Chapter 216 Internal Cleanup -13
Chapter 216 Internal Cleanup -13
After washing up quickly in Lijin's room, Jiha headed for the mess hall.
He'd invited her to breakfast, but Lijin had declined in a rather evasive way.
She must have restrained herself, thinking receiving affection that morning was already more than enough.
She'd finally admitted her feelings for Jiha openly, but... Lijin still possessed considerable self-control.
Jiha had considered that when he took her to bed.
Jiha sat down in his usual spot and looked ahead.
Narsha sat across from him, her face twisted in obvious irritation.
Jiha glanced back. Uben, seated some distance away, offered a slight bow of the head.
'Looks like Narsha came and waited so she could eat with me.'
In the past, Narsha would have already eaten and left, or she'd be scolding him for being so late.
The fact that only her expression was bad suggested she was holding her temper for once.
"Wipe that sour look off your face. Bring me my food."
"Huh?"
Jiha gestured with his chin toward a Common who had just picked up a tray, then fixed his gaze on Narsha.
Narsha stared in disbelief, then looked back and forth between the frozen Common and Jiha.
"Right now... you're telling me to get that?"
"Not going to?"
"Am I out of my...."
"Let's settle this with words while I'm still being civil. None of that 'why should I' speech."
Irritation written all over her face, Narsha ultimately rose from her seat.
Her every step advertised her anger—she was making a point of stomping loudly—but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to defy Jiha.
'She really is a child.'
Her body was that of a full-grown adult, but inside she was emotionally stunted.
Well, Dirga barely reached 140 cm to begin with.
Growing up without real relationships must have left her this way.
"......."
Narsha, still glaring, slammed a tray down in front of Jiha.
Jiha spoke calmly.
"Get yours too. As much as you'll eat."
The Common mess was a small buffet, so you could take as much as you wanted.
Even so, Narsha found the whole thing absurd and snapped back.
"Why should I? This place is crawling with slaves!"
The Commons watching frowned. Those who followed Jiha had long since cast off the yoke of slavery.
Even against a Unique, they didn't cower, not when their commander, Jiha, feared no one.
"Don't use that word again. They're all my subordinates."
"......."
At Jiha's warning, the Commons' faces brightened with satisfaction.
That was their commander—he wouldn't let that kind of talk slide, even from a Unique. A man worth giving their lives for, they thought with renewed admiration.
Narsha irritably pushed against the table and stood up.
"......I'm not eating. Lost my appetite."
"Sit."
"I said I'm not eating."
"Then sit anyway. While I eat."
Jiha's tone was firm.
Narsha's temper hadn't changed much, but she still couldn't openly defy Jiha.
He'd completely crushed her resistance, yes.
But it was also because he was the Helper who had formed a bond with Narsha.
Dirga had no concept of married life, but the rule was they took only one Helper and never touched another man for life.
So long as Narsha was a Dirga, she could accept no man but Jiha now.
That didn't mean her feelings had softened, of course.
"......Just because you're my Helper, you think you can treat me like this? I have absolutely no reason to be treated this way by you."
"Why?"
"......What?"
"What reason do I have to respect you?"
When Jiha asked point-blank, Narsha started to reply, then shut her mouth.
Every man who approached her walked on eggshells trying to get better weapons, so she'd taken that for granted.
But now that Jiha had flatly declared he didn't need a Dirga weapon... she couldn't think of a single card to play.
"I-I'm a Unique!"
"Right. A very distinguished person who throws tantrums about skipping breakfast."
Jiha plucked a grape from the bunch and held it out.
When the grape appeared before her, Narsha's voice rose.
"......What's this?"
"Eat."
"I don't want...."
The moment Narsha started to refuse, Jiha pushed the grape between her lips.
Her reactions were so emotionally driven, so simple, that reading her like this was effortless.
"Don't you spit that out."
"......."
Disgruntled, Narsha chewed the grape, skin and all, and swallowed.
He hadn't actually told her to eat the skin.
"Do Dirga eat grapes with the skin on?"
"......My choice."
"Guess you actually like it. Here."
