The after-party started off quite modestly.
“Ahem.”
As the top student of the first year, Baek Ahrin set the tone by saying a few words on stage, thanking everyone for their hard work.
Her small cough echoed through the building via the microphone.
Confirming the gazes directed her way, Baek Ahrin nodded and spoke up.
“Well, do we really need anything grand? Thanks for your hard work up in the tower! Let’s eat, drink, and have fun! Now, let’s get started quickly!”
– Clap, clap, clap!
With her quick toast, applause erupted. Occasionally, those close to Baek Ahrin would whistle playfully.
Baek Ahrin chuckled and continued speaking.
“The events will start when the atmosphere warms up, so for now, feel free to drink as much as you want!”
Finishing her speech, Baek Ahrin stepped off the stage.
At the same moment, music flowed from the speakers hanging from the ceiling.
To liven things up, a bouncy tune filled the air, making the tables busy with activity.
Most notably, everyone was preoccupied with opening bottles of alcohol, which were mostly contained in wine-like bottles.
Corks popped from bottles in various spots.
“Oh… that smells good.”
One student checked out the rising aroma of the alcohol and started pouring it into a glass.
A red liquid poured into a clear glass, resembling a drink under the light.
Honestly, you couldn’t tell what it was until you smelled or tasted it.
It looked similar to soju or water. That’s why the shape, color, or label of the bottle was changed to identify it.
In other words, for someone like me without smell or taste, distinguishing them was a challenge. Unless the viscosity was different, eating it didn’t help identify it.
‘……’
A wave of reluctance washed over me. My head felt dizzy, and my stomach twisted.
My eyebrows automatically furrowed.
With no sense of smell or taste, how was I supposed to distinguish anything?
Besides, how could I tell the difference from this far away between what had been opened?
I didn’t know why, but instinctively, I could tell.
That’s alcohol. Instinct screamed at me that it could kill me on the spot. What an absurd talent.
It was that talent that heightened my reluctance.
I suppressed a faint sense of discomfort. Thankfully, it was manageable.
As long as it wasn’t force-fed to me, I could endure it.
Well, it’s only natural. Modern people inevitably encounter alcohol and cigarettes as they live their lives.
Even if I don’t drink, I still smell alcohol on those who do.
Even if I don’t smoke, many do, and I smell cigarette smoke.
I had experienced this while working part-time at a convenience store. The best-selling items were alcohol and cigarettes.
The customers looking for alcohol and cigarettes always reeked of their respective scents.
It was a nauseating sensation, but I managed to endure it at the time.
Unlike back when Professor Atra was around.
‘Back then…’
I was overly sensitive. No matter how much I hated alcohol and cigarettes, I wouldn’t pass out unless forced.
But Professor Atra would gag just from being nearby and faint.
That reaction was clearly abnormal. I pondered but couldn’t find the reason, my mind clouded.
Now… it was uncertain, but I was getting some ideas.
– …! …!!
As I sank into my thoughts, the surroundings grew increasingly boisterous.
I surveyed my surroundings spatially. Overall, it was a lively atmosphere.
Some tables were filled with various kinds of food, while others were enjoying different kinds of drinks.
There were also tables where people had set up card and board games, gathering others to play.
My table was a small one tucked away in a corner.
The hall had tables of various sizes, some were even small enough for just one person to sit.
Suddenly, I felt thirsty.
I reached out and grabbed a glass on the table.
Without needing to analyze it spatially, my instinct told me it wasn’t alcohol. After gulping down cool water, the reluctance faintly washed away.
‘It’s so noisy…’
A bit of time had passed since the after-party started.
The area was essentially a party.
It was different from the relatively calm and neat atmosphere of the freshman welcome event, even though it had a similar environment.
Although the freshman welcome wasn’t particularly formal, it was organized by Shio-ram, so there was an invisible etiquette.
This after-party was not like that.
This time, the banquet hall was opened at the students’ request.
Moreover, the purpose was entirely different.
The freshman welcome was about “let’s get familiar since we’re meeting for the first time,” while the after-party was “let’s have fun since we’ve worked hard.”
Because of that, everyone was enjoying themselves to the fullest without worrying about anything.
Heroes and Hunters.
Despite what the online media might say, portraying humanity’s shield and all, essentially, their job was to throw their weight around, killing monsters and villains.
Not just killing them.
They crawl through dungeons or battlefields. Monsters pop out in unknown places, and traps ambush them unexpectedly.
In the process, it’s not uncommon for comrades to die.
It’s also common for them to die themselves. Even if they survive, they might be left with issues.
There’s nobody in the world who doesn’t die at some point, but heroes and hunters are particularly close to death.
That’s why it’s said that learning how to enjoy is important.
To relieve stress by having fun.
It’s a habit deemed so important that it’s even covered in public lectures. It emphasizes the importance of managing one’s mental state.
‘…Should I go now?’
Participation is voluntary, but wouldn’t it be better to at least show my face? I thought as I attended the after-party.
But now that I’m here, I didn’t have much to do. Sitting at a corner table, sipping water, I wondered what I was doing.
Moreover.
‘Where are Hong Yeon-hwa and Elia? Don’t tell me they didn’t come?’
