Things Money Can’t Buy (1)
A little more time had passed since the day I spoke with Cho Hyejin. I had begun moving in earnest, and I’d done my share of digging through the surroundings, but the one who had worked even harder than I had was Small Rock’s Song Jungwook.
The contract had progressed with astonishing speed and ease.
As if he had sworn loyalty to me, the bastard started promoting the potions I’d made to other guilds and clans, and before I’d even had a chance to hand him a contract myself, he was bringing me copies already stamped with his seal.
It looked like he was trying to use the excuse of frequent trips to the lord’s castle to build ties with the nobility—Lady Marlin and the others among them—but how he used his spare time was his own business.
I’d even introduced him to a few lesser nobles, practically tossing him a bone, so from his perspective, he was probably feeling pretty pleased with himself.
His transformation into something that looked like a faithful retainer was certainly bewildering.
Of course, the reason Song Jungwook kept coming to the lord’s castle wasn’t just that.
Lady Marlin.
He was moving around like a man with a fire lit under his heels.
I’d long since figured out that he intended to use the young lady, but seeing him openly set his sights on her only made me want to laugh.
Go on, then. Try your best.
If Song Jungwook really did end up connected to Lady Marlin, there was a great deal to be gained from it.
He could become nobility, buy land, and enjoy a bit more freedom when it came to taxes.
Whether he truly loved her was none of my concern, but the closer he grew to Lady Marlin, the more likely it was that he’d be able to slip into the so-called camp of giant capital I’d mentioned before.
It wasn’t as though he was openly rebelling against me, so there was no need to say anything, but it was easy enough to tell that his intentions weren’t clean.
Song Jungwook wanted to stay close to me, but at the same time, he didn’t want Small Rock to come under Blue Guild’s influence too heavily.
Outwardly, he wore a mask of loyalty to me; inwardly, he was scrabbling desperately to turn the situation around. It was the sort of man who had two different faces, like a leaf with one side green and the other rotten.
Pathetic bastard.
I had no intention of taking care of him forever, either.
All I had to do was keep him on a short leash and wait for the right moment to cut him loose.
Of course, before that happened, I had to squeeze out everything I could from him.
Needless to say, Song Jungwook wasn’t the only one who was busy.
Kim Hyunsung’s party, which kept heading out of the city, was the same. As for me, I’d come here on business, so I was going out every other day, but Hyunsung was busy raising Park Deokgu and Kim Yeri.
He’d probably also be the one to bring back evidence of the signs of a monster wave and persuade the people with it.
“Then I’ll be going out again today as well, Kiyoung.”
“Yes. Be careful out there, Hyunsung. Deokgu, you too.”
“Ah, don’t worry about that. We’re just taking a quick look around outside and gathering information, that’s all.”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about. Hwang Jeongyeon, you be careful as well….”
“Yes. Don’t worry.”
“And Yeri too.”
“Yes… hic.”
“Don’t cry. Come on, pull yourself together.”
Even without me lifting a finger, Hyunsung would take care of this matter himself, so it was one of those things I could leave in his hands with confidence.
Having comrades you could rely on was quite a pleasant thing.
Based on what would happen in the future, Kim Hyunsung would steadily gather information, and then he’d officially spread that information throughout Castle Rock.
Castle Rock, now in wartime footing, might end up repelling the monster wave and the named monster’s attack, unlike in the previous cycle, and our regressor might rise as the hero who saved the city.
I had no idea whether things would go according to plan, but making that happen was the sort of thing someone like me was supposed to do.
I was busy in my own way, too, but it was all manageable.
“Kiyoung, may I speak with you for a moment?”
“Yes, Hyunsung.”
“That… have there perhaps been some issues between you and Hyejin?”
“Pardon?”
“You seem to have been on poor terms lately….”
“Ah. There was only a minor conflict over work-related matters. It was something very small, so you needn’t concern yourself.”
“I see.”
“I think I understand what you’re worried about, Hyunsung, but the sort of thing you’re thinking of won’t happen.”
“Ah. Yes… I mean… I just thought the two of you should get along….”
“Yes. I’d like to get along with Hyejin as well, of course. Since she won’t be going on this expedition, I’m planning to approach her carefully on my own. Haha.”
“Ha ha. That’s a relief. Hearing you say that, I feel much better. Then I’ll be on my way.”
“Yes. Be careful today as well….”
“Yes.”
Looks like he’s worried.
Of course, I wasn’t exactly free of concern myself. Since the incident last time, Cho Hyejin had been a little cold toward me.
Still, the channel of communication hadn’t been cut off entirely.
The thing more frightening than a petty quarrel was a silent cold war.
The fact that we were still talking at all was, at least for now, a good sign.
I waved goodbye to the party as they headed out, and one by one they returned the gesture.
Time had gone by since our arrival in Castle Rock, and the shape of the things I needed to deal with was becoming clearer.
The first is stopping the disaster that will strike the city in the future.
That was, in fact, the biggest purpose of this expedition. It was also the objective of our lovely regressor, and the reason our party had come to Castle Rock in the first place.
As a bonus, we’d warn them of the danger and establish our guild’s foothold in Castle Rock.
For now, that was Hyunsung’s responsibility, so there was nothing for me to do on that front, but I still needed to prepare thoroughly for every possible situation.
