Part 1 Chapter 10-3

New Seoul.

After Seonui Cheol’s downfall, public opinion in New Seoul boiled over, like a stock price plummeting day after day.

The driving force that poured ice-cold water on the heat that was about to explode, calming it down, was the heroes’ activities in China.

Seolhwaryeong, an SS-rank, displayed her might to the entire world, and many heroes, including Fire Fist, earned Cores worth trillions.

Thanks to the Black Scorpion incident, the two Cores Cheonghwa earned relatively paled in comparison, but Cheonghwa succeeded in bringing over a key talent from China.

Shaolin, the God of War. The second SS-rank ability user.

Although her nationality was still Chinese and her affiliation was the Round Table, Shaolin volunteered to be Cheonghwa’s bodyguard and followed her all the way to Seoul.

After Seonui Cheol’s downfall, South Korea began to experience an unusual succession of good fortunes.

New Seoul was truly a melting pot of celebration.

* * *

7:27 AM, Yuseong Family Mansion, New Seoul.

“So, what’s your reason for coming all the way to New Seoul? Surely you didn’t come just to see my face first thing in the morning.”

“A bit of both. It’s been a while, Baek Sajang-nim.”

“…I’m not a sajang, so it’s a bit awkward if you call me that.”

Baek Sang-woo broke out in a cold sweat and glanced at Eun Yuha. He had contributed to connecting me and Eun Yuha, but he hadn’t officially secured the position of sajang yet.

“Why? Weren’t you going to put him forward as sajang once the Black Market officially launched?”

“I apologize, but it’s not time for that yet. Baek Sang-woo-ssi isn’t a sajang yet. The things you’ve gotten involved in, Gogaek-nim, aren’t just one or two, you know.”

Eun Yuha rubbed her temple with her index finger and grumbled.

She had screamed with joy at the value of the Cores brought from China, but it didn’t take long for that scream to turn into a shriek of excessive labor stress.

“Building the Yeongjongdo Hotel, rebuilding the Incheon Bridge, securing various equipment to send to Seoul, purchasing Cores through the Association, utilizing the purchased Cores. I truly feel like even seven bodies wouldn’t be enough. Do you know that?”

“But you have seven bodies, don’t you?”

Eun Yuha frowned. It seemed I had gotten on her nerves.

“Are you kidding me? Even with the dolls working 24/7, tasks keep piling up, that’s why I’m like this. Do you remember the task Gogaek-nim gave me before you left China?”

“Of course. That’s why I came here this early in the morning.”

I examined the proposal Eun Yuha presented to me.

While I was in China, the two executives of the Cheonghwa Group I sent to Eun Yuha, Ryu Cheon-seong of Haneulseong and James Lee of Architect, finalized the plan to create a massive academy after discussing it with Eun Yuha.

“A university…?”

“Yes. If we call it an academy, people might not easily accept it, so we’re going with ‘university.’ A university for ability users.”

“Since it’s being built on university grounds anyway, calling it a university is good. But…”

I pointed to a spot on the proposal that had a red X-mark.

“‘Cheonghwa University’-why was that rejected?”

“Naming it after you is fine, but doesn’t it sound a bit… off?”

“…Then there’s nothing I can do.”

If Eun Yuha said no, it was no. My throat felt dry with disappointment.

“So, what about other names?”

“It’s still undecided. We have over a month until it starts anyway, so we can take our time thinking about the name, can’t we? This is what Gogaek-nim cares about most, isn’t it?”

Eun Yuha expressionlessly handed me a document. Eun Yuha was clearly a light-attribute ability user, yet somehow, a chilling aura emanated from her.

“New student recruitment guidelines.”

“……Baek Sajang-nim. Could you excuse us for a moment?”

I asked Baek Sang-woo for his understanding, and sensing the unusual atmosphere between Eun Yuha and me, he hastily left.

“……You’re too smart for your own good.”

As soon as Baek Sang-woo left, I immediately showed my true colors. Eun Yuha, without further ado, hit me where it hurt.

“New student recruitment guidelines? How about just changing it to ‘Looking for a Wife’?”

“…Don’t you think you get a little finicky whenever you talk about this?”

“Then shouldn’t I be finicky?”

Eun Yuha slapped the armrest of her chair with her palm, protesting to me.

“The person who entrusted me with dozens of S-rank Cores, no, something beyond even that, is now eyeing other women besides me!”

