The Heroines Are Obsessed With the Eroge's Wicked Boss
The wine event had concluded, and the emcee announced the results.
“The winner is KJ Group’s President Kang Taeseong!”
Applause erupted, and the staff quickly brought out the prize.
A commemorative Seohan Group merchandise set and several bottles of the finest wines.
They were prepared as tokens of celebration, but honestly, I wasn’t overly interested.
Maybe I should just let the employees take them.
They were cute goods featuring the official mascot of the Seohan Group.
Perfect for Park Soyeong and Choi Yuri, who loved such things.
The souvenirs could be handled like that, and the wine could simply be stored away.
There was something far more important elsewhere.
I naturally turned my gaze.
All eyes naturally focused on one person.
The audacious Lee Hanul who had boldly displayed his prize.
“...”
Lee Hanul, who had sat there frozen with his mouth shut tight, finally rose slowly from his seat.
“...Since it’s a promise, it’s a promise.”
He slicked his forehead back with a pompadour, wiped the sweat from his brow, and pulled a black card from his pocket.
Inha Leisure Prestige Membership Card.
A limited-edition card that existed in only a handful of copies in the country, impossible to value in cash alone, and an unbelievably high-class membership card.
“...”
His grip on it was tight.
He probably hadn’t expected things to turn out like this.
I chuckled and reached over to take the card from his hand.
Hand it over, you bastard.
At that exact moment, a blue window appeared before my eyes.
NTR Points +1,000
Inha Leisure Prestige Membership Card has been stolen.
“...One thousand points.”
Not bad at all.
After all, I had received twenty thousand points recently from the Park Soyeong incident, so it didn’t seem impressive at first glance.
Far higher reward than when I had snatched the foreign car.
So the criteria is roughly what I thought.
The biggest rewards come from events involving the heroines.
The next tier down would be personal assets like this.
When I stole visa funds or vehicles, I got solid points as well.
Wait a second, then...
Suddenly, I thought of Choi Yuri.
The three thousand points I had received after the rescue incident with her.
At the time, I had passed it by without a second thought.
Now, thinking about it, the value was quite high.
Is Choi Yuri also a heroine...?
It was highly likely.
I was still pondering that when...
“...Heh heh!”
Lee Hanul forced out a fake laugh and slapped me on the shoulder.
“The Inha Leisure facilities are in excellent condition! Go enjoy them as much as you like!”
He spoke as if he was being generous, but it was clear he was trying to cling to what he had.
Unfortunately, it was already too late.
Everyone had witnessed his disgraceful display from the wine event moments ago.
He should have just admitted defeat and handed it over right away; at least that would have preserved his dignity.
As proof, the reactions around us weren’t favorable.
“He’s pretty pathetic.”
“Did you see how he was gripping the card earlier, trying not to hand it over?”
“The chairman of Inha Group must be really worried. His only son turned out like this…”
“Ugh…!”
With a dejected expression, he hurriedly slipped away among the crowd.
I watched his retreating figure.
“...Impressive, President Kang.”
I turned at the familiar voice.
It was Cha Minhyeok.
Just like before, he wore a warm smile on his face as he looked at me.
But it was different from earlier.
The smile still lingered at the corners of his mouth, yet it seemed fragile, as if cracked somewhere.
“I didn’t know you had any knowledge of wine.”
“Well, isn’t it something you learn after trying some?”
“...That’s right, hehe.”
I deliberately answered with a carefree tone to provoke him.
It was small talk, but it was clear that both of us were on guard against each other.
That was when...
Cha Minhyeok’s gaze shifted to my side.
“...Jia?”
“U-um, yes?”
Only then did Seo Jia snap out of her daze.
Seo Jia had been right beside me since the wine event began.
Clutching tightly at the sleeve of my shirt.
Her face flushed oddly as she hurriedly let go of my shirt and walked toward him.
Why was I holding onto my own shirt?
Was she trying to stop me from stepping in out of worry?
The concern was touching, but ultimately, I had proven myself.
That was when...
“...It can’t be helped.”
A tiny internal murmur.
The voice of someone who couldn’t possibly be heard by anyone.
Yet I heard it, and I watched along with him.
…What?
The sight of him opening his eyes.
Seo Jia hadn’t seen it, but I had clearly witnessed it.
Cha Minhyeok’s half-closed eyes slowly widened.
His pupils expanded, and through the gaps, a pair of red irises appeared.
It happened in the blink of an eye, but the pleasant smile vanished without a trace.
An expression devoid of any emotion.
Yet he couldn’t hide the obvious irritation.
“...”
Suddenly, cold sweat dripped down my spine.
Has the closed-eyes character really opened his eyes?
I can’t even imagine how furious he must be!
That’s when I was certain.
This guy.
Cha Minhyeok had just made some decision.
And he was definitely going to do something.
*
The main event had all come to an end.
What remained was only the fireworks display on the deck.
“I’ll be right back. I need to use the restroom.”
Cha Minhyeok excused himself lightly and left his seat.
“Hoo…”
The moment he stepped into the corridor, he let out a deep sigh and raked his hair back.
At the same time, his eyes, which had been slightly narrowed, slowly opened.
The red pupils gleamed coldly in the darkness.
If someone who knew Cha Minhyeok had seen him, they would have been shocked at how different he looked now.
He had completely lost his composure, to the point where he couldn’t wear his mask.
