episode_0062

The afterparty began in a subtle manner.

“Hehe.”

As the top student of the first year, Baek Arin, who had secured this spot, simply thanked everyone on the stage for their hard work.

Baek Arin’s small cough echoed through the building via the microphone as he confirmed the gazes directed towards him and nodded his head, opening his mouth.

“Well, do we really need something grand? Thank you to everyone who worked hard from the top. Eat, drink, and enjoy! Now, let’s get started!”

– Clap clap clap clap!

A round of applause erupted at the quick toast. Occasionally, Baek Arin’s close friends would playfully whistle.

Baek Arin chuckled and continued speaking.

“The event will start after the atmosphere has warmed up, so feel free to drink as much as you want for now!”

With that, Baek Arin stepped down from the stage.

At the same time, music began playing from the speakers hanging from the ceiling.

The lively music, seemingly to boost the mood, filled the room, and the tables became bustling.

Notably, there was no shortage of people opening bottles of alcohol. Most of them were wine bottles.

Bottle caps were being opened all around.

“Oh… it smells good.”

Some people confirmed the momentarily rising scent of alcohol and began pouring it into glasses.

The red liquid filled the transparent glasses. The alcohol, tinged with the light from the spotlight, looked similar to a beverage at first glance.

Initially, without smelling or tasting it, one couldn’t determine its identity.

It looked similar to soju or water. Therefore, to distinguish, the bottle’s shape, color, or label would be changed.

For someone like me without a sense of smell or taste, it’s difficult to distinguish. Unless there’s a difference in viscosity, it’s indistinguishable.

‘…’

A sense of repulsion washed over me. A feeling of dizziness and a twisting sensation in the stomach.

My forehead involuntarily furrowed.

How do you distinguish something without a sense of smell or taste?

Moreover, how do you distinguish something opened in a place like this?

I don’t know the reason. It’s just a gut feeling.

That’s alcohol. The moment you drink it, you might pass out. My gut feeling screams, warning me. It was an absurd talent.

Because of that talent, a sense of repulsion rises.

I suppressed the faint discomfort. Fortunately, it was bearable.

As long as it’s not forcibly fed by grabbing my hair, I can endure it.

In a way, it’s natural. Modern people inevitably come into contact with alcohol and cigarettes in their lives.

Even if I don’t drink alcohol, I smell it from those who do.

Even if I don’t smoke, there are many people who do, and I smell the smoke.

When I worked at a convenience store, the best-selling items were alcohol and cigarettes.

The bodies of customers looking for alcohol and cigarettes always smelled of them.

It was a nauseating sensation, but at that time, I could bear it.

Unlike with Professor Atla.

‘Back then…’

It was an oversensitive reaction. Even if I dislike alcohol and cigarettes, I don’t faint unless I’m forced to drink.

But with Professor Atla, just being near her made me nauseous and dizzy.

It was clearly a strange reaction. I thought about it, but my mind was too confused to find a reason.

Now… it’s uncertain, but I have a slight expectation.

– …! …!!

As I was lost in thought, the surroundings became increasingly noisy.

I surveyed the surroundings with spatial perception. Overall, it was a lively atmosphere.

There were tables with various types of food, tables where people were drinking various kinds of alcohol, and tables where people had cleared away food and were playing card or board games with a group of people.

My table was a small one tucked away in a corner.

In the hall, there were tables of various sizes, and even in the secluded corner, there was a table big enough for only one person to sit at.

Suddenly, I felt thirsty.

I reached out and grabbed the glass on the table.

Without needing to analyze the spatial perception, my intuition told me that it wasn’t alcohol. As I drank the cool water, a slight sense of reluctance washed away.

“It’s lively here…”

Some time had passed since the afterparty began.

The surroundings were literally a party scene.

It was a similar environment, but there was a difference from the freshman welcome party, which had its own static and orderly atmosphere.

The freshman welcome party wasn’t particularly formal, but since it was hosted by Siyolam University, there was an invisible formality.

The afterparty was not like that.

This time, the banquet hall was opened at the request of the freshmen.

Furthermore, the purpose was different.

While the freshman welcome party was more like ‘let’s get to know each other even though we’re meeting for the first time,’ the afterparty was more like ‘you’ve worked hard, let’s have fun.’

So, people were enjoying themselves without much care.

Heroes and hunters.

On the internet, they are portrayed as humanity’s shield and whatnot, but fundamentally, they are professions that wield power to kill monsters or villains.

It’s not just about killing.

They crawl through dungeons and frontlines. Monsters jump out from unknown places, and mysterious traps attack.

It’s not uncommon for a comrade next to you to die in the process.

It’s not rare for you to die instead of your comrade. Even if you survive, you might become a fool somewhere.

In this world, who doesn’t die? But heroes and hunters are especially close to death.

So, it’s important to familiarize yourself with this kind of entertainment.

Relieving stress while having fun.

It was considered important enough to be discussed in public lectures. It emphasized the importance of managing one’s mental state.

“…When should I leave.”

Participation is voluntary, but wouldn’t it be better to get a stamp on your face? That was the feeling with which I participated in the afterparty.

But now that I was here, there was nothing to do. I felt like I was just idly sipping water at a secluded table.

