The preparations for the party—or rather, the team meeting—were already complete, just as Ahn Hyun had mentioned. Everyone was waiting for me, their anticipation palpable. It seemed they were quite eager for this rare gathering.
As I approached the group of clan members, Jung Ha-yeon quietly handed me a glass of wine. The glass was shaped like a half-moon lying on its side, filled about a third with a clear liquid that shimmered with a mysterious blue hue. I immediately recognized it.
The liquid was known as “Mermaid’s Tears,” a high-end beverage celebrated for its sweet, melting sensation on the tongue and its subtle refreshing quality. Its name also symbolized “prosperity, glory, and endless growth.”
With everything ready, I could no longer ignore the eager gazes of the clan members. I calmly began to speak.
“I had planned to say a few words before we started, but I can’t endure your expectant looks any longer. So, I’ll keep it brief.”
It was just a lighthearted comment, but I could see relief wash over the faces of the clan members. They genuinely seemed glad. Feeling a bit awkward, I continued.
“Though our clan hasn’t even been around for a year, it’s been eventful enough to fill volumes. And yes, I’ve been busy with external matters, neglecting the clan a bit. Today’s gathering, suggested by Jung Ha-yeon, is a special celebration for all of you. My only instruction is this: for this moment, set aside all your worries. Eat, drink, and enjoy this meeting to the fullest. That’s all.”
After finishing my speech, I raised my wine glass high. With a slightly stronger voice, I declared the start of the festivities.
“For the Mercenaries!”
“For the Mercenaries!”
The clan members had been waiting for this moment, and they all raised their glasses in unison. As I brought the glass to my lips, they too began to drink the “Mermaid’s Tears.”
“Huh?”
As I took a sip, a tingling sensation spread through my mouth. “Mermaid’s Tears” was usually smooth and gentle, but this time it had a sweet and zesty kick. It was clear that something extra had been mixed in, a thoughtful touch by Jung Ha-yeon to enhance the celebration.
“Wow! This is delicious!”
“Wow… What is this, sis?”
The faces of the clan members who drank the “Mermaid’s Tears” were flushed with excitement. Some even had a slight blush on their cheeks, indicating the effects were already taking hold. Just as everyone was basking in the lively atmosphere, a light clapping sound caught our attention.
Clap, clap.
“Alright, isn’t it time we start eating? I heard some people have been fasting all day for this. Hehe.”
“That’s me! Meat! Meat!”
Go Yeon-ju’s voice rang out. Her words sparked a collective hunger, and soon the sound of people swallowing filled the air. In the center of the garden, tables from the dining hall were spread out, laden with an impressive array of food and drinks. It looked like a buffet, a testament to her meticulous planning.
We moved to the tables, each grabbing a plate and darting to the food that caught our fancy.
“Yeon-ju, I want this meat.”
“Really? Just wait a moment. I’ll grill it perfectly for you. How would you like it?”
“Just seared on the outside, please.”
“You really know how to eat.”
Watching Ahn Hyun drool over a large, thick piece of meat, I too began to move slowly to fill my plate. Go Yeon-ju was indeed a culinary expert. A quick glance at the tables revealed a variety of dishes, from seafood and meat to fresh vegetables. I had told her not to spare any expense for this gathering, and it seemed she took it to heart.
Determined to enjoy the event, I filled my plate with a reasonable amount of food and sat at an empty table. The clan members, having piled their plates high, began to join me, their faces beaming with satisfaction.
Finally, Ahn Hyun and Go Yeon-ju, looking pleased with the grilled meat, joined us at the table. As I picked up my utensils, the meal officially began.
“It’s been a while since I’ve tasted Go Yeon-ju’s cooking. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Feel free to expect great things, Mr. Shin.”
“Thank you for the meal!”
“There’s plenty, so eat as much as you like.”
The clan members started their meal, engaging in lively conversation.
As I was about to pick at some vegetables, a delicate hand suddenly appeared in front of me, offering a wrap. It was filled with a bit of meat and various vegetables, its vibrant colors making it look incredibly appetizing.
I glanced up to see Go Yeon-ju winking at me, her head tilted slightly. She spoke softly.
“Soo-hyun, you’ve worked so hard. You may say you’ve neglected yourself, but I know you’ve been tirelessly working for the Mercenaries. This is a small token of my appreciation.”
“Oh… Thank you. But I can eat it myself.”
“Are you going to make me keep holding it?”
As I reached out to take it, Go Yeon-ju shook her head, feigning disappointment, and continued in her languid voice.
“Come on, say ah~.”
I could feel all eyes on me. Initially, I felt a strong urge to refuse. But Go Yeon-ju had cleverly masked her gesture as a sincere offering, and it seemed a bit harsh to reject it. Deciding it wasn’t too strange, I opened my mouth and accepted the wrap.
