Chapter 111
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Yanagiya Riki (3)
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"You're Yun Yeon's boyfriend, right?"
"..... Yes?"
.... Yes? What did you say?
I couldn't comprehend what this woman had just said for a moment.
"I'm asking if you're Yun Yeon's boyfriend, you punk."
"What do you mean..."
'Fuck, what the hell is she talking about?'
I'd imagined countless questions she might throw at me, but this was nowhere on that list.
Hell, I was even wondering if she'd hit her head fighting those outlaws earlier.
"From what I heard, Yun Yeon made you an offer not even two days after you arrived at the training facility. And you stayed at the Myth Clan House for a few weeks, right? I heard the rumors. Don't play dumb."
"......"
"That bitch Yun Yeon acts like she's not interested in guys, but damn, she's such a pretender."
Yun Yeon clearly knew this woman, and it seemed this woman knew Yun Yeon pretty well too, which was why she'd asked.
"Um... do you know Sister Yeon?"
"Sister Yeon? Ha... yeah, you're right."
'Ah...'
I'd accidentally let slip the way I called her when we were alone.
"We were friends. Well... not anymore. We ended up going our separate ways, but we're not exactly enemies."
Suddenly, she sidled up next to me and slung her arm around my neck like some thug shaking me down.
"So, how'd you snag her? Must've been tough. How the hell did a weak-ass punk like you pull it off? Does she have a thing for weak guys?"
Rather than my heart racing from a pretty girl getting close, the tattoo on her arm up close made me swallow hard in tension.
"Ah... well, that's..."
She must've gotten the wrong idea because of the slip-up with her name and the dumb rumors from my time at the Myth Clan.
"Haha... it's a misunderstanding. Sister Yeon just told me to drop the formalities, so that's how I call her."
"Misunderstanding? Hmm... she wouldn't tell just anyone to drop them, though?"
"Ah... well, I've helped her out a few times..."
"Oh? So she fell for you because of that?"
"No... really, it's a misunderstanding."
It really was. There was nothing like that between Yun Yeon and me.
After I kept insisting it was a misunderstanding, she clicked her tongue, pulled her arm off my shoulder, and spoke with a hint of disappointment.
"Tch... lame. I thought that bitch finally got a guy. Ha..."
For some reason, she seemed really hoping Yun Yeon and I were a thing.
'Fuck... why the hell did this woman drag me here?'
At first, I thought it was payback for screwing up their drug deal.
But from her attitude and the way she talked, it didn't feel like she'd kidnapped me for revenge.
'There's no hostility in her words.'
Her speech was rough and aggressive, but that just seemed to be her personality.
'I can't exactly ask her why she kidnapped me, though...'
For now, I pushed those thoughts aside. No point dwelling on something I couldn't solve right away—I needed to focus elsewhere.
Until just now, I'd been too busy watching Yanagiya Riki to notice, but now the clan house interior came into view.
'Definitely... one of the top clans in the Eastern Union.'
Unlike ours, it was ostentatiously luxurious. Probably because the Kototsuke Clan dealt in the shadows.
As I cautiously looked around while following Yanagiya Riki, she spoke up.
"So... I get it, you're not with Yun Yeon like that. But you're not total strangers either, right? What exactly is your deal with her?"
I had no idea how to answer. Not because I wanted to dodge—it was because I didn't know exactly what our relationship was.
'How do I even put this? Business partners? Just like a big sis and little bro?'
"I guess we're just... acquaintances on a personal level, like a big sis and little bro."
"What...? If that's what it is, just say it. What's with the 'I guess'?"
"Haha..."
"Hmm... whatever, got it for now. You're stuck in this room for a while. If you need anything, tell the guy outside."
'What is this...? Is this really a kidnapping?'
No torture or violence was a relief, but it was still bewildering.
Yanagiya Riki glanced back at me with a menacing glare.
"Just so we're clear... don't think I'm being nice and try anything stupid, or you'll regret it. Behave while I'm being good to you."
"... Understood."
And so began my surprisingly comfortable(?) confinement.
The Eternity Clan and Myth Clan lodged formal protests with the Eastern Union's Kototsuke Clan. Naturally, over the kidnapping of a clan member.
But upon hearing Kototsuke's response, both Eternity and Myth were dumbfounded.
Kototsuke claimed they hadn't kidnapped anyone—they'd simply rescued him from the outlaws and were now protecting him under their care.
