The food stalls were fewer than expected, with only four instead of six. Some stalls had two people working together, which seemed to make the cooking process more efficient. But who cares, as long as they’re making the food right in front of us?
The first stall I approached was where Hayun and Hanna were stationed. The savory aroma wafted through the air, and I already knew Hanna’s cooking skills from the “Love House” days. In other words, her skills were tried and tested.
“Meat! Meat!”
“Meat~! Meat~!”
Someone had arrived before me. It was Ahyeon, tapping her plate and chanting for meat. I was a bit concerned about Han-gyeol mimicking her, but seeing their joyful faces, I decided to let it slide this time.
“Hello.”
“Oh, Suhyun. You came to our stall first?”
As I approached and greeted them, Hayun looked up and flashed a bright smile.
“Yes. The smell was so enticing, I couldn’t resist.”
“Hoho. Good choice. We won, Hanna, didn’t we?”
“Of course. Our clan leader has a keen eye. Oh, sister, the meat’s ready.”
“Great. Suhyun! Hand me your plate. I’ll serve you.”
I tilted my head, wondering if it was that important to be the first to visit their stall. I planned to visit all of them anyway.
Regardless, I quickly handed over my plate, and Hayun began placing pieces of meat on it one by one.
“Hey! Hayun! We were here first!”
Ahyeon protested loudly, but Hayun just laughed it off.
“There’s an order to everything, even cold water. Or you could go to another stall and eat first.”
“Just wait a bit. We’ll grill more soon. Hehe.”
Ahyeon looked like she was about to cry, and I felt a pang of guilt. But as expected, the meat was delicious. The aroma and tender texture were worthy of a professional chef. I looked at Hayun, feeling pleasantly surprised.
“Hayun, have you always been this good at cooking?”
“What did you think of me? I can cook, you know….”
At that moment, Hanna giggled, and Hayun glanced at her before giving me an awkward smile.
“Hoho. Actually, I’m not that good.”
“But this is delicious….”
“As soon as we started planning the festival, I clung to Hanna. If you can’t cook, just stick to someone who can and help out.”
“Ah, I see.”
Understanding her point, I chuckled along. Hanna just shrugged with her usual gentle smile.
I passed the remaining meat to Ahyeon. I wanted to finish it, but I couldn’t ignore her eager eyes.
Moving on to the next stall, I found the old man and Shin Jaeryong. They were leisurely eating vegetables, indicating that this stall specialized in veggie dishes.
“Ah, there you are.”
“Hoho, the clan leader has arrived.”
“Welcome, clan leader. You came at the right time. The freshly stir-fried vegetables are delicious. Hanbyeol’s skills are impressive.”
‘Did he say Hanbyeol?’
I quickly looked inside the stall and, as Shin Jaeryong mentioned, found Hanbyeol in an apron.
“Lower the heat here… add half a spoon of seasoning….”
She seemed unaware of my presence, focused on her cooking with a bit of seasoning on her nose. It was a refreshing sight.
I approached with a smile.
“Hanbyeol.”
Startled, Hanbyeol looked up. I took a few steps closer and reached out slowly.
“Oh, oppa?”
“Hold still.”
She instinctively tried to pull away, but being in the middle of cooking, she only managed to lean slightly. I gently wiped the seasoning off her smooth nose.
“You had some seasoning here.”
I showed her the seasoning on my thumb before licking it off. It was a bit salty but not bad.
Hanbyeol gasped.
“Oppa! How could you eat that…!”
“Hmm? Why? It tastes pretty good.”
”…Really? Oh, no, that’s not what I meant….”
“The seasoning isn’t bad. Anyway, I’ve heard good things about this stall. Can I have a plate?”
When I casually handed her a plate, Hanbyeol, her face flushed, glanced at me repeatedly as she started serving.
Why was she so embarrassed? Despite her blushing, she managed to serve the stir-fried vegetables. As I took a bite, a tangy aroma filled my mouth. Honestly, it wasn’t as amazing as the elders claimed, but it was decent.
As I chewed, Hanbyeol asked cautiously.
”…How is it, oppa?”
“It’s better than I expected. Quite good.”
“Really?”
She seemed relieved, exhaling with a more relaxed expression.
