Chapter 202 – Let’s Feast on Stars (2)

Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
A renowned beer establishment that everyone recognizes by just hearing its name.

Arriving a bit later than the agreed-upon time, the gathered graduates were already enjoying their drinks and unwinding from fatigue.
Private Yeonhwa High School.
The alma mater she had attended when her life began to transform.

Byul had been the most talked-about topic among the graduates.

“Did you hear? Byul resolved yet another issue recently.”
“Wow, really?”
“Still, it amazes me whenever I hear news about her. Who would have guessed that the girl always reading novels in the back of the class would turn out like this?”

Back then, Byul had been seen as that drowsy, listless girl who would often nap in class. That’s how her classmates remembered her.
She didn’t know how to enhance her appearance, and therefore she didn’t attract any male attention.
She had a habit of getting excited whenever the conversation turned to games or comics, which led some students to avoid her.

Of course, the majority had not been particularly interested in Byul.

Neither dislike nor like. Ah~ the one who always sat behind me?
A gentle and kind soul.
A girl who could be found anywhere, capable of such a reaction.

“Vice President of the Korean Hunter Association… Isn’t it on TV more than once or twice?”
“Seeing someone like that in our class, the world sure is small.”

Students who had just shed their youthful personas, now stepping into society, chuckled and shared her story.
A generation just about to find their footing in the world.
Though they couldn’t quite shake off the image of being newcomers to society, they were on the path to success.

Among these students, a truly successful individual appeared, shining like a star. It was only natural that the interest wouldn’t fade.

“So, are they here?”
“Apparently, they’re coming.”
“They’ve become so attractive… Should I ask for their phone number?”

Among them, some displayed a sensible fondness.

“Didn’t they say they don’t have a boyfriend?”
“Seems that way. But why would they meet you? If they’re the Vice President, they could just pick anyone they want.”

“Oh, come on, hold back a little.”

A reunion in their twenties. It’s a gathering that comes to fruition when one of the graduates suddenly and whimsically reaches out to the people around them.

In this process, quite a few relationships were reestablished.

Did she used to be that beautiful?
Wow, she’s completely transformed.

People who were once chubby have become slim, and those who were skinny have gained weight.
It’s a pity, but there are those who have been weathered by the passage of time.

It wasn’t uncommon to feel an attraction towards a familiar face appearing again, or for past affections to be reignited.
Subtle flirtations were taking place.

“But Byul is actually quite pure-hearted. I wonder if she’s still like that?”

A woman who had a brief friendship with Byul in the past spoke up.
Instantly, attention was drawn to her. The woman was incredulous at the men’s eager reactions.

“What are you saying?”
“Tell us more.”
“You guys are gross. You know, like believing in a destined partner? People like that.”

First love should lead to marriage.
They wouldn’t date unless it was a serious relationship.

“Should I call it innocence or a deluded fantasy? Perhaps it’s something more lurid? In any case, Byul had something like that. But now, I don’t know.”
“Hey, don’t badmouth our Byul.”
“Our Byul is just being ridiculous. That’s how it was back then.”

Now, who knows? Perhaps she’s become a seductress preying on young men.
Though it was never explicitly mentioned, the fact that it wouldn’t be strange if such an event had actually occurred spoke to the power of Byul’s social standing.

“Would it be odd now if she were around a group of men?”
“Well, yeah. But I heard she doesn’t have a boyfriend.”

Could it be that she’s never had a single lover to this day?
Byul has risen too high for a mere casual jab.

Still, there were times.
Guys who would try to provoke her, knowing full well that they had no chance.

“Last time I saw her, she still seemed awkward. I think she just can’t talk to men, you know?”
“Really?”

An innocent woman, unaccustomed to men.
Thrilling fantasies danced through the minds of some of the men present.

If played just right, one might hit a home run.

– Kiik.

At that moment, the door opened, and Byul timidly poked her head in.

“…Um, is this the right place?”

