Chapter 552: Eternal Spire[R-18] (71)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 552: Eternal Spire[R-18] (71)
“Hey, hey, you two alright?”
“Ah, yes! Thank you so much for your help!”
The man bowed deeply in gratitude. The pink-haired woman behind him stepped forward cautiously and spoke in a gentle voice.
“Thank you… truly… for helping us…”
Up close, a faint, sweet fragrance wafted from her. Her long eyelashes trembled, and she seemed slightly intimidated by my appearance.
I grinned and spoke.
“But when someone helps you out, shouldn't there be a price?”
“…What?”
“Ah…”
In an instant, both of their faces stiffened. The pink-haired woman’s eyes, in particular, turned cold, as if to say, ‘I knew it.’ She glared at me with disgust.
The man also tensed up, stepping forward to shield the woman.
“Um… if you’re talking about compensation… can we pay you with money?”
“Hey, are you kidding me? You think I helped you just to get my hands on a few bucks like that?!”
As I snapped at them, the two flinched in fear. The man, who was a good twenty centimeters shorter than me, was completely overwhelmed. He trembled but still clenched his fists.
One step, two steps. With each step I took, his shoulders shook.
And when I was right in front of him, the man gritted his teeth, squeezed his eyes shut, and let out a yell.
“Hyaaah!”
At the same moment, I extended my hand and said, “How about a handsha—”
Thwack!
The man’s fist connected squarely with my face.
“……?!”
Whether they heard what I said or not, the man and woman’s faces both went deathly pale.
“I’m so… s-sorry!”
“You idiot! Why would you suddenly throw a punch?! Are you okay?!”
I stroked my cheek and let out a chuckle.
“Hey, hey~ That was a better punch than I expected.”
“I’m really… really sorry!”
The pink-haired woman rushed over, her face full of concern as she examined mine.
‘Ooh… she’s a real treasure, isn’t she?’
I smiled inwardly with satisfaction and waved my hand nonchalantly.
“It’s fine. But shouldn’t we introduce ourselves? I’m Geum Tae-yang.”
“Ah… I’m Park Min-jun.”
The gentle-looking man spoke first.
“And this is… Ryu Seol.”
“Ryu Seol…”
I murmured her name, my eyes scanning the pink-haired woman from head to toe.
“Ah… hello.”
Ryu Seol bowed her head, her voice trembling.
I chuckled and continued the conversation.
“By the way, you two look like you’re from F-Group. You’re still here? Haven’t been kicked out yet?”
“Ah… well…”
Park Min-jun hesitated at my question, flustered. From his awkward demeanor, I could tell he was hiding something.
“W-we don’t have anything to do even if we leave…”
Just then, Ryu Seol stammered out an excuse.
‘There’s definitely something going on.’
I deliberately changed the subject, holding out my hand.
“More importantly, I don’t think I’ve received my reward yet.”
Park Min-jun stared at my hand with an embarrassed look before finally taking it.
“Thank you so much for your help. And… I sincerely apologize again for misunderstanding and resorting to violence.”
I squeezed his hand firmly and grinned.
“Hey, hey, something like that is fine. If anything, maybe I should be the one apologizing?”
“N-no! Please don’t say that!”
Outwardly, I laughed it off casually, but my inner thoughts were completely different.
‘I’m going to devour that pink-haired bitch.’
After shaking Park Min-jun’s hand, I turned my head slightly and offered my hand to the pink-haired woman, Ryu Seol.
She hesitated for a moment. But in the end, she cautiously placed her small hand in mine.
The moment she did—
Zzt!
“Ugh…!”
With a short gasp, Ryu Seol quickly pulled her hand back. A startled Park Min-jun grabbed her, and I slowly raised the corners of my mouth as I watched her.
‘Found you.’
My heart began to pound.
“Seol, are you okay?” Park Min-jun asked urgently.
Ryu Seol gave a small nod.
“Yeah… I’m fine. I’m sorry. My hand just… suddenly tingled…”
I deliberately shrugged, feigning indifference with a smile.
“It’s nothing. By the way… you said your name was Ryu Seol, right?”
“Yes…” Ryu Seol answered in a small voice.
I casually took a step closer to her. She flinched in surprise and took a step back, but I didn’t miss that brief opening and leaned in.
We were so close our noses were almost touching. Her cheeks flushed red, and her gaze wandered, avoiding my eyes.
I whispered softly into her ear.
“…You’re the Purple Star, aren’t you?”
In an instant, her pupils dilated.
“H-how did you…”
“So I was right.”
Beside us, Park Min-jun, who couldn’t understand the situation, just stared blankly back and forth between us.
I deliberately smiled playfully and said, “Ah, is it a secret?”
“Yes…”
“Even from your friend?”
I gestured toward Park Min-jun with my chin. Ryu Seol thought for a moment, then gave a small nod.
“Then I guess I’ll have to keep it a secret, too.”
As I pretended to back away, she was the one who urgently moved closer.
“W-wait a minute… How did you know?”
She still had no idea that I was the Heavenly Star of Calamity.
“What? You couldn’t feel it? I’m the same as you.”
“…The same? Don’t tell me…”
“I’m just like you.”
At that moment, Ryu Seol’s eyes widened.
“Are you also…?”
“That’s right.”
Sensing the strange atmosphere between us, Park Min-jun hastily cut in.
“Hey… what on earth are you two talking about?”
