Three Extremely Ordinary Girls
What is this? Lane Arthur couldn't understand the current situation. No, she didn't want to understand.
'It should have been a joyful day.'
The day she got her psychic ability back after having it stolen by the Skill Thief. The day she realized Namgung Min was her other half. Since then, Lane's days had been happy. Just thinking about her other half made her happy, made her heart ache, made her smile……
So today's tea party should also be a joyful time. Even with the princess and that bug Liu around, it was still happy enough to endure.
──Let's go on a date, Liu.
Therefore, she couldn't accept the words her other half, Namgung Min, had spoken.
"Lane? Princess!? Are you alright?"
"Ah…… Yes. Of course, yes. Yes, I'm fine."
"That's a relief."
"……."
She silently lifts the broken teacup with psychokinesis. But before Lane could gather the pieces, Namgung Min flicked his hand.
<Cleanliness>.
One of Namgung Min's general skills that Lane knew. Thanks to that power, the broken teacup in his space, this fortune teller's shop, returns 'cleanly' to its original state.
Clatter.
The teacup quickly returns to its original form and is gently placed on the table.
"Anyway, I'm glad to hear you're not hurt."
"Hey, hey, hey. Fortune teller bastard."
"Liu? What's wrong……"
"Why do you think! You, you, you know exactly what you just said to me!!"
"Well, I did say let's go on a date."
"So!!!"
'……Disgusting.'
It wasn't words directed at her other half. It was contempt for the wealthy girl who was pretending to be embarrassed even though she heard it properly.
'Disgusting bitch.'
Lane had never liked Liu from the beginning. They were like water and oil, dogs and cats. But now that she realized Namgung Min and she complemented each other perfectly as a pair, her disgust for Liu had exceeded its limits.
She wanted to shout at her to get away from him right now, but……
"I told you just now, didn't I? I need to gain experience for better love fortune-telling."
"……Who would go on a date with you if you give such a reason?"
"Liu."
"……Coming out like that is cheating."
Ah, that damn woman. It would be nice if she just got her skill stolen by the Skill Thief and got kicked out penniless. Then I could hire her as a maid at the mansion where I live with my other half.
It was truly nauseating to see her turn her head away from Namgung Min and blush.
But, it can't be helped.
'Because it's Namgung Min's choice……...'
If he had chosen this Lane Arthur, me, I would have been more passionate and proactive than anyone. But Namgung Min is her other half and the strong one.
'I'll endure it.'
Yes, after graduation, the future is just living together anyway. Before that, dragging father down and taking control of the family is what being a good wife means, right? I'll throw the family head position to my brother appropriately, and live happily with my other half in a birdcage.
A romantic future plan made a smile creep onto her face.
However, reality was unpleasant enough to pull her out of such thoughts.
"Uh, uh, no choice! If it's only me, then I have to help!"
"Thank you, Liu. Then right now……"
"Hey, hey!! What kind of crazy person goes on a date this evening! We have to meet from tomorrow morning!"
"Ah... I'm sorry. I'm a dating novice."
"……Huh? Hey, then this is your first date?"
"Yes."
Crack.
First date? Letting that bug bitch take such a precious opportunity?
'I could do it much better than that bitch……!'
Jealousy. Fierce jealousy flowed stickily and overflowed inside Lane.
However, with superhuman patience, Lane, who held back from slamming Liu's head with the chair she was sitting on, glanced to the side.
"……Date."
'The princess is a bit dangerous too.'
Namgung Min and Princess Kim Eun-ha were close, but it didn't feel like a man-woman relationship at all. But you never know. There might be something hidden like her relationship with Namgung Min.
'Otherwise, she wouldn't have broken the teacup.'
But Lane didn't guard against the princess as much as Liu. At a glance, it seemed the princess's feelings for Namgung Min were still ambiguous.
'Unlike me.'
Lane was aware of her own emotions. This emotion overflowing deep in her heart, wanting to see the other person, wanting to think about them, wanting to make them mine, not wanting to yield, wanting to monopolize—this pure and clean heart. This must be love. She was certain it was a pure girl's first love.
'I'm such an easy woman.'
To think she would feel love for Namgung Min, whom she had been so wary and suspicious of. Lane inwardly mocked herself.
But she didn't regret it. No matter how easy her heart was, what pain she had suffered in the past, how hard it had been.
'Happy.'
Just being with her other half at this moment made her happy. Now that she knew this happiness, she could never go back to the old days.
"Then let's meet at 10 AM tomorrow."
"Y-Yeah! Come to the north airport!!"
"Airport……? Yes."
So Lane narrowed her eyes. Looking at Namgung Min tilting his head and Liu still turning her head with a red face.