A light pink cardigan and a skirt shortened to match the summer season. The clothing was slightly loose, leaving only four slender fingers protruding from the cuffs of the cardigan, where her hands should have emerged. The fashion gave off the impression of a college freshman, despite being in her mid-twenties.

“Ah, Byul! Come on in.”

A woman waved with a warm, welcoming voice. Byul, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment from the attention, tightly clutched her handbag as she entered.

As it was summer, her body’s curves were exposed, drawing the fixed gazes of the men in the room. Though her frame was light and slender, a closer look revealed the enticing contours of her body, with curves dipping and rising in all the right places. To prove the point, the soft flesh of her thighs was visible just below the hem of her skirt, stirring up desire in those who beheld her.

“…Am I too late? …I’m sorry.”

“No, not at all. Hurry up and sit down here!”

“Huh? Oh… right.”

Byul took a seat and glanced around nervously.
Stammering and blinking, she couldn’t bear the atmosphere, so she looked at the cellphone gripped in her hands as if it were a sanctuary.
Her appearance had changed, but she still seemed the same as she had been during her school days.

“By the way, Byul.”
“Huh?!”
“I saw you on TV again this time. Is being the vice president really tough?”
“…Ah, that. It’s okay. I can handle it.”
“What kind of work do you do? Tell me.”
“Really? I was curious too.”

As Byul appeared, people from nearby seats began to gather around her one by one.
Even those who weren’t particularly interested in Byul glanced at her at least once, and brought up her story once or twice in casual conversation.

‘…Screwed!’

The conversation shifted to her. Every table around was now focused on Byul.

If she followed this course, it was obvious that everything from her job as vice president to her personal life would be laid bare.
A relentless barrage of questions!
With a sip of the beer before her, Byul inwardly cried out in anguish.

“The Vice President role… It’s not as significant as you might think!”

Star began to slowly answer the question.

“…Managing the guilds, dealing with the Flowers… knowing their locations, engaging in battles? And planning the export and import of resources from dungeons… hm.”

“Wow… that’s impressive. So, you also fight the Flowers?”

“Uh, yes, that’s right.”

While explaining hurriedly, Star tried not to appear too unpleasant.

Most people admired Star’s rise and growth. It was incredible, no matter how many times they witnessed it. The star that once belonged to that class was now truly trying to become a star of Korea.

Though currently the Vice President of the Korean Hunter Association, if Star were to succeed Mugung, who held a significant position worldwide… it would be akin to having a status that rivals the President. With such striking appearances, images of Star circulated the internet as memes, and there were even fan clubs dedicated to them.

It was astonishing to see Star in everyday life.

*Clink!*

Glasses collide as the conversation deepens. The focus on the star gradually wanes, and the star, too, slowly adapts to the atmosphere. Soon, others begin to show interest in the star.

“Oh, but it must be so busy. I don’t think I could live like that.”

Inevitably, gaining prominence in any field will also attract envious individuals. It would be even more so for those present with the intent of boasting about themselves. The star’s presence would be irksome to them. A woman who had achieved considerable success among the managers and graduates of a company asked the star with a hint of jealousy in her heart.

“Do you have time to meet friends?”

She subtly dismisses the star with a casual tone. Others remain oblivious to this. It’s a level of aggression that only the involved parties can barely perceive. However, the star, who has lived a defensive life, is all too familiar with such condescending gazes.

…and the star somewhat resents it.

“Friend? Yeah… I have one. I’m still seeing a friend I made back at the academy.”
“Oh really? That’s such a relief~ It must be so tough. Yeah, yeah. Have you seen the movie that came out recently?”
“…Huh? Oh, not yet.”

The smirk in the other person’s eyes.

It’s a nauseating laugh.

It’s just a reunion that I attended to reminisce about my old school days and feel a bit more confident now.
I came here hoping a meaningful connection might blossom in these occasional meetings.

It’s not that I dislike my peers, but it was somewhat uncomfortable.
Unconsciously, Byul tightly gripped her phone.

“I’ll watch it later. I heard it’s really fun.”
“With whom?”

Byul reflexively answered the woman’s question.

