Chapter 126
Regardless of the strange atmosphere emanating from the people inside, the limousine completed its task.
It had arrived at the mansion.
"Hmm."
The mansion boasted its splendor as always.
No, it was showing an even more splendid appearance than before.
The unfortunate fact was that there was no unity in that splendor.
"Who on earth did this groundless landscaping?"
The Grand Witch expressed her usual temperament, forgetting that she was invited as a guest. Whether Jinseong was beside her or not, the scene before her eyes was so absurd that she blurted out curses.
The first thing that caught her eye was a parterre that could be seen in France.
It was a landscape that would look very stylish if viewed from a high place.
Up to this point, it wasn't bad.
It looked quite plausible, as if a lot of money had been spent on it.
At least it seemed sufficient not to hear malicious comments like they just put on a show or created something strange while trying to imitate.
If only it had ended there.
"A French garden, an English garden... And isn't that stone debris Japanese style?"
The parterre was magnificent.
Its appropriately controlled appearance was like seeing soldiers lined up in formation, and the patterns they formed would give a sense of intimidation if viewed from above. And people who saw this would have felt charisma from the homeowner.
The English garden was free-spirited.
The English garden, created as if embracing the strictly disciplined parterre, revealed the natural landscape as it was, giving a feeling like viewing a city from an observatory. It might seem insignificant at first glance, but when quietly observed, the naturalness it gave became a picture, and that picture became an indescribable language that seeped in.
There was a strange regularity in the grasses that seemed to have grown wildly, and by meticulously managing weeds, only what was desired was allowed to grow. This English garden, changing its appearance with each season, would present different charms and different beauties to those walking through it as time passes.
And the appearance of the Japanese garden on one side truly embodied the beauty of Japan.
The garden created in the karesansui style looked like sand forming waves and stones becoming boats floating on those waves when seen from afar. And with each step closer, the patterns moved with the steps, giving the feeling of walking on the sea approaching an island.
When it was seen at a closer distance, a miniature of nature made with soil, sand, and moss could be seen.
If one calmly looked at it, its subtle appearance that seemed like a stream or a valley was simple yet truly sophisticated, and if observed while occupied by many thoughts or a complicated mind, all worries would be washed away and peace would come to the mind.
Yes.
Each one wasn’t bad.
But the problem was that these three were gathered in one place.
To put it nicely, they didn't harmonize with each other, and in harsher terms, they lacked foundation.
The Grand Witch frowned at the garden scenery that stimulated her.
Normally, she would have poured out all sorts of complaints, called the servants to scold them, and called the homeowner to shame them.
But with Jinseong right beside her and having a close relationship with the mansion's owner, she tightly closed her mouth. Even if she couldn't take back the words that had unconsciously popped out earlier, she could at least prevent further words from coming out by keeping her mouth shut.
Moreover, she thought that the garden was just something to pass by, and once inside the mansion, it would be a space that wouldn't be seen, so she just needed to endure for a moment.
If she endured for just a moment, all this would pass.
That was what she thought.
But the inside of the mansion was even more ridiculous.
"Ha."
She couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
『 It should feel modern yet classic, give a sense of being traditional yet sophisticated, use bright colors yet feel restrained, give a feeling of detailed description but at the same time show grandeur and unworldliness as if detached from the secular world. The materials used should clearly show that expensive things were used, but at the same time reveal a subtle nobility. 』
This was not an order to anger designers.
Nor was it a description of an object appearing in legend.
This was a direct expression of the interior decoration inside the mansion.
A rich sucker.
The Grand Witch instantly grasped the nature of the mansion's owner by looking at the garden and the inside of the mansion.
Rich in money, but lacking in history.
No one around to give advice on art.
Judging by how well the children were raised, the personality wasn't bad, but there had to be vanity.
And as soon as she made this assessment without even seeing his face, Lee Yang-hoon appeared as if he had heard her talking about him.
The group's first impression of Lee Yang-hoon was not good.
To be precise, it would be correct to say that they couldn't help but have a bad first impression because the garden and interior, which could be called the face of the house, were a mess.
But while Lee Yang-hoon lacked artistic knowledge, he was skilled at handling people, and he easily overturned the bad first impression using the experience he gained from dealing with money-crazed bastards who couldn't be distinguished as demons or humans.
