Tonight, the top floor of the Yongmun Tavern was very boisterous.
"Everyone, raise your glasses!"
Ak Simin shouted, raising his glass high.
At his words, all the students raised their glasses, and Ak Simin continued to speak in a very excited voice.
"It's okay to eat and play as much as you want today. The head instructor also gave special permission."
"Ooh!"
"Then... to celebrate the Vermilion Bird Class's first place once again. Cheers!"
After Ak Simin's simple congratulatory speech, everyone tilted their glasses at once.
A get-together to celebrate the Vermilion Bird Class's first place and to praise their hard work.
For that, the top floor of the Yongmun Tavern was specially not accepting any custors other than the Vermilion Bird Class today.
"Senior Dong-pal, it's expensive alcohol, so drink it a little slower."
"Ak Simin is paying for everything anyway. So today, we have to drink with the intention of pulling out the pillars here!"
"Ah, I see. Then I'll drink without holding back either."
Ma Dong-pal and Jin Gwon-nam said and began to drink from the bottle, not the glass.
Besides them, everyone was busy refilling their glasses as soon as they were empty, and the atmosphere of the drinking party quickly heated up.
'They're all drinking like crazy.'
Over there, people were pouring alcohol as if there were no tomorrow.
Well, on a day like today, alcohol was bound to flow like water.
Good quality alcohol and a beautiful view. On top of that, the happy occasion of winning first place in the Clear Bright Festival was added, so if not today, when would they drink like this?
On top of that, there was no need to worry about money or curfew, so it was an environnt where alcohol naturally went down.
Trickle—.
Namgung Il slipped out of the crowd and took a seat alone by the window.
Nearby, there was only a bottle of alcohol and a glass that he had brought separately.
Of course, Namgung Il was also enjoying this occasion, but there seed to be so worry in Namgung Il's eyes as he poured alcohol for himself.
'Why did Cheon Hong-ryeong act in such a way?'
Namgung Il was still wondering about that part.
Of course, if Cheon Hong-ryeong's credit was added to the profit, the Vermilion Bird Class would have originally been first.
However, no one in the Vermilion Bird Class rembered the existence of that credit.
Due to the absence of three people, including Namgung Il, they were short-staffed, so everyone was so busy that they had forgotten about the credit.
"..."
So, if Cheon Hong-ryeong had just kept her mouth shut, the Azure Dragon Class would have been first in this year's Clear Bright Festival.
Even if they were to question the credit later, it wouldn't be a problem.
The role of the student council was only to tally the sent Flying Dragon Coins. It was the Vermilion Bird Class's responsibility for not reporting it.
The act of forgetting the credit itself was the Vermilion Bird Class's fault.
'Cheon Hong-ryeong... that person must also be from the Azure Dragon Class.'
The saying "blood is thicker than water" doesn't exist for nothing.
No matter how much one tries to remain neutral as the student council president, as a person, wouldn't one be more attached to their own class than to other classes?
Of course, they couldn't do anything that could be called cheating, but in a case like this, it was a situation where they could have sufficiently kept their mouth shut and sided with the Azure Dragon Class.
"Why did you side with our class?"
"Side? I just handled the matter fairly."
"..."
"I'm the type who can't live with debts to others. Namgung Il, with this, I've definitely paid back my debt."
I've definitely paid back my debt.
At Namgung Il's question, Cheon Hong-ryeong just answered so.
'...Cheon Hong-ryeong might have deliberately created this situation.'
Even Namgung Il couldn't predict Cheon Hong-ryeong at all.
Since she was a person who would do anything for her own amusent, there was a high possibility that she had deliberately orchestrated this for that reason this ti as well.
"..."
In other words, Cheon Hong-ryeong had deliberately not added the credit.
Because a thrilling reversal would be more fun than a predictable match.
So, she had held back until just before the Azure Dragon Class's victory was confird, and then acted as she had this ti.
'Well... it's just my speculation, after all.'
To be honest, Namgung Il was hoping that that speculation was wrong.
If the Vermilion Bird Class's victory had been decided in such a way... wouldn't that be a very tainted victory?
He wouldn't be able to shake the feeling of being played on Cheon Hong-ryeong's palm.
"..."
Of course, it was the sa now.
Once he had that thought, he couldn't purely enjoy this get-together.
The reason he had co out here with a glass of alcohol was because he didn't want to ruin other people's mood because of him.
Swoosh—.
Namgung Il quietly tilted his glass alone, looking at the night view.
Just then, a person approached Namgung Il's side.
Ak Simin sat opposite him and asked Namgung Il.
"What, why are you drinking alone in a place like this?"
"..."
"You're the star of the victory, so you should be at the center of it."
"If I follow that atmosphere, I think I'll lose my mind too."
Namgung Il said and glanced at the people.
"How's this! This is drinking through the nose!"
"That's cool, senior! Show us again!"
"Alright! Then this ti, with both!"
He didn't know why Ma Dong-pal was drinking alcohol through his nose, but he could tell that they were all not in their right minds.
At Namgung Il's gaze, Ak Simin also glanced that way, then chuckled and turned his head back to its original position.
"That guy Ma Dong-pal, it seems performing is in his nature."
"More than that, will it be alright, senior?"
"What?"
"The alcohol bill. It's going to be no joke."
On the table, empty alcohol bottles were already forming a line.
