Chapter 164: Why Are You Drinking That?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 164: Why Are You Drinking That?
Monica Graham.
While she was Angelica’s mother, she was more widely known to the public as the head of the prestigious Graham family.
Though she hadn't made it into the 12 Zodiacs, she possessed extraordinary skill befitting the bloodline of a renowned mage family. Beyond her career as a combat mage, she was highly proficient in politics and the shrewd management of the family’s numerous businesses.
Inside the empty Principal’s office at Yggdrasil.
Monica sat alone on the sofa, scrolling through her smartphone.
The screen was filled with social media photos and videos related to the ongoing Yggdrasil festival. With public interest at an all-time high, such content was easy to find anywhere on the internet.
Currently, the hottest topics were "Magic Coffee" and "Black Dragon."
Though the terms differed, they both pointed to the same thing, and at the center of this sensation was the booth where Monica’s daughter was working.
The face of an annoyingly handsome man flickered across her mind, but Monica brushed it aside, searching instead for photos featuring her daughter.
“…Why does this brat keep popping up?”
Since Magic Coffee was only available to women, Yeon-woo’s face—the one personally selling it—appeared frequently.
Because of his striking looks, women often took selfies with him, and even in videos, he was constantly visible in the background. Monica scowled, clearly irritated.
Her thumb flicked across the screen, skipping past the "good-for-nothing punk" until she finally found what she was looking for. She adjusted her posture, focusing intently on the screen.
It was a photo of Angelica with her friends, all in the same outfit, likely taken at someone's request. Unlike her friends, Angelica’s smile was a bit stiff, as if she were awkward in front of the camera, but in Monica’s eyes, she looked absolutely adorable.
After carefully capturing the image and saving it to her gallery, Monica’s expression returned to one of indifference as she looked at a photo of Yeon-woo again.
“How dare he put a precious daughter from a respectable family in a maid outfit? And why is the quality of the clothes so unnecessarily high?”
As Monica grumbled—it was unclear whether she was happy or angry about Angelica wearing the maid uniform—the door opened and Erin walked in.
“Sorry, Monica. The meeting ran late.”
“The Principal’s position is a busy one. It’s fine.”
“Has Frey not arrived yet? I saw a text during the meeting saying she’d arrived.”
“I’ve been here alone since—”
As Monica was answering, the door burst open and Frey stepped inside.
“Speak of the devil… You call us here and then go off to play?”
“I wasn’t playing.”
“Don’t give me that. You clearly enjoyed yourself.”
Despite her firm denial, Frey’s hands were full of festival food.
Since it was only the first day and the crowds were massive, one had to wait in line even for the less popular booths. The sheer amount of food in Frey’s hands suggested she had spent a significant amount of time out there.
However, Frey ignored the comment and sat on the opposite sofa.
“Give me one of those.”
“No. I bought this with my own money. If you want some, go buy it yourself.”
“Sigh… That personality of hers will never change.”
“Now, now—Frey’s probably just acting shy. Since everyone’s here, even if a bit late, shall we discuss that matter?”
The three of them had known each other since childhood, so they often showed sides of themselves they would never reveal in public. Erin sat down, smoothing over the bickering between the two.
As soon as she sat, the atmosphere around Monica, who had been arguing with Frey, turned heavy. Her gaze sharpened.
“Can that information be trusted?”
“Are you saying you don’t trust what I saw with my own eyes?”
Frey’s demeanor had also shifted. She had returned to her role as the leader of Greyhound, the "Mad Dog," radiating an intimidating aura.
“It’s hard to believe, that’s the truth. If I told you that a god-like entity capable of controlling natural phenomena existed—and was inferred to be at odds with the Government—would you have believed me?”
“…No.”
The information Yeon-woo had passed to Frey, and which Frey and Erin had investigated, had finally reached Monica.
However, due to the sheer lack of data, what Monica read felt more like a work of fiction.
If not for the magic circle found in Okigo’s Den and the jewel placed upon the altar, Monica wouldn't have believed them, no matter how much she trusted the two.
No matter how powerful a mage was, they were powerless before natural phenomena.
