Chapter 22

It all started back at the department store.

Five days ago, in that moment, Shin had been terrified.

Wearing an expression I’d never seen before.

Sweating profusely, his face stiff with fear.

But at the time, I had no idea what was happening.

I didn’t know what he was afraid of—so, acting on instinct from my otherworldly experiences, I made him drink something.

Luckily, it worked. He calmed down and returned to his usual self.

So at the time, I just let it go, relieved, and we finished shopping like normal.

But now, days later, looking back on that moment, I can’t help but think:

I don’t really know anything about Shin.

I know nothing about who he was before we met.

I know he trades stocks. That he attends a nearby university. That his parents live far away.

But that’s it.

Sure, I know little things—his food preferences, trivial details. But nothing deeper.

Everything else—what kind of school he went to, whether he joined any clubs, what friends he had (or has)—

In other words, the life he’s lived up to now?

I know nothing about it.

What I do know about Shin is all surface-level.

The kind of things anyone slightly close to him would know.

So… I want to know more.

…But even though I feel that way, it’s not so simple.

No matter how many times I try asking about his past, he brushes it off with an "Eh, there’s nothing worth telling."

Even when I use interrogation techniques I learned in the other world, it doesn’t work.

The answer is always the same: "Nothing happened."

That’s when I thought of alcohol.

I’ve never drunk it myself—assassins can’t afford to. But all the soldiers around me did.

What else was there to do in a world where booze and gambling were the only entertainment?

So I know how it works.

Alcohol loosens lips.

From an intel-gathering standpoint, it’s common knowledge that drunk people slip up. Spill secrets.

That’s why I decided to try it.

Luckily, we already bought alcohol at the department store. And I have the perfect excuse—"I’ve never tried it before."

The setup couldn’t be better.

So I immediately brought it up with Shin.

"Then… wanna drink the alcohol we bought the other day?"

"Alcohol?"

Right on schedule, I invited Shin—who had just declared he’d start studying tomorrow.

Too close. I hadn’t accounted for exams. If I’d delayed this by even one more day, I’d have had to wait two weeks.

"Alright, let’s have some with dinner."

"Okay."

Shin agreed with a smile.

Then he walked off, light on his feet.

No clue what’s waiting for him tonight.

"Heh heh…"

What an idiot. No idea what’s about to happen to him.

Luckily, tomorrow’s Saturday.

Shin doesn’t seem to have any plans besides studying, so I’ll get him completely wasted and pry everything out of him.

Like—what kind of school did he go to?

Who else does he know besides me?

What does he really think about me?

And, while we’re at it—any embarrassing secrets?

There’s no downside to knowing.

I’m so curious.

It’s not like I don’t feel a little bad about forcing it out of him… but this is necessary.

Like I’ve said before—information is everything.

Without it, you might struggle to reach a well, only to find it bone-dry.

The despair of that moment—

…No, I don’t even want to remember.

…I’m getting off track.

Point is—tonight’s going to be fun.

I wonder what kind of answers I’ll get?

Humming to myself, I returned to my chores, already running through questions in my head.