"Arin, Serin. I certainly have a lot to say to you. And most of those words would probably be things you don't want to hear. But what you need right now is not me scolding you or forceful orders to return to Korea immediately, but a single word filled with sincerity."
Lee Yang-hoon first embraced Arin and Serin and said.
"I'm just so glad that you're safe."
He held Arin and Serin for a long time as if to convey his warmth. And after releasing the embrace, he bowed his head to the Grand Witch.
"I heard that the Grand Witch helped prevent my children from getting into big trouble. Thanks to you, my children were able to return safely, and the precious treasure that can't be exchanged for anything wasn't lost."
"Ahem, ahem."
The Grand Witch couldn't help but clear her throat at Lee Yang-hoon's earnest thanks.
If asked if she helped, it was certainly true that she did.
But if asked how much she helped...
I did spend money.
Strictly speaking, she did play the important role of financial backer, but it was Jinseong who directly acted to save them. Yet she received thanks first before Jinseong, so she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
"And I thank you too."
Lee Yang-hoon also expressed gratitude to Ella and Anastasiya.
"There are many types of friends in the world, but it's said that only those who protect each other with their lives are valuable. A friend you’d trade your life for, a friendship that risks danger for each other."
"Uh... Well..."
"If Arin and Serin are treasures to me, you must be treasures to Arin and Serin. There's nothing as valuable as finding a treasure that you should carry with you for life. I'm grateful that my daughters met you, grateful that they became friends with you, and grateful that they built friendship with you. So don't feel sorry. Just as my daughters don't resent you, I don't resent you, and I consider you like my daughters as much as my daughters consider you friends."
And he also expressed gratitude to Agnes.
"You've raised your disciple wonderfully."
"Oh my, thank you."
After expressing gratitude to everyone, Lee Yang-hoon called a servant to ask them to guide them to their rooms, then approached Jinseong. And as if he had something to say, he quietly looked at Jinseong and then opened his mouth.
"...You protected them well."
Lee Yang-hoon didn't thank Jinseong.
Because no matter how ambiguous Jinseong's position in the family was, they had lived together for years.
People who lived under the same roof and ate the same food were called family members.
And family members didn't express gratitude for helping each other.
Because it was natural.
Instead, Lee Yang-hoon said what he should say.
"Well done."
He left those brief words and turned his back.
Jinseong thought as he watched this.
With this, I've repaid the favor to some extent. It's good that I changed the future and guided it in a good direction, good.
He headed to his room.
Everything is truly beneficial. My shadow will fall on Japan, so there won't be surprise attacks without declarations of war like in the past, and even without the help of the Patriotic Association and Patriotic Group, the Gwangyang Group will accumulate wealth in a stable political situation and lead a peaceful life.
He entered the room and reached out to the bed.
Then yellow liquid flowed out from every corner of the bed, and the flowing liquid swam on the floor as if alive and began to cling to Jinseong's body.
Connecting with the Patriotic Association is beneficial to me, and connecting with the Hongik Patriotic Group is also beneficial to me. Also, breaking away from both is beneficial to the Lee family. No one is unhappy, and everyone can be happy, so it's truly, truly auspicious.
The liquid that clung to Jinseong's body hardened and shone.
It sparkled in the light of the lamp and emitted a brilliant yellow light.
Just looking at it gave a warm feeling, and the light reflected by the lamp repeatedly broke and merged as if trying to enchant people.
Japan overflowing with unknown sorcery and hon and baek. Korea holding fragments of torn sorcery. They will escape the fate of destroying each other while fighting and find answers with the sorcery they've kept intact, how auspicious is this.
Gold.
What clung to Jinseong's body forming an armor-like shape was gold.
Making the nest where I stayed safe is like putting the house in order, and making the country peaceful is like accumulating enormous virtue. However, my intention and heart are only looking at one principle, so it's never wrong to demand something in return for peace.
The gold became liquid as if melting in hot heat, and quickly cooled and solidified as if placed on cold ice. Yet it didn't stop flowing along Jinseong's body, forming a uniquely strange shape.
"Metal shines."
That shape sometimes looked like a greedy bug.
"And enchants people."
And sometimes looked like a bug-handling sorcerer.