Chapter 111

“You’re Yoon Yeon’s boyfriend, right?”

“…..Yes?”

“….Huh? What did you say?”

For a moment, I couldn’t understand what this woman was saying.

“Are you Yoon Yeon’s boyfriend, you little punk?”

“What are you…”

‘What the hell is she talking about?’

I had anticipated countless things this woman might ask me, but I never expected her to ask something like this.

I even wondered if she had hit her head while fighting those outlaws earlier.

“From what I heard, you’ve been at the training facility for less than two days, and Yoon Yeon already made an offer to you? Plus, you stayed at the Myth Clan house for a few weeks. I heard rumors, so don’t play dumb.”

“……”

“That bitch Yoon Yeon, acting like she’s not interested in men, but she’s such a hypocrite.”

Yoon Yeon knew this woman, and it seemed this woman knew Yoon Yeon pretty well too, so I had no choice but to ask.

“Um, by any chance… do you know Yeon noona?”

“Yeon noona? Hah… yeah, right.”

‘Ah…’

I accidentally used the term I use when I’m alone with Yoon Yeon.

“We were friends. Well… not anymore. We ended up going our separate ways, but it’s not like we’re enemies or anything.”

Suddenly, she approached me and draped her arm around my neck like a thug shaking someone down.

“So, how did you seduce her? It must’ve been hard to get her. How the hell did you do it, you weakling? Does she have a thing for weak guys?”

Instead of feeling flustered by a pretty girl suddenly getting close, I swallowed nervously because I could see the tattoos on her arm up close.

“Ah… well, um…”

It seemed like she had some weird misunderstanding, probably because I used the wrong term and there were rumors spreading from my time at the Myth Clan.

“Haha… um, it’s a misunderstanding. Yeon noona just told me to drop formalities, so that’s why I call her that.”

“A misunderstanding? Hmm… she wouldn’t tell just anyone to drop formalities.”

“Ah… well, I helped her a few times…”

“Oh? So she got hooked on that?”

“No… really, it’s a misunderstanding.”

Yanagiya Riki’s assumption was indeed a misunderstanding. There was no such vibe between me and Yoon Yeon.

At my repeated insistence that it was a misunderstanding, she clicked her tongue, removed her arm from my shoulder, and spoke with a hint of disappointment.

“Tch… boring. I thought you were her man. Sigh…”

It seemed like she really wanted me and Yoon Yeon to be in that kind of relationship.

‘What the hell… why did she bring me here?’

At first, I thought it was because I interfered with the drug issue.

But judging by her attitude and what she was saying, it didn’t seem like she kidnapped me for revenge.

‘There’s no hostility in her words.’

Her tone was rough and aggressive, but that seemed to be just her personality.

‘But I can’t just ask why she kidnapped me…’

I decided to stop thinking about it for now. If it wasn’t something I could solve immediately, it was better to focus on other things.

I hadn’t noticed earlier because I was too busy watching Yanagiya Riki, but now the interior of the clan house came into view.

‘Definitely… it seems like one of the most successful clans in the Eastern Alliance.’

Unlike our clan house, the design here was quite luxurious. Probably because the Kotozuke Clan is involved in the underworld.

As I followed Yanagiya Riki and carefully looked around, she spoke to me.

“So… I get that you’re not in that kind of relationship with Yoon Yeon, but you’re not just strangers, right? What exactly is your relationship with her?”

I didn’t know how to answer that. It wasn’t that I was trying to dodge the question, but I didn’t even know what my exact relationship with Yoon Yeon was.

‘What should I say? Business partners? Just noona and dongsaeng?’

“We’re just… privately acquainted. Like noona and dongsaeng, I guess.”

“What…? If that’s the case, then just say so. What do you mean, ‘I guess’?”

“Haha…”

“Hmm… well, I get it for now. Stay in this room for the time being and live here. If you need anything, tell the guy outside.”

‘What is this… is this really a kidnapping?’

It was a relief that I wasn’t being tortured or exposed to violence, but it was still bewildering.

Yanagiya Riki glanced back at me with a fierce look and opened her mouth.

“Just so you know… I’m treating you well now, but if you do anything stupid, you’ll regret it. Behave while I’m being nice.”

“…Understood.”

And so, a surprisingly comfortable(?) captivity began.

******

The Eternity Clan and the Myth Clan protested to the Kotozuke Clan of the Eastern Alliance. The reason, of course, was the kidnapping of a clan member.

But the response from the Kotozuke Clan left Eternity and Myth Clans dumbfounded.

The reason was that the Kotozuke Clan claimed, “We didn’t kidnap a clan member. We rescued them from outlaws and are providing protection within our clan.”

Naturally, Eternity and Myth Clans couldn’t just accept that answer. They immediately protested again, but the Kotozuke Clan’s response was essentially this:

『If you’re unhappy, have the masters of the Myth Clan and Eternity Clan come and take them back themselves. However, we will decide the date. 』

All the members of the Eternity Clan were gathered in the office.

They were there because the Kotozuke Clan’s response had just arrived.

Bam!

