episode_0102

Beyond the long, delicate eyelashes, golden light like an autumn field shimmers.

Someone might be willing to risk destruction to win her love.

The natural beauty that a girl of that age shows off… I could clearly say that it had that much power.

However, no one would think that the person who hurled such harsh, heart-wrenching remarks and this girl were the same person.

“That… I saw it earlier and it looked like there was a wound on your arm… It doesn’t hurt… ?”

When I didn’t get an answer, a voice that seemed to be filled with nervousness and anxiety was heard again.

I thought for a long time about the purpose of the attitude she is showing now, but… At the end, there was always only one conclusion.

I realize once again that the times she showed her backside were always in spaces where others could not see.

In a place where there are many people who see things this way, it is natural to show things like that.

“… ”

“Haha, now I see that my daughter was really paying attention.”

As my silence became longer and longer, the head of the Patcheon family suddenly joined the conversation, joking.

“How about you accept it generously? Isn’t this a situation that occurred as a public matter? We’ll see each other often in the future, so I hope you don’t have any hard feelings.”

“… it’s okay. Thank you for your concern.”

It was a problem that had no solution even if I suffered alone.

But even though it was just a courtesy answer to a courtesy worry… Even spitting out that short sentence was not easy.

“… Of course, I have no hard feelings at all. Isn’t that what you did, senior?”

“Hahaha! Only then is it worthy of the blood of the black lion. Thank you. I will compensate you appropriately for this work in the future.”

Baek Il-yong, the head of Paecheon, smiles arrogantly and taps my shoulder.

“Ah… ”

However, the girl standing behind him did not look satisfied at all for some reason.

Rather, it was only slightly damp and drooping to the point where it felt wet.

Although it was a depression that lasted only for a split second and then dissipated, I was able to clearly recognize that the girl had such feelings. It was so natural that I felt resentful at myself for noticing him.

But no matter how much I thought about it, I could never get to the root of that feeling.

Regardless, Baek Il-yong turned around and continued his conversation with Heukryeon and his wife.

“By the way, senior. Do you really intend to return to the Supreme Council?”

“Even so, does it have anything to do with you?”

“… This is too much. However, you can’t say it doesn’t exist at all.”

For the first time today, the slightest hint of hostility passes through the man’s voice.

“This decision was made because we could no longer cause harm to innocent people. The shame should only be borne by me and this person.”

For some reason, I feel like the gaze of the Four Great Dragons has just passed by the top of my head.

“I was able to make an easy decision thanks to someone repeatedly crossing the line. No, isn’t it? You can’t justify everything by using the past as a shield.”

“I think there is some misunderstanding. The Article 25 regulation is simply a bill proposed to prevent market monopolies by specific companies. Is it really necessary to cause harm to the people whose lives are already difficult?”

“You can put it anywhere. If we talk more, we’ll only end up talking nonsense. Now that we’re done talking, we should go.”

“Oh, sorry. I guess I’ve been holding on to a busy person for too long. Well, since it is a return after 15 years, it is quite possible.”

At the words of the Four Great Dragons, the man finally took a step back and indicated his intention to clear the place.

He smiles brightly and says his final goodbye as if he had never done that before.

“Then, please go in safely. Welcome once again to the Supreme Council.”

“Thank you. Hey. Let’s go.”

After giving a formal answer, the couple started walking again.

There are still no people in the passage, and only the sound of crows flapping their wings echoes.

I walked after them.

The sudden meeting had messed up my mind, so I needed a topic to talk about to calm him down a little.

“I… What does it mean that there is no principal… ?”

Then the Four Great Dragons answer.

“Ah, senior Haewolhwa is currently down in the south. I guess I haven’t heard any news since it overlaps with the day I left for the Red Army.”

“Yes? Why is he in the south… ?”

“As far as I know, I think they said there was a request for support from Southern Command. It is said that there will be a large-scale subjugation in the no-man’s land soon.”

The hostess takes the message and continues her explanation.

“The military sees the annihilation of the PLF’s 1st Regiment as a golden opportunity. Since it has been confirmed that even the owner of the southwestern plains, who was blocking development, has reached the end of his life, he would probably want to expand the human territory even if it means going a little too far.”

One thing comes to mind when you think of it as the master of the southwestern plains.

When I went to the South. I heard that story from a soldier I met while admiring the sunset on the wall.

It is said that a Dartigas variant so large that it is almost as tall as a wall lives beyond the no-man’s land.

The identifier of that special demonic beast was clearly the master of Southwest Plains.

Was it a magical beast that looked like a giant turtle carrying rocks on its shell?

Moreover, I remember it even more vividly because the soldier who told me those words died immediately after being pierced through the chest by a warlock.

“But even so, it’s no big deal. Since he was young, he never went outside the capital for anything.”

