05. The Human Causing a Stir
05. The Human Causing a Stir
Oh. Got some business sense, huh?
"I don't need investment. Just let me use the land."
"That's basically an investment, what are you talking about? But you don't need funds? I heard you borrowed 30 gold from Ina because you were broke~. You'll need to source raw materials for production, pay labor costs, and distribution fees to sell across regions aren't cheap either. Plus real estate costs."
"That stuff's fine. I can handle it."
Once I build the Factory and set the item, it'll take care of itself. No raw materials needed. No labor costs either.
Ah. Actually, might need some for selling. Nana and Bari can't go sell stuff themselves. Might need a manager or something.
"Anyway, I just need the land for now."
"Hmm."
Yeonseo glanced at Bari for a moment before sticking a new cigarette in her mouth.
Has she gotten used to it already? That's a good sign.
"Well, sure. You're making stuff out of thin air without even using magic, so you can skip some steps."
"You're not that surprised."
"With how many amazing things are in the Tower? Nah, your rudeness shocks me more."
She shot me a slight glare and lit the cigarette.
Puffs of thick smoke started rising again.
But isn't there indoor smoking rules or something here?
"Fine, whatever. We'll talk details on the land later. You need some time anyway, right?"
"About three days? That should be enough to get things roughly ready."
"Three days... Then let's chat the day after tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"But..."
Suddenly, she flashed a sly grin.
"You're married now, so no honeymoon?"
"!"
The out-of-nowhere comment made Yu Ina sprout question marks.
Honeymoon... So that's where I'd spend the first night with Ina...
"N-No, we don't need that."
"Really? I could even support it."
"We're fine. As your homeroom instructor, I'll fulfill my duties."
"Aw, too bad. Watching someone else's love life is fun, you know?"
She said that, but she didn't seem too invested—just puffing away on her cig casually.
"Well, half-joking aside, Sihwan-ssi, what're you gonna do after graduation?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, you're married, but being apart would suck."
"Oh... That's..."
Yeah, true.
Thinking about it, the Academy stay is at most four months.
Once it's over, I'll be fully active in the Tower, and if Yu Ina stays on as an instructor, we'd be separated.
"If Sihwan-ssi got hired at the Academy, maybe, but... dunno. Personally, I don't like humans much, so no plans to recruit you."
Shouldn't you say that when the person's not around?
"Who's hiring who?"
Like I'd work under anyone.
"Anyway, keep that in mind."
"...Understood."
+++
Kkwaak.
"...I can't accept this."
Seong-hyeon, kicked out by Ha Yeon-seo's order to leave, trembled with unbearable rage and humiliation.
A Noblesse, noble by existence itself, marrying a mere human?
Worse, Yu Ina's family had managed the Management Committee for generations, controlling 'human numbers.' For them to marry off their daughter to a human? Utterly incomprehensible.
'And that bitch... how dare she treat me like that!'
His fury wasn't limited to Yu Ina's family.
It targeted Ryu Si-hwan, one of the culprits, and mostly Ha Yeon-seo, who'd coldly berated him.
Not content with defending a human marriage, comparing the 5th-floor powerhouse Jin Family to a human?
This was absolutely unforgivable.
Couldn't just let it slide.
Had to formally refer it to the Committee for proper action.
And before that,
"What? You didn't leave?"
Couldn't leave that human bastard be.
"......Seong-hyeon, go home. I don't want to see your face anymore."
Two people—a man and woman—and one doll strolling out casually.
No, by his standards, one person and two worthless scraps was more accurate.
Ignoring Yu Ina's icy expression, he tossed something at Ryu Si-hwan.
A white handkerchief.
"Human. I challenge you to a duel."
"What?"
"Seong-hyeon, are you insane?"
"I've said it a million times: you're the crazy one, Yu Ina."
"...Sihwan, no need to humor this lunatic."
Her heart fully turned, Yu Ina showed Seong-hyeon no more consideration.
No longer a friend—just another enemy.
The clueless guy meddling nonstop was more stalker than anything.
"A duel is honorable. Refusing it means—"
"Bullshit."
Sihwan stared at the dropped handkerchief, then stomped it without hesitation.
"H-How dare you...!"
"Why the hell would I duel for no reason?"
"Such dishonor!"
"My honor's plenty without trash like you. Reacting to scum like you just tarnishes mine."
Infinitely aloof, he barely reacted to Seong-hyeon's screaming insults.
Like watching a barking dog.
That expression filled Seong-hyeon with humiliation.
Just a human, yet so arrogant. His sky-high attitude stirred killing intent.
"You bastard...!!"
Finally, he unleashed Nobling.
The power that moves the world, Nobling.
Varies slightly by user and family, but all equally terrifying.
"Filthy human!!"
Nobling waves erupted instantly.
Far stronger than magic, it interfered, blade poised to kill Ryu Si-hwan.
"Have you lost your mind?"
Yu Ina was the furious one.
She unleashed her Nobling, canceling his.
Trained together as kids in the Yu Family Martial Arts Hall, their styles were similar.
Among countless types, the one maximizing interference to access composition: so-called 'Coding.'
'Reading' to read 'information,' 'Writing' to distort it.
