Chapter 62
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Will You Become a Fool?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The baby bird's name was decided to be Blue.
It was the result of Yuna Kyung's most dramatic negotiation ever—spanning her past and present lives—where she'd thrown a fit, insisting she'd rather bash her head in and die than be called "Peep."
In exchange, they agreed to keep it secret that Blue was Yuna Kyung's reincarnation.
"This is something else. I never imagined the Sword Duke would take such a liking to this bird that he'd raise it himself."
That was why.
That was the reason Yuna Kyung, perched atop Rimon's head, had frantically played the part of an ordinary bird under Li Chingwei's gaze.
"Oh, this one's my past-life agent, Na-kyung."
Peep?!
Rimon's utterly casual response made Yuna Kyung freak out.
She was so flustered that she nearly slipped off, only barely avoiding a tumble by grabbing onto Rimon's hair with her wings, letting out a sigh of relief once she was safe.
But she was the only one panicking.
Li Chingwei merely tilted her head slightly and asked,
"Na-kyung... You mean the one the Sword Duke was going to repay his blood debt to?"
"She's also the one who dumped all those kids on me."
"Since you went out of your way to introduce her to me, I'm guessing she's not just any reincarnate—she retains memories from her previous life?"
"Yeah. And apparently, she can even use Space Movement."
"I see... No wonder I couldn't read her mind, even though she's just a bird. It's not because she's a simple animal—it's because she's a high-level player."
She was the picture of serenity.
Yuna Kyung stared in stunned silence for a moment at the two of them chatting away as casually as if they were discussing pet breeds.
Snapping out of it, she hopped around furiously on Rimon's head in protest.
Peep! Peep peep peep!
"What? You said we'd keep it secret, but now you're spilling the beans?"
Peeep!
"Tsk tsk. Foolish bird, you can't fool a ghost. Think the Black Dragon Clan's princess is going to fall for your half-baked bird act?"
Pee... p.
"Perfect acting? Bullshit. Just yesterday, you nearly got caught by the janitor searching the internet on my smartphone."
Peeee...
There were limits to fooling someone who could even read minds, like Li Chingwei. So if it was going to come out anyway, better to confess upfront and clear the air.
That was Rimon's blunt verdict.
And the blue bird knew from past-life experience that when Rimon spoke so definitively, it was best to go along with it. She let out a groan.
"Quit poking around, you. Is my head your nest?"
Still not entirely pleased, she pecked at his crown in protest with her beak, but Rimon paid it no mind.
He simply lifted his teacup lightly.
It was right after that when Li Chingwei, watching the scene from across the table with an intrigued look, posed a question.
"Sword Duke, when did you pick up the talent for talking to animals?"
"Never learned it."
"Then what was that conversation just now?"
"Conversation? I'm just guessing what this airheaded one would babble and tossing out answers accordingly."
"For 'just winging it,' you two seem to communicate awfully naturally."
"She was my one and only teammate, after all. We've run ops together plenty of times—if I couldn't read her this well, I'd be a failure as a boss."
"That's... enviable, in a way."
"Enviable? She's nothing but a hassle."
Rimon replied indifferently.
It only worked because Yuna Kyung had always been so expressive in life. Strictly speaking, it was like conversing with a mute—he had to piece together her every word, which was exhausting and frustrating for him.
"On that note, I've got a favor to ask. Think you could snag me an item?"
"An item?"
"Yeah. Something telepathy-based that she could use. Even better if it handles full communication."
Peep?
Yuna Kyung's eyes went wide at Rimon's words.
Meanwhile, Li Chingwei nodded as if it all clicked, smiling faintly.
"So that's why you told me on purpose? You knew I'd find out once you needed an item anyway."
"Eh, even without that, you'd have figured it out."
Rimon shrugged.
Ignoring Yuna Kyung's admiring look from atop his head—as if she hadn't realized his intent—he added nonchalantly,
"Can't exactly buy items without money, either."
...Peee.
It happened in an instant.
The blue bird's eyes, sparkling with admiration, turned to a glare—like she was staring down a shameless thug shaking down a little girl.
Even the cheapest telepathy item ran into the billions. Basically the price of a house.
So it was no wonder her gaze chilled at his brazen request.
"Don't worry about the money. Basic telepathy items aren't that rare—I can get one easily."
But Li Chingwei nodded readily.
She was the princess of the Seven Dragon Society.
Even if the Black Dragon Clan had fallen on hard times, a trinket or two was pocket change for the owner of Hotel Leviathan.
Besides, the Seven Dragon Society was the shadowy force manipulating the Player Association to inflate dungeon byproduct prices.
Rimon, who knew that secret, had no qualms asking for a single item.
"Not to call it a trade, but... could I ask a small favor in return?"
"A favor?"
"Yes. Nothing too tough."
"If it's not a hassle... what is it?"
Rimon nodded agreeably.
It was the first time she'd asked anything of him since accepting his proposal, so he was inclined to say yes unless it was outrageous.
That was why, when Li Chingwei smiled and spoke, he was left momentarily speechless.
"Take over one of my companies."
"...Say what?"
"The Black Dragon Clan has tons of subsidiaries. Join one and work there. Ideally, rack up some impressive achievements while you're at it."
He stared at her blankly for a moment.
Realizing he'd heard right, Rimon asked with a troubled expression,
"Where'd this random request come from?"