However, the old man and Shin Jaeryong weren’t satisfied, stepping forward with their plates.
“Hoho. Clan leader, you say it’s better than expected? This is very tasty, isn’t it, Shin Jaeryong?”
“Indeed, sir. The seasoning is tangy, and the vegetable aroma is delightful. It seems Hanbyeol has a knack for cooking.”
As they exchanged compliments, Hanbyeol squirmed, unsure how to handle the excessive praise.
“Oh, no. Please stop.”
Despite her protests, the old man continued his favoritism.
“Hmm, nonsense. She could get married right away. Don’t you think so, clan leader?”
“Indeed. Hanbyeol’s future husband will be very lucky. What do you think, clan leader?”
”…Pardon?”
I was taken aback. It was an unexpected question while I was enjoying my vegetables.
“Grandpa… Jaeryong uncle… why are you doing this to my brother… please, stop….”
Hanbyeol twisted and turned, almost pleading. The elders found her reaction amusing and burst into laughter.
“Hohohoho. Did you hear that, Shin Jaeryong?”
“Hahaha. I did. She called him ‘our oppa.’ That’s quite significant.”
“Oh, seriously, why are you doing this…!”
Her voice was almost tearful, and I decided to quietly slip away before she actually started crying. I had almost finished eating, and it was time to move on.
The next stall was run by Chasorim.
“Oh, the clan leader is here. Slurp.”
As soon as I arrived, Sasha Felix acknowledged me, slurping noodles, indicating this stall served noodle dishes. I loved noodles, so my expectations were high.
Standing in front of the stall, I saw Chasorim calmly preparing ingredients.
“User Chasorim.”
“Welcome, clan leader.”
“Sasha says it’s delicious. Could I have a bowl of noodles?”
“Certainly. Please wait a moment.”
Chasorim replied simply and began working swiftly.
Tap tap tap tap. Tap tap tap tap.
The quiet yet precise sound of chopping was music to my ears. I watched Chasorim intently, noticing the necklace around her fair neck.
Chasorim wore her apron neatly, presenting a pleasant appearance. Her composed features and neatly tied hair made her look like a bride welcoming her husband.
“Hehe. You can look forward to it. Our master’s cooking skills are excellent.”
As I stared at Chasorim, Sasha’s proud voice chimed in. I responded, suggesting that Goyeonju was no slouch either, and Sasha expressed a desire to try her cooking someday. As we exchanged small talk, a voice from the stall announced, “It’s ready. Please hand me your plate.”
Chasorim carefully served the noodles and extended her arm with the plate.
“I hope it suits your taste.”
Her words were polite, but she still didn’t meet my gaze. Her head was turned to the side, her eyes half-closed, looking down.
“Thank you for the meal.”
I replied formally and picked up my chopsticks.
Slurp.
‘Huh?’
As I slurped the noodles, I was pleasantly surprised. The noodles melted softly on my tongue, and the vegetables mixed in provided a delightful crunch. The warm broth spread through my body.
Objectively speaking, it was on par with Goyeonju’s cooking.
I looked up in surprise, seeing Chasorim quietly fiddling with her hands, her gaze averted.
“How is it?”
She asked for my opinion, and I answered honestly.
“It’s excellent. Truly delicious.”
”…Thank you.”
Chasorim bowed her head modestly and resumed preparing ingredients.
Tap tap tap tap. Tap tap tap tap.
With the rhythmic chopping as a backdrop, I quickly finished the bowl of noodles. I considered having another serving but decided to visit the last stall first.
After promising to return, I headed to the next location. The remaining chefs were Vivian and Nam Daeun.
‘Everyone’s cooking skills are impressive.’
I didn’t know for sure, but I had an unfounded expectation that Vivian and Nam Daeun’s food would be delicious too.
With a cheerful heart, I approached the stall.
Splat!
“Ah, clan leader!”
Someone suddenly dashed out and grabbed me tightly around the waist.
”?”
As I lowered my gaze, I saw Park Hyun-woo staggering with a face twisted in agony. His legs were trembling, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead, making him look as if he might collapse at any moment.
“User Park Hyun-woo?”
