Chapter 157
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Battle of Wills
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The thought that hit me after the intense encounter with Wi Ho-yeon was that I had to deal with the aftermath.
"Fuck..."
Not only was the room a mess, but I had no idea how to face her from now on.
"Lee Yun-seong..."
"Ah, sorry. I was just thinking... how to clean this up..."
I'd stopped using casual speech with her. Our lust had cooled off by now.
Wi Ho-yeon, coming back to her senses, fumbled into her clothes and spoke up.
"Um... Lee Yun-seong, I brought a magic scroll. This one..."
"Oh, right. Good thing."
It seemed to be a scroll with a cleaning spell embedded.
As soon as we used it, all the traces and smells vanished.
"Phew... That's one weight off my shoulders. Uh... but..."
'Fuck, how do I act around her now?'
Honestly, the me from just moments ago hadn't been myself.
It sounded insane, but I'd completely lost my mind to her seduction and ended up doing something extreme.
"H-Ho-yeon. I'm sorry. I must've gone crazy for a bit. What I said to you, the insults... that wasn't sincere. I..."
She'd returned to her usual self and smiled as she replied.
"Yes, I know, Lee Yun-seong. Don't worry... If anything, I wanted it. You don't need to feel guilty."
"Ah... B-but still..."
"I actually loved it. I'm grateful to you, Lee Yun-seong. Thank you for using me."
Her words nearly made me burst out laughing in disbelief.
"No, Ho-yeon. Even so... 'thank you for using me' is a bit..."
"Ah... Sorry. Seems like I'm still affected by earlier too."
"Haha..."
"Anyway, like I said before, I wanted all of it, so you bear no responsibility. Please treat me as usual. I won't ask for more than I deserve."
"......"
'This is just no-strings pleasure.'
I felt like trash.
"But I do have one request."
"Ah, sure. Anything. I'll do it."
"...Please keep using me as your escort."
I gave her a puzzled look at her words.
"...? What do you mean? Keep you as my escort?"
"...The Clan Master will probably tell you soon to reassign me to other duties. Oppose it then."
"...What? What are you talking about?"
I couldn't help but be stunned by what came out of Wi Ho-yeon's mouth. I hadn't heard any such notice.
"Lately, the Clan Master hasn't been thrilled about me being by your side."
"Did you two fight? Why on earth..."
"Think about today."
"Ah...?"
"The Clan Master noticed my feelings for you."
It felt like I'd received a confession in the weirdest way possible.
"That said, in Eras, it's not unusual for exceptional men or women to have multiple lovers. Not that I'm aiming for such a position."
"....."
"I just want to stay by your side, serving you and repaying my debts."
"...So, treat you like a tool?"
Her face flushed as she responded to my words.
"Th-that too, but... I wanted you to do that to me..."
...I got it.
After all, the Wi Ho-yeon from earlier had been utterly genuine—something she couldn't fake if she didn't truly enjoy it.
"...Alright. If Yu-ju does what you said, I'll oppose it."
Her face lit up at my words, and she bowed in thanks.
"Thank you, Lee Yun-seong."
I felt bad for Seo Yu-ju, but after today, refusing Wi Ho-yeon's request was impossible.
From my perspective, losing an escort would be convenient, but I wasn't trash enough to sleep with her and then brush it off.
'...Did she plan this?'
Something about it felt like she'd orchestrated it perfectly.
'Phew... Fuck, what can I do? My fault for falling for the temptation.'
Honestly, I never imagined Wi Ho-yeon of all people would seduce me like this.
"Lee Yun-seong, I'll take my leave then."
"Yeah. Go on. B-be careful?"
The lodging had soundproofing magic, so her moans wouldn't have leaked, but if anyone saw her leaving my room, it'd be trouble.
"Of course. Oh, and..."
She seemed to have more to say.
"Yes, go ahead."
"...If you ever want to use me again, call me anytime."
'Huh...'
"......"
With that, Wi Ho-yeon vanished from my room.
- Master, so? Nothing happened, right?
"...Yeah."
- ...You sure?
"How many times do I have to say it?"
- So I'm supposed to believe that? The Sword Empress visited you late at night to make a request?
"...That's what happened."
During my comms with Ruska, she brought up yesterday.
- Sigh... Master, you slept with her.
I flinched hard inside. How the hell did she guess?
She sighed as I hesitated to reply.
- Haah... Knew it.
"...What are you talking about? What misunderstanding?"
- Don't play dumb, Master. It's obvious.
"...How'd you know?"
