Chapter 85
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Club (2)
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“...”
In the morning, after the people from the Hero Association had come calling, Kang Ju-young now faced...
“I'm counting on you. Arrange a meeting with that organization through the Healer.”
“Me too! I have something I want to ask the Grand Archmage!”
...Jeon Il-seop and Na Seo-ha, who had shown up that evening. She furrowed her brow ever so slightly at the sight of them.
She managed to keep her expression neutral, thinking it would be rude to grimace openly.
“What is this sudden visit about?”
“You must have already guessed. The Healer and the Grand Archmage are in the same organization, right? That's why you got help from the Grand Archmage.”
Kang Ju-young could tell from Jeon Il-seop's response that he had figured it all out.
And not just him—the Grand Archmage Na Seo-ha beside him seemed to have pieced it together as well, which was why they'd come here.
“...”
For reference, the Hero Association people who had visited that morning had been personally chased off by Joo Tae-ho.
Unable to defy the words of Korea's hero, Joo Tae-ho, they had no choice but to leave.
“Even if it's the same organization, arranging a meeting isn't easy.”
“Why not? At least pass along the message.”
“I'm not in a position to ask favors of the Healer.”
Jeon Il-seop and Na Seo-ha knew what kind of contract Kang Ju-young had made with the Healer.
That's why they understood her words immediately, but given the circumstances, they couldn't back down.
“Still, please try. As you know, the Destroyer has joined that organization. We need to negotiate now if this country is to be safe.”
Jeon Il-seop brought up the safety of the nation.
There was no way to stop the Destroyer if he rampaged, so they had to negotiate anew with that organization.
“You're not seriously thinking of negotiating with them, are you?”
“It's not negotiation—it's an appropriate deal. Leave that to me.”
“I wouldn't recommend it. They've already betrayed us once, so they won't trust you either.”
“That's why I said it's a deal. No one attacks their trading partner.”
Na Seo-ha, who had been listening on the side, spoke up in disbelief.
“What's the point of dealing? If they want something, just have the Destroyer take it.”
“But public perception matters.”
“Screw public perception. With that kind of power, you think they'd care? I wouldn't.”
Na Seo-ha scolded Jeon Il-seop for his unreasonable suggestion before stating her own goal.
“Just get me a meeting with the Grand Archmage.”
“I told you, I'm not in a position to ask the Healer, and even getting you to the Grand Archmage would be tough.”
“Seeing you say that, there must have been something in that contract after all.”
Of course, Na Seo-ha also knew the contents of the contract the Healer had given back then.
It was essentially a slave contract, and seeing Kang Ju-young now, she thought it had actually taken effect.
“Since you know, there's no need for further explanation.”
“But out of personal curiosity... what did she do to you afterward?”
Kang Ju-young had no response to Na Seo-ha's bluntly direct question.
In truth, what the Healer had done to her was exactly what she'd expected before signing the contract, but it was awkward to say it outright.
“Why do you ask?”
“I said it's personal curiosity. I might end up signing that contract myself if needed.”
Kang Ju-young and Jeon Il-seop were both startled by her follow-up words.
Kang Ju-young had signed for the sake of her benefactor, Joo Tae-ho, to lift his curse—but Na Seo-ha had no such reason.
“Are you in your right mind?”
So Kang Ju-young had no choice but to ask if she was sane.
“In exchange, I want to receive guidance from the Grand Archmage. I want to reach a higher realm than I have now. I didn't know before, so it was fine, but now that I do, I can't just sit still.”
In short, she was willing to give up her body for the sake of reaching a higher realm.
Just as Kang Ju-young had accepted the contract for Joo Tae-ho, Na Seo-ha was willing to accept it for her own pursuit of greater heights.
“...”
But Kang Ju-young still thought it would be difficult.
“I doubt it. If you sign the contract, the Healer might pass along the message. But ultimately, it's up to the Grand Archmage to accept.”
If the Grand Archmage refused, the Healer couldn't do much about it—that was Kang Ju-young's thinking.
As far as she knew, they were fellow organization members, not in a superior-subordinate relationship, so she couldn't force it.
Besides, the contract only benefited the Healer; it offered nothing to the truly important Grand Archmage.
“Then keep asking until it works. If you sign the contract, do you meet the Healer often?”
Kang Ju-young knew exactly what would happen the moment Na Seo-ha signed the contract.
So she eyed Na Seo-ha's appearance and figure, wondering if it would appeal to the Healer.
'It probably would.'
Regardless of age, with her 155cm height and slim 40kg frame, she still drew soft curves at her chest, waist, and hips.
