The Heiress's Generous Repayment
After the academy’s regular classes ended, my stomach let out a loud growl. I clutched it and stepped out of the academy grounds. Darkness had already swallowed the sky. I started walking toward a nearby fast food restaurant.
“I’m so hungry I could actually die.”
I turned on my phone and opened the banking app.
Harmony Bank — 30,000 won
A serious problem had developed lately. I couldn’t even afford the academy’s provided meals anymore. The students here all came from fairly wealthy families. They had grown up eating only the finest cuisine. The school, in turn, hired world-class chefs and used only the highest-grade ingredients to satisfy their picky palates. As a result, the meal fees were absurdly expensive. It was normal for a single meal to exceed thirty thousand won.
The problem was that the price was far beyond what someone like me—with no parental support—could handle.
“Ha…” A sigh escaped before I could stop it. I had no money. None at all.
The thirty million won I had earned by selling General Gyebaek’s sword had mostly gone into an investment with the pension sorcerer. The rest had been completely spent buying that old sword from the auction house. In the end, the only money left in my possession was thirty thousand won. That was it.
I entered the nearby fast food place and scanned the menu.
“One Cyborg Set, please.”
“Certainly. I’ll let you know via the pager when it’s ready.”
“...Sigh.”
I sat in a corner seat and let out a deep breath, then turned on my phone screen again.
Harmony Securities — 0 won
There was nothing in my investment account.
“If I can just gather some starting capital…”
I knew about all the major events that would shake this world. Companies that would skyrocket after successful new drug developments. Corporations whose stocks would crash when their chairman suddenly collapsed. If I used that knowledge well, I could make a fortune. The only problem was that it all required initial capital first. One million becoming ten times that makes ten million, but ten million becoming ten times that makes one hundred million. With the money currently in my hands, even investing in stocks wouldn’t make any noticeable difference.
“I need money. Money.”
Money was essential to obtain the items required to unlock Nam Doyun’s skills. It was necessary for basic food, clothing, and shelter too.
The hamburger arrived at my table. I began chewing the tasteless thing. It was disgustingly bad. Still, I had to eat if I wanted to live. What choice did I have?
While I was eating, a notification sound came from my phone.
Ding.
Who could it be? I tapped the message.
“....?” What was this?
Another notification arrived.
Ah… that’s right. Cha Jiyun had said she would give me some kind of repayment.
I sent her my location. I waited, chewing the tasteless hamburger the entire time.
With a cheerful jingle, the door opened and I spotted Cha Jiyun in the distance. When she saw me she gave a small bow, walked over, and sat down across from me. Her gaze landed on the hamburger in front of me and she tilted her head.
“...Did you not eat at the academy? I was under the impression dinner service was provided.”
“Yes, well… I happen to like fast food quite a bit.”
I took a big bite of the burger while saying that, pretending it was the most delicious thing in the world. Admitting I couldn’t afford the academy meals was too embarrassing. She seemed to accept the explanation and nodded.
“...I see. In that case, would you accompany me somewhere?”
“Where?”
“...Let us visit the ‘Secret Auction House’ like last time.”
“.....?”
I had no money on me right now. Even if I went to the secret auction house, there was nothing I could buy. I would just end up sucking on my fingers while window-shopping and then leave.
“...That is truly a kind offer, but I must decline.”
“...Pardon?”
Cha Jiyun tilted her head, seemingly surprised.
“Even if I go to the ‘Secret Auction House,’ I won’t be able to obtain anything I want with the money I currently have.”
“...There is no need to worry about that.”
Cha Jiyun smiled faintly.
“Yes?”
“...Did I not say I would repay you?”
“You certainly did.”
“At the secret auction house, choose whatever item you desire regardless of price. I will cover the cost.”
“What!?”
The items that appeared there started in the hundreds of millions by default. No matter how much she was the daughter of the Samhwa Group chairman, spending that kind of money would surely be a burden.
When I stared at her in a daze, she let out a small laugh and said,
“...Do you not trust me? I feel rather hurt.”
I glanced at Cha Jiyun sitting beside me.
“.....”
She was looking around with sparkling eyes, an expression quite unlike her usual self, as if everything was fascinating.
“Oh. How interesting. So this is the subway.”
The place where we sat was inside a subway car. Because it was late at night, the car was completely empty except for the two of us.
“Is this your first time riding the subway?”
“...Yes. Ever since I was young, Secretary Kim has always driven me.”
