Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Simultaneous Incidents (5)
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"Since I'm in Seoul, I plan to stop by our headquarters. Sorry, but you'll have to head back on your own."
In front of the Black Dragon Guild's headquarters building, Han Yeoreum said this while standing ostentatiously in front of a row of limousines parked nearby.
"I'm already grateful you gave me a ride this far. Take care on your way back."
"You too. See you next time."
See you next time. At those words, Ahn Su-ho gave a faint, wry smile. Just a few days ago, he never could have imagined exchanging such a farewell with Han Yeoreum.
Han Yeoreum climbed into the limousine and gazed at Ahn Su-ho through the heavily tinted window. Once she was aboard, he turned on his heel without a second glance. Only after confirming he was far away did she speak to her secretary sitting beside her.
"Mi-jeong."
"Yes, Miss."
"Investigate the relationship between Ahn Su-ho and Seol A-hyeon. Find out what kind of connection they have. Whether they've met in the past. Anything, no matter how trivial."
"Understood. Should I ask that detective from last time again?"
"...Yes. Iliana's skills have already been proven, so we can trust her with this."
The limousine pulled away, and Han Yeoreum propped her elbow on the armrest, resting her chin in her hand. Various possibilities about the two's relationship swirled in her mind.
"I thought he was just some hidden master lurking in the shadows..."
Seol A-hyeon was the guild master of the Black Dragon Guild, ranked third among Korea's guilds, and one of the top five superhumans in the entire country.
If she and Ahn Su-ho had some kind of relationship, it meant reevaluating his importance.
"...This is interesting."
Han Yeoreum smiled with genuine delight at the appearance of someone who had piqued her interest after so long.
In truth, her life lately had been tediously predictable. Winning her mandatory defense matches in the rankings was a given, and topping exams was par for the course. Even her internship at Asteroid Guild offered no real thrill.
Then came the dual dungeon crisis. And amid that, the over-rank dungeon outbreak. Topping it off was the sudden emergence of this 'eccentric' named Ahn Su-ho, drawing a pleased smile from her.
"Mi-jeong."
"Yes, Miss."
"I've found something I want."
"Just say the word, and no matter what it is, I'll bring it to you."
"Even if it's a person?"
"If that's what you command."
"Good. Then it's settled."
Han Yeoreum released her chin and picked up her smartphone. The screen showed the most recent call: Ahn Su-ho's number.
"Ahn Su-ho. I want to make that man mine."
Han Yeoreum despised wasting her time and resources on anything trivial.
Yet when something captured her interest, she was the type to pursue it relentlessly, no matter the means.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, at that very moment.
A woman whose mind was filled with Ahn Su-ho in a different sense groaned face-down on her desk in her office.
"......"
The female secretary with neatly parted bangs and lightly waved bob hair, Yekaterina Alexandrovna Ivanova, let out a worried sigh as she watched her boss, Seol A-hyeon, act like a teenage girl confessing to her crush.
'The Guild Master isn't usually like this...'
Her boss, Seol A-hyeon—what kind of person was she?
She was the epitome of perfection: unmatched in martial prowess, intellect, management, politics, reputation, and charisma. Without a single flaw, she was a superhuman, sage, and ironclad leader. Captivated by those qualities, Yekaterina had become her secretary.
But seeing her boss fidget like a puppy that ate something bad was utterly alienating for the secretary.
'Haaah...'
Meanwhile, oblivious to Yekaterina's concern, Seol A-hyeon's mind was entirely consumed by Ahn Su-ho.
'How, how could I do something so shameless with that man...'
Seol A-hyeon was swamped. She hadn't even sorted the agenda from the recent meeting, and her raid plans needed major review and revisions. Her duties extended far beyond just conquering the Knight's Graveyard. The unexpectedly long meeting had piled approval documents mountain-high on her desk.
'B-but if my future self does that with him, does that mean we're... l-lovers...?'
Yet her head was full only of Ahn Su-ho. Work was impossible.
'Why? I don't even know him! Is the raid the catalyst for us getting close? If so, at this rate, I'll end up just like that future I saw...!'
Muttering incoherently, groaning, suddenly burying her face in shame. Then abruptly tousling her hair in frustration and banging the innocent desk. Such was Seol A-hyeon.
"G-Guild Master?"
Yekaterina was going mad with worry. This was the first time she'd seen Seol A-hyeon so emotionally rattled since starting to serve her.
"What's wrong since earlier? Did something happen in the meeting...?"
"...No. Nothing happened."
And truly, nothing had happened in the meeting. The problem was what occurred before.
'Right. It's nothing.'
Seol A-hyeon tried to pull herself together. Even if she and Ahn Su-ho did 'those shameless things' in the future, the glimpsed future wasn't absolute. She could change it if she wanted.
