Chapter 188: The Saintess's Name
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 188: The Saintess's Name
To get straight to the point, Yu-min didn't end up moving into my place.
There were several reasons for this, but the most crucial one was...
"No, Dad! I told you my boyfriend's place is on the third floor! We wouldn't even be in the same room; it’s more like a guest house vibe! It’s not some scandalous cohabitation like you’re imagining!"
It was her parents' fervent opposition.
There aren't many parents in Korea who would openly allow their children to live together before marriage.
Especially when the daughter isn't just anyone, but the child of a conglomerate family that supplies artifacts globally.
While they could pressure reporters to keep stories from being published, cohabitation was an entirely different matter.
Even for someone like Yu-min, it would be hard to endure the onslaught of negative rumors and talk of "promiscuity."
"Ugh, seriously, why won't you listen to me?! I love him! We're going to get married anyway, so it would be better to live together now and see if we're compatible!"
But those concerns belonged to the parents; for the child, the only thing that mattered was the problem at hand.
When it came down to whether she could live with her boyfriend or not, what did future criticism or disdain matter?
"He'll take responsibility! Why would you even ask that? Tae-yang, you'll take responsibility for me, right?"
"Of course!"
Since I knew the cohabitation wouldn't happen anyway, I decided to just go along with it boldly.
The key here was to play the role of 'the boyfriend who wants to live together but has to give up because of the parents.'
"What...? No, how could you... Tae-yang, my dad said he wants to see you sometime later. Is that okay?"
"Ah, of course."
"Did you hear that? That's how much Tae-yang cares about me! Why can't you see that, Dad?"
The sitcom-like conversation continued for a while, with voices rising and falling repeatedly.
"Dad, you really don't know anything! I've already signed an Absolute Trust Contract with him!"
"I don't care anymore! I hate you, Dad!"
After firing off that ultimate combination of words at her parents, Yu-min irritably hung up the phone.
Since I had expected this outcome, I gently patted Yu-min’s shoulder.
Since I knew it wouldn't work out, all I had to do was play along.
If I had flatly refused when she first mentioned moving in, she might have been hurt, and I would have had to give her some pathetic explanation as to why not.
But what if I said I’d help, yet it fell through because of outside pressure?
It actually makes it easier to control Yu-min.
But did she just now mention that we signed an Absolute Trust Contract?
Was it something that had to be kept that secret? What’s going to happen to me later?
However, reducing the variables in the certain present was more important than what might happen in the distant future.
I focused my attention back on Yu-min.
"That's a shame."
"It's so unfair. We have such a deep bond..."
"It can't be helped. We can still hang out like this often, so let's just bear with it for now."
The topic of conversation had shifted from summoned beasts and cohabitation to parents who don't understand their children's hearts.
"Yeah... I guess so."
After that, as if by unspoken agreement, I laid Yu-min down on the bed.
Perhaps because she had worn a dress specifically to make it easy to take off, her naked body was revealed the moment I grabbed the hem and pulled it up.
Wait, why was she naked already?
"You weren't wearing anything underneath?"
"Taking things off is a waste of time."
I hate wasting time on things like that.
As Yu-min said that, she pulled my head close, burying my nose between her breasts.
"Please punish Yu-min's slutty pussy."
"You're being cute."
In truth, once things reached this point, there was no way the conversation would drift back toward Chun-hyang.
From start to finish, the flow of conversation and the situation fell perfectly into place according to my design.
As expected, there was no situation I couldn't control.
++++++++++++
Man, I feel like I've been working my ass off, but it's still at 40%.
The morning after spending a hot weekend with Yu-min.
While listening to a theory lecture, I checked the current situation as I usually did.
Let's see... The girls I've slept with are Yu-min, Su-jin, Hye-mi, Chun-hyang, Shael, and Yui.
Excluding Su-jin, who had no chance of becoming Kim Min-su's heroine, that made five.
Yet, the Protagonist Share I'd stolen was only 40%.
Aside from the two times I had blatantly humiliated him, the numbers hadn't changed at all.
Recently, I lost 5% because Kim Min-su had an Awakening, though I got it back...
To think that after all that effort to steal 40%, he could take back 5% just by Awakening.
However, I was able to gain some very important information from this.
It means I don't necessarily have to steal his girls right in front of his face.
I didn't need to stubbornly refuse the food set before me until the opponent arrived.
At this point, I pulled up the NTL Quest window.
