Ch.50Yes

# 50. Yeh

“Don’t be too hasty.”

“How can I not be!”

“If I know Sunghyun, he wouldn’t create a situation that causes discord in the guild under these circumstances.”

“That’s… what? You’re saying my chances of romantic success are zero!”

“Listen to me until the end.”

Yeh Beopnojeong reacted calmly, thinking that what was bound to happen had come, and faster than expected—ah, the impetuousness of youth.

“First of all, he won’t end up with anyone, not just you. Even if there were someone among all of us—including the three back on Earth—who perfectly matched Sunghyun’s ideal type, I don’t think you’d need to feel deprived.”

“Wow~ That’s not comforting at all!”

“Or.”

Yeh Beopnojeong glanced briefly at Cutjukyeora, who had been maintaining an ambiguous stance beside Saeeaks, before continuing.

“While you might not feel the deprivation of someone else being chosen instead of you, though it might be difficult to accept by Korean standards… if you can understand sharing your feelings for someone you like with others. *Sigh*. Then perhaps the possibility isn’t zero.”

“…Huh? Wait. Subin unni. My ears aren’t deceiving me, right? Did I understand correctly?”

“As far as I can tell, both my language center and your ears are functioning perfectly. So don’t pretend you didn’t understand.”

“Ugh, how is that even possible!”

“Then give up.”

Yeh Beopnojeong’s immediate response made Saeeaks and Cutjukyeora’s expressions harden.

“Even if it’s you, Subin unni, telling someone to give up their feelings so easily sounds a bit harsh.”

“Survival and growth. Weren’t those our top priorities? Unless there’s some marriage system like in certain games, romance only interferes with those two. And I completely understand Sunghyun’s concern about favoritism causing discord within the guild.”

“But you didn’t have to be so definitive about it!”

“If you want to survive and climb the tower safely, either wait until we reach the final chapter, or if you’re desperate for romance, get everyone’s agreement and persuasion while accepting the consequences. I understand you might be anxious about having three more potential rivals, but if you can’t control momentary emotions, everything could fall apart. Is that what you want?”

Saeeaks’s face contorted. She clenched her fists, trembling. She seemed to have many things she wanted to say as emotions welled up inside her, but she couldn’t voice them, fearing they would be immediately shot down.

Feeling betrayed, upset, and resentful toward Subin unni who had initially seemed so understanding… As these emotions showed so nakedly and honestly on her face, Yeh Beopnojeong added:

“Isn’t it because you’re afraid of things becoming awkward, of your relationship deteriorating, that you haven’t pushed harder? That’s how it looked to me.”

“Of course! I’m not stupid! I can see the guild leader is also making efforts and holding back! But what can I do when the problem is that the guild leader is such a great guy! And somehow I fell for him, but why are you acting like you’re not even a candidate? Can you really guarantee that, unni?”

“I can’t guarantee anything. The situation is what it is, and I’ve always thought Sunghyun was a decent person.”

“See! Then how can you—”

Yeh Beopnojeong interrupted the excited Saeeaks.

“You’re mistaken about something. I don’t feel any romantic attraction toward Sunghyun yet. I said I can’t guarantee what might happen in the future. That’s why I’ve tried not to develop our relationship any further. That’s why I could speak so firmly to you.”

“How can you talk so easily about controlling your emotions? Is that even possible?!”

“It is possible. At least it has been for me. That’s why I can casually mention things like polygamy, which only barely exists in a few places left on Earth—though not marriage. If I were directly involved… even I might not have been able to say such things so easily.”

Yeh Beopnojeong softened her tone toward the end. Though she prioritized reason over emotion, she neither ignored nor despised emotions.

It was all too clear that Saeeaks was currently caught in an emotional storm, only holding back because she was talking to her.

“I understand Yuri’s position, but what about you, Seyeon? Are you the same as Yuri?”

“I…”

Cutjukyeora struggled to speak. It was partly due to her natural personality and partly because of how intensely Saeeaks had been expressing her emotions.

But Cutjukyeora’s feelings didn’t seem any less significant. As another woman, and as an observer who already knew these two had feelings for someone, Yeh Beopnojeong could see it clearly.

Those emotions needed to be resolved or channeled in another direction. They would erupt one way or another eventually.

“I’m the vice guild leader. As you know, my role is to manage the guild. While guild operations are the top priority, managing guild members’ mental states is also part of my responsibilities.”

