< Chapter 154: Best Effort (1) >
The next day.
With the send-off from the Oni Guild, I arrived at the airport.
“I must apologize once again.”
The man who followed me out of the limousine bowed his head.
Even until just after the incident yesterday, he was greatly suspicious of what I had done.
However, as soon as the senior researcher of the Oni Guild vehemently defended me, saying that I would never do such a thing following the baseless assumptions of the reporters, his attitude changed 180 degrees.
There was no other way.
In the superhuman industry, half of it is all about the image.
Considering that image, it would be best not to have friction with me, who is quite a hot topic these days.
Japanese companies themselves tend to care a lot about brand reputation, so it seems to be unusually distinctive.
Anyway, it has been like this since then.
No matter how much I say it’s fine, he keeps bowing his head.
I don’t even know how many times I’ve heard the apologies.
“It’s alright. Nothing major happened, and you have given me compensation,” I said, showing the carry-on suitcase in my right hand.
It is a carrier containing ancient artifacts transferred from the Oni Guild.
“Is that really enough?”
“Yes, it’s sufficient.”
Although the side of the Oni Guild said they would give me a proper item instead of this shiny antique-like thing, I declined.
“Good equipment can also be obtained through a contract with Mr. Jeong Il-yong… and it’s more appropriate to give this as a gift to acquaintances,” I said, leveraging the names of Jia and Yu Hwa.
Since it was widely known that I have a close relationship with the two, I requested ancient artifacts under the pretext of paying back the favor I have always received.
“The mystery project… was it?”
“Yes. It’s kind of a national project… they said they were lacking artifacts to decorate the interior.”
I heard that negotiations with overseas guilds are not going well compared to the beginning.
“That makes sense. There would be no problem with ancient artifacts from within Korea, but to buy artifacts from abroad, you need the permission of the respective country.”
“Yes, and Japan is particularly conservative.”
Without a clear reason like this time, the government does not give permission.
“Hmm.”
The man stroked his chin with a serious expression.
Was his name Nakamura Shigeo?
At first, I thought he was just a secretary, but it turns out he is the third in command at the Oni Guild. I was very surprised when I heard that.
“To be honest, we at the Oni Guild did not carefully review the proposal from Shinwa, Bihon. There was pressure from the government side, and frankly, we were not very interested.”
“Yes. I thought that might be the case.”
I understand.
“However, yesterday, after hearing what Kang Seo-yul said, we took a close look at the mystery project…”
A light flowed from Nakamura’s eyes. It was the gaze of an entrepreneur.
“To be honest, it was a proposal that had no reason to be refused.”
“I suppose so.”
A proposal was sent exclusively to the Oni Guild, a giant guild in Japan.
To briefly summarize the contents of the proposal:
“The proposal was to transfer Maiden’s special technology as a payment for the ancient artifact, wasn’t it?”
“…So you know.”
Nakamura’s pupils were slightly dilated.
He seemed a bit surprised to learn that Maiden and I were sharing even corporate secrets. He must be pondering the nature of the relationship between Maiden and me.
Judging by his bizarre expression, he seems to be having some strange thoughts…
Well, since Japan is the land of imagination, I’ll let him be.
“So, what do you want to say?”
That’s not the important part.
“Ah. Ahem.”
Nakamura cleared his throat, regaining his composure.
“We had a meeting internally in the guild yesterday. We came to the conclusion to accept the special agreement proposal related to the mystery project.”
As expected.
I thought the nuance of the conversation hinted at this, and I was right.
“If this proposal is still valid, we would like to meet properly this time and have a discussion. That’s what the guild leader said.”
It looks like I will be able to take one more gift when I return home.
* * *
After a short flight, I arrived in Korea. Incheon Terminal 1 was always bustling with people.
Thankfully, no one recognized me even though I only wore a mask and sunglasses. It would be bothersome if a crowd gathered. I hurriedly made my way out of the airport.
“Little one!”
As I reached the agreed-upon meeting point, Maiden greeted me with a bright smile and embraced me warmly in front of the limousine.
“Well done, you!”
Then, she heartily laughed while giving my back a rough pat.
“Really, it seems like heaven is helping you. To think that the aborted negotiation… no, the failure of the strategy would turn out like this.”
The reason Maiden was reacting this way was simple.
I had received a response from the Oni Guild that they officially wanted to enter into an agreement. For Maiden, who had been racking her brain over this matter, the contact must have been like a ray of light.
“Oh my, this pretty thing. Come here for a kiss from your sister.”
