EP 4 The Blacksmith Hides His Identity
"Please spare me. I beg you, Lord Hermes." The Sacred Lotus Realm mage dropped to her knees before the Refined Realm, pleading for her life. Hermes finally realized it was impossible to fool an observation eye of that caliber and removed the hood he had pulled low to conceal his identity.
"...Shouldn't we arrest him?" one hunter muttered, but no one moved to act. They simply didn't feel they could interfere so recklessly. Instead, the S-rank hunters whispered among themselves in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them.
"Does that even make sense? Is he really Refined Realm?"
"I heard Hermes was just a high school graduate."
"If he really is a high school grad, there's no way Wolgeuk Seongun—who earned her doctorate—would be kneeling like that."
Half-convinced, half-skeptical. They refused to believe what they were seeing and interpreted it however they pleased. But Han So-hee, an S-rank hunter from the Baekje Guild, was different.
They don't understand any of it?
Han So-hee felt despair. The fact that these people—her colleagues—couldn't even properly interpret the scene before them filled her with disgust. Her gaze sharpened as she looked at them again.
Trash. Why are the only women around me always this worthless?
The difference lay in the height of their ambitions. Most hunters were high school graduates at best, so Refined Realm was their limit; they grew stronger through skills and artifacts. But Han So-hee harbored the ambition of entering Hankuk University and eventually reaching Sacred Lotus Realm. She dreamed of becoming a concubine beside the principal wife. To that end, she had already applied for this year's Hankuk University entrance exam and was attending a retake academy while working.
She understood the laws of this world well.
No matter how high your realm, if your background is trash, you're trash too.
Wolgeuk Seongun's actual skill was higher than Hermes'. But Wolgeuk was born into an ordinary family and clawed her way up alone. Hermes, on the other hand, has built connections with the politician Taeheo Singun, the Heaven and Earth Realm peak Llywelyn, and even the Samjin family. He's a truly promising talent.
Han So-hee's eyes turned toward Hermes. Llywelyn, at the peak of Heaven and Earth Realm, was flustered beside him, while Taeheo Singun listened carefully to his wishes in front. Below them, Wolgeuk Seongun—the Sacred Lotus Realm mage—was even shedding tears.
That's real power.
Wolgeuk is trash who didn't know her place and clawed her way up. She even became a principal wife despite being Sacred Lotus Realm. She rose too far without knowing her station, and this is the result. As expected, people must know their place and attach themselves to those who are superior.
...I need to get close to Hermes.
Han So-hee logged into Alchemist and sent Hermes a donation.
[You have donated 1,000,000 won.]
With this, Hermes will definitely take an interest in me, right?
EP 4 The Blacksmith Hides His Identity
My phone rang loudly. When I checked, a massive amount of donations had poured into my Alchemist account.
[Jin Mi-ah of Hankuk University Medical School has donated 20,000,000 won to you.]
[Lee Soo-ah, CEO of Samjin Guild, has donated 15,000,000 won to you.]
[Director of Baekje Entertainment has donated 25,000,000 won to you.]
There were over ten donation messages.
...What is this.
Llywelyn, watching from the side, smirked and covered her mouth.
"Donations."
Her voice rang right in my ear. The fact that neither the Sacred Lotus Realm nor Deity Transformation mages nearby reacted meant she had definitely used some magical trick to make only me hear it.
"Right now, the entire country is watching this scene through Baekje Broadcast. That's why everyone who saw the broadcast is showing goodwill toward you, Ji-tae. Look, some women are even sending photos of their underwear along with their specs. These types don't have the qualifications to become principal wives, so they're sending bribes to attach themselves as concubines. You can just accept it and keep your mouth shut."
"Concubines?"
"Yeah. Yeah. There are different kinds of wives, right? The principal wife you live with and share love with, the concubines you see occasionally while living separately. But there's also the side concubine in between. They're the principal wife's subordinate concubines who assist in bed or daily life and take care of the husband's needs."
"...There's such a thing?"
"Yeah. It can't be helped. There are few men and many women, so we have to establish this hierarchy. And among these girls, the ones offering especially high amounts are the ones trying to take you as a side concubine. You can just take the money and ignore them."
Listening to that, a question occurred to me. I had also stood out considerably during the magic cooking qualification exam. Yet there had been no such offers back then.
"There was nothing like this before."
"That's because back then, everyone just thought you were a high school graduate with only skill. But this time it's different, isn't it? After seeing you getting close with me—who's pretty, popular, and high-realm—they've all changed their minds."
"...Hmm."
Llywelyn, scrolling through the messages, frowned.
"What? This trash."
[Baekje Guild S-rank Han So-hee has donated 1,000,000 won.]
"Only a million won? Block this one immediately."
Llywelyn touched my phone and blocked Han So-hee on the spot.
*****
Han So-hee saw the message.
[Hermes has blocked you.]
"Why?!"
*****
When I tallied the donations, the total came to 200 million won. Just appearing on broadcast and showing my connections had earned me 200 million in an instant. It was the kind of money I would have to work hard for an entire week to earn. I wondered if it was really okay to make money like this. Staring at my account, now worth nearly 700 million, with my mouth agape, I heard sobbing from below.
"...Um, excuse me. So what happens to me now?"
