Chapter 158
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: Recalux (1)
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My words brought a flush of color to Wi Ho-yeon's face.
She must have been pretty worried that I might ditch her, after all.
Seo Yu-ju, on the other hand, had the complete opposite reaction.
"... Pardon?"
It was the look of someone who never expected that answer from me.
'She probably thought I'd definitely assign her a guard.'
I'd complained so much about having guards stuck to me that Seo Yu-ju's reaction was totally understandable.
"I'd like Ho-yeon to keep serving as my guard. She's helped me out more times than I can count."
"......."
"She's basically my lifesaver. If it weren't for her, I'd be dead by now."
"L-Lee Yun-seong..."
Wi Ho-yeon looked genuinely moved by my words, like she hadn't expected me to say anything like that.
Seo Yu-ju, meanwhile, wore a face like she'd just bitten into something foul. She couldn't even keep her expression neutral in front of me.
'Sorry, Yu-ju. But come on, it's just how it is.'
"Ha... So, you want to keep using Ho-yeon as your guard?"
"Yes."
Seo Yu-ju bowed her head deeply, muttering in a voice so quiet it was barely audible.
"Ahaha... Did I just hand the fish to the cat?"
"Yu-ju?"
At my call, Seo Yu-ju looked up with a resolute expression.
"But as clan master, I've already assigned Ho-yeon her duties. So please understand..."
Wi Ho-yeon raised her voice at Seo Yu-ju's words.
"M-Master! Why..."
Seo Yu-ju deliberately ignored her and continued.
"So! Please understand, Yun-seong."
'Playing hardball, huh?'
I could sense Seo Yu-ju's determination to separate me and Wi Ho-yeon at any cost.
'This is tricky... What now?'
With Seo Yu-ju digging in her heels like this, no amount of talk would convince her.
But I couldn't go back on my promise to Wi Ho-yeon either.
She'd said she didn't need anyone watching over her, but I planned to look out for her as much as possible.
It wasn't empty words—I'd truly saved my life thanks to her several times.
"... Yu-ju, what duties were you planning to give Ho-yeon?"
"She'll take on the role of training trainer for the clan. I've been leading sparring sessions with the members, but that's no longer feasible. I just don't have the time anymore."
'That's pretty specific.'
I'd thought it was just an excuse to pull her away, but it was a detailed answer.
'Or maybe she came up with it on the spot after hearing me.'
"Why not assign that to Jae-hyo? He lost an eye in the last battle, so frontline duty might be too risky for him. I'll talk to him about it."
"... Yun-seong, can't you just go along with my decision? If you need a guard, I'll find someone suitable."
It was basically 'do what I say' at this point.
"What I need isn't just any guard—it's Ho-yeon. I'm afraid that's not possible. Sorry, Yu-ju."
Seo Yu-ju's face twisted at my unyielding response.
It was a mix of grievance, frustration, anger, jealousy—you name it. I couldn't even describe it.
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
"... Fine. Do as you want, Yun-seong."
'Ha...'
Seo Yu-ju turned and started walking away.
"M-Master. Thank you..."
Wi Ho-yeon tried to thank her, but Seo Yu-ju ignored her completely.
"Ah..."
Wi Ho-yeon looked utterly shocked.
I was just as thrown by Seo Yu-ju's state—my mind was a mess.
'... How do I fix this?'
Seo Yu-ju's resentment toward me would fade with time.
It might be arrogant or selfish, but she'd always been like that with anything involving me.
The real issue was the relationship between Wi Ho-yeon and Seo Yu-ju.
I had no idea where to even start.
'Fuck, I'm the villain here. The moment I took Wi Ho-yeon in, it was all over.'
"... Ho-yeon, you okay?"
"... Did I covet something I shouldn't have?"
"Pardon?"
"I... don't know what to do. My feelings... they force me to betray the master."
"Ho-yeon, Yu-ju will get over it soon. So..."
"... Lee Yun-seong."
"Yes."
"You must know that the master has feelings for you."
Her words stopped me from trying to comfort her.
"The way... is for you to treat the master better than someone like me. That's why I have to ask: how do you see the master as a woman? Do you dislike her?"
Wi Ho-yeon's sudden question threw me off.
'... How do I see Seo Yu-ju as a woman?'
To be honest, my heart had raced whenever she'd approached me romantically.
Objectively, Seo Yu-ju was attractive—more than I deserved.
The problem was that her feelings for me didn't stem from her true heart.
'Because first-round me approached her on purpose.'
Her feelings for me were essentially manufactured by first-round me.
Would she still feel the same if she knew the whole truth?
