Necklaces and Secret Conversations
A woman asking a man to clasp a necklace around her neck carries quite a few meanings. That's why lovers are the ones who clasp necklaces for women.
But she was asking me to do it right now?
Inomiya Haru stood with her hair swept up, naturally turning to expose the nape of her neck. I dazedly stared at her after absentmindedly taking the necklace she handed me.
"Young master?"
"Ah, yeah. Sure."
I let the mood carry me as I gently fastened the necklace around her slender neck.
Maybe I'd overthought it. Yeah. She might've just asked because it was hard to put on alone. When you buy necklaces, they even have staff help you try them on, right?
"So, what do you think?"
"Yes. The moment I put it on, I knew exactly how to use it."
Haru slipped her hand into thin air and pulled it back out with natural ease.
"It'll definitely be a big help later. Thank you, young master."
"Good, glad to hear it."
Haru nodded with her usual blank expression, as if she hadn't thought anything of it either. Guess I really was the only one overreacting.
She was soon gazing into the full-length mirror, admiring the necklace. She seemed pretty pleased with it.
Then came a knock at the door.
-Young master. It's Alesia. Dinner is ready, so I came to let you know.
Time had flown by already? The sun outside was dipping low.
"Heading out now. Haru, you coming?"
Haru, still facing the mirror, answered without looking back.
"...I'll stay a bit longer. You go ahead, young master."
"Alright?"
It wasn't my room at the Calione mansion anyway, so I decided not to worry about it.
"I'll go on ahead then. Take your time."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Leaving Haru behind, I stepped out to find Alesia standing demurely.
"I'll escort you, young master."
"You're not at the mansion, so shouldn't you take it easy, Alesia?"
"Precisely because it's not the mansion, I must work harder. Serving you two is my rest."
She smiled brightly and said it so earnestly that I couldn't exactly tell her to go rest.
"If that's how you feel... Oh, what about the other organization members' dinner?"
"I heard the staff have their own dining hall. My colleagues and I will eat there. Even their staff cafeteria is impressively well-equipped."
"Is that so?"
The chairman's servants must get top-tier perks.
We arrived at the dining room to see Jiyoon Han Calione and Grandpa already seated. Jiyoon rubbed her sleepy eyes, looking half-awake.
"O-Onii-chan... G-Good eveninggg..."
She mumbled sleepily with a big grin.
Grandpa smiled warmly at her, then wiped it away in an instant and turned to me.
"So, you left Haru behind and came alone?"
"She said she needed a moment, so I came ahead."
"I see. Well, girls your age have makeup and all that to fuss over, so it makes sense."
Grandpa didn't seem too bothered, thankfully. I sat down, and he spoke first.
"You caught her before a full day had passed?"
"Pardon? Ah..."
He must mean Yenika Motbrache, the thief who'd infiltrated as a servant.
"Lucky break. She was someone I recognized."
She was a named NPC thief mentioned a few times in the game, so that's how I spotted her. A nameless one might've slipped by.
If the Character Compendium alert hadn't popped up right away, finding the shotgun would've been tougher.
"Is that right? She was a named thief, after all. We'll hand her to the police, so no worries."
"Understood."
She might prefer that over us. No Niflheim, but she'd learn there's worse than prison.
Then the door opened, and Haru entered.
"Sorry I'm late, Chairman."
"No matter. It's not that late."
"Unnie's here, so can we eat now?"
Jiyoon, who'd been nodding off, shook her head to wake up at the promise of food.
"Yes, let's eat. Hungry?"
"Mmm~ Not really. I'm okay."
Maybe to accommodate Haru, Jiyoon shook her head. Grandpa nodded and patted her hair.
"Good girl. He raised her with proper manners, at least. So sweet."
"Hehe."
With Grandpa lifting his chopsticks, dinner began. Unlike Calione's Western-style meals, the table here overflowed with neat, varied Korean dishes.
...I should visit more often. And it was delicious too.
