Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: I Spent the Night with the Youngest Daughter of the Murim Alliance Leader
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A long vacation.
With no particular schedule, returning to the clan had been the problem.
"Oh my, Yeong-ah. Aren't you at the age where you should start looking into marriage prospects?"
"Right? I hear rumors of you meeting all sorts of people, but you've never even brought one home."
"Time flies by? You should get married young to receive a bit more affection."
The aunts surrounded Jegal Yeong, nagging endlessly.
And it wasn't even a holiday.
Completely surrounded on all sides, she was helplessly subjected to their lectures.
'This is why I didn't want to come back...'
Of all times, she'd returned home right on her third uncle's birthday. Who knew all the aunts would be gathered.
The family was extremely interested in Jegal Yeong's marriage.
'She'll handle it herself.'
Among Family Head Jegal Hwi's children, she was the only daughter of marriageable age. On top of that, she'd left the family's embrace to join the White Lotus Squad. It was the complete opposite of the usual path for a maiden from a prestigious clan, who helped with family affairs while seeking a match.
That made her perfect prey for the aunts.
"She'll handle it when the time comes."
"Oh, look at her. Staring with those big eyes! This is all for your own good~"
"Sister, just let her be. She'll figure it out once she experiences it herself."
"Why say it like that? Do you want to see our Yeong become an old maid?"
"What good does it do to keep talking if she doesn't like it?"
Ah.
Suffocating.
Why were they so obsessed with someone else's marriage?
She barely knew if the food was going in her mouth or her nose.
The one move Jegal Yeong pulled to shut the aunts up was...
"I'm not seeing anyone, but there is someone I'm a little interested in."
"Oh my, oh my. Who is it?"
"We're not at that stage yet... I'll tell you later if it works out."
"As expected, Yeong has it all planned out?"
"Aigoo, she'll probably say the same thing and not bring him like last time..."
"Hey, you girl. Watch your words!"
Throwing out an empty check.
It was something Jegal Yeong was used to.
Making up a fictional boyfriend she might become lovers with someday.
But there was one difference from before.
'Why am I thinking of that guy?'
It was just an excuse to fob off the aunts.
But when she said 'someone I'm a little interested in'...
Why did Yi Se-woong's face pop into her head?
'He's been creeping into my fantasies lately, which is troublesome enough.'
She hadn't expected him to worm his way this far.
Having feelings for someone when she already had a fiancé was agonizing. She needed to nip it before it grew.
She'd keep running into him if she stayed in the White Lotus Squad, but she thought things would be different from now on.
Yi Se-woong had made contributions.
He'd captured the Bloodsaber Guest and uncovered traces of the Demonic Cult.
Through this mission, he'd proven himself a proper White Lotus Squad member. So there'd be no need for Jegal Yeong to look after him specially anymore.
Distance breeds detachment in the heart.
Time would sort it out.
That was enough.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Tormented by the aunts' barrage, Jegal Yeong fled the clan without properly spending time with her siblings and returned to Anhui Castle.
She felt once again that the world doesn't bend to one's will.
"Squad leader?"
"Yes."
"Me, as squad leader...?"
"You don't look too happy about it?"
Squad leader.
White Lotus Squad members preferred solo operations, but it wasn't always possible. Depending on the mission's importance or danger, they formed squads to handle them.
It meant being entrusted with 'bigger' tasks.
Squads usually consisted of four members.
They were already strong-willed individuals. This was the optimal lineup to minimize variables during missions by building rapport in advance.
Taking squad leader was practically a promotion.
"It feels too soon."
"What's there to hesitate? Just listing your past missions overflows the quota. The Bloodsaber Guest incident was merely the trigger."
"Haa..."
"Your salary doubles—how great is that!"
Despite White Lotus Squad Leader Kang Cheon's praise, Jegal Yeong only sighed.
Salary?
The Jegal clan's wealth made money no issue.
Being squad leader came with immense authority...
But the problem was the responsibility that came with it.
"Lighten up! It's something you had to go through eventually, right?"
"You know all this, Squad Leader..."
"Worried about your squad members?"
Squad leader.
Why balk at a position with authority to command squad members, higher pay, and an armband?
Because it was nominally prestigious but essentially a hassle-handling role.
The squad leader took responsibility in the squad leader's stead.
It was telling her to rein in the squad members who might bolt anywhere.
That was why she should've piled up achievements to become a special-grade member outright.
