Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: After the Afterparty
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The evening after the afterparty ended. Instead of heading straight back to Busan, Lee Seo-ah decided to stay over at Ian's place for the night. She still hadn't retrieved her luggage from the cruise, and with no pressing schedule, there was no rush to leave.
Even so, Ian pointed out that staying alone with a guy might be awkward, but she brushed it off more casually than expected.
"What, my guardian spirit can watch over me. And from what I've seen so far, you're not that kind of guy."
"...I have no idea what you're basing that on."
"Instinct. A mage's instinct is pretty reliable."
With her taking it so lightly, Ian gave up and let Lee Seo-ah into his home.
A tiny studio apartment. The cramped space held only a simple mattress, a table, and some boxes.
A faint trace of Ian's scent mingled with the diffuser's fragrance, creating a surprisingly pleasant aroma that wafted through the air. It was everyday for Ian, but for Lee Seo-ah, who had never been in a guy's place before, it felt quite stimulating.
'Do all guys smell like this?'
Lee Seo-ah unconsciously sniffed the air as she looked around the living room. Ian left her be and opened the window.
Cold winter air seeped through the screen deep into the room, brushing her nose with the faint, distinctive scent of the season.
Ian stared out at the chilly cityscape for a moment, then sighed as he remembered he was out of cigarettes.
"I'll go grab some smokes. Wait here."
At his words, Lee Seo-ah, who had been sitting quietly sniffing around, stood up.
"Convenience store, right? I'll come with."
"Need something?"
"Let's just go see. Come on, come on."
No reason to refuse, so Ian took Lee Seo-ah to the nearby convenience store.
"Welcome."
A tired-looking part-timer greeted them, and Ian bought his usual brand. Lee Seo-ah wandered around with her hands behind her back.
"Huh?"
Then, a small liquor fridge caught her eye.
Filled with soju, beer, and various other drinks. Until just a few months ago, as a high schooler, she had no reason to care, but now it was different. She was legally old enough to drink.
'Come to think of it, I haven't tried alcohol since turning adult.'
The new year had come and gone two months ago. Her classmates were already hitting clubs and drinking, but she had zero interest and never bothered trying.
If she had family, maybe, but unfortunately, she was an orphan. No one to teach her about booze.
Since the opportunity was here, trying it tonight didn't seem like a bad idea. She was curious about the taste anyway.
Drinking alone with a guy might look odd, but add that they were both mages, and it lost all meaning.
Not that a mage should say this, but all mages were a bit crazy anyway. They had urges, sure, but hardly anyone turned into a dog after a drink. Lee Seo-ah had no doubt she was cut from the same cloth.
Jingle.
The deliberation was long; the action, swift. Lee Seo-ah grabbed two bottles of soju and two cans of beer and brought them to the counter. Ian, tearing open his cigarette pack without a second thought, squinted at her haul.
"...Booze?"
"Wanna try it. Don't worry, I'm an adult now."
"It's not that... Sigh, whatever. You'll manage."
Ian replied and added as they stepped outside.
"If you're buying, grab some snacks too. Whatever you feel like."
"Let's not buy here—order chicken at home."
"Sure, that works."
Ian sat at the table with the ashtray and lit a cigarette while Lee Seo-ah checked out. Faint smoke rose into the air and dispersed.
Moments later, Lee Seo-ah emerged with a bag of drinks. Ian finished his smoke and stood.
"Let's go."
"Yeah. But what's the deal with cigarettes? What do they even taste like?"
"Tobacco. Don't start on these..."
"Not even if you told me to. You should quit."
"I'll think about it."
He said that, but Ian had no quit plan yet. Lee Seo-ah shook her head.
The two headed straight home without detours. Lee Seo-ah set out the drinks, and Ian opened the delivery app to order chicken.
Thirty minutes later, the food arrived.
He brought the bag over and set the boxes on the table, releasing a rich aroma of oil and seasoning. Ordered boneless, so no drumsticks, but no chewy bits either—probably used leg meat. Tasted fine.
And so, they tore into the chicken while chatting idly. At some point, each grabbed a beer and started sipping.
Familiar taste for Ian. He wasn't a heavy drinker, but he'd have some when bored. For Lee Seo-ah, though, it seemed like uncharted territory.
"Ugh."
Her face twisted violently as she took a sip of the barley juice.
"Tastes like crap. Why do people drink this?"
