Chapter 335 |
Just as Ahn Hyeon said, the preparations for the party—no, the team-building event—were already complete, and everyone was waiting for me. Seeing how eagerly they were all waiting, it seemed they were quite pleased to have a get-together after so long.
As I walked over to where the clan members were gathered, Jung Ha-yeon gently handed me a wine glass. It was shaped like a rounded, upturned semi-circle, about a third of the way full with a clear liquid that shimmered with a mystical, watery light. I recognized it immediately.
The liquid was called 'Mermaid's Tears,' a high-class beverage praised for its sweetness that melted across the tongue and its subtle, refreshing coolness. Its name also symbolized 'prosperity, glory, and endless development.'
All preparations were complete. I could no longer ignore the heated gazes of the clan members who had been staring at me for a while, so I calmly began to speak.
"I was originally planning to give a bit of a long speech before we started, but I can't bear your stares any longer. So, I'll keep it short."
I'd only tossed it out as a joke, but I could see clan members sighing in relief here and there. The looks on their faces clearly showed they were genuinely glad. Feeling a little sheepish, I continued.
"Although it hasn't even been a year since our clan was founded, we've been through so much that it would take forever to recount it all. And it's true that I've been so busy with external affairs lately that I've neglected our internal matters. This event today was suggested by User Jung Ha-yeon, a special festival arranged for all of you. I have only one instruction for you right now. For this moment, set aside all your complex thoughts. I only hope that you will all eat your fill, drink your fill, and enjoy this party to the fullest. That is all."
After finishing my speech, I raised the wine glass I was holding. Then, in a voice slightly stronger than before, I powerfully announced the start of the festival.
"To Mercenary."
As if they had been waiting for this moment with bated breath, the clan members all shouted in unison and raised their glasses. The moment I brought my glass to my lips, they all began to drink their 'Mermaid's Tears' at the same time.
Huh?
As I drained the glass, I felt a slight fizz in my mouth. 'Mermaid's Tears' was originally a calm and smooth drink, but this one had a sweet and refreshing texture. However, I soon felt my spirits lift and my mood improve, and I realized something extra had been mixed in. It was a glimpse of Jung Ha-yeon's meticulous consideration, meant to help everyone properly enjoy the party.
"Whoa! This is delicious!"
"Fwah... Ummi, what on earth is this...?"
The faces of the clan who drank the 'Mermaid's Tears' were even more flushed than before. Some already had a slight blush on their cheeks, a sign the effects were spreading. Just as everyone was grinning happily in their elevated moods, someone clapped their hands lightly.
Clap, clap.
"Alright. Shouldn't we start eating now? I hear some people have been starving themselves all day just for this. Hehe."
"Nuna! That's me, me! Meat! Meat!"
It was Go Yeon-ju's voice. At her words, everyone's faces lit up with appetite, and soon I could hear the sound of people swallowing their saliva from all around. In the center of the garden, tables from the dining hall were spread out wide. On top of them was an enormous amount of food and alcohol. She had clearly put a lot of effort into it; it looked just like a buffet.
We soon moved to the tables, each of us grabbing a plate from the stack on one side and scattering like lightning to the tables with the food that suited our tastes.
"Yeonju-nunin! I want this meat."
"You do? Then wait just a moment. I'll grill it deliciously for you. Ah, how would you like it cooked?"
"Just sear the outside, please. Hehe."
"You certainly know how to eat."
After watching Ahn Hyeon drool as he pointed at a large, thick cut of meat, I also began to move slowly to get some food. Go Yeon-ju was certainly a woman with a discerning palate. A quick scan of the tables revealed all sorts of options, from fish and meat to fresh vegetables. I had told her not to spare any gold for this party, and it seemed she had taken that to heart.
In any case, deciding to enjoy myself to the fullest, I dished out a moderate amount of food and sat at an empty table. The other clan members, having greedily filled their plates, also began to sit down one by one, all with beaming faces.
Finally, Ahn Hyeon and Go Yeon-ju joined the table late, Ahn Hyeon looking satisfied, as if he'd gotten the meat he wanted. My lifting of my spoon signaled the start of a joyful mealtime.
"It's been a while since I've tasted your cooking, Go Yeon-ju-ssi. I'm looking forward to it."
"Hoho. You can look forward to it, Shin Sang-yong-ssi."
"I'll eat well!"
"There's plenty left, so don't worry and eat a lot."
The clan members also began to eat, their cheerful conversations blossoming like flowers.
As I was rummaging through the vegetables for a simple palate cleanser, a delicate hand suddenly appeared in front of my mouth. I looked to see what it was and saw a lettuce wrap, or ssam, held in a lightly curled hand. It was filled with a bit of meat and various vegetables, its diverse colors making it look truly appetizing.
