Chapter 113

I couldn’t believe my ears for a moment. What she said just didn’t make sense to me.

‘Join the clan? What are you talking about?’

Unless I wasn’t already part of a clan, but I’m already a member of the Eternity Clan.

I couldn’t understand what Yanagiya Riki was thinking.

“So… if you’re thinking of joining my clan, no… you’re not thinking of joining?”

“Uh… I already have a clan, though?”

“Don’t worry about that. I can even pay the penalty to bring you over.”

Huh? You’d go that far?

‘Why is she acting like this?’

She said she’d even pay a penalty to bring me over. I have no idea what she’s thinking.

‘Just because I helped her once, she’s going this far?’

“I’ll do whatever you ask. I heard you’re just a regular member in the Eternity Clan. Damn it, just join our clan. If you join, I’ll make you a sub-clan master and put you in that position.”

“W-what did you say?”

“I’ll give you whatever you want. Honor, money, women, whatever you want. I’m a woman who can make that happen.”

‘Crazy…’

I don’t know what she sees in me, but she seems to have lost her mind.

Her eyes looked like they were out of focus, and it felt weird.

“Yoon Seong, just come as you are. I’ll take care of everything else. It’s not a bad offer, right? What do you say?”

Suddenly, she started moving closer to me.

“Ri-Riki… wait, hold on…”

She sat on top of me, wrapped her arms around my neck, and looked into my eyes. The scent of tobacco tickled my nose, as if she had smoked before coming to see me.

“Money, honor, women, and anything else you want, it’s all yours if you want it. I can make it happen. So, join my clan.”

She exuded an irresistible charm, and I was dazed for a moment before finally snapping out of it and speaking.

“That’s… that’s difficult.”

I barely managed to get the words out. Talking to Yanagiya Riki made me realize she had a strange ability to sway people.

‘Is it… charisma? Anyway…’

“…Why? Why not? Is my offer not good enough?”

“No… your offer is more than generous, but I have a clan to return to and clan members I’ve been with.”

“……”

I pushed her arm away and continued.

“Anyway… I don’t know what value you see in me, but I’m sorry.”

At my words and actions, she closed her eyes for a moment and then backed off.

“Alright. If that’s how you feel, I won’t force you. Who knows, you might change your mind, right?”

“…..”

“Anyway, if you ever want to join our clan, just let me know. I’ll always welcome you.”

“…Got it.”

She chuckled and sat back on the opposite sofa.

*Thud*

“Damn… it’s a shame. You’re not easily swayed. Am I not charming enough?”

I quickly changed the subject.

“….By the way, is everything settled?”

“Yeah. Thanks to you, it’s all taken care of. It took a bit of time, but it’s nothing major…”

“That’s a relief.”

I had a question for her, but I wasn’t sure if it was okay to ask.

‘Sigh… she’ll have to know eventually anyway. Why isn’t she bringing it up first?’

“Uh…”

“Yeah? What?”

“….Wasn’t I originally caught because of drugs?”

“Drugs? Oh… that thing in Silan?”

‘As expected, she knows.’

She chuckled and said.

“What? Were you worried about that?”

“Well, regardless of the intention, I did mess up your business…”

“Don’t worry about it. We were planning to scrap that route anyway. Well… it was one of the reasons I brought you in, but the main reason was to provoke Yoon Yeon.”

“What are you talking about? Provoke her?”

“….Yeah. I thought you and Yoon Yeon had some kind of relationship, and I brought you in to lure her out. She’s been avoiding me.”

“…What do you want with Yeon noona?”

“To fight her, of course.”

“…Huh?”

‘What… so she did all this just to fight Yoon Yeon?’

“Yoon Yeon, that bitch keeps avoiding me. Even when she was in the Eastern Alliance, she kept dodging me, saying I was annoying.”

It was a relief that Riki didn’t react much to what happened in Silan, but I was caught off guard by her desire to fight Yoon Yeon.

“……”

“….And in two days, the Eternity Clan and the Myth Clan will come to pick you up.”

I was happy to hear that. No matter how well I was treated, there’s no place more comfortable than home.

Riki seemed a bit displeased, but that wasn’t my concern.

‘Am I finally going back?’

“….Aren’t you a bit too happy?”

“Huh?”

“Damn, it’s kind of disappointing seeing you so openly happy about going back…”

“Well… it’s only natural to want to go home.”

“…Hah.”

‘Why is she acting like this?’

“…This place is practically your home too.”

“Come on, that’s not…”

“I can make it even better than your home, if you want.”

There was a strange desire in Riki’s eyes.

I tried to avoid her gaze. It felt a bit awkward.

“You don’t seem to understand my position. There’s no concept of a king in the Eastern Alliance, but I’m practically a queen. I might be slightly weaker than the Clan Leader, but even that old man can’t mess with me.”

“……”

“So what I’m saying is… I have that much power, so I can really give you whatever you want.”

“Wait. That conversation ended earlier. Of course, I know your position well enough…”

“Damn, it feels like I’m losing to Yoon Yeon, and it pisses me off.”

‘…What?’