There had been cases where one of the 12 Zodiacs died trapped in a hallucinogenic sandstorm, and instances where cities outside the Barrier were wiped out overnight.
One could prepare for disasters and invest resources to minimize damage, but an individual mage could not stand against nature itself.
And yet, there was a group that could control it?
How could humans, so helpless before nature, possibly stop them?
“And this brat. Why is he acting like he knows something but refusing to talk?”
Monica pointed angrily at Yeon-woo’s photo in the documents.
There was an enemy threatening the Government—no, humanity—and yet he was keeping secrets like some protagonist in a novel. From her perspective, it was infuriating.
“He’s told us most of what he knows.”
“No, he hasn't explained how he knows it.”
The how.
Unless that was explained, trust was bound to be thin.
The three gathered here were a member of the 12 Zodiacs and Principal of Yggdrasil, the head of the Graham family which held influence over the entire magical world, and the leader of the world’s greatest mercenary group.
How could a mere Yggdrasil student know about a group that even these three were unaware of—a group they hadn't noticed even a hint of?
In response to Monica’s suspicion, Frey shifted her posture, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, glaring with murderous eyes.
“Are you doubting my Yeon-woo right now?”
“My?”
“…You misheard.”
“Didn’t you just say ‘my’?”
“I said you misheard.”
Cornered by a single slip of the tongue, Frey’s murderous aura vanished instantly as she averted her gaze.
Monica looked at her with pity, sighed, and leaned back deeply into the sofa.
“Fine, whether it’s ‘my’ or ‘mine’—”
“I. Said. You. Misheard.”
“Anyway. Setting aside whether that brat is trustworthy, you realize that if your investigation is correct, this is a major crisis threatening humanity, right?”
“Yes, that’s why I told you, Monica. Both Frey and I trust you more than anyone.”
Erin gave a bitter smile.
Since they had heard from Yeon-woo that even high-ranking officials were connected to the Black Branch, they had to be extremely cautious.
The Black Branch.
That was the name of the group Yeon-woo always referred to as the masterminds.
Yeon-woo claimed to know this because of a "game," but in reality, there was little he could tell Frey. They were an organization that appeared in the chapters after the battle and reconciliation with the demons, so they were shrouded in mystery until then, leaving him with little useful information.
The accidents and incidents caused by the Black Branch were all passed over in brief text, and the developers had intentionally withheld information. Even Yeon-woo, who had cleared the game, only knew what happened after the chapter transition.
Since he couldn't talk about a distant future that hadn't happened yet, Yeon-woo could only share the bits and pieces he did know.
“Doesn’t Yggdrasil have art classes? If not, invite an outside instructor for this kid. Or send him to me; I’ll have him make a montage.”
The most concrete and useful information Yeon-woo had provided was the abilities and physical descriptions of the Black Branch executives.
However, Yeon-woo’s drawing skills were so abysmal that the descriptions looked like doodles drawn by an elementary schooler.
Monica sighed, unable to tell if a certain scribble was meant to be hair or horns, while Erin laughed awkwardly.
At least knowing their abilities was a relief.
“…They all possess Supernatural Abilities…? It’s one obstacle after another.”
“It’s nothing special. You can tell their level just by the way they play around with letters like A and C. Just bring them in front of me; I’ll take care of them all.”
“Those ‘nothing special’ guys are the ones controlling natural phenomena.”
At Frey’s confident declaration, Monica let out another sigh.
The three held a long meeting, engaging in numerous discussions about who within the Government could be trusted, who should be suspected and investigated, and how to catch the tail of the Black Branch.
The food Frey had bought was soon gone, leaving only empty wrappers piled on the table between the sofas as the three remained focused for a long time.
“For now… I’ll try to get in contact with Isabella.”
“That crazy bitch?”
“Because she’s crazy, she’s more trustworthy. She can’t stand having anyone above her; do you think she’d tolerate being under these Black Branch people?”
Frey, who had looked disgusted, nodded since Monica’s logic was sound.
As the discussion reached a temporary conclusion and the atmosphere relaxed, Erin stood up.
“Oh, look at me. I haven't even served you two tea. Just a moment.”
Normally, this would be the job of her secretary, Katrina, but she was currently absent.
