Chapter 154
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Expansionist Moves (2)
After Cledemier disappeared, Masha scurried over to me and patted my back encouragingly.
"Wow, little brother Ihyeon! That was impressive!"
"Pardon?"
"Master seemed really taken with you."
Her positive words left me so baffled that I let out a hollow laugh.
"You think she liked that just now?"
That brutal atmosphere?
"Of course! You can tell just from her eyes. If Master truly doesn't like someone, she won't even bother talking to them. She'll probably summon us after touring the entire sect. She's not the type to skim over something as important as the Doll Project. And she even asked you a question. Master doesn't question people she deems useless."
"I see..."
"That's right! So don't worry too much. I'll help you out."
Masha said this with a bright smile.
Her innocent smile left me momentarily speechless.
Well, it was hard not to trust someone who'd lived dozens or hundreds of times longer than me.
With that, she began explaining in detail dozens of things I absolutely must never do during a private audience with Master.
"First off, never lie in front of Master. She can tell just from your eyes."
"When answering questions, skip the fluff and get straight to the point, concisely. She hates long-winded answers."
"Oh, right. And never casually judge or criticize anything Master has made. She's got sky-high pride—she might just crush your head!"
I listened to her nagging advice, feeling my energy drain in real time.
And right around when she'd finished...
Sure enough, just as she said, word came that Cledemier wanted to see us again.
'She really came back...'
Masha winked at me as if to say 'I knew it,' then took the lead.
"Come on, follow me. Just watch for my cues and you'll be fine!"
I sighed and trailed after her.
My head was already starting to ache at the thought of what was coming.
The place we entered was originally Masha's private office.
But now, it looked like the owner had completely changed.
The bookshelf beside the desk had long been emptied, and Cledemier was simply perched on the central desk, one leg crossed over the other.
Her voluptuous figure was accentuated by the tight uniform, her sleek legs sheathed in black stockings.
In a game, I'd have said the modeling was top-notch...
Gulp.
But this was pure reality now.
"...You're here?"
"Yes, Master! I've brought Sect member Kang Ihyeon."
"Hm."
Cledemier was still staring at the golden rocks orbiting around her.
At her gestures, their orbital speed slowed and quickened repeatedly.
The golden trails flowed slowly and gracefully.
This was the famed master Cledemier's ability: Micro-Planet Rifts.
Each of those rocks was a small rift scattered in various places—a tiny 'planet' under her dominion.
Through these rock mediums, Cledemier could connect to, link with, and traverse the small rifts at any time. She could store people, supplies, and even carry out production and fabrication within the rocks' spaces.
It was a walking factory, literally.
She cut straight to the chase.
"I read the report on restoring the Doll Project."
Her voice was cold and dry.
"Masha. Your report was full of nothing but praise for this Kang Ihyeon. Yet the man himself hasn't submitted a single report. Moreover, providing a personal lab to a sect member is a clear rules violation. It's blatant proof of favoritism."
Masha, who had been so confident facing her master at first, was completely deflated by the sharp criticism.
"M-Master, that's...! Little brother Ihyeon is still adjusting to the sect, so I was just being considerate... And the lab is basically because he took on the massive Doll Project single-handedly...!"
"No excuses. Then why assign it to him alone? Why not deploy other sect members?"
"W-Well... They wouldn't have been any help..."
Cledemier switched the crossed leg and spoke coldly.
"Masha, I've told you before. You have a tendency to ignore sect rules too much. With you as the sole remaining elder, it's practically like you've privatized the sect. If you arbitrarily break rules and issue orders, then what's the point of laws and regulations?"
"M-Master."
"Considering all this, banishing you both from the sect seems the most appropriate judgment. That's what sect law and principles dictate."
At those words, Masha's face drained of color.
She stared at Cledemier in disbelief.
Tears welled up in Masha's eyes.
As she sniffled, trying to make some excuse...
Cledemier let out a deep sigh.
She stepped down from the desk and stood before Masha.
"Then, I'll stop the criticisms here."
"S-Sniff... M-Master...?"
Masha looked up at her, tears streaming down.
Cledemier pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped her tears.
"But neglecting the talented isn't one of our sect's rules either."
"...Pardon?"
"In this era since humanity migrated to Tartaros, where crises never cease, we need flexible responses suited to the times."
She looked back and forth between us and continued.
"Spin-off. Independence. Split. That's what I'm proposing to you."
"Pardon?"