Ryu Seol waved her hands in panic.
“Min-jun, don’t misunderstand. It’s… it’s nothing.”
Playing along with her, I nonchalantly added, “Yeah, it’s nothing. Just sharing a little secret.”
“A… a secret?”
At that one word, a subtle grimace crossed Park Min-jun’s face. I could tell just by his expression. It was obvious he had a crush on Ryu Seol.
I raised the corners of my lips and leaned slightly toward her.
“Well then, how about we talk about our secret later, just the two of us?”
“Ah… yes. Thank you so much for your help today.”
She hesitated for a moment before nodding. Beside her, Park Min-jun stood with an unconcealed look of discomfort.
I grinned, waved, and left with a cheerful spring in my step.
I headed straight for the very back of the training camp, to where Austin was. It was an area only authorized personnel could enter. Naturally, ordinary participants couldn’t even get close.
The Holy Cross Knights members standing at the entrance scowled when they saw me.
“……”
I waved my hands with an exaggerated gesture.
“Hey, hey~ Seniors, if you keep frowning like that, you’ll get more wrinkles.~”
“Shut up and get in.”
Despite the guild member’s irritated voice, ground out through gritted teeth, I whistled nonchalantly and walked on.
Before long, I reached the end of the path. A heavy, double-layered steel door. Austin was inside.
I tapped the door with my knuckles.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
I turned the handle and entered. The office was cozier than I expected. Neatly organized stacks of documents were piled on a large desk, and beyond them, Austin was writing something with a pen.
His gaze soon pierced right through me.
“Are you here because of a woman again today?”
I shrugged and grinned.
“Hey, hey~ Guild Leader, how do you always know so well?”
Austin put his pen down for a moment and stared directly into my eyes.
“Because whenever you come to see me, a woman is involved.”
“Kuh~! You know me too well, don’t you? Just as expected from the number one member of my fan club.”
“Enough with the jokes. What business brings you here today?”
I deliberately shook my head, the corners of my mouth lifting.
“I’m here to ask for a favor.”
“A favor… Let’s hear it.”
I sat down on a chair, crossed my legs, and smiled.
“Hehe, I’d like you to assign two people from F-Group to my team.”
“F-Group… Are there still people left from there?”
Austin’s brow furrowed.
“Hey, hey~ It’s a problem if the guild leader in charge of this place doesn’t even know that, isn’t it?”
“I’m not idle enough to concern myself with such insects,” Austin replied dismissively.
“So, who are the individuals you want?”
“A man named Park Min-jun, and a woman named Ryu Seol. I want them assigned to my party for the remainder of the training period.”
“Understood. I’ll take care of that immediately.”
He slowly opened a drawer, took out a single document, and placed it on the desk. It was a document with the word ‘Contract’ written at the top.
“More importantly… I’d like to make things official this time.”
I grinned and tilted my head.
“Hey, hey, I already said I’d join the Holy Cross Knights when the training period is over~ You don’t trust me?”
A subtle smile played on Austin’s lips as his sharp eyes glinted.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you. The problem is… the other guilds. They won’t leave a talent like you alone. So let’s make it official on this occasion.”
His fingertips tapped the contract.
“As you know, I can provide you with any pleasure you desire. Be it women, or power.”
Austin smiled.
“So give me your word. If you sign this contract—the Holy Cross Knights will guarantee you everything.”
I looked down at the contract Austin offered. Of course, this was no ordinary piece of paper. It was a special contract directly linked to the system.
The moment a name was written on it, its effect was absolute. It couldn’t be broken or rescinded.
‘But… it’s not truly absolute.’
In the original story, there was only one person who had broken this contract.
‘Loki’s Lie. With that, a contract like this is just a worthless piece of paper, a mere decoration.’
And I already knew how to get that item.
‘KILO. It’s certain that guy is Loki. The problem is, you can only get Loki’s Lie by making a bet with him.’
Making a bet with that guy was unsettling, but—
‘Well, this is all just a game in the end.’
I picked up the contract and grinned.
“Hey, hey~ Guild Leader. If I sign this, you’ll grant me anything I want, right?”
Austin nodded calmly.
“Of course.”
“Then you’ll have to show me some proof first.”
“What is it you want?”
I bared my teeth in a smile.
“Yoon Jae-ho. I want to torment that guy. What do you say? Can you do it?”
“Not killing him, but tormenting him… Hah, that’s very easy.”
“Good, then let’s add that part to the contract.”
“Understood.”
As I watched Austin amend the text, I added, “Oh, and one more thing. I want to be able to use the Holy Cross Knights’ equipment and funds whenever I want.”
“Very well. I will add that as well. However, I will place restrictions on that request. Is that acceptable?”
I glanced down at the contract and smirked.
“Well, I can concede that much.”
Austin then straightened the document and slowly extended his hand.
“Then… we have a deal.”
I looked at his hand, then chuckled and shook it.
“Hey, hey~ Guild Leader. This is the first time I’ve seen you look so happy. Don’t tell me you’re secretly imagining how you’re going to cook me up?”
“……”
The corners of Austin’s mouth lifted slightly, but he said nothing.
‘This bastard’s thoughts are obvious. He probably thinks he’s got a leash on me now.’
I glanced at the contract one more time and chuckled.
‘The Holy Cross Knights… I wonder just how much wealth these bastards have piled up?’