Maiden puckered her lips like a goldfish and brought her face close to my cheek.
“No thanks. I’m not a kid.”
I shouted as I desperately avoided Maiden’s face.
What’s with the kiss? It’s embarrassing.
“Ahem. Can’t you just quietly offer your cheek?”
“I said no.”
As I continued to avoid the skinship, Maiden became irritated.
“So, you don’t need a kiss from an old person like me, is that it?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Maiden stepped away from me, pouting her lips.
“It is exactly that. If Jia had done this, you would have stayed still.”
“…Would I?”
Probably not.
I just dislike this kind of embarrassing behavior itself.
“Tsk. I just wasted my breath. Anyway, kid, well done. Thanks to you, we have opened up a new opportunity. Thank you.”
“Thank you? Initially, it was a favor for me. Rather, I should be the one thanking you. Thank you.”
The corners of Maiden’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Heh. This is why I like you. How can you speak so sweetly?”
Maiden looked at me with warm, affectionate eyes.
“But, will it be okay? Hearing about the proposal in detail, it seems like a proposal where Maiden would incur a lot of losses.”
It was more favorable than I had thought.
“It might seem that way for now.”
“For now?”
“Yes.”
Maiden crossed her arms and laughed triumphantly.
“You said it yourself, kiddo. The common sense of the world is about to be completely turned upside down soon.”
“Ah.”
I understood what she meant.
“Dragons, angels, demons, dwarfs. When such beings from legends return, my patented technology will become no different from trash. Right?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
The magical technology and knowledge of dragons are not something humans can approach.
“So, I decided to offer my technology as payment. To get rid of it before it becomes just a plain piece of paper.”
Maiden lifted one corner of her mouth in a smirk.
“And in exchange, I’m buying up ancient artifacts, whose value isn’t properly assessed yet. When the time comes, the value of those ancient artifacts will skyrocket.”
“…Right.”
It was the eye of an entrepreneur.
She understood very well that she alone knew information about the future, utilizing it excellently – the eye of a remarkable entrepreneur. I was genuinely grateful that such a person was an ally.
“Anyway, with this, the collection of ancient artifacts ends. Now we just need to focus on the museum construction.”
This time she laughed heartily, her face resembling that of an artist.
* * *
I returned home, greeting farewell to Maiden.
“Then, take a good rest.”
“Yes. I will contact you again.”
After seeing Maiden off,
I unlocked various security measures including fingerprint and iris recognition to enter the house.
The inside of the house was extremely quiet.
Is everyone taking a nap?
Thinking that, I quietly headed to the living room.
There was no one in the living room. It seems they are indeed taking a nap.
I headed towards Rena’s room.
The door was half open.
I sneakily peeked inside through the gap in the door.
“Goldie, what do you think? Does it resemble him?”
“Nyaaang.”
Rena was sitting on the edge of the bed, creating something with magical power.
It was quite a substantial amount of magic.
Probably due to this magic, Goldie and White Tiger didn’t notice that I came in. If it were a stranger, they would have noticed, but it seems plausible they wouldn’t realize it with my familiar presence.
“White Tiger, what does it look like to you?”
“…Nyong.”
White Tiger looked at what Rena had created, tilting her head.
Meanwhile, what is Rena making? From my current position, it’s hard to see because Rena’s body is blocking the view.
There’s no helping it.
I discreetly used the elf’s eyes. My vision widened significantly, revealing the form of the magical structure Rena had created.
“…Huh?”
At first glance, it has a human form.
A magical doll.
Stiff black hair and a somewhat angular face. Although quite crude, it undoubtedly has a human form.
“Finished!”
Rena took her hands off the magical doll. She probably fixed its shape to prevent the magic from dispersing.
She stood up from her spot and scrutinized the magical doll thoroughly, nodding her head in satisfaction afterward.
“Hehe.”
Then, leaning her back against the magical doll’s embrace, she smiled brightly.
“Seo-yul nim, completed~”
It was a warm smile that naturally made the onlookers smile as well.
‘…Huh?’
Wait a minute. What did she just say?
“Goldie-ya, look. It’s Seo-yul nim.”
“Nyaaang.”
Goldie meowed tenderly.
“White Tiger-ya, look, look. Doesn’t it look exactly the same when it’s like this?”
“…”
White Tiger alternated between looking at Rena and the magical doll with a nervous expression, and soon let out a deep sigh.
“…”
I was stunned too.
So, that magical doll is supposed to be ‘me’ right now?
