Chapter 292: Interlude - Banquet (2)

Awakeners didn’t get drunk easily. Upon receiving a Stigma, their physical abilities grew strong enough to surpass human limits. This was even more so the case for high-ranking Awakeners at nine stars and above. Their reconstructed physiques would require them to literally chug down alcohol by the barrels.

The fact that they were this drunk meant—

“How much did you guys even drink?

Ah

...” Kwon Oh-Jin looked at the two drunk women and glanced down at the empty bottle in his hand.

Come to think of it, wasn’t this traditional beastkin liquor?

“

Hehe

. We just kept accepting drinks from the villagers. Suddenly, everything felt so good,” Isabella said.

“Everything’s spinning in front of my eyes.

Hehe

.”

Watching the two swaying women, Kwon Oh-Jin could more or less piece together what happened.

The liquor they had drunk wasn’t ordinary alcohol, but the beastkin’s traditional brew. Of course, that brew was meant for the beastkin, who possessed physical strength that could rival, or even surpass, high-ranking Awakeners. If they drank it without knowing that, then it wasn’t surprising that they ended up like this.

Isabella hugged his arm and softly whispered in his ear, “Mr. Oh-Jin.”

A softness out of this world wrapped around his arm.

“How does it look? Before leaving the beastkin kingdom, I figured I’d wear it one last time.”

They no longer needed to hide the fact that they were human, but Isabella beamed with a bashful smile as she wagged her puppy tail side to side. Even in her drunken state, she could control the tail’s movement precisely.

Kwon Oh-Jin gulped. “This is the last time?”

At this point, he didn’t need to hide his feelings. The sight of Isabella with dog ears and a wagging tail looked far too dangerously charming for this to be the last time.

Isabella widened her eyes and smiled brightly. “Oh?

Well, if Mr. Oh-Jin wants me to keep them on, I don’t mind.”

“Wearing them all the time might be a bit much.” He didn’t exactly want anyone else seeing it.

“

Haha

. You’re so cute, Mr. Oh-Jin.” Isabella wagged her tail playfully, brushing it against him.

“How about... we keep them on tonight?” Isabella sweetly said to seduce Kwon Oh-Jin.

Whether Song Ha-Eun didn’t like how close they were or just didn’t want to be left out, she suddenly wedged herself between the two.

“H-Hey... I-I’m his number one, okay?” With her lips jutting out, she tugged Kwon Oh-Jin toward her like a pouty kitten demanding attention.

What do I do?

Even knowing that alcohol was clouding their judgment, Kwon Oh-Jin struggled to suppress the desire boiling from deep within him.

“First, drink some cold water and get a grip.” He held out a canteen to them.

Both women gulped down the water with flushed faces.

“

Ehehe

, Oh-Jin, the world is spinning.”

“This water tastes super bitterrrr,” Isabella said.

After drinking, their speech slurred even more, and they swayed as if about to collapse.

What the hell?

Kwon Oh-Jin took a sip from the same canteen and only tasted alcohol.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me. Who poured alcohol into the water canteen?!”

What kind of nonsense was this? This wasn’t some university party trip.

“

Ahahahahaha!

”

“Looking for water?

Hmm?

”

“

Ugh...

You crazy Silver Mane bastards...”

Not far away, a Red Mane beastkin vomited onto the ground.

Kwon Oh-Jin could guess who the culprit was.

Of course, they’d be from Riarc’s tribe.

He looked over at the giggling Silver Mane Tribe members with a dumbfounded expression.

“

Hic!

Oh-Jin... I-I feel so dizzy...”

Perhaps the alcohol in the canteen was the final blow. Song Ha-Eun leaned against Kwon Oh-Jin.

This won’t do.

Kwon Oh-Jin picked Song Ha-Eun up like a princess.

“

Ah!

Mr. Oh-Jin, I suddenly feel dizzy too...”

Though she seemed mostly fine until now, Isabella suddenly collapsed to the ground. Even with her eyes closed, he could see the corners of her mouth twitching up with anticipation.

This girl...

He narrowed his eyes and called out to the boy in the distance, busily carrying drinks for the village elders.

“Leo! Come help carry her!”

“

Huh?

Who?” Leo perked up his ears and ran over.

His jaw dropped when he saw Isabella lying on the ground.

“Y-You want me to carry Isabella?” The boy trembled as he gulped.

The memory of being in Isabella’s embrace endlessly replayed in his mind. He hesitated and slowly stepped forward.

Isabella suddenly shot up from the ground. “Ah, I’m feeling much better now.”

She clicked her tongue at Song Ha-Eun in Kwon Oh-Jin’s arms.

“R-Really? That’s a relief. Just don’t drink too much. The Silver Mane’s brew is crazy strong.” Leo turned away with a sulky expression.

Finding it cute, Isabella patted his head a few times. Then, she immediately clung to Kwon Oh-Jin again.

“Let’s go, Mr. Oh-Jin.”

“You’re drunk, right?”