"That's the appeal. You're too young to get it."
"We're not that far apart in age. Seriously, this sucks. Shouldn't have bought it."
Lee Seo-ah grumbled and set the can down. Her eyes shifted to the green soju bottles.
"Is this one better?"
"Probably worse than beer. Personally, I hate soju."
"You should've said so!"
"You bought it 'cause you wanted to—why blame me?"
"Anyway, not my fault."
Pure mage logic. Ian chuckled dryly, ate a piece of chicken, and sipped his beer. Lee Seo-ah, determined to finish her opened can, grimaced through it mixed with cola. Then, unconsciously let out a tiny burp, her face flushing red.
"...Hear that?"
"Just heard a tummy rumble."
"Die!"
The session dragged on pleasantly. Hardly any booze—just one beer each—and neither drank fast, so the drinks barely dwindled compared to their chatter.
Neither minded.
They sipped at their own pace in the cozy vibe. Soon, Lee Seo-ah adapted to the taste, downing her beer without grimacing.
There, amid the perfect trio of chicken, beer, and talk, midway through.
Lee Seo-ah suddenly remembered something and tilted her head, face a bit tipsy.
"Oh yeah, Seollal's coming up. Heading to your folks'?"
"I'm an orphan."
Ian answered flatly. Lee Seo-ah blew out a short puff of surprise.
"Oh, for real? Me too. Voluntary orphan."
"...Voluntary what now?"
"Parents died, lived with grandma, ran away. Didn't wanna be a shaman, switched to mage."
"So you had parents at least. Not like a basic-grade orphan like me—call you premium orphan."
"Yay, thanks."
Lee Seo-ah giggled, bobbing her head. Her black bob hair swayed with the motion.
"Anyway, no holiday trips then? Sweet—no begging for cash."
Orphan black humor. Ian smirked, chugging the last of his beer.
Unlike the half-buzzed Lee Seo-ah, his head was clear as ever. Face unflushed.
Hers, though, bore a vivid blush—not quite red, but noticeable. Weak tolerance, apparently.
Made sense—she was spilling family history now that she was tipsy.
Not particularly curious, Ian brushed it off, stuffing the empty can into the bag. Lee Seo-ah finished hers too and tossed it in. The cans clinked.
"Whew! Good drinking. Never touching booze again..."
"You'll drink in college whether you like it or not."
"Why college? Waste of time. Got free time now—time to get serious as a mage."
She said, staring at Ian.
"Right after graduation, I'm heading to Seoul. Got money, so snag a house and workshop ASAP. Buy a car too. Oh, license first maybe."
"Got a place in mind?"
"Nope."
She grinned.
"Just somewhere around here. Grab a decent listing and sign. Let's be neighborly."
"Sigh, neighborhood gets a necromancer. Property values tanking."
"Oh, real estate scam. That's my specialty."
"..."
"Kidding, kidding. Don't get serious. Did it once."
Lee Seo-ah flopped back laughing. Ian looked down at her, sighed deeply, and cleaned up.
"Oh, lemme help—ugh!"
She tried rising to assist but wobbled from the buzz and face-planted onto the bed. Burrowing into the pillow, she wriggled into a comfy spot.
"You wear cologne or something? Smells nice..."
"No cologne. If you're drunk, wash up and crash. Don't lie on my bed all sweaty."
"Nah. Sleeping here. Night."
"What... Geez."
Ian tried pulling her off but saw she was out cold and chuckled in exasperation.
Sleep when sleepy, flop when flop—pure animal. One beer did that? Ridiculous.
"Sigh..."
Ian shook his head, tidied the table roughly, laid out futon on the floor. After washing up, he lay down.
Too early for bed, so he turned off the lights, pulled out his phone, and logged into the community. The usual nonsense welcomed him warmly.
No substantial posts. Ian read the few sensible ones thoroughly, then posted.
[Guys, lots happened today.]
[Yeah?]
Gonna sleep now, night-con.
[Upvotes 0][Downvotes 0]
[Comments]
-Taming Master: (Get out of our village! Con)
-Deep Sea Angler: Night.
-★Grandmother: (Mage night-con)
Quick comments from community ghosts. Ian smirked, set his phone aside, closed his eyes, and drifted off.
The next day.
"The world's spinningggg...! Eek!"
Lee Seo-ah staggered hungover and stubbed her pinky toe on the corner.
Served her right.