……She secretly sent a message. Of course, she had no intention of sending just the two of them.
*
"It worked out well."
The next day, 9:30 AM.
Thanks to the alarm set yesterday, she woke up safely and put on a suitable suit. Thanks to <Cleanliness>, she didn't need to shower or wash her hair, always staying clean, so preparations were finished in the blink of an eye.
'……But can't I wear other clothes?'
The first semester is almost over soon, and wearing only a red dress shirt and black suit for nearly two months is giving her cognitive dissonance. Even with <Cleanliness>, wouldn't other students find it a bit unsettling?
'Let's buy some clothes this opportunity.'
When she was young, living expenses were tight, so she had rarely spent money on clothes, but now with over 30 billion in her account, clothes aren't a big deal. Liu often shops for artifacts, so she'd be better at choosing clothes than her.
After checking the time appropriately, she went out of the base and waited for the bus.
'Date……'
Date. What a burdensome word. Besides her younger sister Namgung Ji-soo, she hadn't really talked to many people of the opposite sex. When she was a student doing fortune-telling, she talked often, but there were no private conversations at all. She had talked well with various female students until now, but such conversations and conversations between lovers would be very different.
'I have to make sure of this love fortune-telling.'
It was a date for that purpose. When she consulted with female students she knew, excluding the prince and Lucas stories, it went smoothly. She added explanations like she's a bit clumsy at love fortune-telling…… if she has dating experience, she can read fortunes better…… but maybe it was her imagination, but everyone seemed not to care much.
'The princess is obviously impossible for a date…… Lane has been a bit scary lately.'
She didn't want to be dragged to the imperial palace, so exclude the princess. Lane, after the Skill Thief event, something…… something about her gaze is scary. Should she say it's sticky? After getting her psychic ability back, she didn't fold her up, so it seems she's forgiving the strong act. But just scary……
So the only one left was Liu. Among them, she was the most comfortable too.
'……Come to think of it, Aileen isn't around.'
After the Skill Thief event the day before yesterday, until yesterday's tea party, Aileen hadn't come. She used to visit the fortune teller's shop every day, but suddenly not coming made it a bit empty. But she must have had personal circumstances. Actually, coming every day was the strange thing.
'Let's meet next time.'
As she continued her thoughts, before she knew it, she had arrived at the north airport stop. Hurriedly getting off the bus, the huge airport came into view at once.
'……But do dates usually happen at the airport?'
Well, she would know if she tried. Casually looking around, she checked her watch and it was already close to the promised 10 o'clock. Liu isn't the type to be late, so where on earth──
"Excuse me, are you Namgung Min?"
"……? Yes, that's correct."
"I've been waiting. I'll escort you right away."
"……?"
Huh? Suddenly a middle-aged man in a suit with a stylish mustache spoke to her and guided her somewhere. Passing through the crowded area for ordinary people, going up to higher floors, and finally reaching the top floor filled with splendid decorations. By the time they got here, there were very few people, each wearing luxury goods and accessories that seemed to announce "I'm rich."
Passing even those rich people, stopping only when they reached the luxurious door in the deepest part, the middle-aged man stopped.
"This is it. I hope you have a good time."
"Ah... Yes."
Seeing him greet politely, only then did the name tag on his chest catch her eye.
[Wu Zhenhao, President of China Airlines.]
"……Are you the airport president?"
"That's right."
"Could it be that the one waiting inside……"
"She is our airline's VVVIP and major shareholder. I'll open the door for you."
"Ah, yes……"
The door opened without a sound, no matter how well oiled it was. Opening the door decorated with all sorts of ornaments, a wide space unfolded inside. The floor and ceiling were all marble. One wall was entirely glass, and the high ceiling had luxurious chandeliers—five of them—and all sorts of expensive-looking decorations and furniture scattered about. And a soft, fluffy carpet on the floor. Sitting on a chair made of gold and jewels on it was a girl shaking a wine glass.
"Hey, fortune teller bastard."
"……Liu."
It was none other than Liu Yen.
"Sit."
"……Are you alone here?"
"This entire place is my private room. Make yourself comfortable."
……No, this is much larger than combining several classrooms? Even if the top floor is narrow, almost half of it is this room?
Hesitantly, she sat on the chair opposite Liu, which was as lavishly decorated as the one Liu was sitting on.
'Wow, it's really soft.'
What on earth are these made of? Why is this chair so soft and comfortable?
Shocked by the chair more comfortable than a bed, as she was fumbling, Liu, who had chuckled, put down her glass.
"How is it?"
"Pardon? This room?"
"No, no. That president who guided you here."
"That…… Wu Zhenhao, right?"
"Correct. Quite a useful pawn."