No matter how much of a discount he got, that amount would be a sum that couldn't be ignored.
What was more frightening was that even at this mont, new bottles of alcohol were continuously being brought in.
"Will it be alright?"
To be honest, from the perspective of the owner of the Yongmun Tavern, there was nothing bad.
Even if he gave a discount, the more they sold, the more profit the tavern would make.
The person who would be most anxious here would be Ak Simin.
"What are you talking about?"
"..."
"It's fine! No problem at all."
Surprisingly, Ak Simin said so very confidently.
Surely, he's not thinking that I'll take care of everything.
As if to draw a clear line, Namgung Il warned Ak Simin in advance.
"Senior, I only said I wouldn't charge for the seating on the top floor. I didn't say I wouldn't charge for the alcohol at all."
"I know."
"..."
"Since it's co to this, let's set an all-ti sales record at your place today!"
All-ti sales record?
With what confidence was he saying such a thing? Namgung Il looked at Ak Simin with a face that couldn't understand.
"Actually, I got one more permission from the head instructor."
"...?"
"The profit we earned from the Clear Bright Festival this ti. He said it's okay to use it at today's get-together."
Namgung Il could now understand the reason for that confidence.
In principle, all the profits earned from the Clear Bright Festival by a class are converted into public funds.
In the first place, that principle had been established in advance so that the Clear Bright Festival would not beco a ans for personal profit.
Because of that, all the Flying Dragon Coins earned from the tavern had also been converted into the Vermilion Bird Class's public funds.
"The head instructor seems to be in a very good mood."
"..."
"He said it's okay to eat and drink as much as we want with the public funds today!"
"...Really?"
Just then, a aningful glint appeared in Namgung Il's eyes.
'If they're using public funds... there's no need to give a discount, is there?'
The reason he had been planning to give a discount was because Ak Simin was going to use his own private funds.
But if they were using public funds instead of private funds, didn't that an there was no burden on Ak Simin at all?
In the end, there was no reason for him to give a discount at his own loss.
'Then it's okay to use it all.'
Originally, public funds are sothing that should be used for sure when they can be used, so there are no regrets.
In the first place, since the public funds were earned by the people here, it would be right for only the people here to use them.
As for Gwangcheon and Tang Wol-yeong, who were not here right now, he could take care of them separately later.
Swoosh—.
As if he understood sothing, Namgung Il nodded his head and got up from his seat.
"Where are you going?"
"To take care of so business."
"...?"
"Don't mind and keep drinking."
Namgung Il said and went down the stairs to find the vice-owner.
"Vice-owner."
"Yes, Lord! I am the vice-owner!"
"...?"
The vice-owner was answering with a very happy look.
Especially since he was emphasizing the word 'vice-owner'... was he that happy to have been promoted from general manager?
Towards the vice-owner who was looking at him with sparkling eyes, Namgung Il whispered sothing in his ear.
"About the alcohol bill for the top floor right now."
"Yes! As you said in advance, we are only adding the original selling price."
"That, charge the original price again."
"...What?"
At Namgung Il's words, the vice-owner tilted his head.
Hadn't he said to charge the minimum for the alcohol to celebrate the Vermilion Bird Class's victory?
But to now say to charge the original price again... At Namgung Il's following words, the vice-owner beca even more confused.
"And sneak in so expensive alcohol in between."
"...Sneakily?"
"Yes. Less drunk and lots of expensive stuff. You know what I an, right?"
"..."
He certainly understood what he ant.
But... was he going to do business with his classmates?
Since the vice-owner had also been quite involved in the tavern preparations, he felt a sense of kinship and was sincerely congratulating the Vermilion Bird Class on their victory.
So he had wanted to make this a truly celebratory occasion, but as Namgung Il suddenly gave such an order, he couldn't help but hesitate.
"...I understand!"
"..."
"Because I am the vice-owner! I will follow the Lord's command!"
In the end, the vice-owner decided to follow Namgung Il's command.
Feelings are feelings, and work is work.
He was just following the Lord's command as the vice-owner.
"I trust you'll handle it well, vice-owner."
Namgung Il said and lightly tapped the vice-owner's shoulder.
Thus, Namgung Il, who was going up to the top floor again.
Ak Simin was still sitting in the sa spot.
"What, you're back quickly? Is your business finished?"
"Yes, I've finished it for sure."
"...?"
Of course, Ak Simin couldn't accurately understand the aning of those words.
Namgung Il sat down again and asked Ak Simin.
"By the way, senior, why are you here? Go over there and enjoy yourself with the other seniors."
"I have to keep a clear head."
"..."
"It looks like they're all going to pass out. There has to be soone to clean up, right?"
"Then let's drink quietly here with ."
"Sounds good."
Ak Simin raised his glass with his answer.
The mont Namgung Il picked up the alcohol bottle in front and was about to pour it into the glass, sothing suddenly popped out from the window next to them.
"...?"
As a presence was suddenly felt from the window, Namgung Il and Ak Simin simultaneously turned their heads in that direction.
'...A ghost?'
The two couldn't help but have that thought for a mont.
Because this place was high enough to look down on the city.
However, Namgung Il could see that the face of the ghost in front of him was sohow familiar.
"...Found you."
The ghost, no, the person, who was saying so to Namgung Il.
The gaze of Old Man Heo, who was hanging from the window, did not look much different from a ghost's.
(End of Chapter)
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