Ch.186186. Saying There’s Something Important to Talk About.

“I need to talk to you mainly, but do you really think that makes sense?”

“Well… Seohyun taught me a lot. Don’t you like it?”

“…We need to talk.”

“There’s nowhere else to sit, is there?”

“Are you planning to wake up Yuri?”

“Ugh…”

As I was about to sit on the floor.

“You want to sit on the floor when we need to talk face to face?”

“…And you, do you think it makes sense to ask me to sit on top of you when we need to talk face to face?”

“But the sound will carry better this way, right?”

“Sigh… I thought I fixed it last time. Blanc has broken down again.”

“Broken down?”

“I thought that after that day, you had returned to ‘normal,’ getting flustered at even the slightest skinship…”

“No. Come to think of it, I don’t find it particularly embarrassing. And aren’t you the one who seems more broken?”

“Well… I suppose if what I saw in the bathhouse counts as broken, then you’re the broken one. But isn’t that beside the point? Either wake up Yuri or just let me sit on the floor.”

“Yuri is my older sister, so I can’t disturb her as her younger sibling, and Ellie seems to be falling asleep too, so I definitely can’t disturb them. And I don’t want you sitting on the floor.”

Sigh…

Why is Blanc being so stubborn again?

I’ll have to give in again, won’t I?

Sigh…

“…Do you absolutely have to sit there?”

“There’s nowhere else, is there?”

“…Don’t you remember what happened in the bathhouse?”

“Well… the atmosphere there was a bit different. And we were both… in that state. With these clothes on, it’s fine, it’s fine.”

“I’m not fine with it…”

“Who would be heavier, you or me? I’m fine with it.”

“If I sit there, you’ll automatically embrace me, won’t you? How uncomfortable that would be for me…”

“I’m your employer, right? Come here. Sit here.”

Unable to resist any longer, Blanc pulled out what seemed like a cheat key.

Employer.

That’s right.

Employer…

Sigh.

Following the order, I sat on Blanc’s lap.

Soft yet firm thighs supporting my weight.

And then, as if afraid I might fall, arms slowly slipping around my sides, forcing me to surrender my body.

“Now then… shall we talk about what to do next? Yuri, time to wake up!”

“Eh, mmm…?”

“Bine, should I take him away?”

“Hii, hiiiek!?”

Even Ellie, who was in Yuri’s arms, was startled along with her.

“Pwehung?! W-what are you doing all of a sudden…!”

“Sorry, sorry… hehe. Oh…? Yunseul…? Was that a notification that you’ll take him away…? Sister might be a little disappointed…?”

“It’s your fault for not waking up earlier. If you had woken up first and hugged Bine instead of Ellie, maybe not.”

“Hmm… I should have hugged both… but Bine was busy… if I had disturbed him then, I would have been scolded…?”

“So you shouldn’t have been sleeping, right?”

“Hiing… that’s right… but since I have Ellie… I’ll satisfy myself with this softness.”

Yuri pulled Ellie deeper into her embrace and sat up to listen to Blanc’s words.

In the process, she must have accidentally touched Ellie’s side, causing Ellie to get annoyed.

Honestly, if she’s getting that annoyed…

Hmm…

It’s nice to see that Ellie and Yuri seem to have become quite close.

“Yes… well, first of all. Bine, the day you left this house was that day.”

“…Yes.”

“And the day you returned is today.”

“That’s right…?”

“No pay for the time you were gone.”

“…Is that really the important issue here?”

“No, it is important.”

“…My debt is astronomical anyway… that amount won’t make much difference.”

“Hm? You could pay it all off by working here for just 20 years. And I’ll give you bonuses too.”

“Eh…?”

“Actually, 20 years is being generous… I could pay it off in a lump sum right now… Yes. That would be better. Wait a moment…”

After thinking for a moment, Blanc picked up her phone and made a call.

“Association President. About Bine’s debt… Yes, that one. It was about 5 billion including interest, right?”

…What is she trying to do?

“Yes, yes, what association budget? I’m a villain if I touch the association budget. Using compensation funds from the national treasury doesn’t seem right. I want to use my personal funds.”

“Yes, yes. It’s 5 billion. I’m just transferring the creditor rights from the banks to myself.”

“Hmm… If I don’t put a lien on it, wouldn’t it be fine? That’s only necessary if I want to seize assets.”

“Come on. What risk of personal debt? It’s Bine we’re talking about.”

“Yes, yes. I wanted to ask for their contact information. You know where it is, right?”

“Ah… yes, yes. Yes. Just a moment, 010…”

“Wait, isn’t this a personal phone number? Whose number? Oh, the chairman? Which bank?”

