“Why are you like this! Without any side dishes!”
“I can hold my liquor. Unlike you, hyung.”
“That’s showing off. Stop drinking.”
“We’re just getting started though?”
Wonyoung tried to snatch the glass away, but Siyeon didn’t budge. It was unfair to use those arm muscles for something like this.
“Fine, then I’ll drink too. Give me some.”
Sulking, Wonyoung held out a soju glass and said that. Siyeon surprisingly readily poured him a drink.
“You can drink now. Enjoy your meal.”
Right on time, the server finished grilling the meat and left. Finally alone, Wonyoung tried to empty his glass in one gulp. Then.
[※Mission Alert※]
Objective: Make Siyeon drunk.
Reward: Siyeon’s cute drunkenness
Upon Failure: Decline in Siyeon’s affection level
A ridiculous mission appeared.
‘Is the reward a joke?’
It didn’t even say how much the affection level would decline. What the hell is this half-assed mission?
However, if he failed, the already low affection level would drop. With no other choice, Wonyoung racked his brain.
‘My drinking capacity is probably not even half of half of half of half of this guy’s. Then I need to make him crave alcohol.’
“Siyeon, what’s your drinking capacity?”
“Me? I’m not sure. Maybe four bottles of soju?”
‘This crazy bastard.’
“Wow, that’s really strong. I can’t drink well…”
“Well, with that face, it would be weird if you said you could hold your liquor.”
At Siyeon’s chuckling appearance, Wonyoung thought this was the moment and unleashed his trump card.
“People who drink well seem cool.”
“What’s cool about that?”
“Just, they seem strong. Not getting drunk.”
“Then can I take that to mean you think I’m cool?”
Got him. Wonyoung smiled triumphantly inside and nodded.
“Maybe?”
Then Siyeon looked at Wonyoung with suspicious eyes.
“This hyung is a bit strange. You’re not already drunk, are you?”
“I haven’t even had one glass!”
When Wonyoung shouted indignantly, Siyeon snickered. Wonyoung was inwardly sulking thinking it was a failure when Siyeon drank the remaining liquor and refilled it again.
“Then I should earn some points with hyung.”
“Really?”
“Why are you so happy?”
“J-just. I can’t drink well, so I like seeing people who can.”
Wonyoung made that excuse and put meat on Siyeon’s plate.
“Eat side dishes while drinking.”
Even at that trivial action, Siyeon made an affectionate expression before asking.
“Hyung, why are you so nice to me? Do you pity me?”
“…I do feel a bit sorry for you.”
“Still, you’re too nice. Too nice to a low-quality gangster bastard.”
Wonyoung knew this wasn’t the same kind of suspicion as before. He must be afraid. That he might lose someone’s affection at some point. That’s why he needed a reason.
Wonyoung understood well.
He took a sip of alcohol and opened his mouth.
“Fellow sufferers, you know. I’m similar to you too.”
“…”
“You already roughly know, right? My father got scammed and ended up in debt… Both my parents eventually passed away. After that it was hardship, hardship, and more hardship.”
Wonyoung thought. Still, Narae seemed better off than himself, abandoned by his parents.
Though it was funny to compare his own situation with just game settings.
“I don’t think you deliberately chose that path. I also know you’re not doing it because you like it. So don’t say things like you’re low-quality.”
“…”
Siyeon emptied his glass once more. Before he knew it, one bottle was already gone. Thinking Siyeon was drinking too fast, Wonyoung stealthily put another piece of meat on his plate.
Seeing that, Siyeon opened a new bottle of soju and said.
“I don’t have parents either. My mom left home when I was young, and I lived with a father who only caused trouble. Then one day he left me at an orphanage and disappeared. Now I don’t even know where he is.”
Wonyoung frowned. Not cherishing such a pretty kid, but abandoning him? This dog-like…
“People my father scammed came to me and confronted me. Asking where my father was, crying to give back their money, watching those people I thought. Ah, my father is a worthless bastard.”
Siyeon gulped down the newly filled drink and added.
“And I’m probably a worthless bastard too.”
At those words, Wonyoung slammed the table.
“What are you saying? Why are you worthless? What’s worthless?”
At Wonyoung’s question, a bitter smile spread across Siyeon’s lips.
“Hyung knows how to show kindness even to someone like me, doesn’t look at the world with twisted eyes, and grew up well even without parents like me. Paying off debts well, working at a large corporation.”
“That’s different for each person, and that doesn’t mean you grew up wrong either! Your job is just a bit… special.”
“However you package it, I’m a criminal. Just like my father whose face I can barely remember. In the end, that person’s blood flows in me too.”
“You idiot!”
Unable to bear Siyeon’s continued self-deprecation, Wonyoung shouted.
“If you’re such a pathetic person, do you think I would have kept meeting you? Do you think I would treat you this well?”
