Chapter 220: The Influence of a Single Strong Individual on Their Surroundings 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 220: The Influence of a Single Strong Individual on Their Surroundings 2
Late at night, Akane wakes up and goes looking for Yeon-woo.
Having taken over Shibarata, Yeon-woo is still staying there, unable to go home as he sifts through the organization's internal issues.
Akane first checks the guest room she had given him, but seeing the empty bed, her head darts around the room. However, there is no one in the silent, empty space.
"Yeon-woo is in the office."
Akane turns at the sound of Gilbert’s voice behind her.
Originally a mid-level manager, Gilbert is a man who rose to a position of managing the organization after Fable and his gang largely disappeared. As a member of the bloodline, he is a man who prides himself on loving Shibarata more than anyone else; he had resisted until the very end before siding with Park Yu-jeong to save the bloodline under her threats.
Because of this, Gilbert does not like Akane.
No, the person named Akane is fine. She is of the bloodline, loyal to Shibarata, and her skills are superior to anyone else's.
However, if asked if she is the type of person to lead an organization, the answer is an absolute no. She is different from Fable, but in another sense, she is someone who could lead Shibarata to ruin. There was no way Gilbert, who cherished the bloodline, could like Akane.
I’d rather Seo Yeon-woo had taken over Shibarata himself…
What they need now isn't lineage or character. It is someone who can straighten out the chaotic organization by any means necessary and revive Shibarata, which has already been blacklisted by the government.
Akane meets Gilbert’s expressionless gaze for a moment, hiding her inner thoughts, before silently heading toward the office.
Gilbert follows her quietly. Upon entering the office, Akane finds Yeon-woo asleep, slumped over the desk.
“… …”
Without waking him, Akane leans in close and observes him. Then, she opens the notepad app on her phone and begins writing about him.
It started as a job, and now that they’ve taken over Shibarata, it is a pointless task, but Akane has no intention of stopping. It is no longer about work; it is her personal interest. She wants to know more about Yeon-woo—the man who listens to her wishes and takes responsibility for her until the end.
- He is obsessed with women and sex, but he doesn't neglect the work in front of him. He looks uglier than usual when he sleeps. His expression looks like a pervert's.
It was content that would have made Yeon-woo angry if he had seen it.
Even today, Akane had seen Yeon-woo stealing glances at women's breasts and butts several times, and she felt every bit of his arousal toward her as well. They had even reached a certain atmosphere while washing each other's feet, but Yeon-woo had tearfully postponed sex with Akane due to the flood of incoming work.
He tried to act nonchalant, but the way he agonized so intensely between sex and work was quite cute to her.
Akane smiles faintly as she writes her notes.
Standing near the door, Gilbert watches her every move. Despite her personality flaws, she was the organization's top talent, so Gilbert had watched over her since she was a child. He had overseen her training, given her orders, and handled organizational matters with her, but even he was seeing Akane smile for the first time.
However, this new side of her isn't important to Gilbert. Nothing is more important than the revival of the organization, so whether Akane smiles or not fails to pique his interest.
After even taking a photo of his sleeping face, Akane steps away from the desk as if satisfied and leaves the office. Gilbert follows, and the two walk beneath the moonlit night sky.
"You must secure Master Yeon-woo at all costs."
“… …”
"Master Yeon-woo is someone who will be of great help in Shibarata's revival."
"What do you want from me?"
When Akane turns back to ask with her characteristically vacant eyes, Gilbert speaks calmly.
"Establish a special relationship with Master Yeon-woo. If possible, go beyond simple support and become family."
He is telling her directly to pull him into the bloodline for the sake of Shibarata's revival. He knows Akane; if he speaks in riddles, there is a high chance she won't understand.
Akane stares at Gilbert in silence, then turns back and continues walking.
"Gather everyone who recently became an executive."
"Understood. I will tell them to gather tomorrow."
"Now. Right here."
“… …”
When Gilbert doesn't answer, Akane turns around to look at him. The white moonlight illuminating the night reflects off her white hair, making it shimmer, and Gilbert is mirrored in her inscrutable eyes.
A moment of silence passes. Gilbert flinches slightly and bows his head.
"Understood."
"The place… in charge of martial force? The ones in charge of…"
"Are you referring to the departments?"
"Yes. Call them all."
"I apologize, but many personnel are out on external missions, and some are guarding the premises…"
"Just those who are available. As many as possible."
"Understood."
A short while later, the people Gilbert summoned gather in the wide plaza. Akane, however, sits on a rock in a flowerbed, looking up only at the moon.
