Chapter 118
Chapter 118
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: The Most Dangerous Woman Among Good People (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Suddenly ambushed by an uninvited guest on his day off, Raven thought to himself.
He really had no idea what went through women's minds.
The reason this thought had suddenly popped into his head was none other than Lily.
She, who had clearly shown her dislike for Yuria, had flipped her attitude like a switch.
“Yuria, ahhh~ That’s right, you’re eating so well. Is it tasty?”
“…”
“Heehee, how cute. Here, drink some milk so you don’t choke.”
“…”
With Yuria seated right beside her, Lily was hand-feeding her cookies.
Yuria glanced at Raven as if asking for help, then accepted the cookie with an air of resignation.
One of them seemed a little overwhelmed.
The scene was like a mother bird feeding her chick.
Where had the Lily who was staring at Yuria with eyes full of discontent just moments ago gone?
It was an absurd sight, almost as if Yuria had hypnotized her.
*Did she hit her head or something? Or is she bipolar? In any case, it seems to be a change of heart on Lily’s part…*
There was only one possible explanation.
When Yuria had moved toward the kitchen to make coffee, Lily had followed her, pretending to go to the bathroom.
He could only conclude that some change had occurred during their short conversation.
However, even the quick-witted Raven couldn’t fathom what process could lead to such a result.
It was impossible for him to imagine that Lily had mistaken Yuria for a rival in love, only to belatedly realize that wasn't the case and change her tune.
On top of that, the stories she’d heard about Yuria from Alice had already given her a strong sense of inner familiarity.
What’s more, the reactions she got whenever she playfully poked Yuria were so adorable that she couldn't help but dote on her, as if she'd found a docile cat.
Still, this was much better than them being uncomfortable with each other.
Having organized his thoughts, Raven decided not to poke the mysterious hornet's nest.
“Ahem. So, is it okay if we don't continue the story from before?”
“Huh? Ah, what are you talking about! Of course I’m curious about a story from my darling!”
Raven succeeded in capturing Lily’s attention with remarkable ease.
He gave a slight smirk to Yuria, who bowed her head as if to say thank you.
Then, he resumed recounting the recent events that he had been interrupted from sharing.
As Yuria adjusted her mask and slowly edged away from Lily.
The story continued, eventually reaching the incident in Saint-Maria.
A trip to a resort town during Night Week, a rare occasion to leave the city.
And the absurd undead incident that occurred at their hotel.
Fortunately, the matter was resolved without any casualties.
It was a tale that could have been made into a movie.
After hearing the whole story from Raven himself, Lily brought her coffee to her lips and spoke.
“Hmm, the Liberation Army at a vacation spot. That’s some seriously bad luck.”
“It was a relief no one was seriously hurt. Saved me some money, though.”
“Come to think of it, I did hear rumors that the Liberation Army was stirring again…”
Could another war be on the horizon?
Lily’s voice trailed off as she furrowed her brow, her thoughts clearly in a tangle.
Unlike Raven, she hadn’t directly participated in the war.
Still, she was of the generation that remembered when the war was still ongoing.
The thought of experiencing another crisis that could turn the city into a sea of flames was something she wanted to avoid at all costs.
However, hearing her murmur, Raven simply shrugged as if it couldn't be helped.
“It is what it is. There’s no stopping them now. They’re just fools rampaging as they burn themselves out, having lost their homes to return to. If another war breaks out… we’ll just have to fight back.”
“Ugh, what a pessimistic future. It’s so dark it’s making me depressed.”
A future so utterly hopeless. Isn’t that too sad?
As Lily spoke, she idly stroked Yuria, who was sitting beside her, with her fingertips.
Unlike Raven or her younger sister, Alice, Lily had no talent for fighting.
All she could do was make weapons. At best, she was too weak to even defeat a measly orc.
That was why, to her, war held nothing but negative connotations.
It was a nightmare she could only wait for someone else to resolve.
“…”
Perhaps because she had a faint idea of what was going through Lily's mind.
Normally, Yuria would have shaken her head and refused, finding it uncomfortable.
But seeing Lily’s slightly downcast, half-closed eyes, Yuria quietly accepted the touch, hoping it would be a comfort.
Whether he was aware of her delicate consideration or not.
Raven picked at his ear as if to say, ‘What’s there to worry about?’ and said nonchalantly.
“Well, don’t worry too much. It might be different if you were a complete stranger, but I’ll make sure the people I know don’t get hurt. If a war does break out, just hide in the back until it’s all over.”
He said it as casually as if he were commenting on a passing dog.
But his words held no trace of falsehood; they were entirely sincere.
Lily, who had been blinking blankly, felt a tightening in her stomach and squeezed out a plaintive voice from the depths of her heart.
“…Darling. I love you. Really, you should marry me.”
“Sorry, but I’ll pass. You’re a good artisan, but you’re far too clingy for my taste.”
“Aww, darling, you’re just a tsundere who can’t be honest!”
“Do you have some kind of filter plugged into your ears?”
“…!”
Yuria quietly watched Lily sing her song of love from the side.
Then, she suddenly noticed something and flinched, averting her gaze.
