34. Struggle.

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I’ve brought them all, -nim.”

 

 

A woman gives a light bow.

 

 

Agnes, who has become a ‘Minister’ level figure beyond a simple maid, is supported by protocol befitting her position. Of course, the fact that she belongs to the Harem Palace was a secret to the outside world, so she couldn’t have large-scale guards or protocols like Im Seo-hyun, but at least she had 50 maids assigned to her that she could use as she pleased, and if you include the maids belonging to the ‘Intelligence Department’ where she is a Minister, the number easily exceeds 100.

 

 

The woman who greeted her now was also assigned in this way.

She also owes absolute loyalty to Yu-eun, but for now, she is listening to Agnes’s orders.

 

 

“Without missing anyone?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

 

She nodded lightly and closed the book she was reading.

Originally, she should have been busy at the D10 European branch, but she canceled everything thanks to Kaku and his party.

Because a very thrilling thing came to mind.

 

 

 

She heard that Kaku and his party had escaped from the maid chasing them.

All the way from Japan to this far Europe.

 

 

She could understand them being missed the first time because Yu-eun had just returned from another world, but the fact that they haven’t been caught yet since then is a clear mistake.

And the person in charge of the maids is none other than Im Seo-hyun. One of Agnes’s three arch-enemies (Yu-eun, Isonia, Im Seo-hyun).

 

 

Yu-eun is the very source of all evil, Im Seo-hyun is the one who kidnapped her daughter, and Isonia brutally murdered her husband and subordinates, so they are humans she cannot live under the same sky with.

 

 

 

That’s why she initially tried to kill Yu-eun and his group by any means possible.

Just thinking about what she had suffered made her so angry that she felt like she couldn’t do anything unless she killed him.

 

 

However, the power of the system was superior to what she thought, and the burning desire for revenge began to be buried in the rising loyalty day by day.

 

Gradually, the memories and affection for her husband began to fade, and thoughts of Yu-eun began to increase.

She doesn’t feel affection for him. She certainly doesn’t feel love.

 

But she is almost scared of herself for being drawn to him little by little.

Now she can think about him normally.

 

 

 

 

“But that doesn’t mean I like those bitches, absolutely.”

 

 

Of course, that’s only for Yu-eun, and she still hates Im Seo-hyun and Isonia.

And this case was enough to mess with Im Seo-hyun.

 

 

 

 

On a whim, she immediately calls her.

As they are both ‘Minister’ level figures, she knows her phone number.

 

 

After a few rings, Im Seo-hyun’s voice was heard.

She seemed a little puzzled that Agnes had called.

 

-What’s going on?

“I heard, but Seo-hyun-ssi, are you very busy?”

-…?

 

She must be on the other side of the world, but she could feel her tilting her head.

 

 

“I knew you were quite smart and good at handling work, but you’re making some mistakes?”

-What are you talking about? Get to the point so I can understand.

 

Agnes’s lips curled up slightly at the blunt voice.

 

 

“Do you know Kaku?”

-Kaku?

“Don’t you know?”

-Is he a person?

“You really don’t know. I’m very disappointed. Seo-hyun-ssi.”

-…What’s going on?

 

 

A slight annoyance is묻어나온다.

Still, considering Im Seo-hyun’s personality, this is a mild response. Originally, she would have been speaking informally or swearing by now.

 

 

Agnes decided to provoke her a little more.

That was the purpose in the first place.

 

 

“Reports aren’t even going properly to someone who’s supposed to be the ‘Chief of Staff’… I know it’s been two months, but shouldn’t you at least know about it? It seems like you’re being too careless? Im Seo-hyun-ssi.”

-….

 

 

Deep anger could be felt over the receiver.

Well, she’s just scratching her nerves without even telling her the reason, so it can’t be helped. Moreover, to her, who thinks of being used by Yu-eun as the greatest happiness and mission, saying that she is doing her job ‘carelessly’ is a severe insult.

Maybe she has already killed Agnes a hundred times in her mind.

 

 

-Stop talking nonsense and tell me what you want.

 

As expected, a sharp voice.

She seems to have restrained herself, but her tone is still sharp.

 

 

“The human named Kaku is the leader of an adventurer party, and he was chased by a maid all the way to Europe, you know? From Japan. When I asked him in detail, he said he opposed the palace’s policy and even insulted the master, shouldn’t he have already been caught by the palace and executed or turned into a maid for something like this? Am I wrong?”

-….

“He’s been living well and even hunting for more than two months without being caught, and in the meantime, the human called the Chief of Staff doesn’t even know that this happened. Isn’t the ‘Imperial Palace Secretariat’ doing its job too carelessly? Someone is working hard while even hiding their identity globally.”

-Chased by a maid…? Who is that maid?

“You should find out. ‘Chief of Staff’-nim. You’re in charge of all the maids, right? Don’t tell me you got that position without being able to do that? This is just a mess of incompetence and lack of loyalty. Well, is it too much to expect that from a brat who’s not even thirty?”

