Once the moon began to rise, the night quickly deepened. After hours of continuous work to finish the backlog of tasks and completing his business with Jongsik, Sa-yoon went down to the basement where the lavish welcome party was held to check on the state of the guild members.

“What a mess.”

Just leaving them to play freely for half a day had turned the basement into a landfill. Liquor bottles were strewn about haphazardly, and food was scattered across the tables, untouched. Beneath, the guild members lay sprawled like corpses.

Sa-yoon checked each of the collapsed guild members’ faces one by one before kicking their shoulders or legs with his foot. Judging by the fact that they were passed out here, it was clear they had ignored his instructions to have fun in moderation and return to their accommodations or homes, instead guzzling down alcohol like unbridled foals.

Having no intention of taking care of them, Sa-yoon clicked his tongue a few times after confirming that the person he was looking for was not among the fallen faces. He then ascended the stairs he had come down.

“Perhaps he went to the dormitory.”

There were a few more guild members lying on the stairs, pickled in alcohol, practically no different from corpses, but Geon-joo was not among them. Sa-yoon, thinking it would be quite amusing to see that pretty boy completely drunk and babbling in a place like this, sniffed the crisp air as he emerged from the damp basement.

As he moved his steps towards the second floor, rooms numbered 1 to 15 came into view. Since he had told Gyeongjin to give one of the second-floor rooms to Geon-joo, there was only one room out of the fifteen where he could be.

Sa-yoon entered room 14, having a rough idea of where to look.

Checking the entrance, two pairs of shoes were thrown about in a disorderly manner. One pair was tossed in front of the door, while the other was flung into the bedroom—quite a spectacle. Two guild members who had joined a year ago were sprawled on the bed, so Sa-yoon closed the door.

Then room 15.

Room 13.

Room 12.

And finally, room 11.

Growing tired of opening them one by one, Sa-yoon abruptly skipped a few numbers and opened room 8, having a good feeling about it.

A single pair of shoes in the entryway.

The bed was empty. Seeing the covers neatly spread out like new, Sa-yoon entered the room, sensing no presence from the bathroom either. The very air in the room felt pleasantly different somehow. If he had come up empty five times, it was about time he got lucky.

Sa-yoon, who had inspected every nook and cranny of the building that was kept as clean as new through meticulous maintenance, headed towards the terrace.

Wondering if he had fallen asleep outside, Sa-yoon opened the transparent glass door and spotted a man leaning against the terrace railing with both arms, enjoying the night view. Sa-yoon gazed wordlessly at the figure whose hair fluttered in the blowing wind. As if the alcohol consumed in the basement wasn’t enough, Geon-joo was pouring wine into a glass and drinking it.

…He’s pretty, indeed.

From his flushed cheeks reddened by the intoxication to the lines of his body that were solid despite his slender facial features. Even though he was undeniably male, it would not be an exaggeration to describe him as pure and innocent, strikingly beautiful.

Perhaps because he was drunk, the corners of his eyes drooped slightly, but that seemed to contribute to softening his ordinarily cold impression. He would be pretty even when crying, Sa-yoon thought. There were people who looked miserable when they cried and those who looked desolate, but Geon-joo definitely belonged to the latter category.

Though rather than desolate, it would be closer to captivating.

He still had a somewhat youthful feeling, but when he grew a bit older, he would undoubtedly be well-suited to backstabbing and living as he pleased. His status window wasn’t boastful for nothing.

“I told you to go to sleep, so why are you out here?”

For Sa-yoon, who had planned to take advantage of Geon-joo’s drunken state to build rapport, his wakefulness was a welcome development. However, he was curious about the reason Geon-joo was still out here, guzzling more alcohol in his room after thoroughly indulging at the welcome party.

Asking in a gentle tone, finding it a suitable excuse to strike up a conversation, Geon-joo, who had been absentmindedly taking in the night scenery, turned his head.

“Ah, Guild Leader.”

The black eyes that belatedly noticed Sa-yoon softened languidly. From the curved eye shape, Sa-yoon realized he was completely drunk.

He’s pickled, utterly pickled in alcohol.

Getting closer, the scent of liquor wafted from him.

Although they hadn’t known each other for long, Sa-yoon could tell that Geon-joo’s current state was more unguarded than any other time he had seen him. Sa-yoon cautiously summoned his quest window.

The phrase “Curiosity and Affection (Temporary)” written in the relationship column transformed Sa-yoon’s thoughts into certainty.

He had let his guard down because he felt good from the intoxication, treating Sa-yoon comfortably. Probably by tomorrow, the words “temporary affection” would be completely erased.

Then, was this his chance?

An opportunity to make a good impression and gain friendship.

