Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Passing Necklace
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Why the hell did another tattoo show up?
I rubbed my forearm, wondering if maybe something had just gotten on it, but the little water drop tattoo didn't budge. It was a real tattoo.
"What the...? Why'd I get another tattoo?"
I swear to the heavens, I hadn't picked any tattoos during customization. Tattoos aren't bad, but I didn't particularly like them, and more importantly, with a build this massive, I didn't need them anyway.
Just being this big is enough to make people think twice about messing with me.
Step out on the street, and folks part like the Red Sea, all because they don't want any trouble with me.
So why a tattoo now—and one that just appeared out of nowhere?
At least the spots weren't bad. Left leg and left arm. Both easy to cover with clothes.
"Water drop, water drop... Aqua Girl? Yuna?"
Staring at the water drop tattoo brought my number one slave, Yuna, to mind. Come to think of it, her superpower was Water Drop Sorcerer, right?
"Hm... No way?"
On a whim, I thrust out my left arm—the one with the tattoo—and shouted.
"Aqua Ball!"
.
.
.
.
.
"Fuck."
I put real effort into it, and amazingly, absolutely nothing happened. Good thing no one saw me; it'd have been embarrassing as hell.
"No changes in the status window either... Man, this is pissing me off."
The status screen was identical to before. It was frustrating as hell—something happening to my own body, and no way to figure it out.
"Whatever! Screw it!"
Nothing's worse than living stressed out. I'll just chalk it up to my body attracting this stuff, tattoos as decoration. No point obsessing over the unknown; it'll just give me a headache.
Knock knock—
"Young Master, are you asleep?"
"No, I'm up. Come in, Uncle Chris."
Uncle Chris, who'd knocked, stepped inside. I eyed him tensely.
No way... he didn't hear me yelling 'Aqua Ball!', did he? If he did, I'd die of embarrassment.
"I heard you raise your voice... Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, just a tickle in my throat. I cleared it loudly. Sorry if it was noisy."
"Heh heh. No such thing."
Uncle Chris chuckled and shook his head. Looked like he hadn't heard. Thank God.
"An invitation to a birthday party arrived for you, Young Master."
"Invitation? For me? Who from?"
My acquaintances were basically just my parents, Uncle Chris, slave number one Yuna, and maybe a few others. An invite seemed odd.
"It's from Mr. Duran."
"Duran? Duran... Duran? Oh!"
The name was unfamiliar at first, but I quickly recalled who it belonged to.
Duran Francesco.
He was a same-age guy that I—this character, Bal Jeong-nam—knew.
Duran was the son of the Francesco conglomerate chairman, a fellow second-gen heir like me. We chaebol kids hung out a lot growing up, and he was one of them.
'Duran, huh... Wait, what the hell about this guy?'
Digging deeper into memories of Duran revealed something surprising.
Francesco Enterprises was the second-largest conglomerate after Sanctuary Corp, run by my parents. People called it the "Eternal Runner-Up."
In 22 years, it'd never overtaken Sanctuary Corp once, earning the not-so-nice nickname.
Second place isn't bad—it's impressive. But 22 straight years? That cemented the image. Francesco was even 22 years older than Sanctuary Corp.
Runner-up vibes? Lots of twos there.
Anyway, constantly dubbed the eternal second, Duran's inferiority complex toward me—the top dog's son—ran deep.
From childhood, he'd bullied me relentlessly with his friends.
'...But was this really bullying?'
Even as a kid, Bal Jeong-nam was huge. His head towered over other children.
In memories, kid Bal Jeong-nam just laughed it off like an old sage no matter how Duran hit him. Those fluffy punches didn't faze him.
Always smiling and letting it slide, no adults caught on.
'Never saw it myself, but Duran seems like the pitiful one.'
Seeing through Bal Jeong-nam's memories, I pitied Duran more than kid Bal Jeong-nam.
You need two hands to clap, but the size gap made it one-sided—Duran just tiring himself out.
'Huff... huff... How's that! Don't mess with me anymore, you punk!'
'Oh? You done? Ah~ Feels great. Keep it up~ Heh heh heh...'
'.....'
Duran's "bullying" was mostly like that.
He'd punch hard, kid Bal Jeong-nam took it grinning, then wandered off laughing.
Kid Bal Jeong-nam was a tough opponent.
Things changed around 20, though. No effect from punches, so Duran spread nasty rumors instead.
Bal Jeong-nam loves women too much, treats them like slaves, beats people senseless, even killed someone...
All sorts of slander.
'...But isn't most of this stuff I actually did?'
