Chapter 153: Reality (29)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 153: Reality (29)
I moved cautiously, avoiding the maids who walked the halls.
I was looking for the maid I’d seen in the living room earlier. Expanding my senses, I traced the faint trail of Aether I had memorized from her.
There she is.
Following the energy led me to where she was preparing tea and refreshments.
I glanced around for a moment, wondering how I could draw her attention.
Then, a display cabinet against one wall caught my eye.
That should do it.
I scanned my surroundings one more time. After confirming no one was around, I gathered energy in my finger.
A bean-sized ball of energy formed at my fingertip. I took quick aim and fired it with a slight flick.
-Crash!
The display cabinet shattered, and the teacups inside came crashing down.
"Oh my!"
Startled, the maid put down what she was holding and approached the broken cabinet.
"Why did this suddenly… break?"
She wore a bewildered expression as she carefully examined the broken glass shards.
I didn't miss my chance.
I quietly moved toward the teacups she had just been preparing and reached out.
Into Im Hye-rin’s cup, I dropped the contents of a small glass vial—semen mixed with a musk pill.
The mixture blended with the original aroma of the tea, subtly changing it. Just then, I sensed a presence from afar. It seemed the sound of shattering glass was drawing someone over.
Someone’s coming.
Without hesitation, I quietly slipped away and moved silently down the corridor.
When I returned to the living room, Im Hwa-yeon was sitting on the sofa, looking at me.
I maintained a nonchalant expression and sat down beside her naturally.
Im Hwa-yeon raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What took you so long?"
At her question, I gave a short laugh and replied.
"I got a little lost."
I kept my answer short and simple, feigning indifference.
Just then, the sound of soft footsteps broke the silence.
The living room door opened, and the maid entered with the tea.
She set the tray down and stepped back. Im Hye-rin picked up her teacup and brought it to her lips.
My gaze naturally focused on her.
Without any suspicion, she brought the cup to her mouth. The moment her red lips touched the porcelain…
I silently held my breath.
Now, just drink it.
Her lips brushed the rim of the cup, and just as the hot tea was about to flow down her throat, she stopped.
She brought the cup to her nose and furrowed her brow slightly.
"That’s strange."
"Hm? What’s strange, Mom?"
Im Hye-rin looked down at her teacup.
"The tea smells a little different."
"It’s probably just you."
As I listened to Im Hwa-yeon’s comment from the side, a cold sweat trickled down my back.
Don’t tell me… she noticed?
"Hmm… Ye-ji, did you happen to change the tea?"
The maid standing behind her answered respectfully.
"No, Mistress. I prepared the same tea you’ve been drinking since you were in the States."
"Is that so? Then why does it smell strange…?"
Im Hye-rin sniffed the tea once more.
Her red lips slowly touched the edge of the cup. The hot liquid wet her lips as it flowed into her mouth.
Finally…
Watching her, I smiled to myself.
After drinking the tea, Im Hye-rin seemed lost in thought for a moment.
"I thought the scent was odd… but it tastes good."
Im Hye-rin lifted the cup and took another sip.
"The reason you called for me today is…?"
As I spoke up, Im Hye-rin raised her head.
"I need you to do a job with me."
"A job?"
"Yes, I’ve already spoken with the Association President."
I mulled over her words before replying quietly.
"I understand. But could you tell me the specifics of the job?"
As we continued to talk, Im Hye-rin’s face began to flush, little by little. She also started touching the nape of her neck more frequently.
The effects are starting to show.
"Hoo… We received an unofficial request from the British Royal Family. It was originally sent to the Korean Association, but… the Association declined due to other issues and passed the request on to us."
Even as she spoke, she kept touching her neck.
Just then, Im Hwa-yeon spoke up from beside her, a worried tone in her voice.
"Mom, what’s wrong all of a sudden?"
"Hm… I just feel a little hot…"
She stretched her neck as if uncomfortable and undid a button on her dress.
In that instant, her cleavage was faintly revealed.
She touched her neck again and took a deep breath.
"Mistress, shall I open a window for you?"
The maid, who had been watching from the side, approached cautiously, but Im Hye-rin waved her hand in refusal.
"No… I’m fine."
Im Hye-rin composed her breathing and spoke again.
"I’ll tell you the details… tomorrow, but…"
I continued to observe her complexion.
It was subtle, but I could clearly see her sniffing the air slightly, catching my scent.
At the same time, her gaze… very slowly… drifted down toward my groin.
I saw her throat bob as she swallowed.
"It’s going to be… more dangerous than you think."
She spoke in a low, breathy voice.
"I’m not forcing you… so you can refuse if you want."
Her fingertips lightly brushed against the table.
Then she slowly crossed her legs, her hand gently stroking her exposed thigh.
I watched the scene and let out a small smirk.
It’s starting to work.
"Mom, what about me? Am I going too?"
"Hwa-yeon, where do you think you’re going… with your Aether levels so low."
Im Hye-rin said softly, trying to catch her ragged breath. But Im Hwa-yeon pouted and protested vehemently.
"Not anymore! I have plenty of Aether left even after using my abilities! I want to go too!"
