Chapter 627 – Turmoil at the Lovers’ Market (6)

A brief but seemingly long, truly invaluable 30 minutes.

– Startled.

The one who entered immediately after Azalea exited was Tae-yang.

“Ah! Brother.”
“Why of all people is it you?”
“Oh, brother, why do you hurt me like this, really?”

Tae-yang, who greets with his peculiar languid face, lifting his hand, is not at all a welcome sight.

“Indeed, there was much to discuss with you.”
“Chuckles. You are talking nonsense.”

An individual uncharacteristically loyal, willing to sacrifice, and surprisingly shrewd. Tae-yang picked up one of the remaining apples on the table, chuckling as he caught sight of the sleeping Shiba.

“The lady is always adorable.”
“Then whose daughter is she… No, why have you come here?”
“It’s simple. We decided who would go next with rock-paper-scissors.”

Why did you participate in that? How did you win?

Tae-yang raised one hand, displaying his index and middle fingers.

“It felt like I was incredibly lucky~ to snatch you from your lovers. I must be somewhat fortunate.”
“You’re insane.”
“And I intend to leave now. It’s a bit awkward for me to be the only one intruding while the ladies are having fun. I heard that Alba is doing a better job than expected.”

Alba?

Tae-yang nodded, recounting the story that transpired while Azalea and I were in the room.

“He roughly shared how you’ve been active for the past three years, reducing the sensational parts and adding some flavoring. This naturally transitioned to your story… Discussing pros, cons, and getting closer while criticizing you.”

The initial awkward atmosphere seemed to have somewhat dissipated, replaced by a consensus.

Tae-yang leaned against the door, pointing outside with his thumb. The tumultuous voices echoed from beyond the door.

– Mechaaa~~~! Aoriiii~!!! Emergency escape!!!!
– What, what!! Shanks… My, my arm!!

Crash!

– So, this was your idea of showing us something fun?

The comic duo of Aori and the stars. Amidst this, Se-Young’s incredulous laughter can be heard from behind. The voices of the giggling women seemed truly peaceful.

“You got close, right?”
“… Is Aori still behaving like that?”
“Don’t even start.”

At this point, Aori might be deriving pleasure from her self-destruction. I remembered what Aori told me in the past.

– King, King. Aori Ona Hall~!

In just a single utterance, my limbs feel dismantled! She engages in a show of disassembling her limbs whenever she gets a chance, but it’s unclear whether she’s doing it because she enjoys it.

Sometimes, she seems to genuinely enjoy it.

Still, it’s better than being pessimistic. Although she sometimes goes too far… With her personality, she could survive even if dropped on a deserted island.

Tae-yang shakes his head as if he’s fed up, clicking his tongue.

“If Aori didn’t have that personality… No, let’s drop this topic.”

In a place devoid of the one responsible, is there a need to discuss their misfortune? Seeing them carry on, engaging in their jests… it seems unnecessary to worry.

“What are you going to do now, brother?”
“What do you mean?”
“Having met with your lovers… are you changing your plans?”

Plans.

I constructed a thin sound barrier, just enough to obscure Shiba, and replied in a volume only Tae-yang could barely hear.

“First, I must reclaim the crown.”

Through the pinnacle of the Tower of Time, my subordinates must be returned to the mainland.

Whether they will ally with me or become my adversaries is uncertain. But without utilizing the system the King has put in place, the road ahead would undoubtedly be grim.

“And what of your mentor, brother?”

In response to Tae-yang’s soft inquiry, I answered lightly.

“Not yet. It’s difficult to kill Justice.”
“You sound more certain than before?”

Had he noticed the change in my tone? At Tae-yang’s keen observation, I let out a hollow laugh.

His intuition is unusually sharp. This has allowed me to survive up until now. I have leaned heavily on Tae-yang this whole time.

“If I don’t seize a clear opportunity, I risk losing all three.”
“I’m not well-versed with her power… is it truly that dangerous?”

More than dangerous, it’s horrifying. I swallowed down a sigh that was threatening to escape.

“Do you believe the ability to prevent a single piece of information from ever reaching someone’s mind… isn’t dangerous?”
“But, brother, I have a question.”
“Yes?”
“What exactly is Justice’s power? Is it the manipulation of information?”

It’s not as simple as one or two things.

I have embedded contingency lives here and there, and even have the capability to manage a system of contracts.

“No, not exactly… It’s not Justice’s power. Rather… it’s what King Mokryeong intended to use.”
“…”

Tae-yang furrowed his brows at my rambling.

“Brother, you know something.”
“It’s not a memory.”
“What?”

I couldn’t find another way to explain. They don’t just manipulate memories. If that was all there was, a simple fact check would’ve revealed the anomaly.

It’s something you can’t get close to.
It cuts off all external sources.

“What Justice uses is… perception.”

After uttering these words, I looked up at Tae-yang. He had an expression of confusion on his face, as if my words hadn’t registered.

Or rather, as if he had never posed this question to me. He tilted his head and scrunched his face, unable to comprehend my expressions and gestures.

“…?”
“See? Kid.”
“What?”
“Never mind, go on in. All you need to do is trust me.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Before you worry about me, think about the sweets you’ll buy for Hae-nul tonight.”

Tae-yang, scratching the back of his head and grinning awkwardly. He shrugged his shoulders, his curiosity seemingly sated, and tapped me on the shoulder as he walked past.

“Understood. I’ll summon the next.”

Merely this discourse consumed a swift 20 minutes.
Tae-yang withdrew, and I rested my jaw momentarily, shutting my eyes.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

– Startle!

“Do, Do-won?”
“Oh… . How did you win this round?”
“… How could you possibly know?! I triumphed with rock!”