The reason for her surprise was simple.
She had realized, through a physical change, that Lily was sexually aroused.
It was a very stimulating, adult world.
It was information Yuria had no desire to know—TMI, so to speak.
“So that’s the gist of my recent happenings. I don’t really have anything else to share.”
“Yeah. This is enough. The agency was pretty lively while I was away. I’d like to meet this David person when I have the chance.”
“Sure, come by anytime on a weekday. As long as I’m not swamped with work, I’ll welcome you as a guest.”
Perhaps because he had nothing more to report after talking about Saint-Maria.
The conversation naturally wound down.
It had only been a day since he’d returned from his trip, so there were no more recent updates.
And it wasn't like he could talk about things that hadn't happened yet. It couldn't be helped.
“So, when are you heading back? It’s already four o’clock.”
“Hmm… can’t I sleep over? Preferably in the same bed as you, darling…”
“As if. Go home.”
Raven coldly showed her the door as she practically drooled, trying to make it a done deal.
It wasn't that Lily lacked charm, but he had no reason to accept her offer.
For one, considering his relationship with her younger sister, Alice.
He didn't want to create any unnecessary awkwardness. Besides, Yuria was right there.
But perhaps Lily hadn't really expected him to agree either.
Like a seasoned merchant haggling, she lowered her terms and presented a better offer.
“That’s a shame. But it’s okay if we have dinner together, right? I’ll go home before it gets too late. Huh? Just for today, please.”
“…Hah, I guess that’s fine.”
“Heehee, I did it.”
Lily, having successfully secured her stay until dinner.
She fiddled with Yuria’s hand, humming a tune to express her delight.
Then, as if it had just occurred to her, Lily looked at Raven and asked.
“Oh, right. Darling. Isn’t it about time to renew your Fixer license? If I remember correctly… you have about two weeks until it expires.”
“Huh? How do you know my Fixer license expiration date?”
“Hehe. Is there anything I don’t know about you, darling?”
“That’s a roundabout way of saying you snooped.”
“Ugh… It’s not like I meant to…”
Hit right on the mark, Lily whistled and avoided Raven’s gaze.
She then feigned indifference by kneading Yuria’s arm, whose soft flesh, devoid of any hard muscle, changed shape like a rice cake.
But perhaps because her words weren’t wrong.
Raven didn’t seem to mind the snooping much as he pondered for a moment, then nodded in response.
“You’re right. The license is valid for three years. It’s about time for a renewal. I should head over as soon as Night Week is over.”
The Fixer license was a certification issued by the globally recognized Fixer Association.
Naturally, a person’s skills could change, for better or worse, over time.
So, once you earned it, you couldn’t just keep it forever; you had to continuously prove your skills.
And the renewal period for the license was three years.
You could renew it earlier if you wanted, but the process required a personal visit to the Association.
Perhaps due to this inconvenience, most tended to wait until the last month of the full term to renew.
And for Raven, who had now reached the three-year mark, he had to go to the Association and renew his license to keep his fixer agency running.
“Well, thanks. I probably would have gotten an email or something, but thanks to you, I can prepare in advance.”
“It’s the least I can do for my darling. If there’s anything else you might forget, I’ll be sure to remind you next time!”
Lily’s eyes sparkled as if she would do anything for Raven.
She then settled her hips onto the sofa, seemingly planning to stay put until nightfall.
Just then, the agency door burst open, and a very familiar voice called out.
The agency door was always locked, so an outsider would have to ring the doorbell.
That meant the person who had just walked in so naturally wasn't an outsider, but an insider.
The person was undoubtedly Alice, thoroughly annoyed from having waited for hours outside the research lab to pick up Lily after work.
“Sisterrr! You’re in here, aren’t you!”
“Ack. Alice…”
“Oh! Lily’s here! Take her with you, Alice!”
“D-Darling!”
Lily shot Raven a look that screamed betrayal as he promptly sold her out.
*You said we’d have dinner together!*
That's what Lily seemed to want to say.
But Raven just closed his eyes apologetically and said.
“Sorry. Alice scares me too. Just be a noble sacrifice for the peace of the agency…”
“Ugh…!”
“Aha! Found you! I knew you’d be here! How could you bother Mr. Jin!”
“Ow! Owowow! I-I’ll get up! I said I’ll get up!”
Alice strode into the office, approached the nonchalantly seated Lily, and yanked her by the ear.
It was a countermeasure born from Alice’s long experience, a firm belief that Lily, who would cause unnecessary trouble if left to her own devices, needed to be kept on a tight leash.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Jin, Yuria. You must have been resting, and my sister just barged in…”
“No, it wasn’t that uncomfortable. Just moderately so.”
“…!”
“Haha… I’m just going to have a little talk with my sister. You two have a good day!”
Alice bowed apologetically, then swiftly dragged Lily out of the agency.
It was an anticlimactic exit for such a stormy entrance.
“And she’s gone…”
“…”
“Well then, shall we think about what to have for dinner? We still have some time.”
“…!”
Left alone in the agency, Raven and Yuria looked at each other and shared this understanding.
And so, another perfectly ordinary day of the holiday passed by.