Chapter 107
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Mother-Daughter Standoff
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Congratulations on your graduation."
I gently dabbed at the tears streaming from Seol Yu-wol's eyes with a tissue.
I waited a little until she calmed down.
Then I got to the main point.
"...Did you sign the contract?"
Regardless of how much better she was mentally, a real-world contract was still just that—a real-world contract.
Just in case.
I mean, just in case the association tried to take advantage of an S-rank gem like Seol Yu-wol, using her pure hopes to push for cheap negotiation terms.
Devouring her dreams.
I felt like I had to cut that kind of thing off at the pass.
"Yes... We even got to the contract draft..."
She probably hadn't stamped it yet.
She needed my permission first, before stamping.
Originally, I shouldn't look.
A third party intervening in a contract was overstepping. It wasn't allowed, technically.
But could I ask to see it? Would she mind?
"Could you show it to me for a sec..."
Pat pat.
Before I could even finish, Seol Yu-wol jumped up from the sofa and dashed to the back of the room.
She pulled the contract out of her document bag and brought it right to me.
Her eyes sparkling as she held it out.
I smiled and took the contract.
It was private, after all. Must not have been easy to show.
But she trusted me that much, and it didn't feel bad at all.
I read through the contract.
The overall terms... bodyguard contract.
But it included joining the association as a hunter.
That part was unavoidable, and they'd probably agreed on it mutually.
The issue was the fine print.
I flipped to the next page to check the details.
The draft itself looked like standard terms for an S-rank hunter contract.
Of course, as a draft, it leaned a bit in the association's favor...
"...?"
Every densely printed clause underlined in red pen.
Even meticulous asterisks here and there.
Demand after demand for revisions filled every section.
[Article 7, Clause 2: 'During the protectee's external activities' → Requested change to 'During all of the protectee's external activities.']
[Reason: Cannot rule out threats during activities]
[Article 12, Clause 1: 'Mission assignments decided in consultation with the association' → Requested change to 'Mission assignments prioritize consultation with the protectee.']
[Article 18 (New): If an unavoidable gap occurs due to the bodyguard, Party A (Hunter Association) may request Party B (Azure Heaven Alliance) to cover bodyguard duties to prevent the gap. In such cases, Party B must immediately dispatch replacement personnel of equal or higher level to the bodyguard and fulfill all duties during the gap period.]
"What's this Article 18?"
"Ah... Mom said she'd help out when I'm having a tough time..."
"I see."
Nothing wrong with getting cooperation from the Azure Heaven Alliance.
It had passed, so they must have agreed with the association too.
The only equal-level replacement was Yi Seo-ryeong, really.
Meaning Yi Seo-ryeong would come on Seol Yu-wol's days off.
I kept reading.
[Article 19 (New): Protectee's meals, health management, and sleep environment management shall also be considered part of bodyguard duties.]
[Article 20 (New): Bodyguard may, at personal discretion, force co-sleeping with the 'protectee' in emergencies.]
Articles 19 and 20 had red lines struck through—rejected.
Too overprotective. I didn't want that much anyway.
But nearly all of Seol Yu-wol's other requested changes had been accepted, with the final revised version attached at the end.
I looked at the final contract.
"... "
I'd never seen an S-rank hunter contract up close.
But I had S-ranks around me.
Jin Sea... or Mary, for example.
I didn't know the exact details, but I knew the gist.
So I could say for sure.
This contract didn't shortchange her at all.
The association got fleeced. By Seol Yu-wol.
The final version looked nothing like the draft.
To the point where you wouldn't believe it was the same contract.
"Does it look okay?"
Seol Yu-wol asked from the side, eyes sparkling.
"I just requested changes to the weird parts."
"You've got good instincts."
I meant it.
I couldn't have wrangled changes like this.
No need to read more.
I reached out my hand to her again.
"Seriously, I look forward to working with you."
She stared at my outstretched hand for a moment, then clasped it gently with both of hers.
"Yes... Doctor!"
But she didn't let go of my hand as she asked,
"Oh, right. And... you're only picking one bodyguard, right?"
That seemed to be the case.
Even an A-rank would've been fine with one or two, but now she was S-rank.
No need for extras, and I'd oppose it.
"Yes, one is plenty. Especially since it's you, Yu-wol."
"Ah..."
A satisfied smile bloomed on Seol Yu-wol's face at my answer.
She nodded.
"Then, just one more addition."
"What?"
Scribble...
Seol Yu-wol stuck out her tongue cutely and started adding something to the blank space with a pen.
Scribble scribble scribble...
[Article 21 (New): By mutual agreement of protectee and bodyguard, no additional bodyguard personnel are needed. If a third party attempts to add personnel later, it shall be deemed a serious threat to the bodyguard and may be immediately neutralized.]
I got not adding more.
But this was overkill.
"...What's 'immediately neutralized' mean?"
"Neutralizing them immediately."
"Got it."
I knew what it meant.
But no need to go that far.
I snatched the contract away.
"Ah..."
Seol Yu-wol let out a small sigh as it slipped from her hand.
Scribble.
I cleanly erased just the brutal "immediately neutralized" part.
"This should do."
"...Yes."
She looked a bit dissatisfied, but accepted it obediently.
Now it was really done. What I could do for her... that was it.
Setting up minimal safeguards so she wouldn't get trapped by an unfair contract.
That was the last thing I could do for her, but she'd already handled it perfectly herself.
She was no longer my client, and I was no longer her counselor.
What I could do for her...
That was it.
A serene reception room filled with the fresh scent of orchids and freshly brewed tea.
