Chapter 114
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Yanagiya Riki (6)
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"I'll pay the penalty fee. Hand over Yun-seong to our clan."
Seo Yu-ju's face twisted at Riki's words.
"What... what did you say?"
"If it's money you want, I can give you as much as you like. So let me take Yun-seong. What do you say?"
I sensed the situation had gone straight to hell and jumped in.
"Hold on, that's..."
The problem was that Seo Yu-ju cut me off.
"What kind of bullshit is that? Are you kidding me?! Poaching someone else's clan member like...!"
'Fuck, this is bad. No stopping her now.'
"Talent deserves the treatment it merits. I can give him everything he wants. Money, fame, women—anything a man could desire."
"...What?"
"What can you offer Yun-seong? Eternity has lost its former glory. Sure, it's regained a good chunk of it now, but our clan and I are different. I hold absolute power here in the Eastern Alliance."
"What..."
"From what I hear, Yun-seong's just a regular clan member in Eternity. I plan to create a vice clan master position for him right away."
Seo Yu-ju stared blankly after hearing Riki out.
It was partly because Riki had suddenly floored the accelerator, but from Seo Yu-ju's perspective, she seemed to be reflecting on what she'd done for me.
Her expression turned indignant as she spoke up.
"That's... none of your business. I—no, we can give Yun-seong everything too."
"Hmph, sure you can."
"What did you say?"
"What was Eternity doing while he was getting beaten by those outlaws and having his face stomped? If I hadn't stepped in, he'd be dead or crippled."
The moment they heard about the assault from the outlaws, Seo Yu-ju and Wi Ho-yeon's faces drained of color.
'Of course. They had no idea I got jumped.'
I'd already been fully healed by then. It was entirely possible they wouldn't know.
Seo Yu-ju froze, pale as a ghost, while Wi Ho-yeon's eyes trembled violently as she looked at me.
'This is not good.'
I didn't want my clanmates drowning in pointless guilt.
"...That's enough, Riki. I already told you—I can't join Kototsuke Clan."
"Tch..."
She clicked her tongue. Then Yoon Yeon approached and spoke to her.
"Still the same as ever, Riki."
"...Nice to see you, you bitch. Had to drag your boyfriend along just to crawl back here?"
"Boyfriend? What are you talking about?"
Riki studied Yoon Yeon's puzzled look, then grinned.
"Just messing with you. Anyway, it's been forever, right? Heard you set up your own clan after leaving for Baronia. One of the top three in the neutral nation now, huh?"
"Uh... something like that."
"Fuck, you're annoying."
"...How's the old man?"
"How do you think? This place is a disaster waiting to happen every damn day. Outlaws running wild—it's ridiculous."
"From what I see, you've contributed a fair bit to those wrinkles. Heard you're peddling drugs now?"
"What's wrong with drugs? This is the Eastern Alliance. They can't even stop the stuff from spreading everywhere. What's the harm in making a little cash off it?"
"Sigh..."
"And I keep my own code. You think I'm selling slaves or some shit? Drug dealing's nothing in the Eastern Alliance."
Indeed, drugs had spread so far in the Eastern Alliance that they couldn't contain it.
The natives might be oblivious, but players high out of their minds rolling in the gutters was the reality here.
"...You're not gonna listen anyway. Do whatever."
"I will."
"...So why are you trying to recruit Yun-seong?"
Riki met my eyes instead of Yoon Yeon's as she answered.
"...Because I want him."
"...What?"
"It's gonna be announced soon anyway, but some bastards in my clan staged a coup. Yun-seong helped me sniff them out."
Everyone was stunned by her words. She said it casually, but this was no small matter.
"A coup?"
"Yeah. I purged the ringleaders and everyone involved. Their families and associates too—wiped 'em out or sold them into slavery."
Yoon Yeon couldn't bring herself to say Riki's response was too extreme.
As a clan leader herself, she knew: you couldn't leave even a sliver of room for treason.
Especially for a clan tangled in the shadows.
"...I see."
"Anyway, enough of that. Why not stick around a few days instead of heading out right away? You've left clan business to your underlings, right?"
"Sigh... That was the plan from the start. You never let anyone leave after one meeting."
"Heh, smart choice. And we gotta have a match, yeah?"
"......"
Yoon Yeon's face soured like she'd eaten shit at Riki's words.
"Or should we bail now? Come on—I'm itching for it. How long's it been?"
"...You haven't changed a bit."
"People who change overnight are the dead ones. This is good."
"Always so eloquent. Not in the mood for a brawl right off the bat. Tomorrow."
