Chapter 112
I sought out Lee Yujin, the Chairman of Cheonsan Group, the mainstay of Songdo. Since this time she was at the company, I decided to go directly and negotiate.
“Oh, no. That's really too much. Please, Lady Baekhwa, consider our situation. Ha Jeongseok has already come for an inspection regarding the weapon supply date.”
It was a natural reaction. Demanding money for Urban Reconstruction was truly like a bandit's mentality.
But listen. Baekhwa is a Villain, you know?
I decided to apply unspoken pressure.
“Is it really such an impossible task?” “First, crossing the Barrier Wall again has become impossible. And there's no proper justification for laying down Social Infrastructure. If we get caught, our Cheonsan Group will be in real danger.” “Is that so.”
Indeed, would it even be possible to lay infrastructure in Villain territory? It could even mean building an entirely new city. It would mean giving a newly built city to Villains. The Korean Government and the Association would never tolerate it, not even from the Cheonsan Group.
“The biggest problem, above all, is that if we take all the Quarantine Zones, it would be territory large enough to function as a nation. Most of it would be in ruins, and releasing funds is difficult right now.”
“Why is that?”
“Because of those guys from Nolbu Space Industry, we've entered the Space Race.”
“That Nolbu, the one doing *that*?”
Nolbu Space Industry is a business Nolbu is pouring money into, running neck and neck with the Republic of Korea's Cheonsan Group. It is literally a space-related business. In the original story, there was no mention of Nolbu doing anything like this. It was suddenly added.
Master. The current Cheonsan is doing better than the original Cheonsan. Therefore, Nolbu is starting all sorts of businesses to keep Cheonsan in check.
Ah, was that it? Did Korea manage to acquire the Space Technology it lacked with the development of Magic Engineering? Did Korea even have the technology originally?
“Yes. Take a look at this.”
Lee Yujin tapped on her laptop, then showed me a news video. In the video, Lee Nolbu, looking full of greed, was confidently giving a speech to a gathered group of reporters.
“My dear Citizens. Finally, the spaceship carrying Golems and equipment to Terraform Mars is ready. I, Lee Nolbu, will definitely go to Mars! Come, let us all go together! Let us go towards that vast universe!”
Oh, look at this ingeniously crazy bastard. This era is the late 21st century. Unfortunately, after the Great Cataclysm, scientific civilization regressed, and the world seemed to have stagnated for a while as a Wartime System against Monsters and Magic Civilization developed. And now, Terraforming?
“Is that realistic?” “Yes. They say Terraforming using magic is possible. If successful, we can abandon Earth, where Gates are opening, and migrate to Mars. That's why our Cheonsan also jumped in, albeit late.”
Amazing. Korea is amazing in this world! Or is it Nolbu who's amazing?
“What about the chances of success?” “Our own Cheonsan spaceships, developed with Magic Engineering, have already been to Mars several times, so it's almost certain. Unlike before, developing the spaceship itself originally became easier with Magic Engineering. The problem was whether magic would exist until we reached Mars, and how long it would last. If magic could only be used on Earth, or only in a battery-like fashion, it would be a big problem. After several launches, we proved that magic works on Mars, even if it was just a crash landing.” “If they succeed with Terraforming, Nolbu Industry's stock price will soar.”
In that case, Cheonsan shouldn't show any weakness right now. Investing in a Villain's joint development plan would just be throwing money away.
“Yes. We did build a spaceship, but it's a sensitive time, and there are shareholder issues. I apologize, Lady Baekhwa.”
No, there's no need to apologize. I have a solution. Isn't it ultimately just a matter of launching our spaceship before Nolbu Space Industry?
“Then what if we launch it before Nolbu Space Industry?” “In that case, there is no problem. Our Cheonsan Magic Space Engineering made it better than Nolbu's. If it hadn't been for the inspection, we would have launched it first. The inspection pushed back our schedule. I suspect Ha Jeongseok was behind it, though.”
Lee Yujin let out a deep sigh, as if the ground would collapse.
