I Became a Raid Boss

“Even 10 years ago, no—just 5 years ago—I could pull an all-nighter without any trouble….”

The passing of time feels cruel. Cruel indeed….

As Shin Da-eun muttered this, dark circles loomed under her eyes.

…To think dark circles could get that bad in just one day.

Looking at her pitiful state, I couldn’t help but ask.

“Are you really okay?”

“A word of concern from Kana? This is truly rare.”

“Stop talking nonsense. If you’re too tired, just sleep some more.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“It’s not like I’m that tired.”

“You know that’s not convincing at all, right?”

“…Is it that bad?”

“It’s that bad.”

As if not believing me, Shin Da-eun felt around her face and quickly ran to the bathroom.

The crashing and banging noises subsided after a while.

Moments later, Shin Da-eun emerged from the bathroom, looking dazed.

“…It really is that bad.”

“I told you so.”

Was she doubting my words?

Feeling somewhat dissatisfied, I pouted my lips.

“I-I wasn’t doubting you…!”

“You didn’t believe me, though.”

“Like I said, that’s not it!”

“Then what is it, if not that?”

“…What are you two even doing?”

Yawning wide enough to split her face, Yuki gave us a baffled look.

But Da-eun and I didn’t stop our back-and-forth.

“I just thought Kana was exaggerating a bit since I looked a little tired….”

“So, you didn’t believe me.”

“W-Well, saying it like that makes it sound like I’m a bad adult who doesn’t trust Kana…! I just thought it was a joke! At least let me explain it like that…. Ugh, if not for what I heard at dawn—”

“At dawn?”

“…Ahem! Nothing!”

“Huh….”

Her reaction was suspicious.

Could she have been talking behind my back while I was asleep?

No, I didn’t think she would do such a thing outright. But her startled denial made me even more curious.

“So, let’s just agree with Kana’s claim that I look terrible! Does that settle this conversation?!”

“…I didn’t say it that harshly.”

“Whatever! Kana was right, I was wrong! Isn’t that enough?! Are you going to say I’m wrong again? Well, I’m not!”

“Uh, sure….”

Honestly, I was starting to wonder if something we ate at dinner yesterday could’ve caused this.

At this point, it wouldn’t be strange to suspect such a thing.

But regardless of those thoughts, I instinctively backed away under the pressure of Da-eun’s intensity.

…What else could I do?

Her bloodshot eyes, the dark streaks under them extending down, her complexion pale like someone sick…

And then, with those eyes wide open, she approached like a madwoman. Who wouldn’t back away from that?

If I’d been holding my sword and could swing it, I wouldn’t have been scared, but still.

“What do you think is essential for living? Sunlight? Water? Carbohydrates? No!”

Shin Da-eun, muttering like a lunatic, rushed into the kitchen.

She flung open the refrigerator door.

“What modern humans need is caffeine! Oh, caffeine…! My life, my soul, my blood…!”

She triumphantly pulled out a carefully stored bottle of coffee from the refrigerator.

“Shouldn’t we take her to a hospital instead of Hallasan?”

“I think so too.”

Even fake madness has to bow before the real deal.

Watching Shin Da-eun’s antics, Yuki murmured softly.

Though Yuki’s worldview often clashed with typical Korean values, she was aware of her differences.

At least, that was my guess. Based on how she behaved within established rules, I didn’t think I was wrong.

Even the way she dealt with her stalker followed the rules, didn’t it?

If anything….

“A civilized beast?”

Yeah, that description fits.

Wild, but knowing when to bare her fangs, she’s not particularly threatening.

But Da-eun is different.

Even though I know she’s not serious, there are moments like this that make me wonder if I’ve underestimated her.

Gulp, gulp…

“Ahh…!”

By the time I looked back, Da-eun had drained the entire coffee bottle.

Someone watching might think she’d been drinking liquor instead.

“Shin Da-eun, fully revived!”

“That’s obviously not true.”

The rebuttal came reflexively, without even going through my brain.

There’s no way a single cup of coffee, drunk just now, could wipe out her fatigue.

“Why do you think that’s not true?”

“Why, you ask—”

“Ah, Kana, you’ve never had coffee because you’re still a baby, huh? That’s why you wouldn’t know.”

“…A baby?”

