Last time I got the reward for finding the Chief’s Son was after all the classes ended next Friday.
The Lizard Beastman called us over and handed each of us a thick white envelope.
It felt heavier than expected; maybe they stuffed some extra payment in there due to the Animal Enthusiast capture event.
At that moment, Elcia was suddenly right next to me like a ghost.
Before I knew it, she was already pressuring me from the side.
Though she didn’t try to grab it herself, her cheerful smile beside me was subtly burdensome.
Then Elcia wrapped her arms around me and said in a sweet voice,
“Husband! Do you trust me?”
“Not this time, you crazy b*tch.”
No way am I falling for the same trick three times.
Once is a mistake,
Twice is a coincidence.
But three times? That’s intentional.
[Isn’t there someone who has been bunker-ringed three times in a row?]
‘……Oops, f*ck. I was supposed to upload at 22:22.’
‘……Oops, f*ck. I was supposed to upload at 22:22.’
[…Why are you saying it twice?]
‘I thought it should be said that way.’
The ultimate softness Elcia was applying to my arm,
Along with her gentle psychological pressure on my mind.
I felt like I was going to be numb.
I quietly slipped my hand away and made a dash for the snack bar to escape both pressures.
I think I saw Elcia looking slightly regretful, but I ignored it and headed for the snack bar.
[That pressure was no joke, huh?]
‘Wow, I thought I was going crazy.’
The snack bar owner frowned as he saw me rushing in.
It seems he remembered the last time I couldn’t use my card.
“What do you want?”
“Bring me some alcohol.”
“We don’t do credit here, so get lost, you beggar!”
The snack bar owner growled at me.
It sounded pretty threatening, but.
I had nothing to fear right now.
I threw the cash envelope at his face with the most sneaky smile I could muster.
“Bring it all as alcohol.”
“So you’re a paying customer! Got it!”
Normally, even with a money envelope, if you throw something at someone’s face, they’d be offended.
But the snack bar owner was a money-crazed lunatic.
A.k.a. Money-crazed freak.
If Spongebob saw him, he’d probably ask if this was Krusty Krab. A human version of Mr. Krabs.
He smelled the faint scent of money beyond the envelope and immediately prepared to serve me.
“Is this enough?”
“Bring me more!”
“Okay, I got it!”
“No, bring it ALL!!!”
“Yes, sir!!”
The snack bar owner was hauling every bottle of alcohol currently in the shop.
The snack bar staff was frantically adding up.
Suddenly, the owner pulled out a particular bottle and started recommending it to me.
“Sir! This one’s a discontinued alcohol; you should try it!”
“Just put it aside.”
It didn’t take long before all my cash was exchanged for alcohol.
[It’s a shame to switch all that cash for drinks, isn’t it?]
‘I feel like if I hold onto it, it’ll end up with Elcia again.’
[……Buy that, too. Get rid of the change.]
Rarely, Pie agreed with my thoughts.
Anyway, following Pie’s advice, I even bought sake in small bottles and packs of soju to avoid leaving behind a single penny.
I requested that everything I bought be delivered to the dormitory and casually returned.
As soon as I got back to the dormitory, I invited everyone to the group chat and sent a message.
Me: [Hey everyone, you all worked hard last time, how about a simple gathering? I’ll cover the drinks, just bring some food!]
Ear Goblin: [I’m in! Then I’ll get some meat and veggies to grill for the rest!]
Gongja: [Sure, let’s feast in Shinwoo’s room. Everyone, prepare accordingly.]
Champi: [But everyone has plans on the weekend; drinks might be a bit tough, right?]
Me: [Except Jeong Ahyeon, let’s meet up.]
Champi: [I was wrong! Please include her! Don’t leave her out!]
Me: [If you understand, hurry up and buy something. Let’s meet in an hour.]
I finished the notice by posting the dorm room number in the group chat.
By chance, the alcohol I sent for delivery had arrived, so I started cramming it into the refrigerator.
Any alcohol that wouldn’t fit I hid in the closet.
The reason for hiding it in the closet was simple.
Just in case, even though I doubted it would happen, it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared against any intruders.
Like Elcia. Or Ear Goblin. Or Kanfa.
Though it might look like I was biased towards one person,
Yeah.
That bias is indeed true.
Of course, Elcia wouldn’t just take it without trying, but it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.
[Dealing with a glutton is tough.]
‘But it seems she’s trying to hold back on her own.’
Then, Pie suddenly started making a fuss.
[Hey there! Thinking about it, didn’t you invite three heroines to a guy’s room?!]
‘Does it look like a pink, lovey-dovey development will happen in this story?’
[…… It looks like we’re heading towards a messy okonomiyaki scene due to vomit.]
