Wien Joun (2): The Flat-Chested Powerhouse

Wien Joun. Her jet-black hair, tinged with hints of brown, swayed in a side tail. Her skin was as white as snow, flawless as white jade, and her petite face featured delicately clustered features. Every gesture exuded the refined grace of a well-bred noble lady. She captivated every passerby with her charm, the kind of beauty who could easily claim a starring role in a romance fantasy novel. And the identity of this girl was none other than Wien Joun.

'…Is that how I should introduce her?'

'…This is ridiculous.'

I watched silently as Wien and her entourage descended. Sensing my gaze, she approached with a poised smile. Of course, her lackeys stepped forward first.

"Lady Wien! I've found the perfect spot where the sunlight barely reaches!"

"I've prepared some red tea perfect for the tea party!"

"I have the cookies from Darangsa…"

'…What a racket.'

Anyway, it had been a while. My former comrade, the one called the Archmage of Crimson Flash. A mage from the Jo-un family, whose bloodline had produced modified humans for generations, boasting exceptional physical prowess. Those slender-looking limbs were actually bundles of steel-hard muscle. In her previous life, Wien had a bizarre talent for smashing enemies' heads with her staff using magic-enhanced physical strikes. Nicknamed the Power Mage, the great archmage. Though she hated it with a passion.

'Just hear me out.'

Wien had one more trait. She had the smallest chest among the women in the hero party.

'Estimated AA cup, I think.'

Her smooth curves never formed proper hills. Thanks to that, even in that cumbersome robe, she moved as swiftly as a forest elf. The epitome of a practical body type for battle. Bluntly put, even stripped bare, you couldn't tell male from female at a glance. Sometimes barging into the bath mid-wash, you'd mistake her for one of the guys…

Bam! I couldn't finish the thought. In the blink of an eye, Wien closed in and slammed the table. So strong it cracked with a creeeak.

Wien's eyes blazed. Her face flushed red as if she'd heard a grave insult, spewing fiery rage.

"…You, you, you! You just had some weird thought, didn't you?!"

"Nope."

"Don't play innocent. Confess now, and I'll kill you painlessly."

"Nuuuhpe~ Whatcha gonna do about it~"

"Ugh… grrr…"

I teased the persistently biting Wien with an ebebe~. She gnashed her teeth into her handkerchief, then suddenly tilted her head with a puzzled Hm?.

"…Wait… Aren't you and I meeting for the first time? What's with this familiarity?"

After pondering, Wien snapped her fingers with an Aha!.

"Got it. It's because of your attitude."

"What the hell are you on about, popping up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out of nowhere."

"You're not tense around me at all."

"Why would I be tense around a stranger—"

"That's not it. Your behavior is way too natural. Your gestures, actions, and even your eyes. Yeah, no doubt about it."

Wien leaned in, closing the distance. Our faces nearly touched, wafting a tangy-sweet citrus scent. Low gasps rose from her followers behind.

"You know me. Really well. Right?"

"……"

Shit.

'Got careless.'

Forgot it had been so long. Wien Joun wasn't some easy mark like Yurika, Erina, or Ohana. She wasn't the type to naively go Hehe, I see~ like kindergarten sunflower kids.

'Even back in the hero party days… her insight was sharp as hell.'

She was the only one who'd opposed subjugating No Face. Of course, it got shot down, and she met a cold end…

As I racked my brain for an excuse, she smiled slyly, fanning her mouth with her fan and letting out a soft chuckle.

What the—? Lost her mind?

"Heh, shoulda just said it. Made me overthink strategies for nothing."

"…Huh?"

As I blinked, she pulled out a business card and signed it with elegant script.

"Here."

"…?"

"Take it. Opportunities like this don't come often."

"…? What do you mean?"

"Whaddya mean~ You're my fan, right? Shoulda just said so. So you investigated me? Even my favorite attitudes and behaviors."

Wien sat, propping her chin like she approved.

"…Not bad? How'd you know I like guys who rebel against my casual speech… Where'd you join the fan club? I know of over five."

"…Bullshit—"

"—Or maybe we were comrades who shared life and death for years… Hmm, yeah… Like, we were in the hero party together. It failed, you regressed, and now you're here."

"……"

"…Or something. Just making shit up. Gotta make sense. Hm? Why the pale face? Eat something bad?"

"…Mind your own business."

Whoa. Fuck. I barely swallowed a scream.

'Thought my heart was gonna burst out my throat.'

Irritation surged. Daring to toy with me? I scowled and tossed the card to the floor.

Seeing it, Wien's eyes widened late, and she jumped up.

"You, what the hell!"

"Someone who wants it more is right behind you."

"What?"

Her words barely ended before her followers tangled in a brawl. Sighing, she pinched her brow quietly.

Anyway. Time for the main point.

