Illegal Underage Drinking is Troublesome
A flashy effect exploded across the screen. A striking sound that seemed ready to rip the speakers apart echoed through the living room.
"Yes! I win again."
He tossed the controller aside. Leaned back against the sofa's armrest. His toes didn't reach the floor, dangling idly in the air.
Sitting beside him, Kang Hae-eun gripped her controller like she wanted to smash it. The plastic creaked in protest.
"Ah! Oppa, there was a blue glow from your fingers just now! You used mana for that combo!"
His sister pointed accusingly, looking utterly wronged.
"Got proof? If you're salty, awaken yourself."
"You're insane! What hunter uses mana in a game? That dodge was frame-perfect—no human reflexes could pull it off!"
Of course it was. He'd wrapped a tiny bit of mana around his thumb on the D-pad. Reaction speed beyond normal human nerve transmission. Using it in a fighting game meant she never stood a chance.
"This round's invalid! Replay the footage!"
As she huffed and stood up, he wagged a finger at her. Blue mana stretched out like chains. Her body locked to the sofa.
"Wh-what? Hey! Let me go!"
"You trash-talked, now own the loss. Rules are rules. Forehead flick—now."
He snapped his finger without mercy. Pure physical force, no mana. Any mana would've shattered her skull.
Thwack!
"Aaaack! This sucks so bad!"
Hae-eun clutched her reddened forehead and rolled on the floor. Venom burned in her eyes.
"One more round! I can't beat an awakener, but I've got mad game skills!"
Just as she grabbed her controller again, his pocket buzzed. Glancing at the screen: Jae-hoon, his 32-year buddy and drinking pal. He hit speaker with one hand still on his controller.
"Yeah, what."
"Dude! Check the group chat! Jin-su's getting married next month—we're meeting up for drinks tonight. You in? Gotta count heads for the room!"
Noisy chatter spilled from the speaker. Sounded like they were already on their first round in the bustling streets.
"Ah, sorry. Was gaming with my sister, missed the KakaoTalk."
"Aw, what a good big bro. So, you coming or not?"
"Yeah. Text the spot to the group when it's set."
He hung up and glanced at the screen. That was his mistake. His character was cornered. Hae-eun's was relentlessly pummeling him. Pinned against the wall in an infinite combo. She'd exploited his distraction during the call. Her fingers hammered the buttons like mad.
He let out a disbelieving chuckle.
"Hey! Rude to attack mid-call?"
"Yup~ Excuses are lame, right? Got careless and lost? Forehead flick time~"
She stuck out her tongue mockingly. Rolled up her sleeve, finger flying toward his forehead.
He lightly drew up mana. His body floated into the air. Stuck flat to the ceiling. Her swing whiffed through empty space.
"Ah, what the—! No cheating!"
"Salty? Fly up yourself."
"That's so unfair! Mom!!! Oppa stuck to the ceiling again—won't come down!!"
Hae-eun bellowed toward the kitchen. The chopping sounds stopped. Mom's back-smack and lecture barrage were incoming.
He quickly threw open the balcony door. Launched himself into the night sky. Clean getaway.
Night breeze rushed past. Plenty of time till the meetup. He touched down on a high-rise rooftop in central Seoul.
Perched on the railing. Cracked open a canned coffee from the vending machine. Hiss—sweet aroma wafted out.
Seoul's nightscape sprawled below. Glittering neon signs. Endless stream of cars on the roads.
Just a year ago, these streets were buried in monster corpses. The everyday life he'd bled and broken bones to protect. Not bad.
He sipped the canned coffee. Raised his right hand, floating a small mana orb in the air. It swirled with blue light. Simple training: compress, expand.
Then, the air warped faintly. A blast of scorching heat.
"Oh my, if it isn't our tiny hero. Brooding up here all alone?"
Didn't need to look. Korea's one-and-only S-rank fire mage. Park So-jin, mid-30s married mom of a five-year-old.
"Ah, just killing time. What's up, noona?"
He clenched his fist, snuffing the mana orb.
"On my way home, felt some familiar, creepy mana. Got chased out by your sister again?"
So-jin giggled as she sidled up. She reached to pat his silver hair. He scowled and swatted her hand away.
"Don't baby me. I'm a thirty-something dude."
"Sure you are. Such a feisty little thing."
So-jin smirked and leaned on the railing. Her red coat fluttered in the wind.