“Oh, that place… Wait. That’s my main bank… Of course I know the chairman’s number. It should be saved in my contacts.”

“Why do I know it? Hmm… why would I have the Association President’s number saved? Should I delete it?”

“Oh. You’re sorry, right? Right?”

“Yes. Yes, yes. I could know it. Right? Yes, yes. Blackmail… hmm… shall I show you what blackmail really is? I could unleash Bine here?”

“Ah, Ellie is here too… Right now Ellie… Elise. Yes. She’s a bit… well. She’s in a situation where it’s difficult to use her for blackmail right now. So just Bine and I will cause a commotion. Come on, I’ll blackmail you.”

“Yes, yes… Association President. Yes. Yes, yes yes. Yes. Thank you.”

…

No matter how I listen to it, it’s an absurdly ridiculous phone conversation.

But judging by the fact that she’s immediately calling somewhere else.

She seems to be calling the bank chairman’s number.

“Hello?”

…They answer right away?

Why on earth…?

Is it because Blanc only calls in emergencies?

Or… do they consider Blanc an important person?

“Yes. You know Bine, right? Yes, the villain. I heard you hold the debt…”

“Yes, yes. Yes. 5 billion.”

“Yes. Well, I know too. All the procedures and such. 5 billion that you might or might not recover. Reduced to 5 billion… holding onto it is just a loss for you.”

“Yes… well, it’s nothing special. Could I take it over?”

“Well… it’s not like that. I’m human too. I have emotions. There are various things I want to get revenge for.”

“Well… yes, well. You know everything. Because I have control over their person. Yes, yes. Hmm… I want to have financial control too, so to speak.”

“It’s nothing special. I’ll give you the principal plus 10%.”

“5.5 billion.”

“…Are you worried? Well, you deal with different amounts of money. Oh, about my fund. You’re managing it well, right?”

“Yes, yes. I’m not worried. The chairman told me to trust and leave it to you.”

“I don’t particularly interfere, but… lately I’ve been feeling the urge to change banks… Can I withdraw it all at once?”

“Hmm… I might need an additional 500 million. I’m not sure what for. But 500 million is quite a substantial amount, isn’t it?”

“Well… I haven’t lived according to my wealth level for very long. It’s natural to feel insecure when you’ve been lucky.”

“Oh. Just the principal? That’s fine. I’ll come tomorrow.”

“Ah, right. Can I bring them?”

“Who else would it be? Come on, it’s fine. I’ll be there too.”

“Ah, through the back door.”

“Hmm… well, I can concede that much. They’ve committed crimes, so it can’t be helped.”

“Yes. Then that’s settled.”

“Thank you.”

After hanging up, Blanc said:

“There.”

“…I’ve really become a slave now.”

“I’m your employer and creditor. Not a slave owner.”

“That’s what a slave is… if you’re just taking back the money I earn. And…”

“Hmm… I don’t think so.”

When I looked up at Blanc with dissatisfaction.

Blanc just smiled back at me.

Really.

Sigh…

Why are you helping me?

Why?

“So… we have something left to discuss, right?”

“…What’s left?”

“Your vacation. You were spending it with Arin but left in the middle. After just a week.”

“…”

“You know for sure that Arin was really sad about it, right?”

“Yes, that’s…”

“Do you think Arin was the only one who felt that way?”

“…Pardon?”

“Here… I’m not sure if I should say this, but. The kids who like you, and Yuri too, felt the same way.”

“What?”

“Well, I’m not sure how to put this, but. During that time when you were gone… the atmosphere was truly terrible. Well, after we caught Ellie, things got somewhat better since we had a lead. But when both of you were gone… yeah.”

“That can’t be… Come on, Blanc, you’re joking…”

“I’m not joking. Even though I’m embracing you like this, this is a serious conversation.”

…Sigh.

Affection.

Affection.

Family, right.

Affection as family members…

That’s how I should think of it, but.

…Unless I’m completely insensitive.

I’m not unaware that they have at least some slight affection of that kind.

Yes, considering what happened during that week, it’s natural.

And judging by Arin and Blanc’s behavior since I returned to them.

In fact, Arin had directly told me she liked me before, I think.

Blanc is…

Well, she’s Blanc.

…But.

Am I really the right person for them?

And, originally…

Love is something between one person and another.

Of course, in manga, animation, and other creative works.

They often tell stories of love between one person and multiple others.

I don’t know about Yuri.

Yuri… she has Ellie.

Losing Ellie might be truly infuriating, but.

If it’s love… it can’t be helped.

If my precious person makes such a decision, I’ll respect it.

…

But even excluding those two.

That leaves Blanc, Hyewon, and Seohyun.

…

Three people remain.

What’s going on?

Really…