Da-eun’s eyes curved into crescent moons.

“Do you know how effective coffee is these days? Waking you up is just the start. If you drink more than two cups, you won’t sleep that night at all.”

“Stop lying.”

“I’m serious.”

“You always say you’re tired after drinking coffee, though.”

I distinctly remember her complaining about being tired after drinking coffee. How could she lie like this?

But even under my pointed glare, Da-eun didn’t flinch.

“That’s because I dilute it before drinking. If I drink it straight, the effect is so strong I can’t sleep properly.”

“…Stop lying.”

“I’m serious! Wait, didn’t we just say the same thing earlier?”

She’s definitely teasing me.

While I was convinced this was the case in my head, Shin Da-eun’s confidence made me wonder for a moment—what if it’s true?

…It’s undeniable that Earth’s science and medicine are more advanced than Silia’s.

They’ve created countless drugs and even things that blur the line between food and torture devices. Surely, they’d have made an effective fatigue reliever by now.

With that thought, Shin Da-eun’s face, which looked like death itself earlier, now appeared surprisingly functional.

Tap.

“…What?”

Suddenly, Yuki’s hand landed on my head.

I glared up sharply, but Yuki withdrew her hand more easily than expected.

“Don’t fall for it. Obviously, she’s lying.”

“…Huh?”

“Well, products like the ones she described do exist. But those effects only come from stimulants or high-caffeine drinks. Cheap convenience store coffee definitely wouldn’t work like that.”

“…It’s a lie! Kana, you don’t believe her, do you?”

“….”

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Choose! Yuki or me?”

“If I had to pick who to believe—”

I took a step toward Yuki.

“Of course, it’s Yuki.”

“…This is unbelievable!”

Plop!

Shin Da-eun collapsed like a marionette whose strings had been cut.

“After all the time we’ve spent together, how could you betray me like this?”

“Who was trying to deceive me in the first place?”

“But Yuki’s claim hasn’t been proven true yet!”

“That statement alone is practically admitting you lied.”

“….”

Shin Da-eun fell silent, her eyes darting around wildly.

I nonchalantly addressed her as she struggled for words.

“Think carefully.”

“Think about what?”

“If I find out later that you were lying…”

“Find out… what?”

“…I won’t sleep with you anymore.”

…Ugh.

I shuddered.

I never imagined those words would come out of my mouth.

It’s so embarrassing I could die… but I had my reasons for saying it.

“….”

Shin Da-eun froze on the spot.

Mouth agape, utterly still—she was the perfect picture of someone in shock.

If a moment of personal humiliation could shock Shin Da-eun like this, it was worth it.

“Did she die?”

Shake shake.

Yuki placed her hand on Shin Da-eun’s shoulder and gave her a gentle shake.

Finally, Shin Da-eun snapped out of her petrified state.

“I was wrong! I’ll never lie to Kana again! Please take back what you just said! I promise never to lie, and I’ll even eat all my vegetables from now on! Please! You know how impossible it is to live without warmth after feeling it even once! Kana is so soft and warm—I can’t lose her….”

“Leaving everything else aside, what’s with that last part?”

“…You understood that?”

“If you live with Da-eun, you pick up on these things.”

“You’ve been through a lot.”

Yuki’s hand crept onto my head again.

But this time, I didn’t swat it away.

After all, it’s true—I’ve been through a lot trying to keep up with Shin Da-eun. I figured I deserved this small consolation.

“…That should’ve been my spot.”

Grrr…!

Shin Da-eun, her eyes filled with envy, gnawed on a handkerchief.

Where did she even pull that handkerchief from?

Even though I dismiss most of what Shin Da-eun says as nonsense, I can’t deny her thorough preparedness.

Not that I’ll ever understand why she goes to such lengths.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay without more sleep?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine. I’ll nap on the way. That’s what autonomous driving is for, isn’t it? It’s amazing that such a convenient feature didn’t exist before. Don’t you think so?”

“Well…”

It’s not just about the driving.

I’m skeptical whether she’ll be able to hike with a body this exhausted.

Still, if she says she’s fine, then she’s fine.

Looking at her confident smile, I reluctantly nodded.

“Alright, let’s head out!”

Shin Da-eun exclaimed with gusto.

Naturally, no one responded to her.

—

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