Eun Yuha placed a sugar-cube-sized object on the table and growled.

“……It’s just one of 32.”

“Even if it’s just one of those 32! If I continue with Gogaek-nim forever, it means nearly thirty more such treasures will come in! How can I even put a value on something like this!”

Eun Yuha gave up on calculating the Cube’s economic value.

“With just Gogaek-nim and the Cube, I feel like I could conquer the world, no, even the universe!”

“Your tension is high today. Yes. The Cube’s value is close to infinity. So shouldn’t you be happy instead of annoyed-“

“But Gogaek-nim!”

Eun Yuha slammed her palm on the table and leaned her upper body towards me. In her eyes, now close enough for me to feel her breath, a faint madness was visible.

“You keep making other women, and my share is decreasing, so how can I not be angry!”

“Is my heart a stock?”

“Is it a stock?! How much per share?! Sell it right now! I’ll buy it all, no matter the premium!”

She was truly a woman with excessive greed for money. Worried that the financial value I brought in might go to someone else, she was pressuring me to the point of showing excitement and even obsession.

The Eun Yuha in the original work controlled her emotions better than this, but Eun Yuha was still Eun Yuha.

“Don’t worry. As long as you don’t betray me, I’ll go all the way with you.”

“That’s in a business sense, right?”

“That’s right.”

“You trash, seriously.”

“…Why do I hear myself called trash everywhere I go? Seriously.”

Eun Yuha’s eyes welled up with tears, and she trembled. I gently wiped under her eyes with my thumb, then patted her back to calm her down.

“Don’t worry. I don’t discriminate against anyone. I’ll treat everyone exactly 6.25% equally.”

“…16? Gogaek-nim, was I one of 16 people?”

“Yes.”

“Considering my Doll Master ability, is there a future where I’m 7/16?”

“There’s no such future. It’s exactly 1/16.”

Even if there are 3P or 4P scenes, they are merely events; from the moment a character takes an individual route in the original work, it directly leads to an ending where only one person is pursued until the end.

“Since we’re talking like this, I’ll be clear. I am a philanthropist who loves everyone equally. I don’t play favorites.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“But it’s true.”

“Fine. Hmph, I’ll just make my share in your heart 100%.”

Indeed, typical of a woman who dreams of economic world domination. If my heart could be bought with money, Eun Yuha would probably try to buy it even if it meant liquidating the entire Yuseong Group right now.

“Oh dear. That’s a shame.”

“Why?”

“Because the major shareholder has no intention of selling their shares.”

“…Is it unlisted?”

Eun Yuha turned pale with shock, and I gave a bitter laugh.

“No.”

“Then what?”

“Because the major shareholder holds 99%.”

“99%? Wait a minute. You just said 6.25%?”

“Ah. Let me correct that.”

I raised my index finger.

“It’s 6.25% of 1%. Your share is 0.0625.”

“……”

Eun Yuha bit her lip tightly.

“Even if it’s just… 1% of the share…! Just you wait if I get it…!”

I thought it was very Eun Yuha-like to be greedy for even that small amount.

“Just you wait and see…!”

“Ah.”

She almost cried.

* * *

At that very moment, while Phoenix was sweating it out against Eun Yuha.

Baek Sang-woo, who had excused himself from their conversation, was also sweating profusely as he handled the tasks Eun Yuha had assigned.

“Yes, the furniture should naturally go that way. Considering how much Yuseong’s stake is in it, make sure everything is made with Core-processed products. Yes. Do that. Connect with the facilities team and find people we can pull from our side. Technicians don’t like coming up to Seoul much, you know. Maximize Yuseong personnel. Understood?”

The task Baek Sang-woo was assigned was the practical preparation for the ability user training academy. Even if the building was constructed very quickly, the equipment and furniture inside required numerous people, and Baek Sang-woo had to ensure the academy was ready to operate normally within at least two months.

“What a pain in the ass this is.”

He had a lot more work than before. It was a continuous string of busy days, with no time to even catch a wink, but Baek Sang-woo didn’t dislike it.

‘Still, it’s better than getting fired.’

Baek Sang-woo finished his urgent tasks and leaned against the wall, catching his breath. The morning’s work was over, and now Baek Sang-woo had new tasks to do all day long.

“I never thought I’d end up being a scout.”

Baek Sang-woo had to go around looking for new students to enter the university.

