Chapter 112
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Yanagiya Riki (4)
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I lightly knocked on the door of the room I was in and spoke up.
"Excuse me, could I possibly meet with Yanagiya Riki?"
"...What?"
"Please tell her I have something urgent to discuss. I'm begging you."
"...This crazy bastard. You think you can just meet the clan master whenever you want? You're a prisoner here—stay put and behave, you punk!"
'Ugh, what an asshole. Making a fuss for no reason.'
I'd decided to inform Yanagiya Riki of the truth, but the problem was actually getting to see her.
I wasn't here as a guest—I'd been dragged in—so it wasn't like I could just request a meeting and get one.
I racked my brain for the right words to make it happen.
"Come on, let me see her. It's really important. I guarantee you, if you don't pass my message on to your clan master, you'll regret it later."
"What did you say?"
The man stared at my face for a moment, then spoke up as he saw my calm expression.
"...You'd better take responsibility for those words. If you're pulling some bullshit, you're dead."
Clank—
The door unlocked from outside and swung open almost immediately.
"...Follow me."
The place he led me to looked like an office.
"Boss. I brought the guy named Lee Yun-seong. He says... he has something to tell you...."
- Send him in.
"Yes, ma'am."
Click—
Inside the room that seemed to be the office, there she was: Yanagiya Riki, legs crossed, puffing on a cigarette.
"Hoo... So? I told you to stay put. What do you have to say?"
'Goddamn... that cigarette reeks. Must be some seriously harsh stuff.'
"First off, could you ask everyone else to leave? I'd like to talk to you alone."
She scowled at my words.
"...Look at this punk. 'I'd like'? You got no fear? Is it because I've been treating you decent?"
".... It's really important to you."
"To me?"
"Yes."
"..... If it's nothing big, you're done for. Even if you're Yun Yeon's boyfriend, I won't go easy."
'Fuck, that's what I've been saying—it's not like that.'
"You, get out."
"Ah, yes, boss!"
Once the man left, we were finally alone.
"So, what is it? If you're begging to go home...."
I cut straight to the point. Given Yanagiya Riki's personality, a fastball would work best.
"Your subordinates are plotting a coup."
"What? What the...?"
"....."
"...A coup? What are you talking about?"
She looked like she couldn't comprehend. She clearly hadn't even considered that she was the target.
"Exactly what I said. Your subordinates are preparing a coup. And they resent you."
After hearing my explanation, she blanked out for a second, then her face twisted into a fierce scowl as she lunged at me in an instant.
Bam—!
"Guh...! Khek...!"
"What the fuck is this bullshit?! You son of a bitch...! Playing games...!"
"Khek... W-Wait!"
'This crazy bitch...!'
She slammed me against the wall and started choking me. I couldn't breathe, so all I could do was tap her arm.
"You fucking bastard!"
Suddenly, she grabbed my hair and raised her hand.
Slap—!
"Argh!"
I never expected her to slap me without hearing the full story. I was dumbfounded.
'Fuck, fuck! Shouldn't have bothered telling her! Crazy bitch!'
"Hey, I told you to stay quiet. Where do you get off with this crap?"
"Cough... W-Wait, it's true, I swear!"
"You little shit, to the end...!"
As she raised her arm again, a curse slipped out reflexively.
"F-Fuck you, you psycho bitch! It's true, you fucking cunt!"
She froze at my outburst, and I kept going. I'd come to help her, only to get smacked, so I felt fucking wronged.
"Fuck! You hit someone who came to help without even hearing them out?! You goddamn lunatic!"
"W-What?"
"You crazy bitch...! At least hear the rest before you decide, fuck!"
I was genuinely pissed, and she went quiet for a moment before speaking.
".... Fine. I'll hear you out. Talk."
"Hoo... Before I explain, something's gonna appear in front of you out of nowhere. Don't smash it, okay?"
I finished and ordered the chimera to reveal itself.
"What the hell is this?"
"A chimera."
"A chimera?"
"Yeah. Not for combat—it's for intel gathering. Heads up: I'm laying all my cards on the table here to help you. Got it?"
"...Got it. So what about it?"
Yanagiya Riki looked puzzled about how her subordinates' coup plans connected to this chimera.
'Well... she'll know soon enough.'
