It was exactly 2:33 A.M. People were usually emotional these times, and people wouldn't feel guilty even if they started banging on someone else's door while drunk.

Kim Hyun-Sung was mumbling and slurring his words. He sounded like he wasn’t feeling guilty at all.

“Y-Y-You’re being really rude!” Jung Ha-Yan yelled.

“I’m sorry…

hiccup

. I’m sorry, Miss Ha-Yan. I just need—”

“Y-You’re s-s-so rude! I-I really didn’t find you to be that kind of person… L-Leave! Right now! W-W-Why are you so inconsiderate?!” Jung Ha-Yan interrupted him.

“Miss Ha-Yan… it’s not like that,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“I-If there’s something you want to say to oppa, come back tomorrow morning! H-He’s already suffering… H-Have some shame,” Jung Ha-Yan scolded him.

‘Why do you keep stuttering? You’re too upset, Ha-Yan. Calm down.’

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

“I’m… sorry. I’m sorry, Miss Ha-Yan,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“Th-This is absurd. I’m not the one… you shouldn't apologize to me!” Jung Ha-Yan yelled.

“Miss Ha-Yan, that’s why I want to… apologize… right—”

‘This jerk really doesn’t want to leave. He’s just going all out. I need to take care of his drunk behavior before anything else.’

He was acting like a typical drunkard. He wasn't acting like the hero who had saved the continent. Who would think he was the God of Sunset? If it weren’t for his face, which was as red as the sunset, I wouldn’t recognize him.

He looked like he was soaked in alcohol, and his blank stare told me that he wasn’t in his right mind.

‘I think he’s more drunk right now than on that day.’

I couldn't imagine just how much he ended up drinking. He was a swordsman, so he had to have drunk an unbelievable amount of alcohol. He was stumbling and was leaning on the wall for support.

It was strange to see him put so much effort into trying to enter my room.

He kept hiccuping, and his eyes were filled with tears as if he were going to burst into tears anytime soon. I was worried he was going to start wailing loudly. I confirmed that he started drinking around six o’clock, so this had to have been going on for eight hours now…

‘How is he going to fix this tomorrow morning?’

Actually, I expected him to faint and not remember anything the next day.

“Mr. Ki-Young… Mr. Ki-Young…” Kim Hyun-Sung called out.

‘How come he's so pathetic?’

I thought I had seen Kim Hyun-Sung at his lowest point, but there was definitely a deeper abyss hidden within him.

“I think I was wron—

oop!

” Kim Hyun-Sung said. “So what I’m saying is that… right now…”

'This is…’

What I found interesting was that I realized that Kim Hyun-Sung was a superior being. I never imagined that the handsome man would appear here either, but seeing his drunken state reminded me of a protagonist. If an ordinary person acted like that toward me, not only would I dislike them immediately, but I would have already called security. 𝐑АＮỒΒΕ𝙎

I finally understood why people cast beautiful women and handsome men for the leading roles. If he were Park Deok-Gu instead of Kim Hyun-Sung—Actually, Deok-Gu had a cute side to him. If it were some drunkard acting like that toward me…

‘The play would become too realistic.’

Meanwhile, the situation was reaching a climax. The people in the other rooms came out due to the noise.

“Master, you’re really drunk,” Jo Hye-Jin remarked.

“Miss Hye-Jin, there’s… something I really need to…” Kim Hyun-Sung mumbled.

“Master… I’ll take you to your room,” Jo Hye-Jin offered.

“Bro, stop it and head to your room, all right? You shouldn’t be acting like this in the middle of the night. I understand how you feel… but today isn’t the only day you’ll get the chance… to apologize.

"If you want to apologize, you should do it when you’re sober… and in a serious manner… Stop behaving like this.

"Hey, get a hold of yourself, all right? Do you really think this situation is okay? Making a mistake once or twice can be considered a mistake. What if hyung-nim sees you in this state…” Park Deok-Gu chimed in.

‘I’m glad the new members are on a different floor. Same goes for Ye-Ri.’

If he ended up acting like that in front of Alps and Belier, he would look bad as the guild master. Hye-Jin and Deok-Gu had witnessed all the bad and good things, so I was glad that they were there to stop him.

“H-H-He’s right! Come back tomorrow morning when you’re sober,” Jung Ha-Yan said.

“I-I-I’m more alert now than ever. Please trust me,” Kim Hyun-Sung begged.

“Don’t be like this…” Park Deok-Gu muttered.

“I’m thinking more reasonably than ever,” Kim Hyun-Sung added.

I was sure he had no plans of showing this side of himself to the second-generation members of the Blue Guild, like Yoo Ah-Young, Lee Chang-Ryeol, and Han Sora.

Han Sora had to have realized that getting involved in that situation wasn’t part of her role, as she stayed in bed and looked at me with her large eyes.

‘It reminds me of the past.’

I could still remember the time when we would pretend to be asleep and stay in our room whenever we heard loud noises outside. It seemed Han Sora was feeling something similar to that.

The right thing to do here was to wait for this storm to pass.

“Aren’t you going to go outside? S-Sir?” Han Sora asked.

“I should, but a little later,” I answered.

“

Ah…

okay,” she said.

“You should head out there first, Miss Sora,” I suggested.

“What? But what can I—”

“That’s for you to decide,” I told her.

“I-It’ll be resolved if you go out there,” Han Sora argued.

“The protagonist usually appears last,” I told her.

“What… do you mean… What if the guild master puts the blame on me?” Han Sora asked.

“Ha-Yan is there, so what are you worried about? Whether he blames you or not, you’re just doing your job. He won’t even remember those who stopped him, so hurry up and go out,” I told her.

