Chapter 218 Melting Night
Chapter 218 Melting Night
Three days later.
Jiha sat in the carriage, watching the night scenery pass by.
Beside him, Mayan sat bolt upright, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
Instead of her usual maid uniform, she wore a yellow dress that looked quite charming on her.
"You have no weapon...?"
"It's a party."
Jiha chuckled.
The invitation to Alex's party had specifically requested that guests refrain from carrying weapons, stating they would be denied entry otherwise.
'A shallow ploy...'
While Mana and Special Abilities decided the outcome of battles in Warsland, weapons were still crucial.
Jiha changed the subject.
"You filled up before coming, right? Just like I said. Don't eat or drink anything there unless absolutely necessary."
"To be honest, I am a little curious about the taste. Is it truly forbidden?"
Mayan asked boldly.
Was she a foodie? Jiha turned to look at her, and Mayan shook her head.
"I have heard that this Alex person is the brother of the Purple Unique, Gashiel Remaker. Naturally, the head chef in his household must also be someone remarkable. I would like the opportunity to learn."
"Meaning you don't know what might be mixed into the food. Does that excuse work on me?"
Pairan, who had been sitting opposite them listening to the conversation, asked coldly.
She, too, was unarmed, wearing a blue mini dress that reached her thighs.
The off-shoulder design, her pale skin, and the subtly hinted cleavage drew a man's gaze.
Mayan, however, scowled.
"Look at the Yogwi bragging, having gained her Unique position by selling out her master."
"...Say that again."
Pairan's face hardened in an instant.
The atmosphere was already hostile before anything had even begun. Jiha, however, did not intervene, simply watching quietly.
He was, in fact, quite curious about how Pairan had become a Unique.
No, more fundamentally, what exactly was a Unique?
Previously, Jiha had simply thought of them as powerful women chosen from each species.
This was common knowledge in Warsland.
But upon deeper reflection, something felt strange.
The most extraordinary trait of a Unique was their astonishing Mana recovery rate.
It allowed them to spam skills with high Mana consumption without pause... which was akin to running without rest from Seoul all the way to Busan.
It made no sense.
Even Jiha himself, after his decisive battle with Lungtao, had been in serious danger when attacked by Shades while his Mana was depleted.
The work they did differed, but Mana and stamina were similar.
You could strengthen them through training, and recover through rest.
Yet Uniques lacked this recovery time entirely.
'Right, like a cheat character in a game.'
Characters who technically use MP but run a cheat program that keeps their MP permanently full.
If it were just one or two, he might accept it, but there were ten of them, and this had been maintained for hundreds of years.
"There's no religion in Warsland, is there?"
"There is. The celestials follow the Old Religion, and each species has its own indigenous faiths."
Despite her angry expression, Mayan, who had been watching Jiha closely, answered quickly.
She seemed to be diligently following his instructions not to cause trouble this time.
"Freedom of religion is guaranteed in both Blue and Purple. Since the Thousand-Year War era saw many problems caused by religion, you are free to believe anything as long as you don't proselytize."
"What do Beastmen believe in?"
"I don't know."
"...Why do you answer that so proudly?"
Mayan shook her head.
Her soft, neck-length hair swayed slightly.
"It has been a long time since I associated with other Beastmen."
"..."
Now that he thought about it, why was Mayan even working as Enril's maid?
He had long since accepted it without thinking, but for Enril, a dark elf, to have chosen a Dog Beastman as a Super Rare rather than one of her own kin must have been quite unusual.
Their bond was no ordinary one.
That was why Mayan was so exceptionally loyal to Enril, and why she despised Pairan for being in a similar position yet betraying her master.
Pairan, who had been staring out the window, finally spoke.
"So, what do I need to do?"
"Looks like you're willing to cooperate."
"...I was only asked by Lady Asira. And don't think you can just brush off what happened earlier."
She glared at Jiha with her red-and-blue odd eyes, a fresh surge of anger welling up inside her.
She was holding back for now, but Pairan had not forgotten that Jiha had stolen her lips.
If she got the chance, she would gladly draw her sword.
"Ah, the thing where your ass dirtied my hand?"
"What ridiculous...!"
"Did you do it again? If you keep that up, people will curse at you."
Mayan cut off Pairan's words and scolded Jiha.
"Speaking of which, why do you keep slapping my bottom...?"
"Pairan was the one who did it, wasn't she?"