『 "Bro, so about that thing..." 』
『 "Hold up. Prep's almost done, and we've reeled in all the guys we need. Date's the only issue..." 』
『 "......" 』
『 "I think we should handle it before Eternity and Myth show up." 』
『 "Any reason, bro? Wouldn't it be better to wait till they come and go?" 』
『 "If it was just Eternity, yeah. But Yun Yeon and that bitch are friends. They split, but still, you never know." 』
『 "Ah... So Myth's master and Yanagiya Riki are friends?" 』
『 "Yeah. Better wrap it up before variables pop up." 』
『 "But... you sure? If we fail, she won't kill us nicely..." 』
『 "Hey, dumbass. You don't plan for failure in this shit. Assume success. You wanna lick her feet forever?" 』
『 "N-No..." 』
『 "Think about it. Right now, we're kissing her ass. But if this works, she'll be kissing ours. Can't let her off easy, right?" 』
『 "Heh... Yeah. No mercy after all we've bowed to. She owes us payback." 』
『 "Kuk, exactly. Once we're bored or she's useless, sell her off. Outlaws'll buy, and in the Eastern Federation, plenty of buyers." 』
『 "Truckloads wanna buy. The great Yanagiya Riki at auction? They'd line up." 』
Bang—!
'Ah, shit! Nearly jumped out of my skin!'
She punched the wall mid-recording, and my heart skipped a beat.
A glance showed her face twisted like a demon's.
Didn't know her long, but I'd never seen that expression.
Killing intent poured from her uncontrollably, making it hard for me to even breathe.
'F-Fuck...'
".... This real?"
"Y-Yeah... Yes, it is...."
"Ha... Haha, hahahaha—!"
'W-What's with her?'
"So that's how it is."
"......"
"I know who it is now. Thanks. I found out thanks to you."
"Ah... R-Really? You're welcome."
Honestly, getting slapped soured my mood, but seeing her just now, I didn't have the guts to bring it up.
"Just talk casual."
"...Huh?"
"You do it with Yun Yeon. Do it with me too."
"Uh... That's..."
"Casual or die?"
"I'll talk casual. Casual it is."
"Good. Curse all you want like before. Sorry for the slap... I jumped the gun. Really sorry."
She bowed her head sincerely, so I rushed to say it was fine.
"Nah, I'm okay.. Er, I'm fine."
'Damn, forcing casual's messing up my speech.'
No clue why casual, but formal suited me fine. I'm weaker, she's a ranker.
"Anyway... sorry for the cursing and slapping. Wanna slap me back?"
"N-No... That's..."
'You nuts? Me slapping you? Suicidal much?'
Couldn't tell if serious or joking.
"Anyway, really sorry. Gotta clean house on this, so I'll move you to a nicer room. Stay there. Anything you need, just say."
"Got it. But... what do I call you? You, er, her...?"
"Riki. Call me Riki."
A storm of blood swept through Kototsuke Clan. The reason? A massive purge.
Naturally, the moment I tipped off Yanagiya Riki, their coup odds hit zero percent.
In just four days, all the plotting executives and clan members were wiped out.
My presence enabled the speed.
Yanagiya Riki's decisiveness was astounding.
Even with my help, she used brutal methods but swiftly identified and purged the traitors.
Her position in Kototsuke Clan solidified further, while survivors grew terrified of her.
'Didn't expect her to kill the plotters' families too...'
Even for a shadowy clan, her ruthlessness made me grimace.
To prevent future plots, she thoroughly rooted out and cruelly executed all involved.
Some families got executed, others sold into slavery.
She didn't tell me about the families, but that doesn't mean I couldn't find out.
'...Yanagiya Riki's acting weird.'
Lately, her attitude shifted. Used to be harsh even to me, but since ordering casual speech, she's been oddly kind.
Practically VIP treatment in Kototsuke Clan.
'Kinda makes sense.'
Dunno her first-run fate, but in this second go, without my help, she'd have faced tragedy.
If it were me, I'd be grateful too.
She knew it, so she seemed genuinely thankful.
'Yun Yeon's words helped me decide.'
Grudges and favors—she was exactly as described. Vengeful brutality, oceanic repayment.
'World's unpredictable.'
Not long ago, outlaws threatened my life.
Dragged to Eastern Federation, I thought I was done for. Never imagined this.
Chuckling at the irony, a knock sounded.
Knock knock.
"...Yun-seong, can I come in?"
Yanagiya Riki's voice.
She's basically clan house owner. Could barge in, no complaints. But since that day, she always respected me like this.
"...Come in."
She entered at my words.
"Whatcha doing? Settling in okay?"
"Yeah, thanks. Actually too good... kinda."
"Get used to it. Kototsuke repays favors properly. Me too."
"Haha..."
Honestly, overwhelming.
Hadn't seen her vicious side, it'd be one thing. But I had, so this kindness left me awkward.
"Glad you're okay, then. Worried you'd be uncomfortable..."
"...So, what's up?"
She fidgeted, averted eyes, then spoke.
"Well... Wanna join our clan?"
"Huh?"
What? Pardon?