Chapter 698: Did You Know I Was a Rowdy Drunk?

TL: FoodieMonster007

She said she trusts the person I know best?

If the mastermind was someone already deceased, there was no telling who it could be.

However, it seemed unlikely that she would claim to trust a dead person the most.

What if the person was still alive?

One individual naturally came to mind.

The Sword King Ak Gunhak.

He was the only one still living who could have been the subject of her answer.

Geom Mugeuk recalled his last moments with Ak Gunhak. He remembered the sight of his back as he walked away, his hair tied up tightly, an iron sword and shoes hanging from his waist.

He also recalled the image of him walking barefoot, then turning from a distance to look back.

[My name is Ak Gunhak.]

The memory of his shout and the bright smile he offered with his lonely eyes always came to mind. This must have meant that he missed him.

You're saying the person you trust most is Ak Gunhak?

From this answer, Geom Mugeuk understood.

She was telling him something.

I know what you know about me.

Until now, she had given no indication that she had such thoughts. The Secret Box's reaction was no coincidence. She was throwing down the gauntlet.

Stop me if you can.

Geom Mugeuk looked at Cha Yiran. She was pounding the table and shouting, much like a martial artist confronting an enemy.

"Alright, bring it on! I'll take any question!"

At her declaration, Lee Ahn stepped forward.

"I'll ask the next question."

As they had agreed to drink before asking, all four of them drained their cups.

"I'll ask Young Lady Cha."

Lee Ahn had been annoyed by Cha Yiran's first question, which had pried into Geom Mugeuk's feelings for her. How could she ask if he liked her, not in private, but when everyone involved was present?

It felt as if she was treating her relationship with Geom Mugeuk, and those emotions, like a game.

However, Lee Ahn did not react emotionally. She knew she was overreacting because she held the relationship so dear, but that was likely the exact outcome her opponent wanted.

Lee Ahn smiled and asked calmly.

"I'd like to ask about this person you trust the most. Does that person know of Young Lady Cha's trust?"

Cha Yiran's expression hardened slightly.

"Why are you asking about him?"

Her reason was Geom Mugeuk. If it was someone Geom Mugeuk also knew, then he was surely an important person. She was trying to help Geom Mugeuk in any small way she could.

Even if she could not grasp it herself, Geom Mugeuk would be able to sense her subtle emotions.

"I'm curious. The Young Lady Cha I've observed doesn't seem like someone who trusts people easily. I became curious about what kind of person could earn the title of 'most trusted'. I wonder, does he know?"

He probably knows. No, he probably does not. It was a simple answer, yet she hesitated before drinking three penalty cups again. She was demonstrating her resolve not to speak about him at all.

Lee Ahn spoke with an apologetic expression.

"I won't ask any more about him."

"It doesn't matter. There's plenty of alcohol. Now, bring it on again!"

Lee Ahn's question had been useful. From Cha Yiran's reaction, Geom Mugeuk realized that her feelings for Ak Gunhak were quite deep.

While you were digging away in that basement, when did you find the time to steal the heart of such a beautiful woman?

The next turn belonged to Bi Sayin.

"I will ask Young Lady Cha."

Cha Yiran laughed and remarked, "I'm the only one who's popular. This Young Lady must be disappointed."

"It's not in my nature to ignore someone who tells me to bring it on."

In truth, Bi Sayin had nothing he wanted to ask her, aside from why she was trying to kill his master. He only singled her out because he thought learning anything more about Cha Yiran might help the current situation.

"Why are you trying to become the world number one beauty?"

It appeared to be a mere formal question, but it was actually connected to the question he was truly curious about. She had planned to become the world number one beauty to get close to his master and launch a surprise attack.

If she were to answer this question honestly, she would have to say it.

To kill the Evil Alliance Chairman.

As Cha Yiran hesitated, Lee Ahn laughed and said jokingly, "I was just in it for the prize money."

But in the end, Cha Yiran did not answer.

"Ah, how I wish my reason was that simple."

With that, she once again drank three penalty cups.

She could have easily answered with something like, "Isn't it a dream every woman has at least once?"

This penalty drink, at least, showed him that she was being completely honest and serious about their bet.

After drinking so quickly, a flush rose to her face. Her tolerance for alcohol did not seem very high.

"Will you be alright?"

At Geom Mugeuk's concern, she replied gallantly, "Are you worried about me? I haven't even gotten started yet!"

One round of questions was over, and it was Cha Yiran's turn again. He thought she would question Geom Mugeuk, but her target was Bi Sayin.

"I'll ask the Young Alliance Chairman."

Her question was truly unexpected.

"What does the Evil Alliance Chairman like the most?"

