After the third region was secured, time flew by like an arrow.
Following the announcement that the end of the Steel Mountain Range had been discovered, the Eastern forces surprisingly managed to get their internal affairs in order quite quickly. I’d heard that they’d reached the Southern fortress two days ago, so by now they were probably on their way here, joining up with the Southern troops. (When I told my brother about the Eastern forces’ rapid advance, he worriedly asked, “Suhyun, are you sure if we push for just three more days, we can finally get out of the Steel Mountains?” That made me smile.)
The fortress construction was gradually taking shape, little by little. Of course, it was still far from complete, but it finally felt like things were starting to come together. The battles against the giants, which had felt like a midsummer night’s dream, were slowly fading into the back of my mind, and reality was beginning to settle in.
Once the expedition team stabilized somewhat, my brother stopped rushing around nonstop. One afternoon, he suddenly called me and the other clan leaders together and handed each of us a generous bundle of meat taken from the giants’ territory. Then he said, “You’ve all worked so hard. It’s finally over.” He even granted us permission to drink for just one day.
I didn’t need to ask to understand his intention. At a time when we were just starting to overcome the grief of losing comrades, he wanted to use the power of celebration to shorten the time it took to transcend that pain.
When I brought up the idea of having a simple festival among ourselves that night, the clan members welcomed it with open arms. Honestly, their enthusiasm caught me off guard, but I decided to just go with it. After all, we’d been running nonstop until now, exhausted and with hardly any reason to celebrate.
So, under the pretext of celebrating our success in conquering the Steel Mountains and wishing for Ansol’s recovery, the clan members began preparations for the festival. Some started cooking, while others went around gathering alcohol. Anhyun and Jinsuhyun were banging on bowls and singing folk songs in front of the kitchen, only to get smacked on the top of their heads with ladles and chased away.
“Ow, ow… that hurts…”
I couldn’t help but chuckle as I watched Jinsuhyun clutch his head and slump to the ground, looking miserable.
“You should’ve just waited patiently.”
“Hey, hyung. It’s not like that…”
“…?”
“I just liked it. …Huh?”
At that moment, Jinsuhyun, who had been mumbling with a pout, suddenly sat up straight as if he’d spotted something. His gloomy expression quickly brightened, and he looked over my shoulder, shouting:
“Hyung! It’s alcohol! Alcohol!”
“Alcohol?”
“Look! They brought so much!”
I glanced over and saw, just as Jinsuhyun said, three or four people struggling to carry loads of liquor in both hands. And behind them strutted Vivian, looking as proud as ever.
“Wow, it’s definitely Vivian! No need to worry about drinks tonight, hyung!”
That was true. When we left the Southern fortress in a hurry, we only took the bare essentials, so this amount was more than enough for tonight. …Still, Vivian? She’s usually so lazy she won’t move unless she’s interested in something.
“Why is Vivian here?”
“Oh, didn’t you know, hyung?”
Curious, I asked, and Jinsuhyun turned to me with a bright smile, pointing at Vivian.
“Vivian’s really popular these days!”
“Popular?”
“Yeah. Remember when we were getting crushed by the giants? She pulled off a perfect flank with the beast army, right?”
“Right. So people are grateful she saved our lives?”
“That’s the main reason. But after that, since the users started noticing her, she’s been strutting around everywhere.”
“Strutting around?”
“Yeah, and apparently some people find that adorable. So she’s been pretty arrogant lately.”
“…”
I was at a loss for words at Jinsuhyun’s surprisingly detailed explanation. I thought everyone was keeping themselves in check, but I never imagined something like this.
“Well, it is Vivian, after all.”
Still, it was a relief that people found her lovable (though I didn’t quite see how). Not thinking of Vivian earlier was a big oversight on my part.
“Oh, right!”
Just then, Jinsuhyun, who had been smiling, suddenly widened his eyes and shouted, as if he’d just remembered something. Watching his expressive face, I waited for him to continue.
“W-we have to stand guard tonight, don’t we?!”
…Huh?
‘This is serious.’
My brother was more stubborn than I thought and never let his guard down, no matter the situation. Didn’t he just tell us to keep the watch properly? But who would want to stand guard when there’s such a delicious and fun night ahead?
It would be easier if there was a set rotation, but I’d heard that lately, no one had been assigning shifts; instead, those who were free took turns.
Anyway, Jinsuhyun’s shout was probably heard by everyone. The lively noise from before instantly gave way to an awkward silence.
“Ah~ I-I guess I’ll go help with the cooking…”
Vivian quietly broke the silence, trying to slip away. But Sun Yuwon shot an arrow at her and said, “Don’t talk nonsense,” making her scream and freeze in place.
“W-why don’t we just put Solie to bed?”
Yoo Jeong cautiously suggested. But after receiving countless confused looks, she lowered her head.
We waited a bit longer, but as expected, no one volunteered to take the watch. I understood, but I couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“I-I’ll do it. H-ha ha…”
…If it were that person, they’d have stepped up by now.