"Split the Doll Project completely from the sect and make it a new company. Then you won't be bound by sect rules anymore. The sect will provide funding, and you just deliver results in return."
S-Spin-off?
I was stunned.
Her words sounded like she wanted me to start a new company with my tech and skills, with the sect investing in it.
'Isn't that exactly what I was planning?'
To be precise, it was a guild, not a company.
I'd planned to set up an info guild and tack on a side stall for the project using family connections...
I waved my hands in panic.
"Elder, my abilities aren't advanced enough to generate profits yet. Besides, I'm already an academy student with my own guild and tied to a pioneering team. I lack the capacity or ability to run a company."
At my words, Cledemier's gaze turned icy.
She looked at me like I was a bug and said,
"If you lack the ability or confidence, then just leave in accordance with the rules. Abandon the project too."
Her harsh words prompted Masha to jump in desperately.
"B-But Master! The Doll Project is hugely important to our sect...!"
"If it were that important, it wouldn't have been scrapped once. Isn't that right, Masha? Besides, Kang Ihyeon himself just admitted he can't generate profits. We can't waste more time on something useless."
I had nothing to say.
No, give me some time—what's the rush?
Cledemier turned to me again.
"Having a guild already works in your favor. Building a company on that foundation will be even quicker. Your student status or pioneering team affiliation is no issue. Even with those crude dolls you've made, you can pull in plenty of revenue."
Her eyes held even more conviction than mine.
'What makes a hero's eyes so different...'
As I hesitated, Cledemier looked at Masha.
"Once you start the company, Masha, this one will join you too, so you won't have to shoulder everything alone."
"Me? Me too?"
"Forgot you're up for banishment as well?"
I couldn't comprehend it.
"Elder... You just met me today. What makes you trust me enough for such a bold proposal?"
My question drew a smirk from Cledemier.
"Masha committed enough violations to warrant expulsion from the sect. And at the center of every single one was you."
"......"
"That means you're talent worth that much to her. Her report was overly effusive in praising you, but every record was truthful."
One step.
Two steps.
Cledemier approached.
"You're talented. A weakened skill that copies others' skills. Highly unconventional and versatile. A system that replicates appearances perfectly and holds conversations. I judge it has tremendous commercial potential. The dialogue was stiff, but there's plenty of room for improvement."
She backed me against the wall, and I stumbled back awkwardly.
Her ample breasts pressed against my chest.
The overwhelming sensation through her tight uniform.
The sweet, hot fragrance wafting from her.
I felt like I couldn't breathe.
"The sect—and I—are giving you a chance to make up for the violations. Choose: run away, or seize this opportunity and prove your worth."
Overwhelmed by her pressure and irresistible allure, I could only nod.
"...Understood. I'll do it."
My answer brought a satisfied smile to Cledemier's face.
She pulled away and turned.
For a moment, I thought her gaze lingered on the bulge in my pants.
"As an elder of a sect, you must use any means for your goals. But never forget the responsibility that comes with it."
Her words almost seemed directed at me.
'Honey trap...?'
The thought was fleeting as she muttered into the air, as if addressing someone invisible.
"Yes. Got it. Prepare it."
Then she tapped one of the orbiting rocks.
It glowed, and a parchment document slid out from within.
A contract.
"Factory No. 1 wants to test your dolls' performance. See how much they can replace manual labor. Of course, they'll pay a fair price."
Her words left me dumbfounded.
Was forcing this independence all for this contract?
'No, if I'd stayed in the sect, she could've just ordered free supply.'
Or maybe she was painting a bigger picture.
Either way, it wasn't a bad deal for me.
Through my pioneering team work, my doll-making skills had grown considerably.
I could mass-produce dolls for simple factory assembly tasks no problem.
My only worry was how suddenly everything was scaling up.
I hadn't even solidified my guild's foundation yet, and now a major contract with the Maker Sect?
I cautiously accepted the contract she offered.
"Um... Could I get some legal advice on this first?"
My cautious question earned a nonchalant shrug from Cledemier.
"Do as you like. Review it thoroughly and decide. I'm not forcing you."
Hm, it didn't look like a shady contract...
Was it really pure intent?
Being played by someone else's schemes didn't feel great.
But if it was part of the grand blueprint from master Cledemier herself...
Riding that massive wave willingly wouldn't be a bad choice.
It could even be a bigger opportunity.
'Plus, Masha Leosica kinda fell into my lap.'
I tucked the contract away and bowed to her once more.
"I'll review it positively."
"Good. I'll await the good news."