Chapter 167 : Chapter 167

Chapter 167

Early ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the next morning, I received a call from Cha Yeri.

Had ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they not said that words could travel a thousand li even without feet?

The ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍leave of absence I had applied for yesterday had spread through the cadets at an astonishing speed.

I ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had told Do Minyeong long ago that I would be taking a leave, but since I had not so much as hinted it to Cha Yeri, she was properly furious.

“So ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you are going to use the Special Affairs Division as an excuse again?”

“It ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is not an excuse. It is the truth.”

“Then prove it.”

“The Special Affairs Division’s activities are classified by default, so…”

“And that means you take a leave of absence? To begin with, was not a public agency like the Special Affairs Division something you joined after graduating from the academy? What are you going to do if you never escape probation?”

“It is a leave of absence, not quitting altogether.”

“That is why I said what if! What if something happens on your end and you cannot graduate?”

“There is no need to worry about graduation. I have more points than most cadets.”

“Ugh…. Do you know that talking to you is infuriating?”

“I have heard that compliment often. It means I speak well.”

Cha Yeri was rational.

To someone like her, the Special Affairs Division was an absolute pretext.

So she should have accepted the situation without much trouble, and yet…

For some reason, she looked more hurt than I expected.

I had not even told her I was going to Gangwon-do.

It was only a leave of absence.

“Then promise me.”

“Promise what?”

“That you will definitely come back to Hero Prep. That you will graduate.”

Returning to Hero Prep would be easy, but could I truly graduate?

Would the Avid Reader truly leave me alone until that day…?

When I did not answer at once, Cha Yeri narrowed her eyes and glared at me.

With no other choice, I spoke first.

“All right. I will.”

“That answer sounds like you were not planning to come back.”

She noticed everything.

“I will return next semester. Is that enough?”

“Hmph. For now.”

“……”

“……”

In any case, it seemed we were done, but she did not leave and continued to stand there.

She kept stealing glances at me, her lips parting as though she had something in mind.

Sure enough, she took a rough-looking pair of gloves out of her bag and held them out.

“H-Here.”

“What are these?”

“Take them.”

“A gift? It is not even the end of summer…”

She was giving me gloves fit for winter when summer had not even ended?

When I accepted them and examined them, the shape was somewhat clumsy.

They were clearly not a product sold in stores.

Which meant…

“Did you make these yourself?”

Cha Yeri, unusually, flushed red at the ears.

Yet she still answered with her usual sharpness.

“You are going to stand in front of a vending machine even in winter anyway, are you not? I thought your hands would get cold when you drink those strange beverages.”

“So you made them for me.”

“I-I only made them as practice before making my own!”

“Whatever your intention, thank you. Still, it is unexpected. You, of all people, doing something like…”

“Like what?”

“Effort, I suppose. Showing sincerity to someone. It is unexpected.”

“What sort of person did you think I was?”

“Would you not know that best yourself?”

“Ugh…!”

Perhaps these gloves were the first thing Cha Yeri had ever made with genuine care in her life.

The thought made me feel burdened.

Because I doubted whether I could return a heart worthy of her sincerity.

As if something suddenly came to mind, Cha Yeri continued.

“Ah! More importantly, what was coming has finally come.”

“What?”

“My grandfather. He told me to arrange a meeting with you.”

Cha Myeonghan was arranging a meeting with me…

That was perfect timing.

I had intended to meet him anyway.

Brightening, I said,

“If possible, I would like to do it now.”

“Now? …Do you mean right this moment?”

“Yes.”

***

My unreasonable request happened, fortunately, to align with circumstance.

Cha Myeonghan was working at his estate.

Cha Yeri had no choice but to remain at Hero Prep for her lecture, but I was picked up by her attendant, Kim Songi, and headed to the Hyeonseong estate.

Of course, Cha Yeri insisted that we go together after all lectures ended.

However, it was not something to discuss in front of her, so I hurried out.

“I did not expect you to be this proactive.”

“I also had something to ask of the Chairman.”

The study of Cha Myeonghan, Chairman of Hyeonseong.

Once the servant who had brought tea left the study, the real conversation began.

“Still, it would be proper to hear first why you wished to see me.”

“I looked into your background. It was rather interesting.”

Given Cha Myeonghan’s temperament, he had probably finished investigating me back when the exhibition incident occurred at the start of the semester.

Well, I was not here to argue about that.

“You are the hottest topic in this field. A social care beneficiary from the outskirts, with nothing to his name, suddenly appears, shows off brilliant swordsmanship, gains summoning in a single day, and even uses the Demonic Eye. You cannot help but draw unprecedented attention.”

“Is that praise?”

“Does it sound like praise to you?”

“Yes.”

“Geniuses are all missing a screw. …Fine. From the beginning, I could understand you selling MA6 to my granddaughter, and even stepping into my father’s study during the banquet. However….”

In an instant, Cha Myeonghan’s mood changed.

His boisterous air vanished, replaced by a grave demeanor.

Then, a deep voice laden with mana poured out.

“I cannot forgive you for shamelessly wagging your tail at my granddaughter and pretending you do not know!”

“……”

I wagged my tail?

He seemed to be misunderstanding something…

And did he hear that from the attendant, Kim Songi?

No, with Cha Myeonghan’s position, he could have bribed cadets and still had money to spare.