“The nickname ‘Sloth’s Haewolhwa’ did not arise for nothing. Maybe he got older and became more diligent… ”

“… ”

Even though I raised the topic, I couldn’t concentrate on the internal and external conversation.

Before you know it, the pounding sound of words is replaced by a mumbling noise.

The only thing I could feel was a pair of golden eyes still staring at me.

***

“Now, let’s go back to the cradle. Jeokhwa will never forget the kindness that Heukryeon has given her.”

“Honey. Are you sure it’s okay… ?”

As Yeon Myeong-ha, who was sitting across from the table, bowed low, the hostess of Black Lotus looked at her with concern and tried to dissuade her.

“Think again. In your current situation, you can be recognized as an exception. Even if you don’t graduate from the cradle, you can still inherit the Jeokhwa family business… ”

“No.”

But he only shook his head resolutely in pity.

“I don’t want to give my enemies even the slightest excuse.”

The hostess, seeing her determination, sighed softly and nodded as if there was nothing she could do.

“… okay. If that’s your decision, how can I stop you… ”

The red-hot situation that had been roiling the capital for several days was slowly entering a period of calming down.

The crime committed by Yeon Jeong-moon was a serious sin that could never be forgiven, but Companion Haman was recognized for his efforts to stop him until the end, and was barely able to carry on the name of Jeokhwa and the status of the five families.

But punishment is punishment. The companies and foundations owned by Jeokhwa were scheduled to be distributed to new owners, but they all ended up in the hands of Heukryun, which announced its return to politics after 15 years.

This was a result that strongly reflected the intention of Yeonjang-ha, who barely maintained his position as successor.

After all, it was a hundred times better than having the Stellite Mine fall into the hands of Paecheon and his faction.

“Okay. Don’t worry too much about the red-light projects. We will process your return immediately after you graduate from the cradle. You just focus on your studies.”

“… Thank you.”

In response to the hostess’s words, Yeon Yeon-ha thanked her again.

As the conversation continued like that, I finally managed to bring up a topic that I had been curious about for a long time.

“Well, may I ask you one question… ?”

“Hmm? Why are you doing that?”

“That… Tongue, Hyeon is really a black lotus… ?”

Yeon Myeong-ha’s pronunciation was slightly lame, as if she wasn’t used to calling her name yet.

But instead of answering, the hostess just shook her head slightly.

I was able to guess the answer just from her small act of compassion.

“But I’d like to think so. And in a way, it’s not wrong. Because the outside man and I have already accepted that child as our second child.”

“Why? Why on earth would you be so mean to a stranger… ”

“… This is to avoid repeating the same mistake twice.”

But the hostess’s answer made it even more difficult for her to understand. The true meaning of the hostess’s words, which were filled with profound sadness, was still unclear.

However, before Yeon Myeong-ha can begin to reason about it, the hostess quickly changes the topic with a slightly playful smile.

“But you and my son seem to have a very good relationship. No matter how you look at it, it doesn’t seem like a normal senior/junior relationship. Is what I think right?”

“Ha… ”

Then, Yeon Myeong-ha’s face instantly turns bright red like a ripe strawberry.

The doubts I had just had have long since disappeared without a trace. She blurted out something in a stammering tone that did not suit her.

“It’s true that he’s definitely my favorite junior, but… We still need to get to know each other better… A little bit hasty… ”

“Hehe, that was enough. I think you can tell without me having to say it.”

Yan Yanha, who realized that the hostess was making fun of her, immediately changed her expression.

The hostess, who cleared her throat sympathetically and took a breath, smiled sadly again when she saw her.

“Hmm, hmm… ”

“Still, I’m glad. You’re unlikely to make the same mistakes we did… ”

Then he gently wraps her hand and asks for a favor.

“Please get along well with that child.”

Then, as if there was no need to say anything, Yeon Myeong-ha nodded slowly but surely.

“… Yes.”

***

“Hmm~Hmm~”

A female student walked down the street of Cradle, humming softly.

Hair bleached yellow. A tight skirt shortened enough to expose her white thighs. Even at a glance, it gives the impression that it is full of defects.

The name ‘Yoo Sera’ can be seen written on the white name tag, the same color as the school uniform.

Others were talking loudly about black magic and demons, but she wasn’t particularly interested in such headaches.

I was lucky enough to get into the cradle, so I just thought that all I had to do was become friends with children from reasonably good families and get a diploma.

“Uh… ?”

Then suddenly. She discovers something and reflexively looks at it.

It’s because I was somewhat nervous about the large letters on the newsstand next to the store’s sign.

-A red-light situation flows in an unexpected direction… The new crown prince of Black Lotus is unveiled… (1 step)

“… What on earth is going on?”

The female student who saw him frowned slightly.

She thought of a masked male student she had worked with on an external request last time.