“…My, boyfriend.”

Boyfriend.

At the remark that slipped out of Byul’s mouth, all the women around her applauded and laughed in unison.
Other people’s love stories are always a hot topic at drinking parties.

“Wow, really? Byul, you have a boyfriend now?”
“…uh? Uh, yeah.”
“How did you meet him?”
“Just… through a friend’s blind date.”

Fumbling with her cell phone, she spoke timidly. Despite such a reaction, the atmosphere around them grew heated.

The woman who had asked the prickly question seemed to have not expected Byul’s response, and she drank her beverage with a slightly disgusted expression.

“What does he look like? Show me a picture. Right, isn’t Jisoo celebrating her 100th day with her boyfriend too?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.”

Jisoo casually took out her cell phone and showed her the picture. They were both part of the guild’s logistics and clerical staff.

“An office romance? Wow… It’s fascinating to see something like this. How is it?”
“Well, it’s strange; we just kind of hit it off by chance. We started dating after a heated argument with our team leader.”
“Khehehe.”

Byul tightly gripped her phone and suddenly realized something was amiss.

‘…uh.’

Upon realizing, she found that she didn’t have many pictures of them together.

Lee Si-heon had considered showing his profile picture, but he wasn’t fond of posting selfies. In the end, Byul hesitated and simply waited for the topic to change.

“What about Byul?”

But there was no escape.

Faced with the question that immediately circled back, Byul’s expression turned tense.

“Uh, huh? Oh, a photo… I don’t have any on me right now. I recently changed my cellphone.”
“You have a profile picture on the chat app. Show us that.”
“…But I don’t upload selfies as profile pictures. I don’t even have an Instagram account….”
“What?”

Wasn’t it normal to have photos showing affection between lovers, or at the very least, selfies? Byul couldn’t find words in response to the women’s baffled reactions. Truth be told… their confusion wasn’t unfounded.

Sweet photos of couples on other people’s phones – whether they were office romances or met through a blind date. Each person had at least one heartfelt picture, like drawing hearts with their hands, worthy of being framed. For some reason, Byul felt disheartened.

Among the other women, doubts circulated as to whether Byul might be lying.

“Oh, but… he’s quite handsome.”
“Really? I’m jealous.”

The reactions had become much more lukewarm. Byul was sweating profusely.

How could she cleverly deflect the conversation? Strangely, her usually quick wit seemed to fail her when she was around her former classmates.

“What kind of person is he?”
“…An Academy student.”
“Oh, which academy?”
“El Academy.”
“Wow, really? Isn’t that a prestigious school? If it’s El Academy… you can find him if you search.”

Is that so?

Belatedly, a woman picked up her phone to search, but Byul was already somewhat intimidated. A hint of exhaustion was evident on her face. Jisoo, who was looking at her like that, raised the corners of her mouth as if she was sneakily mocking her.

– Swish.

At that moment, the door opened.

“Hello. Is Byul here?”

A man’s voice resonated as soon as the door opened. It was a voice that had the power to soothe one’s mind and body, calming and alluring in its gentle tone.

Startled, the star turned her head.

His attire was not overly stylish, but rather, it was the epitome of a casual, everyday look one might associate with a boyfriend. He wore moderately light clothing, bearing the names of well-known brands, yet not ostentatious in any way.

The designs were primarily monochromatic, though the warm colors provided a departure from his usual appearance. With the corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly, the gaze of those nearby was drawn to him.

“Ah, here you are.”
“… Si-heon?”

As if lifting the momentarily deflated shoulders of the star, Si-heon approached and greeted those around him with a warm, twinkling smile in his eyes.

“Have you had too much to drink? I brought the car. Let’s go.”

A gentle possessiveness.
Why is he like this?

Though that thought crossed her mind, she didn’t find it unpleasant. The star’s eyelids fluttered up and down dozens of times. In her stead, the woman in the front seat spoke.

“Uh… Is Byul your boyfriend?”

The answer that came forth was as expected.

“Yes.”