Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Sister and the Queen (3)
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“Miss Isabella…?”
Oh-jin’s gaze wavered.
‘What the?’
Why was Isabella here?
‘She should be busy trying to fill the void left by the Marco Family right now.’
On top of that, she was running dozens of centers to maintain her public facade as a saint.
There was no way she had time to come see him.
“How did you get here….”
“Hehe. I missed you so much, Oh-jin, that I just had to come.”
“……”
No way.
‘Did she just drop everything and come here?’
A cold sweat trickled down Oh-jin’s spine.
“Hm? Do you two know each other?”
Han Tae-ho looked back and forth between Oh-jin and Isabella, surprised.
Isabella beamed.
“When I was dealing with a series of assassination attempts, Oh-jin protected me.”
“Ah, I heard about that on the news. So that’s what happened…”
Han Tae-ho clicked his tongue.
“Trying to assassinate the Saint of Rome. That country has its share of scoundrels.”
The Saint of Rome’s warm acts of kindness were famous even overseas.
A saint who had saved thousands, tens of thousands of lives.
To attempt to assassinate such a person—they were truly unforgivable villains.
“By the way, how did you know to go to Italy, Oh-jin?”
“I didn’t. I was there investigating something else and happened to find her being chased by assassins.”
“Hah. What a remarkable coincidence.”
“No.”
Isabella shook her head.
With a gentle smile, she looked at Oh-jin and swept a hand over her chest.
“I believe my meeting with Oh-jin wasn’t a coincidence… but fate.”
Her cheeks flushed as red as an apple.
With her hands politely clasped, she sent him a fervent gaze, like a young girl in love.
“Uh, um.”
Han Tae-ho, not expecting such a reaction, wore a troubled expression.
But it was only for a moment.
“Haha! To receive such ardent attention from the young lady of the Colagrande family. You’re quite the talented man.”
He burst into hearty laughter and patted Oh-jin on the shoulder.
“……”
Unlike the cheerfully smiling Han Tae-ho, Oh-jin’s expression was grim.
‘The Saint of Rome.’
A warm-hearted woman who gave shelter to the homeless and food to the hungry.
A figure renowned not only for her beautiful appearance and kind nature but also as an exceptionally skilled Awakened.
‘I don’t know how she’s managing to imitate an Aries Awakened.’
The world often compared her to Oh-jin, calling her a super rookie who had become a 6-Star Aries Awakened in just one year.
‘But.’
Oh-jin’s eyes narrowed.
“Oh-jin?”
Her eyes were innocent.
The gentle smile on her lips and the soft, spring-breeze-like atmosphere.
She was a woman whose mere presence could make one smile.
‘It’s all a lie.’
Oh-jin knew her true identity.
Only he.
Knew.
‘The Leech Queen.’
The third-ranked Executor of the Black Star Organization and a monster who had torn a 9-Star Awakened to shreds with a single gesture.
A witch who thirsted for blood.
That was Isabella’s true identity.
‘I can’t let her find out.’
That I know.
That I’ve glimpsed the face behind the mask of a saint.
I have to hide it, no matter what.
“Ah… my apologies. I just never imagined you would come to Korea, Miss Isabella.”
“Was I being a bother?”
“No, not at all.”
He shook his head and smiled brightly.
“It’s an honor to see you again, Miss Isabella.”
“An honor… Please don’t say that.”
Isabella stepped forward and took his hand.
“You said it back then, didn’t you? You asked me to stay with you.”
“That was.”
Well, no.
He had certainly said something like that.
‘Damn it, if I’d known this would happen, I never would have said that.’
A muscle in Oh-jin’s eye twitched.
“Huhu. I haven’t forgotten those words for a single moment since that day, you know?”
“……”
This is driving me crazy.
“But you’ve been so cruel, Oh-jin.”
Isabella pouted her lips cutely.
“I gave you my contact information, but you didn’t send a single text or call…”
Stung.
Oh-jin forced an awkward smile and avoided her gaze.
“I apologize. A lot has happened since then.”
It was a poor excuse.
But it was true that many things had happened since he returned to Korea.
“Hoho. I heard from the Association President. He said you accomplished something great.”
Isabella smiled brightly and pressed closer.
“You were busy saving people, weren't you? Just like you saved me.”
Her eyes sparkled.
“…I’m not the one who saved you, Miss Isabella.”
“Oh, don’t say that.”
Isabella shook her head, clasping Oh-jin’s hand with both of hers.