The second is Small Rock’s Song Jungwook.
Whether I should keep him in play or cut him off at an appropriate point was something I needed to think about.
Honestly, the first thing I needed to figure out was how Cho Hyejin would act, but for now, the right move was to maintain the current situation and prepare the pieces I could use. And then…
The third is improving my relationship with Cho Hyejin.
I needed to build a bond of friendship between us. Unlike the first item, the second and third were things I had to handle personally, not through the party.
Considering that I’d be moving with Cho Hyejin from here on out as well, I thought I at least needed to be able to control her.
The keyword here was a trustworthy friend.
Of course, getting close to someone who already knew me fairly well was difficult, but it was by no means impossible. I already had a rough framework in mind.
In that sense, with the other party members out of the way, this was a chance.
I should make an effort to speak with her and get closer, even if only a little. Even if we didn’t become friends, it was important to make her owe me something—or at least create a reason for her to look at me again.
While Song Jungwook was busy working for me, I hadn’t exactly been sitting still myself.
Looking ahead, I spotted Cho Hyejin seeing the departing party off.
“Hyunsung seems to be worried about us.”
“…….”
“Specifically, he’s worried that you and I might have been growling at each other.”
“I don’t wish to have conversations that don’t concern official matters, Vice Guild Master.”
“This also falls under official conversation. Hyejin. Guild camaraderie is very important.”
“If you’re going to say something strange again….”
“No, nothing like that. There may be a slight misunderstanding between us, but wouldn’t it be better to clear that up in advance?”
Her reaction was a little chilly, but she’d been like this for some time now.
She probably had plenty on her mind. What I’d said before must have lodged itself deep in her heart.
“What I said about revenge was meant for your sake, Hyejin, but it was also a work-related matter. Regardless of personal grudges, if those people are still involved in illegal activity, then I have no choice but to do something about it.”
“…….”
“If you’re not busy, there’s somewhere I’d like you to accompany me. Ah, of course, if you refuse, I’ll go alone. It’s a fairly dangerous place, but I’ll somehow make it back alive. If I’m unlucky enough to get kidnapped, they’ll probably cut off an arm or a leg. Hyunsung will be very pleased.”
“You…”
“I’m not a bad person, Hyejin. This is all work. The other party members are all out there working hard, so shouldn’t we do our part too? Ahem. Will you come with me?”
“It doesn’t sound like you’re giving me much of a choice. I’ll go with you.”
“Thank you.”
It might be fair to call it luck that Hyunsung had assigned me to escort her.
It meant the range in which I could move with her had expanded.
“Ah. The clothes you’re wearing right now won’t do for where we’re going, so I’d appreciate it if you changed.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve already prepared something, so there’s no need to worry about anything else.”
“May I ask where we’re going?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. It wouldn’t be fun if I told you in advance. We’re leaving in an hour, so please get ready quickly.”
“You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you? You really are impossibly self-willed.”
“I do have rather good momentum. Thank you for the compliment.”
Her expression remained sour, but the fact that she was heading back inside suggested she would obediently follow my suggestion.
She was still frowning, but she was also, in her own way, a beauty. I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go on a date with her.
While she prepared, I got ready as well. I changed into the clothes I’d prepared in advance and finished by tidying my hair a little.
It wasn’t the sort of outfit I wore when partying at the royal castle, but seeing myself look a little more human made the corners of my mouth lift.
I waited for her in the lobby, and before long, a familiar face cautiously appeared from one side.
Her cheeks were quite red, so it looked like she liked the clothes I’d prepared.
“Do I really have to wear this?”
“Haven’t you already changed into it and come out? There’s no need to be embarrassed, Hyejin.”
“B-but… it shows too much….”
“You look beautiful, so there’s no need to worry.”
My prediction that blue would suit her had been right.
It felt as though telling the attendant at the lord’s castle to dress her up appropriately had paid off. Whether she wore makeup or not didn’t matter much, but her hair, neatly tied back, matched the dress beautifully.
She didn’t seem to have fully adjusted to the dress, with one leg and her back exposed quite boldly, but the overall impression was undeniably sexy.
I’d thought of her as someone far removed from allure…
But she was attractive in her own way.
“Are we going to some kind of party? If you need a partner, it doesn’t have to be me….”
“It’s not a simple party, so trust me and come along. The carriage is waiting outside, so let’s go.”
“Yes.”
“Ah, before that, I have a question.”
“Yes.”
“About Small Rock… have you perhaps seen them engaging in illegal monster trade or cross-species slave trade?”
“Yes. I saw people locked inside a carriage.”
“So you haven’t actually seen the transactions taking place.”
“…….”
“You learned about the tax issue and monster trade by looking through the ledgers, I assume?”
“How did you….”
“There’s a reason they were found not guilty for lack of evidence, isn’t there?”
“…….”
“You asked about the destination just now, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“We’re going to tour the site.”
“What….”
“I mean that we’re going to see how the illegal activity is actually carried out.”
Cho Hyejin stared at me blankly, apparently at a loss for words.
There was no need to make her understand it all at once. She’d feel it for herself once we got there.
I put on one of the two masks in my hands and spoke.
“Put this on.”