136

Chapter 136 - Uninvited Guest - 3

"Even drinking turns into work."

The setting had rather unexpectedly morphed into a dinner party atmosphere with the members from the Dasuhoe. 

Of course, I'd prefer to be home writing my novel, yet everyone asks why I'm not keen on going out for a second round. "Back in my day," superiors would boast, "we'd send everyone home in cabs and still be the first in the office after a scant three hours of sleep, following a nightcap." It was the kind of jovial banquet where such senior staff were notably absent.

After sharing a drink with everyone from Dasuhoe and stepping out of the restaurant, the night sky seemed to wobble before my eyes.

"You should've drunk in moderation."

Hwarin chided me with a voice laced with worry.

"How could I, when I'm surrounded by those from the Dasuhoe, who diligently 'stamp their attendance' at the tavern every day?"

I now noticed the ground swaying beneath me. Would I have to surf the waves to get home? If it swayed just a bit more, I felt like I could use the shortening technique.

"Be careful."

As I stumbled, Hwarin quickly grabbed my arm to steady me.

"Thank you."

I must be quite drunk.

"Did the Dasuhoe people deliberately serve you strong liquor to get you drunk?"

Hwarin seemed dissatisfied with the situation of me being so intoxicated I could hardly stand, casting an angry glance back toward the restaurant where people were gathered.

"They served what they thought was good liquor. They wouldn't have given it to me wanting any harm."

The people from Dasuhoe insisted that they could not let Yoonho, the author of 'Hofil's Chronicles,' drink anything but the finest spirits. Indeed, the liquor had been quite good. A little too good, perhaps, as I had gotten drunk in the high spirits of the moment.

"I wish I could have seen that tavern Dannjeong went to."

"Do you even have the money for that?"

"I just said I want to go, not that I could."

"That Dannjeong, did he only go to that particular tavern? Didn't he also grace other taverns and beer houses to lend a hand to the people?"

"That he did."

"So, for tonight, let me cover our tavern costs, just like the ones I frequently visit. It's not an expensive place, but everyone will be satisfied!"

"Oh! You kind of resemble Dannjeong tonight."

"Goodness! Me, like Dannjeong? I'm a far cry from him!"

"Well then, I'll consider you similar if you pick up the tab three more times."

"Ha ha ha."

Standing in front of the restaurant, I heard not only the people from Dasuhoe but also others in the street discussing 'The Prowess of the Tang Family.'

The corners of my lips turned upward involuntarily — my novel was the talk of the streets.

"You like it?"

Hwarin asked affectionately upon seeing my pleased expression.

"Of course, I do."

When I first started writing seriously, it felt like I was finally standing on my own two feet in this world. Now, I feel like I'm taking a step towards my destination.

"You've really achieved your dream of being famous."

Hwarin seemed to remember my once-stated yearning to be well-known through my stories, speaking with an air of wonder.

"I'm still far from it. Far, far from it."

The city of Yichang, where I am, is the second-largest city in Hubei Province after Wuhan. The notoriety I've achieved here is akin to becoming famous in Busan, not Seoul, if we were to compare it to Korea.

Besides, the area of Hubei Province is roughly twice that of South Korea. And the Central Plains, there are nearly 20 administrative regions of such size.

If every province were considered a nation, one would have to succeed in roughly 20 nations before being decreed illustrious across the land.

Though I've succeeded in taking the first step, the great leap ahead to true renown is still distant.

"How famous do you intend to become?"

"Didn't I tell you? I want to be so well-known that my parents and friends can continually hear of me even in the afterlife. To achieve that in the Central Plains, not a soul should be ignorant of the name 'Yoonho, the Magnificent Brush.'"

"That's right... I remember that now."

Hwarin looked at me, her expression bearing a tinge of bitterness. Maybe she thought she'd inadvertently touched on a sensitive subject. There was really no need though.

"Ha, not to mention, to pay back Hwarin's debt, I have to become famous quickly."

I forced a laugh, pretending nonchalance. There's no hurt, Hwarin. No wounds to speak of, in the first place. But it seems she may think otherwise.

"Um… Yoonho. If, perhaps, once you've paid off your debts..."

Hwarin began speaking with an unmistakable tone of apprehension.

"Yes?"

"It's nothing."

"Is there something you want to say?"

"There isn't. Let's go!"

Perhaps it wasn't anything important. Hwarin slipped her arm through mine to support the drunken me and started to leave the restaurant.

"Hey, go easy. I'm dizzy."

"Chuckling. Then hold on tight."

In the dazzlingly lit and raucous streets of Yichang by night.

Hwarin marched me off somewhat roughly toward Dasuhoe. Despite my dissatisfaction with her rather unsympathetic support and my drunken swaying, I could voice no complaint.

I simply couldn't regain my senses due to the profound presence I felt from Hwarin's arm entwined with mine.

-----------------

"Ugh."

Putting aside the lingering desire for the touch of Hwarin's arm, I collapsed into bed as soon as I reached my room.

"Yoonho, at least brush your teeth before sleeping!"

Hwarin yelled at me after she had finished washing up.

"I just want to sleep."

My head had somewhat cleared, but I still felt dizzy. I was afraid I might just sprawl out if I tried to bathe in this state.

"Then go to your bed. This one is mine!"

Somehow it was said my bed smelled nicer.

"I don't care. Just come sleep here."

I waved at Hwarin while staring at the spinning ceiling.

"What, what?"

"Go to sleep."

"Ugh. Really! Wait a second. If you can't get up tomorrow because of a hangover, it'll be a disaster. I've got some hangover medicine I made. Eat and then sleep."

"Okay, okay. Bring it quickly."

