Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Chapter 38
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: True Feelings!
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Nangong Yeon returned from the meal rubbing his belly with a satisfied sense of fullness.
A surprisingly cheap price.
A staggering variety of dishes that could break the table.
Having encountered the astonishing new concept of a buffet, his favorability toward Cyber City had risen just a bit.
"No banquet hall could ever serve food like this."
"Heh, it's amazing they can sell it at that price and still turn a profit."
"I heard the 6th floor had lost all humanity... This is a surprise."
"Ah! Maybe it's because so many people have replaced their bodies with cyborgs and don't need to eat anymore!"
"Oho! That's very persuasive!"
The martial artists were holding a little post-meal critique session.
They'd been skimping on meals lately as their funds started running low.
It had been ages since they'd eaten their fill without worrying about portions, so everyone was full of praise.
Watching their reactions, Nangong Yeon felt a swell of pride inside.
'They're this pleased... What joy.'
If Nangong Patriarch stepped down, he, the young master, would become the family head.
When that day came, he'd have to look after people like this—and he was getting a little taste of the pride that came with it.
Suppressing his smug satisfaction, Nangong Yeon stepped into the tent.
A short reply on his phone.
Nangong Yeon gazed at it in admiration.
"What a truly wondrous device."
How had it so easily pinpointed a nearby restaurant?
Curiosity piqued about this mysterious gadget, Nangong Yeon asked something random again.
"Heh, what an incredible thing."
Amazed, he spent time firing off more questions.
"Young master, it's about time to head out."
He jumped to his feet at the voice calling from outside.
It was time to raid the Hellwright factory site.
'Already this late?'
His chat with J had been so entertaining that time had flown by unnoticed.
Every question got a spot-on answer, leaving him in constant awe.
'Wait...'
As he moved to step out, Nangong Yeon suddenly recalled why Nangong Haryeong had given him the phone.
'To reveal what you don't know.'
In that case.
He asked about the enemy's weapon from yesterday's ordeal—the eerie bullets that kept chasing no matter how he dodged.
The reply took longer than usual.
It almost seemed like it was pondering.
But an answer came eventually.
"Non-lethal..."
Weapons meant not to kill.
Realizing that only wounded Nangong Yeon's pride even more.
"Hah."
Unable to look any longer, he left the phone in the tent and stepped out.
Meracle was peaceful as ever today.
With Christmas approaching, our marriage agency was getting busier by the day.
The instinct to spend the holidays with a lover predated the Tower.
We were running a special 10% Christmas discount event to capitalize on it.
While Kim Yang had been away on her business trip to Cyber City two days ago, I'd handed out flyers and run online ads to drum up clients.
"Ah, yes. So, a four-year age difference is acceptable, right?"
"Exactly the sweet spot. They say you don't even check compatibility for a four-year gap."
The female customer giggled.
She'd just turned thirty-three and jumped into the marriage market. She wore a few luxury brands, but they were obvious fakes.
"Then I've got the perfect match. His annual salary matches what you're looking for."
"Really?!"
"Yep, want to see?"
I showed her one file from the binder, and she immediately scowled in irritation.
"What the—?! He's four years older!"
"Pardon? Yes, exactly. The four-year gap where compatibility isn't even checked."
"How am I supposed to date a four-year older guy? Thirty-seven makes him an uncle!"
These days they call thirty-three-year-olds aunties.
I swallowed hard and pressed on with the consultation.
"So, you want someone four years younger—around twenty-nine?"
"Yes! Obviously!"
"Hmm, ma'am, that means lowering your standards quite a bit."
"Huh? By how much?"
"Salary and education-wise, it'll be tough—"
I tapped the calculator and showed her the adjusted criteria. She exploded.
"What?! You're telling me to meet a twenty-nine-year-old making under fifty million, and irregular employment to boot? Are you messing with me? Mocking me?!"
"Ma'am, that's how the marriage market works. Otherwise, widen the net to 4th or 5th floor non-humans—"
"You want me dating beast brats? You psycho! Just wait and see what review I leave!"
She stormed out with heavy footsteps. Cases like this were so common I felt nothing anymore.
'Dodged a landmine. Lucky.'
Better off without a potential toxic leftover on our books.
The woman reached for the door, but it opened first.