Thud.
Liu, who stood up from the chair, walked around the room appropriately, stroking various decorations. Numerous jewels, gold, and pure silver sparkled under the light of the chandeliers.
"I like pawns of money."
"Why is that?"
"Because there's no need to doubt them. They're the kind of bastards who would sell their parents or children if you throw enough money at them. Wu Zhenhao is the same."
"……I see."
"He swore loyalty to me to become the president of this airline. I own 60% of the shares here. With one word from me, the president or CEO just changes."
"Ooh."
"……React properly. Anyway, because there are so many pawns who volunteer to be slaves like that, I can live comfortably like this. Well, among them, there are some who boldly aim for my back, but I don't really care."
"Is that so? I thought Liu would suspect like you did to me……"
"Ha, this bastard. Hey, the only ones I suspect are those who could be a threat to me. Suspecting those without such ability is just a waste of time."
Beep. Beep.
Liu, who smiled as she said that, took out her phone and pressed a few buttons. Immediately after, the door to the room opened carefully.
"Liu, did you call?"
"What's the status of the guys who betrayed yesterday?"
"Lei Shen of Zenki Corporation, Jeong Nam-gil of Taeyang Trading, and Jang Wei of Weihua Pharmaceuticals have all been silenced. We've cooperated with the local police, so there's no worry about rumors spreading."
"Clean. Give the guy who reported those bastards about 10 million yuan each (about 1.8 billion won)."
"As you command."
"Now get out."
The airline president, still maintaining a polite posture, left the room, and Liu pressed her phone again. Then a call came to Liu's phone.
[Liu, what is it?]
"Report Wu Zhenhao of China Airlines' recent movements."
[Wu Zhenhao embezzled 23 million yuan (about 4 billion won) 12 days ago and took a new wife 6 days ago. It seems the previous wife was assassinated due to an affair issue.]
"Seems? Is that a guess?"
[I'm sorry. I'll investigate the exact reason!]
"Report by today. Anything else?"
[No special points.]
"Upload the detailed tracking content as a document. Of course, the reason for killing the previous wife you assassinated should also be uploaded."
[Understood!]
"Alright."
Even after hanging up the phone like that, Liu called in other people several times and made calls. It wasn't difficult to figure out that they were all in a relationship of monitoring and tracking each other. Someone monitors the airline president, someone else watches that someone, and another person tracks that other person. A structure where they monitor and entangle with each other. If someone shows signs of betraying Liu, it's a structure where they can't avoid being caught.
"How is it?"
"……It's quite impressive."
"Except for direct subordinates like Wang Pei, everyone is like this. Even direct subordinates are supposed to monitor and report among themselves. Though they'll be caught by my eyes before that."
Liu, who smiled wryly as she said that, looked at her. As if asking what about you.
"How is it? I'm this kind of woman. At this very moment, someone might be monitoring you?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Yeah, of course it would be unsettling…… What?"
"Whether Liu has someone monitor me, track me, or investigate my background, it doesn't matter."
"…………Why?"
"? Because we're friends. Ah, we weren't yet……"
In the first place, if it was background investigation, she had already been subjected to it by several people? She had long been prepared for wiretapping or surveillance since getting involved with these people. It was natural for a commoner to approach the top of the social pyramid.
Shrugging her shoulders as she answered, Liu, who had a dazed look for a moment, soon smiled softly.
"……Yeah, you were that kind of guy. That's why you……"
"Me?"
"Ah, no! Now let's slowly go on a date!"
"I'm fine with that. But why the airport……"
"Huh? If you've come to the airport, isn't it obvious?"
"Pardon?"
"Let's go."
With skilled steps, Liu took the lead and opened the door, and on the path with a red carpet laid out, numerous stewardesses and staff were bowing in greeting.
""""Liu, we hope you have a pleasant trip!""""
"Yeah."
"……Uh."
"What are you doing?"
The end of the top floor. Riding that burdensome elevator painted entirely in gold down to the first floor──
Vwooooom──!!
"Let's board."
"This…… Surely……"
"My private jet number 12. Originally number 11 is good, but it's currently in maintenance……"
"Huh."
A private jet painted in luxurious red like Liu's taste was waiting for them. On the red carpet laid to the entrance of the private jet, the pilot, co-pilot, and dedicated stewardesses of the private jet greet politely……
……This is a date, right?
*
"Now we're finally departing."
"Lane, what should we do?"
"Follow that plane."
"Yes!"
Eastern airport, a place with strong Arthur family influence, the Arthur family private jet takes off.
"Follow that."
"Understood!"
From the largest Korean Empire-owned airport in the aerial city, the splendid princess private jet rises.
It was the pursuit of three ordinary girls.