When I glanced up, I saw Go Yeon-ju tilting her head slightly and giving me a wink. She spoke immediately.
"Soohyun. You've worked so hard all this time. You said you were neglectful, but I know you've been busier than anyone for Mercenary's sake. This is just a small token of my appreciation for all your hard work."
"Ah... Yes. Thank you. But I can just eat it myself."
"Oh, come on. Are you going to keep my hand hanging here awkwardly?"
When I reached out to take it, Go Yeon-ju feigned disappointment and shook her head. Then, in her characteristically languid voice, she continued.
"Here. Say ah--."
I could feel everyone's eyes turning to us. At first, I felt a strong sense of rejection. However, Go Yeon-ju had created a smokescreen of goodwill, and just as she said, it felt a bit too harsh to refuse. In any case, I figured it wasn't so strange as to be a big deal, so I obediently opened my mouth and accepted the ssam.
"Hoho. I'm so happy, Soohyun! Is it good?"
"Yes. It's delicious."
As I gave her my honest opinion on the flavors spreading in my mouth, a bright smile blossomed on Go Yeon-ju's face.
"Then shall I make you another...?"
It was then. Just as Go Yeon-ju was about to continue, an identical ssam was thrust forward from my side. I turned my head slightly to see Jung Ha-yeon, her eyes raised just a fraction, a faint smile on her lips.
"This is for the Clan Lord from me, too. Please don't refuse."
"Ha, haha. User Jung Ha-yeon."
"Ah."
"...Let me just finish this first."
The corner of Jung Ha-yeon's eye was twitching. She looked as if she would be deeply hurt if I refused, so I felt I had no choice. After swallowing what I was chewing, I accepted her ssam.
Jung Ha-yeon then turned her head triumphantly to meet Go Yeon-ju's gaze. The two of them locked eyes mid-air, the corners of their mouths lithed in faint smiles.
Worried that the other clan members might find this strange, I scanned our surroundings.
"W-Wow. Clan Lord. Your popularity is really through the roof, isn't it? I'm so jealous. Haha!"
"Hohoho. How passionate, how passionate. Yes. It's good to be young."
But my worries were unfounded; it seemed everyone thought it was no big deal. As I breathed a quiet sigh of relief, I felt a flurry of movement from here and there. Not to be outdone, Lee Yu-jeong and Kim Han-byeol had also begun making wraps.
For a moment, I was about to fall back into deep contemplation. But thankfully, they seemed to have some sense, as the female clan members' hands were directed not at me, but at the men who had just expressed their envy.
"My goodness. Getting jealous over something like this. I'm not usually this kind of woman, but I'll make an exception. Here, Sang-yong oppa. Ah."
"Y-Yu-jeong-yang? I-If you do this..."
"Grandfather. Please try this. I made it myself."
"Hmm...? Ahem, ahem!"
Shin Sang-yong and the old man, who had been chuckling just moments before, now looked flustered and coughed awkwardly, seemingly burdened now that the situation was upon them. Seeing that, I felt a sudden sense of satisfaction. In any case, the two of them soon cautiously accepted the wraps. Their faces were flushed red as if they were about to burst, but the twitching of their lips suggested they were enjoying it.
I had been worried it might create an awkward situation, but thanks to Lee Yu-jeong and Kim Han-byeol, the atmosphere became even more mellow. The purpose of the team-building party was to foster friendship and strengthen bonds among the clan members, so this could be seen as a rather heartwarming situation.
"Oho. The mood here is getting interesting, isn't it? Then I can't just sit back and do nothing."
It was then. Ahn Hyeon, also pleased with the situation, grinned and started making his own ssam. Soon, the guy committed an atrocity: he picked up a single herb leaf the size of his palm and placed an entire huge piece of meat on it. He then capped off the monstrosity by haphazardly stuffing in whatever herbs he could find and squeezing his fist tight to form the wrap.
"How's this? Looks delicious, right? Who wants it? Raise your hand! I'm not usually this kind of guy either, but as a special service, I'll feed it to you myself!"
Meat grease dripped from his clenched fist. Ahn Hyeon shouted confidently, but naturally, not a single person stepped forward. In fact, everyone was averting their gaze with expressions of disgust. He must have sensed it too, because he scratched his head for a moment before finally starting to offer it himself.
"Yeonju-nunin! I..."
"Get lost."
"Ha, haha. You're playing hard to get, as always. That's your charm. Anyway... Th-Then, Ha-yeon-nunim?"
"Get it away from me."
"Th-Then... Vivian!"
"Huh? Hey, you bastard! I was in the middle of enjoying my food! Get that away! You're making me lose my appetite!"
