episode_0068

I stayed holed up in my room until nightfall, but no one came to meet me in the end.

It was surprising that they were all curious about external affairs, the conquest of the 20th floor, and various other things.

I reluctantly went to the lounge to see if anything was happening at home, and the atmosphere was quite subtle.

– Are you awake, Mr. Changki?

– Did you have a hard time conquering the 20th floor?

– You must be tired, so rest more.

– Why did you come out?

– If you need snacks, please let me know. I’ll bring them to your room later.

– Or would you like to have a meal?

– The restaurant is full right now….

– If you need anything, just order it, and I’ll bring it to your room.

They were considerate of me for no reason.

Everyone’s awkward smiles were impressive.

– How about asking some questions while we’re out?

– What kind of questions?

– We’re curious about your relationship with Bugilma.

– We didn’t ask because we didn’t know.

– Don’t you have any sense? You know Bugilma’s personality. If she went up to the 20th floor as a partner, she wouldn’t get involved with a man….

– Hey, this person is for real!

– Let’s not talk about that.

– Such a vulgar guy.

– But I’m curious if they really did it….

– That’s enough.

– Do you want me to break your legs?

– Do you want to die?

– Imagining something with Lady Seres as your opponent.

– That’s why men are like this.

– Hey, you jerk.

– Ugh!? Even if you act like this, you can’t suppress the press! This is a democratic country!

– You’re acting like a crow.

– Unfortunately, the Tower is a lawless zone, sir.

– Aaaah!!

There was an implicit rule among my colleagues that said, “Don’t ask unnecessary questions between us!”

If someone asked a question about the 20th floor, I would have to reveal Bugilma’s relationship with Lady Seres.

Our Bugilma is quite popular among the women here, and her past is well known, so it was undoubtedly considerate of them.

They really are good people.

Thanks to them, I was able to leave without any unnecessary teasing.

As the sun set and the twilight dominated the horizon, I headed towards the red-light district controlled by 【OP】.

The street was much more crowded at night than in the morning, and I realized that the women engaging in solicitation were more aggressive and daring at this time.

It seemed like the number of hunters had increased significantly, but I’m not sure.

“…Wasn’t this the place where I received the buff last time?”

Madam’s headquarters at the entrance of the Doolip tree.

It looked like an ordinary entertainment bar on the first basement level.

I didn’t wander around, but there was a warning message at the entrance.

[We will be closing at 5 PM today]

[Those who need to receive the buff should come early and only those who need to return it urgently should enter through the back door]

The path leading underground was blocked by shutters.

“Should I go through the back door then?”

It turned out that not only the first floor but the entire building belonged to Madam.

I knocked on the small door that led to the back alley.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

It was a cute young voice.

“I’m here for a drink!”

Someone came out looking confused without any context.

“A drink?”

A woman in the typical attire of the entertainment industry… a black mini dress, emerged.

With sweaty long hair, heavy makeup, and strong jewelry, she looked intimidating.

Thinking about it, the girls who were popular in high school generally had this kind of vibe.

“Right, a drink appointment! Are you Changki oppa?”

– What oppa?

– “Oh~ You’re much better than I expected~!”

She laughed from the start and teased me.

Chewing gum and scanning me up and down, she smiled and asked, “Did you come after work?”

“No.”

“Then did you work out?”

“No.”

“Ah! Alright then! Sorry for asking unnecessary things!”

“Did you come dressed like that on purpose?”

I rarely have to meet anyone and there are few casual clothes, so I just put on some work clothes in a hurry…

At a glance, I look like someone who just came from working in a factory.

I understand why Cerese suggested going to buy clothes at the 20th floor gate.

“Madam~! Ian unnie~! The protagonist is here!”

“Changgi came~?”

“Yes~!”

“What are you doing, come in right away~!”

After shouting inside, they quickly made way for me to enter.

As soon as I entered, the door was firmly locked, and inside, the laughter and singing of women did not stop.

‘The smell of women is strong.’

Inside is a typical illegal entertainment establishment.

Illegal?

No, there are no laws here, so the atmosphere is different, right?

It looks like something that would appear in a Korean crime movie. Despite resembling a karaoke room, the atmosphere and vibe inside are quite different. The women smoking and chatting around the walls don’t seem much different from the people I just encountered.

‘I never thought I would get involved in a place like this, living my life diligently.’

Glancing to the side, the women who noticed my gaze smiled and waved their hands.

“~~~♪”

“Have fun and come back, oppa.”

They were all beautiful and seemed friendly, but I wasn’t nervous.

If it were in the past, maybe, but now, with the unfamiliar women and Cerese here…

‘Is this a sign that my standards have gotten too high?’

I’m indulging in the luxury of having two private chefs, despite living a modest life.

‘I should have dressed properly. I thought we were just going to have a light drink on the 1st floor, but this is ridiculous.’

As my face heated up, I entered the room and three women greeted me.

“Oh, Changgi is here? Quickly take a seat.”

Ian, dressed in a witch costume, tapped her seat next to her.

“Look at this outfit. Doesn’t it match the old lady?”

-Brigitta, showing off her freckled chest in a jumpsuit once again.

“You must have been busy….”

-Madam, the beauty in casual clothes who quietly understands me.

The inside is also a reception room.

They were already enjoying themselves, calling women to sing.

Platters of snacks, liquor, and cheap beer I requested were laid out.

“Did I do something to deserve this treatment?”

“Oh well. Our junior did well. I feel like giving the old lady 100 praise stickers~!”

Brigitta laughed heartily.

After considering which side to sit on, I decided that sitting next to her would be more comfortable.

“Oh~! You took my seat! Why are you sitting next to the old lady, you pervert!”

“Hehe. The old lady is older, so that’s why. You won’t be left out by the young ones, right? The old lady is still active, right?”