"Everyone has gathered."
“… …”
Even at Gilbert's words, Akane remains silent, staring at the moon while the people whisper among themselves.
The only reason she became the leader is because Seo Yeon-woo is backing her. There have been various maneuvers, but she took over so abruptly without anyone loyal to her, and because she became leader through external power, there is much talk within the organization.
In particular, those who took over positions after the high-ranking officials vanished were mostly mid-level managers who used to give Akane direct orders. They cannot easily accept the fact that their subordinate became the head of the organization in the blink of an eye.
There was no proper procedure, and because the takeover was so rushed, very few here truly follow her.
The whispering continues, and soon voices grow louder as they begin to ignore Akane. Just as Gilbert is about to speak up due to the commotion, Akane opens her mouth.
"Yeon-woo is kind."
“… …”
They have known her for a long time, but her personality remains as unpredictable as ever. While the executives stare blankly, unable to understand her words, Akane continues.
"Yeon-woo was the first person to ask me what I wanted to do."
"Lady Akane, what are you saying…"
"Yeon-woo is kind."
“… …”
"But I can't keep acting like a spoiled child."
She doesn't have the luxury to be selfish. She wishes he would only pay attention to her, but many people seek Yeon-woo out, and he has many responsibilities.
Akane slowly stands up from the rock and looks down at the executives.
"I am stupid."
“… …”
Gilbert, who had hoped no one would respond to that statement, breathes a sigh of relief at the silence. No one here expects her to handle paperwork or business matters.
"Yeon-woo is handling the work for now… but once the cleanup is over, we have to do it."
Seo Yeon-woo is currently remodeling Shibarata from head to toe. He is increasing the treatment and support for subordinates, changing old and inefficient systems within the organization, fixing external profits and internal waste—there is nowhere his hand hasn't reached.
It was the result of deploying the numerous talents he manages, but there is so much changing that Seo Yeon-woo has to stay up all night just to review the details and press the approval stamps.
"Gutierrez, Yelisi, Kozma, Mashiro, Pelayo, Sigismund."
"…Yes? Yes!"
The executives, caught off guard by their names being called, answer in confusion as Akane looks at them.
"When Yeon-woo finishes the reorganization and hands over the work, be prepared to take it over immediately."
"Understood."
"And step to the side."
The people are surprised by Akane's proficiency, but she is merely relaying Yeon-woo's plan exactly as she heard it. Once the mentioned individuals move to the side, Akane scans the gathered crowd.
Not just executives, but combat mages have gathered as well, filling the plaza. Meeting their gazes steadily, mana begins to flow from Akane's body.
"I am the leader. But I can't do the smart things. So, as your leader, I will make one promise."
“… …”
"As long as I am here, no one will be able to bully Shibarata with force."
As long as monsters and demons exist, strength is a necessity for an organization. A place with superior combat mages holds corresponding power, and Shibarata is no different. However, no one yet trusts the words of the young Akane.
Akane transforms her stick into a sword and continues.
"From now on, I'll show you how strong I am. Everyone, come at me."
What on earth is she talking about?
They understand she wants to show her strength, but to suddenly tell them to attack? Is she planning to take on this entire crowd alone? No, more than that, she's using such a crude method to demonstrate her power?
Everyone is bewildered, but Akane doesn't care and swings her sword.
KABOOM—!
"Mmm… ugh… that tickles…"
A massive sound erupts and vibrations shake the desk, but Yeon-woo, who hasn't slept in days, doesn't wake up, merely mumbling in his sleep.
About an hour later.
Countless people are sprawled on the ground, and those who haven't lost consciousness mostly let out groans of pain. In the plaza, where the ground is heavily gouged and buildings and walls are half-collapsed, Akane stands alone.
Having faced so many people by herself, she isn't in perfect condition—she is panting and looks a mess—but Akane is the only one standing tall in this place.
"Haha, she actually did it."
Sitting on the railing of a building rooftop not far from Shibarata, Park Yu-jeong cackles with laughter. This was something Akane had asked her for advice on first. However, the advice she had sought from Park Yu-jeong was different from what people might expect.
I don't want to be a burden to Yeon-woo.
Those few words contained many meanings. Anyone else might not have been able to give proper advice, but Park Yu-jeong gave her the perfect solution. That was the full story behind what happened today.
Knowing Akane's personality, Yu-jeong thought she might actually go through with it, but seeing the absurd spectacle in person, she can't hide her amusement.
