04. Do You Know Who I Am?
04. Do You Know Who I Am?
Even though they talk about gods coming down and all that bullshit... in the end, they couldn't even conquer a single Tower, right?
Seeing them puffing up their chests with that level of power just makes them look so pathetic that I can't help but laugh.
"...."
"...."
The room fell silent.
Probably because it's so ridiculous. These guys haven't properly grasped the power I have—or more precisely, the power Bari has.
They can't even comprehend the system that governs this world, so there's no way a mere living being could.
"Still, given the situation, I'll generously forgive this rudeness this time. I'm pretty magnanimous like that. If your daughter made a slave bet, it's only natural for a parent to come rushing over."
Even after I said that, the room was still dead silent.
Especially the woman at the center, the Clan Head, looked like she'd been hit with some completely unexpected blow—her mouth slightly agape, eyes wide and blinking. My words must've shocked her that much.
'What the, she's kinda cute.'
"Ah, you said grandmother, right? Whatever."
"...You, you... what do you...!!"
Yu Ina's face turned exactly the same color as Eleonore's.
Perfectly pale blue.
Her face was so drained it was like, whoa, faces can get this ashen.
Well, it's not life-threatening, so I'll lightly ignore it.
"Come on, speak up. What's your business? I'll hear you out."
"...."
The Clan Head looked even more dumbfounded, her face blank, then she hardened her expression and opened her mouth.
"...Your arrogance surpasses imagination. It seems beyond correction... Understood. I don't have time to get involved at length, so I'll treat you as the kind of person you are."
"That's why I'm telling you to get to the point quickly. What do you want to say? Void the bet? No thanks."
"......"
As expected, that must've been her point, because she furrowed her brows.
"...A Noblesse falling into slavery is an unprecedented event in continental history. Can you handle the backlash? Moreover, there's no guarantee of victory. I can't imagine a mere human like you resisting an Elf's temptation."
"That's your opinion."
"Even if you win, the moment you make that child your slave, you'll turn every 『Noblesse』 in the Tower against you."
"Yeah. Don't care."
"......You're so unreasonable. Do you even think before answering? It's unpleasant."
"No. Not trading. Go home."
"...."
Who the hell do you think you are.
I've already lasted a week, so what's three more?
It'll be tough, but I've already had my first time with Bari, and I can do it anytime I want from now on. And every time, she'll squeeze out every last drop of semen I have.
Right now, I'm completely drained—no sexual desire rising even 1% at all. At this rate, three weeks is a piece of cake.
"But come to think of it, how did you find out? Why's the Chief Instructor here too? Did you tell them? What are you, in elementary school...?"
"N-No! I just... "
"We investigated because that child borrowed money, and that's how we found out. We don't even know the details. Even if she's inexperienced, she's still a member of the family—stop with the words that doubt our honor. It's extremely unpleasant."
"You come barging in demanding I back off the bet, and now you're talking about honor."
"......Of course, we plan to offer appropriate compensation. After all, we're forcibly retracting consent that she gave herself."
As she said that, she pulled out a square box onto the table.
"What's this?"
"If you accept our request, we'll give you this. In gold coin—"
"Don't need it."
"...You won't even listen. It's not an amount a human could refuse."
"What, ten million gold? If it's that much, I'll think about it."
"T-Ten million? Are you mocking me right now... Ugh... Are you mocking me?"
She flared up for a moment, then reined in her emotions.
She's putting on maximum courtesy and refinement on the outside, but inside, she's boiling.
Well, yeah. That's why she wrecked the mansion, probably.
"Mocking? Looks like you heard bits and pieces of the situation. The original bet reward was 'me' and '12 million gold.'"
"Ha... What nonsense... "
"If I lose, I become Yu Ina's slave. If I win, Yu Ina gives me '12 million gold.' But Yu Ina didn't have that kind of money. So in the end, she bet herself as a substitute."
"...."
The Clan Head muttered "unbelievable" over and over while glaring at Yu Ina, who was bowing her head beside me.
"Hik!"
"Is it true?"
"......"
"Answer me. Is it true?"
"......Y-Yes... it is......"
A hesitant answer.
Yu Ina's head drooped even lower.
"...Ha... Such a pathetic... Hoo...."
"..I'm sorry."
Strictly speaking, it's almost like a scam, but I'm totally unapologetic. In the end, Yu Ina got caught in my pace and self-destructed.
"What're you glaring at? You think I'll hand her over if you stare like that?"