“Y-you can’t go!”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Aren’t you planning to go to the booth up ahead?”
I nodded. It was the only place left to go.
“You absolutely mustn’t go! We can’t lose our clan lord like this!”
Park Hyun-woo clung to me even tighter, as if he couldn’t let me pass.
Just then, two women’s voices rang out.
“Oh! Kim Soo-hyun is here?”
“Look, our clan lord has arrived!”
At their words, Park Hyun-woo let out a startled yelp and fled in panic.
I turned my head, wondering what was going on, and froze in my tracks.
“Gurgle… S-stop…! Bubble bubble…”
For some reason, Sun Yu-un was on the floor, twitching with foam at his mouth. Next to him, Vivian was crouched down, forcefully pushing a black mass into his mouth.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Meanwhile, Geomhu was energetically wielding a spatula, wearing an apron. With each chop on the cutting board, ingredients flew into the air.
“Clan lord, I’ve been waiting for you. I worked hard on this, so please, have a taste! Ahaha!”
I instinctively took a step back.
“Kim Soo-hyun! What are you doing standing there? Here, we even have a service where we feed you directly. Yohohoho.”
But Vivian quickly stood up and pulled me in. As I was dragged along, I instinctively activated my third eye.
『Unidentified Food.』
(General Description: It seems to be a dish with various ingredients. However, the chef’s intention is completely unknown.)
(Detailed Description: It might not even be of this world. It’s recommended not to eat it.)
Recommended not to eat it, huh.
I stared blankly at the information.
’…How on earth do you make something this ridiculous?’
I shook my head vigorously.
“Hey, wait a minute. I’m suddenly full.”
“Oh, come on, just try a bite. It’s really delicious, I swear! Look, he even fainted after one bite.”
“It must be so good it knocks you out. Ahaha.”
Sun Yu-un’s head drooped.
’…’
This is a crime.
“Kim Soo-hyun! Say ah~.”
“Soo-hyun, open wide.”
But before I knew it, the mysterious black mass was right in front of my nose.
Looking at the chunks being offered from both sides, I quietly thought to myself.
Today might be my last day.
After a meal that felt like a journey between heaven and hell, the festival moved on to its next chapter. In truth, the next chapter wasn’t much—just enjoying drinks and chatting happily.
‘That’s exactly what I need.’
As I shook my throbbing head, I felt the soft support of a lap beneath it. Glancing up, I saw Hannah smiling down at me gently.
“You’re awake? How’s your stomach?”
“I still feel like I’m dying.”
After being force-fed earlier, my stomach had turned so much that I fainted, but resting a bit seemed to help.
“Hehe. Rest a little longer.”
As I nuzzled my head into the soft lap, I tilted my head in curiosity. Why wasn’t she enjoying the festival?
Thinking her leg might hurt, I slowly sat up and leaned against the dining room wall, watching the festival unfold.
The first thing I noticed was Ahn Hyun. He was taking deep breaths, looking quite tense. Then, with determined steps, he approached Cha So-rim, his stride reminiscent of military drills.
“Hello! User Cha So-rim! I’m Ahn Hyun! If it’s not too much trouble, could we talk for a moment?”
”…What?”
Cha So-rim’s eyes widened for a moment, but she soon nodded. Watching Ahn Hyun’s delighted reaction, I turned my gaze elsewhere.
Won Hye-soo was still playing joyfully with the baby unicorn, while Woo Jung-min watched from a distance, smoking a cigarette with a content smile.
Yoo Jung was having a drinking contest with Sasha Felix, with Ha-yeon acting as the referee.
Ahn Sol staggered and collapsed, using Han-gyeol, who had already fallen, as her bed.
The old man and Shin Jae-ryong were clinking glasses and laughing heartily.
Vivian was wandering around with a plate of the food she had made earlier. Just then, she caught someone—unfortunately, it was Sun Yu-un passing by.
“Hey! You…!”
“Aaaah!”
Sun Yu-un screamed and ran away.
Watching Vivian chase after him, I chuckled to myself. The lively commotion echoed all around. Thankfully, everyone seemed to be having a good time.
“By the way, Soo-hyun. You know…”
After observing the festival for a while, I stood up with a determined shout.
“Ugh!”
