Chapter 48 : Adventure Level 35 (3)

“That’s the walking path.”
I pointed toward the road overlooking the sea for the guy.
“The railing is sturdy, but just in case, don’t lean on it.”
I emphasized my words by spreading my fingers, and Do Yugeon gave a vague nod.
I couldn’t tell if he understood well or if he was telling me to stop talking.
Feels like I missed something, but what?
Ah, right.
“That’s what Yu Mina told me.”
The scenario was that I planned to travel to the island with Yu Mina plus one, and then invited Do Yugeon, but I almost explained it like the owner.

Do Yugeon, who had been admiring the scenery, looked this way.
Silence flowed as our eyes met for a moment.
What?
“Do you really need to stick to that concept?”
“Huh? What?”
“Yu Mina told me. She said this island and that villa are yours.”
What? Following his finger, I turned and saw the villa.
Just then, Yu Mina, whose eyes met mine, waved both hands enthusiastically.
You traitor.
“Well then, I’ll go for a walk—you two have a sincere conversation.”
Ah.

I hurriedly grabbed the arm of the guy who was walking away briskly.
“Wait a minute, I’ll go change into comfortable shoes.”
“You’re going too?”
“Huh? We’re not going together…?”
Do Yugeon avoided my gaze and scratched his cheek.
“I was planning to go alone.”
Without me? Why?
“…Don’t you need a walking companion?”
“It’s just a simple walk—is it necessary?”
My thoughts felt unsettlingly tangled.
“Well, then, yeah. A walk alone is nice. Actually, I wanted to rest at the villa anyway, so it worked out well. I must have gotten tired from the boat ride. That’s why I don’t like this place.”

I saw him off and returned to the villa.
I ran into Yu Mina, who was coming out holding a glass.
Perfect timing.
“My lady, look at this timing! I—”
“Never mind that. Come here.”
Yu Mina approached hesitantly at my beckoning finger.
“You. Do my words mean nothing to you? I asked you to act according to the scenario, but you ran straight to Do Yugeon and told him everything? I’m dumbfounded.”
Yu Mina glanced around nervously, then subtly knelt down.
What the—
“Sorry.”
Such a quick change in attitude.

I was speechless and just stared, so Yu Mina kept glancing up furtively.
Honestly, I’ll let it slide because she’s cute.
“Well, whatever. More importantly, what were you trying to say just now?”
“That! I prepared something.”
I followed Yu Mina to an outdoor table next to the villa where the magical girl was setting things up.
“Ta-da!”
Yu Mina exaggeratedly pointed to a bottle resting in a bowl of ice.
“Dom Pérignon Vintage 2009!”
“So, champagne?”
“Yep!”
“Alcohol?”
There shouldn’t be alcohol at this villa.
Even if there was, it would have been removed.
“I brought it!”
“Why would you bring it?”

Hello, we’re second-year middle school students.
“Our lady has no romance. Of course, I had to bring it!”
“I don’t get it.”
Yu Mina asked, looking puzzled.
“You don’t drink at home?”
“I don’t drink.”
My parents drink wine sometimes, but I’m forbidden from touching it, and personally, drinking isn’t my preference.
Alcohol is for business.
“No romance.”
“Why don’t you put it away before Do Yugeon learns about it?”
“Then we need to drink quickly before he comes? Are you really not drinking?”
A champagne flute was offered.
Hmm.
“Give me one glass for now.”

I sat down and received a glass.
The fruity aroma is nice—a pleasant mix of various fruits.
As I just sniffed the aroma for a while, I was urged on.
“Hurry up and drink. It’s getting warm!”
“Wait, you’re the one who doesn’t know romance.”
I swirled the glass. The aroma intensified. Yu Mina was horrified.
“Who drinks champagne like that!”
“Ah, whatever.”
The magical girl next to us, who had been drinking casually, looked flustered and asked if there was a specific way to drink it.
Yu Mina replied that she could drink it however she liked.
“Champagne is for enjoyment. But it’s best to drink it as cold as possible. Which means you should drink it quickly once it’s poured.”
She looked at me as she said that.
Hey, isn’t there a big difference in treatment here?

After a brief staring contest, I drank it down.
Sweet and refreshing, but um… bitter.
I speared a piece of salad as an appetizer, and Yu Mina refilled my glass.
“Doesn’t it seem like Do Yugeon has been acting distant toward me lately? Why is he doing this? It’s bewildering.”
“Isn’t that largely our lady’s fault?”
Yu Mina said nonchalantly, swirling her own glass. Swirling it herself.
“What did I do?”
“Well, you boss people around, pressure them, and even deceive them.”
I’m living with relative restraint.
It’s not like I plant bugs and spy on people or blackmail them.
I downed another glass and received another refill.
“I’ve been like that from the start—why now?”
“Wow, you’re incredibly honest!”
The magical girl exclaimed in admiration.