Seo Yoo-ju, unable to contain her anger, slammed her fist on the desk, shattering it.

“Y-Yoo-ju noona!”

“That… damn bitch…!”

Everyone was watching Seo Yoo-ju’s reaction. Ever since Lee Yun-seong was kidnapped, the entire clan had been in a low mood, but Seo Yoo-ju’s personality had been changing as if she were a different person.

For the first few days, the elders Lee Jae-hyo and Ho-won had taken care of Seo Yoo-ju, but…





It wasn’t to this extent, but when the Kotozuke Clan refused to send Lee Yun-seong, this was the reaction.

Seo Yoo-ju spoke with a cold expression, quietly muttering.

“Ha… Alright… I’ll go myself. I’ll go and kill him.”

After a moment of observing Seo Yoo-ju’s demeanor, Lee Jae-hyo spoke up in a worried tone.

“Um… Clan Master. Are you planning to visit the Eastern Alliance in person?”

“Yes. Although Kotozuke said they didn’t harm Yoon Seong, I can’t trust their words. Since they asked us to come directly, I plan to go myself.”

“Isn’t that dangerous? Even so, for the Clan Master to go personally…”

“I’ve already finished discussing with the Myth Clan’s master. According to the Myth Clan master, a woman named Yanagiya Riki isn’t the type to set traps or stab people in the back.”

“But…”

“They won’t do anything foolish. I’ve already informed the Royal Palace, and if they try anything strange when we visit, it will become a matter between nations.”

“Hmm…”

“And of course, I don’t plan to go alone. As Wi Ho-yeon suggested earlier, Wi Ho-yeon and I will go from our clan.”

At Seo Yoo-ju’s words, Wi Ho-yeon bowed her head and spoke.

“…Thank you, Clan Master.”

Wi Ho-yeon was still tormented by her decision to abandon Lee Yun-seong. She couldn’t even save him after running away.

She wanted to go to him directly and ask for his forgiveness.

If… just if he was being tortured or not in a normal state, the thought alone was horrifying.

“But… will Yoon Seong oppa be okay? Even before being taken by that Yanagiya Riki woman, he was already attacked by outlaws…”

“…Yoo Rim, it’ll be fine. Yoon Seong oppa would have handled it well.”

“…Right?”

As Yoo Rim and Hyeon-jin’s conversation ended, Seo Yoo-ju firmly stated, as if not accepting any objections.

“Anyway, Ho-yeon and I will head to the Eastern Alliance soon. The rest of you, please take care of the clan while I’m away.”

“…Yes, understood.”

******

It’s been about a week since I was brought here.

Contrary to my worries, there’s been no torture or violence, meals are provided on time, and nothing harmful has been done to me.

At this point, I couldn’t understand why they brought me here.

‘…Did they say Seo Yoo-ju and Yoon Yeon would come in a week?’

That’s what Yanagiya Riki told me yesterday.

She just said they’d send me back in a week and told me to stay quiet before leaving.

‘No one to talk to, no entertainment, I’m going crazy.’

There’s no entertainment like phones or TVs here like on Earth, so it’s driving me insane.

‘Well, it’s still better than being tortured.’

And… I’ve been trying to figure something out on my own.

They’re not harming me now, but their attitude might change later, so I thought it was right to find some way out.

So, I used my chimera to keep an eye on Yanagiya Riki and the people around her.

‘And I actually got something out of it.’

But I’m still pondering how to use this information.

‘How should I use this… How can I make it work in my favor?’

The information I got… was quite significant, enough to cause a stir in this clan.

“Funny… This place or that place, everywhere people live is the same. Truth is truth.”

Some of the clan’s executives are planning a coup.

However, it’s a bit different from the Myth Clan situation.

Back then, it was an external force, the Execution Society, but this time, it’s internal members who are dissatisfied with Yanagiya Riki and planning a coup.

‘I’m torn, should I let this situation slide and take advantage of the chaos, or should I inform Yanagiya Riki?’

Letting it slide has the advantage of possibly escaping during the chaos, but since Eternity decided to come directly in a week, it’s meaningless.

Rather, if their coup coincides with that, Seo Yoo-ju and Yoon Yeon might get caught in the crossfire.

The second option is to inform Yanagiya Riki directly.

This option has the advantage of building a good relationship with Yanagiya Riki. But… there’s one big downside.

‘I have to reveal my ability.’

If I suddenly tell her that her clan members are planning a coup, she won’t believe me.

To gain Yanagiya Riki’s trust, I’d have to reveal my chimera’s abilities to her.

‘And… will she even be grateful?’

In this world, there’s no guarantee that showing kindness will be reciprocated.

If that’s the case on Earth, it’s even more so here, where power rules.

‘….Should I just let it slide?’

If the coup doesn’t coincide with Seo Yoo-ju’s visit, it’s the most ideal choice.

I can return to the clan safely and just ignore what happens to Yanagiya Riki.

As I was leaning towards letting it slide, I suddenly remembered what Yoon Yeon had said.

‘….Yanagiya Riki is someone who clearly remembers favors and grudges.’

After much deliberation, I finally made my move.