“So, the ultimate reason you can't invest in us is...” “If we launched the first Terraforming mission, we'd have to compete with sheer volume. If we fall behind Nolbu this time, Nolbu might seriously consider swallowing up Cheonsan. So we need to send a large number of spaceships to at least prove our Terraforming capabilities.”
Hmm. It would be troublesome if they failed. After all, Lee Yujin is also the older sister of my sister, Lee Yujeong, and the Cheonsan Group is supporting us.
“We'll provide the justification.”
Though I'll have to rack my brain a bit.
“Is that possible? Really?” “Just tell me the day you launch the spaceship. I'll show you an incredible way to screw them over. I was already pissed off that Nolbu bastard was targeting Songdo anyway.”
That bastard enticing Ha Jeongseok to invest in Songdo must have played a part in making that Ha Jeongseok bastard try to subjugate Baekhwa. I'm Yongyong-i, who at least respects elders, so I won't beat him up directly. But shouldn't I retaliate?
“I will do so, Lady Baekhwa.”
It's good that Lee Yujin listens so well. Alright, so next is Seo Jiyeon.
* * *
Meanwhile, Seo Jiyeon, the Second-in-command of the Korean Hunter World, was pacing anxiously at home. Naturally, it was about Yu Eunha and Yu Jinseok. It might be a turning point in her life.
“I need to make a decision now.”
Either Yu Jinseok or Yu Eunha. Honestly, I've waited long enough. I've told him I liked him several times. But Yu Jinseok still remains silent. Especially lately, he's been hanging around with Kim Jihye. Honestly, as Yu Eunha said, I can't waste my youth like this. But I can't just get involved with any man, and I might still have lingering feelings for Yu Jinseok.
“What should I do about this?”
Even if it's not a rejection, Yu Jinseok doesn't see me as a woman. There seems to be no hope of us getting together anyway. Should I still follow Yu Jinseok to the end?
Then think of me as a substitute for Yu Jinseok. My voice is similar, isn't it?
Yu Eunha said she would substitute for Yu Jinseok. But how could I regard Yu Eunha as the same as Yu Jinseok? It's impossible. And I shouldn't. That would be no different from purely taking advantage of Yu Eunha's goodwill.
Honestly, isn't Yu Jinseok suspicious? Can you really envision a future with that man? No?
Yu Eunha's words kept poking at her.
Yu Jinseok already has enough people around him, doesn't he? One more like you wouldn't hurt, right? You've appealed to him until you were hoarse; that's enough. Isn't it strange that he doesn't acknowledge it? I genuinely need you. Because I'm a Mutant, there aren't many people I can get help from.
That's right. Yu Jinseok already has many people. Even if it's not her, Kim Jihye, Rebecca, Cha Jieun, and many other women are by his side. And various connections exist to help him.
“Perhaps that's why.”
That's probably why. Yu Jinseok wouldn't want to break the current relationships because he knows everyone likes him. The fact is that he can't be with anyone. Ultimately, Yu Jinseok himself is also struggling with many concerns. But it's also true that it's heartbreaking that she could never be a special woman to Yu Jinseok. Instead, she heard what she wanted to hear from Yu Jinseok from his younger sister, Yu Eunha.
Even after seeing that last time? Think carefully. I need you so much.
I trusted you and told you. If you don't like me, you can expose me anytime. I told you I was prepared for that.
She even told her a secret that could socially bury her if reported to the Association, and prevent her from being free for life, as if it were nothing, saying she could trust and rely on her. What should she really do? She had to admit it. She had a weakness for such proactive actions. Most of all, she really liked Eunha. Yu Jinseok didn't even think about giving in. Yet, she even felt like she wanted to have two partners. No, thinking about Yu Eunha's words kept filling her heart with warmth. She kept recalling Yu Eunha's words more and more. Now that she thought about it, what did she say at first?
*Actually, the first, in my heart.*
*What do you mean?*
This is because I've been targeting you for years, ever since I fell for you the moment I first saw you when my Older Brother was attending the Academy.
