Chapter 151: A Man's Jealousy is Ugly
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 151: A Man's Jealousy is Ugly
“That’s certainly a perspective worth considering. I’ll keep that in mind.”
It really is a blessing to have a boss who actually listens to his subordinates instead of just ignoring them.
Berengel could have easily been bitter toward me, seeing as I was being treated like royalty by the shrine maidens while he was left to his own devices, but he was taking my input seriously.
“This is the information she gathered. Her name is Angelica.”
“Ah, the daughter of the Graham family? Thank you for providing such a keen insight.”
Before I could be mistaken for the 'intellectual' type, I made sure to credit my teammates for any brainwork. I clearly identified Angelica as the one who came up with the idea and introduced her.
But wait, isn't the treatment a bit different? He speaks informally to me, yet he’s being so polite to Angelica.
“Oh, uh, it’s just a hypothesis, so I could be wrong.”
“My job is to consider as many hypotheses as possible and filter out the most likely ones. Thank you for your valuable opinion.”
Right. No matter if you're a combat mage or a Black Agent, at the end of the day, you're still just an office worker.
Berengel, the corporate drone sucking up to the Graham family, accepted Angelica’s opinion with the utmost courtesy. With him brown-nosing like that, Angelica will definitely get the credit for this intel.
Satisfied, I headed back to where the rest of the team was waiting.
“Hey! Say that again! What did you just say?!”
That damn Thug. I thought he’d turned over a new leaf, but his old habits were rearing their ugly head again. He was grabbing a man—another mercenary on the request—by the collar and threatening him.
I’d only left them outside for a moment to meet with Berengel, and he’d already managed to start something.
“Arrogant brats... just because you’re getting a little pampered, you think you can ignore the hierarchy?”
Even with his collar gripped tight, the man sneered and spoke with a venomous sarcasm.
Yep, hearing that, it’s clear this guy is trash too.
Sorry for doubting you, Thug.
“What’s going on?”
“Yo~ shit, was that shrine maiden pussy nice and tight? They were practically dripping for you. Must be nice having a pretty face, huh?”
“...I don’t even need to ask to know what’s happening.”
I was about to ask Yukina, but hearing the man’s words directed at me, I immediately grasped the situation.
I know he’s a minor antagonist, but how can someone spit out such embarrassing, childish lines without even running them through a brain filter?
I get being jealous. Envy? Hatred? Sure, those are human emotions.
But have some class... or at least, a minimum level of human decency.
He probably thinks he’s being provocative with his vulgarity, but even vulgarity should have a certain level of finesse.
I suppose, as a gentleman, I should teach him a lesson.
“I told you to shut your mouth! Yeon-woo is someone so incredible you couldn't even imagine—”
I placed a hand on Thug’s shoulder, stopping him from exploding further.
Man... you really think that highly of me? And here I was, always looking down on you as just some thug.
I mean, I’m touched, but you know your karmic debt isn't paid off yet, right? You’re still a 'Thug' for now.
And listen, kid. In a situation like this, the first one to get angry loses.
Look at his face. He’s practically begging you to hit him so he can report it to the higher-ups.
A war of words isn't about winning or losing. It’s about making the other person lose their mind.
I put my arm around Thug’s shoulder and looked down at the man he was holding.
“Are you jealous?”
“Jealous? My ass. A mage should be judged by his magic, not by how well he swings his dick.”
Suddenly he’s spouting logic. When a guy who was just raving like a lunatic starts trying to sound reasonable, it means he’s feeling pressured.
You’re really jealous, aren't you?
“You enjoying this? A talentless hack like you getting treated like a big shot just because—”
“I’m enjoying it SOOOOO DAMN MUCH!!!”
I cut him off with a loud shout.
I shifted my arm from Thug’s shoulder to the man’s, leaning in and chatting away excitedly.