Ppudeuk.
The Clan Head ground her teeth.
She must be pretty pissed.
Still, starting off not with force (though she did threaten) but offering money first means they're not total assholes. At least they can play the "honor" card without it being too ridiculous.
"Hoo... Chief Instructor-nim."
"Yes. Clan Head-nim, speak."
She switched targets.
She must think talking to me is pointless.
"No matter that the Academy focuses more on training than education, shouldn't such an absurd... no, bet be regulated?"
That girl definitely tried to say 'scam.'
"...If I may, this Academy conducts training as close as possible to the Tower's environment. For this batch, we've firmly established the Ranking so that the lower obey the higher. This incident may be sensitive as a family matter, but a bet between two people doesn't greatly contradict the Academy's policy."
"...."
"Above all, Clan Head-nim, it seems you're viewing Yu Ina-ssi too much as a child."
She did call her a 'child.' Well, granddaughter, so it's natural.
"Yu Ina-ssi is an instructor, not an examinee or trainee. Even if the Academy's policy emphasizes education, we can't include instructors in that category."
"...Understood. You're saying it's difficult for the Academy to intervene."
"Yes."
Even if the Academy did something, it wouldn't matter. I just wouldn't accept it.
The Clan Head nodded heavily, then turned her gaze back to me.
"Ryu Si-hwan-ssi, right?"
"I never gave my name."
"I'll make one more proposal. The box in front of you... it's 100,000 gold bills, but we'll add another 100,000 gold. And we'll give you the human slave 'Luna' serving as that child's attendant. So let's mutually withdraw the contract here."
"You're trying to settle 12 million with that? Your noble dispositions are awfully small-scale."
"It's just wordplay on your part. Regardless of the process, the current contract is between you and that child. There's no 12 million gold anywhere."
"Even if not explicitly stated, we can judge the value. Does Yu Ina not even have that much value? You don't love your granddaughter? Poor thing. Our Ina-chan."
"I have no intention of playing along with word games. We're making this offer when the odds aren't overwhelmingly in your favor. If the other side steps back significantly, isn't it basic courtesy to stop the arrogant sneering and get serious?"
"Sneering? I've never done that. I always speak nothing but the truth and sincerity. Why are you doubting my honor? That's why Noblesse get called rude."
"...."
She's boiling again.
Something like a faint earthquake seems to be happening. She wouldn't go all out with power here in front of everyone, right.
"Ryu Si-hwan-ssi."
"What."
"What exactly are you relying on to act so brazenly?"
"The Chief Instructor said something like that too. Probably Yu Ina as well."
"I'm making this proposal out of respect for you right now. It's deference to one who surpasses the limits of their race. But if you keep this up, I have no other choice."
"No other choice? What'll you do? Kill me?"
"You're a party to the contract—if I directly harm you, the backlash would hit that child too. But...."
Her gaze shifted slightly.
To Eleonore.
"...!"
"That Elf changes everything, doesn't it?"
By contract, I have to be with Eleonore for 16+ hours a day.
If I fail, I lose.
If Eleonore dies, I can't be with her, so definite loss, and I become Yu Ina's slave.
"Talking about gods and honor, and now you're resorting to cheap threats."
"I'm saying it's not because I'm weak that I'm trying to talk."
"Hey, Chief Instructor."
"Hey?... Don't call me that way? It's unpleasant."
"You're openly saying you'll kill your student. Say something as Chief Instructor."
"...."
Ha Yeon-seo furrowed her brows.
Meaning she really doesn't like this situation.
"Haa... Clan Head-nim, I understand your feelings, but Eleonore-yang is already a confirmed enrollee trainee. We can't allow an outsider to touch her without just cause."
She said it with a face that really didn't want to, but she said what needed saying.
"......As Chief Instructor-nim, you know I'm holding back a lot right now, don't you?"
"......Still, no means no. She's an Academy trainee. Once enrolled, her life and death are managed internally by the Academy."
No, you manage your own life and death—what's this about the Academy managing it.
This one's not right in the head either.
No.
At this point, let's just say the entire 『Noblesse』 race is fucked up.
On par with those horned bitches.
Come to think of it, the first one to pick a fight with me was an Elf... and there've been plenty of Elves needlessly clinging after... Wait, are Elves too...
No, all these fuckers are abnormal? Advanced this and that, playing among themselves, and they all turned into retards?
-Sihwan-nim. Excuse me for a moment.
"Yeah?"