“…That’s because hyung is kind…”
When Siyeon answered hesitantly with a somewhat flustered expression, Wonyoung snapped back.
“No matter how kind, if you’re nice to a bad person, that makes you an idiot! Do I look like an idiot to you?”
“Hyung, why are you talking like that? Are you drunk?”
“I’m not drunk! I had one and a half glasses.”
Half a glass more and he would get drunk. Anyway, Wonyoung tried to stay calm as he continued.
“You’re different from your father. You’re a good kid. I know. If you were really a bad guy, why would I, who works at a large corporation as you say, associate with you?”
Siyeon, who had been pondering those words, said.
“Honestly, I thought it might be because you’re scared of me. I’m a gangster. Because you don’t know what harm I might do.”
Wonyoung scoffed in disbelief.
“Ha, you? To me?”
“…Of course I wouldn’t do that though.”
Siyeon muttered like that with a slightly reddened face and tried to drink but ended up spilling. Moisture seeped into his loosened shirt.
“Ah.”
Wonyoung blankly watched Siyeon unbutton his shirt and the glimpse of chest visible inside, then shook his head. What the hell is this soft-focus effect?
Wonyoung belatedly checked the notification window that had been pushed aside because it was in the way.
[This statement is incompatible with your character. Warning 3 results in a penalty.]
[Penalty Level 1 ‘Lucky Pervert’ is activated.]
‘In the midst of all this, this was happening again…’
Really, this game seemed to have ground up all sense of mood and drunk it. Wonyoung cursed the game inwardly while chewing on meat.
Soon, Wonyoung, who had been trying not to look at Siyeon’s alluring appearance, changed the subject once Siyeon finished wiping off the alcohol.
“Anyway, what I want to say is you’re a good kid. I don’t make friends with just anyone. A famous actor, a corporate chairman, and you’re among them. You, Ki Siyeon.”
“…”
“I’ve never regretted saving you that day, and I absolutely never will. Even if the same thing happened, I’d save you however many times. Whenever you come injured, I’ll treat you every time and keep worrying about you.”
Even if it wasn’t a game, even if it wasn’t a mission, he would do so. Therefore.
“Don’t make all of this into a futile thing.”
“Rae hyung…”
Siyeon, who had been staring intently at Wonyoung for a long while, suddenly asked.
“Can I kiss you?”
“…”
At that earnest expression, Wonyoung, who almost said yes, hurriedly pinched his thigh.
“No.”
“…After making my heart flutter like this?”
“Wh-when did I.”
Siyeon let out a deep sigh and drank alcohol repeatedly. Surprised, Wonyoung shoved meat into his mouth.
“You want to get scolded?”
“Yes, please scold me.”
“…Are you drunk?”
When Wonyoung asked in disbelief, Siyeon grinned sheepishly.
“A little?”
“No, saying you hold your liquor well… Well, you drank so urgently. There’s no winning against alcohol.”
Wonyoung quickly gathered up the bottles first. Two bottles were already empty. Wondering when he drank this much, Wonyoung was astounded.
“It’s because of hyung. I’m nervous drinking with hyung.”
“You’re the one who ordered alcohol. Really, if you look carefully, you’re a fox.”
When Wonyoung snapped, Siyeon just giggled again this time too. That appearance looked like a fox wagging its fluffy tail to Wonyoung’s eyes, making it even more absurd.
“I bought you expensive meat and you barely ate any. Here, eat more.”
Wonyoung grumbled while feeding Siyeon meat for no reason. Siyeon, who obediently received the meat, suddenly asked.
“Hyung, can I change too?”
“Yeah.”
At Wonyoung’s immediate answer, Siyeon’s eyes widened.
“Didn’t you answer without thinking about it at all?”
“Because I’m certain.”
“…”
“You can do whatever you want to do. With that face… you’ll get through anywhere.”
“…Hahahaha!”
At those words, Siyeon burst into laughter. Laughing with a flushed face, he soon cupped his chin and asked.
“Then will it work on you too, hyung?”
“…”
‘It works too well, that’s the problem, you bastard.’
Wonyoung turned his head slightly and muttered, “Fox, fox…”
Soon he spoke again with a serious face.
“Anyway, if there’s something you want to do, I’m willing to help. I’ll help you with anything.”
Siyeon didn’t ask why anymore. He didn’t doubt his sincerity either. Because he’s that kind of person.
He was lucky enough to meet such a person. Enough to think maybe he’d been so unhappy all this time for this.
So there was only one thing he could do for him.
“I’ll help you too, hyung.”
“Hm?”
“Within what I can do. Your debt, I mean.”
“Siyeon, that’s…”
“Let me help.”
Siyeon reached out and grabbed Wonyoung’s hand as he was transferring meat to his plate.
“Please, Rae hyung.”
“…”