'But seeing that future means there's potential for us to get tangled like that, right? How do I end up doing that with him? Are we even supposed to become... l-lovers?'
What she'd seen was just a fragmented scene. Jumping to conclusions about their future relationship from that alone seemed hasty.
She racked her brain over how she reached that future, but found no answers.
It was natural. As a superhuman, she was flawless, but as a woman, far from it. Bluntly, she was a total romantic novice, a virgin in love. Before regression, no time for dating; after, focused solely on protecting comrades and growing the guild. She'd never even encountered the concept of romance.
For such a Seol A-hyeon, inferring a full love story from one scene was impossible.
'Wait, maybe Kacha knows something?'
Then came her savior: her secretary Yekaterina—nicknamed Kacha—looking down at her worriedly.
'Right. Kacha has more dating experience than me. She might give some advice...?'
But the issue was how to ask. Bluntly admitting she'd seen a future of debauchery to her secretary? Seol A-hyeon was surprisingly shy.
"Um, Kacha. Can I ask you something?"
After much deliberation, she settled on the least embarrassing phrasing.
"Of course. Go ahead."
"I-it's nothing big. Just about relationships between men and women..."
"I knew it."
"Huh?"
Seol A-hyeon tilted her head at Yekaterina nodding knowingly before she'd even started.
"Your face has been flushed like a girl in love, so I figured one of the meeting attendees caught your eye. Who is it? Sung Yoo-jin? Shin Jae-ho? Ha Ui-chan? Not Oh Ji-hoon, surely—the age gap with him is nearly thirty—"
"No! It's not that! This brat has no filter with her boss!?"
"No need to be shy. It's perfectly natural."
"I said it's not! It's just curiosity! Curiosity!"
"Yes, curiosity. Then please, share. I, Yekaterina, will answer your curiosity with utmost sincerity."
Seol A-hyeon chewed her lip at the teasing tone. Yekaterina was usually deferential, but her girlish display had sparked some playfulness—closer to her true self, actually.
Normally, Seol A-hyeon wouldn't tolerate such insolence, but with her mind full of Ahn Su-ho, she let it slide.
"R-really? It's purely curiosity."
As Yekaterina had unconsciously noticed, the current Seol A-hyeon wasn't the flawless superhuman, but a girl bewildered by unfamiliar emotions.
"When a man and woman date? And their relationship deepens, they trust each other and sh-share love? Between students, maybe not, but for adults, it's totally n-natural, right??"
"Yes, perfectly natural. And?"
"B-but during that... sharing love. What if the woman calls the man 'T-teacher' or something?"
"...Pardon?"
"Or the man ties the woman up and te-teases her with a r-ruler? Anyway. That's kinda... normal... ish? Not that weird... right?"
"......"
Seol A-hyeon's face burned like a ripe tomato after asking. Mortifying, but it was her top burning question.
The shameless act she'd do with Ahn Su-ho in the future—was it at least somewhat normal?
As an S-rank superhuman, one of Korea's top five, she wondered because of her immense power.
No one could force her into 'that'. So it must be consensual.
Agreeing to it implied she might harbor such tastes unbeknownst to herself.
Curious, worried, scared, anxious, she hid her flushed face while awaiting Yekaterina's reply.
"............Hah."
Yekaterina stared silently at her boss before letting out a flustered exclamation.
"...I never imagined the Guild Master had... those tastes."
Seol A-hyeon's expression froze like ice. That single phrase confirmed her described acts were abnormal, perverse fetishes.
'Oh no.'
Too late for regrets. She should've previewed the answer with her ability first. Panic made her forget.
Spilled water couldn't be gathered; time to salvage what she could.
"Ahahaha. It is a bit weird, huh? I thought so too—"
"Not weird per se. Sexual preferences are private. As long as it's not criminal, they deserve respect. It's just... shocking to learn your tastes run that way after three years."
"No, it's not mine! I said it's just c-c-curosity!"
"Guild Master."
Yekaterina gently took both her hands, head bowed prayer-like, platinum hair cascading like a curtain.
Like a nun's veil, Seol A-hyeon thought fleetingly.
Then, with a benevolent smile, Yekaterina said,
"No need to be ashamed. As I said, tastes deserve respect."
"...What?"
"Very well. As your secretary, Yekaterina vows to aid you in anything. Curiosity, you say? One moment. I'll research image play and BDSM materials right now and compile a report—"
"St-stop! Enough! I said forget it! Don't tell me anything—just erase what I said!"
"How could I wipe it from my mind—"
"Forget it!!!! Get out!! I'm going to work now, so get out! I'll call if I need you!"
"Call anytime."
Yekaterina left, leaving Seol A-hyeon fuming with teary eyes. A subtle, pleased smile played on her lips.
Seol A-hyeon was usually an emotionless paragon.
But this side of her wasn't bad.
Yekaterina thought so.