According to the original setting, Hong Yeon-hwa, who loves drinking, and Elia, who knows many students, would probably participate in such an after-party.
Yet, no matter how I scanned the area with spatial awareness, I couldn’t find them.
Could it be that they genuinely didn’t come? I thought they’d definitely show up.
True to the idea of voluntary participation, counting the heads revealed that several students were absent as well.
The injuries had faded away, but mental fatigue remained in various forms, and there were those who preferred being alone.
…Which was exactly my type.
‘Did I come for no reason?’
Should’ve just skipped the turnout and focused on training instead. I regretted it a bit.
‘Let’s just greet a few people and leave.’
Having reached that conclusion, I figured I could leave since it felt like I’d waste my time here. I had already shown my face, so I was satisfied.
The only people I knew… like Atilla, Aiden, and Nam Yeon-jung, I could just say hi and return.
Thinking that, I stood up from my seat.
– Flinch
The eyes of those playing nearby suddenly turned toward me. Under the sudden onslaught of gazes, my standing body froze.
The once lively space had quieted down at some point. I swallowed hard. The sound seemed deafening.
‘What’s going on?’
Did I do something wrong?
Is standing up rude? But other students are wandering from table to table too.
As I awkwardly observed, several students approached me quietly.
Something felt off. They approached me as if they were carnivorous animals spotting prey.
Yet, there was no malice that made me want to jump up and flee.
“Hello! We came to invite you from the next table~”
‘?’
“If you’re bored, why don’t you join us over here…”
They greeted me with a somewhat sympathetic demeanor.
Wondering what this was about, I listened as their words flowed, only to find myself sitting at a large table.
Huh.
.
.
.
“Tables arranged on the side mean, ‘I’m tired and don’t want to be bothered,’ so people sitting there aren’t to be disturbed as a matter of courtesy.”
After a whirlwind of chaos, Baek Ahrin, who sat opposite me, explained with a chuckle.
“Seeing you occupy that spot from the start, everyone waited for the right moment, and when you got up, they jumped right in!”
With her playful gesture mimicking a beast biting something, Baek Ahrin giggled.
Clearly teasing, I slumped my body forward onto the table.
In the blink of an eye, I found myself surrounded by students, being pulled from table to table.
One table had board games laid out, while another was engaged in some strange card game.
Students were also found playing in facilities like the ping-pong, volleyball, or bowling alleys, not just at the arranged tables.
I tried my best to avoid tables where betting and drinking were involved, but fatigue was piling up…
After bouncing around to various tables and facilities, I was just rescued by Baek Ahrin moments ago.
“You could have just said no if you were that tired, you know?”
Baek Ahrin chuckled, offering me a glass filled with cold water and ice. Given my discomfort, I gladly accepted it.
[Thank you]
“What’s that about? If you’re going to thank me, I hope you do it a bit more!”
I gulped down the cold water. The chill felt like it washed away the strong heat that had built up in my body.
But my head still spun.
I felt dizzy while also faintly lightheaded, strangely both calmed and spirited.
That sensation increased. I hadn’t noticed it during the storm of chaos earlier, but now, sitting calmly, it felt even more pronounced.
– Sniff, sniff
My nose twitched again and again. It had been happening since earlier, particularly intensifying whenever I got closer to the drinking tables.
I didn’t know why. I squirmed, feeling the itch, rubbing my nose.
As I rubbed the itchy spot, an overwhelming sense of satisfaction washed over me. With that, I pressed my face into my sleeve.
Baek Ahrin, who witnessed this, couldn’t help but chuckle. Her melodic laughter echoed in my ears.
To be fair, her laughter was just that—a laugh, but I found it oddly unsatisfactory.
[You laughed]
“I didn’t.”
[You did just now]
“I didn’t!”
[You totally laughed]
Baek Ahrin, convinced her denial wasn’t working, puffed her cheeks in annoyance as I jabbed my smartwatch, causing her to tilt her head in question.
“Have you been drinking?”
[I definitely did not]
“Hmmm?”
She leaned in to scrutinize my face. I also examined myself to check if anything seemed wrong.
Other than my slightly flushed face, nothing seemed particularly odd. Sure, I was a tad red, but I often experienced this heat in such situations.
At that moment, my shoulders suddenly jolted.
– Hiccup!
“Whoa?”
My mouth opened wide unexpectedly, and I hiccupped. Fearing the curse of silence would activate, I startled and covered my mouth with both hands.
“It seems like you’re drunk.”
– Shake, shake
I firmly shook my head at her absurd claim. Did I drink? I would’ve spat it out and rolled on the ground.
“Hmm…”
Baek Ahrin tapped the table with her fingers, pondering. Then, she abruptly stood up.
She circled the table and came over, grabbing my sleeve.
The tugging pulled me up.
Curious, I cocked my head as Baek Ahrin pointed to the window.
Outside the window, I could see a pathway quietly lit even as it got dark.
“You seem off, so let’s get some fresh air outside.”
[Did I really not drink?]
“Yep! Truth is, I wanted to take a walk. Please, accompany me~”
With my sleeve in her grasp, she guided me out of the banquet hall.
I followed her at a quick pace.
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