Since it had come to this, I had no choice but to decide. All eyes turned to me, and I quietly spoke.
“How many people need to stand guard?”
“Two,” came the answer from beside me. I looked at Jinsuhyun and continued.
“Then here’s what we’ll do.”
“What’s that?”
“The person who brought up the idea picks who goes on watch.”
“Whaaat? That’s not fair!”
Basically, it was a way to pass the buck. Whoever got chosen would be resented, but no one wanted to volunteer.
Jinsuhyun frantically waved his hands, refusing, but I wasn’t changing my mind.
“But here’s the deal.”
Of course, I wasn’t just trying to dump the responsibility.
“I’ll take one of the watch shifts. The whole time, until it’s over.”
“…What?”
“You said two people need to go, right? So I’ll take one spot, and you just pick the other.”
“N-no, you don’t have to go, hyung…”
Jinsuhyun shook his head, looking a bit dazed. But after glancing around, his eyes suddenly sparkled with determination.
Then he smiled and bowed his head.
“Yes, hyung. I understand. I’ll take responsibility for choosing the other person.”
“Good. I’m counting on you.”
With that, I turned and headed toward the watch post.
A little while later.
“Alright, alright! One spot left! Just one! Tonight, a one-on-one date with hyung, uninterrupted by anyone else! Only one spot left!”
I heard Jinsuhyun’s excited voice behind me.
“Anyone who wants this spot, come to me with a worthy offer…! W-wait, why are you running? Don’t hit me! Why are you hitting me all of a sudden?!”
An hour had passed since I arrived at the watch post. Darkness had fully settled around me, but I wasn’t bored. While a noisy festival is fun, I preferred the quiet.
‘But I wonder who’ll show up.’
From Jinsuhyun’s earlier shout, it sounded like the competition was fierce. Who would come? It felt like the first time going on a blind date set up by a friend.
The answer came sooner than I expected. Suddenly, the air was filled with the savory smell of food, and I saw someone staggering over from the other side. Carrying a pile of dishes and liquor in both hands (and even balancing a bottle on her head), it was none other than Vivian. My eyes widened in surprise. I never expected her to come.
“What are you doing here?”
“Hmph. Just so there’s no misunderstanding, I’ll say this first.”
Vivian carefully set down the dishes and drinks, then said in a sharp tone:
“I’m here because they said the person who helps with the watch gets the most food. It’s not because I want to be with you, so don’t get the wrong idea.”
Then she plopped down across from me. I was about to reach for a dish when she suddenly snatched it away. I was left dumbfounded.
“What are you doing?”
“Hmm? You? I brought this to eat.”
“What?”
“Since I brought it, it’s mine. I got the drinks myself, too. You don’t get any.”
“Hey, that’s unfair.”
“Yeah~ I’m unfair~ Anyway, you can get your own food. Or just watch me eat~ Oh! Since we’re on watch, I guess we can’t leave our posts, huh~?”
Vivian, who had been teasing me so relentlessly, actually started eating all by herself. Not only that—every now and then, she’d suck her fingers and say, “Mmm~ Delicious~ As expected, Ko Yeon-ju and Im Han-na’s cooking is the best~.” Anyone could tell she was deliberately trying to get under my skin.
Honestly, I wanted to grab her by the hair and shove her face into the bowl, but I quickly changed my mind. Vivian kept sneaking glances at me while eating, as if silently begging me to say something first.
‘Seriously, she’s not a kid.’
I let out a dry chuckle in my head and spoke quietly.
“If you have something to say, just say it. Stop acting like a child.”
“W-what?”
Vivian, caught off guard as our eyes met, let out a sharp little squeak. But she quickly composed herself and, with a mocking smirk, started babbling.
“Hah, what do you mean? You’re the one who should say if you want to eat.”
“Not really. I just thought you wanted to talk to me.”
“That’s not funny at all. Wait, what’s gotten into you? You’re usually so dismissive of me, but today you’re all chatty~?”
“Oh? So that’s how it is?”
Vivian seemed to have made up her mind to confront me today. Her voice was sharp, almost venomous. She was clearly ready for a showdown.
Well, I had been a bit harsh. I told her to move away quickly in front of Ko Yeon-ju, ignored her lurking around me for hours during the watch, and even snapped at her pretty strongly last time.
‘But she’s Vivian.’
Thinking that, I reached into my pocket and pulled something out. If Vivian was going to act like this, I had a plan too.
I unfolded a document fully and waved it in front of her like a challenge. It was a contract. I spoke calmly and clearly.
“By the power vested in this contract…”
“W-what?”
Vivian, who had been happily munching on meat, looked up at me, startled. Then, noticing the contract in my hand, she jumped up from her seat.
“W-wait a minute!”
But words came faster than actions.
“Tell me the real reason you came here today.”
For a moment, Vivian froze stiff. Then, creaking as she moved, she came forward and suddenly bowed deeply, prostrating herself. Oh, this is getting interesting.