Moreover.

“Where are Hong Yeonhwa and Elia? Could it be that they didn’t come?”

Hong Yeonhwa, who enjoys drinking, and Elia, who is friendly with many freshmen due to her broad network, according to the original setting.

I thought both of them would definitely participate in this afterparty, but no matter how much I looked around with spatial perception, I couldn’t find them.

Could it be that they really didn’t come? I thought they would definitely come.

As the saying goes, participation is voluntary, but there were quite a few absentees when counting the number of people.

The injuries had all disappeared, but there was still mental fatigue in various ways, and being alone was more comfortable.

…I’m that type of person.

“Did I come out for no reason?”

I regretted coming out for a face stamp or something. I regretted it for no reason.

“Let’s just say hi and leave.”

Finally, I came to that conclusion. Staying here would just waste time, and I was satisfied since I had attended.

Let’s just say hi to the people I’m friendly with… Attila and Aidan, Nam Yeonjung, and so on, and then go back.

With that thought in mind, I got up from my seat.

– Flinch

The heads of those who were playing turned towards me. My body, which was standing up, stiffened at the sudden influx of gazes.

The lively space had quieted down somehow. I swallowed my saliva. The sound was very loud.

“What’s wrong?”

What did I do wrong?

Is what’s happening now considered rude behavior? No, because other students were also walking around the tables here and there.

As I cautiously glanced around, some students quietly approached.

Something felt off. They approached me casually, but it reminded me of a carnivorous animal approaching its prey.

However, there was no malice in their approach that would make me jump and run away.

“Hello? We came to greet you from the next table~”

‘?’

“If you’re bored, feel free to come over here…”

They spoke to me with an unfamiliar attitude.

I was listening to their smooth words, wondering about something, and before I knew it, I was sitting at a large table.

Huh.

.

.

.

“A table set aside on the side means ‘I’m tired right now, so don’t bother me,’ so people sitting there don’t like to be disturbed.”

After being caught in a storm of events.

Baek Arin, sitting across from me, explained with a chuckle.

“When they saw you take a seat on the side from the beginning, everyone was waiting for the right moment, and when you stood up, they all pounced on you.”

Baek Arin chuckled and gestured as if teasing me.

Feeling like I was being teased, I stretched my body on the table.

In the midst of being surrounded and taken around by the students, I explored various tables and facilities.

Some tables were set up for board games, while others were enjoying a strange card game.

There were also students playing in the attached facilities like a ping pong table, volleyball court, or bowling alley.

I avoided the tables where people were gambling and drinking, but exhaustion accumulated in various ways…

After touring all the tables and facilities, I was rescued by Baek Arin just now.

“If you’re so tired, why didn’t you refuse?”

Baek Arin chuckled and offered me a glass. It was cold water with ice cubes floating in it. I accepted it with a grimace, feeling the need for something refreshing.

[Thank you]

“Why do you have to be like this? If you’re going to be thankful, be more thankful!”

I gulped down the cold water. As the chill entered my body, the intense heat seemed to subside.

But my head was still spinning.

Feeling dizzy and distant, and feeling settled yet excited?

That sensation only intensified. I didn’t realize it when I was caught in the storm just now, but sitting calmly like this made it even more pronounced.

– Sniffle

My nose kept sniffling. It had been like that since earlier. It was particularly severe when I got closer to the table where people were drinking.

I don’t know why. I rubbed my nose, feeling the tickling sensation.

Rubbing the ticklish spot, I felt a strange pleasure. Since I was already like this, I pressed my face with my sleeve.

Seeing me like that, Baek Arin chuckled again. The innocent laughter lingered in my ears.

It was just a laugh, but it somehow felt unsatisfactory.

[Why are you laughing]

“I didn’t laugh?”

[You just did]

Annoyed by Baek Arin’s unwarranted teasing, I puffed up my cheeks and tapped my smartwatch. Baek Arin tilted her head and asked.

“Have you been drinking?”

[Not at all]

“Hmm?”

Baek Arin then examined my face. Worried if there was a problem, I also checked my appearance.

Other than my face being slightly red, there was nothing unusual. It was a bit red, but sometimes I would get hot like this.

That’s when it happened. Suddenly, my shoulders jerked.

– Hiccup!

“Oh my?”

My mouth opened wide as a hiccup came out. Afraid that the curse of silence might be activated, I was startled and covered my mouth with both hands.

“Seems like you’re drunk?”

– Hiccup

I firmly shook my head at the nonsensical words. Did I drink alcohol? I would have spat it out right there and rolled on the ground.

“Hmm…”

Baek Arin tapped the table with her finger, pondering something, then suddenly got up from her seat.

Approaching the table, she grabbed my sleeve.

As my sleeve was pulled, my body rose.

As I tilted my head, Baek Arin pointed towards the window.

Beyond the window, amidst the darkening sky, there was a promenade bathed in a faint light.

“Since you seem a bit off, why don’t you go outside and get some fresh air.”

[Did you not drink?]

“Oh, no~ Actually, I just wanted to take a walk. Please accompany me~”

With my sleeve in her grasp, I was led outside the banquet hall.

I followed Baek Arin with leisurely steps.