05. The Human Causing a Stir
05. The Human Causing a Stir
+++
"Angel... you mean?"
"Yeah. Angel."
The man revealed his doubt.
A face that utterly couldn't comprehend.
Not even the slightest bit of conviction was possible.
"No matter what, saying it's an angel in disguise is..."
"Why? I find it way harder to believe a Human owns a doll like that? Personality's shit too."
"But still..."
Ha Yeon-seo,
The Academy's Chief Instructor—she'd done her own pondering about Sihwan.
Was he really just a plain Human? Or maybe mixed with even a drop of 『Noblesse』 blood? If not that, then perhaps an Angel?
Whichever it was, she didn't buy that he was your average Human.
Chiik.
Right in front of the unconvinced man, she stuck the cigarette she'd gotten from Sihwan in her mouth and lit it up.
"Phew... Isn't this a cigarette you haven't seen before?"
"Y-Yes...?"
The man pulled a 'what the hell outta nowhere?' face, then went wide-eyed at her follow-up.
"This? That guy developed and made it."
"Yes?"
"More precisely, it's the handiwork of the doll he commands."
Faint yet acrid white smoke billowing up.
Even smokers find someone else's smoke harsh, so the man winced a little.
"First Outer Races guy to snag trainee rep—half rigged sure, but married a 『Noblesse』... and now cranking out products like this. Mostly thanks to that doll, but doesn't that make it even crazier? If he's really Human, why's a doll that competent so loyal? Why? What the hell's that guy got?"
"Well... 'cause he's the owner...?"
"..."
Yeon-seo shot the man a look like he'd spouted total bullshit.
He awkwardly hemmed and hawed, dodging her gaze.
That doll Sihwan had—Bari.
The more you looked, the more it screamed masterpiece.
She hadn't let on, but she'd been pretty shocked when it'd whipped up cigarettes from thin air. Even a Coding Type 『Noblesse』 would struggle like hell to create something from nothing—and forget it if it's something complex with a shit-ton of varieties like 'a full carton of cigarettes.'
Even 『Noblesse』 would sweat that, but the doll pulled it off like no biggie.
Then it straight-up mass-produced the damn things like it ran a workshop.
Sure, people griped it was inefficient hogging fancy resources, but just pulling it off made it luxury-grade.
Plus, its combat chops were no joke. Hadn't seen full power yet, but making an Elf its bitch? That's high-tier.
If she could, she'd fork over all the gold in the world to snag one.
"Checked his bloodline for 『Noblesse』 just in case—nada. Even Instructor Yu Ina's intel says no 『Noblesse』 ancestors. Dude literally popped outta The Tower. Leaves one option."
Not 『Noblesse』 but packing an Artifact pulling miracles with that arrogant-ass vibe?
"Angel. What else fits?"
"Hmm... Well, if you put it that way, yeah, but... not totally sold."
"Figured. Angels haunting the 1st floor? Instant shitstorm. I'm not 100% sold either. Just sayin' it's possible."
"Got it. So, what's the play?"
"Keep him close for now."
"But he's a trainee—longest four months till he grads or croaks?"
"That's why I'm lettin' him build a cigarette workshop on Academy grounds."
"That gonna... cut it?"
"It's not his only reason to stick around, right? Wife's an instructor here—kinda shitty to ditch her solo? Even if they're not all lovey-dovey."
"Or she tags along with him."
"Hmm... yeah, right."
"Or just hire him as instructor or trainee teacher?"
"Ah, hard pass."
Instant no.
Fast enough to shock the man.
"Not the type I wanna keep around."
"Gotcha."
"Anyway, you know the drill. Better safe."
"Yes. I'll loop in the instructors."
"No need for everyone—just the reliable ones. You get me?"
"Yes."
The man bowed politely, and right as he turned to split, Yeon-seo went "Ah," called him back, and shoved two cartons of packed cigarettes at him.
"This? Ten small boxes inside. One to each instructor, rest are yours."
"This...?"
"Business booms, gives him more reason to hang, yeah?"
"...Clever. Yeah."