“So, what’s the real reason you applied for the watch duty today?”
“I-I… I applied because I wanted to be alone with my master, Kim Soo-hyun. The competition was fierce, but I used every means to win.”
“Then why did you say what you said earlier?”
“Recently, I’ve been hurt by Master Kim Soo-hyun a lot. So, out of frustration, I said things I didn’t mean.”
“You could’ve just said that from the start.”
“But somehow, my pride wouldn’t let me. I had this silly plan that if Master Kim Soo-hyun spoke to me first and gently soothed me, I’d reluctantly accept it. I wanted to use this chance to mend our distant relationship.”
Hmm. Just as I thought. Vivian never fails to surprise me with how smoothly she talks.
Anyway, feeling that was enough, I dropped the contract onto the table. Sitting down in front of her bowl, I chuckled and said,
“So, what do you think, Vivian?”
“……”
“Well, since you want it so badly, I’ll eat with you. Come here. Let’s eat together.”
“……”
But unexpectedly, Vivian didn’t say a word. She didn’t even get up. She just stayed bowed down like that. Curious to see what she’d do next, I finished my drink alone and watched, but even after ten minutes, she showed no sign of moving.
The only differences were that she clenched her fists tightly and her petite shoulders started trembling slightly. Her breathing grew heavier too.
‘No way…’
I cautiously reached out and touched her chin.
“Are you… crying?”
When I gently lifted her face, I finally saw it. Her cheeks were flushed red, and she was breathing hard, clearly upset. Her eyes, glaring at me, were already brimming with tears.
Then, a single tear rolled down her cheek.
“You… you really…”
Biting her lower lip hard, Vivian spoke in a voice barely holding back tears. Her pride was clearly wounded as her lips trembled and she glared at me like she wanted to kill me.
“You terrible person… from now on… it’s really, truly over between us.”
But then she swallowed hard, spat out the words fiercely, and suddenly stood up. Turning around, she stomped off in the opposite direction.
She’d made a bold move, but I kept my tone soft and teasing.
“Really?”
“Shut up! You jerk!”
“Fine, do as you please. But do you really think you can leave? The contract…”
“……!”
Vivian’s steps froze instantly. I quickly spoke again.
“By the power vested in this contract… come back and hug me.”
“W-what?!”
What happened next was quite a show.
“Nooo! I don’t want to!”
She resisted stubbornly, groaning as if refusing to come, struggling with all her might. But in the end, she turned around and took one step, then another—like a robot.
Finally, seeing Vivian quietly nestled in my arms, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“Hahaha, hahaha! Ah, this is driving me crazy.”
“What’s so funny? You forced me with the contract!”
Maybe my laughter annoyed her. Still holding me tightly, Vivian kept glaring and snapped angrily, clearly acting like she was only there because she had no choice.
But I couldn’t help it. The truth was, I hadn’t actually used the contract’s power. I’d dropped it in front of her earlier (the contract only works if I hold it), and hadn’t picked it up yet.
Trying to hold back my laughter, I finally said,
“W-well… heh! V-Vivian, actually…”
“W-what!”
“I didn’t use the contract’s power this time.”
“……?”
The moment I said that, Vivian’s eyes went wide. Instead of saying more, I just pointed to the contract lying on the floor.
After a moment, she looked down at it quietly, her expression hardening with a look of disbelief. I teased her with a smirk.
“Honestly, you’re not very honest either, huh?”
Vivian stared at me, speechless for a while.
But then she sniffled repeatedly, blinking her eyes, and twisted her face into a sad pout.
That didn’t last long.
“Waaaaaahhhhhhh!”
Unable to hold it in any longer, Vivian opened her mouth wide and sobbed loudly, tears streaming down like a flood after holding them back for so long.
‘Ah, I made her cry.’
Thinking that, I chuckled softly and hugged her tightly from behind. I hadn’t realized it before, but right now, Vivian seemed incredibly endearing.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Ah, it’s been such a long time since I wrote something slice-of-life, and it’s actually fun. Haha.
I hope today’s chapter helped lighten the heavy mood that’s been building up so far. :)
Also, I read the comments from yesterday. The debate about my gender is still going strong. To clear things up for confused readers: I’m a man. A male. A guy. My resident registration number even starts with a 1. XY chromosomes, all the way.
And to other readers, please don’t say weird things. If it gets worse, there might be a second “loli war.”
I surrendered and apologized on the first one within a day, but from the second one on, it might actually show up in the story and the notes.
Please, no more, okay?
…Phew.
By the way, today my mom made me some bokbunja juice—black raspberry juice—with lots of honey and ice cubes floating in it. But until yesterday, she said bokbunja was only for my dad, and neither my brother nor I were allowed to touch it.
Yet today, she gave it to me (not to my brother). She said it’s good for relieving fatigue, but I’m not sure how to take that… ㅜ.ㅠ