For a moment, Bi Sayin was startled. He had not anticipated such a question from her.

Lee Ahn, who was beside him, also struggled to calm her tense heart.

"May I ask why you're asking?"

To Bi Sayin's question, Cha Yiran replied, "Aren't you curious? What does the supreme leader of the unorthodox sects like?"

She looked at Lee Ahn and provoked her.

"If I become the world number one beauty this time, I'll get to meet him in person at the celebratory banquet. It would be helpful to know what he likes, wouldn't it?"

Instead of answering, Bi Sayin drank the penalty.

"How could I dare speak of the Chairman at a drinking table? Please understand why I'm drinking the penalty."

He was furious at her audacity in asking about his master, but Bi Sayin did his best not to show it.

"I'm sorry, I must have asked a rude question."

"It's fine."

Geom Mugeuk could tell what she was doing. She had thrown this question to see if they knew she was targeting the Evil Alliance Chairman. Her question was useful to him as well.

It was Geom Mugeuk's turn to ask again. He singled out Cha Yiran once more.

"I'm sorry this is turning into a gauntlet, but I have another question for the Young Lady."

"Questions from my sword bodyguard are always welcome."

However, it was by no means a welcome question.

"Who is the person the Young Lady fears the most?"

For a moment, he could feel Cha Yiran flinch.

"A moment ago you asked who I trust the most, and now you ask who I fear the most."

Geom Mugeuk, the questioner, offered his own answer.

"For me, it's my father."

Besides the two questions he had already asked her, there were many others for which his father would be the answer.

The person he liked the most, the person he respected the most…

In the end, Cha Yiran picked up the penalty cup again.

"Bring it on! Bring it on!"

Lee Ahn followed up with a similar line of questioning.

"Then I'll ask a slightly easier question. What does Young Lady Cha cherish the most?"

But even this question left Cha Yiran at a loss for words.

"My goodness, you people!"

She shook her head, as if she had never expected such questions to be thrown at her when she first suggested the bet.

"The thing that's precious to me right now is…"

Her gaze fell upon her cup.

"This alcohol!"

She had answered, but as if that was not the answer she truly wanted to give, she drank the penalty again.

The sound of her putting down the cup grew louder. Her eyes, hazy with alcohol, began to lose focus.

Geom Mugeuk suggested they take a break and drink a little slower.

"It seems the Young Lady has lived a very harsh life. These were questions that others could answer without much difficulty."

Geom Mugeuk's and Cha Yiran's gazes met in mid-air.

Soon, a hint of sorrow flickered in her eyes as she let out a sigh.

"It wasn't a smooth life."

She did not hide her emotions. It was impossible to tell if she was being sincere or simply acting drunk.

"Alright, let's go again!"

"Let's take a break as we go."

"Bring it on!"

From that point on, the questions were not directed exclusively at Cha Yiran. Lee Ahn asked Bi Sayin about his biggest regret, and Geom Mugeuk asked Lee Ahn what book she had read recently. The questioning order changed, and at times, someone would ask two questions in a row as they all became steadily more intoxicated. Despite the undercurrent of caution between them, they thoroughly enjoyed the pleasure of the drinking party. When else could they ask such things? They freely threw questions at each other and provided answers.

As the questions went round and round, the last intelligible question from Cha Yiran was this. She asked Geom Mugeuk in a slurred voice.

"What's your biggest secret?"

Her intoxicated eyes seemed to be asking a different set of questions.

Who are you that our organization is being shattered? Who are you that he spared your life? Who are you that I have to go this far? Who are you…

Geom Mugeuk raised his cup and said in a drunken voice, "Under the influence, I almost revealed my secret."

When Geom Mugeuk drank the penalty, Cha Yiran was delighted.

"You're starting to crumble too! Come on, let's go!"

The phrase she said most at the drinking party that day was this.

Bring it all on!

When Cha Yiran awoke, she was lying on a bed in a guest room set aside in the Bright Flower House.

Turning her head, she saw Geom Mugeuk sitting in a chair next to the bed.

"What did you do to me? You look so innocent, but you're a sly one."

Geom Mugeuk asked with a look of disbelief, "Are you pretending you don't remember, or do you really not remember?"

"Of course!" Cha Yiran said with a bashful smile. "I'm pretending I don't remember."

"Vomiting, acting out, screaming your head off, and cursing. Do you remember any of it?"

"Bits and pieces."

Let's drink without circulating our internal energy!

What on earth was she thinking when she said that?

He did not know how much of it was intentional, but at least her drunken behavior was not an act.