“Hey, did you see the shrine maidens at the entrance? Their faces, their bodies—absolutely top-tier. You don’t see women like that just anywhere. You haven't been inside yet, have you? Every single one of them in there is incredible.”
“...”
“Beautiful women of every personality and style, treating me with the utmost care and hospitality. Yes, 'hospitality.' You know what I mean.”
To a guy like this, the word 'hospitality' would definitely sound like something else.
What he’s imagining is actually correct, but for the sake of the Shrine Maiden Clan’s honor, I used a word that could be interpreted in multiple ways.
“It’s literally heaven. You’d know if you could just get in once. It’s truly amazing... Ah. My baaaad~ You don’t have the qualifications to enter, do you? What a shame.”
“I was wondering what kind of bullshit you were gonna spew...”
“Ah-ah—let me finish. I’ll tell you how to get invited.”
At the mention of being able to go, a glint of desire flickered in his ugly eyes.
Poor bastard—he really was just picking a fight because he was envious.
“It’s simple. You just have to become a real man.”
“...?”
“The ritual of the Shrine Maiden Clan is well-known, right? You just have to be significantly more outstanding than others. The criteria vary by field, but you just need to pass the overall score.”
“...”
“But that’s never going to happen for you, is it? You know your own place, which is why all you can do is be jealous. Hey—I’m praising you! I’m saying you have the ability to look at yourself objectively. How wonderful. Truly admirable. At least you won’t die trying to do something impossible.”
The man looked like he was about to have a seizure, but with my arm around his shoulder and Thug still gripping his collar, he couldn't do a thing.
You can’t break that grip. Our Thug might be dim-witted, but he’s got the strength of an ox.
I squeezed his shoulder tight and whispered softly in his ear.
“Don’t you get it? I’ve enjoyed women you’ll never even get to speak to in your entire life. And the number of shrine maidens I’ve slept with is faaaaar more than the total number of women you’ve ever been with.”
“You little...”
“Hey! And look at those guys! You’re even lower than them! They got invited!”
I pointed at the Comedy Duo. The man stared at them blankly.
He looked at Rio, whose rotten expression made him look even uglier, and then at Masayoshi, who was trying to look cool while focusing on his tablet but was still undeniably unattractive. The man looked like he couldn't accept reality.
“Bullshit! They only got in because they’re with you!”
“Oh? You didn't know? Even if you’re part of a group, if the shrine maidens don’t acknowledge you, you can’t set foot inside. Didn't you know the government agents are waiting outside? You’re worth less than those two. Face reality. You were so good at being objective a second ago, what happened?”
Of course, being in my party gave them a massive bonus.
The man stared at the Comedy Duo with a look of total despair, as if his world had collapsed. I patted his shoulder and laughed.
“And you know what? I’m a 'V.I.P.' guest here. If you cause a scene, whose side do you think the Shrine Maiden Clan will take? And if the shrine maidens get angry, whose side do you think Mr. Berengel will take?”
“...”
Who’s at fault? Who cares? I’m friends with the guy. He’s not the type to do that. It must be the other guy’s fault.
That, my young friend, is the power of connections.
Even though they’d outsourced the request, they needed people who knew the forest, so a few shrine maidens were still around. The man glanced at a shrine maiden watching from a distance and lowered his gaze, cowed.
And for a guy like you, I’ve prepared a little something extra.
“Tsukihi~”
“Yes, did you call for me?”
I’d slept with so many of them that it was hard to keep track, but it seemed Teresa had intentionally assigned the ones I’d spent the most time with to be our guides. I remembered all of them.
Tsukihi approached me gracefully, as if she’d been waiting, and stood before me with a polite bow.
I let go of the man and wrapped my arm around Tsukihi’s waist.
“Well then, I’m busy, so I’ll be going.”
I left the loser behind and walked away with Tsukihi.
A real man doesn't look back petty-mindedly.
Go ahead and vent all your frustration while looking at the back of a real man with his arm around a beauty’s waist.
