Chapter 91: Group Stages [2]

Without any more words, she practically sprinted out of the restaurant and through the door.

...

...

...

As I walked through the streets of the capital, the lights around me brighter than usual and my head spinning, I felt my shoulder being tapped.

"..."

As I turned around, I was immediately met with two fiery-red eyes, as Haerin stood in front of me, hesitating for a moment before finally saying.

"How did you do it!?"

My vision blurry and shaky, perhaps from the alcohol’s effects, I leaned against a nearby wall for balance and asked.

"Do what?"

"The mana slash...you cut through it. Wait, before that, you can feel the golden string, right!?"

My brain’s computing power at its absolute minimum, I didn’t even bother trying to understand her and simply answered.

"No idea."

"Just tell me how it felt! Was the perfect slash any different from your oth-"

"...later."

My head aching, I didn’t bother even trying to take the train and instead walked forward on the sidewalk, reaching my hand out into the streets as oncoming cars whizzed past me.

Because the capital city was buzzing with people, within only a few seconds, I managed to flag down a cab.

As I opened the door, Haerin didn’t even bother asking and slid in before me, as I entered a moment later and said.

"The Sunken Pearl."

As the car took off into the streets of the capital city, I glanced out the window, the scenery blending into a mush of colors.

At that moment, Haerin suddenly said.

"You don’t seem to be an experienced drunk."

Shifting in my seat and facing her, I scoffed.

"What? You want to be perfectly fine and sober after taking three shots!? I don’t have fucking superpowers."

Her eyes narrowing, Haerin paused for a moment before responding.

"Three shots...and you’re stumbling all over the place with dilated pupils? Stop lying. How many did you actually take?"

"...I hate you."

Turning back to face the window, I simply closed my eyes for a moment, my entire body vibrating as a smile appeared on my face.

The feeling was...addicting, to say the least.

...

...

...

"HEY!"

"WAKE UP!"

"ASH, WAKE UP!"

Hearing the frantic screams, I immediately jumped forward in my seat, the pain of my head banging into the seat in front of me instantly snapping me back to reality.

In front of the open car door, Haerin glared at me and said while looking at the cab driver.

"I’m so sorry for the trouble."

Then, not even giving me a chance to speak, she grabbed my arm and yanked me out of the car.

However, losing my balance as soon as she let go of me, I stumbled forward before eventually collapsing atop a patch of nearby grass.

Rubbing my forehead, I watched as the cab drove away, Haerin turning around and practically yelling.

"Don’t you know how to control yourself!?"

"..."

I waved my right arm at her, then glanced at my right arm, and finally back at her before replying.

"Yeah?"

"..."

After a moment of silence, she turned around and set off on the path leading to the dorm buildings.

Staying still, I glanced upward at the pitch-black sky, the stars practically dazzling, and took a deep breath.

There was just one problem remaining.

How was I going to get back to my dorm room?

"..."

Reaching out and grabbing a nearby tree trunk, I slowly hoisted myself onto my feet, leaning against the hardwood trunk.

But...as I looked up, I realized another thing.

I always entered the academy from the train station, not the car drop-off entrance, so I didn’t even know where to go.

Additionally...everything was blurry.

After standing there for who knows how long, I was about to give in to the feeling of exhaustion nagging at my body and close my eyes, allowing the dopamine triggered by the alcohol to do its work.

But...just as I slumped back against the tree, ready to spend the night there, the loud sound of screeching wheels suddenly echoed from in front of me.

*SCREECH*

Hearing the sound, I slowly looked up, finding a fancy limousine against the curb and a familiar figure stepping out of it.

With snow-white hair, Lily walked forward as the limousine drove off behind her.

Please don’t notice me.

Please don’t notice me.

I begged and pleaded to the air...but not even two seconds later, her mocking voice sounded as her gaze locked onto me leaning against the tree trunk in the open.

"You?"

Nodding my head as casually as I could, I avoided her gaze and continued looking forward at the street, pretending I was waiting for something.

"..."

She was gone, righ-

"You’re drunk."

Not even bothering to hide her condescending tone, Lily continued.

"And you don’t know where to go, do you?"

Breaking into a fit of laughter, perhaps because my act had been seen through so clearly, I clutched my stomach and said in between breaths.

"*PFFT* D-do you know t-the way!?"

Her shoes clicked against the ground, and Lily approached me and grabbed my shoulder.

"Just follow me."

As Lily yanked me onto the pathway, I continued laughing for some reason, the smile on my face wider than ever, and I followed her through the empty academy streets.

The walk was entirely silent, me simply trailing behind Lily and trying my hardest to stay upright.

But...every single thing made me laugh.

A bird sitting on a branch?

The most hilarious thing in the world.

A piece of trash on the ground?

"*PFFT* Hahaha"

Comedic gold!

I was like a never-ending soundtrack of laughter.

Only when we arrived in front of the familiar dorm building did she turn around to face me and say.

"Favors. You now owe me one."

Without waiting another moment, she opened the door and headed inside, leaving me behind in the cold.

My thoughts slowly returning to normal, I managed to take the elevator up and enter my dorm room, immediately collapsing on the bed.