Chapter 62
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Adaptation (2)
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"Yun-seong, what do you think of the new recruits?"
I was alone in Seo Yu-ju's office, chatting with her one-on-one.
"Hmm... You mean Ho-yeon and In-woo?"
From Seo Yu-ju's perspective, it seemed she was worried I might feel uncomfortable since she'd brought them in so suddenly.
'Well... honestly, it was pretty abrupt from the rest of the party's viewpoint.'
I knew Seo Yu-ju was a regressor, so I could predict she'd bring in talent, but the others in the party didn't have that insight.
In fact, excluding me, the party members had been awkward around the two. Probably because neither Wi Ho-yeon nor Song In-woo were the sociable type, making it hard to warm up to them.
'And... the existing clan members vanished so suddenly.'
It hadn't been long since Gu Yeon-jeong and the other clan members had died en masse, which surely played a part.
"For starters... In-woo seems timid in personality, but he's meticulous. He's capable with administrative work, and he strikes me as a competent alchemist."
"... Hmm. Do you think he's a good person?"
Judging by her worried expression as she asked, Seo Yu-ju was concerned I might dislike them.
People have all sorts of personalities, so some mesh well while others don't— it made sense she'd worry about that.
In Song In-woo's case, our jobs didn't overlap much, and we wouldn't be hanging around together, so no issues there.
The real problem was Wi Ho-yeon.
I didn't know her values or personality, but if she had some pointless sense of justice, it'd be a headache for me.
Given my nature, I couldn't always do the "right" thing. With her assigned as my bodyguard, my freedom was already restricted.
I understood Seo Yu-ju had assigned Wi Ho-yeon out of consideration for me, but it felt like surveillance from my side.
"Yes. I can see why you recruited In-woo."
"That's a relief. What about Wi Ho-yeon? Have you two gotten closer?"
I had to choose my words carefully here. She was valuable to the clan, but I needed to convey to Seo Yu-ju that having her as my bodyguard was uncomfortable.
"Ah... Actually, I have something to say about that..."
"Wh-what? Is there a problem...?"
Seo Yu-ju asked with a troubled look. She'd expected a positive response, so my hint of an issue caught her off guard.
"Truthfully, Wi Ho-yeon's work ability is outstanding. Our efficiency has gone up thanks to her. It's just... her personality, or whatever you call it... doesn't quite fit as my bodyguard..."
'Damn it...'
It felt like I was badmouthing Wi Ho-yeon for no reason. I was basically implying there was something wrong with her personality.
Speaking ill of an innocent person made the words stick in my throat.
"Yes... anyway, I just feel like our personalities don't mesh well."
Seo Yu-ju listened, then asked gravely.
"... So, you're saying there's a problem with Wi Ho-yeon's personality?"
"No. It's not a problem with her personality... just that we don't click..."
'Is it that shocking?'
I wasn't sure if she knew Wi Ho-yeon and I had history from the first round, but Seo Yu-ju had clearly hoped we'd get along.
"Of course, it's not that Ho-yeon has an issue. It's just my opinion that assigning her to something other than my bodyguard would be better."
'Get the hint?'
"....."
"I'm truly grateful you assigned her out of care for me, Yu-ju, but our differing temperaments make it a bit uncomfortable."
'It's not a big problem with Wi Ho-yeon. I'm just a little uneasy. Got it?'
I figured that much would get my point across to Seo Yu-ju.
"... I understand, Yun-seong. I'll talk to Ho-yeon about it..."
'Good. You won't say it directly, right? Don't screw this up, sis. Phrase it nicely. I won't say anything else since you're sensible, okay?'
"Thank you, Yu-ju. I'll take my leave then."
My trust in Seo Yu-ju's flexibility lasted exactly until that day. The next morning, I was in for a shock.
"Lee Yun-seong, I'm so sorry..."
The next morning, I pressed a hand to my forehead and closed my eyes at the absurd scene before me.
Because when I arrived at the office, Wi Ho-yeon was kneeling, waiting for me.
"....."
"It's because of my shortcomings. If there's anything lacking in me, I'll fix it. Please..."
My head wasn't working right. Desperate to resolve this somehow, I spoke to her in a trembling voice.
"Haha... H-Ho-yeon. Wh-what's this all of a sudden? Why are you doing this? Pl-please stand up first."
'Fuck... no way, no way... did she say it straight?'
I hadn't thought even Seo Yu-ju would relay my words so bluntly without softening them, but apparently, I'd been wrong.
".... The Clan Master told me. That my attitude was a problem..."
'F-fuck...! Seo Yu-ju, you crazy bitch...!'
I'd hoped it wasn't true, but when my suspicion was confirmed, my vision went white.
"Even though the Clan Master ordered me to protect you... due to my inexperience, I upset you. I'm sorry."
'No... that's not it... you're not at fault... damn it all.'
What I'd wanted was for Seo Yu-ju to quietly reassign Wi Ho-yeon from bodyguard duty to something else—not this mess.
"When she asked me to guard you, the Clan Master emphasized it strongly. To serve you more diligently than even her..."
