I Became the One Who Takes. 185

## Chapter 185 - (16)

"I'm sorry I'm late. I didn't expect the traffic to be this bad..."

Lee Hwan belatedly entered the restaurant.

I felt it the first time I saw him, but he was indeed handsome and striking.

Sure enough, from the moment he opened the door, he captured the attention of the women around him.

It was almost surprising that the two women at our table weren't giving him more attention.

"Wow, what's up with that table?"
"I know, right?"
"Wow... look at that guy's muscles?"
"Seriously..."

Our table was already drawing attention, and with Lee Hwan joining us, the stares were almost unbearable.

The three of them, except for me, seemed used to this kind of attention and greeted each other casually.

"Oh, Senior, welcome."
"We ordered boneless fried chicken and one with sauce each. Is that okay?"
"Yes, of course."

Jaehee greeted him warmly, and I naturally welcomed Lee Hwan, mentioning the menu we had ordered.

Come to think of it, something felt missing.

"Should we order some drinks or something?"

Looking around, I saw groups already drinking, even though it was still afternoon.

Seeing that made me realize we hadn't ordered anything to drink.

"Oh, Oppa, you want to order alcohol, don't you?"

Jaehee said with a laugh, as if she had caught me, and nudged my side with her elbow.

How did my first impression get remembered like that?

Jaehee seemed to remember me as a heavy drinker, because she immediately brought up alcohol as soon as I opened my mouth.

"D-Did you two drink together?"

Sophia, who had been quiet, asked with a surprised look.

There was a bit of room for misunderstanding.

"Really?"

Even Lee Hwan jumped on the bandwagon with that misunderstanding.

At that, Jaehee and I simultaneously shook our heads and chuckled.

"No, we just ran into each other on a day I was drinking."
"And that was during our first meeting. Isn't that too much?"

Only after we explained did the two of them look relieved and sigh in relief.

I glanced at Lee Hwan.

I thought he didn't have any feelings for Jaehee, but it seemed that wasn't the case.

I thought he had no feelings since he rejected Jaehee's confession.

Or, was it that?

Too good to let go, but too bad to keep.

"Hmm."

I guess I'll have to watch a little longer to know for sure.

First, drinks.

I was originally just going to order a cola, but since the topic of alcohol came up, I suddenly felt like having a beer.

Especially since we were having chicken.

"I'll have a beer."
"Then me too."
"Sister..."
"I'll..."

Jaehee and I both went for beer.

Lee Hwan naturally passed the question to Sophia, and Sophia looked at me and Jaehee, moving her lips hesitantly.

Then, as if she had made up her mind, she looked up and said.

"I'll have... beer too."
"Oh."

That was unexpected.

It wasn't that nuns couldn't drink, but Sophia seemed like she would be the furthest from alcohol.

Lee Hwan and Jaehee seemed surprised as well.

"Do nuns drink too? Ah, I really didn't know..."

Jaehee waved her hands apologetically, as if she felt a little guilty for asking.

Sophia chuckled at Jaehee's flustered appearance.

"Ahaha... everyone drinks. And I'm not a nun anymore..."
"Then I'll..."

Even Lee Hwan chose beer, and somehow the team meal turned into a drinking session.

Still, it's just beer, so I don't think it'll be a serious drinking party.

I don't get too drunk with just beer anyway.

And the other three aren't that weak with alcohol...

...right?

"Here's your chicken."
"And give us four beers for now."
"Yes, I'll bring them right away."

After ordering, the beer and chicken were placed on the table.

Everyone just looked at each other, and then, without anyone saying anything, the meal quietly began.

Oh, is this what a team dinner is like?

Lee Hwan kept glancing at Sophia, trying to read her, and Sophia was just staring at the floor and the pattern of the table.

Jaehee, the only one who seemed hopeful, was quietly tearing apart a chicken breast while subtly observing the atmosphere.

I had to step in.

"...Um... shall we have a drink first?"

Everyone was still tense and not talking, but I thought that if we had a few drinks, the tense atmosphere would naturally ease, so I suggested alcohol.

What bothered me a little was that, except for Jaehee, the other two, Sophia and Lee Hwan, seemed awkward holding their glasses.

Lee Hwan is unexpected.

Does he not drink much?

Then why did he order alcohol?

He said he drove here.

Maybe he's just going along with the atmosphere since the other three are drinking.

"Cheers, everyone."
"Cheers."
"...Cheers."
"Ah, yes..."

Starting with Jaehee's suggestion.

Everyone awkwardly clinked their glasses, signaling the start of the drinking session.

***

"I didn't expect this."
"Haha... me neither."

Sophia and I looked at each other and laughed.

Sophia's cheeks were red, and her exposed shoulders were also tinged with red, but she was still in better shape compared to the other two.

