04. Do You Know Who I Am?
04. Do You Know Who I Am?
+++
"Grandma! Why... why did you say you'd accept it!!"
After the matter was settled, Yu Ina, left alone with the Clan Head, vented her dissatisfaction to the fullest.
It was a stark contrast to how she'd been completely cowed the whole time, insisting the matriarch was terrifying.
That was how shocking the marriage to Ryu Si-hwan was.
"What right do you have to raise your voice like that?"
"Eek."
But even that quickly fizzled out in the face of the Clan Head's icy anger.
"It all started because you made that ridiculous bet in the first place, didn't it?"
"B-But... I could have won!"
"No matter how much of a slave to lust a human man might be, there are plenty of ways to replace him. For instance, just bringing in another woman would easily overcome such a petty temptation. Especially when both your lives were on the line."
"...."
"And that flow of mana, that ripple in space... it wasn't ordinary at all. Saying he'd go to the edge of the continent might've been an empty threat, but teleporting somewhere? That wasn't a lie. If that had happened... we'd have been stuck helplessly waiting for the bet's outcome."
"......"
"Sigh. It would've been far better to secretly buy a male slave and throw nightly orgies... instead of stirring up this mess...."
"There's no way I'd do something so lewd!... ri... ght...?"
"...Enough. It's in the past now. Go back and prepare a new contract."
It was a request from Ryu Si-hwan himself.
He said he couldn't fully trust them, so the marriage would proceed as a contract too.
It was pretty infuriating, but since she was in no position to argue right now, she nodded.
"R-Really... you're going through with it?"
"What do you think I've been saying until now?"
"...I'm sorry. But... marriage at my age... and to a human..."
Yu Ina was now thirty.
For the 『Noblesse』, who lived at least 5,000 years even if on the short side, thirty was basically just born.
The marriageable age was considered around 500, and even that was only for political marriages between families—normally, they didn't even start looking for a spouse until over 1,000.
So she couldn't help but feel down.
Yoo Tae-hee knew that too, so she didn't scold her whiny attitude too harshly.
"...Think positively. In the worst case, you could've ended up as a human's slave."
"Hing...."
"For the Yu Family, which has managed the 'human population' for generations, for its granddaughter to become a human slave? Unthinkable. It wouldn't just disgrace you—it could drag the entire family through the mud."
"...I have nothing to say to that."
"Of course not. And... it might not turn out to be such a bad thing after all."
"Huh?"
Yoo Tae-hee showed a slightly girlish expression.
For a fleeting moment, a single woman peeked out from behind the stern Clan Head's face.
"To stand so boldly in front of three 『Noblesse』... a sight I've never seen from any man. I haven't lived that long myself, but even thinking back to my grandmother's generation, men like that are rare."
In the matriarchal society of the 『Noblesse』, men were the weak ones.
Because women overwhelmingly inherited the Nobling.
Thus, women were stronger in both power and aura. That was why Yoo Tae-hee led the traditional great family of the Yu, and why Ha Yeon-seo oversaw the prestigious Academy as Chief Instructor.
Even a 『Noblesse』 man probably couldn't have maintained such a stiff posture in front of her, much less while facing her killing intent head-on—and for lesser races, not trembling was a win.
In fact, Eleonore the 『Elf』 had just sat there shaking, unable even to speak when they were talking about killing her.
In that sense, Ryu Si-hwan had left a strong impression on her.
"He's just an arrogant bastard."
"No. If he was just some fool who didn't know his place, he could've acted arrogant, but not stayed so composed against my killing intent. There's clearly something to him."
"...You're just underestimating him, Grandma. His stats alone make him not just below A-Class—he shouldn't even qualify."
"That makes it even more so. He overcame my aura with such meager ability values. Not everything's decided by numbers. The Tower's the same way. There are all sorts of ways to shine, even without fighting."
"...."
For some reason, her high evaluation of him left Yu Ina's heart all aflutter.
Why rate that arrogant human so highly when he was nothing?
'He's just some guy leeching off a doll...!'
"Anyway, that's the end of the talk."
"B-But what if... what if that human really is nothing special?"
"Then make him great."
"Eek?!"
"If the Yu Family's granddaughter marries some worthless human, the ridicule will echo to the heavens. Ab.so.lute.ly not. Got it?"
"Y-Yes...."
If he's not great, make him great.
How the hell was she supposed to make a mere human great in this Tower?
Yu Ina was already starting to worry about the future.
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While Yu Ina was meeting privately with Yoo Tae-hee, Ryu Si-hwan was facing off with Chief Instructor Ha Yeon-seo.
However, since the contract was still in effect, Eleonore was there too.
"You know you almost died today, right?"
"Die? Me? Nah, I'm not dying."
