Chapter 122: Breaking the Spirit - 9
Chapter 122: Breaking the Spirit - 9
He had declared to Asira that he and Yura were in a sexual relationship, and he had firmly stamped his claim on Yura. Now, Jiha was sorting out his thoughts as he prepared to move to the next step.
'Yura is completely subordinated to me now. Even in the worst case, Asira can't kill me. The problem is finding a way to get Asira into my hands...'
The option of sending her back peacefully was gone.
So how could he conquer a righteous knight and make her his woman?
'I could threaten Asira into following me by using the fact that Yura will die if I die. But that has too many variables. The best outcome is still making Asira utterly unable to defy me, making her loyal.'
Beyond that, he wanted to bite Asira and obtain her Special Ability.
Considering everything, the optimal result was for Jiha to bite Asira and make her his woman.
'Even if I use Kamain to drive a wedge... The real issue is how to frame the relationship. Enril, Yura, Leticia, and Lijin all treat me with subtly different nuances—because I guided them that way.'
Enril saw Jiha as a superior she could not disobey.
Yura saw him as a beloved partner.
Leticia feared Jiha but believed he would find her cute if she followed him obediently.
Lijin saw Jiha as a safe nest, a superior who gave her reliable affection.
They were similar but subtly different.
When dealing with a woman, the best approach was to tailor it to her personality, interests, and values.
'The problem is Asira. Finding a crack to slip into a righteous person... Romance novels really are the key, aren't they?'
Jiha headed for the mess hall as he sorted through his thoughts.
But then a message came: Uben wished to see him in the library.
When Jiha entered the library, Uben, who had been waiting, bowed his head deeply.
"My apologies. Everyone is in the middle of eating, so I chose this spot."
"No, it's fine. The guys need to eat too."
Jiha's private talks with Uben usually took place in the mess hall, but it was now evening meal time.
"I've handled the matter you instructed."
Uben respectfully produced a letter and held it out to Jiha.
It was Koral's trump card, evidence that could prove Kamain's crimes.
"A letter, is it?"
"Should I leave?"
Uben asked if the contents were for Jiha's eyes only.
"No, wait."
Kamain was practically a wreck now anyway.
'If he still had any real will left, he would have burst out of his room at the noise.'
He had stayed holed up even through the sticky moans audible from the next room.
"......."
Jiha opened the letter, read it, and frowned.
"Uben, where is Ringard?"
"It's a city in Purple. A place famous for its magic stone mines. About ten days' distance."
"Can we get our hands into it?"
"It depends on the matter... But anything major would be difficult."
Though Jiha had grown his power, he was still only within Waris.
Inside the border city of Waris, Jiha could do as he pleased, but his influence was hard to extend to other cities.
"Do you know who the mayor there is?"
"......Hmm, let me think for a moment."
"I can't recall the name, but it was an elf. The position had been held by dwarves for generations because the place is famous for its magic stone mines, but there was a big uproar when an elf seized the mayoral seat through schemes."
"I'll write a letter, so send it to Dudinel. He'll take care of it."
Waris's mayor, Dudinel, held no real power, but he still had influence within elf society.
Since what Jiha was asking wasn't a major matter, it would likely proceed without issue.
"Is this something I need to know about?"
"If it's something I don't need to know, then I won't ask."
"It's nothing major. Someone in Ringard I want to bring here. But I want it to look natural, without anyone noticing I summoned her."
"Yes. Who is it?"
"A woman who used to be a Super Rare Grade."
"Is it perhaps Pairan Amaut? Asira Hellrunner's former Super Rare Grade?"
He was right.
The letter currently in Jiha's hand was one Pairan had sent to Asira.
"You recognized her at once."
"Because a Super Rare Grade defecting to the enemy faction was an unprecedented event. It was such a huge uproar that the rumors reached even here."
In Korea, it would be comparable to a high-ranking North Korean official defecting to the South.
Not just any high official, but a power player ranked around the top ten.
"It seems they managed to settle things, but would she come here? It's only been half a year. She'll think her life would be in danger if she came to Waris."
"I'll make her come."
She would likely come on her own if he subtly passed along word of Kamain's current state.
Anyone who had been entangled in Kamain's schemes, forced to give up her position and throw herself into enemy territory, would harbor a deep grudge.
At Jiha's words, Uben nodded.
Then, uncharacteristically, he asked first.
"What do you plan to do now?"
"You're being proactive for once."
Uben had always humbled himself while serving Jiha as his leader and never used petty tricks.
