Tsundere CEO and the Dragon's Temptation
Yoo Sena was taller than me. I hadn't measured exactly, but she was probably a handspan taller. Still, it wasn't a height you'd call tall. Paired with her kittenish, youthful face and sharp voice, it suited her petite frame perfectly. But seeing her in that suit with such a cute look created a massive disconnect. And her personality was straight out of a drawing—a classic sister-loving tsundere little sister. Staring at her, I felt like I was seeing a dragon for the first time.
“W-What? What did you just say...?”
Of course, no one else had time to feel that disconnect. Yoo Sena, who'd just been hit with the tsundere label, along with Enoch, Angela, Miki in the back, and even Yoo Seung-ah—all of them gaped at me with mouths open.
If we'd just come to drop off a body, it wouldn't matter. But we were here on Yoo Seung-ah's request. And dropping a line like that? It was natural to think the job had gone off the rails before it even started.
“Who the hell are you...”
“Hi, I'm Soo.”
Of course, I wasn't fazed at all. Maybe because I was the one who'd lit the fuse...
“D-Did I ask you that...?”
“Brought the body.”
“No! What did you just— ”
“It's in the car since dragging it inside seemed like a hassle. You can send a servant— ”
“Argh! Stop talking and let me speak first!”
“—or go yourself. Check if it's the right guy first.”
No matter how much Yoo Sena glared, I stubbornly kept going. Not getting swayed by stares or words was one of my strengths—or non-strengths.
“But is this office soundproofed good?”
“Wow... what the hell...?”
“High floor, so no eyes on us.”
“Why won't you answer me, huh...?”
For Yoo Sena, experiencing my shamelessness for the first time, it was jaw-dropping. Tacking on that “huh” at the end showed insane self-control. As a company rep, she was pretty good at reining in impulses.
“No bugs or anything?”
“Hey!”
Of course, it wasn't enough against me.
“Answer?”
“Y-You... y-you... argh...!”
Before the trembling Yoo Sena, clenching her cute little fists, could explode, Angela stepped in.
“Cleaner than expected.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, nothing at all.”
My head bobbed happily. Just as I thought. That nameless group had solid engineering, but they hadn't built enough foundation to touch a megacorp yet. Which made Yoo Sena here—the one they most wanted to recruit and the first to kill.
So, what to do? Finishing my thoughts with a nod, I smiled lazily.
“Sena.”
“My name? You're insane...?”
“Don't wanna die, right?”
“What...”
Yoo Sena's finger instinctively hit the emergency button under her desk. She slowly mulled over the madwoman's words.
Threat of murder?
Or maybe the preamble to offering help since she was in danger? Either way, that was the main point. Delivering the body was just a side dish to get to it. But starting so rudely?
This bitch is unbelievable...?
Throwing out “tsundere” out of nowhere, rattling off whatever she wanted, then jumping straight to the point. First time being treated like this since becoming Wolha's CEO. Sure, she hadn't met anyone worth ignoring before, but she was still a CEO running a company boldly in Eden. This was absurd.
And in front of my sister...!
She only wanted to look cool in front of her sister. Sure, her lips had moved on their own from the surprise reunion, but from now on, she could've shown her awesome CEO side. That plan was ruined by this maniac. Biting her lip, Yoo Sena glared at me.
Still...
Push emotions aside. She'd endured spit and water to the face breaking into deals. She could handle this humiliation...
Composing herself, Yoo Sena spoke.
“If you're here to recruit for the job, wrong address. Don't you know what Wolha Corp is?”
“Interior design with security services?”
“...We branched into interiors from security originally. Anyway, you already know, so no need for more explanation. Thanks for the body delivery. We'll visit the family ourselves, so take our token of appreciation. Once more, on behalf of Wolha, thank you, Soo, Enoch, and Angela.”
“Haven't answered my question yet.”
Even with her razor-sharp rejection, I stepped closer.
“Don't wanna die, right?”
“Ha!”
Yoo Sena's eyes locked on me. No more looking at her sister. She cared, but right now, all attention was on me. After dropping bombs from the start, unavoidable. From her personality, pieced together: She'd listen intently to my words from now on. Find counters, slip into gaps, try to crush me. Our talk would drag until I left or got kicked out.
But I wouldn't play nice and leave. Getting booted now might mean no second chance with her. So I'd take down the guards. She'd call more, eventually all of Wolha's. Then what about Enoch and Angela? Enoch helps suppress guards, Angela hacks their nano-computers to find the implanted ones.
...Did she predict this?
Seeing my lazy smile, Angela swallowed in surprise. If she'd said that to seize control from the start, to draw out the puzzle in Angela's head...