However, Rena’s bright expression disappeared quickly, turning into a sullen and gloomy face.
“Aaaauh.”
The magical doll began to collapse.
“Heeng.”
Like a balloon losing air, it rapidly reduced in size. Rena made a sad face as she watched the magical doll shrink.
Soon, gazing at the fully vanished magical doll, Rena mumbled in a sobbing voice.
“I miss you…”
Murmuring in such a forlorn voice, she suddenly grabbed Goldie and White Tiger and lay down on the bed, as if collapsing.
“Nyaang?”
“!”
At that moment, White Tiger and Goldie noticed me. It seemed their senses returned as the magical doll disappeared.
I opened the door wide and stepped into the room.
Flinch!
At that instant, Rena’s ears perked up. Then, lifting her upper body, she looked at me with a cautious expression.
“…!”
And the moment she recognized me, her expression melted rapidly.
“I’m back.”
Like transitioning from winter to spring, it turned into a very warm smile.
Then, while placing Goldie and White Tiger on the bed, she ran energetically and hugged me in my arms.
The arms wrapped around my waist tremble slightly.
—You came back quite, quite early.
Then, trying her best to act calm, she spoke in a steady voice.
— I was enjoying freedom by myself. Shouldn’t you have come back a bit slower?
She said that while burying her face in my body.
I gently smiled and stroked Rena’s head.
“That’s true. Somehow the work ended quickly, so I came back early. Should I have come back a bit later?”
At my teasing words, Rena’s ears perked up again.
“That, that’s right. I was just beginning to understand the taste of ‘living alone’. You came back too early.”
It was a response truly characteristic of Rena.
Of course, despite her words, she must have been quite scared.
The force with which she is holding onto me is gradually getting stronger, a testament to her fear.
A proof of how terrified she must have been.
‘Trauma isn’t something that can be resolved easily.’
I unknowingly let out a bitter smile.
“By the way, princess. Can you show me that thing from before?”
At my words, Rena’s body instantly stiffened.
“I, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
My eyes shone with a playful light. Rena’s expression turned thoughtful. It was a look of ‘surely not, it can’t be, right?’
“Well, you know, that magic doll you referred to as Sir Seo-yul…”
I couldn’t finish my sentence.
“Kyaaaah!”
In an instant, Rena escaped from my embrace and screamed.
Thud thud thud!
With a greatly reddened face, she ran out of the room.
“Heh heh.”
I involuntarily laughed at her vivid reaction.
“Nyang.”
“……”
At my feet, a golden fur ball and a white fur ball approached and rubbed against me. White Tiger demonstrated perfect control of distance, hovering just at the right space, almost touching but not quite. She’s really consistent.
Anyway, they were both here to welcome me.
I bent down and stroked the heads of the two animals.
“I’m back.”
* * *
That night.
I was sitting alone in front of the desk, looking at the densely filled notebook and smiling contentedly.
“…Okay. This should be enough.”
Operation unknown processing.
The preparation for the provisional ‘Giant Killing’ is sufficient with this.
“It’s a task where we don’t know what variables will emerge though…”
We will deal with it at that time.
We can’t calculate every single variable in advance. Of course, we intend to do our best to minimize the variables.
‘To minimize the variables, there is no other way but to maximize our skills as much as possible before attacking the Dragon’s Lair.’
Now exactly 20 days are left until we assault the Dragon’s Lair.
Physical training is postponed for now. The expected value of ability increase that can be obtained in a short period of 20 days is not very high.
‘In the short term, the most efficient way to increase abilities is to acquire and fully embody traits.’
Among them, full embodiment is the most important. The more red-to-black tattoos I have, the fewer ancient relics I can use.
Full embodiment is akin to securing ‘bullets’.
“Now, all that remains is…”
I got up from my seat and headed to Rena’s room.
The trio was sleeping well. They had collapsed from exhaustion as I played with them all day today.
I quietly closed the room door and exited the front door.
“Whew. The weather is nice.”
I moved my steps while enjoying the warm night air of early summer.
Walking for about 10 minutes like that,
I sat on a secluded bench in a nearby park and called a person’s name, or rather, a code name.
“Hermit.”
At that moment, darkness squirmed and crawled from behind me, and started gathering in front of me, swirling and bundling together.
Soon, the darkness transformed into Hermit.
“It’s a fine night.”
As Hermit said, it was quite an atmospheric night.
“Hermit. I have a favor to ask you.”
Bright moonlight brightly illuminated both me and Hermit.
< Chapter 154: Best Effort (1) > End
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