Hwarin sat on the bed where I lay and began rummaging through a small drawer nearby.

I absentmindedly watched her as she searched. Her expression was a bit annoyed, yet it was clear that she cared.

Could it be? Is this...?

"Here it is."

Hwarin pulled something out of the drawer and turned to look at me.

"Hwarin, wait a minute."

I caught Hwarin's wrist and pulled her toward me.

"Hey... why, why suddenly..."

Ignoring Hwarin's surprised voice, I managed to pull myself up to a sitting position next to Hwarin, who was perched on the bed.

It's hard to keep my head straight. My head leaned towards Hwarin's shoulder. A pleasant scent. Did Hwarin change her soap? Now that we're living better, such differences are noticeable.

Gulp.

Somewhere, the sound of swallowing echoed loudly. Right, this isn't the time.

"Hwarin…"

I lifted my head to look at her and reached out to touch her face.

"Eh? Wha-what?"

Hwarin appeared puzzled but did not recoil as before when a hand touched what she considered her complex.

"Hwarin. It's a shame. People just… if they didn't have their prejudices, it's actually a charming face."

I gently stroked the spots on Hwarin's face, those that made other people wonder if they were marks of a contagious disease. At a closer look, it was just a face with many spots.

Touching more closely, the texture of the skin with spots felt slightly different.

"Hey, hey. Are you... drunk? Or is this because you're drunk?"

You're the one who brought a drunk person here, and now you're asking if I'm drunk?

Thump!

Something fell from Hwarin's hand and flew off somewhere. What was she holding? It doesn't matter since it wasn't thrown at me. I continued to gently mold her face with both hands.

"Hwarin, lift your face for me."

"Do you want me to lift it for your convenience?"

"Yeah. For my convenience."

"Okay…"

Seeming to understand my intention, Hwarin tilted her chin up as high as she could to match the angle of my face.

Why does she close her eyes when I ask her to lift her face? Illuminated by the light, Hwarin's face somehow looks bashfully red.

I wish she would tilt her head just a bit more. When I apply a little more pressure with my hand, Hwarin's face trembles slightly. Could this be? It's ambiguous.

"Hwarin."

"Yes?"

"Loosen up the front of your clothes."

"What what WHAT?"

Hwarin's eyes snapped open wide, and she shrieked, startled.

"My ears hurt."

"Hey... this kind of thing, it's all about the build-up. Even now, you don't know how much courage it's taken. No, not like that. In other words, we're not at that stage yet... are we? Is that it? No, it's not illicit but still. We should get to know each other first. Right? Or do we already? No but still. If we're to go through with it, at least you should do it yourself. Right? Or not even this?"

Hwarin was flustered.

Was it such an unreasonable request to ask her to loosen up her clothes a bit?

"Then let me do it."

I reached out my hand towards Hwarin's tightly wrapped front.

"Eep!"

The moment my touch landed, Hwarin let out a squeaky scream. The scream stuck in my ears and jolted my mind.

It was a shriek that flew at me like a high note, swiftly clearing the fog in my head and hitting my senses.

Oops.

"I'm sorry, Hwarin. That was a mistake. I didn't mean it that way."

It seems I was so drunk that the brakes in my brain malfunctioned. I'd made a huge mistake. Hwarin's scream dispelled the intoxication that had overtaken my body.

"Huh?"

With widened eyes full of confusion, Hwarin looked at me.

"I just wanted to see a bit of your collarbone area. You don't have to do it. I'm really sorry."

This is embarrassing. I can't look at Hwarin. With a feeling of utter devastation, I turned my head away and stared at the floor.

"No, it's not that. It's just... Ugh, what is it exactly? Wait a second."

Ssshhh. The sound of fabric skimming skin reached my ears. Could it be? Is she really doing it?

I sneakily glanced at Hwarin. With an embarrassed expression, she carefully untied her garment a little with her delicate hands.

"There. I don't know what it's for, but have a look."

"Uh, yeah."

I turned my head to look at Hwarin. I'd only asked to see a bit of her collarbone, but maybe her clothes weren't designed that way.

Holding her clothes from slipping with both hands, Hwarin showed me her upper chest.

And there it was.

A Grand Canyon made of human flesh.

Could this really be a marvel crafted by humans? Would the natural Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls compare to this?

Her upper body had spots too, but they were inconsequential compared to the spectacle before me. I had to clench my jaw to keep my mouth from hanging open.

Amidst the grandeur of her chest, there was a crevice that looked dizzyingly deep.

No, this was no mere crevice, it was a sinkhole.

Perhaps entering it would lead to the discovery of a lost world. Undoubtedly inside, a giant gorilla wielding an axe would be battling a dinosaur capable of radioactive breath.

"Hey, Yoonho?"

Hwarin called me with a tone of unease.

Snap out of it. The world I'm seeking is not the lost one, but the one on the surface. Moving closer to Hwarin, I beheld the area around her collarbone.

"As I thought."

The remaining effects of alcohol and the shock subsided, and suddenly my head cleared.

"Huh? What do you mean 'as I thought'?"

"Hwarin, there's something I need to tell you. Calm down and listen."

I looked at her seriously.

"Why, why?"

"Start with taking a deep breath. It's an important matter."

Gulp. Once again, the sound of swallowing was heard. Hwarin took a deep breath and turned her gaze towards me.

"I'm ready to listen."

First, I adjusted Hwarin's clothes that seemed in danger of slipping and pulled them back onto her shoulders.

There's a chance Hwarin might be shocked. I felt her shoulders tremble oddly under my firm grip.

I looked into Hwarin's quivering eyes and began to speak.

"Hwarin, your face is getting better."