Power varies wildly by skill and mastery.
Some can't even read info, others create from nothing or warp logic itself.
Puk!
"Gaaahhh!!"
Seong-hyeon vs. Yu Ina was overwhelmingly one-sided.
Both his arms exploded grotesquely.
Dizzying agony.
Not just burst arms—this instant, Yu Ina pierced his firewall like nothing, tweaking the pain coefficient.
Lightly 10x. Inexpressible torment softened his mind.
"Guh... ugh...!!"
Instantly subdued, no strength left for Nobling or anything—just writhing armless.
Forced to his knees, all freedom stripped.
"No matter how annoying, he's my husband. You thought I'd sit still?"
"Oh."
"Should've stopped when I said to."
Coldly looking down, she interfered more.
Twisted his body data massively to block instant regen.
A superior Noblesse skilled in bodies could heal it, but not Seong-hyeon.
Data itself twisted—potions useless.
"Hah... haa...!"
Couldn't even speak.
Enduring 10x pain drained his mental strength—no room for anything.
"I'll spare your life. Get lost."
Granting just enough slack to walk, her cold command made him glare through bloodshot tears.
But powerless.
Yu Family's youngest, combat strongest, was too much for him.
Finally, glaring with hate, he was dragged off by arriving instructors.
"My wife's got some moves? Totally reliable."
After it ended, Sihwan draped an arm over her shoulder as she sighed stressfully.
"...Sorry. Didn't think he'd be that unreasonable... Anyway, remove your arm."
"Ah. What? Why's your speech back to normal? The earlier one was way better."
That normal tone when angry.
Sihwan missed it.
"I handle my own speech."
"We're married—no need to keep distance."
"Ha... married..."
Face screaming reluctance.
Fair. We signed the marriage contract this morning, and already this hassle.
Plus, Seong-hyeon rushing from the 5th floor meant Noblesse society was buzzing.
His meddling pissed him off, but separately, human marriage wouldn't be accepted easily.
Might even get summoned by the Committee 'to investigate.'
Her huge family meant no major harm, but dirty looks galore—obvious.
"But what'd you do to burst his arms? Magic?"
"......Just a bit of Nobling. Complicated to explain in detail."
She brushed off his arm saying that, but Sihwan wasn't satisfied.
On the way home, she gave a brief rundown.
"What? Total cheat skill? So you could insta-kill or revive dead humans and shit?"
"Insta-kill's tough, revival impossible. Writing needs Reading to grasp info and data first. But the volume's insanely vast and hard to parse. Living beings fluctuate in real-time too. Pinpointing and overwriting precisely is nightmare hard."
"But you burst his arms."
"That's easy. Wrecking composition doesn't need precision. Worst case, delete the data. Nobling like this wrecks the body—most potions fail."
"Scary."
"Heh. That's why Noblesse are great. Unlike humans like you. How about some awe?"
"Dunno. Feels normal since someone next to me does it daily."
Coding via Nobling was novel and amazing, but reassuring too.
Coding? Bari's on another level, right?
Bari even seemed a tad smugger.
"How's it different from magic?"
Casually asking, all chill.
"Hmm. Magic borrows interference via Mana; Nobling interferes directly. Hard to explain. Need Nobling to truly get it."
"I see."
Her explanation ended as they reached Yu Ina's mansion—perfect timing.
"Ha... somehow exhausted... In... no, Sihwan, why am I so tired around you?"
"That's 'love.' Proof you like me. This body's popularity is unreal..."
"Ha. So much bullshit, not even mad."
She shook her head side to side and opened the door.
+++
Thud.
"Guhk!"
Academy instructors mercilessly dumped Seong-hyeon, arms burst off.
Then shut the main gate without a shred of regret.
Grit.
This pathetic humiliation.
Seong-hyeon mulled amid throbbing pain.
No longer love.
Hate.
Had to revenge those bastards somehow.
Make them pay, beg crying.
First, survive.
Even Noblesse: body crippled, pain blocking Nobling—could catch stray fire.
Hide somewhere safe first.
Stash in an empty spot.
Struggling to move his legs,
Ziiing.
A sound from behind.
Chills ran up his spine, cold dread snapping his mind alert.
"Noblesse are fascinating. Directly interfering with the 'Server.' I want that power too."
Familiar yet not voice.
Pleasing woman's tone, but goosebumps nonstop.
Barely turning, a woman stared with glowing red eyes.
"...You... are...?"
Black straight hair, cold features.
Neat black suit and stockings.
Maid-like, the doll serving Sihwan.
"Even without that, I wasn't gonna forgive assault on Master."
Earlier, zero threat.
No mana stir, no strong presence sense.
Just a puny human golem.
But now, what the hell?
Why was he, a Noblesse, trembling in terror?
"For your rudeness, I'll take your DNA. Won't be pleasant, of course."
Her smooth arm mutated with the creepy declaration, revealing a weapon.
Blue massive energy surged, basing to 'delete' targets.
Basic for her, catastrophe for lifeforms.
Whirrr.
Crimson glow vs. contrasting blue.
He sensed something wrong.
"Don't worry. You won't die. For a while."