He took the two cartons from Yeon-seo with due respect and left the room.
+++
Oblivious that Yeon-seo suspected him of being an Angel, Sihwan grinned solo in front of the sulky stunners.
"Wife or not, can't force it if she hates. But Eleonore? Different story."
"..."
The blonde Elf beauty Eleonore drooped her head.
She'd clung and teased like a pro during the bet, but now? Pointless.
Any sex with Sihwan from here? Zero her choice—pure command.
"Low rank obeys high rank. Exclusives bunk with their owner. Your words, no issue?"
Sihwan's demand: bunking with Eleonore.
Payback for her slutty temptations mid-bet.
"No..."
Yuina's lips twitched like she had words, but nada came out.
Sihwan was her husband, facts.
Human with a wife banging others? Ethics violation city.
But her sleeping with him? Hell no. No love, total annoyance—couple label alone? Fuck that.
Hence the stall.
"Eh, don't care sleeping with you. 'Course not some pussy 'just hold hands' bullshit."
"......Shameless Doll-fucker."
Best she could muster.
Zero damage to Sihwan.
"Nah, said I don't mind you? We're married, right?"
"I hate it."
"Tough shit then. Bari and Ellie it is."
"..."
She gnashed her lip, death-glaring Sihwan.
Kinda cute.
"Whatever affection, husband banging other chicks? Gotta suck. Get it."
"Then sleep solo."
"Said I get it—not that I won't."
Sihwan already woman-savvy courtesy Bari.
Backing off now? Nah.
Real talk: pre-bet, if he'd known pussy and Eleonore's savage tease-fest hit sans Bari? Probably railed her on sight.
Sex hit that hard, her looks even hotter.
'Fucking annoying.'
Ina stuck betwixt.
Sihwan right—love or not, hubby side-chick? Unbearable.
Even him being hubby, open cheating? In my house? Goosebumps, rage surge.
But "No me, no her—solo, jerk off"? Too cruel. Inevitable comeback: "You handle it first." No rebuttal.
Divorce over this?
Contract breach plus continent-wide punchline? Hard no.
Human marriage already historic—divorce day one? Nightmare fuel.
"Ugh... pisses me off."
Nausea churning.
"Wanna anytime, say."
"Kuh......."
Gotta be a way.
Bad vibes bad, but that smug grin? Infuriating.
'Ah!'
Hit her.
The play.
"Nope, won't fly."
"Huh?"
"No love sure, but married. You straight-up 'other bitch'? Rude AF."
"Told ya, don't mind you."
"Not don't mind—it's the 'right' damn thing."
"Yeah? Then beddy-bye together."
"But I hate."
"So?"
"You bang the doll. Eleonore's mine."
"The fuck?"
"You're a Doll-fucker anyway?"
"Drop Doll-fucker? Gives me the creeps."
Ina unfazed by pushback.
"Think what you want—to me, doll. Talks, thinks? Still doll, golem. Your 'sex'? Me? Jerk-off sesh."
"..."
Sihwan's face twisted into rare constipated rage.
"You do whatever with doll? Meh. Freaked by your freak fetish, not 'cheating spouse' vibes. You? See her person, so sex scratches itch + ego boost."
Nose high—flawless logic hers.
"How's that? Win-win? You nut sans me, I skip scumbag cheater view."
"..."
Sihwan scowled.
"One Q."
"Shoot."
"You hate my guts anyway?"
"Duh. Die of annoyance."
"So why care? No cling, other chicks? Win for you."
"What dumbass shit. You're my husband. Hubby cheats? Rage-fuel, pride-shredder."
"Oho. Hate me other women period, huh."
"...Yup?"
"Jealousy, boom."
"The fuck? Bullshit."
"Damn, mood lift? Our Yuna jealous."
"Never. Yuna my ass."
"Name's mouthful. Ina weird, full too long. Yuna. Nickname vibe."
"Ha."
Mind-boggling nosebleed logic.
"Jealous good, but one-woman? Nah. Train up now."
"...Real crazy bastard?"
Sihwan's antics always nuked her brain.