"......."
When Jiha offered another, Narsha simply opened her mouth this time.
She was being stubborn, but she was also a little hungry, and she seemed quietly pleased that Jiha was feeding her.
Probably thought she was being treated like someone special.
Jiha wondered if feeding a pet really counted as treating it well....
'A child who can't manage her own emotions.'
With that thought, Jiha ate a grape himself, chewing skin and all.
It was unfamiliar, but the texture was different. Not bad.
"Huh. Not bad once you try it."
"See? Everyone thinks I'm weird for eating them this way. What business is it of theirs how I eat...."
Narsha had been grumbling away until she remembered it was Jiha she was talking to and quickly composed her face.
But it was obvious she still wanted to talk.
'She probably hasn't had anyone decent to talk to.'
Narsha barely even glanced at her escort guards except for Lungtao.
She seemed to view Bran a little differently, but that didn't mean she'd opened up to her either.
The person she'd talked to most lately was probably Lijin, who Jiha had assigned to look after her.
"Let's eat breakfast together for the time being."
"I wake up late."
"Starting today, you'll be a good little early bird."
Narsha grumbled but didn't say no.
"......What a bother."
"Then go get your food."
After a moment's hesitation, Narsha got up.
Watching her back as she walked a bit awkwardly toward the food station with a tray, Jiha narrowed his eyes.
'The escort guards are under me now, and I need Narsha fully tamed as well. For my own enhancement, too... but if the Uniques arm themselves with weapons she's made, our fighting strength will become immense.'
Dirga weapons were custom-made and only activated for their intended user.
Moreover, their culture dictated they only made them for men, so there had never been a case of a Unique wielding a Dirga weapon.
But what if he could place Dirga weapons and armor in Enril's or Asira's hands?
The power boost would be enormous.
After finishing his meal, Jiha headed to his office.
Uben, who had eaten earlier and been waiting, rose to his feet and spoke.
"Two pieces of news, Chief."
"What?"
"First, there's been word from Guason. He said he and Quority are meeting Alex today."
"And the other?"
"......Alex of the Species Alliance has sent you an invitation."
Jiha gave a short laugh.
"What a joker. Is he trying to get me and Quority into the same room? Or is he just hedging his bets?"
"From what I've learned, it seems a rather secretive party is being held. Alex is using his political weight here in Waris to gather Species Alliance officers and their associates."
Uben handed Jiha a sealed letter.
The fact it was still sealed meant Uben had gotten the details through other channels.
Jiha opened it and tsked.
"He's inviting me three nights from now. Says to bring a partner."
"Likely a trap."
"Even so, I have to walk into it. Heinrich and Barjet will be there, and this Alex character I've had no intel on will finally surface."
"Then who will you take with you?"
"It's a party, so I need to bring a woman. But...."
Jiha mulled it over briefly, then reached a conclusion.
"Summon the ones I name."
After giving the order, Jiha was lost in thought when a knock came, and then a woman entered.
Dark blue hair and mismatched eyes—it was Pairan Amaut.
"......What's this about?"
"Got invited to a party and I need a partner. You're coming."
"No."
Pairan answered immediately.
The token resistance of a hound. Jiha lightly rattled the leash.
"Shall I take Asira instead?"
"......."
"She'd be thrilled if I asked her. Maybe I'll give her a good rubdown while we're at it."
Pairan's face twisted before she sighed.
"......Say I agree. What excuse do you expect me to make to Lady Asira?"
"It doesn't matter since we're not going just for fun. Are you close with Barjet?"
"Never even spoken to her."
Pairan's reply was flat.
Meaning, she knew Barjet by face only. No real relationship to speak of.
"Good. Then follow me."
"......I'm going to report to Lady Asira and get her permission."
"Report? You're a Unique too, you know."
Jiha tsked.
Pairan had spoken from old habit.
"Does the whole world revolve around Asira? I get that you like her, but rein it in."
"......Don't speak carelessly."
"I've been keeping your secret, haven't I? Or did you really come running just to stare at Asira's face?"
"That's not it."
Pairan denied it and shut her mouth.