Minus the killing (Scorpion guy wasn't human), it was all me. What the hell, Duran? A precog or something?
"Will you go?"
"When is it?"
"Let me see... Tonight at 8 PM."
"Tonight, huh..."
I was supposed to meet Yuna and fuck tonight. But Yuna anytime; Duran's party only today or wait a year.
Something fun's bound to happen at Duran's party, right?
"I'll go."
"Understood. I'll RSVP your attendance."
"Thanks, Uncle."
Uncle Chris left with a pleased smile. He really loved me getting out.
"Oh, right. Uncle! Uncle Chris!"
"Yes, Young Master? What is it?"
Something popped into my head, so I called him back.
"I, uh, wanna move out. Can you look for a good place?"
"Pardon? Move out?"
His eyes widened in surprise, but he smiled soon after.
"Of course. I'll find a great one right away. Have you told the chairman and his wife?"
"Not yet. About to."
"Please do. They'll be thrilled."
"Dad and Mom?"
"Yes. Don't you remember? Five years ago, they told you to move out, but you refused. Chairman threw a teacup in frustration, but you wouldn't budge... Oh, right—Madam cheered you both on, saying she sided with the winner."
"....."
I set it up, but... this family's all nuts.
Bal Jeong-nam hating to live alone, Bal Ji-un chucking teacups to kick him out, Stephanie Yu cheering them on... What a house.
Wonder what the chairman couple's up to?
Soon as Uncle Chris left, I called Mom. Easier than Dad.
—Son? Is that my son?
"Yeah, it's me. You doing well?"
—No.
"Huh? Why? Something happen?"
—Can't remember the last time I saw your face living together. What's up with you lately? Puberty?
"I'm thirty—what puberty? Just seeing the world. Anyway, Mom."
—What?
"I'm moving out."
—What?! Moving out?!
"Yeah."
Dad's voice came through the phone.
—For real?! My boy's moving out?! When?! Tell him to get out now! I'll buy any house—faster the better!
—You gonna shut up? What're you doing in a meeting?
—Meeting more important than this?! Listen up, son! Whatever you want, it's yours—just get out of my house! I wanna live sweet newlywed-style with my wife alone!
—I can't live like this! Quiet!
"...I'll hang up. Anyway, soon as I find a place, I'm gone."
—Son? Son! My soooooon—!
Mom's voice faded as I hit end call.
"Whew, what a circus."
Who'd guess they're a 50s couple? Total immature 20s duo, like always.
Evening came, and I headed to the Francesco Hotel.
'Phew. That was a workout.'
Before leaving, I told Yuna I was too busy tonight. She burst into tears, asking if she bored me now. Took forever to calm her.
'We're master and slave—why's it feel reversed?'
I'm the master, she's the slave, yet I was the one sweating. Gotta establish some authority. Tomorrow, punish her till the hotel room's soaked.
"Young Master, we're here."
"Thanks for the ride. Head home."
"Pardon? No, I'll wait in the lot."
"No telling when it'll end. Chaebol kid's party—probably all-nighter. Don't stay up; come tomorrow morning if you want. I'll call."
"Got it. Thank you, Young Master."
"No biggie. See you tomorrow."
I sent Izma Doyle, who'd driven me, home first. Chaebol heir's birthday bash—something fun's gonna go down. If not, I'll make it happen. I write the story.
A hotel staffer guided me to the rooftop party.
"Hey, over there..."
"Huh? Wait, what's that guy doing here?"
"Yeah..."
My entrance silenced the laughing crowd. Eyes on me dripped disdain—from Duran's rumors.
Past Bal Jeong-nam ignored the fake news, never refuted or confronted Duran. Just did his thing and trained.
"What? Why'd it go quiet?"
"Yo, Duran. Check it—Bal's here."
"What? Oh? For real? Heh heh... That punk's got balls showing up?"
Duran approached with his buddies, smirking viciously—the party's host, full of intent to screw me over.
"Well, if it isn't the hermit Bal! What brings you here?"
His malice-filled eyes screamed payback.
'Cute.'
Far from anger, it was adorable. You gotta be on my level to piss me off. Puppies yapping at tigers don't count. (Unless the tiger's hungry.)
'Oh ho?'
My gaze shifted past Duran to the woman beside him. Gorgeous blonde in braids, sparkling dress reflecting light nonstop. A beauty, especially that mole above her ample cleavage.
'Nice body.'
Full breasts, slim waist, wide hips curving seductively.
'Approved! She's a pass! Passing Necklace in her grasp!'
I checked her info via the system.