Yu Eunha told her she was the first in Yu Eunha's heart. This meant she was the one who came first.
*Thump, thump, thump, thump.*
The reverberation in her chest was growing louder. The more she thought of Eunha's words, the hotter her chest grew as if burning, and the guilt she felt about seemingly betraying Yu Jinseok, whom she liked, melted away like snow. Eunha was right. Yu Jinseok is an impotent man. Even if he's a good man, he lacks the resolve to take a woman. He's worse than Eunha, who is a woman. There would be no one who would actively court her like Yu Eunha in the future. She had heard that a person could only truly be happy with someone who liked them back.
I'm telling you, you're the one who made me a Lesbian! Until now, I have tried to yield to my Older Brother. But now, I've decided I can't anymore.
After that day at the cinema, her body would heat up whenever she thought about meeting Yu Eunha. She also watched Baekhwa and Cha Jieun's confrontation on broadcast. Cha Jieun was an opponent she herself would have to fight with all her might if they faced off. Even if Yu Eunha was now more anticipated than Yu Jinseok, she was still a Saengdo. She couldn't even use her Unique Ability, White Flame, so she didn't think she could beat Cha Jieun. How worried she was when the Tidal Wave hit. Honestly, if she had died then, she might have taken a picture of Cha Jieun and torn it up. She harbored feelings that a Hunter belonging to the Association should absolutely not have.
“But what if she got hurt?”
The more she thought of Eunha, the more her love for Yu Jinseok cooled, and her mind was filled only with Yu Eunha. What if she got hurt, by any chance? She couldn't ignore it anymore. Clearly, her heart was leaning towards Yu Eunha, not Yu Jinseok. So she wanted to meet Eunha to confirm these feelings.
“She wouldn't hate me, would she?”
Still, she had clearly stated that she wouldn't participate, and she had also provided information. Eunha would surely acknowledge that. She surely wouldn't be sulking because she got hurt badly by Cha Jieun, would she? She looked fine on the broadcast, after all. Or perhaps she really has feelings for Cha Jieun too? It wasn't shown in detail on the broadcast, but it seemed she had asked Cha Jieun out on a date. A Villain asking a Guild Master out on a date—it probably wouldn't work, but isn't it ultimately Yu Eunha's will? She didn't want that. She didn't want to lose Yu Eunha.
“Already? I don't want that. I want to see Yu Eunha.”
It doesn't matter if I'm selfish. If I just meet her once, if I just hold her once, something might change. I feel like I'll gain certainty in my heart. Just as she thought that, she suddenly felt a presence in the room.
“You want to see me?”
“Huh? When did you get into my house?”
When had she entered the house? Yu Eunha, cross-dressing as a man, was confidently standing before her, smiling mischievously.
“I told you. You're my first (in my heart). So what's the problem with my coming to my own home?” “No, wait a moment.”
She, who had intruded into my house, looking similar to Yu Jinseok, looked at me with a loving eye-smile and stroked my head. That warm gaze and the declaration that I was 'hers', all of it, was warmly filling the empty space in her heart.
*Thump-thump, thump-thump.*
Her heart was pounding like crazy. Something below felt hot. Her lower abdomen was especially tingling and trembling. Seo Jiyeon knew instinctively what this tingling sensation was. Yes. She was in heat for Yu Eunha. She was in heat for another female who couldn't sow seeds. Otherwise, would her uterus be trembling and tingling like this? It was as if her uterus was telling her to be honest with her instincts. Seo Jiyeon finally felt certain. And she couldn't hold back. She didn't know why, but even though it seemed like cheap lines were being thrown around, there was a part of her that was intensely drawn to Yu Eunha. Whatever the reason, she couldn't overcome this impulse. Perhaps she was someone who falls in love easily. She didn't want to lose this woman who actively desired her, and she wanted to treat her only with love. Seo Jiyeon unleashed the reins of her reason, hugged Yu Eunha tightly, and pressed her lips against hers.