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[Chapter 141]
[Dungeon Maintenance Crew (3)]
"I'll make an acrostic poem with my name! Someone give me a prompt!"
""""Ah!""""
"Ariel proclaims: You are all being deceived right now."
""""Ri!""""
"Living on dew alone is a conspiracy by the organization! Say it again!"
""""El!""""
"El, psi, cold noodles."
""""...""""
Evening of the 3rd day in the Academy Dungeon.
After Mok Min-ho's party arrived,
Eunha and her friends had dinner all together after a long time.
Then an impromptu drinking party broke out.
"Ah... Talking about cold noodles suddenly made me crave them. Who wants to go eat cold noodles with me when we get out of the dungeon!? Noh Eunha, you have to come!"
"Why does she always pick on me?" "She probably thinks you're an easy target."
"I look like an easy target?" "Hey guys! Isn't Noh Eunha totally weak!?"
""""Noh Eunha is a loser!!""""
"..."
"You heard that?" "Kim Min-ji, really..."
"Why are you picking on just me now? Did I do something?"
In principle, bringing alcohol into the dungeon is not allowed.
But just as there are countless people in the world,
There are some who live without paying any attention to principles.
Ariel was the prime example.
Eunha clicked her tongue when she suddenly pulled out soju from her bag during dinner.
"Min-ho, you must have had a hard time." "The others had a hard time too. When we tried to take away her alcohol, she threw a fit crying and screaming." "She's a bit much..."
"She's not just a drinker, she's an alcoholic. I definitely can't handle her." "I can't handle her either." "What are we supposed to do if you can't handle her?"
"I know..."
As if she had an artifact connected to a subspace,
Alcohol kept coming out of Ariel's bag no matter how much she took out.
The alcohol she smuggled in was now fueling the drinking party.
Her friends were having a blast drinking in the dungeon.
Meanwhile, Eunha gave a wry smile watching his friends going wild.
If even Min-ho can't handle her, who's supposed to control Ariel?
How on earth did On Taeyang manage to control her?
Maybe it's because we're drinking in the dungeon,
But the alcohol tastes especially sweet.
Eunha gently tilted his glass and looked at Ariel.
In the center of the circle formed by their friends,
She was already dancing wildly.
Jin Parang and Kang Si-hyung, drunk and excited, were beatboxing.
Some friends burst out laughing at the performance of the three.
"Guys! I'll make a proper acrostic poem this time! Parang oppa! Give me a prompt."
"A!" "Beautiful girl~ Si-hyung, go?"
"Ri!"
"I actually live on dew alone! Gu-rae gu-rae, bong-gu-rae?" "El."
"I was an elf. Sorry for deceiving you all this time! Wahaha!" """"...""""
Ariel has gone crazy.
The alcohol made her crazy.
No, she was crazy to begin with.
Eunha clicked his tongue watching the scene unfold.
He decided not to join in with them.
He chose to quietly drink with the friends around him.
Just then, a weight on his shoulder.
"Hm?"
"What?"
Jung Ha-yang leaning on Eunha's shoulder.
When she met his eyes, she showed a relaxed face.
It seems she's drunk even though she didn't drink much.
Her cheeks are slightly flushed.
"How much did you drink?"
"As much as you did!"
"You're drunk because you drank at the same pace as me. Want some water?" "Mm!" "Drink some water and rest."
When Eunha handed her water,
She drank it without even using her hands.
Eunha, who ended up giving her water, felt like he was giving water to a small animal.
"Then I'll rest for a bit."
"Okay, rest."
She naturally entwined her arms with his.
Eunha unwrapped her arms and instead wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Jung Ha-yang in his embrace.
She burrowed deep into his arms.
Eunha patted her shoulder with the arm wrapped around her, and drank with just his other hand.
"Someone give me a spear. Even if they're friends, I can't stand watching this anymore." "Ah, Su-bin is drunk? Since you're drunk anyway, have another drink. I'll drink with you." "Eun-woo... You won't run away, right?"
"...Huh? Run away? What do you mean?"
Of course, there were friends jeering from one side.
Fortunately, Cha Eun-woo and Jin Seo-na managed to calm them down.
Eunha smirked at Bae Su-bin glaring at him.
"Guys! I'll make an acrostic poem with Noh Eunha this time! Ho ho! Give me a prompt!"
"I told you not to call me that."
"Oh come on. Give me a prompt! Hurry! Hurry...! I'm so dizzy because I want to do it so badly!" "...Noh."
"NO? No, Yes!"
"Eun." "For Eunha!" "Ha."
"A harem is the only way to survive!"
"Geez..."
His friends burst out laughing.
Eunha looked at them with an incredulous face.
☆
Although they were having a drinking party,
His friends knew to get moderately drunk while circulating mana in their bodies.
It was a dungeon where monsters were roaming around.
They had to know to restrain themselves accordingly.
The alcohol is almost gone too.