Jiha studied her expression as he thought.
'Purple is unified; they move on a single command from the top. So Pairan and Barjet share the same objective, but they don't actually cooperate with each other. I need to exploit that opening.'
Pairan, who pined for Asira, and Barjet, who let Heinrich manipulate her—there was no way they could coordinate effectively.
The circumstances made it impossible, and their personalities were completely different.
"How do you rate Heinrich?"
"Slick-talking trash."
Pairan answered without a second's hesitation.
Something must have soured her mood on the way over.
'No, but she answers me that honestly too?'
Jiha let out a baffled laugh. Pairan was the type whose likes and dislikes were so extreme she couldn't keep them contained.
"And what do you think of me?"
"......The bastard who defiled Lady Asira."
Jiha looked at the hound baring her teeth openly and smirked.
"That's right. If you'd stayed by her side, she probably wouldn't have fallen for my tricks."
"......."
"Ah, but some fool let a false rumor drive her away, and Asira was left wide open—easy prey for a bad man's games. Fell completely for it, gave me her body and her heart. She's head over heels, desperate to do anything for me. I love how she acts cute in bed every night!"
Unable to stomach the provocation, Pairan trembled, her whole body shaking with rage.
Jiha insolently rubbed his stomach.
"Buuuurp. That was damn delicious."
"......I'll kill you."
"Jealousy really has you seeing red, huh."
Deciding the mockery had gone on long enough, Jiha straightened his expression and spoke firmly.
"Aren't you just upset that Asira doesn't look your way? Isn't that why you're trying to hate me without reason?"
"......."
For a moment, Pairan's face went blank, as if the accusation had struck something vital.
She seemed to realize her own feelings weren't normal.
Well, that was why she'd kept them secret from Asira in the first place.
"......No. I can't let someone who speaks about Lady Asira so crudely go unchecked."
"Do you think I treat Asira differently? I act the same way in front of her."
He hadn't spoken to her quite so crudely, but Asira knew well that Jiha was utterly fearless.
Jiha sneered.
"Asira knew all about it and still fell for me. Aren't you just jealous because you weren't the one chosen?"
"......That's not it."
Pairan tried to deny it, but her voice shook.
Pushing that button got quite the reaction.
He'd struck right at the heart she'd tried so hard to hide.
Jiha narrowed his eyes and rose from his chair.
As Jiha approached, Pairan reflexively grabbed her sword's hilt, though she didn't draw it to swing.
Partly because Jiha's stride was so utterly unconcerned, partly because wounding Asira's lover would create a disaster with no way to clean up after... and partly because Jiha's provocation had already sent ripples through her heart.
That flustered heart was the opening. Jiha closed in an instant and pressed his hand down over Pairan's sword hilt.
"......."
While Pairan reeled, Jiha slipped through the gap in her heart and covered her lips with his own.
Moist lips—he could tell on instinct no other man had ever touched her there.
Pairan's eyes flew wide in shock... then she quickly swung her arm. But Jiha blocked it with his own arm and kept softly biting her lips.
Pairan tried to twist free, but Jiha, who'd already gathered Mana in preparation, locked her down with brute force.
"Ng, nnh...."
Pairan let out a resentful groan, then belatedly summoned Mana of her own.
But Jiha, having already tasted her lips thoroughly, had pulled back by then.
Pairan glared at him, her fury boiling over. Jiha just smirked.
"For someone with such a cool expression, your emotions sure show easily."
"......."
Without a word, Pairan drew her sword.
Rage had already overcome her, and a sense of mission—that she had to eliminate Jiha, for Asira's sake—was driving her onward.
No one's easier to handle than an excited fool. Jiha was practically pleased.
Bang!
"What's going on here?!"
Mayan, who had thrown the door open without knocking, took in the scene inside the office and cried out in shock.
She quickly drew a dagger from her sleeve and glared at Pairan as if to protect Jiha.
"Pairan Amaut! Trying to harm my lady's fated companion—I won't stand for it!"
Enril's dog and Asira's loyal hound.
The two bared their teeth at one another.