Nangong Haryeong stood there, staring her down coldly.
"Don't block me, step aside."
"Wh-what?! You bitch! Do you know who I am?!"
"Hah... This is why the 3rd floor is no fun. No one on the 5th would dare speak to me like that."
For an instant—
The sword slipped from its sheath.
But few saw it.
Speed beyond what eyes could follow.
Nangong Haryeong's blade slashed the woman in a straight line.
"Kyaaaaah!?"
The woman's fake clothes and bag split perfectly in half. Suddenly Barbaric-man'd, she frantically clutched her ruined outfit.
Ah, fuck, my eyes.
Blinded just like that.
"You! You! I'm reporting this! I'll sue you all and shut this place down!"
"You think anyone saw the sword drawn?"
A soft smile formed.
Her gaze swept to the other waiting customers, who all shook their heads in unison.
"N-no, didn't see a thing."
"Yeah, nothing."
"Whoa... amazing."
They knew, but the fact was no one saw. Nangong Haryeong smiled and patted her shoulder.
"Go buy some proper clothes. If your insides are cold, care for the outside. Your underwear doesn't even match top and bottom."
"You—! Youuu—!"
She wanted to grab her by the collar but was too busy holding her clothes together and fled in a panic.
I yelled after her.
"Ma'am—! This has nothing to do with our company! She's not even a client or customer! You get that, right? Any related reviews will be blinded! But give us five stars, and we'll treat you better next time!"
Reviews matter.
Back inside, Nangong Haryeong stared at me in bewilderment.
"...I can pay."
"Duel marriage clients only deposit when a challenger arrives."
"Who decided that?"
"Company policy."
I'm the president; I am the law.
"P-president, jerk. N-next customer."
Kim Yang, still sulky from her two-day trip. Some companies reward overseas or Tower trips, but she's still pouting.
It was just one day away.
"Next customer, please come into the consultation room."
Gotta make that money.
Consultations wrapped up around 4:30 p.m. as closing time neared, but Nangong Haryeong was still waiting, arms crossed.
"...You're still here."
"Looks like you're finally done, so I'll speak first. Your scheme seems to be working surprisingly well."
"It's only been two days."
"In just two days, my brother won't let go of that phone, they say."
"He must've had a lot bottled up. AIs let you spill everything on your mind."
She nodded at my casual reply.
"And word of his slacking reached the patriarch."
"...Pardon?"
In just two days?
"He must've planted spies. Mess this up, and it could spell big trouble."
If you averaged personal power across floors 3 through 6, the strongest was clear.
The Old Martial World on the 5th floor.
Even pitting top experts from the other floors against it head-on, the Old Martial World would win.
And at its pinnacle stood men like the patriarchs of the great clans.
The Azure Dragon I'd seen before.
Not quite the same as a divine beast.
If anything—
"Aaaargh! Lost again! Why is this so hard?!"
"I-idiot."
"I'll try again! Pong! Pong! Potapong!"
"J-joint. Be careful."
Clan patriarchs were like that elf over there.
Not gods, but beings who could rival them.
The fact Nangong Patriarch might move...
'Disrupts my plans.'
It wasn't just about collecting their marriage fees.
For someone with bigger blueprints, it was deeply unsettling.
Cyber City, under Albridge.
Lying in the tent, tapping away at his phone, Nangong Yeon hummed a tune.
'How can such a marvel exist?'
Chatting with this AI was far more enjoyable than expected. It answered every word with sincerity and understanding.
Being able to pour out his pent-up feelings was a huge part of it.
It felt like gaining a close friend—one who kept everything secret, no matter what.
His guard naturally relaxed.
"...The reply's slow?"
It lagged sometimes like this, but waiting fixed it.
"Tastes? Heh... It talks just like a person."
Tastes in the opposite sex.
Truthfully, he didn't have specific preferences.
Or rather, he'd never seriously thought about it.
But if pressed.
At their first meeting.
He'd struggled to hide his grinning face, forcing a stiff expression.
It created a tense atmosphere, but a real man had to hold it together.
Nangong Yeon's patriarchal way of showing it.
Why not?
Wasn't it obvious?
Again.
A long silence.
This time, Nangong Yeon's reply was slow.
He stared silently at the screen—
Then decided to be a little honest.
After all.
No one would ever know.
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