“But…”

He once again examined the problematic ‘new student recruitment guidelines.’ Unlike the general image associated with the name ‘university,’ there was only one condition for new students.

“Talent in abilities.”

Anyone with talent could enroll. That was the admission requirement put forth by Cheonghwa-Phoenix.

“…Perhaps Lee Seung-hyung is the best option?”

Unfortunately, he hadn’t been informed of Phoenix’s complicated relationships.

* * *

After Eun Yuha finally calmed down and regained her composure.

We had to discuss the Cube’s uses.

“I don’t think I can use it.”

“Why?”

“Because it feels like something I can’t handle.”

Eun Yuha showed a rather uneasy reaction to the Cube. Even though it was an object of immense value, she was wary of the risks it carried.

“There are many places it could be used, but I don’t think it should be used easily.”

“…Is that so.”

I suddenly flinched.

“What if someone other than us finds out about the Cube’s existence? Seonui Cheol and Kang Soyeon both ended up like that because they were caught in the Cube’s obsession, didn’t they? I don’t want to fall like that. Frankly, if I were to become enchanted by the Cube, what would Gogaek-nim do?”

“I’d kill you.”

“See? That’s why I don’t want to use this.”

That was Eun Yuha’s conclusion regarding the Cube. In the end, I decided to offer Eun Yuha something else valuable instead of the Cube, and Eun Yuha quickly replied.

“Then Gogaek-nim’s heart.”

“No.”

“Tch. Then I’ll take something else.”

Eun Yuha picked up the proposal.

“I want to be the chairman of the board here.”

“Huh?”

“Why the sudden polite speech? Why are you so surprised?”

Eun Yuha twisted the corner of her mouth, scoffing at me.

“A delinquent wants to cause some trouble, do you have a problem with that?”

“Wait, wait. Are you saying you want to be the chairman of the board yourself? Not Chairman Eunhasu or Eun Jaemin?”

“Yes. How about Yuha University? The name is clean and good.”

“…What’s your reason for wanting to be the chairman of the board?”

This was a situation outside the scope of the original work’s past questions. I needed to read Eun Yuha’s true intentions, but she was calmly composing herself. I couldn’t discern her true intentions by reading her mana.

“Is there anything special about it?”

Eun Yuha lifted her coffee cup and spoke playfully.

“I’m just planning to snatch up all the talents Gogaek-nim cultivates.”

“You mean Yuseong Group will hire them?”

“Of course. Do you think I’m building a school to recruit brides, like some people?”

“……”

She kept subtly provoking me, but I couldn’t say anything. To be honest, she wasn’t wrong.

“I see.”

So I decided to be honest.

“Then should I go around New Seoul and do the recruiting myself?”

“If you get a guarantee that they’ll be made employees of the group, I’ll take care of it too. So, who all is there?”

Eun Yuha raised her hand and began counting them one by one.

“Me, Cheon Gaeul, Seok Harang, Shaolin, and then…”

“……”

My throat felt dry each time a finger folded. It felt as if thorns were growing on the chair I was sitting on.

“Hikari, Lee Yuna. And I heard from Cheon Gaeul. Was it Phantom Dragon? That Phantom-attribute Spirit.”

Eun Yuha’s eyes sparkled.

“Why haven’t you brought in a Light-attribute Spirit?”

“I don’t know where it is.”

Is this what it feels like to be nagged? But I truly didn’t know where the Light-attribute Spirit was.

“Basically, it’s a wanderer. It can’t stay in one place.”

“How did you manage to charm such a person and make them your wife?”

“Why is it a foregone conclusion that she’s my wife?”

“Given the flow, didn’t Gogaek-nim charm all the Spirits?”

Eun Yuha pointed it out with chilling accuracy. I pretended to be calm and swallowed a large spoonful of yogurt.

“Spirits aside, if it’s a person and Gogaek-nim wants them, I’ll find out where they are right now. I won’t harm them or anything on my own. Do you think I’m crazy enough to make an enemy of someone like Gogaek-nim?”

“Is that so.”

Even so, I felt a little uneasy. So, as a precaution, I mentioned someone Eun Yuha couldn’t easily touch.

“Then, can you send this young lady to Seoul?”

“Who… Oh my.”

Seeing the profile I pulled out, a look of bewilderment appeared in Eun Yuha’s eyes.

“Hee-ah and I are in a ‘something’ relationship.”

“Huh?”

I fell into confusion.