“Delicious, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s very good.”
As I expressed my genuine enjoyment, a bright smile spread across Go Yeon-ju’s face.
“Shall I make you another…?”
Just then, another wrap was suddenly offered from the side. I turned to see Jung Ha-yeon, her eyes slightly narrowed in a gentle smile.
“This is for the clan lord. Please don’t refuse.”
“Ha, haha. User Jung Ha-yeon.”
“Ah.”
”…Let me finish this first.”
Jung Ha-yeon’s eyes were trembling slightly, as if she would be deeply hurt by a refusal. Feeling I had no choice, I swallowed what I was chewing and accepted her wrap. Jung Ha-yeon turned triumphantly to meet Go Yeon-ju’s gaze. The two exchanged a knowing look, their lips curling into subtle smiles.
I glanced around, wondering if the clan members found this odd.
“Wow, clan lord. You’re quite popular! I’m envious. Haha!”
“Haha, it’s getting hot in here. Ah, youth is wonderful.”
But my worries were unfounded; everyone seemed to take it in stride. Relieved, I noticed others busily preparing wraps. Lee Yoo-jung and Kim Han-byeol were not to be outdone, starting to make their own.
Just as I was about to fall into deep contemplation again, I noticed, thankfully, that the female clan members were directing their attention to the envious male members instead of me.
“Goodness, you’re envious of everything. I’m not usually like this, but here’s a treat. Open wide, Sang-yong.”
“Y-Yoo-jung? This is…”
“Grandpa, try this. I made it myself.”
“Hmm…? Ahem, ahem!”
Shin Sang-yong and the elder, who had been laughing heartily, suddenly looked flustered, caught off guard by the situation. Seeing their reactions, I couldn’t help but feel amused. Eventually, they cautiously accepted the wraps, their faces turning a deep shade of red, though their twitching lips suggested they were enjoying it.
I had worried about creating an awkward situation, but thanks to Lee Yoo-jung and Kim Han-byeol, the atmosphere only grew more lively. The purpose of this gathering was to strengthen bonds and camaraderie among the clan members, and it was heartening to see it unfold.
“Oh, this is getting interesting. I can’t just sit back and watch.”
At that moment, Ahn Hyun, clearly enjoying the scene, grinned and began making a wrap himself. He grabbed a leaf the size of his palm, placed a large piece of meat on it, and stuffed it with herbs, finishing with a tight squeeze of his hand.
“How about this? Looks tasty, right? Who wants to try? I’m not usually this generous, but I’ll feed you myself as a special service!”
Grease dripped from the tightly clenched meat in his hand. Ahn Hyun shouted with confidence, but predictably, no one stepped forward. Instead, everyone averted their eyes, looking rather disgusted. Sensing the mood, he scratched his head awkwardly before finally extending his hand himself.
“Yeonju, sister! I can—”
“Get lost.”
“Haha, you’re always so hard to get. That’s your charm, right? Anyway… then, Hayun, sister?”
“Move along.”
“Then… Vivian!”
“What? Hey! I’m trying to eat here! Get that out of my face!”
Vivian was too engrossed in her meal to care about the situation. But she glared at Ahn Hyun with genuine anger, clearly upset by his interruption.
Ahn Hyun retreated, looking around for a last resort. He glanced at someone with a determined look, only to quickly turn away, realizing it was a bad idea. From beside him, he heard Lee Yoo-jung’s voice, tinged with irritation.
“Hehe, everyone turned me down.”
”…”
“Well, I guess I’ll just eat it myself! I never really planned on sharing anyway. Haha!”
”…”
“Wow, this looks delicious. Really delicious. Watch me eat it. Mmm, yum!”
Whether he realized how pathetic he looked or not, Ahn Hyun stuffed the wrap into his mouth, cheeks bulging as he chewed. He made exaggerated sounds of enjoyment, but everyone could tell he was struggling to swallow.
That was Ahn Hyun’s problem, and I was about to turn back to my meal when I caught An Sol’s eyes. She looked at me with a pitiful expression, and as soon as our eyes met, she flinched and fidgeted with her fingers. In her hand was a small, neatly wrapped bite of food.
An Sol hesitated for a moment before lowering her head and quietly eating the wrap herself. I sighed inwardly.
“Sniff, sniff…”
Suddenly, a mournful, choked sob echoed from somewhere.
After the meal, we moved on to inventorying our equipment. It wasn’t a significant task at the moment; we were just checking what we had. There were too many items, and starting distribution now could lead to conflicts. So, to maintain the current atmosphere, we decided to let everyone think about what they wanted for now.
We’d enjoyed our meal and finished the inventory. The gathering had been going on for quite some time. Evening had turned into deep night, but the festivities showed no sign of ending. If anything, it seemed like we were just getting started, with small groups forming to enjoy drinks together.