“Sorry about that. If this starts any weird rumors about Diana, I’ll make it up to you somehow.”
“Hehe, but Yeon-woo-nim, you said I was sexy. And... I missed this hand.”
Tsukihi tickled my hand on her waist with her fingers and gave me a seductive smile.
Um... I didn't exactly call you sexy, but... I guess it’s fine.
Even though we’d walked away, the distance between the man and my team wasn't that great, so I stopped soon.
Tsukihi, sticking close to my side, bowed slightly toward the female team members.
“I apologize for monopolizing Yeon-woo-nim. However, I needed to help him save face, so I will stay for just a moment before leaving.”
She really is sharp and good at her job.
Even though she didn't have to, Tsukihi politely apologized to the others and explained the situation. She’s exactly the kind of talent our Team Leader would love.
Except for the fact that she’s pressing her breast into my side way too hard. Oh, and could you maybe stop your hand from subtly stroking my butt?
Bukgeuk-jwa, who was staring at Tsukihi as if she wanted her for herself, spoke with a smile.
“That’s a level of social maneuvering I’d like to praise.”
“Right? I told you I’m good at arguing.”
“Yes, you’ve certainly ingrained into everyone just how petty and vulgar you can be.”
“But it worked, didn't it?”
“I have to admit that much. He was getting on my nerves with his constant badgering, so that was a satisfying blow.”
Despite the slight disdain, Bukgeuk-jwa offered a compliment.
“You shouldn't judge Yeon-woo by what he just showed. If someone respects him, he respects them back. He’s a strong and kind person.”
“He has a keen eye for others and a warm heart.”
As Angelica defended me, Bukgeuk-jwa looked at her fondly and patted her head.
Hey, be kind to me too. I did a good job, pat my head.
Akane was staring at me, her fingers flying across her phone screen as if she had a mountain of things to record.
Anyway, with this, I might get stabbed in a back alley somewhere, but at least no one will mess with my teammates anymore.
Go ahead and try to stab me all you want. Let’s see if you can even scratch my Mana Barrier.
As I looked around, soaking in the negative stares directed at me rather than my team, I spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
Ah, seriously, the timing. Why do they have to be here?
Akito’s group was staring right at me, probably having seen everything on their way to report.
It was a given that Shiori and the Samurai were looking at me like I was a cockroach, and the Elf looked disgusted too. At least Chika gave me a secret, awkward little wave.
It’s obvious how much they saw.
“Yo—find anything today?”
“Ah... no, we just did some investigating today.”
I raised a hand and greeted him shamelessly, but Akito responded awkwardly, clearly wanting to avoid being associated with me.
Are you embarrassed too?
Was I really that bad, like Bukgeuk-jwa said?
Despite being nearby, Akito didn't come any closer. He just gave an awkward smile, said he had to report to Berengel, and left with his followers.
What are you looking at, punk?
The Elf kept her eyes on me until the very moment they disappeared.
That aside, in the original story, this request is how Akito forms a connection with the Shrine Maiden Clan. Is he going to be okay after being humiliated this morning?
“What’s the current consensus on him?”
“You mean Daihara Akito. He was disrespectful to Lady Teresa, but he’s still inexperienced, so it’s understandable.”
“No, not that...”
Tsukihi tilted her head, then quickly caught my drift. She whispered with a faint, succubus-like smile.
“I only have eyes for you, Yeon-woo-nim. I want to receive your seed.”
No, not that...
She must have mistaken my question for a man’s possessive desire to monopolize the women, because she squeezed my butt happily.
Since she seemed so pleased, I gave up on asking further.
He’s Akito, after all.
I’m not living here forever, and to maintain the clan, they’ll eventually have to take the seeds of other men anyway. He’s got the family name, the achievements, the skill, and the looks—he’s top-tier, so a connection will form naturally.
Hmm... I shouldn't worry about it, but I’m still a bit uneasy. I’ll just ask Teresa while we’re having sex after the job is done.