11. A Man Who Doesn't Get Screwed Over
11. A Man Who Doesn't Get Screwed Over
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"What's that."
Bewildered Sihwan.
He stared at one woman with a sullen face.
A face he was seeing for the first time in his life, but strangely familiar.
Silky straight hair and pretty features were just his type, but what she was doing was utterly bizarre.
"What are you doing?"
"Looks like proxy masturbation?"
Bari's simple answer.
But that didn't solve the 'why?' question.
"No, that lady..."
Eun-hye recognized her.
As a collateral branch of the Yu Family, she'd had chances to see that face and figure.
But...
What the hell is that.
Why was she shoving someone else's hand into her pants.
And why was there something wriggling visibly around her crotch.
What the fuck.
What am I even looking at.
"You come. Who the hell are you telling to come."
While Eun-hye was frozen solid from the shocking scene, Sihwan's mouth opened.
"Y-Young master!"
The terrified woman rushed forward to stop Sihwan.
No matter how freakish she looked, Ha So-ri was a great hero decked out with legendary titles.
Acting rude like Sihwan usually did would be seriously bad.
"Why."
"That lady is, well... the founder of the Academy, former Supreme Committee chairperson, and currently the Clan Head of the Ha Family, Ha So-ri-nim."
"But."
"No buts..."
"Look at her. You really gotta go when a freak like that calls you?"
"...That's kinda true, but... still, acting like your usual self might cause problems in all sorts of ways."
"No, look at her good."
"..."
"That amazing person you know is really like that?"
"Ugh..."
A person shoving someone else's hand—a woman's hand—into their pants and walking around.
I don't wanna believe it.
But no matter how I look, Ha So-ri is Ha So-ri.
"For a puny human, you're awfully cocky. Keep that up and you won't die of old age."
While Eun-hye was drowning in deep shock and inner turmoil, Ha So-ri threw out a line.
A mere human daring to refuse a Noblesse's summons.
That alone was a massive insult.
"I'll outlive you anyway, so don't worry. Come if you need something."
"I said come here."
"You come."
"..."
A bizarre standoff.
The distance between the two groups was roughly 50 meters.
An impossible-to-describe battle of egos raged in between.
Making Yoo Eun-hye and Phone Eun-jeong break out in cold sweats.
Finally, unable to take it, Eun-hye stepped up.
"Clan Head-nim, it's been a while. How have you been? I'm Yoo Eun-hye."
"Yoo Eun-hye? Feels like I've seen you before. You're from the Yu Family?"
"Collateral branch, yes. Right now, I'm on young master's guard duty."
Saying 'young master,' she subtly pointed at Sihwan.
So-ri's eyes flicked between Sihwan and Eun-hye.
"Young master? Since when do humans... Ah!"
She was about to question why the Yu Family would guard a mere human when one fact hit her.
Come to think of it, the current trainee rep was married to the Yu Family granddaughter. In other words, Yu Family's son-in-law.
She hadn't clocked it mid-horny haze, but he sure as hell wasn't some average human.
"Wait a sec. Then you're Ina's husband? But Yeonseo... Huh?"
Another fact clicking into place from the fresh realization.
Yeonseo fucked Sihwan on the down-low, but back then, Sihwan was already married.
Meaning that Ryu Si-hwan punk had a Noblesse wife and still cheated with another woman, making Yeonseo the side chick of that cheating bastard.
Hell, Yeonseo herself had personally witnessed Sihwan and Yu Ina's marriage.
A seriously bad vibe of total clusterfuck incoming.
"Wow... fuck. I just uncovered some massive shit."
Is this dude for real a human.
What kinda guts does it take for a human to cheat on a Noblesse—no, the Yu Family, of all people.
"You sure you can handle this?"
She asked dead serious.
Even your average Noblesse dude would be shaking in terror at the heart of this mess. But this guy's standing tall like it's nothing.
She could only marvel at the sheer balls of fucking over both the Yu Family and Ha Family at once.
"What."
"Nah. Forget it. Even I wouldn't mouth off something that reckless."
She shut her trap.
For Yeonseo's honor and the two families' peace.
"Ah, but then I can't have you."
"?"
"Finally found a decent one for once."
Disappointed, she scratched her head like crazy and walked over to Sihwan.
She could've kept up the pride tug-of-war of 'you come here,' but curiosity about Sihwan won out.