I turned my head to look at the other two.

"..."

Lee Hwan was leaning his head against the wall, dozing off, and Jaehee was swaying back and forth, groaning while drunk.

She couldn't keep still, so her body kept brushing against my shoulder.

This wasn't... bad.

The strongest drinker, besides me, was Sophia.

"You're a good drinker?"
"I guess so. I didn't know myself."

Sophia seemed more relaxed when she was drunk, as if her tension had been relieved.

She seemed to like the alcohol herself.

Now she was drinking on her own, even without me offering.

Thud.

A hand came up on my shoulder.

I turned to see Jaehee leaning her head on my shoulder.

Thud.

Sophia, who had been lifting her glass, put it down.

What's wrong with her?

"...Jaehee, are you okay?"
"No... I'm too drunk..."

I could tell that without her saying it.

"Why did you drink so much when you can't handle it?"
"I didn't think I'd get another chance to drink like this..."
"Why?"
"Because... guys keep hitting on me..."

Hearing that, I looked around.

Swish.

Everyone avoided my gaze, turning their heads or pretending not to notice.

Everyone, men and women, were looking at this table.

The reason?

Probably because of Lee Hwan, who was leaning his head against the wall, completely drunk, for the women, and because of Sophia and Jaehee for the men.

I understand.

They must be rare beauties.

But no one approached the table.

"I should drink when Oppa is here."
"It's because of me... Okay, drink a lot..."

I wondered why it was so quiet.

"Ugh..."

Then Lee Hwan grabbed his head and stood up.

He must be weak with alcohol, because he was already complaining of a headache.

"Are you okay?"
"Ah... yes, I think I'll be okay if I rest a little..."

The fact that he needed to rest was proof that he wasn't okay.

Lee Hwan looked at us alternately, as if he was a little embarrassed.

"Um... I think I should go first, you three..."
"Ah, we'll be leaving soon too."
"What? I want to drink a little more..."

Jaehee protested at my words, slurring her speech.

"Jaehee, just drink a little more and then go."
"...Yes, Senior."

Lee Hwan looked at me anxiously, but in the end, he couldn't stand the headache and called a designated driver and left.

I didn't like that suspicious look he gave me.

And there was one more thing I didn't like.

Why does he keep acting like he's giving Jaehee a chance when he's the one who rejected her?

"Tch..."

Seeing Jaehee's slightly disappointed expression and her slightly flushed cheeks at the same time.

My bad instincts, which I had been suppressing in this world, were slowly rising up with the alcohol.

Since the hidden quest was cleared with just monster hunting in this world, my instincts, which I had been keeping away, were awakened.

[Rampart: Someone who does their job well, someone who is righteous, someone who likes themselves.]

Jaehee's rampart was more pure than I thought, so it felt easier to conquer.

I didn't look at the rampart because I wasn't originally planning to actively conquer her.

But now the story is different.

"Jaehee, want to go for round two?"
"Huh?...Yes!"

Jaehee answered with a bright expression.

With this, I at least have a chance to be alone with her.

"Me too."
"Huh?"

But the answer didn't just come from Jaehee.

Sophia, who was next to me, grabbed my sleeve and said.

"I want to... go to round two too..."

I couldn't refuse her, seeing the expression on her face as she looked up at me.

So, after thinking about it, I decided to be honest with Sophia.

Quietly, in a whisper.

"I'm planning to go to a nearby motel or hotel for round two to have a light drink."

Does she understand what this means?

It was too explicit.

But I said it to keep Sophia from getting involved.

Seeing her face turn red, it seemed like she understood what I meant.

"Th..."

Hesitating, she moved her lips slowly, and this time Sophia slowly came closer to my ear.

I obediently offered my ear.

"...Yes, it's okay."

Sophia's sweet scent, mixed with the smell of alcohol, tickled the tip of my nose at the same time as her whisper.

In Sophia's big eyes, which I looked at from close range, there was a determination.

I thought she might have a little crush on me based on her reaction.

But I never thought it would be this much.

"What are you two doing~?"

Only after hearing Jaehee's drunken voice did the two of us pull our faces apart.

"Then let's go for round two..."
"Yes."
"Yesss~"

With Jaehee and Sophia on either side of me, I left the restaurant, feeling the envious gazes stabbing me in the back.

We bought some alcohol and snacks lightly at the convenience store, and... some things like that.

"That'll be... 23,000 won."

The female convenience store clerk looked back and forth between me and Jaehee and Sophia, who were standing next to me.

Two drunk women and a muscular man buying condoms.

It was inevitable that the clerk's gaze was shaking violently from side to side.

Jaehee was drunk and didn't seem to know what she was buying, but Sophia was quietly blushing.