Episode 100: Party (1)
“I’m dead. Seriously.”
I flopped onto the sofa in the Maengju’s lounge.
My body felt like it weighed a ton.
Honestly, I was still better off than most.
Except for Kang Arin, the rest of the students got beaten down by Jeong Tae-gon without even a chance to catch their breath.
Some of them couldn’t even stand properly, slumping over the benches like exhausted trainees after a march, their faces twisted in misery.
“Haa…”
I stared at the ceiling, catching my breath.
Then—
My watch chimed softly.
-Ding.
[Kim Haeun]: Haein! Congrats on passing as the top scorer in the trial! You worked hard today!
I propped myself up slightly to check the message.
Before the trial ended, Kim Haeun had revealed the final scores based on comprehensive data.
Combat ability, situational judgment, action speed, personality evaluation… Nothing was overlooked.
In the end, not a single student complained—they all quietly accepted the results.
The conclusion? First place.
I shrugged.
The spot where I’d been hit earlier still throbbed.
As soon as the trial ended, she had winked at me and said:
“Usually, the top scorer gets to form a contract with the Maengju!”
Her bright, smiling face flashed in my mind.
But I wasn’t exactly thrilled.
Through this trial, I’d gotten a feel for the Maengju’s system and how things flowed here.
From their training methods to the mindset of each hero.
It made sense why they were the world’s top-ranked guild.
I’d learned a lot. It was worth experiencing.
“Let’s gooo~”
“No…”
Before I could even gather my thoughts, Kang Arin was already twisting her body in front of me.
She’d been like this the entire trial.
Like a puppy wagging its tail.
“Why the hell would I go there…”
“Come ooon~”
It felt like she was making up for all the times she couldn’t approach me at school by clinging to me now.
The reason she was so persistent was simple.
There was a party tonight—a strategic exchange meeting.
And she wanted to take me there.
On the surface, it was a gathering to share strategies between groups and discuss cooperation against global threats…
But in reality? A social mixer.
The problem was the sheer scale of it.
The venue, the dress code, the attendees—everything was extravagant.
I’d known about the party for a while.
A few days ago, I’d gotten a sudden call from Gwangchul.
“Haein, you free this Saturday evening?”
“I’ve got a guild trial that day.”
“… A trial? Where? Ah, the Maengju. Okay, got it. Sigh… Guess that won’t work.”
“Why? Something up?”
“The strategic exchange meeting. I was supposed to go, but a request came up, so I can’t make it with the old man.”
I’d told him I couldn’t go, so I had no idea who ended up going in his place.
Either way, Kang Arin was determined to drag me there.
“Can’t you just go with your uncle?”
“He’s on a business trip today.”
“Ah.”
Seriously, why did it have to be today of all days?
Realistically, if Kang Arin didn’t go with her uncle, there was no one else from the Maengju side suitable to accompany her.
Her brother, Kang Yoosung, was no longer in this world.
Kang Arin herself didn’t seem to be dwelling on it, her eyes wide and innocent.
But for some reason, my chest ached faintly.
I felt my resolve waver.
“… I’m an outsider, though.”
“Then I’ll just make you an insider starting today.”
Kang Arin rummaged through her pocket as she spoke.
She pulled out her watch and showed me the screen.
[Trial Objective: Cultivate the Abilities Required of a Team Leader]
“Look. The trial objective is to cultivate a team leader’s abilities.”
She said it casually, but the corner of her mouth curled up slightly.
“Inter-group diplomacy is part of a team leader’s skill set.”
Then, leaning closer, she added in a whisper:
“The top scorer in the trial should learn this much. And getting treated like this… Well, it’s only natural.”
She spoke with such confidence, as if there wasn’t a single flaw in her logic.
Without realizing it, I turned to look at her.
I stared at Kang Arin for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
“Ha…”
I’d already come all the way to the Maengju and endured everything under the guise of “cultivating team leader abilities.”
Including getting beaten up by active-duty heroes.
At this point…
Might as well see it through to the end.
It was the most absurd trial I’d ever experienced, but paradoxically, it also felt the most real.
Let’s finish what I started.
I nodded.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
“Good choice.”
Kang Arin beamed.
I added,
“Just think of it as being my temporary executive assistant.”
At that, Kang Arin narrowed her eyes and said
“Hmm… That’s not really it…”
I stared at her, baffled.
“Even if you don’t like it, there’s no other choice.”
Fancy party or not, formalities aside—there was nothing I could do.
I didn’t have the right clothes for it.
Forget accessories—I didn’t even own a suit.
I’d probably have to borrow something, but even then, it’d be obvious at a glance. To people who didn’t know my situation, I might just look ridiculous.
“I don’t have anything that fits the dress code.”
I laid it out honestly.
Kang Arin tilted her head slightly and grinned.
“Dress code?”
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, but beneath that playfulness was quiet confidence.
She took a step closer, lifting her chin just enough to meet my gaze directly.
“If you’re standing next to me…”
Then, with absolute certainty, she said:
“That’s the best dress code there is.”
It sounded like a joke, but the look in her eyes was dead serious.
Before I could even question whether she meant it or not—
Honestly.
It wasn’t easy to argue against.