“…”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, just listen. If Sunghyun were to choose one of you two, could you gracefully accept it and move on without resentment? Are you confident about that?”

Cutjukyeora and Saeeaks looked at each other.

She’s pretty enough to make me jealous sometimes.

And if I imagine the (guild) leader dating the person in front of me instead of me, even while congratulating them and thinking they make a good couple… that jealousy would probably multiply.

They both thought this simultaneously.

“Normally, Sunghyun’s handling of this would deserve criticism. Being indecisive, managing you, being too greedy. But why don’t you calm down and try to see things from his perspective?”

Suddenly pulled into this game world while playing…

Ending up essentially kidnapping Cutjukyeora…

Naturally realizing they couldn’t survive with just the two of them, so bringing in the rest of the guild members including Saeeaks and Yeh Beopnojeong…

Then two of them confess their feelings…

He politely rejected them for the sake of the guild’s future and unity, but when the existing two who confessed learn that the three who haven’t arrived yet are also women, they become desperate, thinking it’s now or never?

“Obviously, he doesn’t know yet that the remaining three are all women. Honestly, even the fact that the three of us gathered here are women must be quite troublesome from his perspective. But he can’t distance himself or push you away either. If you’d only met a few weeks ago, he might have been able to do that with his eyes closed, but that’s not the case.”

“So what’s your conclusion, unni?”

“To gain something, you must know what to give up. If you really want romance, it can only happen in a form that eliminates the possibility of favoritism. Since you two look like you’ll absolutely never give up. So.”

Try to appeal to anti-Sunghyun while making him crave you.

But don’t confess too openly.

“Make the guild leader oppa… crave us?”

“Yes. Without overtly confessing and giving him another reason to reject you, appeal to him with your charms. Let him make the decision. Since you’ll have done your best, even if he chooses someone, you’ll have fewer regrets. If he can’t bring himself to choose and pushes everyone away, you’ll be heartbroken but won’t feel relatively deprived. And if he turns out to be a greedy pervert who wants everyone for himself… well, that’s something you’ll have to work out among yourselves when the time comes.”

“Having fewer regrets.”

“Yes. Just don’t confess first. That might make him put up more walls. You can manage that much, right?”

Yeh Beopnojeong hoped her two younger sisters would accept her compromise. She had spoken more than usual, trying to convince them somehow. She didn’t want to continue the conversation with more harshness.

“…I understand what you’re saying. I’m sorry. I need to work on not getting excited so easily.”

“It’s okay. You’re allowed to get excited. I’m sorry too for speaking so coldly.”

Yeh Beopnojeong secretly sighed in relief. She was a bit concerned about Cutjukyeora, who had been holding back her words, but seeing her talking with Saeeaks despite her somewhat gloomy expression, it didn’t seem to be at a worrying level yet.

‘Anti-Sunghyun, you sinful man.’

This is just a temporary fix, Guild Leader. These girls like you much more than I expected.

Yeh Beopnojeong whispered what might have been encouragement or mockery to the absent guild leader.

**

“Oppa, oppa.”

“W-what is it?”

“What do you mean ‘what’~ Since I was able to clean up thanks to you, I thought I’d give you some time now.”

Saeeaks, who had returned looking neat and tidy after spending some time away, suddenly clung to my arm, acting coquettish.

She used to always add the title “Guild Leader” before calling me oppa, but now just “oppa”?

Though I couldn’t express it, I felt a bit creeped out. Regardless of her appearance, how should I put it? Anyway, that’s how it felt.

Had I been thinking of her as an energetic little sister all this time? She might be hurt if I said that.

I tried to naturally remove her arm while responding.

“Oh, really? I’m still dirty since I haven’t washed up yet, so don’t cling to me.”

“Oh come on, you’re not dirty! I’ve prepared towels and warm water, so go clean up comfortably!”

“R-really? Thanks.”

“Heh. No need to thank me!”

While Saeeaks has always been friendly and energetic, this feels different somehow?

I exchanged a glance with Yeh Beopnojeong before heading to a secluded spot to take off my clothes and wash up.

But then…

“Leader.”

“Oh. Seyeon-ssi, you look refreshed too.”

“Yes. What we bought in Albrant turned out to be better than expected.”

“I see. But, um, I need to wash up.”

I hadn’t expected that the “prepared” towels Saeeaks mentioned would be in Cutjukyeora’s hands.

“The three of us could wash each other’s backs, but… may I wash your back, Leader?”

“…Excuse me?”

What followed made me doubt my hearing even more.