"Sigh... your shamelessness and arrogance... what am I supposed to do with you? My heart's pounding. I'm going crazy here."
In fact, she was fidgeting uncontrollably, drumming her index finger on the table.
And with a cigarette pinched between her right index and middle fingers to boot.
Even so, an inexplicable air of elegance emanated from her, but she was undeniably shaken.
And understandably so—if the Yu Family's Clan Head came in person, even Ha Yeon-seo, the Academy's Chief Instructor, couldn't treat her lightly.
Social standing aside, she was sorely outmatched in presence.
Ha Yeon-seo's presence was at best like Yu Ina's older sister, while Yoo Tae-hee was leagues above.
She'd need the Ha Family's Clan Head to show up for an even match, but the one fighting most actively on the front lines had no reason to come down to the tail end on the 1st floor.
"Cut the nonsense—why'd you call me? It's late."
It was already night outside.
The back-and-forth with the Clan Head had eaten up a ton of time.
"You cause this huge commotion and not even a single apology? Whatever. Expecting that from you is pointless anyway."
"You get me."
"......What the hell are you, really?"
"What am I? You know. Human."
"No ordinary human could act so recklessly. What're you so confident about? That doll next to you? Is that doll really that valuable and capable?"
"Yeah. Way beyond your imagination."
"......"
Where the hell did this human come from?
She turned her gaze from Sihwan, whom she'd been staring at, to Bari.
There she sat, expressionless and demure as always.
Something extraordinary was detectable, sure—but was it really that impressive?
'Intriguing, but... what makes a human rely on it so much? Can't be just personality.'
Even she had flinched at the Clan Head's killing intent.
If they'd been alone, she might've been sweating bullets and backing off.
With others around, she'd desperately kept a straight face.
And when Ryu Si-hwan's scheme forced a 1-on-1 aura clash... deep down, she'd wanted to toss the Elf aside and bolt.
'What the... is with that guy....'
For a mere human to withstand it.
Even with an exceptional doll, that didn't explain it.
"Whew... fine. This incident's a big deal for the Academy too, so I'll work toward a smooth resolution... please, just... don't cause any more trouble."
"Why're you yelling at me? I was just sitting there. The Clan Head barged in."
"......."
She glared at him incredulously, but he was still utterly shameless.
"Yeah, I can't expect anything from you. You're really irritating, you know that?"
"Saying that to my face? That I'm irritating?"
"I could say worse if you want."
"Nope."
"I'll attend tomorrow's new contract... wedding, so don't worry."
"Calling that a wedding ceremony would be too cruel to the bride. Let's just say marriage contract."
"Yeah, marriage contract. God, what a mess this is... Noblesse society's gonna flip out. The Yu Family's granddaughter marrying a human... in our Academy, no less... sigh... just thinking about it gives me a headache."
Was it just a gesture, or did her head really hurt? She pressed her temples hard with her left hand, the one that had been drumming the table.
"The Yu Family's a big deal, huh? They kept mentioning Yu this and Yu that."
"...Big is an understatement. They're one of the Five Great Families."
"Five Great Families? Sounds like some wuxia novel. Super childish."
"......And among them, the Yu Family has produced outstanding warriors generation after generation. Even Yu Ina's older sister reached 'Roza Kraba' at a young age... in terms of martial prowess, they're the Tower's top family, no contest."
"I see. So what's Roza Kraba?"
"......"
Ha Yeon-seo was genuinely getting a headache now.
"It's a title and a realm. If you graduate the Academy safely, you get the title 'Stazhie.' Roza Kraba is seven whole stages above that."
"Ooh. So where am I now? What's A-Class at the Academy mean?"
"Bottom feeders. Not worth the effort."
"Harsh."
"What can you do? It's true. Even after graduating and becoming Stazhie, nothing changes. You grind desperately through 'Prezia' and 'Louis Vuitton' to grow, or you fail some lame mission and die. Usually the latter. Oh, and for reference, the Yu Family's Clan Head earlier? She's at 'Esperado.' She could wipe you—or this whole Academy—out with a flick of her finger."
"Huh... that's high up?"
"Obviously. Two stages above 'Roza Kraba.'"
"Gotcha. No wonder she was kinda hot."
"......Say crap like that in front of the Clan Head and you'll lose your head. Watch it."
She warned him kindly, but as expected, it went in one ear and out the other.
"What about you? And Yu Ina?"
"No need to tell you."
"Weak, huh?"
Crunch.
"...Not something I wanna hear from you."
"Weak, so you can't say."
"Cut the lame provocations. How much more do you plan to annoy me?"
"Alright, alright. Calm down."
"Whew...."
A deep sigh.
Dealing with this guy made her feel wrinkles forming every time.
"I'm tired. Head back for today. See you tomorrow."