“Huh? Where are you going?”
“I’m exhausted. I’m going to take a break.”
“Huh? What about the festival?”
“Well, I’ll rest at the dorm for a bit and come back if I feel better. It looks like it’ll go on all night anyway.”
”…Should I bring you something to drink?”
I shrugged, leaving it up to her.
I quickly stepped over the cross-shaped Ahn Sol and Han-gyeol and exited the dining room. As I passed through the hallway and was about to head up the stairs, I instinctively stopped. I sensed someone nearby.
Peeking around the corner, I saw a woman standing still and a man with his head bowed. It was Han Byul and Park Hyun-woo.
“I’m sorry, Han Byul. Please forgive me.”
”…Why are you saying this now?”
“Because I’ve joined the mercenaries. And I like it here… I wanted to try being active for once. But before that, I thought I should apologize and ask for your forgiveness.”
”…Lift your head.”
But Park Hyun-woo didn’t lift his head. Han Byul let out a long sigh and gently took his hand.
“I know how well you treated me in the Golden Lion. And I know it wasn’t your intention.”
“Han Byul…”
“We just took different paths for a while. It was an unavoidable situation, right?”
”…Thank you.”
I quietly watched for a moment before moving on. It was almost over, and it wouldn’t be polite to intrude further.
‘Wait a minute. This means I can’t go to the dorm.’
After a brief moment of contemplation, I decided to head to the garden. My stomach was still upset, but I wanted to enjoy the festival a bit more. I thought it would be good to clear my head and calm my stomach with some fresh air.
As expected, the garden was refreshingly cool. The brisk wind felt like it was clearing my chest. My tangled thoughts began to settle, and my troubled stomach calmed down.
After enjoying the breeze for a while, I made my way to the pond. I figured I might as well wash my face.
Just as I crossed the garden and reached the pond, I stopped in surprise.
“Huh?”
There was someone already there. Caught off guard, I halted my steps.
“Clan lord?”
The person who had arrived before me was none other than Nam Da-eun. She was sitting with a bottle of alcohol in one hand, her feet dipped in the moonlit pond. For a brief moment, I thought she looked incredibly beautiful, bathed in the radiant light.
“What brings you here…?”
“Why are you here…?”
We spoke at the same time, then fell silent.
After a moment, Nam Da-eun cautiously broke the silence.
“I had some things to think about. And I wanted to get some fresh air.”
“Same here.”
With a face that seemed to say “perfect,” Nam Da-eun patted the ground beside her.
“Come. Shall we enjoy the breeze together?”
“Sounds good.”
Soon, I found myself sitting next to Nam Da-eun. The quiet night, the moonlit pond, and the awkward silence.
Perhaps finding the silence uncomfortable, Nam Da-eun spoke up.
“Sorry about earlier. I put in a lot of healthy ingredients, so I didn’t realize it would turn out like that…”
“Haha. It’s fine.”
Honestly, I wanted to ask, “Did you really know what you were doing?” But my stomach was still recovering, and just thinking about the food made me nauseous. So, I quickly changed the subject.
“Oh, do you remember what happened in the lobby last time?”
“The lobby… Ahaha. You mean when you scolded me? It’s okay. I’ve already forgotten about it.”
“No, that’s not it. I didn’t mean it the way you think.”
“Hmm? Really? Then… what did you mean?”
At her question, I looked up at the sky, recalling that day. Her smile back then was truly beautiful.
I spoke honestly.
“Back then… I thought you looked really pretty when you were smiling with Vivian.”
”…Yes.”
“That’s all. I just wanted to see that smile more often. That’s why I said what I did, nothing more.”
Nam Da-eun seemed to ponder for a moment before clapping her hands and speaking.
“Ah, so you thought my smile was pretty and wanted to see it more often. That’s why you said that. Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
For some reason, her voice sounded excited, and I confirmed it. Then, Geomhu let out a soft hum and suddenly burst into laughter, nodding her head. A deep smile spread across her face, looking very satisfied.
Eventually, I felt the intense gaze of the Sword Queen on me, and I lowered my eyes again.
“I’m glad you understand. By the way, how are you finding the festival? It seems quite enjoyable.”