I reacted without thinking to Bari's voice in my head.
The gazes of the two women, who had been glaring at each other, snapped to me.
"Nah. Nothing. Keep doing what you were. Glare at each other. Gotta win the staring contest."
"You really...!"
-Aggro danger level is critical.
What the hell is that.
-Early stage still, so how about stepping back one step for now? Nothing good comes from provoking them excessively right now.
'I can just talk in my thoughts?'
-Yes. Reading your thoughts given the situation. Sorry.
'No need to apologize. Why suddenly?'
Weren't you always reading?
-No way. Normally, I refrain from such presumptuous behavior.
'Alright, got it for now. But step back? You mean give up Yu Ina?'
-No. Since they're so sensitive about the slave thing, suggesting an alternative might be good.
'Hmm...'
Slave Yu Ina... I like that... Give it up?
Bari wouldn't say it lightly... so clashing head-on with this Clan Head woman right now is dangerous.
-You can make everyone here your slave later. For now... how about settling for marriage?
'Huh. Marriage out of nowhere?'
-We need to make it a done deal first. Even for me, I don't like my master losing a female he's marked.
'Your word choice is subtly sharp?'
-Just your imagination. Anyway, pretend to step back and make a proposal.
Hmm.
Marriage, huh...
-If you give up the bet now and take Yu Ina as your wife, you can have Eleonore right away.
Oh, right.
No need for the bet anymore.
Eleonore and Yu Ina...
"Hm... Ahem...."
I gathered their attention first.
"If it's really that unwelcome... fine, I'll step back one step too."
"! Then the box—"
"No, not taking the money. You think I'm crazy enough to give up Yu Ina for cash?"
"...."
"I'll take Yu Ina as my wife."
"!!!"
"W-What?! Y-You human, what kind of... no, what nonsense are you spouting!!!"
Yu Ina, who had been slumped, shot up and yelled with a beet-red face.
From that pale blue to bright red. Traffic light much.
"Then accept being a slave."
"I haven't lost yet! Three weeks left!! You think a pervert human like you can resist an Elf!!! I'll win the bet! You'll be my slave!!"
"If you think that, then keep the bet going. Right? Clan Head-ssi? Don't know your name, so I'll call you that. Yu Ina-ssi here says she's confident, so she wants to continue the contract. Defying your words."
"D-Defying, such words..."
"Let me tell you, it'd be a problem if you think I'm confident without basis. I have full confidence I'll win the bet, and the power to protect myself, Bari, or Eleonore no matter who you target. Hell, I could go hide at the edge of the continent and come back after the bet ends. So cut the pathetic threats and don't try to bribe me with junk."
"......"
The Clan Head, still seated on the sofa glaring at me—her eyes had turned bloodshot red before I knew it.
Drdrdr.
An earthquake happened.
Probably because the Clan Head was furious.
Even I, who can't see mana or Nobling, could see the energy rippling behind her.
"I told you earlier. Staring like that won't make me hand her over."
"......"
Still glaring at me.
Her aura screams she's ready to kill.
Time for the finishing blow in situations like this.
"Bari, let's go."
I stood up.
"Yes."
"Eleonore, you too."
"Yes?"
"W-Wait, where... where are you going!"
Yu Ina grabbed my sleeve.
Her pupils are shaking.
"To the edge of the continent. Don't know what that bitch'll do, so I'll come back after the bet ends. Oh, you have to come too. We can go together. But no contact with the outside during that time."
"Coordinates set. Ready to teleport on your word."
Bari, quick on the uptake and action, finished preparing spatial transfer.
Even my dull senses picked up space rippling. The Clan Head and Chief Instructor must've felt it more intensely.
Bari probably did it on purpose. Added a bit of mana to make it detectable.
Her spatial transfers are pure sci-tech normally, so primitives like these couldn't sense it. Unless they can feel space itself.
"See you in a month then. Don't bother looking. You won't find us. Man, your life's rough. Having to watch your granddaughter become a slave... Bari, this one too—"
"I'll accept."
Oh.
"Ppudeuk... Your proposal... I accept. Ryu... no, Yu Si-hwan-ssi."
"G-Grandma...!!"
"I'll recognize... your marriage to Yu Ina."
"My family name's Ryu from now on too. And speak properly. I don't need your recognition. It's Yu Ina coming to me as my wife."
"......"
She glared at me, then muttered under her breath, lips twitching faintly.
(Fucking bastard)
Spicy curse.