"Fine, whatever. Make yourselves at home in any guest rooms. Rest up before you go."
The moment Riki finished and left, Seo Yu-ju dragged me off.
"...Yun-seong, what the hell happened? And the outlaws beating you...?"
"Don't worry about it. I'm fully healed, and I'm fine now."
"H-how can I not worry?! What... what did they do to you? They stomped your face...!"
'Ugh, damn it... should never have mentioned that.'
"I'm really okay. It was in the past anyway, and it wasn't that serious."
"But..."
"Sigh... let's drop it. I'm fine, really. No need for you or Ho-yeon to feel bad."
Wi Ho-yeon, who'd been watching nervously from the side, flinched at my words.
'Always...'
"More importantly, how's the clan? The others...?"
"...Truth is, the mood was like a funeral. Yu-rim and Yu-hyeon were especially close to you, so when they heard you'd been attacked by outlaws, they fell apart..."
"Ah..."
I'd worried about them plenty too. Especially the kids, Yu-hyeon and Yu-rim.
"I-seo was raging about killing all the outlaws, and Hyun-jin was trying to calm her down..."
I could picture the chaos.
'Total mess.'
Most of the clan probably lost their cool. Ho-won and Jae-hyo must've been the ones holding it together.
Seo Yu-ju hadn't mentioned herself, but I was sure she'd lost it the most. No doubt.
"...You must've had it rough."
"...No. You had it worse, Yun-seong."
"Haha... So, Yu-ju. What's the plan now? Heading back...?"
"...Soon. When the Myth Clan Master heads out, we'll take you with us."
"Oh, right. How'd you end up coming with the Myth Clan Master?"
"After Ho-yeon got to the clan house, she contacted Myth Clan right away. Figured we should take any help we could get."
"I see. And... Yoon... I mean, the Myth Clan Master came herself?"
"...Yeah. But Yun-seong."
"Yes?"
"What's with calling her 'Sister Yeon'?"
My body froze solid.
Our eyes locked, but it felt like a giant snake had me pinned—I couldn't move.
'Shit... goddamn it...!'
"And when did you get so chummy with Yanagiya Riki?"
"Ah... well..."
"Glad you're safe, but... it's weird. Yoon Yeon, and now Yanagiya Riki."
"......"
"Haha... care to explain?"
I felt an odd pressure in Seo Yu-ju's words.
"Th-that... Sister Yeon told me to call her that herself..."
Seo Yu-ju nodded coolly.
"Right. And?"
"Y-Yanagiya Riki... I helped her out, so she seems grateful. Haha... th-that's really it. Just friends."
"That's all?"
"Y-yes..."
Suddenly, she leaned in close, eyes locked on mine as she spoke.
Her gaze was dark, unfocused.
"...If that's all, then why's she saying she'll take you into her clan?"
'Fuck, why's she coming at me like this? I just helped once—I don't know either.'
"I... I don't really know. Maybe just a regular recruitment...?"
"Regular recruitment? Offering everything he wants? That's a blank check."
Seo Yu-ju looked anxious.
Specifically, worried I might actually switch clans.
"...Yun-seong. Be honest. What did you and Yanagiya Riki talk about? Are you... thinking of transferring?"
Wi Ho-yeon gasped and spoke up.
"L-Lee Yun-seong! Is it true? You're transferring...?"
"No! Why's everyone freaking out? Calm down..."
"S-see... It's my fault. I failed to protect you..."
'Damn it, not you too.'
I could see Seo Yu-ju's overreaction a bit—our history from the first round—but Wi Ho-yeon too? Maddening.
She hadn't been like this before. This incident must've traumatized her.
"Damn it, believe me. I'm not transferring. Why would I ditch the clan?"
"...Really?"
"Yes, really. Why would I abandon everyone?"
"Well... they offered everything... and..."
"....."
"Yanagiya Riki... objectively, she's a beauty..."
"...Pardon?"
Averting her eyes, Seo Yu-ju continued.
"You're a guy too, so..."
'Fuck, what does she think I am? Some horn dog who loses it over a pretty face?'
Frankly, it pissed me off every time.
I didn't think I'd ever chased skirts, so why the misunderstanding?
"...Yu-ju. What do you take me for?"
"......"
"Do I seem like that shallow? And even if Riki's pretty, it doesn't mean anything's going on."
"...Got it. S-sorry."
"No need to apologize. Anyway, let's end this. I trust you and Ho-yeon, so trust me too."
"...Okay."
"...Understood, Lee Yun-seong."