“I am quite honest. But what was your name again? I really can’t remember.”
“Call me whatever.”
“Whatever? Really, whatever I want?”
“Yeah.”
‘Whatever’ is good.
“Hello, Baduk.” (TL: A common dog name in Korean, like Fido or Spot.)
“Even so, calling a person…”
Yu Mina looked uncomfortable.
She’s demanding. The person involved isn’t saying anything.
“How about it, as the person involved? Don’t you like Baduk? It’s quite a major name.”
“It’s a wonderful name. I want to hear it so much I could die.”
“You seem to dislike it. You speak rudely.”

Yu Mina choked on her drink and coughed repeatedly.
She waved her hands frantically. What is she saying? She’s lost it. Is she drunk?
I tossed her a handkerchief.
A person’s name… It’s suddenly becoming tiresome. What should I pick? Schrödinger? No, that’s taken. Then Laplace.
“I’ll call you Laplace.”
“Laplace? What nationality is that name?”
Laplace looked puzzled.
“You don’t know Laplace’s demon?”
“There’s no such demon among Christian demons. Is it from a pagan religion?”
“How foolish.”
I emptied my glass.
I held the glass toward Yu Mina, indicating a refill.

“Wait.”
Yu Mina hurriedly wiped her mouth and clothes with the handkerchief.
She’s busy.
I lifted the champagne with magic, and Yu Mina snatched it away.
“Our lady needs to stop drinking. Her inner thoughts are coming out unfiltered.”
“This is called loosening up. It’s proof we’ve become closer.”
Yu Mina whispered to Laplace.
“You know what? Despite acting like that, she never calls Do Yugeon foolish, not even once.”
“I can hear everything, you know?”
“Pout.”
Even if you pout, what’s heard is heard.
“Alcohol is the lubricant of communication. An oiled machine and a dry machine make different sounds.”
“Then can I honestly curse you out?”
Laplace’s eyes widened.
“Do you want to get kicked out?”
She needs to say things that make sense.

“Anyway, you’re Laplace now. Hello, Laplace. Is your research and development going well?”
Laplace stood up and raised both hands threateningly.
“Gyaa! I am Laplace. I have come to judge the angels!”
“I told you it’s not that demon.”
Hopeless.
I subtly lifted the champagne with magic, and Yu Mina blocked me again.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Our lady, what’s your tolerance?”
“How would I know?”
This is the first time I’m drinking in this life, so how could I know?
Yu Mina held up the bottle emphatically.
“This is 12% ABV. I don’t want to handle an incapacitated lady. Very much. Really, very much.”
“You worry about pointless things.”

I pointed toward the villa. Through the window, the Security Team Leader was watching with an incredulous expression.
“Professional.”
“I feel sorry for the bodyguard.”
“He’ll manage somehow.”
When I tried to snatch the champagne again, Yu Mina blocked me again.
Whatever.
“Fine, you drink a lot.”
I waved my hand dismissively and ate some chicken breast to cleanse my palate.
As I stood up from my seat, Yu Mina asked,
“Going to sleep?”
“Do you think I’m a sleepyhead? I’m going to find Do Yugeon. He probably wandered off the path somewhere in the middle and got lost.”
“That’s a bad idea. You’re unfiltered right now. What are you going to say?”
“Is it because I called her rude?”
I pointed at Laplace, and Yu Mina nodded ‘mm-hmm.’
A giggle escaped me.
Looks like I am indeed a bit drunk. I stopped at the right time.
“So naive. But that’s why you’re cute.”

I flew straight toward the walking path.
The air felt cold. I rubbed my cheeks.
I should have eaten more appetizers. I’m sleepy. Should I just go back and sleep?
Do Yugeon was sitting in a grassy area slightly off the walking path.
I landed in front of him, blocking his view of the sea.
“What are you doing?”
“Watching the sea.”
He pointed toward me, so I subtly moved aside, revealing the sea.
“I know that.”
“Then?”
‘Then?’ she asks. Now that she asks, I’m at a loss for words. Hmm. Ah.
“Mr. Do Yugeon, are you worried about something?”
“Not particularly.”

I moved my face close and looked at him.
“Are you drunk?”
“A little?”
The guy sank into thought. I waited patiently, and he spoke.
“Lately, I haven’t really known what I should be doing.”
“Even though you’re studying?”
“I’m just doing it for now. There’s catching up to do.”
Isn’t that enough? What more does he want?
“Right now, you don’t particularly have to do anything. Studying included. But if you’re even studying, that’s more than enough.”
Do Yugeon smiled slightly.
“Isn’t studying something you have to do?”
“Maybe. You can just study abroad. There are many ways to study at good universities overseas even without good grades. So just relax and live comfortably.”
“I’ll just study.”
“Admirable. All grown up.”

I patted his head, and his ears turned red.
The guy lunged forward and hugged me. Uwaaah? Startled by the sudden impact, I flailed and fell over.
Do Yugeon buried his face in the crook of my neck and inhaled.
“I’m going to raise my level too.”
Ack.
That, you should exercise some restraint…