"So, what's your business with me?"

"Oh my, overinflated ego? Could just be coincidence on my way down."

"Cut the crap."

Wien's lips curved slyly. She edged closer, erecting a subtle mana barrier to block eavesdroppers.

"Heard you got promoted to A-class? Should I congratulate you?"

"Main point."

"So prickly… Anyway, this is it."

She placed a golden ticket on the table.

This is…

"A ticket?"

"Right. The Jo-un family is hosting a corporate expo soon."

"What's that got to do with me?"

"So impatient… Choi Siwoo, you invested tens of billions in 'ROGUE' company?"

"……"

"That tiny outfit hasn't produced shit. What made you bet that much? Even sent a direct connection to the founder. Got rejected, though."

I was floored.

"You can say that to my face? Bragging about background checks?"

"Oh, thought you hated lies, so I was upfront. Didn't like it?"

Giggling, Wien tapped the ticket.

"The 'ROGUE' founder will attend this expo."

"…!"

"Got firm confirmation from her. Tough, 'cause she's so standoffish."

"Why help me?"

Fanning herself, Wien wagged her finger—no illusions.

"Help? Wrong. This is an investment."

"…Investment?"

"I only trust what I see myself. The guy Erina the hero cares about. Top-tier collection material, but could just be gilded trash."

"…Just curious, but your talk of 'apprentices' or 'collections'… doesn't mean locking people up to do your bidding, right?"

Wien's face twisted oddly. She recoiled like I'd called her a barbarian.

"…What kinda savage do you take me for? Sure, hearing 'Step on me, Master' while they grovel sounds refined… but I want partners to advance with into the future. That's my collection."

"…People don't usually use the word like that."

"Anyway, sorry for the sudden visit. Normally I'd send a servant for an appointment… but you're hard to pin down."

"…What if I say no?"

"Can't help that. But you don't seem the type to let pride waste an opportunity."

Wien stood, business done.

"Well, until next time…—"

"—Hold up."

"…?"

I stared at Wien. Moment of hesitation.

'…Should I help her now?'

Twenty years from now, if she's utterly broken… no point. But…

'…This Wien is different from the one I knew.'

So I pondered. Use one of my prepped cards here?

'…No one else can wield it like her.'

Hesitation was brief. Worst case, pivot to another play.

"…Wh-what? Why stare so intensely? Even if I'm a beauty, staring at a lady's face is rude."

"Shut up and take this."

"Huh?"

I held out my phone. Hesitating, Wien took it and scrolled. Her eyes bulged. Stunned, she couldn't speak.

"…Ugh wha! Khum! Y-you, this, this… where the hell did you…"

"Your reaction confirms the rumors—Jo-un and Phantom are rivals. Over something big."

"……"

"That info could smash Phantom's back."

"If it's real… No, more than that, that vice president has this much dirt…? Wait, no! How did you get…"

"Not the point. Shouldn't you investigate and counter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now? Time's not on Jo-un's side."

"……"

Wien fell silent. Complex emotions flickered across her face. Joy mixed with unease in her posture. Fidgeting, she sighed.

"Wanted to start our first meeting on top, but now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I owe you…"

"Don't sweat it. I gain too, so I'm handing it over."

"…Gain?"

"Phantom and Oseongdae are allies. Jo-un wins, Oseong shakes. Hate that senile hag O Je-yeon."

"…You can tell me that?"

"Gotta share to earn trust, right?"

"……"

She turned abruptly, itching to investigate.

"…I'll report results in person."

"Nah, that's…"

"Hm? Problem?"

"Didn't say it, but… your breath kinda bugs me…"

Thud. Her fan hit the floor. Floundering, Wien yelled defensively.

"M-my breath!? N-no way! I brushed thoroughly earlier—"

"—Kidding."

"…Eh?"

"Just teasing. No smell at all. Cute reaction."

"…Y-you… grrr… yoooouuuu!"

Face crimson, Wien flailed Wak! Wak! then Hmph! and stormed off. Her entourage chased after.

I smirked inwardly watching.

'…So bold now.'

Then, her image twenty years later flashed.

—"Sorry. Sorry. I'm sorry. Can't help. Don't discard me. Please…"—

Yeah. Much better like this.

Ding—! The newly installed fountain bell rang out. Water jetted up in place of the cash-strapped fountain, signaling lunch's end.

Worried the two would fret if late, I stood. Right as I turned back.

Squish.

"…What?"

Odd soft sensation underfoot. I looked down.

And there… a girl lay sprawled like the dead.

"……?"

"……"

"……?!"

Fuck! Startled, I yanked my foot back. A perfect footprint stamped her head.

Faceplanted, the girl groaned Groooar….

"H-hey! Snap out of it!"

"Sto—"

"—Stomach?"

"Stomach… hungry."

"……"