"Proper intro time. Ha Family Clan Head, Ha So-ri."
"I know."
"...No friendlier reaction? I'm Yeonseo's grandma, y'know."
"With that getup, it ain't sparking jack shit."
She was still getting stroked off by Eun-jeong.
One hell of an awkward-ass scene.
"Ah. You can stop now."
"..."
Pulling her hand out with dead-fish eyes, Eun-jeong whipped out a handkerchief and wiped like a total neat freak.
Sihwan stared at her with a deadpan face.
"Sigh. What're you doing over there."
"..."
A pathetic gaze dripping with pity.
Eun-jeong bit her lip hard from the crushing shame.
"What an impressive display."
"...Shut it."
"Gap's huge from the last time I saw you?"
"I said shut it..."
"Don't feel like it?"
"..."
Her teeth-grinding was straight-up creepy, like a ghost's.
"Where's Ina?"
"What's it to you."
"Wanna see her face after so long."
"You think I'd show my wife to a pervert."
"Y-Young master... mind your tongue..."
Calling Ha So-ri a pervert right to her face.
Eun-hye freaked, but Sihwan wasn't the listening type.
"Pervert?"
"You were just getting fondled by her, out in the open like that. How the hell do I show my wife to a freak like you?"
"Hmm."
Cocky as fuck, but damn convincing.
Even she figured if some chick getting groped by another woman on the street demanded to see her wife, she wouldn't show shit.
"But why you talking all casual?"
"You started it."
"...I've lived at least 100 times longer than you, even if shorter lifespan?"
"So? You getting old solo ain't my problem."
"..."
A perspective she never saw coming.
Your age has dick-all to do with me.
This is Ryu Si-hwan?
Arrogance that doesn't even piss you off, just blows your mind wide open.
"Age is nothing. Dropped in another timeline, Master might be older."
"What's this? A doll? Moves so natural."
Poke.
Bari smacked her hand away.
"...?"
"Don't touch."
"Why's this doll acting up?"
"Why you acting up."
"No..."
Rudeness on a level she'd never dealt with.
Mind blown, she glanced at Eun-hye.
"...Eun-hye, these guys are off."
"..."
She couldn't utter a word.
+++
While Sihwan was "chatting" with Ha So-ri, Yu Ina—who'd come home first—spotted Tae-hee sitting all stern in the drawing room.
"Grandma... what brings you here...?"
Raised super strict, she couldn't hold her ground in front of Tae-hee.
It was bearable with mom or sisters around, but right now, just the two of them.
One-on-one, maids aside.
"Sit first."
Grave face, dead-serious tone.
Super tense, Yu Ina timidly plopped into the guest seat.
"Heard you're quitting instructor duty soon."
"Y-Yes..."
"Thought about what's next?"
"..."
"Academy instructor's one of the gateways our family's held for generations. This mansion proves it."
"You here... to tell me to become a Council Member?"
"You knew?"
"Chief Instructor told me... Ha Family Clan Head said she'd bring me along too..."
"No decision like that... but yeah, talks happened."
Tae-hee let out a small sigh.
No final word yet, but that wild old bat went and decided solo.
"No plans to shove you into the Committee. Hell, I'd talk you outta it if you wanted in."
Supreme Committee, Noblesse Committee—mega-important spots, no doubt.
All the continent's and Tower's power funneled there, everyone's dream gig.
But that's exactly why she thought stay the fuck away.
"I've watched you up close plenty, but every time, same thought. Don't step into that jungle."
She pictured one close woman friend.
And doubled down on her own resolve.
"Plus, our family's this society's sword and shield. Priority one's always frontline fighting. Never forget."
"Got it etched in."
Yu Ina nodded quietly.
Tae-hee's words were always rock-solid.
Go fight.
That's the family name.
No way she'd push the baby of the family into some Committee.
"Don't wanna go to the Committee much myself."
"Smart call. Nothing else lined up? How 'bout heading outside the Tower?"
"Outside...?"
"Yeah. Feel how barren it is, see how far society slides if we forget our sword duty. Perfect timing—hubby's human, mom's Management Committee, tour human districts too."
"...That hubby wants me job-hunting at his company."
"Hmm. Well—"
Knock knock knock.
-Clan Head-nim, miss, young master's back. Ha Family Clan Head's with him too.