“…Oh.”

The excited woman put her arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer. She let me bury my face in her freckled chest.

The cool and cold chest… Even recent women were like this, making me realize that I really like chests and feeling crude.

“Hey, you’re really laughing. What’s wrong with that countryside bumpkin? Why are men like that?”

The woman who raised her voice immediately.

On the other hand, Brigitta smirked.

“Oh. You’re kidding, right? Are you still holding onto that incident?”

“Ugh!? Don’t say it!”

“Hehehe… Junior. Do you know that?”

“What?”

“Ian’s first love was stolen by her own mother, can you believe it?”

“…Huh?”

“Oh~! Really! Here we go again, you troublemaker old lady!! That’s why you can’t say anything to him!!”

Ian got angry and Brigitta laughed.

Madam, who remained silent, poured drinks and chuckled softly.

“Ugh~! I invited him to the guild because I liked him, and my mom started drooling when she saw him! He even asked if that person was my sister or if he had a girlfriend~!!”

“Hahaha!!!!”

“Any guy who likes breasts is a pervert! Especially those who like older women! And those who like married women have the worst taste!”

As she said that, she drank without hesitation.

Her platinum blonde hair shot up and then gently fell back down.

Judging by the strength in her voice, it was clear that she had been drinking.

“Have you been drinking since before I arrived?”

“Yes… it’s been about 15 minutes. Everyone arrived so quickly that I started drinking first and got a bit tipsy.”

No wonder the glasses were already filled.

Unlike Ian sitting alone on the other side, I had Bridgette next to me and a madam approaching to pour me a drink.

“…Both of you are clinging to men. Shameful.”

“Why? Are you jealous? Are you also a lesbian?”

“Who’s a lesbian! No way!? I’m just a normal girl who wants to date!!”

A girl.

“If you like cosplay, you must be a girl.”

“Hey!?”

“Even a girl who always loses her love interest to her mom~! Hahaha!”

“If you tease me one more time, I’ll pluck out all those annoying freckles!?”

Just as they were teasing me, who had just entered, the banter between the two continued.

Although the other person’s eyes were half-closed, it was all just a joke.

While Zita laughed, the madam handed me a glass.

The drink was refreshing, with a subtle sweetness at the end.

“I heard you like beer, so I prepared a Honey Ale for you.”

“Did you have to go to this extent?”

“Hehe. It’s a celebration, after all. Originally, it was supposed to be a celebration for clearing the 10th floor, but things turned out differently…”

Following the madam’s gaze, I looked up at the ceiling and saw a congratulatory banner.

[Congratulations on Clearing the 10th Floor (← X) 【20th Floor】 of the Tower!]

The 10th floor part was painted over with black magic, and the 20th floor was written anew.

From their perspective, it had only been about 4 days since this all happened. There was no time to prepare anything new.

“Phew… do you know how surprised we were? In the middle of the night, all the phones started ringing at once, the guild members were shouting, fireworks were going off at the Tower, and the bells were ringing…! I was so startled that I hit my forehead while sleeping on the desk!?”

“Seriously~ If it weren’t for the fact that the hostile guild attacked, I would have thought it was the North Korean army coming~.”

“We were the same on our end.”

As they recounted the events in detail, they expressed annoyance but also laughed.

The 20th floor was cleared.

With the gate that had been blocked now opened so quickly, it was a great achievement for the three of them.

“I saw the announcement from the Tower. You climbed up with Seres? How did you manage to persuade that grumpy butler?”

“Seriously. He only seemed interested in women or money.”

“That’s our little secret. Why are you prying~?”

“Oh, we’re close. Shouldn’t I tell you, even though you were just teasing Ian about his love life in front of me? Do you think I would tell you?”

“Look at that. Zita’s mouth is too loose, that’s the problem!”

“Hey, don’t blame the old lady for that! Seriously, I won’t tell anyone~! What’s the big deal? How did you end up going together?”

She tried to attack me with her six-tan, but I quickly dodged and ignored her.

No matter how good-hearted she was, I wasn’t about to speak so lightly after witnessing that scene just now.

“Really shameless!”

“It’s not shameless. It’s just that Chang-gi responded well. Try teasing that old lady about her love life. By the next morning, even the hunters on the other side of the earth would know your situation.”

“By that point, she’s practically a psychic! What does she think of the old lady to do that!?”

“I’ve been hearing the story of how I lost my first love to my mom for years, like a parrot!”

“Hmm!?”

Even if Madame sends a pleading glance, there’s nothing I can do.

“Jita, you talk too lightly. When it comes to this matter, I’m definitely on Ian’s side.”

“Even you!? Are you being bullied by the ajumma?”

“Don’t act pitiful while willingly accepting such treatment!”

Ian even went as far as scolding her, perhaps due to the accumulated frustration.

However, the nun received it with teary eyes, hunching her shoulders and twisting her body.

“But… but…! Love stories are like the lubricant of life…! So why do you Koreans always create melodramas! Think about it? That blunt woman climbed the ranks with her junior, overcoming a damn difficult barrier! A barrier that’s impossible without love! How can you not ask when the scent of love is in the air!?”

“Stop watching those damn melodramas! That’s why there’s no one to give relationship advice to you!”

“What can I do if it’s entertaining! You all made the ajumma like this! You’re responsible since you made me like this!”

“Who would misunderstand if this person hears that!?”

The two continue to argue loudly.

Watching them, I quietly sipped my beer and asked, “…Is it always like this at the temple?”

“Yes. We’ve known each other for a long time. There’s no pretense here.”

I thought that since the elders gathered, they would have a serious discussion, but it turned out to be the opposite.

As soon as they met, they started talking about dramas and then moved on to trivial chitchat.