42 Clan Head

Crunch, crunch.

Kim Yang, having finished the task that had been requested, was basically free now and munching on some crispy dried-fish chips sold nearby.

“…It’s too much.”

Maybe the sixth floor’s tendency to emphasize the more stimulating parts was being applied to food too, even though it was similar to the third floor.

Kim Yang couldn’t even finish a few pieces before tossing them into the trash.

“I wonder if it went well.”

The Luminous Plaza plan had been a success.

In truth, it hadn’t been that difficult.

All it took was giving the two of them phones so they could confirm each other’s feelings, and renting out a billboard so they could meet on Christmas.

“That must’ve cost a fortune.”

The LED billboard that had read [Namgung Yeon] changed back to [Merry Christmas].

With Hellite’s financial power, renting one of the biggest LED billboards for Christmas was nothing special.

Still, it must have cost a lot of money.

“Ah, here it comes.”

The letters of [Merry Christmas] floating on the LED billboard began disappearing one by one.

The letters then rearranged themselves as if being recombined, and soon after—

<Across countless worlds, we will find your miracle.>

The hunter-specialized matchmaking company, Meracle.

3rd Floor, 003-xxx-xxx.

It changed to a Meracle advertisement.

And that was exactly why Kim Ju-seon was throwing himself into this job as if his life depended on it.

Three seconds of ad airtime, secured by negotiating with Hellite to make this marriage happen.

Just helping out wasn’t enough, so he even invested the money Kim Yang had brought back from Shinseondo-won to barely squeeze in a single line.

“It really is showing up.”

Even though it was only three seconds, Kim Ju-seon had gone to such lengths just to get that one line in.

And it was also a very successful marketing move, staged in a place packed with people on Christmas.

“Check complete.”

I’d heard everything Kim Ju-seon said about checking whether the ad was being shown properly, so now I really had complete free time.

The photo I took of the billboard turned out well too.

Apparently he was going to use this for more marketing too. What a relentless man.

“…But it’ll be okay, right?”

Are they still fighting?

* * *

Beneath Al Bridge.

Countless sword marks were carved into the embankment and slope.

The rocks had been shattered into pebbles, and the river had not stopped splashing.

Everything had lost its original shape, yet only the people were busily moving within it.

“Huuup-!”

The one holding the center was Ryu Seoram. She wasn’t called one of the Seven Extremes for nothing, so she was facing Namgung Pacheon head-on in a decisive battle.

Of course, when a razor-sharp strike came flashing in with the characteristic brilliance of Namgung family swordsmanship, even Ryu Seoram was put in danger.

Kaaang-!

But Namgung Hwa-ryeong, fighting alongside her, would support her and deflect those attacks.

By then, every trace of expression had vanished from Namgung Hwa-ryeong’s face.

The emotionless sword maiden, Namgung Hwa-ryeong.

Once she truly began swinging her sword in earnest, only the sword remained in her heart.

“It does feel like we’re pressing him.”

The initiative was clearly on our side.

But a giant of the martial world might sway, yet it would not break.

Pacheon was still fending off our assault while moving only as much as necessary.

“Wait a second.”

In the end, it was me who raised the white flag.

As I hurriedly spoke, everyone looked at me, including Ryu Seoram, Hwa-ryeong, and even Pacheon.

“I think we can probably stop now.”

The clock ticking in my head was already telling me time was up long ago.

Our goal was to get the two of them to meet on Christmas, not to bring down Namgung Pacheon here.

The same went for Namgung Pacheon.

“Elder, you weren’t here to fight us, were you?”

“Do you think it’s so easy to make me draw my sword and then back out of it?”

“I’m a businessman, not a warrior.”

“......”

A look that said he didn’t like that at all.

But what could he do?

There was no reason to keep fighting.

“You’re disgustingly shameless.”

“Tsk, and I was just starting to get warmed up.”

For some reason, even Ryu Seoram and Namgung Hwa-ryeong, who were on my side, cursed at me too.

But if we kept fighting, did we even have a chance of winning?

The battle had fallen into a stalemate.

In the meantime, I took out my phone and checked the messages.

“Elder, the young family head is returning here.”

“......”

Namgung Pacheon, who had answered with silence, finally sheathed his sword.

“Thank goodness.”

I’d been worried that, if he got offended, he’d try to fight to the death again.

He was more mature than the 1,901-year-old elf I knew.

Bwoooong-!

A moment later, the sound of something slicing through the air drifted down from the sky.

Along with the kind of noise an electric car would make, a vehicle called an “Air Rider,” something only the ultra-rich in Cyber City could ride, parked on the embankment.

“So I actually get to see one of those in person.”

Hellite really does have money.

For reference, things like that are prohibited from being taken out to other floors.

Even when export to the outside is rarely allowed, it’s not like you’d fill it with gasoline and use it, so it’s practically useless in practice.

Ryu Seoram beside me did have an “Air Board,” but she only rode it occasionally.

It’s basically like buying expensive shoes and never wearing them.

Namgung Yeon and Jessica got off the Air Rider holding hands.

As if she were watching a scene from a movie, Ryu Seoram whistled and nudged my arm with her elbow.

“Father.”

“Father-in-law... hello.”

The situation itself seemed to have been resolved as expected, but the atmosphere was still far from easy.

Especially since the key issue was how Namgung Pacheon would act from here on.

“But I can’t solve the conflicts and friction with the in-laws too.”