‘F*ck, should I remove the harem tag?’
However, such trivial worries were blown away by a much more serious problem waiting for me.
*
“Hey you fcking pssies…”
At this moment where everyone gathered in my dorm,
I thought some exciting events would unfold with one guy and three girls.
However, when each of them took out the meat and veggies they brought,
My heart began racing for a different reason.
Yeah.
It was starting to race out of anger.
I prayed that what I saw was just a dream.
“Why did all three of you bring ONLY veggies?”
Everyone must’ve prepared something themselves, yet it looked like they conspired to show up at the same time with nothing but vegetables.
The only reasonable thing was that the kinds were different.
Four servings of lettuce.
Four servings of perilla leaves.
Four servings of peppers.
Yet there wasn’t a trace of kimchi.
Sauce? Garlic?
I wish there was at least something.
I couldn’t help but get mad.
Everyone, like a puppy that broke something, began stealing glances at me while pretending to look elsewhere.
“Let’s hear the reason. First, Elcia.”
“Yes! Husband! Elves love the forest, so I couldn’t prepare meat that takes lives!”
“You’d still tear apart chicken if you had it.”
“I eat wings too!”
With a troubled mind, I turned my gaze to the other two.
“Hyeji and Jeong Ahyeon. What about you guys?”
“……They say veggies are better for breast growth than meat.”
“……To reach the peak, veggies are better than meat.”
“Are you both aware that sounds like nonsense?”
[You all should’ve received quite a bit of cash…]
‘You f*cking bastards, seriously complaining about the cost of meat.’
I wanted to go buy some, but since I spent all the money, that option was off the table.
Then I noticed a glint in their eyes; they wanted to eat meat but also didn’t want to spend their own money.
That’s unacceptable.
I wanted to eat meat!
“Hey, someone go buy it quickly.”
“Husband! The remaining money has already been invested in coin, so I’d love to buy some meat, but it’s too bad!”
“Yo! Kanfa, you!!”
Elcia took the first shot.
She dramatically flopped down, claiming she couldn’t go buy any.
Then Hyeji and Jeong Ahyeon flopped down too.
“I-I spent it all on healing!”
“I also spent it all on Cheonma merchandise.”
‘Please, don’t make a scene.’
[These crazy b*tches.]
Then suddenly, these crazy girls who couldn’t even fulfill their roles began turning their knives toward me.
“But husband! If you’re inviting us, you should’ve prepared some simple food! Inviting without food is wrong!”
“We might have messed up, but isn’t it also an issue that you bought too much alcohol without restraint?”
“I also agree. It’s tragic to prepare only drinks that make the mind hazy while failing to prepare good food to maintain our health.”
‘You b*tches? Are you challenging me?’
[How about making a transition to a different story like me?]
‘Does that mean I’m going to have to take a miserable loss while buying meat?’
But for f*ck’s sake, if I backed down, it’ll feel like losing.
How dare you think you can outdo me?
That’s absolutely unacceptable.
“Honestly, I’m fine with just veggies! I don’t need meat!”
I suddenly changed my attitude and pulled out one of the vegetables they brought and started munching away.
“But if you really want meat, I won’t stop you; I can have one or two pieces if you bring some.”
“Oh my! I’m an elf, so I don’t care about meat! Though, if you really want some, I won’t stop you!”
“I don’t like meat much! Veggies are enough! Is meat really necessary?”
“I-I also despise meat! Just looking at it makes me cringe!”
Watching me, the heroines quickly went vegan.
And each chewed away on the veggies without a problem.
‘You crafty girls.’
[You’re not the only one being cunning…]
Before long, the absence of meat became irrelevant.
Now the situation became a petty game of pride.
If I lose here, the least I have to do is bow my head in apology.
In the worst case, I’d buy meat mournfully to appease my defeat.
“Looks like all of us are vegans now; let’s raise a glass to that!”
“Oh my! Elves are vegan from birth!”
“Traditionally, Koreans only ate mugwort and garlic in the past, right? This is enough for us.”
“I grew up in Shaolin.”
Even so, it was a torture to drink while chomping on veggies.
But I couldn’t go buy meat.
I suggested a compromise, throwing out a bait.
“Still, eating just this feels dull, wouldn’t grilling it be better?”
“Oh my! Husband, it turns out you’re a fashion vegan!”
“Shinwoo, if you’re struggling, just say the word; we all understand.”
“Hmph, the Gongja still has quite a way to go.”
Yeah, let’s just drop this.
Let’s go as far as we can.
“Of course, I’m just kidding!!! My glass is empty! Let’s hurry up and drink!!”
We clinked our glasses together once more.