It’s incredibly troublesome.
Everything had gone wrong.
This cruise party was nothing like the usual chaebol gatherings.
It wasn’t a simple social event; it was a proving ground.
A place for him, as Seo Jia’s fiancé, to firmly establish his position.
At least, that’s how it was for Cha Minhyeok.
Seohan Group Chairman Seo Inwook and his daughter Seo Jia didn’t trust people easily.
Once the engagement was sealed in his mind, it could be nullified at any time.
Therefore, tonight had to be perfect.
He needed to show the perfect fiancé image and slowly thaw Seo Jia’s frozen heart.
But.
Kang Taeseong.
Since that man appeared, every plan had begun to unravel.
He had stolen Seo Jia’s attention.
At the wine event, he had publicly humiliated me.
And above all else.
Seo Jia looks noticeably agitated.
He had wanted to ignore it, but the way she looked at Kang Taeseong was no longer something he could dismiss as a misunderstanding.
It was the face of a girl who had fallen in love.
Even the routine glances she had once directed at him had vanished.
Her eyes kept chasing after Kang Taeseong, and an involuntary smile spread across her lips.
“...It can’t be helped.”
In his low mutter, there was no trace of hesitation, only determination.
If left as is, he would lose her.
He no longer had any intention of dragging this out.
Even if it was a bit earlier than planned, he had to execute it.
As Cha Minhyeok gestured, one of the waiters approached cautiously.
“...”
The waiter’s face was deathly pale.
His fingertips trembled slightly, and beads of sweat gathered on his forehead.
He knew exactly what he was about to do.
“...Pull yourself together.”
“...Huh?”
“Come to your senses.”
Cha Minhyeok smiled gently and took one step closer.
Slap.
His palm lightly patted the waiter’s cheek.
“Snap out of it, okay?”
“...!”
Slap.
It wasn’t a hard slap.
Yet it was deeply humiliating.
He kept slapping the same spot on the waiter’s face until it flushed bright red.
“Are you feeling better now?”
“...Y-Yes, yes!”
“You said you needed money, right?”
The waiter’s face had returned to its usual state, but his voice was chillingly gentle.
“I’ll make you money.”
“...Yes.”
“Then.”
Cha Minhyeok straightened the waiter’s bow tie.
“You’ll have to work properly, won’t you?”
“...”
“I’ll trust you to do well.”
With those words, Cha Minhyeok turned his back and left.
*
Where the hell did that bastard go...
Cha Minhyeok had left his seat.
I wandered around the area, waiting for him to return.
I had already seen the entire bullseye.
The wine event was over, and I had obtained the membership card.
Originally, it was the perfect time to slip away.
But the look in Cha Minhyeok’s eyes earlier kept flashing in my mind.
I couldn’t leave because I had no idea what he was planning to do.
As a result, I had become the awkward third wheel in a couple’s conversation.
People around us were starting to gossip.
“President Kang seems to have a good relationship with the Seohan Group heiress.”
“Even so, being so close to the couple like that is a bit…”
“Could it be that President Kang has feelings for Jia too?”
“Hey, watch what you say, idiot! You’ll get into big trouble.”
“More importantly, has President Kang thought about marriage? Our nephew is thirty this year…”
Meanwhile, Seo Jia looked happy for no apparent reason.
“Pig, pig!”
She brought a plate of various foods right in front of me.
“Eat this! And this too!”
“...”
She was in high spirits, seemingly unaware of what she was doing.
...I’ll gain weight.
Still, I couldn’t ignore her kindness and ate a bit of everything.
That was when I heard a familiar voice.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m a little late.”
It was Cha Minhyeok.
I immediately looked away.
“Did you shit yourself?”
“Hehe, no. I ran into an acquaintance while walking.”
He didn’t flinch at all, even though I was deliberately provoking him.
In fact, his composure made me even more uneasy.
What exactly is he scheming...?
While I was glaring at Cha Minhyeok intently,
Ding-dong-ding.
The announcement suddenly sounded.
[Attention. Ten minutes later, fireworks will begin on the deck.]
“Pig! Fireworks! It’s fireworks!”
Seo Jia tapped my arm enthusiastically.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“...Hey.”
I muttered in a small voice.
“Watch out for that guy.”
“Huh?”
“Your fiancé.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Seo Jia glance toward Cha Minhyeok.
But it was only for a moment.
“Hee hee, it’s fine! I’ll handle it myself!”
She turned back to me.
“Let’s go to the deck quickly.”
...Whatever.
He’s glaring at me openly now.
Is he clueless, or does he really not care about Cha Minhyeok at all?
That was the moment I clicked my tongue inwardly.
“S-Shampagne is ready.”
A waiter in white gloves carried a silver tray and approached.
He moved through the crowd heading to the deck and handed out glasses one by one.
Looking around, other guests were also receiving champagne.
One glass before the fireworks?
The waiter placed a glass in front of me.
One in front of Cha Minhyeok.
And as he prepared to hand the last one to Seo Jia,
...What?
Blood turned ice-cold.
Over Seo Jia’s glass, a blue window appeared.
“【Observer’s Eye is analyzing hidden information!】"
“【Analysis in progress...】"
“【Analysis complete】"
“...”
“【Warning】"
“Special hypnotic drug detected."
“When ingested, it lowers judgment and induces strong hypnosis and excitement.”
“---"