[Main Quest]
Originally, Baek Tae-yang is a character with no screen time.
However, through incredible activity, Baek Tae-yang has established a Presence.
The Author will try their best to stop you, but does that really matter?
Usurp the position of the protagonist [Kim Min-su] and proudly take the lead role!
Crush Kim Min-su's mental state into powder in Baek Tae-yang's own way!
You shall become the true protagonist of this novel!
Clear Objective :: Disqualify [Kim Min-su] as the protagonist (0/1) (Failure if [Kim Min-su] dies.)
Deadline :: D-310 / Reward :: [Protagonist - Baek Tae-yang], Short Truth
Penalty :: Death
After this quest window first appeared, additional explanations like "Trample Kim Min-su's pure love" had followed.
So, naturally, I had only thought about stealing Kim Min-su's heroines.
But maybe that's not the only way.
Even if I knew this, nothing would change immediately.
In any case, the story had to progress for me to try a different direction.
Since the Joint Training ended, the days had passed without any real issues.
The only thing is that the Saintess is staying here for about two months for an inspection?
It was a major event that set Victory Academy abuzz, but I didn't feel much.
It was because I already knew the Saintess would be wherever Kim Min-su was.
Kim Min-su is being too quiet, too.
I wanted to clear the quest quickly and find out what the "Short Truth" was.
Protagonist-like behavior... Like a protagonist...
What kind of event would be "Baek Tae-yang-esque" while also stealing the Protagonist Share?
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
As I mindlessly tapped my desk with my finger, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.
I'll just do what I've always done.
There was a reason for the saying "the old way is the best way."
+++++++++++++
After all the classes were over.
I immediately headed toward the VIP Room where the Saintess was staying.
There's no one here at all.
Since a world-famous celebrity had come to the school, I expected the area in front of the VIP Room to be crowded.
Instead, the hallway was emptier than usual.
Even if it was next to the Chairman's office, everyone was being excessively timid.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Yes, come in."
As soon as I heard Perkus's voice, I opened the door and entered.
"Hmm... It seems I am but a lowly subordinate to Cadet Baek Tae-yang."
"Pardon?"
"It is nothing. Please, have a seat."
"Ah... Yes."
I gave a vague response to Perkus, who was uttering nonsensical words, and looked around.
"The Saintess has stepped out for a moment. She will be back shortly, so please have some tea while you wait."
"Thank you."
An awkward atmosphere permeated the VIP Room.
I can't even strike up a conversation.
With Cheon Hae-il, there was at least some internal familiarity since he was the Academy Chairman.
But Perkus was essentially the same as a king of another country.
I was cautious, fearing that if I said something wrong, things might escalate unnecessarily.
"My, it seems I've made things too awkward. I shall take my leave then."
"No, that... uh... ah..."
Thank you.
Swallowing my words, I watched Perkus leave the VIP Room.
What is this?
It felt like a mere cadet had pressured the Pope into leaving.
It was a scene that would have earned me some finger-pointing if anyone who knew us had seen it.
But shouldn't a Pope have more dignity?
His overly cautious attitude actually made me more wary.
Creak.
"Oh, you're here?"
Just a few seconds after the Pope left, the Saintess appeared as if on cue.
And she even said, "You're here?"
"What... did you receive some kind of revelation? That I would be coming?"
"No? Why?"
"Because the timing is just too perfect."
From the fact that no one was in front of the VIP Room to the Saintess's arrival.
It was so strange how everything connected naturally, like a scene from a play.
Normally, I would have just thought, "Good timing," but this was the Saintess.
"Just think of it as good timing."
She said that with a bright laugh and sat down across from me.
"You're here because of Kim Min-su, right?"
I shook my head at the Saintess's words, which sounded as if she knew everything.
"No, I'm here for a different reason."
"What would that be?"
"What is your name?"
"My name?"
"Yes."
The Saintess froze the moment she heard me ask for her name.
It's just a name...
It's not like I'm asking about some sensitive past; why is the atmosphere like this?
The Saintess gazed at me intently with a serious expression.
I could feel her intense gaze even through her veil.
"My name is Lilmay—"
In that situation, her mouth opened, and I doubted whether I had heard her correctly.
"Lilmay... I couldn't hear anything after that, Saintess."
It was because everything after that sounded like a muted TV.
But as soon as I said those words, the Saintess flinched violently as if she had been struck by lightning.
"You can hear my name?"
"...? Yes, of course."
What kind of situation was this now?