Chapter 117
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Banquet (2)
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Riki and I had just entered the banquet hall when a man with a greasy impression approached us.
"Long time no see, Yanagiya. I heard about what happened with your clan. Glad to hear it all worked out."
"Oh, yeah, it's been a while. What can I say? I couldn't just let someone challenge me like that. I made them pay the price."
"...Yeah, of course. But who's this?"
The man glanced at me and asked Riki. He must have been curious about some random nobody hanging around her.
"My guest. He's from Baronia and staying with my clan for a bit."
"...From Baronia?"
"Yeah. Anyway, he's my guest, so say hello."
"...You came all the way from Baronia. Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Nam-gi, master of Predator Clan."
The man extended his hand in greeting, so I shook it and introduced myself.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lee Yun-seong of Eternity Clan."
The mention of Eternity Clan got a reaction from him.
"You mean the Eternity Clan I know? One of the three great clans in the neutral nation..."
"Yes, that's the one. Though it's not one of the top three anymore."
"Ah... I see."
The man's expression screamed, What the hell is this guy doing next to Riki?
He looked incredulous that some regular clan member—not even a master or vice-master—was here at a place like this.
Even though Riki had called me her guest, it seemed like he'd already erased that from his mind.
"Anyway... you're Korean, huh. Well, nice meeting you. I should go greet some others..."
"Yeah, nice meeting you too."
Once the man left, I turned to Riki. I was curious about his Predator Clan.
"Riki, I've got a question."
"Yeah?"
"What's the deal with that guy's Predator Clan? Where do they stand?"
It had to be below Kotozuke Clan, obviously. She spoke to him casually, while he used formal speech with her.
"Hmm... The Eastern Alliance doesn't have a 'three great clans' system like the neutral nation, but to make it easy to understand, they're about on par with a typical large clan there."
"Ah."
"From what I know, Predator Clan mainly does gladiator arena business and weapon sales. At least on the surface."
"On the surface?"
Riki smirked and leaned in close to my ear.
"Some people here might know, but their real business is slaves."
"...Slaves?"
"Yeah. I don't know how you feel about slavery, but a few clans in the Eastern Alliance dabble in it. Some even have ties to outlaws and contractors."
"...I don't really care about slavery. As long as it doesn't affect me or people around me, whatever. I'm not the self-righteous type."
"Nice attitude. That's the most comfortable way to live. Every society has its dark side—being nosy just makes you tired."
Honestly, slavery did give me pause, but there's a limit to what one person can change.
I had no desire to stir things up. It was easier to just go with the flow.
And right now, I'm Yanagiya Riki's guest, after all.
Plain and simple, without her protection, I'd be nothing in the Eastern Alliance—no power, no backing, just a nobody.
Back in the neutral nation, my name was starting to carry some weight lately, so more people were wary of me. But things were different here.
"Still, is it okay to tell me this? I'm an outsider. What if I go blabbing?"
Riki pressed a finger to my lips.
"I know you won't. And I trust you. Honestly, even if you did spread it around, it wouldn't matter. What could they do about it?"
"......"
A beautiful woman with a decadent allure silencing me with her finger on my lips—it felt strangely intimate.
"Anyway, shall we find a seat? Plenty of food, and you can drink if you want. Women are off-limits... no, scratch that. Let's just sit."
"Sure..."
"Yun-seong, you drink?"
"Eh... moderately?"
"Heh heh... Then you can't skip drinks on a night like this. Try this—it's my favorite."
Glug glug.
I took the drink she offered and sipped.
'Fuck, what is this stuff?'
"...It's pretty strong."
"That's the appeal. Hoo..."
Looks like Riki was into strong liquor.
"Why don't you grab some snacks? Drinking on an empty stomach isn't good."
"Hng... Nah. This is plenty for me."
"Jeez..."
'She's a boozehound... Heavy smoker too. Living life to the fullest.'
Glancing around, others were mingling in familiar groups, enjoying drinks and food.
"Why don't you hang out with them? If it's because of me..."
"Pfft, what are you talking about? We've all seen each other's faces plenty. I always drink alone at these banquets anyway."
"Why?"
"Well..."
Riki seemed hesitant to answer.
Her face flushed slightly as she replied.
"They... they're scared of me."
"Huh?"
"...They don't approach because they're scared of me."
'Ah... So that's it.'