Vivian, oblivious to the situation, was completely engrossed in her food. But now, she seemed genuinely enraged at Ahn Hyeon for turning her stomach, glaring daggers at him.
Ahn Hyeon faltered and retreated. Then, as if he'd found his last hope, he looked at someone with a gaze full of tragic resolve, only to immediately turn away with a look that said, 'Nope, not this one.' From the side, for some reason, I heard Lee Yu-jeong let out a sound of fury.
"Hehe. Everyone's refusing."
"...."
"W-Well, then I'll just eat it myself. To be honest, I never planned on giving it away in the first place. Hahaha!"
"...."
"Wow, this looks good. It looks really delicious. Look here. I'm eating it. Chomp, chomp!"
Did he know he was only making himself look more pathetic, or not? Ahn Hyeon finally shoved the wrap into his mouth in one bite and began to chew, his cheeks puffed out. He even made gestures, saying, "Mmm--," as if it were truly delicious, but everyone listening had already noticed that was choking.
In any case, that was his problem. I was about to turn my head to resume my meal when I suddenly met the eyes of Ahn Sol, who was looking at me with a pitiful expression. The moment our eyes met, she flinched in surprise and began to fidget with her fingers. In Ahn Sol's hand was a dainty little wrap.
Ahn Sol seemed to hesitate for a long time before finally bowing her head low. As I watched her bring the ssam to her own mouth and quietly nibble on it, I sighed inwardly.
"Sob..."
Suddenly, a terribly pitiful, sad, choked-up sound drifted to my ears from somewhere.
•
After the meal, we immediately began to sort through the equipment. For now, however, it wasn't a serious affair. It was merely a chance to see what kind of equipment we had. Not only was there a huge amount of it, but starting to distribute it in this atmosphere could easily lead to conflict. So, to maintain the mellow mood, I had postponed it, telling everyone to just think about what equipment they wanted for now.
We had enjoyed our meal and finished tallying the equipment. A good amount of time had passed since the party began. What was evening had now turned into deep night, but the festival showed no signs of ending. If anything, it seemed to have just passed its midpoint, as people gathered in small groups with those they got along with, enjoying alcohol.
I watched the clan members as their conversations blossomed, then looked for Ahn Hyeon.
"A man's... tears... Don't you dare call them weak--."
"Ahn Hyeon."
"Wha... Uh... H-Hyung-nim? Goodness. What brings the popular guy over here...?"
Recognizing my voice, Ahn Hyeon shot his head up and looked at me.
I held up the bottles I was carrying and spoke calmly.
"Let's have a drink. Just the two of us."
In truth, I had been watching Ahn Hyeon for a while now. I needed to find the right timing to bring up our talk.
After a moment of thought, I walked over to where the alcohol was gathered. I figured Ahn Hyeon had enjoyed himself enough by now, and with the clan members' attention scattered, this was the most opportune moment.
I rummaged through the mountain-like pile of alcohol, reaching my hand deep inside, and found two bottles of a light green, shimmering liquid near the back. This was something I had specially requested from Jung Ha-yeon; it was a liquid closer to a potion than alcohol, with the effect of calming the stomach and clearing the mind.
I bent down as far as I could, grabbing a bottle in each hand, then straightened up and turned my head to look at Ahn Hyeon. What I saw was an unexpected situation.
"What to do? I fed you, so we're not comrades anymore, are we? Shin Jae-ryong-ssi. Just leave this fool and come hang out with us. We should use this chance to get closer."
"N-No! That's cheating!"
Just moments ago, Ahn Hyeon and Shin Jae-ryong had been calling each other 'big bro' and 'little bro,' but something must have happened, because Ahn Hyeon was now sitting collapsed on the ground. And Shin Jae-ryong was being dazedly dragged away by Lee Yu-jeong. Seeing Shin Jae-ryong's bulging cheek and the bit of ssam sticking out of his mouth, I could guess that she had shattered their comradeship by feeding him a wrap.
I felt incredibly sorry for him, but personally, it was nice timing. I offered a small thank you to Lee Yu-jeong in my head and walked over to the dejected Ahn Hyeon. The guy didn't even seem to notice me approaching as he flopped down on his back and let out a loud sigh.
When his face came into view, it was, surprisingly, one that looked very happy. Should I say he looked blissful?
I couldn't guess what on earth he was thinking, but I didn't stop walking. Soon, I reached him. Ahn Hyeon was still humming his song.
"A man's... tears... Call them weak..."
"Ahn Hyeon."
"Wha... Uh... H-Hyung-nim? Goodness. What brings the popular guy over here...?"
Recognizing my voice, Ahn Hyeon shot his head up and looked at me.
I held up the bottles I was carrying and spoke calmly.
"Let's have a drink. Just the two of us."