Get moderately good, and they'd slot you into squad leader to fill the quota.
"Don't worry. I anticipated that and assigned people you've already synced with."
"No way?"
"Yep. Hwangbo Seyul and Yi Se-woong. Both are in your squad."
"No, why them?"
"It was a makeshift team, but they handled the mission brilliantly. Captured the Bloodsaber Guest, exposed the Hyeongsan Sect's corruption, and even found Demonic Cult traces. Keeping the squad as is should be perfect."
'No way' strikes again.
The worry she'd had since Kang Cheon started hinting had come true.
"Yi Se-woong lacks experience for squad-level missions."
"That's why he needs to gain it under you. He shone in this one. Can't treat him like a rookie forever."
"What about Senior Hwangbo Seyul then? Shouldn't she be squad leader?"
"She strongly requested it. Said she'd skip squad missions if not put under you."
"Haa..."
"You know how willful she is. Too talented to waste on solos. Bear with it."
Easier said than done.
She'd finally thought she'd distance herself from Yi Se-woong.
And what was this with Senior Hwangbo Seyul?
How was she supposed to control someone that bouncy?
"I'll double your budget for a while. Deal? Should be manageable now."
*If you like it so much, do it yourself, Squad Leader.*
Jegal Yeong held her tongue and just thought it. The squad leader looked oddly relieved.
Her face was clouded with worry as she left.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Junior as squad leader! Congratulations! Wow~"
"Wow~"
"......"
Huh.
Isn't becoming squad leader a good thing?
I'd heard it was like a promotion.
I'd cheered with Hwangbo Seyul to liven the mood, but Jegal Yeong showed no joy.
"Senior. I heard everything from the squad leader. Explain yourself."
"Simple—anyone but you standing above me rubs me wrong!"
"Pardon?"
"I don't take orders from the weak!"
"Haa..."
Hwangbo Seyul with hands on hips.
Jegal Yeong clutched her head and sighed.
"You know I hate reports! Sorting budgets one by one... That's your specialty, right, Junior?"
"Now you're openly saying you're dumping it on me?"
"Well, Senior Hwangbo Seyul does seem hopeless at that stuff."
"Junior Junior? What's that mean?"
From the last mission, I'd noticed these two meshed surprisingly well.
Impulsive but bold Hwangbo Seyul.
Calculated but overly cautious Jegal Yeong.
A combo that covered each other's weaknesses.
No wonder the squad leader set it up this way.
Me?
I was pretty okay.
Both were considerate to the core, so the last mission was comfy.
Felt like generous treatment for a newbie.
Two women was a slight concern, but it was work.
"Yi Se-woong. If you want, I can switch you anytime. No need to stick with our squad."
"Me?"
"Yeah. If there's a squad you like, just say."
"I'm good here."
"......"
It was true that her brutal training sessions made me question if this was right. But I knew it was her way of keeping the sparring demons off me.
Switch squads, and I'd lose all time to their constant sweaty spars.
"Anywhere else, and I'd just lose the chance to work under such a capable squad leader like you."
"Ugh..."
"Right? Handles things cleanly, deep consideration, and cautious too? Can't find another like you anywhere."
"S-Stop. Enough with the bootlicking! Won't get you anything!"
"I'm serious."
Jegal Yeong, this woman.
Weak to praise, surprisingly.
She'd been a prodigy since childhood, so you'd think she'd be used to it.
Her shy head-turn was oddly fresh.
Her upturned lips betrayed her pleasure, tempting me to tease more.
But I'd hold back for now.
Push too far, who knows what wrath.
"Junior Junior! What about me?"
"You, Senior? You're super strong."
"And?"
"Full of energy—looks great."
"Praise more!"
"...That's it."
"So mean!"
Bickering.
Hwangbo Seyul's playful shoulder punch.
So light it made her monstrous strength from before seem fake.
"Enough play, Senior. Work's piled up like a mountain."
"Mm, true. Lots to do. As a squad member, I have a suggestion."
"What is it?"
"Let's have a squad dinner!"
Hwangbo Seyul answered energetically.
She signaled me with her eyes.
"What dinner..."
"We're officially a squad now—gotta build unity, right?"
"Haa."
"To celebrate the last mission's end too. What do you say, Junior Junior?"
"I'm for it. On the squad budget, right?"
Jegal Yeong's face—like she'd chopped her foot with a trusted axe.
Sorry, but.
Squad budget dinner justification?
How could I pass that up?