***
I stopped in front of the door.
The sight before me was overwhelming.
“Luxurious” didn’t even begin to cover it.
Warm lighting, polished mannequins visible through the glass, suits of exquisite fabric meticulously arranged—each one looked like a work of art.
“… Is this the right place?”
So places like this actually existed.
I’d never had a reason to come to one before.
“Yep~”
Kang Arin grinned and casually looped her arm through mine.
I shook her off with a light tap.
When I told her I didn’t have a suit, she immediately brought me here.
“Don’t places like this require reservations?”
Kang Arin answered like it was obvious.
“I made one.”
“… How do you even know my size?”
At my question, she smirked.
Her gaze slowly traveled over me—from head to toe.
Up… and down.
Unabashedly taking me in.
For a second, I felt irritated.
But Kang Arin just shrugged.
“Just… roughly~?”
Then she giggled.
“Actually, the hangers here are just that good. Even if you throw something from the mannequin on…”
She twirled a finger, pointing at my upper body.
“It’ll look like a custom-tailored suit made just for you.”
She tilted her head.
“No, actually… it might not even compare…”
Suddenly, she muttered under her breath, looking serious.
I just stared at her.
“So don’t worry~ Today’s just about dressing you up.”
Kang Arin strode ahead, arms crossed.
I followed, still slightly skeptical.
As the door opened, the soft strains of classical music drifted into my ears.
“Welcome.”
A staff member in a black suit bowed and approached.
After a single glance at Kang Arin’s face, he smiled.
“Right this way, please.”
“Thanks, take care of us.”
Kang Arin gave a small wave.
The staff member guided us with practiced gestures.
I followed him into the inner room.
Before us was a fitting room reserved just for me and Kang Arin.
In the center, an array of clothes hung neatly, while a makeup table was set up like a vanity on one side.
Black curtains draped the left wall, red ones the right—separate spaces for changing.
A full-length mirror, measuring tools, and rows of empty hangers lined the area.
“Now, we’ll start by taking the gentleman’s measurements.”
A female stylist approached politely and began measuring my waist, shoulders, and arm length, running the tape with precision.
“… Don’t make it too tight, okay?”
Kang Arin muttered.
The stylist pulled back slightly and replied—
“…This is perfect.”
I stayed silent.
“Keep the shoulders slightly structured, and the waist tight.”
Without me noticing, Kang Arin had stepped closer and was giving detailed instructions to the stylist.
“Don’t make the pants too loose—we need to emphasize the fit.”
She looked even more excited than before.
Soon, the order for my suit was finalized.
Kang Arin’s dress, it turned out, had already been ordered and prepared in advance.
Once the clothes arrived, we decided to change behind our respective curtains.
I stepped behind the black curtain, while Kang Arin disappeared behind the red one.
Inside, the outfit and shoes were neatly laid out.
A staff member offered to help me dress, but I declined.
‘It fits perfectly.’
Carefully, I slipped on the shirt and jacket.
The trousers fell cleanly along the line of my legs.
Just as I was about to put on the shoes, I sensed a faint movement from the other side of the curtain.
The soft rustle of fabric sliding into place.
My hands suddenly felt clumsy.
Now, all that was left was the tie…
“Don’t put on the tie!!!”
“Jesus—”
Kang Arin’s voice suddenly burst out from the distance.
I froze, the tie still in my hand, and draped it over my shoulder instead.
In the end, I was fully dressed—except for the tie.
Swish.
I pushed aside the black curtain and stepped out.
Kang Arin hadn’t emerged yet. Behind the curtain, only the faintest movements could be sensed.
She was changing into her dress.
I turned my head, trying not to think about it.
But then—
“Haein, can you grab my watch from the table for me?”
Her voice came from behind the curtain.
I picked up her watch from the table and approached, carefully extending my hand through the gap in the curtain.
“Here.”
Click, click.
The sound of high heels.
I could feel her walking closer.
But she didn’t take it.
“What…?”
—Swish.
The next second, Kang Arin’s hand shot out like lightning.
And then—
She yanked me straight through the curtain.
“Hey, wait—!”
Stumbling, I found myself inside the red-curtained space.
Crimson lighting.
A faint, lingering fragrance.
And then—
My vision filled with Kang Arin in her dress.
A dazzling white gown.
The deep-cut back flowed seamlessly, without a single unnecessary stitch.
The delicate fabric hugged her waist before cascading down, the dress barely holding onto the elegant curve of her hips.
Her hair was swept up neatly, the deep red of her accessories stark against the pure white of the dress.
As she turned slightly, her crimson eyes gleamed.
“See? I was right.”
She smiled over her shoulder, her back still to me.
“Standing next to me.”
Then, slowly, she turned her head to look at me.
“That’s the best dress code there is.”
For a second, my breath caught.
She stepped closer and gently took the tie still draped over my shoulder.
Then—
Carefully.
Almost tenderly.
She began tying it for me.
Her fingertips brushed against me—close enough to feel, but not quite touching.
“Tonight…”
As she adjusted the knot, Kang Arin lifted her gaze slightly, meeting my eyes.
“Take care of me, okay?”
She whispered it as she gave the tie one last, light tug.
And then—
She grinned.