Sa-yoon thought he might be able to shake off the damned distrust that had stuck to him for some unknown reason. Most of the Night Rats guild members, starting with Jongsik, who was older than Sa-yoon, casually called him “hyung” and treated him familiarly, but only Geon-joo maintained a rigid formality. There was nothing more helpful for improving a relationship than changing the way they addressed each other during awkward times.

Didn’t Jongsik also persistently follow Sa-yoon around, calling him “hyung” to gain his friendship when Sa-yoon was feeling uncomfortable with him? As if reading Sa-yoon’s thoughts at that moment, Geon-joo, who had taken his lips off the glass, leaned against the railing and muttered softly.

“Even though you’re busy, you’re always with that person.”

“That person?”

“Was it Jongsik? That person.”

“Well, that’s because he works too.”

“So is that why you two were alone in such a cramped space? While leaving me abandoned in the basement…”

The way he spoke would be perfect for a third party to misunderstand.

At the villa, he didn’t give off this impression, but perhaps because he was drunk, he started complaining and talking more. If the sober Geon-joo had a cautious and serpentine side, the intoxicated Geon-joo had a slightly loose and foxy aspect.

Although there was a bit of a difference from when he was sober, this side didn’t feel particularly bad either. Sa-yoon was slightly wary of guild members with a troublesome side, but it didn’t seem like Geon-joo was the type to cause incidents while drunk. All he did was whine about Sa-yoon not coming to the welcome party, which was kind of cute.

Was it because he was young?

Considering that the average age of Night Rats was 26, the 22-year-old Geon-joo indeed had a youthful side.

What was I doing at that age? Robbing some people in India? I was pretty cute back then too.

Sa-yoon, who had been immersed in untimely reminiscence, once again snatched the wine glass from Geon-joo, who was sneakily sipping it. If he kept drinking, it seemed like he would just fall asleep. There would be no point in purposely seeking him out and listening to his drunken complaints.

“Won’t you have a drink too, Guild Leader?”

“No. I’m not much of a drinker.”

“Why?”

“I don’t get drunk easily.”

Having developed a tolerance like resistance to poison, it was difficult to get drunk unless he drank crates of liquor. Responding flatly, Geon-joo laughed. Sa-yoon wondered what was so funny that he kept laughing. Was laughing also part of his drunken behavior?

Unconsciously swirling the wine glass in his hand to take in the aroma, Sa-yoon noticed Geon-joo, who had been silently observing him, crossing his arms on the railing and blinking slowly.

“What’s your relationship with that Jongsik person?”

“Why are you so curious about so many things since earlier?”

“You’re not asking anything, Guild Leader, so I have to ask at least this much, don’t I?”

That was true too. Could it be that smart guys had good heads even when drunk? Sa-yoon, who had a silly thought, recalled Jongsik, who would have passed out around this time.

What relationship could there be with him?

“Slave and employer?”

“…Pardon?”

“Ah, guild leader and deputy guild leader. That’s about it.”

Having unconsciously spoken the way he usually called him, Sa-yoon quickly corrected himself. Geon-joo, who had looked at Sa-yoon quizzically, turned his body. His back touched the railing.

“Is that really all there is?”

“What more do you think there could be?”

“Well, you would know that, Guild Leader.”

The man who said that turned his body, avoiding Sa-yoon’s gaze. Judging by his tone, he was clearly sulking about Sa-yoon not coming to the welcome party. Should he apologize to improve his image and affection rating? But to easily apologize, he had his pride to consider. Shouldn’t a guild leader maintain some authority?

While Sa-yoon was agonizing between his self-esteem and affection rating, Geon-joo, who had been humming languidly, lifted his head that was resting on his arm. Straightening his upper body, he turned towards Sa-yoon and let out a soft moan. His eyes, which had been gazing at his guild leader, gradually narrowed.

“You know, Guild Leader.”

“What?”

“What’s your reason for bringing me here?”

“Just because you seemed interesting.”

“Not that. You have a real reason, don’t you?”

The real reason you had to bring me…

It was the most precise pronunciation since entering the room. Sa-yoon, who had been treating him like a typical drunkard, twitched his fingertips.

Their gazes crossed, slicing through the early morning air.

Sa-yoon, who had felt a similar sensation once before, straightened his body that had been leaning against the railing, following Geon-joo’s lead.

There was that feeling again.

A feeling of being strangely captivated. A feeling of being enticed by him.

Tilting his head, finding it a bit too cunning for someone supposedly drunk, Sa-yoon examined Geon-joo’s appearance with suspicious eyes.

He felt something strange.

A growing sense that the kit in front of him, who looked like nothing more than a youngster, was pretending to be drunk and testing him.

He kept getting that feeling.