It was out of my hands now.

Judging by the extra text Kim Yang sent, the promotion had gone smoothly too.

There was nothing more I could do, and nothing more I needed to do.

Namgung Yeon took a deep breath.

Drawing courage from the strength in their clasped hands, he opened his mouth.

“Father, I’m with this person—”

“Do not explain.”

“......!”

“Young family head Namgung Yeon, your conduct over the past half month has been truly disappointing beyond words.”

“Ah.”

The head he had raised with courage slowly sank back down.

“You accomplished nothing properly, lacked resolve, and in the end brought before me, alive, a woman who had gone back on her word and disgraced the family’s honor.”

“......”

“Young family head Namgung Yeon, answer me. Do you have the qualifications to become the family head?”

If Jessica hadn’t been supporting him at his side, the wavering Namgung Yeon would have collapsed.

Pacheon’s words were shaking his world that much.

“No.”

“The head of the Namgung Clan is not a title for someone who sways like a reed. Young family head Namgung Yeon, I trust you have realized that you are not fit to be the family head.”

“......Yes, Clan Head, you are correct.”

There wasn’t even a trace of pity, much less mercy, in Namgung Pacheon’s downward gaze.

He continued as though what came next was only natural.

“Normally, it would be right to cast you out at once. However, as your father, I will give you one chance—.”

Namgung Pacheon’s gaze turned to Jessica. After sweeping over the hands the two of them were holding tightly, he said calmly.

“If you can win over me, the clan elders, the protectors, and the chief stewards, I will not strip you of your position as young family head.”

“......!”

Refusing to acknowledge something outright and telling him to make it worthy of acknowledgment were clearly two different things.

Namgung Yeon’s pupils shrank as his eyes widened.

“A, Father......”

“A family head is one who protects and leads the sect. He must know how to listen to the voices of many, yet also know how to steadfastly push forward with the convictions he believes are right.”

Even at the heartfelt call, Pacheon clasped his hands behind his back, turned around, and showed them his back.

“I will watch and see whether you can truly turn this lethal current running through the Namgung Clan.”

Thud!

“I will! I will definitely prove it!”

Namgung Yeon knelt and bowed his head toward Pacheon’s retreating back.

Jessica beside him also joined in, paying Pacheon the courtesy of the old martial world.

Now it begins.

The road ahead would surely be arduous.

Still, the two of them would walk it together.

* * *

The martial artists of the Namgung Clan departed with Namgung Pacheon.

“I should go with them too.”

Namgung Hwa-ryeong also followed after her father, whom she had just been crossing swords with.

I wondered if sects that dealt in swords were just like that, but judging by Hwa-ryeong’s reaction, it didn’t seem like it would escalate into a major problem.

However, she kept telling me over and over to be sure and find her a husband.

“Ugh! Then is everything really over?”

Ryu Seoram asked while stretching beside me.

I was grateful she had come when I called her so suddenly, but I didn’t want to show it on the surface.

“You worked hard. Want me to buy you a meal?”

“You’re offering to buy me a meal on Christmas? Damn, look at this matchmaking company boss trying to seduce me.”

“What bullshit...”

As I listened to her chattering beside me, I wondered where we should eat.

“What are you doing, being so dense? Just ask a local, right? Their name was—”

“It’s Jessica.”

Namgung Yeon and Jessica were still there.

Since they probably didn’t want to return to the clan right away, the two of them didn’t follow Namgung Pacheon.

Even if they had, it would probably have led only to an awkward situation.

“Well, how about we eat together—”

“No.”

Since the friendly Ryu Seoram was about to make the suggestion, I quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her toward me.

“Those two should eat separately. It’s Christmas, after all.”

“......”

“......”

They didn’t answer me, but both of them looked away with embarrassed expressions.

Their desire to be together was practically blasting out of their bodies like some kind of aura.

“W-Well, I can make a reservation at a nice restaurant for you two separately. There are quite a few affiliated restaurants under Hellite, so they always keep one VIP seat reserved for us.”

Jessica’s suggestion was clearly made with the resolve to keep us apart no matter what.

Ryu Seoram and I accepted, and the two of them left on the Air Rider again.

Before leaving, the two of them bowed to me again and again, thanking me.

At times like this, I’d feel pride and satisfaction in what I did.

Though a normal matchmaking agency wouldn’t do something like this.

“I hope they at least give us a hefty matchmaking fee.”

Once the two left, Ryu Seoram immediately started grumbling and circling around me like some kind of Maltese.

“Let’s hurry up and go already. I’m starving to death. Do you make your employees work like this too?”

“Ah, right. Kim Yang was there.”

I got so caught up taking care of this and that, like cleaning up after a festival, that I hadn’t contacted them.

They must have been waiting the whole time after I sent that earlier text.

“Oh right! Where’s Kim Yang?”

“Just shut up and wait a bit. Why are you so fidgety?”

“I’m hungry! If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve just gone to that hunter party. Ugh, Kim Ju-seon, that scammer bastard.”

Ryu Seoram being like this was an everyday occurrence.

I dialed Kim Yang’s number and gave a warning.

“I said shut up, I’m on the phone. And stay still already. Why are you running around like some dog?”

“Woof!”

As soon as I called, they picked up right away.

“- Y-you wanna die?”

“......”

“- A-answer me.”

“Sorry.”

“- T-too short?”

“......Sorry.”

“......I’m sorry.”