If I'd genuinely dated her back then, I'd feel better about it.
In the end, it made me a piece of trash, but from my perspective, I was always agonizing over how to handle it.
'First-round me, you bastard...'
"... It's not that I don't find Yu-ju attractive as a woman."
"Then... why don't you accept the clan master's feelings? If it's because of me..."
Wi Ho-yeon seemed worried it was her fault, but it wasn't.
"It's not because of you, Ho-yeon. It's on me."
"... Pardon?"
"... I'll sort it out soon. Just trust me and wait."
It was time to come clean to Seo Yu-ju.
Though I wasn't ready to spill every truth.
'... That I was the head of the Execution Church, exterminated the beastkin, stuff like that... Hard to say. And mentioning Ruska? Who knows what could happen.'
It'd be half-lies again, but I couldn't reveal everything. I'd disclose just enough.
... And keep what needed hiding under wraps.
'The problem is I've got a ton on my plate.'
Soon, I'd take Charis and Ha Yu-ri to meet Ruska to hunt that old freak Recalux.
'Better to talk after that.'
"Master, you've finally come."
"Ruska."
Ruska didn't look like her usual self right now.
Her alluring features were the same overall, but her ears were human, not elven.
Probably because I'd given her advance warning.
Ruska lit up the moment she saw me and approached.
"Honestly, I thought you might bail this time too. You always run away."
"... This clan house is definitely not like ordinary clans."
"We operate in the shadows."
It had taken quite some effort to find the place. Passwords, underground location, the works.
It looked more like a hideout than a clan house from the outside, and I heard they had multiple branches.
"So, did you look into it?"
"If it's about that old man Recalux, yes, Master."
"Results?"
"Not sure if it'll satisfy you. I'll explain slowly."
I listened quietly as she spoke.
"First off, it seems the old man Recalux did kidnap Ha Yu-ri's little sister. His movements match the timeline perfectly."
I'd wondered if it might not be him. There were other old guys in that dark sorcerer group besides Recalux.
So it was ambiguous enough that I'd asked Ruska to investigate.
"... What about Ha Yu-ri's sister?"
"No idea. Honestly, she's probably dead, but I can't say for sure. Nothing on her."
The most crucial info was a total blank.
I figured Ha Yu-ri's sister was dead, and Ha Yu-ri probably did too, but I didn't want to rule out survival entirely.
"As for where that old man's holed up now, it's not confirmed, but we have a lead."
"... Yeah?"
Ha Yu-ri's sister's fate would come out once we caught and interrogated the freak anyway.
"I had my subordinates investigate based on the sketch you gave me. They spotted an old man matching the description on the outskirts of a certain city."
"Good. Where?"
"Hold on. Before that."
"Hm?"
"You'll acknowledge I went through a lot for this, right, Master?"
Something was off about Ruska's expression. Like it was filled with... longing...
"Uh... yeah? Come to think of it, I haven't thanked you. Ruska, thanks."
She shook her head.
"No need for empty formalities."
Ruska closed in and pressed her body against mine.
"Shouldn't you reward me? I seem to recall saying a slave needs compensation for fulfilling her master's orders well..."
"... What slave openly demands rewards from their master?"
"So, you can't give me anything?"
"... What do you want?"
"Why do you only embrace that Sword Empress?"
"What?"
"If you hadn't touched anyone, fine—but the moment you took the Sword Empress, it's been hard for me to hold back."
"......"
"That troubled look again. You're always like this. Guess I'll have to understand."
Ruska sighed and continued.
"I'll claim my reward later. Just don't run then. My feelings are real."
"... Got it."
'Fuck, I don't even know anymore.'
"When's that woman arriving? Didn't you say today?"
"Dunno... I gave her the location and password..."
Speak of the devil—footsteps and Ha Yu-ri's voice followed right after.
"... Why'd you pick a place like this for the meeting?"
She was frowning, clearly having gotten lost on the way.
"You made it?"
Ha Yu-ri spotted Ruska beside me and asked,
"... Who's she?"
As a so-called ranker powerhouse, Ha Yu-ri must have sensed something from Ruska.
She stared at her with extreme wariness.
Obviously, I needed to ease her guard, so I explained.
"No need to be cautious. She's an ally."
"An ally...?"
"Yeah. Let me introduce her properly. She's my..."
'Wait. What do I even call her?'
Slave was out. Subordinate or collaborator seemed safe—
"Ruska, slave to the master. Nice to meet you."
Ruska dropped a bomb.
"Holy shit."
I hurriedly checked Ha Yu-ri's face, and sure enough, she was looking at me like I was some bug.
"... Pervert."