“You’re my savior, Oh-jin.”
“……”
“By the way, was it the Black Star Organization? They’re truly… horrible people.”
She wrinkled her nose in disgust, as if the name itself was too vile to speak.
For Oh-jin, who knew her true identity, her reaction was chilling.
“Yes. I never thought such a terrible organization existed in Korea.”
But he couldn’t let on that he knew.
He continued the conversation naturally, letting out a deep sigh.
“…Actually, there have been rumors recently that an organization called the Black Star Organization is active in Italy as well.”
Isabella’s expression darkened.
“The Colagrande family is also tracking them, but we haven’t been able to catch even a glimpse of their tail.”
Of course they couldn’t.
The ones doing the tracking were the owners of that very tail.
“I see.”
“Anyway! I’m so glad you’re safe, Oh-jin!”
Isabella, her smile like a blooming flower, tried to pull his captured hand toward her ample chest.
Just then.
“—Oh-jin?”
Smack!
Viciously slapping Isabella’s hand away, Ha-eun pushed her way between them.
“And who the hell is this?”
“…And you are?”
Isabella’s and Ha-eun’s eyes met.
*Crackle!*
Even though the Lyra Stigma wasn’t being used, he could have sworn he saw blue sparks fly through the air.
‘This is insane.’
A chill ran down Oh-jin’s spine.
He looked at Ha-eun with an anxious gaze.
‘No, Ha-eun!! That woman is not in her right mind!’
He felt like screaming.
Recalling the sight of Isabella brutally tearing apart hundreds of Awakened from the Marco Family, he urgently grabbed Ha-eun’s arm.
“Ha-eun. This is Miss Isabella, the one I told you about.”
“…For someone I’ve only heard about, you two seem pretty close.”
Ha-eun’s eyes narrowed as she scanned Isabella from head to toe.
“Hmm. If you’re his sister, are you Oh-jin’s biological sister?”
“Hell no. Can’t you tell by my hair color?”
She provocatively flicked her reddish-brown hair in front of Isabella’s face.
“…Oh my. If you’re not his biological sister.”
For a fleeting moment, a terrifying, blood-red glint appeared in Isabella’s eyes.
“Don’t tell me you’re Oh-jin’s lover… or something like that?”
“Well, you could say we’re something similar.”
Ha-eun puffed out her chest and lifted her chin proudly.
“Ha-eun!”
Oh-jin urgently pulled Ha-eun back again.
Normally, he wouldn’t have cared if someone thought he and Ha-eun were a couple.
‘Not now…!’
Isabella was showing an unnervingly strong obsession with him.
If he introduced Ha-eun as his lover, there was no telling what impulsive thing she might do.
“Wh-What?”
“Ha-eun and I grew up together in the same orphanage.”
“Ah! So you’re like childhood friends?”
Isabella clapped her hands and smiled brightly.
“……We’re not like that.”
Ha-eun pouted, clearly displeased.
But seeing Oh-jin’s unusual reaction, she seemed to catch on and didn’t say anything more.
‘Phew.’
Oh-jin clutched his chest in relief and nodded.
“Well, something like that.”
“Huhu. I didn’t have many friends when I was young, so I’m envious of you two.”
Isabella smiled warmly, looking back and forth between Ha-eun and Oh-jin as if she were genuinely jealous.
“Ahem.”
Han Tae-ho, who had been standing a step back without joining the conversation, let out a short cough.
“In any case, it’s all the better that you know Miss Isabella. Oh-jin, could you give her a brief tour of Seoul? The Association will provide anything you need.”
Han Tae-ho’s eyes shone with anticipation as he looked at Oh-jin.
The Colagrande family was a renowned noble family in Italy—no, they were one of the most powerful and influential families in all of Europe.
If the Thunder Wolf developed a close relationship with the young lady of the Colagrande family, the Association couldn’t ask for anything more.
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
It wasn’t like she would leave even if he tried to send her away.
‘And I have something to confirm.’
He needed to check if the only reason she came to Korea was really to see him.
“Then I’ll leave Miss Isabella in your care.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Association President.”
Isabella bowed politely to Han Tae-ho, then trotted over to Oh-jin.
Oh-jin left the Association building with Isabella and Ha-eun.
“Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”
“Hmm… There is one place.”
Isabella’s eyes sparkled as she continued.
“I’d like to see your home, Oh-jin.”
“…Excuse me?”