“I believe there is a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding? Do you think I do not know what my one and only flesh and blood is doing?”

“No, no. I mean that I have not wagged my tail. I do not think of Cadet Cha Yeri in that way.”

“What?”

That was an even stranger excuse.

I realized it the moment I said it.

The atmosphere Cha Myeonghan exuded turned dangerous.

“Ah, that is to say…. I am not in a position to date yet. I am involved with the Special Affairs Division, where I might die at any time, and as you know, I come from the outskirts and have nothing…”

“You have enough assets to keep food in your mouth.”

He even checked my bank balance?

“Compared to Cadet Cha Yeri, it is less than a speck of dust.”

“That is not a reason. If Yeri were the type to look at money, she would never have taken interest in you.”

“That is true…. Yes.”

“Tch. In the end, the fact remains that you are only making my granddaughter suffer. You neither give a clear answer, nor express an intention to refuse. Do you not think I have reason to dislike that?”

“……”

In other words, he was telling me to settle the relationship.

In a good direction or a bad one.

Cha Myeonghan spoke in a clichéd way, but if I were him, I would have had a similar conversation.

Cha Yeri, the only heir of Hyeonseong, treated as a princess of Seoul in a different sense than Do Minyeong.

The existence of a man she clung to would be anything but welcome.

Of course, that was Cha Myeonghan’s perspective.

“Honestly, I have nothing to say. You are largely correct. But if you dislike this situation, would it not be faster to advise Cadet Cha Yeri to give up, rather than telling me?”

“What?”

“I cannot give a definite answer because my situation affords no leisure. So even if she changes her mind, I have no right to complain. You could have easily predicted as much. You like deduction.”

“……”

“From what I see, you have not spoken to her separately… So why did you insist on arranging this meeting?”

Cha Myeonghan exhaled a rough snort, displeased.

“You are an insolent little whelp. Fine. You are right. Since it has come to this, I will be blunt. Since the banquet last time, I watched you closely, and I have taken a liking to you.”

What?

“At least, you are worth considering as Yeri’s match. I arranged this meeting because I wanted to hear your answer. Though it sounds as if it will not be positive.”

“……”

“Your circumstances are none of my concern. However, if it is not that you are repulsed by my granddaughter, then I will personally resolve every problem you face. I, Cha Myeonghan, do not speak words I cannot keep.”

“If I accept those terms, what happens?”

“A news article will run in tomorrow morning’s paper, announcing that the date of your engagement has been set.”

He was insane.

Was he truly that decisive?

I had written his personality that way, but having to face it directly only made me afraid.

I was sorry, but the matters involving Demonic Beings were not things Cha Myeonghan could resolve.

Of course, he was in a position to settle everything else with ease, but…

Would Cha Yeri obediently follow Cha Myeonghan’s decision?

There was a reason she did not get along with him.

“Then what if I refuse?”

“Well, I did not assume you would refuse.”

“……”

“If you insist, then at the very least, you will not have a pleasant time in this city of Seoul.”

To be threatened by none other than the Chairman of Hyeonseong.

I must have climbed quite high.

I understood Cha Myeonghan’s position well enough.

However, my position also had not changed.

Until I finished Lee Eunho’s matter, I had no intention of letting my gaze wander.

Without much thought, I answered.

“Then I refuse.”

“…What?”

“I refuse. I know well the influence Hyeonseong holds over Seoul, no, over the entire world. But what is not right is not right.”

“Th-That…”

I expected a storm of shouting.

Yet Cha Myeonghan instead looked blank, as though he had lost his words.

How long did that awkward silence last?

Cha Myeonghan let out a short laugh that sounded slightly unhinged, then immediately erupted into a booming roar that seemed to shake the estate.

“Pwahahahahahaha! What an audacious brat! I, Cha Myeonghan, am being rejected on behalf of our Yeri? Pwahahaha!”

The sound was so violent that I almost covered my ears without thinking.

Mana rode on it as well, drawing hairline cracks across the teacup.

“Good! You are the first man to refuse my terms! I like you even more!”

“What? No, I mean, pardon?”

“I like that unchanged, insolent stubbornness as well! Now I finally understand why Yeri clings to you!”

A thought struck me.

This hopeless eccentric character had been hopeless even in the original work.

Cha Jaehee truly did a remarkable job with his childrearing.

By sacrificing everything for Seoul, he raised his son to grow up knowing nothing.

“If you are a man who can refuse my terms, then you must have a tremendous trial that a true man must endure. Fine! I will not pressure you about this matter any further. If my granddaughter is Yeri, she will surely seize your hand and appear before me one day!”

“……”

“More importantly, you said you had something to ask of me earlier. Speak. Whatever it is! I will make you feel with your own skin just how great a house Hyeonseong is in this world!”

I already knew it was formidable without all that…

What should I say?

Was I simply lucky?

Because of Cha Myeonghan’s strange personality, the conversation flowed in the direction I wanted.

There was nothing more foolish than letting an opportunity before one’s eyes slip away.

Without hesitation, I answered.

“Then please help me enter Gangwon-do in secret. Whether it is the Bureau or the administration, do not let anyone find out. I will be staying for about a month.”

The most important condition for heading to Gangwon-do: covert entry.

Cha Myeonghan answered confidently.

“That much, of course…”

“…?”

“Mm. No, that will be rather difficult.”