"What's that new necklace around your neck?"
I looked up at Grandpa's sudden comment. He was eyeing Haru.
"Ah, this one?"
Haru lifted it up.
"The young master kindly gifted it to me—far more than I deserve."
Her lips curved up slightly as she spoke.
"Ho? Eugene did?"
His gaze shifted to me.
"A necklace for Haru? Ho. Hah. Hohoho."
Something was off about his reaction.
"Well. Sure. At her family's level... Inomiya pedigree..."
"...Grandpa?"
"Hm? Oh, nothing. Just glad you two get along. You were close as kids too, weren't you?"
He seemed to be thinking something weird. As I opened my mouth to explain the necklace, Jiyoon piped up.
"Waaah... Necklace... Oppa... Does Jiyoon have one too?"
"Hm? Yours?"
Her sleepy eyes suddenly sparkled.
"...Of course."
"Really?!"
"Yeah. But I left yours at home. I'll give it when we get back?"
"Yay! Okay!"
I quickly tapped out a message behind her back.
...That should do it. Sorry to dump it on Han Seojun over the weekend, but I couldn't bear to see that expectant face fall.
Really. Even this rare Korean meal barely registered as I shoveled it in, not sure if it was going in my mouth or nose.
...Man, I'm exhausted.
Am I really here on a rest trip?
* * *
"Grandpa, we'll head out now."
"Grandpaaa~ Bye-bye~"
"Thank you, Chairman."
"Alright, take care."
At the mansion entrance, Grandpa saw us off with his usual gruff face, patting Jiyoon's head.
After last night's dinner, nothing major happened. Just chit-chat, updates, Haru talking privately with Grandpa, and hide-and-seek with Jiyoon and the others in a new spot.
But the real highlight was separate.
Billy the Kid's Shotgun.
One reason I'd come here. True to his word, Grandpa handed it over after catching the thief—and even gave me everything else she'd stolen. Generous move, saying they'd be gone without me anyway.
Trinkets compared to his wealth, so I took them all as promised.
Legally armed now, I tested it under Kim Kangcheol's guidance while Haru chatted with Grandpa.
Beyond expectations.
A single aura-charged blast shattered an Awakener dummy. Insane destructive power—though at under 3 meters range.
At that distance, it'd probably smash most Awakener shields.
"Grandpaaa~ Byeee~!"
Jiyoon leaned out the car window, waving wildly.
"Miss, it's dangerous."
"Okaay."
Haru beside her reined her in quick. Window closed, Jiyoon turned to me with a grin.
"Great-grandpa's super nice!"
"Right?"
"Yeah!"
Even after just a day, Jiyoon adored him.
"His house is the best, tons of yummy food, sooo fun!"
"Yeah? Let's come together next time."
"Yesss! Haru unnie too!"
She grabbed Haru's hand. Haru blinked in surprise.
"...Me too?"
"Yes!"
"If the miss says so... Yes, I'll make sure to join."
Their budding friendship made Alesia pout playfully from the front.
"Miss, leaving me out? I'm hurt."
"Ah! Alesia too, definitely! Together!"
"For real?"
"Yes! Hold my hand and come?"
"Of course, anytime with you, miss."
Listening to the three in the back, a question popped up.
"By the way, Haru. Curious about your chat with Grandpa yesterday—mind if I ask?"
"P-Pardon? Y-Yes? Y-You mean yesterday?"
I'd asked innocently, but she startled like I'd shocked her. Rare sight—even for me.
"W-Well... Um... It wasn't anything important. Mostly about the Inomiya Group."
Why so flustered? Some circumstance, probably. Best not to pry.
"...I see. Alright then."
I let it drop, staring blankly out the window at her bowed head.
She'd said she was resting yesterday too, but it didn't seem like it. Once home, I should hole up and crash properly.
Dad said rest this weekend—no work orders.
Lost in peaceful thoughts—
Not aggro after all?