This stance, the V of victory!!

The bosom of Hong-yeon, approaching with the triumphant gesture, vibrates with anticipation.
Ultimately, she sidled up beside me, nestled onto the bed, and embraced me. The faint scent of spirits pricked my nostrils.

“Have you been indulging?”
“Only a smidgen…. Truly, just a smidgen!”

By the overflow of her playful charm, it’s clear she consumed more than a smidgen.

– Smack.

Ah, she bestows a tender kiss on my cheek.

“How did it devolve into a drinking game?”
“As the story of Do-won emerged, it stirred up a ruckus~ I subtly suggested it. Everyone was enthralled!”
“Indeed.”

Yeoni, radiant with her cheeky grin.
I queried, playfully pinching Hong-yeon’s cheeks with both hands.

“Did everyone inside partake in the drinks?”
“Indeed. But only a little… I apologize.”
“For what,”
“Isn’t this gathering for Do-won… meant for women he hasn’t seen for some time?”

I wouldn’t know, given it’s not a gathering of my creation.
I’m merely the one who’s just stirred from unconsciousness after an extended period.

“Oh, right, it was! Was it… ? It was. Indeed!”
“Why are you this inebriated? How much have you consumed?”
“The sage… . They offered Korean spirits, and I savored half the bottle!”

I surmise I understand.
The extent of Hong-yeon’s indulgence, as far as I’ve observed, is about two bottles of hard liquor exceeding 40 proof when she’s not exerting her magical powers.

Even when I first enveloped Hong-yeon in my embrace, she consumed more than two bottles.
In essence, Yeoni is fond of solitary drinking.

Prior to our meeting, the sensation was of being compelled to imbibe. Regardless.

‘Soju doesn’t seem to agree with her.’

Her palate, acquainted with an array of exquisite libations, now rejects the blandness of Soju.

Se-young or Byul would likely be familiar with Korean drinking customs. However, this individual is different.

“… Sigh.”
“Why the sigh…? Anyhow, it’s my turn.”
“Indeed. What would you desire?”
“I intend to envelop Do-won in a tight embrace!”

She spread her arms wide!
Hong-yeon, nestled in my hold, rubbed her spirit-scented cheeks against me.
As the aroma of alcohol wafted, the captivating scent of womanhood grazed my nose and mouth.

“Is that sufficient?”
“Indeed. It’s just right.”

Unbeknownst to me, she had already freed herself from the constricting bandages, her voluptuous breasts pressing down with a supple sensation.

“Do-won….”

“Mm?”

“How do you find my breasts?”

Suddenly, we’re discussing her breasts. Lowering my gaze, I find Hong-Yeon looking up at me with dewy eyes.

Thanks to the previously installed soundproofing, Shiba is blissfully oblivious. It seems she doesn’t even enter Hong-Yeon’s field of vision.

“Second… place.”

Second place? Does that mean her breast size ranks second among them?

First place would undoubtedly be Cornus, whose size is a mouthful to even mention. Third place… it’s unclear whether it’s Se-Young or Healing. Of course, these rankings are solely within this group. If I were to consider others I know, the rankings would shift.

Zodiac holds the second spot. Heaven and Hong-Yeon share the third. Se-Young, Healing, and White Peach might be in line for fourth.

But what does this ranking even mean?

“…Do you dislike it if it’s not first place?”

That was my assumption, but Hong-Yeon seemed to have a different perspective.

“Why?”

“Just… I was merely curious.”

“Just?”

“No, not just that.”

Her words shift erratically, her cheeks flushing a deep red. Embracing my form, Hong-Yeon eventually tightens her grip, pulling me close.

“Today, I saw many of your lovers. We all promised to get along better in the future.”

“Mm.”

“But… somehow, a bit… I felt like I was lagging behind.”

“Falling behind?”

“In terms of… charm, or something like that. Ugh, there’s definitely something! I mean, I’m just a fool with slightly larger breasts.”

A fool? That’s far from the truth. Hong-Yeon’s intellect is impressive, especially when she’s strategizing.

As I tried to accentuate her strengths, Hong-Yeon vehemently shook her head and shouted.

“That’s not it! What I mean is…”

“Uh, okay.”

“…I want to hear you say you love me too.”

That’s all she wants to hear? It’s not something I can’t say.

“I love you.”

At these words, Hong-Yeon tightly closes her eyes and lets out a solo cry.

“…Hoo, huff, hehe.”

Behind her slightly awkward chuckle, happiness spreads.

“Do-won, you can have everything… these breasts… my body!”

“No, Yeon-Ah.”

“You’re the only one for me!”

“There are certainly others.”

There are…

Ah, that response isn’t going to work.

“Uhuhuh.”

What can I do? All I can offer is this.

I extend my hand to stroke her back, plant a kiss on her forehead, and rub her cheek, doing my best to accommodate Hong-Yeon’s drunken state.

Hong-Yeon stays nestled in my arms for quite a while. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, she raises her head from my chest and blinks. Honestly, it’s quite adorable.

“But, Do-Won… what’s this ‘Consort Union’?”

“Consort, what?”

What is that? I don’t know.

“Star invited me. She said it was a gathering to take care of our own interests, and I said I would join too.”

“…Forget it.”
“If Do-won insists, so it shall be!”

She is as a child, thoroughly intoxicated, her smile sprouting anew.

Hong-Yeon, with eyes closed, breathes out a tender whisper.

“…Yes.”

A terse utterance in low tonal resonance.
A statement of gravity, devoid of any affectionate cooing.

“I truly love you.”

For a fleeting moment, the staunch voice of old surfaces.
I could once again see the visage of the colleague I had once known.

“I, your lady, shall never let you go again.”