Kang Ju-young, who had wondered if age was an issue whether they'd make her drink the Elixir of Youth, nodded and gave an affirmative response.
“If you sign the contract, you'd meet often. Probably every day.”
Of course, she didn't specify what they'd do when meeting.
But Na Seo-ha had seen the contract contents, so she could guess to some extent.
“Every day? Is the Healer here?”
“No, she has the ability to summon me.”
“Summon? Abilities sure are varied.”
That's when Jeon Il-seop cut in.
“Wait a second. Pass along a message to the Healer for me too. I want to deal with their boss.”
“...Just that message?”
“If possible, get confirmation on the deal. As I said, this is for the sake of the country.”
Jeon Il-seop spoke with the determination to stay if he didn't get the answer he wanted.
At that, Kang Ju-young let out a small sigh and agreed to relay the message as requested.
“I'll pass it along, but I can't guarantee what happens after.”
Kang Ju-young felt displeased about the deal itself, so she drew a line, saying even if they sent the Destroyer, it was none of her business.
Jeon Il-seop easily picked up on her meaning but had no other options, so he nodded in acceptance.
“Understood. It's better than doing nothing.”
“Sometimes, doing nothing might be the right answer.”
“What if something happens? The Destroyer is definitely targeting the Hero Association.”
They had even used special mana bombs for the assassination attempt, and he'd likely learned that the heroes they'd killed had come back to life.
So Jeon Il-seop was convinced the Destroyer was gunning for the Hero Association and was determined to make a deal with that organization somehow.
“Yes. I'll relay both of your messages.”
“I'm counting on you.”
“Me too!”
After forcibly sending away the two who kept begging several more times, Kang Ju-young waited with a weary face for contact from the Healer.
“...?”
But unusually, as if showing some consideration, no contact came from the Healer no matter how long she waited.
The next day.
During physical training time, I told Cheon Seo-yun and Park So-yul about the club matter.
First, when I mentioned that Instructor Kang Ju-young had forced us into a 500-point club room, both tilted their heads.
“Isn't a 500-point club room a good thing?”
“I can't save up 500 points in a month by myself.”
“Really? Then I'll share the points I've earned.”
At that, Park So-yul readily offered to share the points she'd earned.
It might look like she was being generous at a glance, but the points came from my abilities in the first place.
“But you'll remove that weird condition, right?”
Here, the weird condition Park So-yul mentioned was letting me touch her body for 10 minutes.
“If you remove the condition too, I'm the one losing out. Besides, you're the one who suggested making the club.”
“In other words, points alone won't satisfy you.”
Park So-yul looked at me with slightly fed-up eyes.
“Conversely, if we give points plus accept your condition, aren't we the ones losing?”
“It's not a loss. I can earn points bit by bit. If you don't like it, we can forget the club ever existed.”
“Can we do that? Instructor Kang Ju-young forced us to make one.”
“Just say we can't. I shouldn't have helped at the gate yesterday.”
Yesterday at the gate, when a soldier mentioned a food shortage, Cheon Seo-yun and Park So-yul had glanced at me pointedly.
Knowing I had the ability to solve the food issue, they'd sent silent pressure my way, so I pointed it out and feigned regret.
“...”
Feeling somewhat at fault herself, Park So-yul showed a thoughtful expression.
“So, Lee Seongmin, what do you think we should do?”
In response to Park So-yul, I suggested a compromise we'd all be happy with.
“2 points per meal.”
“2 points? It's cheaper than the 5-point or 3-point meals for sure, but...”
If I got 2 points each from Cheon Seo-yun, Park So-yul, and Joo Ha-yeon, that's 6 points a day.
Over a week, 18 points daily makes 126 points. In a month, 504 points—no more worries about the club room cost.
'Of course, I can't cover all three meals every day.'
Even 80-100 points a week would cover the 500-point fee without issue.
“2 points per meal, plus the 10 minutes, right?”
“I think it's fair.”
“As a girl, I don't like that condition from the start.”
Unable to decide alone, Park So-yul asked Cheon Seo-yun, who was running silently beside her.
“Cheon Seo-yun. What about you?”
When Park So-yul asked, Cheon Seo-yun stared at me blankly for a moment before nodding.
“If we rotate like you said at first.”
She meant she was okay with rotating the 10-minute touching one person per day.
With even Cheon Seo-yun agreeing, Park So-yul's expression twisted in complicated feelings but she relented with no other choice.
“Fine. We'll do it that way.”
...It actually worked?
I'd worried all day yesterday without finding a good solution.
I'd just thrown it out there casually, but things had gone better than expected.
“What about Joo Ha-yeon? Will she do the same as us?”