Of course, neither Eternity nor Myth was about to accept that. They fired back another protest, but Kototsuke's reply boiled down to this:
『If you're pissed, have the Myth Clan and Eternity Clan masters come pick him up yourselves. We'll set the date.』
All of Eternity's members were gathered in the office.
They'd convened today after Kototsuke's response arrived.
BAM!
Seo Yu-ju slammed her fist down in fury, shattering the desk.
"Y-Yu-ju sis!"
"That... damn bitch...!"
Everyone was watching Seo Yu-ju carefully. Ever since Lee Yun-seong's kidnapping, the clan had been on edge, but Seo Yu-ju was like a different person—her temper flaring wildly.
The first few days, elders like Lee Jae-hyo and Uncle Ho-won had kept her in check, preventing it from getting this bad. But now, with Kototsuke outright refusing to release him, this was her reaction.
Seo Yu-ju spoke coldly and quietly.
"Ha... fine... I'll go myself. And kill that bitch."
After gauging her mood, Lee Jae-hyo spoke up worriedly.
"Um... Clan Master. Are you planning to visit the Eastern Union in person?"
"Yes. They claim they haven't harmed Yun-seong at all, but I can't trust that. And since they told us to come get him, that's exactly what I'll do."
"Isn't that dangerous? Even so, the Clan Master going personally..."
"I've already spoken with the Myth Clan Master. According to her, this Yanagiya Riki isn't the type to set traps or backstab."
"But..."
"They won't do anything stupid either. We've already informed the palace. If they pull anything when we show up, it becomes an inter-nation issue."
"Hmm..."
"And obviously, I'm not going alone. As Wi Ho-yeon suggested last time, it'll be me and her from our clan."
Wi Ho-yeon bowed her head at Seo Yu-ju's words.
"... Thank you, Clan Master."
Wi Ho-yeon was still tormented by her choice to abandon Yun-seong. And she hadn't even managed to rescue him after fleeing.
She wanted to go and beg his forgiveness in person.
If—if he was being tortured, or not in his right state... just thinking about it was horrifying.
"But... will Brother Yun-seong be okay? He was already attacked by those outlaws before that Yanagiya Riki woman took him..."
"... Yu-rim, he'll be fine. Yun-seong-hyung would've handled it well."
"... Yeah, right?"
Once Yu-rim and Hyun-jin's conversation ended, Seo Yu-ju spoke definitively, brooking no argument.
"Anyway, Ho-yeon and I will head to the Eastern Union soon. Everyone else, look after the clan while I'm gone."
"... Yes, understood."
It'd been about a week since I was brought here.
Contrary to my worries, there was no torture or violence. They fed me on time, and nothing harmful happened.
At this point, I couldn't fathom why they'd taken me.
'...Seo Yu-ju and Yun Yeon are coming in a week.'
Yanagiya Riki had told me herself yesterday.
She'd said they'd release me then, so just stay put, and left.
'No one to talk to, no entertainment... I'm going crazy.'
No phone or TV like on Earth—it was maddening.
'Well, better than torture, at least.'
And I'd been investigating in my own way.
They weren't harming me now, but that could change, so I needed a plan.
That's why I'd used my chimera to surveil Yanagiya Riki and those around her.
'And I actually got something out of it.'
Now I was pondering how to use the intel.
'How should I play this...? How can I make it work in my favor?'
The info I'd uncovered was explosive enough to shake the clan.
"Hilarious... this place or that, anywhere people live is the same. Universal truth."
A few executives were plotting a coup.
Unlike the Myth Clan incident, which was external meddling from the Execution Church, this was internal dissent against Yanagiya Riki.
'Tough call. Let it play out for chaos to slip away in, or tip her off?'
Ignoring it meant a chance to escape in the chaos, but with Eternity coming in a week, it was pointless.
Worse, if their timing overlapped, Seo Yu-ju and Yun Yeon could get caught in the crossfire.
Option two: Tell Yanagiya Riki directly.
Pro: Could build rapport. Con: A big one.
'I'd have to reveal my abilities.'
She wouldn't believe me out of nowhere.
To earn her trust, I'd need to show her the chimera's powers.
'And... would she even thank me?'
Here, doing a favor didn't guarantee reciprocation.
If it was like that on Earth, it was worse in this power-driven world.
'...Maybe just let it slide?'
Ideal if the coup didn't overlap with Seo Yu-ju's visit.
I'd get back safe, ignore whatever happens to Yanagiya Riki.
As I leaned toward letting it be, Yun Yeon's words suddenly came to mind.
'...She said Yanagiya Riki always repays favors and grudges.'
After agonizing, I finally moved.