"She was strong, too…"
Chika, who was watching alongside Park Yu-jeong, lets out a hollow laugh. Why are there so many strong people in this world? She thought she had calmed her impatient heart a little, but watching Yeon-woo and Akane makes it stir again. On top of that, she doesn't know how strong Yukina might be, which makes Chika feel anxious.
However, remembering the words Yeon-woo had said to her, she finds peace again. It was a role Akito would have normally played, but Chika doesn't find it strange that she is finding stability in Yeon-woo's words.
"Hmm—you're taking this more calmly than I thought?"
"Why did you call me? To tell me she's strong?"
"Aw~ why would I do that? Between us?"
They had hung out quite a bit recently because of Yeon-woo, but Chika doesn't think they are close enough to say "between us." Chika knows Park Yu-jeong feels the same, and she watches silently to see what the other girl is stalling to say.
At the cold gaze, Park Yu-jeong chuckles and shrugs.
"How is it over there?"
"…Not great. I thought Akito would shake it off easily, but he hasn't."
"I guess he underestimated Yeon-woo by a lot."
"…It's more that Emma keeps souring the mood."
"Ah, she's good at that. Acting like she cares, acting all pretty and kind while badmouthing others. I don't know why men can't see the 'fox' behavior that every woman recognizes instantly."
Park Yu-jeong giggles. When Chika frowns, feeling like Akito is being mocked, Park Yu-jeong stops laughing.
"So, why did you call me?"
"I was thinking of making a proposal."
"A proposal?"
"Yeah. Don't you want to get stronger?"
"Ha, what could you possibly give me?"
As a child of the Fraser family, she had received all the support possible. Furthermore, with the distinguished mage Roman Fraser as her father, she didn't even need a master.
"Miss 13th Zodiac… wait, you're not a 12 Zodiac. You know how big the gap is between a real 12 Zodiac and a 12 Zodiac-class mage, right?"
“… …”
"Isabella."
"Isabella?"
"Or Andreya. Scorpio or Cancer—just pick one, and I'll make you their disciple."
She was offering the 12 Zodiacs, and giving her a choice between two of them at that. Chika looks at her with disbelief as she speaks so casually about something impossible through simple networking. However, Park Yu-jeong clicks her tongue, perhaps interpreting Chika's gaze differently.
"Honestly, it's not like I'm doing this because I like you. But Yeon-woo acknowledged you."
“… …”
"Ah~ must be nice to have talent."
Raising both arms to stretch, Park Yu-jeong sighs as she relaxes her body.
"I don't have a supernatural ability like Yukina, or a bloodline like Akane. And I don't have talent like you or Akito, either."
"You're saying I have talent?"
"Yeon-woo said you do."
“… …”
It was a light comment, but it showed just how much Park Yu-jeong trusted Yeon-woo. As Chika stares blankly, Park Yu-jeong continues.
"Anyway, I don't have a talent for killing people well. Oh, I might have a bit of a talent for tormenting them."
It was close to a deception, coming from someone who had been accepted into Yggdrasil and maintained a top rank among the elite students. However, that was only among ordinary mages; among the true monsters, even Park Yu-jeong felt lacking.
"Well—fighting doesn't always have to be about being good with your fists, so I'll play my own role. This proposal to you is part of that."
“… …”
"I'll make you a disciple of the 12 Zodiacs. In exchange, come to Yeon-woo's side."
"What?"
"Abandon Akito… no, you don't need to abandon him. Akito isn't an enemy of humanity; he's a comrade to fight alongside. But make the person you stand back-to-back with Yeon-woo."
Chika had never once considered leaving Akito's side. They had been together since they were young, and she thought they would always be together…
Seeing Chika's eyes waver, Park Yu-jeong smiles brightly.
"Don't overthink it. It's not something childish like a betrayal. If you get stronger, it'll help Akito, it'll help Yeon-woo, and it'll help the world."
“… …”
"Think about it and give me an answer later. I'll be waiting for your call."
When Chika remains silent, Park Yu-jeong stands up and leaves. Left alone, Chika agonizes in silence for a long time.
However, the only things that come to her mind are the scene of Yeon-woo defeating Akito, and the scene of Akane fighting like a beast against countless people and emerging victorious.
Chika, her heart leaning more and more toward the offer, shakes her head. Thinking of Akito, it is impossible. Akito is going through a hard time right now; she cannot leave him.
Suddenly missing Akito, Chika turns to go find him. If she talks to Akito, all her worries will be resolved.
If it's Akito…