Inside the traditional house, a poised woman and a youthful one sat facing each other across teacups.
One was Yi Seo-ryeong, former Murim Alliance Leader and current Azure Heaven Alliance Leader.
The other was the Demonic Cult's sovereign, Heavenly Demon Jahwa-yeon.
In the Central Plains, there were only two reasons for these two to sit face-to-face like this.
Either in a deathmatch.
Or one was already a corpse.
Fortunately, the atmosphere wasn't heading that way.
Though we'd have to see from here on.
Yi Seo-ryeong sat with perfect posture, quietly watching the tea steep.
Her green eyes were like a deep, still lake—impossible to fathom.
Meanwhile, Jahwa-yeon propped her chin, staring openly at Yi Seo-ryeong as if the silence bored her.
She'd always hated that. The hypocritical gaze of the righteous faction's two-faced pretenders.
When the tea had steeped just right, Yi Seo-ryeong lifted a cup first and offered it politely to Jahwa-yeon.
"Please have some before it cools."
"Not my taste."
Jahwa-yeon refused the cup.
The reason they were here today was simple.
The Demonic Cult and Azure Heaven Alliance had countless disputes so far.
Fewer than in the Central Plains—to the point of embarrassment comparing—but still enough to stir controversy here, in this world. Enough to spark conflicts.
Even more so before Jahwa-yeon unified the Demonic Cult.
The former Left Protector had constantly pushed for armed clashes with the righteous faction.
The Azure Heaven Alliance was different.
They always maintained a moderate stance.
Rooting out only clear transgressions.
They handled the aftermath of Demonic Cult-initiated disputes and embraced the victims.
Yi Seo-ryeong was exceptionally skilled at that.
Public opinion mostly favored the Azure Heaven Alliance.
And Yi Seo-ryeong knew better than anyone how to harness that power of the masses.
After ascending to Heavenly Demon, Jahwa-yeon sighed at the gap in perceptions and positions already in place.
The righteous faction's actions were repulsive again. Just because they hid it well, did that mean they hadn't done it?
No. They just hid it better.
The righteous were no different from the Demonic Cult. Warriors were warriors, after all—how different could they be?
Just the difference between hiding it or not. And how they shaped post-incident opinion.
Repulsive... but it changed nothing.
She was shrewd.
She felt the time had come to put a final period on it all.
She'd disciplined the bloodthirsty internals, and the Demonic Cult was no longer ruthless.
And now, she was moments from stamping the peace accord.
"I consider this a joyous occasion. To think I'd have a private audience with the Heavenly Demon. I hope we can set aside old grudges and move our two forces toward a better future..."
"Ha."
Jahwa-yeon laughed it off.
"How long do you plan to wear that mask?"
Yi Seo-ryeong's lips curved up at the words.
No need to deny it in front of Jahwa-yeon.
For a Demonic Cult leader—no, for most people—she was someone you could actually talk to.
Yi Seo-ryeong had changed a lot too.
"The mask... I may have to wear it for life."
Jahwa-yeon looked genuinely surprised at the answer.
She hadn't expected such a straightforward admission that yes, it was a mask.
She'd figured the sly fox would dodge with "What mask?" like always.
And even smirk while doing it.
"Now that I see it, you've got a pretty nice face."
She eyed her curiously.
"Picked up a man in your old age?"
Yi Seo-ryeong's brow twitched at "old age," but it didn't show.
Old age, really.
It was just her social position and relations—truth be told, Yi Seo-ryeong wasn't that much older than her daughter or Seol Yu-wol.
No aging from martial arts either...
Anyway, Yi Seo-ryeong took a sip of tea and replied calmly.
"Seeing my daughter settle safely in this strange land... I suppose a mother's joy shows on her face."
Settle? In the Azure Heaven Alliance.
Jahwa-yeon found that laughable.
"Hmph. 'Settle safely' just means crawling into the fence you built."
That was Yi Seo-ryeong's way.
But at those words, Yi Seo-ryeong tilted her head curiously.
"You haven't heard?"
Yi Seo-ryeong pulled out her phone, swiped the screen lightly.
Then projected a few hologram news articles onto the table, sliding them gently toward Jahwa-yeon.
[Veiled S-Rank Otherworlder Hunter Rejects All Guild Offers, Joins Association]
[S-Rank Hunter Seol Yu-wol's First Mission: Personal Bodyguard for Hunter Counselor? Unprecedented Move...]
Jahwa-yeon's black eyes slowly scanned the holograms.
Yi Seo-ryeong savored the arrogant smile on her face slowly hardening.
"My child went to the association to protect her respected doctor."
"... "
Not the Azure Heaven Alliance?
That girl went to the association instead of her mom's arms?
Jahwa-yeon couldn't believe it.
Then it hit her.
What she'd said when they met in the isolation dome.
'Want to hear it once? What deep bond we shared...'
And Seol Yu-wol's horrified back as she fled.
'Nooooo!'
Could it be because of me?
"Oh, by the way."
Yi Seo-ryeong propped her chin and spoke.
"It's public knowledge that you, Heavenly Demon, hold 'our' doctor dear. Always worrying for his safety, looking after him."
She paused briefly.
"Normally, my child would... and during her absences, the Azure Heaven Alliance—no, I."
"From now on, will take responsibility for looking after the doctor."
And.
"So... you don't need to concern yourself anymore?"
Jahwa-yeon met Yi Seo-ryeong's eyes.
Yi Seo-ryeong was still smiling.
Jahwa-yeon realized once more.
As expected.
The righteous faction couldn't be trusted.