped in my tracks.
For a second, a chill ran down my spine.
The faint smell of air freshener spreading through the dorm room.
Normally, I wouldn't have thought anything of it.
Given that Gaon students train hard and sweat a lot, the academy even encourages us to use them.
I usually spray some myself after airing out the room before I leave.
So I thought that's why it always smelled like this.
But this morning, I definitely didn't spray any.
I was in a hurry, so I just aired the room out and left.
“…”
I quietly scanned the room.
It was as tidy as usual.
The things on my desk were untouched, the bed was neatly made—nothing was out of place.
“…I must be imagining things.”
I muttered to myself, draping my suit jacket over a chair.
The scent of the air freshener was a little bothersome, but what kind of thief breaks into a dorm room just to spray some and leave?
Besides, this is Gaon.
The dorms are completely protected by Magitech devices.
Only a limited number of people can get in.
To get past them, you’d either have to live in this building…
…or be powerful enough to ignore the security completely.
Just thinking about it made my head throb.
A wave of exhaustion washed over me.
The effects of the alcohol were starting to hit me all at once.
I flopped right onto my bed.
“…Whatever, I’m just going to sleep.”
I closed my eyes.
And just like that, I quickly fell asleep.
*
“Ugh.”
My head was throbbing a little.
I didn't even drink that much wine, but I felt strangely sluggish.
Maybe it was because I had it with beer.
Stretching, I headed to our usual hangover soup place.
It was the spot Seong Ara herself had designated for curing hangovers.
The restaurant was quiet, but I could see the others who had arrived before me in the distance.
“You’re here.”
The old man, Ha Tae-sung.
Next to him sat Seong Ara, already halfway through her soup, and across from them was a woman with a familiar-looking back of the head.
“What, you’re eating already?”
I checked the time.
I was sure I’d arrived exactly at the agreed-upon time.
“She was nagging that she’d throw up if we were even a little late, so we came early.”
“Just how much did she drink…?”
It seemed Seong Ara had drunk more than I expected.
The old man and Ara-nuna were at the party yesterday, too.
We ran into each other, but they treated me formally.
‘I’m going to have to explain myself later…’
Of course, Seong Ara had already given me an earful in private.
In fact, that was pretty much why I’d been summoned here today.
“Hae-in!”
A familiar voice.
I turned my head to see Sion waving at me.
The owner of the familiar head was Sion.
“You’re here too?”
“Yeah. I was craving the hangover soup here.”
She said, lightly cupping her cheek with her palm.
“I think I overdid it a little yesterday. I’m so tired.”
“Didn’t you say you were going to rest in your dorm?”
I seem to recall her bragging to me that she was going to skip training and nap like a lion.
“…I did… but… it’s just… well…”
Sion’s voice trailed off.
I found it odd but didn't press her.
I sat down, and my hangover soup was served right away.
Steam rose from the bowl.
After a couple of spoonfuls of the broth, I finally felt my body start to relax.
It was then.
“Mr. Jung Hae-in.”
Across the table, Seong Ara rested her chin on her hands and looked at me.
She was working on her second bowl, and with her stomach settled, a playful look had returned to her face.
“Time to explain yourself.”
She began her interrogation, raising an eyebrow slightly.
“Well, there’s not much to explain…”
I started sweating as I made my excuses.
How I thought it was a good opportunity, that I gained a lot of experience, and so on.
As my voice trailed off, Seong Ara just shrugged and took another spoonful of soup.
It seemed she was just teasing and let it go.
“Still, the suit looked good on you.”
The quiet comment came from Sion, who was sitting next to me.
“How did you see it?”
When I turned to her, Sion answered while looking down at her soup.
“I saw a picture. Ara-unni showed me.”
“…Ah.”
“I saw you standing next to Kang A-rin, too.”
“…”
At that, I just fiddled with my spoon.
“Just saying~”
Sion didn’t say anything more.
I thought they might have run into each other a few times during joint classes, but it seemed she was already somewhat acquainted with Kang A-rin.
Oh, right.
I remembered what happened last night.
It had been bothering me, so I turned to Ara-nuna and asked.
“Nuna. Is it possible for a student to break into the Gaon dorms?”
Pfft, cough! Cough!
Next to me, Sion choked on her soup and burst into a coughing fit.
It seemed it went down the wrong pipe.
“Eat slowly.”
I patted Sion on the back as I waited for Seong Ara’s answer.
Seong Ara is one of the top Magitech experts in Vanquisher.
I’d heard that some of her technology was used in Gaon’s security system.
“Hmm? No. It’d be very difficult. This is Gaon, after all.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Yeah. It’s impossible. Unless you’re some genius mage who’s a master of reverse calculation… a student couldn’t do it.”
“What about someone at your level, Nuna?”
“Me? I could probably get in on one leg.”
Seong Ara shrugged with a bright smile.
Hmm.
Just as I thought.
There’s no way a mere student would have the same level of skill and intuition as Seong Ara.
It must have been my imagination.
“…Why? Why do you ask all of a sudden?”
Sion asked cautiously after her coughing subsided.
“Oh, it’s just that I’m sure I didn’t spray any air freshener before I left yesterday.”
“…Yeah.”
“But when I got back in the evening, the scent was pretty strong. Stronger than usual. So I guess… I was just mistaken.”
I said it like it was nothing and took a spoonful of soup.
“I see… air freshener… okay…”
Sion nodded.
“Aww, you’re being too sensitive~”
Seong Ara chimed in with a laugh.
I scratched my head and replied sheepishly.
“I guess so. Maybe I was just tired.”
After that, we all focused on inhaling our food without another word.
“By the way, isn’t it exam season? Is it okay for me to keep you guys here like this?”
“Now that you mention it.”
“…Hey.”
She flinched at my playful response.
“So give us some tips. For the final exam.”
I pressed her for some final exam tips.
After all, she was a Gaon graduate.
She might have some good information for us.
“Finals?… Ugh…”
Seong Ara shuddered as if remembering something.
It was understandable; Gaon’s final exams were notoriously grueling.
I wasn’t looking forward to them either.
“I don’t have much to say. You guys will do fine, I’m sure… Just take it easy. Don’t overdo it.”
“Will do.”
“Yeah.”
Sion and I answered at almost the same time.
Seong Ara nodded, then wrapped her arms around the table and buried her head in them.
By then, all four of us had finished eating.
“Okay, dismissed… I’m really going to rest now~”
“…Hmph.”
The old man let out a small sigh and edged away from Seong Ara.
The completely unpredictable Seong Ara was the old man’s polar opposite.
She probably drank a ton yesterday, too, which must have been a disaster for Ha Tae-sung.
“…Go on.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay, Grandpa.”
After a brief farewell, the old man stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and trudged off.
Seong Ara was dragged away behind him.
I shouldn’t become an adult like that.
I thought to myself.
As we stepped out of the restaurant, the chilly air hit my skin.
The sun was warm, but the air was still crisp.
Sunday, 9 a.m.
It was the weekend, but I wasn’t in the best of moods.
My shoulders were starting to feel heavy.
‘The final exam.’
It was time to go back to being a student facing exams.
Sion muttered beside me.
“I guess I should start studying soon…”
I rolled my neck and said.
“Yeah, ‘soon’ sounds about right.”
I stretched lightly.
“See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
And with that, we went our separate ways.
The final exam was just around the corner.