My home?
“Huhu. I want to see how the person who saved my life lives.”
“Umm.”
Oh-jin scratched his head with a troubled look.
He never thought the place she’d want to go was his own home.
“Hmph. What’s with the house? If you’re from overseas, shouldn’t we just dump you in Myeong-dong or at Namsan Tower?”
Ha-eun narrowed her eyes, glaring fiercely at Isabella.
“Hic!”
Isabella flinched and hid behind Oh-jin to avoid Ha-eun.
*Peek.*
She peered out from behind his shoulder and spoke in a cautious voice.
“D-Did I do something wrong…?”
“Huh?”
“It seems like you’ve been an-angry with me since earlier.”
“Th-That’s.”
Ha-eun was flustered.
Isabella’s eyes welled up with tears as she cried out.
“If I did something wrong, please tell me!”
“N-No. I mean, it’s just.”
“If I was rude without realizing it, I’ll apologize!”
*Bow.*
Isabella bowed deeply.
“Arghhh!”
Ha-eun tore at her hair in frustration.
If Isabella had picked a fight, that would have been one thing, but this submissive attitude left her speechless.
“…Sheesh.”
After glaring at Isabella one more time, Ha-eun let out a deep sigh and turned away.
“Fine, let’s go.”
“…Pardon?”
“You said you wanted to go to Oh-jin’s house, right? Let’s go!”
“Ah! Really?”
A radiant smile spread across Isabella’s face.
The tears that had welled in her eyes vanished without a trace, as if they had never been there.
‘She’s a sly one.’
Oh-jin clicked his tongue as he watched Isabella wrap Ha-eun around her finger.
‘She’s definitely a woman I can’t let my guard down around.’
With that thought, he headed home.
*Thump. Rattle!*
Loud construction noises echoed from the front of his building, where work was still underway.
“Oh! I almost forgot!”
Isabella clapped her hands as if she had just remembered something.
“A gift! I brought a gift for you, Oh-jin!”
A gift?
“What kind of gift?”
“Hehe. I wanted to repay you for saving me, so I got something nice.”
Oh-jin tilted his head, looking at Isabella.
For someone who claimed to have brought a gift, her hands were completely empty.
‘It’s not some classic cliché like, ‘The gift is me,’ right?’
He briefly imagined Isabella wrapped in a red ribbon, smiling seductively, but quickly shook his head.
This wasn’t some outdated rom-com manga; there was no way something so ridiculous would happen.
“I really hope you like it, Oh-jin.”
“But where is this gift?”
“Hm? It’s right in front of you. Over there.”
“Pardon?”
What is she talking about?
Oh-jin frowned and looked around.
Her hands were empty.
She didn’t seem to have a bag or any luggage.
All that was in front of them was—
“…Wait.”
Oh-jin’s gaze fell upon the apartment building currently under construction.
A luxury high-rise apartment with an exterior so glamorous it could be mistaken for a five-star hotel.
“Ehehe.”
Isabella squirmed shyly, fiddling with her fingers.
“I did some research on what Korean men like, and apparently, they like houses the most! Like how they save up their whole lives just to buy one.”
Well, that.
She wasn’t wrong, but.
“So, I prepared a suitable house as a gift!”
“……”
That luxury high-rise apartment was a ‘suitable’ house?
“…Ex-Exactly how big of a place did you get?”
“Pardon? How big?”
“……?”
What?
Do they use a different measurement system overseas?
“I bought the entire apartment building.”
“Excuse me?”
What the fuck?
“Y-You’re saying you bought that entire apartment building?!”
Not just a unit.
She bought the entire building?
And she was giving it to him as a gift?
“Yes. Hehe. It wasn’t that expensive.”
That was absurd.
A single 30-pyeong apartment in the heart of Seoul cost well over 1.5 billion won. He couldn’t even begin to imagine the astronomical sum it would cost to buy an entire building.
‘This is insane.’
So this was the wealth of the Colagrande family, one of the most influential families in all of Europe.
*Gulp.*
Oh-jin swallowed hard, his gaze fixed intensely on Isabella.
An unbearable impulse pushed him forward.
“Um… Miss Isabella.”
*Step.* He approached Isabella and gripped her hand tightly.
He moved his face so close their noses were almost touching.
“O-Oh-jin…?”
*Blush.*
Isabella’s cheeks turned red.
“If it’s not too much trouble, could you buy me an ice cream?”
“……Pardon?”