Because the matter was so grave, Erin had intentionally given Katrina other tasks to keep her away and maintain maximum secrecy.
Stepping out of the office, Erin stopped on her way to find teacups and looked at Katrina’s empty desk.
A cup with a ridiculous dragon drawn on it.
It was from the most talked-about shop at the festival.
Yeon-woo’s Black Dragon… Come to think of it, I asked Katrina to get some, but I was so busy I didn't even get to taste it.
Erin, who couldn't easily wander the festival in her position as Principal, approached the cup, thinking the timing was perfect.
Though it was the largest size, it was a bit small for three people to share.
Still, considering this was coffee related to Monica’s daughter and Frey’s student, she thought it would be nice for the three of them to try it. She picked up the coffee.
The other cup must have been Katrina’s, as it was nearly empty, so Erin took only the full one back inside.
“Ta-da~ Guess what this is?”
“What is it?”
“You don’t even recognize the coffee your own student made?”
“He’s not my student.”
“Ah~ He was ‘My Yeon-woo,’ wasn't he?”
“I said you misheard!”
Watching the two, who had been having such a professional meeting moments ago, return to their usual selves, Erin smiled warmly and heated the coffee with magic.
“It might not taste as good since it cooled down and was reheated.”
“Hmph, if that brat made it, it probably isn't much anyway.”
If Angelica had made it herself, it might be different, but as a coffee lover, Monica had no expectations for coffee served in such a ridiculous cup.
“You still don’t know him. You’ll be surprised when you taste it.”
“Have you tried it?”
“No, but he always finds a way to surprise people.”
Though she denied he was her student every time, Erin smiled at Frey’s display of trust in Yeon-woo. She poured the warmed coffee into cups and placed them before the two.
“What is this scent?”
“Is it… floral? Monica, you know more about this than I do. What kind of beans are these?”
“…I’m not sure. I’ve never smelled… no, strangely, it feels familiar.”
The three tilted their heads, staring at the coffee.
For Monica, who had given birth to Angelica and thus had much experience, the scent might have been familiar, but mixed with the scent of cheap coffee, she couldn't quite place it.
After taking in the aroma, Monica took the first sip. Frey watched her intently, as if her own coffee were being judged.
“… …”
“Well?”
“…My god, this coffee…”
When Monica’s face shifted from happiness to an expression of pure ecstasy, Frey smirked.
“See? I told you you’d be surprised. He acts like an idiot usually, but he strangely delivers when it counts.”
“Is it that good? Frey, you try some too.”
“I don’t even like coffee.”
Erin and Frey drank the coffee at the same time.
As the cups left their lips, expressions of bliss washed over their faces.
Vitality surged through their bodies, weary from the long hours of mental exertion during the meeting.
Strangely, while the flavors they perceived were different, they all shared the same sensation: it clung to the tongue, it was sticky, and though there were no solids, it felt remarkably thick.
The coffee traveled down their throats and spread through their systems, making their bodies flush with heat.
“Wow… I feel bad for Katrina, but this coffee Yeon-woo made is the best I’ve ever had in my life.”
“Was coffee always this delicious?”
A short while later, Katrina, having finished her tasks, entered the Principal’s office.
“I’m sorry, I’m a bit late…”
“It’s fine, Katrina. But I have a favor to ask… Could you go to Black Dragon and buy enough coffee for all of us one more time?”
“… …”
For the second time today, despair clouded Katrina’s face.
Why was the coffee she had left behind, thinking she couldn't possibly give it to Erin, sitting right there?
“Manage your student better! I’m telling you, that brat is constantly touching our Angelica! Now that they’re on the same team and going on missions together, he’s probably sexually harassing her every chance he gets! Still… he does know his coffee.”
In Katrina’s eyes, she saw a mother worried for her daughter.
While drinking coffee filled with the semen of the man who had supposedly harassed said daughter.
“He’s not my student! And stop badmouthing him. He might act like a pervert on the outside, but he’s a sincere guy with his head on straight.”
In Katrina’s eyes, she saw a master defending her student.
While drinking coffee filled with the semen of that "sincere" student with his "head on straight."