"Ah.... Right."
The glow of money had made me momentarily forget about Wolgeuk Seongun. Ignoring someone right in front of me felt a bit rude. I had Wolgeuk Seongun sit properly and called Heo Shin-ah and Llywelyn over, moving to a spot a little farther away. The moment the two realized the other knew my true gender, they stared at each other blankly and entered a probing contest. The atmosphere quickly turned hostile. But in the end, both seemed to accept it.
"Hmph."
"Haha."
Their gazes were full of contempt for each other, though. I could roughly guess their thoughts. Heo Shin-ah was probably thinking, Even if her realm is lower, my wealth, fame, and social standing are higher, so I win. Llywelyn was likely thinking, My social standing and wealth may be inferior, but my realm overwhelmingly surpasses hers, so I win.
...It didn't even feel rude to think such things. If it was these two, it was only natural.
When I asked about what to do next, Heo Shin-ah pointed at the guillotine. She had really intended to behead her.
"Um, isn't beheading a bit excessive?"
"Hmm? Why? Didn't that trash try to kill you, Nanggun-nim?"
"That's true, but..."
"Well, if that's what you say, Nanggun-nim, I'll do as you wish. But wouldn't it be better to deal with her before she comes back for revenge later...? If you really insist, we could at least cut off her limbs... Ah. Um."
Noticing my expression darkening, Heo Shin-ah stammered. Her face turned pale.
"Um, Nanggun-nim."
"Ah. Yes."
"Do you... dislike me like this? People usually say I'm generous, but it's only this time. When I heard she threatened your life, I was so shocked. Yes. I'm not usually like this. Really."
She kept firing off excuses in rapid succession, which was actually scarier.
"It's not that I dislike it. It's just... I feel like you're getting blood on your hands because of me. It makes me sorry."
When I phrased it that way, Heo Shin-ah stared blankly for a moment before the corners of her mouth lifted. Grinning, she began staring at me intently. Feeling burdened, I averted my gaze, and a notification appeared.
+ He doesn't even want blood on his own hands. This is delightful. (1 Point)
+ Well, I can do anything for Nanggun-nim, but if that's the case, it can't be helped. (1 Point)
+ Haah. How will someone this kind survive in this harsh world? I'll have no choice but to hold him in my arms for life. (1 Point)
.......
I had nothing to say.
"Well, something like murder can be settled with a fine, but if that's your wish, Nanggun-nim, I understand."
I started to say that she was taking human life too lightly, then stopped.
Wolgeuk Seongun is the same way when it comes to valuing lives lightly.
"But Nanggun-nim, just letting her go like this would make us look weak, so shouldn't we at least punish her to some degree?"
I agreed with this. It was the right thing to say. We had to respond decisively to the loser. If we were too soft, revenge later would be nothing but trouble.
...Is there a good way?
While I was pondering, Llywelyn made a suggestion.
"Ji-tae-ya. Ji-tae-ya. Instead of killing her, how about squeezing out her money and resources...?"
Hmm. But did she really need to say my name twice? I started to ask, then stopped. Her grinning expression made it obvious she was trying to act cute.
"So, basically, have her transfer all the cash she has, sell off all her assets, and send the money. On top of that, make her cough up any elixirs, weapons, or magic she owns. It would help when raising your realm later."
"What about retaliation?"
Llywelyn smirked and pointed at Wolgeuk Seongun.
"It's fine. She's already finished. Even if she tries something, I'll protect you, Ji-tae."
Heo Shin-ah stared at Llywelyn from across the way.
"Yes. Then let's do that."
*****
Wolgeuk General Hospital conference room.
When I called for Wolgeuk Seongun, an old man began talking with her outside. Despite Wolgeuk Seongun trying to dissuade him, the man ignored her and followed her inside. It was striking how Wolgeuk Seongun couldn't use her power and had to trail after him obediently.
The man looked to be in his fifties. Judging by the patient gown, he wasn't in good health.
"I'm her husband. Yoo Jin-wol. My wife has caused you trouble this time."
Thus, five people gathered in the conference room: Wolgeuk Seongun and her husband, plus me, Llywelyn, and Heo Shin-ah. Before we could begin discussing the settlement, Yoo Jin-wol spoke first.
"I'm sorry, but may I ask one thing first?"
"Yes."
"I don't know what my wife did, so I'd like you to tell me."
The conference room fell silent. Llywelyn and Heo Shin-ah each stared intently at Wolgeuk Seongun. Wolgeuk Seongun kept her mouth shut and shook her head rapidly from side to side. With a pale face, she opened her mouth and moved her lips. Reading them, the words were clear.
Pl-ease. Don't. Say. Any-thing.
What? Don't tell me she didn't say anything to her husband?
"My wife is quite shy and timid, so she doesn't tell me these things."
...A woman who mass-produces corpse soldiers is timid?
How much of an act has she been putting on?
Unable to watch any longer, Heo Shin-ah spoke up.
"Your wife has been doing disgusting things like collecting corpses and making zombies even in normal times. She also scammed hunters with contracts to steal their bodies, and this time she even tried to massacre this person and his friends all at once."
Yoo Jin-wol listened quietly, then his mouth fell open.
"......Is that true?"