He had faithfully handled the tasks Jiha assigned, never prying even when information was given sparingly.
"The gnolls are finally sorted out, and I want to know the next stage."
The Grade 2 weapons were now in Jiha's hands.
If he gave those weapons to the Commons and launched an uprising, seizing Waris would be easy.
No, the administrative officials, including the mayor, were already cooperating with Jiha from the start.
'Yura is subordinated to me. Leticia will follow obediently too. Enril is a slight variable, but....'
Jiha spoke as he worked through his thoughts.
"I get that you've got your hands on some weapons and want to swing them around. Hold back."
"......."
"There are still a few more steps left. Rising up is easy, but holding the ground is hard."
Uben nodded with a regretful face.
"I apologize. I got excited."
"The guys got excited?"
"......Yes."
Uben nodded, seemingly embarrassed.
"They all told me to say something to you, Chief, so I ended up...."
He seemed quite ashamed that he, who should be a cool-headed strategist, had gotten carried away.
Jiha nodded.
"I see you've picked up on Kamain getting smashed."
"Yes, everyone is feeling quite satisfied. He was an eyesore, after all."
Kamain had acted rudely whenever Asira was absent.
The Commons, who had found his words and behavior deeply unpleasant, felt their spirits lift now that they knew Jiha had dealt with him.
"Everyone's asking about how you pulled it off again, Chief, and now that the weapons are in too, they're asking when we'll actually start moving."
"Get them to calm down. Don't make it obvious."
"......Ah, I am doing that. Besides, that young lady is handling it well. The half-elf young lady. Everyone likes her."
Uben praised Lijin.
Jiha nodded.
Since the night they spent together, Jiha had not met Lijin.
He wanted to see how Lijin was reacting.
He had never given her orders, but Lijin was moving on her own.
'She's different from someone who only does what they're told. She's finding things she can do and doing them.'
Jiha asked for confirmation.
"No friction with the guys?"
The Commons were a pack of males who had risked their lives fighting and killing people.
Though they followed and obeyed Jiha with one heart, they were fundamentally men who spread blood and violence.
"On the contrary, everyone's careful around her. Some of them say she's like a daughter. They want to treat her well."
"Like a pure-hearted flower shop girl, huh...."
Even these violent men seemed to naturally soften in front of Lijin.
Seeing Uben admiring her too, Lijin's skill at blending into the organization was exceptional.
"Everyone's curious about when you're going to take her in, Chief."
"What?"
"......Ah, my apologies. I spoke out of turn."
Uben had been speaking with a pleased expression but quickly shut his mouth.
When Jiha signaled with his eyes for him to continue, Uben opened his mouth cautiously.
"A sweet young lady like that... staying here and living among us, dealing with us all so gently. It's a little odd, isn't it? She's not even a staff member of the barracks, so the guys have been swapping guesses about what's going on."
"And?"
"Well, they say, isn't she obviously the Chief's woman?"
Uben scratched his head.
It was a natural guess to make.
"Some say Sirel is the Chief's woman too, and others say it's both, so there's complicated speculation going around."
He understood. Other people's love lives were always entertaining.
"A few clueless ones asked the half-elf young lady outright. If she was in a sexual relationship with the Chief."
"And?"
Jiha asked calmly.
"The young lady said no. But even though she verbally denied it, her face got extremely embarrassed, so the guys understand it as a one-sided crush."
"......."
"A few are even saying the Chief should hurry up and accept her feelings. Though of course, no one would say that directly to you."
Jiha nodded.
Lijin's conduct was top-notch, at that level.
'Honestly, I'm quite impressed....'
She blended in well among the violent men, and even when Uben himself got excited, she handled each person calmly and maintained internal order.
'She's like lubricant for the organization.'
For an organization to run smoothly, someone who does the invisible, unremarkable work is essential.
Even without orders, Lijin understood what Jiha wanted and was carrying it out.
As Jiha was lost in thought, Uben spoke casually.
"She's probably eating with the guys right now. Should I call her over?"
"......."
"......Ah, sorry. It just reminded me a bit of my little sister."
It seemed the wolf beastman also had a wish for things to go well between Jiha and Lijin.
Still, wrapping things up with Asira came first.
"Select two or three guys. Their role is to leak false information."
"Understood. I'll prepare."
As Uben stood up, Jiha narrowed his eyes.
"We'll have to make that shut-in bastard come out."
Kamain surviving was unexpected.
But he could use the man who had become a wreck just as he was.
As the key to taming Asira.