I watched the clan members chatting and laughing, then looked for Ahn Hyun.
“A man~. Tears~. Don’t call him weak~.”
Already quite drunk, Ahn Hyun was singing with a bottle in hand. Next to him, Shin Jae-ryong was sweating, trying to keep up with the impromptu performance.
“Jae-ryong, my brother. We’re comrades. Comrades.”
“Haha, yeah, sure.”
“Comrade wrap cross! Let’s have another drink!”
“Cross. But you… you seem really drunk.”
‘Now’s the time…’
I’d been watching Ahn Hyun for a while, waiting for the right moment to talk to him.
After a brief hesitation, I headed towards the drinks. Ahn Hyun seemed to have had his fill, and with everyone’s attention elsewhere, it was the perfect time.
I dug through the pile of drinks and found two bottles of a pale green liquid. It was something I’d specially requested from Jung Ha-yeon, more of a potion than a drink, meant to calm the stomach and clear the mind.
I grabbed a bottle in each hand and turned to look at Ahn Hyun. What I saw was unexpected.
“What now? Since I fed you, we’re not comrades anymore? Shin Jae-ryong, leave this fool and come hang out with us. Let’s get to know each other better.”
“No, that’s not fair!”
Just moments ago, Ahn Hyun and Shin Jae-ryong were calling each other brothers, but now Ahn Hyun was sitting dejectedly on the ground. Shin Jae-ryong, with a bulging cheek and a bit of wrap sticking out of his mouth, was being dragged away by Lee Yoo-jung. It seemed she’d fed him a wrap, breaking their comrade bond.
I felt a bit sorry for Ahn Hyun, but it was a perfect opportunity for me. I silently thanked Lee Yoo-jung and walked over to the despondent Ahn Hyun. He didn’t notice me approaching, lying back with a heavy sigh.
Despite his situation, Ahn Hyun’s face looked surprisingly content. Happy, even.
I couldn’t guess what was going through his mind, but I didn’t stop. Soon, I was standing in front of him. He was still humming his song.
“A man… tears… don’t call him weak…”
“Ahn Hyun.”
“What… oh… brother? Wow, the popular guy is here…”
Recognizing my voice, Ahn Hyun lifted his head to look at me.
I raised the bottles I was holding and spoke calmly.
“Let’s have a drink, just the two of us.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Today was a day full of thoughts. Fridays are usually my longest days, with early starts and late returns. But today, I was so disappointed with school that my mind was in turmoil.
Honestly, it was the first time I felt like my time was wasted at school. After class, everyone was grumbling. Were the professors in the first semester just too passionate? It wasn’t just the quality of the lectures; it was their attitude…
Forty minutes late without a word. No materials? No notes? Just read a book, ponder for twenty minutes, read again, take a break, and repeat. It was a new, jargon-heavy course, and they just assumed we knew everything. I had no idea how to study for it. The only thing I liked was that they extended the lecture by forty minutes to make up for being late.
I vented to my brother as soon as I got home, and his two sentences knocked me out.
“I get what you’re saying. I’ve been there. But ultimately, you have to adapt to the professor.”
“Wait until after the exam. See how the others score. There will be those who keep up no matter what. Don’t complain, just work hard.”
^_ㅠ I guess I need to study more.
PS. Not sure about the family visit. I talked to Dad, but he hasn’t come home yet.
PS2. I wonder what Kkyu Kkyu is up to right now?
『 Reader Comments 』
UsainBolt: Haha, congrats on being first. Please keep being curious. ㅜ.ㅠ An Sol is really a pitiful character, second only to Seraph.
Renea: Thanks for the coupon! (__)
Raijina: Removing trauma to become a priest of light? Not quite. Haha.
Opitour19: Ro Yujin Ro Yujin Ro Yujin Ro Yujin Ro Yujin Ro Yujin Ro Yujin Ro Yujin Ro Yujin Ro Yujin.
Cheonnyangboeun: Cheonnyangboeun! That’s not true. It’s a misunderstanding. Please reconsider. :)
WaryongTeacherA: WaryongTeacherA! There seems to be a mistake in the problem! There’s no answer in the options!
CemeteryGates: Thanks for the coupon. I researched a lot when setting up An Sol’s character, but I’m worried about my lack of expertise. Please be kind even if it’s a bit lacking. (?)
Namdab: Haha, thanks for the coupon. I didn’t forget. It’s just that the comments are random. Whine. ㅜ.ㅠ
Angel’s Situation: If I were to give a hint, what is the Zero Code that makes angels and demons clash? :D
Hohokoya1: I’m not sure if I’ll be able to update tomorrow, but if I can, I’ll do my best to write! Thank you for always commenting!
Thank you for reading. I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.