She clenched her hands tightly, pushing her point.
Im Hye-rin let out a deep sigh.
"Haa… Stop whining. This job isn’t something to be taken lightly."
"How long are you going to treat me like a child? I can be helpful too!"
Im Hwa-yeon clenched her fists and retorted fiercely.
Im Hye-rin sighed lightly, as if exhausted.
"Honestly… who did you get this stubbornness from?"
She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them, a smile playing on her lips.
"Alright. But you’ll have to take a test. If… you don’t pass, you’ll stay home quietly."
"Okay! But what kind of test?"
As she asked with eyes full of anticipation, the corners of Im Hye-rin’s mouth lifted.
"Mom’s going to test how much you’ve improved herself… so look forward to it."
"Ugh…"
I glanced to my side and saw her biting her lip slightly. A flicker of fear crossed her face.
Seeing this, Im Hye-rin smirked.
"Oh my, my dear daughter… you’re not scared, are you?"
Im Hwa-yeon’s shoulders flinched.
"N-No, I’m not!"
Reacting instantly, she clenched her fists and straightened her back.
"Fine… Since it’s come to this, I’ll show you just how strong I’ve become!"
"Then… shall we have the test right before we eat?"
While Im Hwa-yeon blinked nervously, Im Hye-rin naturally turned her gaze to me.
"And you too."
I smiled for a moment and asked back.
"Me too?"
Im Hye-rin’s lips curled into a leisurely smile as she added.
"That old man from the Association told me you took down an S-Class he gave you… I’ll have to see it for myself."
I met her gaze steadily for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"Understood."
At that, Im Hye-rin rose from her seat and said.
"Then, let’s go to the training ground. Follow me."
She walked ahead first.
Im Hwa-yeon and I naturally followed behind her.
Just then—
"Honey! Hwa-yeon!"
A familiar voice called out.
Turning my head, I saw Jo Han-su approaching us.
He walked over cheerfully, his eyes alternating between the mother and daughter.
"Dad! Are you back from work?"
Im Hwa-yeon asked happily.
Jo Han-su gave a short laugh and nodded.
"Yes. But where are you all headed?"
At his question, Im Hwa-yeon shrugged and answered.
"Mom said she’s going to test our skills, so we’re on our way to the training ground."
Jo Han-su’s eyebrows rose slightly. He glanced at me, a subtle smile on his face.
"Is that so…?"
His gaze fixed on me, sharp and piercing. There was an ominous air about him.
"Honey, would it be alright if I tested this young man?"
I narrowed my eyes, looking at Jo Han-su.
Im Hye-rin smiled as if intrigued.
"Hmm… Well, go ahead."
Jo Han-su gave me a meaningful smile and joined our group.
We continued on our way to the training ground.
An imposing stone structure stood before a massive building.
Is this… the training ground?
I muttered to myself as I stared at the heavy doors.
-Thud.
Im Hye-rin pushed the doors open.
As we stepped inside, a vast space with a high ceiling came into view.
The floor was covered in peculiar patterns and grid-like panels, and the walls were lined with various weapons and training equipment.
I could tell at a glance that this was no simple training area, but a place designed for actual combat.
Im Hye-rin smiled lightly and walked further inside.
"Hwa-yeon, if you’re ready, come at me."
She turned back, her gaze fixed on her daughter.
Im Hwa-yeon flinched for a moment but soon grit her teeth and lifted her head.
"Alright! I’ll show you what I’ve got!"
The air in the training ground instantly grew heavy.
The mother and daughter faced each other, taking their stances.
Im Hye-rin maintained a relaxed and composed demeanor, but in contrast, Im Hwa-yeon was visibly tense.
-Crackle.
The sound of crackling flames filled the training ground.
The first to move was Im Hwa-yeon.
"Haaah!"
Flames erupted from her fingertips.
The intense blaze swept forward, instantly heating the air in the training ground.
A fierce torrent of fire shot toward Im Hye-rin.
But Im Hye-rin merely smiled, not bothering to dodge.
Instead, her fingertips slowly rose.
"…Hmph."
In that instant, the space around her seemed to distort.
The flames created by Im Hwa-yeon abruptly lost their form in mid-air and dissipated as if they were being crushed.
"Don’t tell me this is all you’ve got."
Im Hye-rin looked at her daughter with a cold expression. There wasn't the slightest waver in her eyes.
Realizing her flames had had no effect, Im Hwa-yeon’s hands clenched into fists.
She grit her teeth and summoned her flames once more.
"Inferno Burst!"
As she shouted—
-FWOOOOSH!!!
With a tremendous wave of heat, the flames raged once again.
This time, unlike before, the flames were far more refined and controlled.
However, Im Hye-rin still stood unmoving with a smile on her face.
Instead, with a light flick of her fingers, a curtain of fire spread out around her.
The moment Im Hwa-yeon’s intense flames collided with it, they began to weaken and die down, as if they had lost their fuel.
Im Hye-rin let out a light sigh and shook her head in disappointment.
"My dear daughter, you haven’t improved at all, have you?"
At her cold words, Im Hwa-yeon’s expression twisted.