“Ah…”
I seemed to have touched on a painful subject. The secretary who had been with her for ten years had betrayed her, after all.
“...Speaking of which.”
She clapped her hands together.
“...When you came to rescue me that time.”
“Yes.”
“...You deliberately chose not to kill the secretary, correct?”
“Pardon?”
“...If you had fought the secretary there, I would not have survived.”
“......?”
The reason I hadn’t killed the secretary was simply because I would have lost the fight. Yet she continued.
“...Thank you for considering me.”
Cha Jiyun bowed her head politely. It seemed she had completely misunderstood the situation.
“...And because it appeared you wished to remain hidden, I told others that I had not seen the face of the person who saved me.”
“....Yes?”
“...It seemed you had reasons to conceal your identity.”
“....?”
What on earth was she talking about?
“...Shall we get off now? It appears we have reached the station.”
Cha Jiyun looked at the subway display board. I nodded.
“Yes.”
We got off the train together and began walking toward the venue where the secret auction house was being held. Once we left the station I asked her,
“By the way, may I ask you something?”
“...Of course.”
“May I ask why you chose to ride the subway?”
I was genuinely curious. With her resources she could have taken a private driver in a luxury sedan and arrived comfortably. Why go through the trouble of riding the subway?
“...I felt it was necessary to cultivate some independence.”
“Pardon?”
“...It seems I relied far too much on Secretary Kim before. The empty space he left feels quite large. Therefore, I believe I must build self-reliance from now on.”
“Ah… I see.”
“...Well, that is not the only reason. I was also curious about the subway.”
“....?”
I stared at her blankly. When our eyes met she smiled softly.
“...We have arrived.”
We stood in front of the secret auction house. From the outside it looked like an ordinary performance hall.
“Miss Cha Jiyun and your companion have arrived. I will guide you inside.”
A man in a suit came out to greet us.
“Ah, one more thing. Following the attack incident last time, our auction house has changed one of its rules.”
“...What is it?”
“You may choose any mask you like once inside. We determined that concealing your identity with a mask would be best for the safety of our guests.”
He showed us several masks.
“...Understood.”
Cha Jiyun and I each selected a mask and entered the building. The interior was decorated entirely with luxurious items. It felt more like we had stepped into a ballroom.
“I will guide you to the VIP room. This way, please.”
The staff member led us to the VIP room. Through the glass window we could see the entire auction floor at a glance.
“Please sit here and enjoy yourselves. Also, light refreshments have been prepared. What would you like?”
It was perfect timing. The hamburger alone had not been enough. The waiter showed us the menu.
“.......”
Were these prices actually insane? There was nothing here I could possibly order. Besides, I wasn’t even particularly tempted. I already knew what they would taste like without trying them. The only thing that actually appealed to me was that bulgogi pizza for twenty thousand won.
“Bulgogi pizza is fine for me.”
“...Since I am the one treating, would it not be better for you to order something more expensive?”
“I like this one.”
“...Very well. One bird’s nest soup and one bulgogi pizza, please.”
“Understood.”
The waiter soon left. About ten minutes later he returned.
“Your bird’s nest soup and bulgogi pizza.”
Without being asked, he placed the soup in front of Cha Jiyun and the pizza in front of me.
“...”
Wasn’t this discrimination? Well, it didn’t really matter. I picked up a slice of pizza. Cha Jiyun lifted her spoon and took a sip of the soup. She tilted her head slightly. It probably didn’t suit her taste.
“Does it suit your palate?” I asked.
“...Yes. It is perfect for my taste.”
“Really?”
“...Yes.”
She continued sipping the soup, but her gaze remained fixed on my pizza. I felt the sudden urge to tease her a little. I lifted a slice to my mouth. The cheese stretched out in long strands. Her eyes followed the cheese in a daze. When I put the pizza in my mouth, her lips moved as if she were chewing along.
“...Would you like a piece?” I offered.
She would obviously refuse, but I asked out of politeness. The moment I moved to take another bite—
“...Since you are asking so earnestly, I suppose I have no choice.”
Cha Jiyun tore off a piece of pizza, placed it on her own plate, and said,
“...Pardon? Asking?”
“I do not particularly enjoy food like this. However, since my lifesaver has requested it, I will eat it without complaint.”
“.......?”
“...Please refrain from making such requests in the future. I will only accept this once as a special case.”
With that, she took a big bite of the pizza. Her expression slowly began to fill with pure happiness.