“Who knows?” She gave him a cheeky wink and wrapped herself around his arm.

Kwon Oh-Jin nudged the canteen Isabella had drunk from earlier with his foot. It tipped over, and liquor came pouring out.

“Oh my, looks like unnie is in bad shape. Let’s hurry back to the cabin.” With a sly smile, Isabella tugged his arm.

“H-Hey!” Leo called out.

“

Hm?

”

Leo looked at Kwon Oh-Jin, who had two women by his side, and clenched his tiny fists. “I’m gonna become a great warrior like you one day! For sure!”

The boy’s eyes shone with determination. His passionate tone made Kwon Oh-Jin chuckle.

Naturally, the hot-blooded young boy looked up to him now.

“Do your best,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

Leaving Leo behind, he made his way to their cabin.

***

As soon as he laid Song Ha-Eun on the bed, she stretched out her arms like a baby bird searching for its mother.

“

Uuugh.

Oh-Jin... take my clothes off.”

“Sorry, what...?”

Come again?

“It’s stuffy! Take them off for me!”

What the hell? Is she always like this when she’s drunk?

“Isabella—”

“I’m just gonna go wash my face.” Isabella slipped out of the room like lightning.

“My clothes!” Song Ha-Eun yelled like a five-year-old throwing a tantrum at a toy store for a triple-transforming robot.

Kwon Oh-Jin sighed and took off her boots and socks at least.

“

Hehe

, that feels nice.” She wiggled her toes and squirmed like a caterpillar.

Then and there, Kwon Oh-Jin resolved to recount every detail of tonight once she sobered up tomorrow.

He removed her jacket. “This should be good enough, right?”

Now, she only had on a white T-shirt and a tight black leather skirt. It seemed a bit stuffy for someone who usually slept in crop tops and dolphin shorts, but he couldn’t take off any more.

“More.”

“What?”

“Take off more.”

What’s next? You want me to wash you too?

“And wash me too.”

“The fuck.”

What was he supposed to do?

Some would think this wasn’t a big deal between a couple, but this wasn’t their home. They were in a cabin in the Silver Mane Tribe’s village. Plus, right now, a full-blown drinking party was taking place. One of those drunk beastkin could quite possibly just burst into the cabin looking for Kwon Oh-Jin.

They really might considering how much they’re drinking.

It wasn’t a baseless fear. From the beastkin’s perspective, Kwon Oh-Jin was the hero who had defeated Kalike, the true power behind the Khan Kingdom. To a warrior-worshipping tribe like theirs, Kwon Oh-Jin would naturally draw their interest.

Like rabid fans barging into an idol’s house, drunken beastkin could very well come crashing in. They probably wouldn’t knock either. Would those who drank liquor stronger than what even high-ranking Awakeners could handle have the sense to knock?

“Oh-Jiiiin, hurry up!” Song Ha-Eun tugged at his shirt.

The strong smell of alcohol hit his nose. As she clung to him, he made up his mind.

“Screw it.”

Like they’d really just barge in.

“Okay, I’m taking it off then.”

“Yup!”

“Arms up.”

“Up they go!”

He grabbed the hem of her shirt and started pulling it up when the door suddenly swung open.

Bang!

Leoru, completely drunk, stumbled in. “

Haha!

There you are, Mr. Oh-Jin! Our tribe’s warriors were saying they really wanted to have a chat with—”

The room suddenly went quiet.

“

Huh?

” Leoru cleared his throat, turned around slowly, and gently shut the door. “M-My deepest apologies.”

His muffled voice came from behind the firmly closed door.

Kwon Oh-Jin pressed his forehead as if he had a headache. “

Haaa

. I knew this would happen.”

“O-Oh-Jin.”

“It’s okay. I was covering you with my body, so he probably didn’t see anything.”

“That’s not it...”

“

Hm?

What is it?”

“I-I have something I really need to tell you.”

“What...?”

“It’s something important...” With teary eyes, Song Ha-Eun suddenly threw her arms around him.

A gentle warmth spread through him. He could feel her trembling as if holding back tears.

His expression hardened. “Ha-Eun...”

What flashed through his mind first was Isabella. Song Ha-Eun had acted like she was okay with his relationship with Isabella, and things seemed well between them.

But what if that wasn’t the case?

What if she still had unresolved feelings bottled up inside? What if, under the influence of alcohol, she was finally confessing?

“Oh-Jin, I...”

“It’s okay. Don’t hide it and just tell me.” Kwon Oh-Jin gently held Song Ha-Eun and tried to calm her. “Just like how you understood how I felt, I’ll try to understand what you’re feeling too.”

She was more precious to him than his own life. If she felt a certain way, he wanted to accept all of it no matter what.

“Oh-Jin, I...!” Eyes glistening with tears, she clung to him tighter and whispered passionately like a love confession, “I feel like I’m gonna throw up.”

Excuse me...?

“

Urk!

”

W-Wait, the fuck?!

“H-Hey! Hey, hey!”

Stooooop!

“

Bwaaaarrggh!

”