- You wouldn't get it, Master. Do you remember taking the Sword Empress, Wi Ho-yeon, into Seo Yu-ju's clan in the first round?
"Yeah, I know. But why?"
- I don't know the details, but back then, you helped her with something, and she was basically your devotee.
"What? Devotee?"
This was news to me—I couldn't help but be intrigued.
- Yeah. She'd have died for you if you asked. And she had feelings for you.
"....."
- Though... pathetically, you only saw her as a pawn.
'Ha...'
- In a way, this is her dream come true. In the second round instead of the first, but ironic.
"What did I do to her in the first round? Did I treat her horribly?"
My heart raced as I spoke. What if I'd done something awful to her?
Since I'd done things to Seo Yu-ju, I couldn't swear I hadn't to Wi Ho-yeon.
- Not really. You treated her well on the surface. You helped her, so she fell for you. Though she never truly knew you.
"......"
- ...Same with Seo Yu-ju.
...My head spun.
"What about you?"
- Hm?
"...Are you okay? If I think about it, I did awful things to you too. Used you, insulted you, and even now in the second round, I..."
- Don't overthink it, my lord. Instead of that, why not embrace me?
"No... That's..."
- Just testing. I know it takes time to approach you.
"......"
- So, when do I get to see your real face?
"Th-the clone isn't enough...?"
Ruska got genuinely angry at my words.
- You didn't mean that seriously, right? I don't want this clone. I want the real you.
"Haha..."
- And it might be rude, but this clone feels annoyingly cocky. It's exactly like you, but it pisses me off.
'Shit, is it badmouthing me?'
"...Maybe you just feel that way because it's a clone of me?"
- No. Anyway, no clones. Come yourself.
"Sigh... Aren't you a slave? A slave summoning her master?"
- Don't whine, Master. I know you're dodging.
'Ha, no use...'
"...I'll visit as soon as possible."
- Keep that promise.
'Well, I had to go anyway.'
Not that I owed Ruska, but I had a task for her.
'...Gotta keep promises.'
I planned to fulfill my promise to Ha Yu-ri. For that, I needed Sharice and Ruska's power.
'Anyway, off to the office.'
Time to start the day. I was already a bit late for my usual schedule.
I threw on some clothes and hurried to the office.
"Huh?"
"...Yun-seong."
'What's she doing here?'
Seo Yu-ju was in my office.
And Wi Ho-yeon stood there too.
"Yun-seong, I need to talk."
I instantly knew this was about Wi Ho-yeon's request.
"Ah, sure. Have a seat first, Yu-ju."
As I seated Seo Yu-ju, I glanced at Wi Ho-yeon. She tried to hide it, but her anxiety showed.
She looked like a pet terrified of abandonment.
'...Worried I won't keep my word?'
When I glanced her way, Wi Ho-yeon looked even more uneasy, though I couldn't read her thoughts.
"Sorry for coming so early."
"No problem. Between us, come anytime."
She seemed pleased at "between us," her expression brightening.
"Thanks. Anyway, it involves Ho-yeon too."
"...Ho-yeon?"
I knew exactly what she'd say, but pretended it was new.
Showing I knew would expose Wi Ho-yeon's heads-up.
"Yes. I'm thinking of reassigning Ho-yeon from your escort duties."
'As expected.'
I'd wondered if it was something else, but no.
"Reassign Ho-yeon...?"
"Yes. She's been your escort long enough, and—not blaming her—she's failed to protect you a few times."
Wi Ho-yeon bowed her head like she'd committed a crime.
'Ha...'
"And you were uncomfortable with her at first, right? You even asked to remove her."
Wi Ho-yeon flinched at Seo Yu-ju's words.
'This fox...'
She phrased it not as her opinion, but as if I disliked Wi Ho-yeon.
'Yu-ju noona, you're really pissed. Never knew you could talk like this.'
I was honestly surprised. This wasn't the Seo Yu-ju I knew.
And I learned something else.
To Seo Yu-ju, I was always priority one.
Meaning, if it meant securing me, she'd gladly bare her fangs at others—even clanmates.
I'd only seen her devotion to me, never how she handled others.
'Wow. Look at Ho-yeon. She's completely cowed.'
Unable to stand tall before Seo Yu-ju.
"...I get what you're saying, Yu-ju. I was burdened by the escort at first."
Agreeing with her made her brighten.
"Right! So, for Ho-yeon..."
I cut her off.
"But not anymore. Ho-yeon and I are close now. No need to reassign her. She's plenty helpful."