"You don't think I'd ask just because I want to?"
"If you were, you wouldn't have let me laze around this long. If you've suddenly changed your stance, there's some external pressure. Right?"
"Sharp as ever."
Li Chingwei gave a wry smile, acknowledging his point, then explained the situation with a slightly awkward look.
"Truth is, this request came from the elders."
"Your elders?"
"Yes. Since we're handing over most of the clan's assets as your dowry upon marriage, they want to see the Sword Duke's business acumen first."
"In other words, they want to check if I'll squander the remaining clan fortune?"
"Something like that."
"And if I fail?"
"It wouldn't cancel the marriage. We'd just have to renegotiate with the elders."
"...You're putting it so elegantly: 'Our wedding gets delayed indefinitely unless you blackmail the elders with their weaknesses again.'"
Rimon clicked his tongue inwardly.
'No wonder those old geezers approved the marriage so easily.'
The Black Dragon Clan's elders hadn't truly approved the marriage.
They'd set an impossible condition to give them grounds to object.
It had been a mistake to brush it off when she'd called it "not difficult."
"Why bring up something this important now?"
"It was so trivial, I didn't think it needed mentioning."
"Trivial? Messing it up delays our wedding forever."
"But succeeding means you claim the shares outright and naturally gain the clan's support."
Li Chingwei replied innocently, as if to say, Why nitpick when you'll win anyway?
Rimon gave her a troubled look.
"Princess, I know zilch about business or management. Hell, I've never earned a dime outside of sword work."
"I know."
"So what makes you think I can just take over a company?"
"Because I trust the Sword Duke's promise: that the Black Dragon Clan is just the start—that you'll devour the entire Seven Dragon Society."
Li Chingwei answered instantly.
Then, smiling, she continued,
"If you're the man who's going to seize the world's richest conglomerate, Seven Dragons, then this should be child's play. Don't you think?"
"...If I say no here, I come off like a total asshole?"
"Of course not. I'd just be the fool who trusted you."
"Same difference."
Rimon scratched his cheek.
It was out of left field, but it was something he'd steeled himself for when he decided to grab power and wealth.
And it was necessary if he wanted to rule over the Black Dragon Clan—not to mention all the Seven Dragon Society clans.
That was why.
After furrowing his brow in thought for a moment, Rimon sighed and spoke.
"Princess."
"Yes."
"Sorry, but... will you play the fool for me?"
"...Pardon?"
Had she assumed he'd agree without question?
Li Chingwei blinked rapidly, her eyes wide, before asking in disbelief,
"You're saying you won't take the subsidiary?"
"Yeah."
"W-Was my request too much? Or are you upset I hid the elders' condition until now?"
"Not really. It's something I wanted anyway."
To the unusually flustered Li Chingwei, Rimon spoke calmly.
"But not right now. I've got training I can't put off—something that has to come first."
"...Training? From the Sword Duke himself?"
"Yeah. Training absolutely necessary to achieve our other goal."
Li Chingwei's expression turned peculiar at his serious tone.
Their goal was to seize the entire Seven Dragon Society, but that was just a means to an end. They had a greater, ultimate objective.
In that context, Rimon's meaning was clear.
"Something needed to fight the constellations?"
"Roughly."
"I see... In that case, no helping it. Can't risk the small gain for the big loss."
Li Chingwei accepted readily.
What she'd wanted from Rimon all along was the power of a Sword Master to check the constellations.
Dragging him into clan politics or business would just be putting the cart before the horse, hindering his training.
"Sorry I can't help when I said to ask if you needed anything."
"No, from the moment I accepted your proposal, what I wanted from you was 'that kind' of thing. Leave 'this kind' to me."
"You can handle it?"
"Yes. Might need a little creative accounting, but if you help just enough not to interfere with your training, I can make it work."
"Reliable bride you've got there."
"Right? Hard to find a fiancée as capable as me."
Rimon chuckled at her playful grin.
She wouldn't have asked if it were easy. Her confident declaration felt trustworthy precisely because it was Li Chingwei.
She was the Black Dragon Princess.
A girl who achieved her goals no matter what schemes or plots she had to employ.
Peep? Pee-bik?
It was right then.
As if she'd heard something utterly bizarre, Yuna Kyung blinked before finally yanking Rimon's hair with her beak in frustration.
"Oh yeah, I guess I hadn't mentioned that yet?"
He puzzled over it briefly.
As usual, guessing her reason, Rimon said innocently,
"I'm getting married to her."
...Peee?
Yuna Kyung's eyes shrank to dots.
As if wondering what ridiculous old-man joke this was, she tilted her head.
After glancing back and forth between Rimon's nonchalant crown and Li Chingwei's calm nod, she realized it was true and gaped her beak wide.
But whether Yuna Kyung recoiled in shock at this millennia-spanning age-gap marriage or glared at him like a homewrecker...
...Rimon ignored it all and turned back to Li Chingwei.
"Oh, and since I need this for training—could you introduce me to someone?"
"A sparring partner?"
"No. A violinist."
"Leave it to me. I'll get you a top-tier master representing the Black Dragon Clan... Wait, who did you say?"
It was so out of nowhere.
Li Chingwei confidently replied at first, then blankly asked again. Rimon scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"What I need right now isn't sword training. It's violin practice."