They don't seem to have any intention of stopping here, but...
Ariel's alcohol supply was almost depleted too.
Eunha checked the remaining alcohol and slowly looked around.
Even though quite some time had passed,
Unlike the previous night, none of his friends had left their seats.
Even friends who looked tired were staying in their seats with their eyes closed.
Like Jung Ha-yang sleeping while leaning on him right now.
─Hm?
Just then,
Eunha felt a strange gaze and turned his head.
""...""
His eyes met Yoon I-byeol's.
He didn't know how long she had been staring,
But he guessed she must have been looking at him for quite a while.
Their eyes met.
She had been staring at him blankly, but then her face suddenly turned startled and she quickly turned her head away.
Come to think of it...
It feels like it's been a really long time since I talked to I-byeol...
Eunha also averted his gaze from her.
It had been quite a while since he spoke with Yoon I-byeol.
Ever since Eunha started dating Jung Ha-yang,
Both he and Yoon I-byeol,
Had been trying to avoid each other as much as possible.
It became uncomfortable and awkward for them to face each other.
It can't be helped, but...
I shouldn't leave it like this.
Over the course of a year,
The situation of postponing Yoon I-byeol's confession.
Eunha had planned to make her accept him simply as a close friend before the promised time was up, and to firmly recruit her into the party.
But in reality, he hadn't done much until now.
It would be more accurate to say he couldn't move.
Even if I try to approach her... It would only make Yoon I-byeol have false hopes. So I have no choice but to keep my distance from Yoon I-byeol and let her feelings for me fade.
It was regrettable for Yoon I-byeol,
But Eunha was trying to keep his distance. At the same time, he was asking his friends to take care of Yoon I-byeol.
But according to what his friends who hung out with her told him─
─She's not getting along with the kids.
She looks bored.
There were signs of that before.
But back then, Yoon I-byeol had tried to get along with the people who were taking care of her.
But now Yoon I-byeol was just sitting quietly, sipping her drink without saying a word.
At first, friends who tried to talk to her eventually started chatting with other friends when she didn't respond much.
In the end, she was in an isolated situation within the group.
No, she chose to isolate herself.
"─I'm going to bed first."
Finally, she who had only been sipping her drink got up first.
Her friends saw her off reluctantly.
Yoon I-byeol glanced back at Eunha and walked towards the tent with heavy steps.
I'm worried for no reason.
Yoon I-byeol and his friends are not getting along.
Eunha fell into contemplation as he watched her walk away.
He kept worrying about her.
He was only concerned that she kept choosing to be alone.
He wondered if he should follow her now and try to cheer her up.
...This won't do.
This won't do.
I should go see Yoon I-byeol.
Just as Eunha thought that,
As he was about to get up from his seat─
"─Don't go." "..."
"Don't worry about it."
Jung Ha-yang was awake.
Jung Ha-yang held Eunha tightly as he was about to get up.
She pleaded, biting her lip.
"Just..., stay here."
A face that looked like she would cry any moment.
He was at a loss for words looking at her.
If he really wanted to, shaking off her arms would be no problem at all.
But Eunha just couldn't shake off her arms.
"...I'm not going anywhere."
It seemed to have gotten quiet around them.
It might have been his imagination.
Feeling like he was receiving stares from his friends,
Eunha sat back down in his chair.
He hugged her tightly so Jung Ha-yang wouldn't worry.
She relaxed her tense face and snuggled into his arms.
I'm not sure... if this is okay.
I'm not sure if I did the right thing.
Keeping Yoon I-byeol at a distance like this.
Eunha patted Ha-yang's back while contemplating how he should treat Yoon I-byeol.
The ability of
But that doesn't mean he can ruin the party atmosphere.
I messed up from the very beginning.
Eunha recalled when he first met Yoon I-byeol.
He gave a bitter smile.
If only he hadn't shown her kindness back then.
He and Yoon I-byeol.
Jung Ha-yang and Yoon I-byeol.
His friends and Yoon I-byeol.
This awkward situation between them all wouldn't have happened.
Eunha regretted his choice.
Even if I lived my life once more...
Humans still make mistakes.
A regression is not an absolute being.
Even if you've gone back in time,
Even if you know the future,
Eunha realized that he was still just a mortal who would eventually fade away and die in this world.
"..."
But even with that realization,
As long as he's still human,
He will continue to make mistakes in the future.
So the fact that he regressed,
Doesn't mean he can prevent all the mistakes he'll make in the future, but rather he's only gained a chance to minimize them as much as possible.
Nevertheless, he will move towards a better future.
☆
It was nearing midnight.
Jung Ha-yang's party and other students planning to tackle the dungeon first thing in the morning had left one by one.
However, Eunha remained in his seat, drinking with just Mok Min-ho.
Ariel had already passed out...
It was quite a scene.
Just a little while ago,
Ariel, completely drunk, threw a tantrum saying she would drink until she died.
She was being a total nuisance.