 

 

The sound of teeth grinding could be heard over the receiver.

It seems that Im Seo-hyun’s anger index is quite high.

 

But perhaps because she is losing in terms of justification, she did not express her anger immediately.

 

 

-…Is that true?

“Then would I take the time out of my busy schedule to call you to lie?”

-Hoo….

 

 

Im Seo-hyun, who expressed her anger by sighing, said in a low voice.

 

-I understand, so hand them over to Korea first. I’ll take care of it here.

“I don’t want to?”

-What did you say?

“No, isn’t it? You can’t do your job properly, and I don’t even trust that you’re really loyal, so how can I entrust such an important task to you? Isn’t that right? It’s a matter of our master’s honor.”

-Ha….

 

 

Seo-hyun laughed as if she was dumbfounded.

 

-I didn’t know you cared so much about the master. If I had known earlier, I would have taken you to the master every day. It’s a shame. Isn’t it?

“Well, think about that yourself. Anyway, I’ll take care of them, so you don’t have to worry. Just know that. I’m busy, so I’ll hang up now.”

-….

 

She was about to hang up with a bitter smile, but then she remembered something and brought the phone back to her mouth.

 

 

“Ah! I just thought of something, isn’t the time zone there the opposite of here? Then it’s midnight or dawn, but you’re answering the phone right away?”

-…So?

“No, no, it’s not important, I’m just curious. Isn’t it usually the time to be spreading your legs and panting hard?”

-….

“Ah! You weren’t chosen!”

 

 

Agnes scratched Seo-hyun’s insides with an exaggerated reaction.

It was a great success, as she heard the curse ‘You fucking bitch’ over the receiver.

 

Of course, the damage is zero.

Rather, she even felt a sense of joy that she had properly pissed off Im Seo-hyun.

 

 

“I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have said that. Well, work hard. Maybe you’ll be chosen someday? Unless he’s tired of you.”

-What?

“Ah! Ah, I’m sorry. I misspoke again. Don’t worry about it, it just came out by accident. Well, it’s my true feelings, though.”

-Hey.

“Then I’ll really hang up. I’m very busy, you know. Im Seo-hyun-ssi, don’t make any more mistakes. Got it?”

 

 

 

Agnes scratched Seo-hyun’s insides until the end and then immediately hung up the phone.

And then she immediately blocked the number to maximize Seo-hyun’s anger.

 

Seo-hyun will probably call a few times and then realize that she has been blocked and get very angry.

 

 

 

 

“Ah. I feel refreshed for the first time in a while.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“What the hell is going on?”

 

 

Haruna asked, her eyes trembling with anxiety.

Now that she has been forcibly kidnapped by the maids, her anxiety level was at its worst.

 

 

“Could it be that Yu-eun is here?”

 

 

Not only her, but the eyes of the rest of the people were similar.

Even Aoki was looking at him with a questioning expression.

 

 

 

 

Haruna and the others were quietly waiting for Kaku in the hotel room when they were ambushed,

The maids forcibly broke down the door and invaded, kidnapping them.

 

They don’t even know where they were kidnapped to, but when they came in, Kaku was also tied up.

Should they be happy about this?

 

 

“…I don’t know either. I have no idea what’s going on.”

 

 

Kaku hung his head in shame, while he couldn’t come to his senses from the endless questions multiplying inside him.

 

 

 

No matter how he thinks about it, there is no reason for Agnes to do this.

Especially by having women wearing Harem Palace-like maid outfits do it….

 

 

Even if she thought she was making fun of him, she would rather kick him out or kill him directly, there is no need to kidnap him like this.

Besides, she is a very busy person.

 

 

He doesn’t understand at all.

 

 

‘Or is Agnes actually that maid…? No, that doesn’t make sense.’

 

 

He suddenly thought of the answer, but he couldn’t believe it was true, so he denied it.

 

 

“If it’s not that Yu-eun bastard, then who… Could it be that the maid is here? Is that it?”

 

 

He denied Haruna’s continued questions.

 

 

“No, Agnes is the one who caught us like this.”

“Agnes… The D10 Chairman? Why would that person??”

“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t know why either. Wouldn’t it be easier to understand if she just kicked us out or killed us? But she locked us up like this. Why would she lock us up when there’s nothing to gain?”

 

Kaku was half-panicked and rambling.

The plan failed, but the fact that he was now completely helpless was a big factor.

 

 

“Maybe….”

 

 

Ooku, who rarely speaks, opened his mouth after a long time.

He was as quiet as his large and clumsy appearance, but he sometimes made insightful remarks.

 

 

This time too.

 

 

“Maybe she’s trying to hand us over to the palace and get some kind of reward….”

“!!”

“!!”

 

 

Everyone’s expression darkened at his words.

It sounded quite plausible.