He had experienced many things in his fight against the mastermind, and indeed in his entire life including before his regression, but this was the first time he had witnessed an enemy's drunken antics so vividly. It would probably never happen again, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"Did you know you were a rowdy drunk?"

Cha Yiran shook her head. "Yesterday was the first time I've ever drunk that heavily."

To get blackout drunk for the first time in her life in front of an enemy, and in the presence of the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult and the Young Alliance Chairman of the Evil Alliance at that. Who knew what she might say when she was dead drunk? He really had to give her credit for her nerve.

And now, it was time to discuss the truth they had not shared yesterday.

"Why did you reveal your identity?"

As expected, she did not feign ignorance and ask what he meant.

"You knew about me, didn't you?"

How had she figured that out? The only reason he knew about her was because he had known her in his life before regression.

"How did you know?"

"A woman's intuition."

This time, she was the one asking the question. He realized he should have just treated her as one of the beautiful women competing in the tournament.

"How did you know about me?"

"A man's intuition."

Cha Yiran smiled bewitchingly. "It's actually a relief. It was so frustrating not being able to speak comfortably until now. How desperate must I have been to suggest such a bet?"

"But you were the one who drank the most penalty shots."

"I didn't know you Demonic Cult people would ask questions like that. You even asked what my childhood dream was, right? Who on earth asked that?"

"So you do remember everything."

Cha Yiran slowly sat up in bed. Her clothes were wrinkled and stained with unidentifiable substances and mud. It seemed she had gone outside and rolled around on the ground.

"I'd believe you if you said that was a martial arts uniform just back from the battlefield."

"You're underestimating the cleanliness of martial artists."

She laughed, then picked up the water pitcher on the bedside table and gulped it down.

"What would you do if I had put poison in it?"

"If you were going to kill me, you would have done it while I was sleeping."

Geom Mugeuk knew she was not the type of person to fall asleep so defenselessly just because she was drunk. So why did she show such a vulnerability?

"Why didn't you kill me?"

"You're not someone who would die easily. If an easy chance to kill you came along, wouldn't that be a trap?"

At Geom Mugeuk's words, Cha Yiran put down the pitcher and laughed.

"You're as smart as I've heard."

She stretched and walked to the window to look outside. It was still early dawn.

"Even if you didn't kill me…!"

As she turned to look at Geom Mugeuk, her figure was incredibly sensual. No matter how dirty her clothes were, they could not mar her beauty.

"I thought you might give in under the influence of alcohol. You had the excuse of changing my clothes, too."

At her frank words, Geom Mugeuk smiled and replied, "If you hadn't tried to vomit on me, I might have."

With a faint smile on her lips, Cha Yiran formally greeted Geom Mugeuk.

"Young Cult Leader, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Even after revealing her identity, she was still brimming with confidence.

"It's not my nature to leave enemies alive and create future problems. What were you thinking, doing this?"

It sounded like he was saying he had been waiting to kill her, but she was not frightened.

"Then I'll die."

Her eyes held no fear of death. It seemed to stem less from courage and more from a conviction that Geom Mugeuk would not kill her.

"That's what the man who came back after fighting you said."

He could tell that 'that man' meant Ak Gunhak.

"He said you let him go alive."

At that, Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

"He was the one who spared me and left."

A smile that said, "I knew it," formed on her lips.

It was a different kind of smile from the ones she had shown so far. Compared to the bewitching smiles that had always been reflexive, this one was a bit stiff and awkward.

But Geom Mugeuk could feel it. That smile was her real smile.

And one more thing.

She not only trusted Ak Gunhak the most, but she was also in love with him.

"Has he left?"

Cha Yiran was inwardly surprised.

Geom Mugeuk knew he was going to leave. Ak Gunhak was not the type of person to tell others he was leaving.

What did he see in you to tell you even that?

A breeze from the window blew her hair.

"He hasn't been able to leave yet."

Geom Mugeuk did not ask further and just nodded.

"Why don't you ask? Why he couldn't leave."

If it were an organization one could leave easily, he would not have met him in that basement. He would not have said he was going to leave. How could it be easy to leave such a dreadful organization?

Geom Mugeuk bid her farewell.

"Sober up well."

As Geom Mugeuk was about to leave, she asked, "Why are you leaving without killing me?"

Geom Mugeuk looked back at her.

Because I still haven't figured out why you want to kill the Evil Alliance Chairman. And because there's one more thing I need to find out.

"Is it your mercy to let me compete in the finals before you kill me?"

At her unnecessary show of weakness, Geom Mugeuk shook his head firmly.

"After seeing that awful sight, I won the bet."

As Geom Mugeuk left the room, he added, "I can't very well kill the person who has to pay for the drinks, can I?"