“I-I don’t know. The guild master seems…” Han Sora paused.

“Yes?”

“Kind of scary,” Han Sora continued.

“Just go out there. If you’re too scared to stop Hyun-Sung, pretend to stop Ha-Yan,” I suggested.

Obviously, the situation wouldn't change even if Han Sora went out, as Kim Hyun-Sung was still throwing a tantrum. Han Sora’s job was to control Jung Ha-Yan so that she wouldn’t get too upset.

“Miss Jung Ha-Yan! Calm down!” Han Sora screamed.

“Sora! L-Let go of me! T-This isn’t right! It’s been a while since we had such a peaceful night!” Jung Ha-Yan yelled.

‘So that’s what you were upset about.’

“Miss Jung Ha-Yan! Please don’t do this!” Han Sora begged.

“

Woof!

”

‘Even Shiro is getting involved.’

“Mr. Ki-Young! Mr. Ki-Young!” Kim Hyun-Sung yelled.

“

Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!

”

The situation was becoming even messier because Shiro was barking at the drunkard. At this point, we needed a different method to suppress the drunkard, who was being persistent even though so many people were trying to stop him.

“What… I want to…”

“

Woof! Woof! Woof!”

It was time for me to make an appearance.

“Ki-Young…”

I looked in the mirror and fixed my outfit. Then, I got up slowly and headed outside.

It was like time itself had stopped because everyone went quiet. Everyone felt my presence, and they all looked at me. I looked like I was suffering. My eyes were slightly swollen, and my gloominess overwhelmed the atmosphere.

“G-Go back to your room, hyung-nim. I’ll take care…”

I shook my head at Park Deok-Gu’s words.

“O-Oppa…" Jung Ha-Yab muttered.

Shiro came up to me and rubbed his head on me. The sight made me think that it was worth giving him all those snacks. However, I had no choice but to ignore him because my goal was the drunkard before me.

“M-Mr. Ki-Young,” Kim Hyun-Sung mumbled.

“You’re really drunk,” I said.

“I am…” Kim Hyun-Sung mumbled.

“Why did you drink so much?” I questioned.

Instead of scolding him, I decided to comfort him.

I didn't bother asking him why he didn’t apologize after all the trouble that he had caused, why he spent time with those rookies, and why he had been ignoring me since that incident.

I also didn't bother asking if it was really necessary for him to make me feel miserable…

I talked to Kim Hyun-Sung without asking why he hurt me.

My voice sounded normal, but it contained many emotions.

“Mr. Ki-Young… there’s something… I really wanted to tell you,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“...”

“I… always… remember,” he said.

‘Remember what?’

“I’ve been keeping in my heart… the things you said… about carrying my burden with me… and that I no longer need to take responsibility alone,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

I smiled weakly.

“I want to… be your strength as well, Mr. Ki-Young. I want to share your responsibilities and obligations, Mr. Ki-Young. I wanted to love the things you loved and support the things you wanted to do, but…” Kim Hyun-Sung paused.

“...”

“I… I must be an asshole.

Heuk… kgh…

” Kim Hyun-Sung cried.

Even Shiro went silent upon hearing that.

‘Hey, don’t cry. Why are you crying?’

“I must be a bad person. I-I want to carry the burden with you as well, but… I… I’m scared of many things. I’m afraid of many things. I don’t know if my choices are correct…” Kim Hyun-Sung confessed.

“...”

“I’m afraid that I might make a mistake and something bad will happen… I’ve had so many experiences where I messed things up… I… I must be weak.

Heuk…

I don’t care what happens to me, but…” Kim Hyun-Sung paused.

He was rambling on, so I had no idea what he was saying, but I had an idea as to what Kim Hyun-Sung wanted to say. He wanted to support my decision, but he was scared to do so, as he was afraid that something bad was going to happen to me.

The members seemed to sympathize with his sincere confession because everyone was silent, but…

“Please don’t do this here. Go sleep for now. I have an idea as to what you’re trying to say… so let’s continue this conversation tomorrow morning,” I suggested.

“Mr. Ki-Young,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“You’re really drunk,” I told him.

“I’m not acting like this because I’m drunk…” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“Let’s talk again tomorrow. And stop… drinking,” I said.

“What?”

“I think it’s best… if you stop drinking from now on,” I suggested.

“Okay, I won’t… drink again…” Kim Hyun-Sung confirmed.

“You promised,” I said.

“Yes, I promise. It’s a promise,” Kim Hyun-Sung repeated.

“Go sleep,” I said.

“...”

Perhaps that gave him a sense of relief, but the bedraggled Kim Hyun-Sung closed his eyes and eventually fell asleep.

‘I calmed him down with one shot.’

“Hyung-nim, about Hyun-Sung bro…” Park Deok-Gu muttered.

“You move him,” I ordered.

“...Okay. I had no idea that he’d act this way… Anyway, you did well. I’ll be sure to tell him not to behave this way again, so don’t worry about it,” Park Deok-Gu reassured me.

“No, you don’t have to tell him… Anyway… Ha-Yan, let’s head inside,” I suggested.

“

Huh?

Okay, oppa,” Jung Ha-Yan said.

Kim Hyun-Sung probably thought that it was all over.

“

Woof!

” Shiro barked.

The thought that we were going to make up tomorrow probably helped him sleep soundly. Kim Hyun-Sung was sleeping happily with a smile on Park Deok-Gu's back. He seemed certain that all conflicts had been resolved.

I was not sure whether he’d remember this or not, but he looked really happy right now.

‘He must be thinking that it’s over.’

However, I was narrow-minded, so I wasn't going to meet him for a while. Definitely not.

How?

'I’ll go to Rohen before this jerk wakes up tomorrow.'