"Gates are quiet these days—rest up. Ignore those Yeouido geezers if they summon you with their nonsense."
"Politicians being pains again?"
"Don't get me started. All this gate byproduct profit-grabbing, hearings, whatever—exhausting. I'd rather smash monster skulls a hundred times over."
She waved it off with a grimace.
"Don't overdo it yourself, noona."
"Gotta pick up my kid from daycare. Working mom life—parenting's tougher than hunting."
She checked her watch and clicked her tongue.
"Later. Hit up the guild dinner and buy some meat."
With that brief comrade's check-in laced with affection, she vanished in flames. Right on cue, his phone buzzed. Group chat had the bar address.
He crumpled the empty can and tossed it into the trash. Stood up.
Large room bar in the bustling district. Door swung open to a wave of greasy side-dish and booze stench. Five 30-something dudes, already buzzed, filled the seats.
"Whoa! Our hero graces us!"
Jae-hoon staggered up, clapping over-the-top. He wedged into the empty spot. Three empty soju bottles already littered the table.
Then the door cracked open. A young part-timer slipped in cautiously. Her hands trembled slightly as she set down the extra stew. She pulled a pen and notepad from her apron.
"Um... Hunter Kang Tae-ho, right? I'm a huge real fan! Just one autograph..."
Face beet-red, she held out the notepad. Annoying. But refusing was more hassle, so he scrawled one with a blank face.
"Thank you! Fighting, our national little sister!"
She bowed 90 degrees and left. Door shut—friends erupted in laughter.
"Kya~ Retired and still this popular. Total idol, man."
"National little sis arrives. Heh."
"Shut it. Before I sew your mouths shut."
Even grim warnings didn't stop their grins. No S-rank gravitas with these old drinking buds. Just a 32-year-old dude at a local booze-up.
Mood warmed up. Groom-to-be Jin-su cleared his throat. Pulled a thick envelope from his bag. White wedding invites made the rounds.
"This guy's joining the married ranks at last."
"Congrats, dude. Your wife's a saint."
Talk naturally shifted to weddings and dating. Jae-hoon slurped fish cake stew and eyed him.
"Yo, Kang Tae-ho. You ever gonna get hitched?"
His hand paused mid-reach for his glass.
"Money rotting away, fame out the ass—date someone. Gonna die alone forever?"
No answer. He looked down quietly. Chair too tall—his toes dangled. Short, skinny legs swinging.
Pink dress Hae-eun forced on him as "the latest thing." No mirror needed to know: silver hair, red eyes, perfect loli form. A 32-year-old man's soul eternally trapped in a 140cm girl's body.
System's forced makeover. Deep rage and harsh reality crashed over him.
"Ah, fuck... Ruining the booze."
He slammed back shots of bitter soju. Set the empty glass down with a thunk.
"Giving up romance this lifetime. Clean."
The rowdy room fell into heavy silence. Friends' faces hardened. Empathy in their eyes. No one laughed.
Jae-hoon sighed deeply. Silently refilled his glass.
"Yeah... Drink up. Booze on me tonight."
"Hang in there, Tae-ho."
Jin-su patted his shoulder. Pitying gazes twisted the knife deeper. Peak 32-year-old salty sadness booze-fest.
Night deepened. Nice buzz hit. He stuffed staggering friends into taxis one by one.
Alone, he ducked into a narrow alley. Thick mana barrier up. Transparent orb shielded from cold wind. Mana at his toes—he rocketed into the night sky.
The world's strongest's humble night of illegal underage drinking. He sliced through the wind over Seoul's heart. Booze messing with mana control thanks to his tolerance. Whatever—no crashing to death. Wind blew away the gut-churning alcohol haze.
Silent landing on the penthouse balcony. Dropped the barrier, eased the door open. Living room dark, lights off. Clock read past 2 a.m.
Assuming family asleep, he headed for the entryway. Bent to untie his shoes—then a familiar silhouette charged from the shadows.
"Take this!"
A glint in the dark. Booze slowed his reflexes. A solid forehead flick nailed him.
Thwack!
"Ow!"
Crisp impact. Hae-eun bolted and dove into her room, locking the door.
Click.
Lock echoed in the empty living room. Ambush perfection. He rubbed his throbbing forehead in the dark, standing there defeated. A chuckle escaped.
"Haa... Sigh..."
Pulsing pain in his forehead. The hero's peaceful, exhausting day faded once more.