Given her personality and looks, it made perfect sense.
"...What the hell's that look? Wanna die?"
"W-what?"
"You just thought something rude..."
"...Just your imagination."
"...Anyway, it was around when we started this annual banquet tradition."
Suddenly, without me asking, Riki started sharing her story.
"Some guys latched onto me. At first, it was fine if they just wanted to build rapport, but their intentions were obvious—sticky and ulterior. They got too clingy, so I made an example out of a few..."
With her looks, it was entirely plausible.
Guys would naturally be drawn to her appearance, and before she built her current reputation, plenty must have hit on her.
"Fuck, that's why. So don't get the wrong idea."
"...I didn't."
"...Good."
...Lucky my lie worked.
Mid-conversation with Riki, a woman approached us. She had long straight brown hair and a beauty mark near her left eye.
"Yanagiya, long time no see."
"...Jo Yeon-ju."
"No need to be so stiff."
She approached Riki without any hesitation, so I checked her status window.
'This is... impressive.'
Her job was Array Sorceress—stats a bit below Riki or Yun Yeon-bo, but comparable. She clearly had enough power for real combat.
'Her name rings a bell...'
For some reason, it felt familiar.
"What's up? You never come to these banquets. What wind blew you here?"
The woman called Jo Yeon-ju shrugged.
"I heard there was trouble at Kotozuke Clan. Just curious about you."
"Right..."
"As expected from the great Yanagiya—no way you'd crumble like that. You purged all the traitors, huh?"
Riki replied curtly.
"What, should I have spared them?"
"Not what I meant. Just saying. Anyway..."
She turned to me, eyes sparkling.
"Who's this handsome guy?"
".....My guest."
"A guest? You, who always goes solo? Bringing a guy to a banquet, no less..."
"Fuck, got a problem?"
"No, just surprised."
Jo Yeon-ju observed me briefly, then extended her hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Jo Yeon-ju."
"...Nice to meet you. Lee Yun-seong."
'What the...?'
As I tried to pull away after shaking, she smirked and held on.
'Fuck, what's her deal?'
Before I could say anything, Riki swung her arm and smacked Jo Yeon-ju's hand away from mine.
Smack.
"Oh my."
"...Hey, what the hell was that?"
Jo Yeon-ju calmly replied to Riki's icy tone, unfazed.
"Hm... His hand was just warm. Yun-seong, right? Sorry if that made you uncomfortable."
"...No problem."
I told her it was fine, but Riki looked pissed.
"Hey, Jo Yeon-ju. What was that?"
"Come on, why overreact?"
"Ugh... You're insane..."
I grabbed Riki's hand and signaled her to drop it. Things were getting weird.
"......."
She shut up reluctantly, probably because of me.
Jo Yeon-ju watched us with clear interest.
"Hmm..."
"W-what? Keep staring like that and—"
"When did I stare rudely? Your words are too harsh. That hurts."
"Hurts my ass."
Jo Yeon-ju smoothly sat at our table.
"Hey, what gives? Why sit?"
"Come on, chill. I just want to chat. You know I don't have anyone else to talk to. Hang out a bit."
"Then make some friends."
"...Unbelievable. You saying that?"
'They seem pretty close.'
She was different from the others.
While everyone else talked to Riki with tension or fear, Jo Yeon-ju was completely natural.
'Old friends, maybe.'
But oddly, unlike before, she wasn't addressing me at all now—only Riki.
'Jo Yeon-ju... Why does her name stick in my head? Have I met her before?'
Curious about her, I asked.
"Pardon, but can I call you Jo Yeon-ju? Which clan are you with?"
With her skills and invitation here, I figured she was a large clan master.
"Oh, I'm not in a clan. I operate solo."
"Pardon?"
'...Solo?'
"I know it's surprising. Most players join clans in this world."
"Ah, yeah... Sorry, just caught off guard."
"No worries, I get it. I'm the weird one. My nickname's 'Freakshow' for a reason."
'Freakshow fits. Those stats without a clan... Wait.'
A thought clicked.
A woman with no affiliation, called a freak.
'Ah... That's why her name felt familiar.'
Early on, while gathering info after arriving in this world, I'd come across her name.
'...Jo Yeon-ju, ranker in the Eastern Alliance.'
Jo Yeon-ju—the only ranker operating solo in Eras.