“What are you talking about?”

“….Do you like her that much? Did you two do it?”

“No, what… I’ve told you several times, it’s not that kind of relationship.”

‘Sigh… why is she so interested in me?’





I have no idea what triggered her to act like this.

We haven’t known each other for long, and from my side, I only helped her once. Of course, that help practically saved her life.

‘Damn, if I had made a move on her, maybe I’d understand, but I never even tried anything with her.’

Already, Yoo Ju from the Eternity Clan keeps clinging to me, giving me a headache, and now she’s acting like this too. It’s driving me crazy.

“… F*ck, whatever.”

She even crossed her arms and turned her head away, as if she was sulking, which left me flustered.

“Anyway, she’s coming in two days, so just be aware of that.”

“…. Got it.”

It’s been a while since I’ve seen the clan members, so I’m a bit worried.

Yoo Hyun and Yoo Rim are young, so I’m concerned about how they’re doing.

Yoo Ju must have heard about me being attacked from Wi Ho-yeon, and I can’t help but worry about how she reacted.

And the person I’m most worried about is Wi Ho-yeon.

Given her personality, even though it was my order, she’s probably feeling guilty about running away and leaving me behind.

Especially since she promised to rescue me but failed, so I can’t imagine how much guilt she’s carrying.

‘…. She wouldn’t kneel again, would she?’

… Probably not.

******

The Eternity Clan and the Myth Clan came to the Kotozuke Clan.

“Y-Yoon Seong!”

“Yoo Ju.”

As soon as Yoo Ju saw my face, her eyes welled up with tears, and she grabbed my hands with both of hers.

“Are you hurt? Did the Kotozuke Clan do anything to you…?”

“Haha… No. They actually treated me very well.”

“… Huh?”

“Riki, no, Yanagiya Riki treated me well. I wasn’t harmed at all and was treated as a guest.”

It wasn’t like that in the first few days, but I wasn’t oblivious enough to mention that.

“… I’m glad you’re safe. I was so shocked when I heard you were attacked by outlaws…”

“It’s fine. Actually, Yanagiya Riki saved me from the outlaws.”

‘…. What’s going on?’

I thought Yoo Ju would be happy to hear that I’m safe.

But her face doesn’t look happy at all right now.

It’s like something I said rubbed her the wrong way.

“…. Yoon Seong, did something happen between you and Yanagiya Riki?”

“Huh?”

“… You keep mentioning her. Are you two close or something?”

“……”

I didn’t know how to respond, but then Yoon Yeon approached us and greeted us.

“You look safe. That’s a relief.”

“Ah, Yeon noona.”

The moment I called her “Yeon noona,” a vein popped on Yoo Ju’s forehead.

“W-wait a minute. Yeon noona? Yoon Seong? What’s going on here?”

‘Ah, f*ck…!’

Something feels off about how this situation is unfolding.

“It’s just… it somehow ended up that way…”

“Ha…”

Yoo Ju looked completely dumbfounded. She didn’t seem too pleased.

From her perspective, this must be ridiculous.

I got kidnapped, and she rushed here worried sick, only to find out I’m fine.

It’s good that I’m safe, but she sensed something happened between me and Yanagiya Riki, and now I’m calling Yoon Yeon “noona.”

While avoiding Yoo Ju’s icy gaze, I noticed Wi Ho-yeon hesitating to approach me.

“Ah, Ho-yeon.”

When I called her name, she flinched like a pet about to be scolded by its owner.

“A-ah… Y-Yoon Seong. I-I’m glad you’re safe.”

‘Why does she look so pitiful? She wasn’t like this before…’

Before I could even say anything, she suddenly bowed her head and knelt down.

Everyone present was equally stunned by Wi Ho-yeon’s sudden action.

“Y-Yoon Seong. I’m really, really sorry. I… I have no excuse. I ran away and left you behind, and I failed to rescue you. I…”

‘F*ck, I had a bad feeling about this, damn it!’

The moment she knelt, memories of the past came flooding back. The time she knelt in my office.

“Why, why are you doing this, Ho-yeon? Please get up. I’m fine, so…”

“I… I don’t deserve forgiveness… A wretch like me doesn’t deserve…”

“Forgiveness? What are you talking about? You didn’t do anything wrong. Please get up. I’m not hurt, and I’m perfectly fine.”

“But…”

“Consider this an order. Get up. We’ll talk later, just the two of us.”

“Understood…”

‘Damn it…’

Riki, who had been watching all of this, finally spoke up.

“…. Yoon Seong, you’re quite popular, huh?”

The way Riki called my name made Yoo Ju’s eyebrow twitch.

“… Yoon Seong? Who are you to call him that?”

“We’re friends.”

“W-what did you say?”

‘F*ck, why are you all like this…’

“Are you deaf? I said we’re friends.”

“What…”

“And by the way, you’re Yoo Ju, right? Yoon Seong’s Clan Master, correct?”

“…. Yes, why?”

“Pay the penalty fee, and hand Yoon Seong over to our clan.”

Yoo Ju’s face twisted at Riki’s words.