"..."
Mayan looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding.
"That insolent Yogwi's bottom flew up and dirtied your hand, Lord Jiha. Would you like to wipe it off?"
She wasn't just saying it; she actually took out a handkerchief and handed it to Jiha.
When Jiha brazenly accepted it and wiped his hand, Pairan let out a dumbfounded sigh and closed her eyes.
A reaction that said she found it too troublesome to even engage. However, she wouldn't be able to ignore the information Jiha was about to drop.
"The Shades who attacked the Summoning War seem to be connected to Alex."
"...You're not joking, I hope."
Pairan opened her eyes again, and Mayan asked,
"Then should we investigate the party venue to see if there are any Shades?"
"They wouldn't be that stupid. Just keep an eye out for any suspicious movements."
"..."
Pairan shook her head.
"Digging into this without solid evidence is dangerous. Alex is blood-related to the Unique, Gashiel. Even if it's true, our hands are tied. The only option would be to gather proof and handle it through Gashiel."
"Leave that to me."
"If you're thinking of causing trouble with the celestials, I'll oppose it."
"What even are these celestials?"
He already knew their angelic appearance, a race with pure white feathered wings on their backs.
But he was unaware of their internal affairs.
"Are they a species capable of flight?"
"Only the women."
Pairan, surprisingly, gave a diligent explanation.
"The celestials are even more reclusive than the elves. They believe in their own religion, follow their own laws, and act accordingly. Of course, many species are reclusive... but the celestials are even more secretive. They strictly adhere to their own language and culture and do not reveal them to other species. An extreme example: there are rumors that they do not even meet privately with members of other species."
"Sounds like a race stuck in the past."
"No, that's not quite how you should see it. Their proportion of Rare Grade individuals is among the highest of all species. In absolute numbers, the demons have the advantage, but in terms of Rare Grade individuals capable of conducting warfare, the numbers are comparable. If war between Blue Seal and Purple Liberation were to resume, the celestials and demons would certainly clash again."
"Ah, it's that thing. The same line you hear every day in Korean mobile games. The plot about some Primordial War where celestials and demons have been fighting endlessly."
Taking Jiha's words as a joke, Pairan offered further explanation.
"In that sense... it's not so strange that Alex is so little known. Being the chairman of the Species Alliance means he must have had some degree of interaction, which is unusual for a celestial, but the fact that he's hosting this kind of party is certainly unique."
"You know quite a lot."
"..."
Pairan's face stiffened, but Jiha shook his head.
"I'm genuinely complimenting you. This is useful."
Jiha had very little intelligence on Purple.
Through the Uniques he had gathered—Asira, Yura, Enril, Narsha—he had been able to acquire relatively significant information about Blue Seal.
Furthermore, Blue Seal had plenty of openings to exploit since its two Legends were at odds with each other.
Purple, however, had a unified command structure: one Epic over one Legend, who in turn commanded five Uniques. It was also a heavily controlled society.
It was to the point where Leticia didn't even know much about the other Uniques... Yet Pairan, surprisingly, knew the details very well.
'I suppose it's because she's belonged to both camps.'
During her time as a Super Rare in Blue Seal, she would have investigated Purple as an enemy. Now, as a Unique of Purple, she would be privy to even greater details.
Hence, even though Jiha was complimenting her, Pairan wore an uncomfortable expression.
She was being made freshly aware that she had switched sides.
"...In any case, even if he's hosting a party, it's unlikely to be a public affair. I'm hearing about it for the first time, too, and he'll have to be mindful of his own kin."
"If it's a secret party, it'll be lewd."
"...Excuse me?"
Mayan looked flustered, but Jiha remained nonchalant.
"When bastards with overblown egos gather for a secret party, it's usually to engage in some crazy acts."
"...I should have brought a weapon."
Jiha smirked.
"I've laid a few countermeasures already, so just relax and enjoy yourselves. Just don't eat or drink anything."
Alex's mansion.
The carriage stopped. The coachman opened the door, and Mayan stepped out first.
Pairan didn't get out immediately but instead stared intently at Jiha.
"If you have something to say, say it quickly."
"It might be dangerous, so stay close to me."
"...Are you worried about me now?"
As Jiha looked dumbfounded, Pairan also displayed her irritation.
"I hate it too, but I was asked by Lady Asira. At least until we return, your life is under my protection."