“Oh, absolutely. It’s a lot of fun. It’s my first time experiencing a festival since joining the clan.”
“Is it your first festival?”
“Yes, it’s my first within the clan. Haha. But it’s not just the festival; every day here is enjoyable… Looking back, joining the mercenaries was a really good decision.”
Nam Da-eun replied with a bright smile. Her laughter and the way she kept looking at me made my heart feel lighter.
“Thank you for saying that. I also think accepting you into the clan was a good choice.”
“Oh, I was a bit surprised back then. I thought you might have a negative impression because of the rumors surrounding me, but you accepted me more readily than I expected.”
“To be honest, I did have some reservations. But it wasn’t because of the rumors.”
“Then what was it?”
Nam Da-eun tilted her head in curiosity. I continued speaking quietly.
“I was curious why you turned down Istantel Rowe’s offer to join the mercenaries instead.”
“Hmm… You were curious about why I chose the mercenaries?”
“Yes.”
It was true. Even though our clan is doing well now, back then, there was a significant gap between us and Istantel Rowe, and that gap still exists.
The Sword Queen was silent for a while, biting her lip as if deep in thought.
Whoosh, whoosh.
A cold breeze suddenly swept past us. Nam Da-eun gently tucked her hair behind her ear and looked towards the center of the pond.
“Clan Lord, your question made me curious about something too.”
“I’m all ears.”
Her voice was serious, and I glanced at her, trying to remain calm. Her eyes, no longer filled with excitement, were now deep and contemplative.
Finally, Nam Da-eun spoke softly.
“Let me ask you the same question. Clan Lord, do you really not know why I came to the mercenaries?”
Surprised by her words, I turned my head. She was still gazing at the pond, but she had moved closer to me. Suddenly, my throat felt dry.
“Do you really not know why I came here?”
“Haha, Sword Queen…”
“Clan Lord… or should I say, Su-hyun…”
Her voice was tender, and she finally turned to face me directly. We were so close that our shoulders touched, and I could feel her breath. Suddenly, a soft touch covered the back of my hand resting on the ground.
“Let me ask you again. Do you really, truly have no idea why I’m here?”
Her eyes shone more brightly than ever.
“He’s not here either.”
Hannah closed the door to the fourth-floor dormitory, frowning. She had been told he was resting there, but Kim Su-hyun was nowhere to be found.
Hannah stared at the stairs for a moment, then clicked her tongue and headed in the opposite direction, towards the office.
Knock, knock.
“Su-hyun, are you in the office?”
She knocked out of courtesy, but there was no response.
“Are you asleep? I’m coming in.”
Click.
Hannah opened the door with a hint of hope, but the office was empty too. A sigh of disappointment escaped her lips.
“He said he was resting… Where could he have gone?”
Hannah sighed deeply. She was about to turn away when she suddenly stopped. Through the office window, she could see the moonlit terrace.
“Did he go to the garden?”
Thinking it was possible, Hannah quietly stepped inside. She knew it was trespassing, but she only intended to take a quick look at the garden through the window. If she found Kim Su-hyun, she would go down to the garden; if not, she would return to the dining hall.
Hannah quickly reached the window and pushed open the door to the terrace. A cold breeze flowed in. Carefully cradling the drink she had brought, she stepped outside. The moon cast a brilliant light, beautifully illuminating the garden.
Hannah used her magic to enhance her vision and began scanning the garden. She chuckled at the thought of going through all this trouble just to deliver a drink.
Then, her gaze stopped at a particular spot. It was where the light reflected off the pond.
There, a man and a woman sat closely together, leaning on each other’s shoulders.
Gulp.
Hannah swallowed hard and instinctively enhanced her vision further. The figures, once tiny, grew larger and clearer. And in that moment—
“Oh…!”
It happened in an instant. The faces of the man and woman by the pond suddenly came together.
Hannah held her breath.
Crash!
At the same time, the sound of something breaking echoed through the silent terrace.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
I have a lot to say, but I’ll keep it brief for now.
The next update might not be at midnight. It will likely be around the same time as today. There’s a lot to include in the final chapter. I’ll write as quickly as I can.
I’m so sorry, but I love you—all lies.
ㅇ<-<