'What kind of nonsense is that...'
What clan treats a regular member more preciously than their Clan Master?
Wi Ho-yeon was the Sword Empress, no less. She wasn't someone to be handled this way. If other clans learned we treated the Sword Empress like this, they'd faint in shock.
"For now... no... what exactly did Yu-ju tell you?"
"... She said she was disappointed in me. To apologize if I'd wronged you..."
I nearly burst out laughing at Wi Ho-yeon's response. Seo Yu-ju's idiocy left me speechless.
'Crazy... insane bitch... what the hell did she say?!'
I couldn't fathom how my words had twisted into Wi Ho-yeon being at fault.
'We should be begging her to stay, and she says that crap to her?'
I'd known Seo Yu-ju lacked judgment on matters involving me, but I'd never imagined it'd be this bad.
I hadn't dreamed she'd do something this stupid.
".... I think my words got distorted when they reached Yu-ju. You haven't done anything wrong, Ho-yeon. Please stand up. It must be a misunderstanding."
".... If there's anything I need to improve, feel free to tell me. I'll do whatever you ask..."
"N-no... please just stand up. This... this is making me uncomfortable...!"
I grabbed her arm to pull her up, but the stat difference meant she didn't budge.
"But..."
"Sigh... Wi Ho-yeon, that's an order. Stand... up.."
Only then did she rise—it was ridiculous.
'Fuck... damn it all...!'
This fiasco made reassigning Wi Ho-yeon impossible. Pulling her now would confirm I truly disliked her, turning misunderstanding into fact.
The twisted situation left me sighing helplessly.
"Sigh..."
As I sighed with my hand on my forehead, Wi Ho-yeon watched my expression carefully.
Afraid she'd kneel again, I hurriedly spoke up.
"... To clear up any misunderstanding, let me say this: you did nothing wrong, Ho-yeon. Don't talk nonsense."
"... Yes, understood."
'Now that it's come to this... I guess we need to talk it out...'
Since we'd be stuck together anyway, I had no choice but to have an honest chat with Wi Ho-yeon or figure something out.
"... Ho-yeon. Do you drink?"
"I don't indulge much... but I can handle it."
"Sigh... Then after work, let's grab a drink at a bar. There's something I want to discuss."
"... Understood."
Clunk!
"Ah... Yun-seong? What's up..."
".... Yu-ju. What the hell did you say to Ho-yeon?"
I'd tried to hold back, but frustration and irritation won out, so I stormed into Seo Yu-ju's office the moment lunch break hit.
"Y-yes?"
I wanted to flip her desk, but barely restrained myself and continued.
"... When did I ever say Wi Ho-yeon did something wrong to me?"
"Wh-what are you..."
Realizing I wasn't here for pleasantries, Seo Yu-ju replied in a meek voice.
"You told her to apologize if she'd wronged me."
"Ah... th-that was..."
"... Are you insane?"
".... Pardon?"
My blunt words turned Seo Yu-ju's face pale.
"She... Wi Ho-yeon is the Sword Empress. A powerhouse other clans are desperate to recruit."
"... Gasp."
"We should be treating her with the utmost care, and you have her apologizing to me? What were you thinking? What if she leaves the clan?!"
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't understand Seo Yu-ju. I knew I was precious to her somehow, but how could she twist my words like that?
Thinking of Wi Ho-yeon still kneeling in the office made my heart race.
"Tell me with your own mouth, Yu-ju. Did I say I disliked Wi Ho-yeon?"
"... N-no..."
"Did I say she did something wrong to me?"
"N-no..."
"Then... why the hell did you say that to her?"
"I-I think I misunderstood. You said you were uncomfortable, so I thought Ho-yeon had done something wrong..."
"So now you're saying it's my fault for not speaking clearly?"
Irritation slipped out unbidden. I regretted it but decided to brazen it out.
Crossing my arms with an angry glare, Seo Yu-ju fidgeted as she responded.
"N-no, it's not your fault, Yun-seong..."
Seeing her so uneasy melted my anger into guilt.
'I feel kinda bad...'
Truth be told, while I'd phrased things indirectly, she had misinterpreted too—it wasn't entirely one-sided.
But changing my attitude now was too late.
"Do you know how flustered I was? Seeing her kneeling and waiting in the office scared the hell out of me."
"Sh-she knelt...?!"
Hearing Wi Ho-yeon had knelt to apologize shocked Seo Yu-ju pale.
"Exactly that. She knelt and apologized. I was completely blindsided."
"Ah..."
Seo Yu-ju probably hadn't meant for Wi Ho-yeon to kneel.
But words depend on how they're received.
"... Make time to apologize to Ho-yeon properly. You even told her you were disappointed in her."
She flinched at my words, clearly stung.
"... Anyway, apologize to her right. Until then, I won't want to see your face, Yu-ju."
".. Y-yes?! What... what do you mean, Yun-seong?!"
I worried I'd gone too far, but stuck to my guns. We couldn't have repeats of this.
"Yun-seong?! Yun-seong!"