In the end, Cha Eun-woo had to drag her away and throw her into a tent to finally restore some peace.
"When are you guys planning to leave?" "Us? Well... I think it's better if we stay here one more day. We still have plenty of time anyway." "...I'm so jealous."
"Then why don't you stay here too." "I don't want to. But is there even anything worthwhile to do if you stay longer?" "Doing nothing is the best. Don't you know?" "...Right, must be nice."
The area had quieted down.
Bonfires were burning here and there.
The only students walking around were those on guard duty.
Except for them, Mok Min-ho and Eunha were the only ones still outside and not sleeping.
"Don't you need to go in?"
"...I want to drink a bit more."
"You're not going to get drunk and go home, are you?"
"Shut up."
"That's why I said drink in moderation."
"...I know."
Although they had relaxed in the hot springs,
Min-ho, who hadn't been at the hot spring area for long, was bound to be tired.
In fact, all of his party members had gone to sleep exhausted.
But Mok Min-ho showed no signs of getting up from his seat.
What's up with this guy?
Mok Min-ho kept sighing.
He seemed tired,
But also like he had something on his mind.
That's why Eunha was staying put, unlike the others.
Eventually─
"─Noh Eunha. No, Eunha."
"What?"
Mok Min-ho raised his head.
Eunha responded to Mok Min-ho, who opened his mouth with a face that seemed to have organized his thoughts.
"Help me out."
"What do you mean?"
Suddenly,
Mok Min-ho grabbed Eunha's hand.
Eunha tilted his head at him, who had a desperate look on his face.
He was quite surprised internally.
This guy usually doesn't lower himself to others...
What's wrong with him?
Eunha, who knew Mok Min-ho's personality, couldn't help but wonder.
He was curious what on earth was going on.
So when he heard the situation─
"─So you want to exchange party members?"
"I'm asking you this favor."
Ariel and Yoon I-byeol had a fight.
As a result, the party atmosphere had plummeted terribly.
Min-ho, Eun-woo, and Si-hyung tried to somehow turn the mood around,
But their efforts were in vain, he said.
The depressed atmosphere may have been revived now that all their friends were gathered,
But once they set out to tackle the dungeon again tomorrow, the party atmosphere would return to how it was before.
...I didn't know something like that happened.
They've been getting along fine until now, and they fought over something like that?
Eunha sighed after hearing the situation from Mok Min-ho.
Come to think of it, Yoon I-byeol and Ariel didn't even acknowledge each other earlier.
Eunha, who had no idea such a thing had happened between them, felt complicated.
Is it because there are more kids now?
Now they even fight amongst themselves.
Eunha looked down at Mok Min-ho, who was bowing his head as he made the request.
Mok Min-ho's decision couldn't be called the best solution.
But it wasn't the worst option either.
They had to avoid the party's coordination breaking down in the dungeon at all costs.
Rather than taking the risk of tackling the dungeon with two people who had developed feelings for each other,
Mok Min-ho chose to eliminate the risk in advance by removing one person.
"To be honest, I'd rather send Yoon I-byeol to your party instead of Ariel, but..."
"Ha-yang would kill me if I did that."
"...Right."
So Min-ho decided to remove Ariel from his party, he said.
Eunha nodded.
He could understand without being told why Min-ho wasn't sending Yoon I-byeol.
Since there was a party available for exchange... That's probably why he made that choice.
I would likely have made the same choice in that situation.
Eunha fully understood Mok Min-ho's circumstances.
In the end, Eunha decided to grant his request.
"So who do you want to exchange?"
"Jin Seo-na. Since we're losing a telepath, we need to replace her with another telepath."
"I see, that makes sense. But I'm not sure if Seo-na will agree..."
The exchange of Jin Seo-na and Ariel.
Eunha fell into thought.
Ariel would probably be jumping for joy if told she could switch parties.
On the other hand, Jin Seo-na─.
─How should I convince Seo-na?
The fox who said she came to relax this time.
Eunha gave a wry smile at the thought of trying to persuade the fox.
What should I say to the puppy...
I hope I don't end up having to brush her tail or something later.
Eunha gave another wry smile.
Anyway, with Ariel's personality being like that, I can't entrust her to the other kids.
Meanwhile, Eunha was half resigned.
The number of people he wanted to recruit to the party had grown so much.
It was impossible to manage with just one party.
So he would probably end up operating multiple parties.
Jin Parang, Jin Seo-na, Ariel.
With those three people, it would be easier to manage by dividing into three parties, and if he assigned a dealer to each party─.
─Am I going to end up always partying with Ariel at this rate? I still prefer the silly hyung...
If he were to create parties he managed himself, he already had a ranking of who he wanted as the telepath.
The best option was Jin Parang.
The second best was Jin Seo-na.
The last was Ariel.
"Sigh... I'll try to convince her somehow." "Thank you. I won't forget this favor."
Noh Eunha's worries only grew deeper.