Were all those seemingly reckless actions actually planned...?
As Angela's suspicions peaked, I slipped a hand into my pocket. Yoo Sena hit the button under her desk.
“You wanna live.”
My smile deepened. The door Enoch and Angela guarded burst open. Six suited guards rushed in.
“That's enough.”
Still smiling lazily, I pulled my empty hand from my pocket. They expected a gun? Empty?
As Yoo Sena panicked, I reached toward the guards.
Thud—whoosh-bam!
All six slammed into the opposite wall.
“Y-You, what, no, what the... h-hell... just...?”
“You have staff who didn't clock out, right?”
Whispering right up to Yoo Sena, I said,
“Call 'em all if you wanna live.”
Pretty violent for me. Impulsive before, but never this aggressive. Enoch and Angela prepped to fight quietly, questioning it but trusting me ultimately. No killing, no breaking stuff... keep it clean. Annoying, but doable.
Five elevators halted. Emergency stairs fire door flew open. Dozens of guards poured in.
“H-Hic...”
“Sena.”
“Y-Yes...!”
“How old?”
“...Twenty-seven.”
“How long in business?”
“J-Just... four years...”
“Impressive.”
“Heh, hehe...”
21 minutes. In just 21 minutes, fifty-nine guards were stacked like a hamburger. I sat atop it next to Yoo Sena, gazing out the window. Only I looked out, though. She couldn't lift her head. Scared she'd meet those chilling eyes...
“Eden seems huge, huh?”
“Y-Yes...”
“Lots of strong people.”
“Right... yes.”
“Dangerous world.”
She wanted to snap, you saying that? But nodding was all she could do.
“In a world like this, what do you want, Sena?”
Smooth—my head turned. She kept her gaze down, but felt my stare fully.
“L-Live. Please let me live.”
“I don't kill. Subdued all your guards, see.”
“Th-Thank you...”
“No need for formal speech.”
“Y-Yeah, got it...!”
Light nudge, but she grinned obsequiously, nodding wildly. Guards all out cold, office empty except us—perfect for survival mode. After finishing, I'd sent the crew away to talk alone. She'd nearly pissed herself then. Alone was good—no ugly scenes in front of others, especially sis. But terrifying too. What would she do alone? She'd watched me dismantle guards start to finish. No need to analyze; one gesture dropped three at a time. What was left to judge? And now she wanted alone time. Legs were jelly; couldn't stand. Had to before guards woke. Show weakness to money-grubbers, get eaten alive...
As she fretted, I offered candy from my pocket. Thoughtfully peeled already.
“Eat.”
Her eyes shook.
What? Swallow to suicide? Poison? Deaths flashed in her mind.
“Not eating?”
“I-I'll eat.”
Eyes squeezed shut, she popped it in. Normal... candy. Not fancy, not cheap—just okay apple flavor.
“Sweet stuff helps, right?”
“...Yeah.”
Happy? My legs swung back and forth atop the guard-burger.
“Sena. You wanna prove something to the NeoNic chairman, right?”
“...Sis told you?”
“Yeah. Could tell anyway. Working in clothes that don't fit.”
“Don't fit...”
Whatever I meant, to her it was double: ill-fitting suit, ill-fitting role. No choice. To survive Eden, show up her birth family who cast them out.
“...Yeah. Wanna prove it.”
“What do you want from it?”
“Happiness.”
No tremble this time. Firm answer, no hesitation.
“Me and sis's happiness.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. I'll make it happen. Definitely.”
Slow blink. Eyes opened, corners softly crinkled.
“Cool.”
Spacious office. Massive wooden desk. Luxe interior, chandelier. Floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking Eden. Right now, her office—where she spent 20 hours a day—felt like another dimension. My presence did that. Meeting her eyes choked her breath. Silver-gray hair shimmered like moonlight. Half-lidded eyes' lazy smile sparkled, boredom gone. Straight nose gave exotic allure, cute lips whispered she was still a girl.
“I'll help.”
Slim neckline to shoulders, collarbone. Too delicate—wanna protect. But her soft whisper felt like an older sis...
“H-How...?”
Lips parted softly. Playful canine peeked. Pink tongue licked it lightly, shyly hid. That cute-yet-sultry move gripped eyes. Like hypnosis. Like buried in cotton candy world, she stared blankly at my lips. Waiting for words? Or just watching.
Under that gaze, I said,
“Gonna smash Lü Cheon.”
“Huh?”
“Build a new Lü Cheon on top.”
“...Who?”
I stared silently. Answer enough.
“You...”
Devils wear the sweetest masks to tempt, they say. Spot on. The girl before her was surely a devil.