"Makes me sick. Do you like Asira that much?"
Pairan was willing to protect him, even grinding her teeth at Jiha, simply because it was Asira's request.
Even now that they were in different factions and were essentially potential enemies, she still acted this way.
Pairan slowly shook her head.
"You wouldn't understand."
"What wouldn't I understand about Asira?"
They had been physically intimate, and Jiha even knew about the romance novels she still desperately tried to hide.
But Pairan slowly shook her head again.
"You don't understand me."
"Do I need to? Is that on some kind of test?"
"You don't know what it feels like... when you're without a way forward, hating everything in the darkness, doing nothing but wishing everyone would just die... and then a light descends upon you."
"..."
Jiha fell silent.
Pairan's words were steeped in loneliness, remorse, and despair.
It was a confession smeared in blood and dust.
"No. I understand."
"..."
"I know what it's like."
Pairan stared at Jiha's answer with a strange expression.
But Jiha had answered with sincerity, and Pairan recognized it.
Lives raised in solitude and loneliness—kindred spirits recognize each other.
Pairan, somewhat taken aback... changed the subject.
"...That's why, until we leave, you are under my protection."
"Ah, is that so?"
Leaning his upper body forward, Jiha abruptly reached out and grabbed Pairan's breast.
Squish.
It sprang back instantly, firm like a rubber ball—perfect for torment. Even in his hand, there was plenty of excess, and touching it instantly stirred his lust.
"..."
Pairan froze, unable to process reality.
She had been making a solemn declaration, steeped in a weighty emotion, and she couldn't believe Jiha was toying with her like this.
Knead. Knead, knead.
"You've got some pretty big tits. Looks like they'd be fun to suck."
"You son of a...!"
Pairan spat a curse and flew at him with her hand.
A slap backed by Mana. An ordinary person struck by it would lose flesh. No, considering she was a Unique, it was at a level that could snap a neck.
But Jiha raised his left arm, which he had readied in advance, and blocked her arm mid-swing.
Arms clad in blue and violet Mana collided and locked.
With her initial attack blocked, Pairan readied a kick, but Jiha let go without hesitation and backed away.
"Any more and the carriage breaks. That's enough."
"...You think I'll let this slide?"
"Going to break the promise you just made? Weren't you supposed to protect me?"
The momentary sense of kinship was over.
Jiha sneered.
"I get it—your feelings for Asira are so strong you can't see what's in front of you... but it's about time you stopped eyeing my woman."
"What?"
"I'm sitting here, having a quiet conversation with a bitch who slobbers after my woman at every opportunity. If you were a guy, I'd have killed you. Hell, even as a woman, I'd have killed you."
Jiha cut her off sharply.
By the logic of hierarchy and domination, Pairan's behavior was unforgivable.
Never mind everything else—Asira Hellrunner already belonged to Jiha.
By organizational structure, too.
How could anyone dare to covet the king's woman and be left alive?
"Seems King Arthur kept Lancelot alive and his life went to ruin... but I'm not like that, you know?"
Regardless of the person's gender, punishment was necessary.
A guy like Taigirl could be dismissed as a comedian, a clown.
Sure, he got beaten up... but aren't clowns traditionally allowed to be rude, even to a king?
But Pairan's feelings for Asira were genuine.
"Think about it carefully. The meal's already cooked, so if you keep drooling over it, I'll tear you to shreds and throw you to the dogs."
Jiha warned her, his face devoid of humor.
He kept Pairan around because she was useful and there was still intelligence to extract from her, but it was time to lay down the law.
Not waiting for Pairan's answer, Jiha dusted off his hands and got out.
As he approached Mayan, who had gotten out first and was observing a fountain, he frowned at the sight of a servant.
The manservant with dull blonde hair, who had opened the carriage door and stepped back, was smiling.
"What are you smiling at?"
Typically, servants often suppressed their emotions, as they were easy targets for all sorts of nitpicking from their superiors.
A servant who smiled at a complete stranger, unprovoked, would normally have been severely punished long ago.
The young man wiped the smile from his face and shook his head.
"My apologies. That was rude of me on our first meeting."
Then, with the utmost naturalness, he offered a handshake.
The blonde young man in a servant's uniform.
"It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time. Jiha. I am Alex, the one who sent the invitation."
"..."
He had been outmaneuvered.
Jiha reflexively smiled back.
A man worth trampling into the dirt had just appeared.