Chapter 104
Geum Miyoung was currently instated as the representative director at [Today Bookkeeping Co.]. When we searched her on the portal site 1, her photos and her impressive career history could be seen; similarly, photos and interviews taken with famous guildmasters existed as well.
Her prominent career had careened upwards in the last 3 years, coinciding with the fall of the [Red Lotus]; her new company was established just two months after the disaster. One could only assume from looking at that timeline that she knew about what would happen at the <Tower of Command> and prepared in advance.
“Each and every one of her clients is impressive? [Red Dragon], [Opera], [Virtuoso (DC previous chpaters] too… And recently she’s contracted with [HaHae] as well.”
In addition, [Today Tax Corporation]’s homepage contained the contents of the contracts with the large-scale guilds. As a result, our suspicions of her betrayal had stabilized–the contracts were not ones that could be leveraged by a newly-established company.
“It would be nice to arrange a meeting with Miyoung-ssi through Koo Hui-seo. We have a good excuse since the guildmaster position has just changed.” After contemplating for a while, Seo Dawon suddenly proposed meeting Geum Miyoung.
“Koo Hui-seo?” After listening quietly, Kim Olim asked Seo Dawon. Since she had been resurrected after the revenge on Koo Kyungman finished, she was unaware of what had happened since her death.
So, Seo Dawon and Jung Garam explained, in detail, all that had happened. Though the Paladin listened at first without much change in expression, a slight smile grew on her face when she heard about Koo Kyungman’s miserable fate at his brother’s hands.
“It’s a shame I couldn’t see with my own eyes,” she said.
“We’ll drop by to check on his condition before he’s killed.”
“But…is he truly planning to impregnate Koo Kyungman?”
“Cough…..” I was drinking water to the side while listening to their conversation when I heard Jung Garam’s last mumble to himself–I coughed, water going down the wrong way. The prisoner, the last time I saw him, was pitiful. When I recalled Koo Hui-seo’s pale and gloomy face, goosebumps raised all over my arms.
Lost in thought, I felt the silent, piercing gazes of the three servants; turning around, they were all blatantly staring at me.
“….What, Why?” I asked, flustered.
Suddenly, Kim Olim hardened the line of her lips and replied, “Don’t make such strange sounds while breathing.”
“Huh? M-me?”
“Who else?”
Bewildered by her words, I naturally began to feel self-conscious about my breathing.
Was she saying that I was breathing annoyingly? So, without realizing, I subconsciously covered my mouth my hands; despite those actions, Kim Olim started to criticize me more intensely. “You’re too noisy. Do you need to drink water that loudly?”
“D-drinking loudly….”
“Didn’t you hear those gulps? Even those who wandered in the desert for three or so days would drink quieter than you.”
Just, what kind of verbal abuse is this?
I swore I only took a small sip. And, even then, I choked on that single sip and coughed…However, her cold expression didn’t seem like she was joking, and I couldn’t argue to defend myself since I was still quite scared of her.
“You get used to it the more you listen.” Smiling, Seo Dawon interrupted in the middle of our conversation. “Lee-kyung-ie isn’t being loud on purpose. It’s just that we can hear it at that volume.”
“Earlier, he was sighing into my ear, though?”
“Ah, that could have been a bit dangerous.”
What’s dangerous?
I blushed from humiliation when I saw Seo Dawon’s large smile. I wanted to yell ‘pervert,’ at him but swallowed that desire for fear of being loud again.
Come to think of it, I’ve asked about the matter long ago because they reported that even my smallest sounds could be heard clearly. At the time, Seo Dawon hypothesized that the servants were sensitive to every small sound from my lips because they were usually summoned by calling their name.
In other words, it’s not that I’m particularly noisy but that the system is at fault. It was utterly unfair; I clenched my fist, appalled and mortified that I was unintentionally wreaking auditory havoc upon their ears.
“Isn’t Choi Lee-kyung’s voice nice? I can fall asleep listening to him muttering to himself….” In the meantime, Jung Garam, whether to defend me or tease me, added his own two cents. Though I was glad that Jung Garam didn’t seem to care too much about my speaking habits, what did he mean by my voice sounding ‘nice?’ It’s just an ordinary voice with nothing special to it.
Kim Olim answered Jung Garam before I could respond, “It’s pretty high for a man’s voice–it’s not too murky, and it’s clear. That’s why it stands out when everything’s quiet. He has a normal volume, but he has a habit of dampening the ends of his sentences. Especially when he’s nervous, he has a tendency to not finish his sentences and instead mouth out the last words. Additionally, every now and then, he assesses people’s emotions and sighs; right afterwards, he’d release a soft yawn.”
“……” Speechless, I could only soundlessly open and close my mouth.
Jung Garam leaned aslant and said, “Noona, you really listened closely…” Somehow, it still sounded like he was making fun of me.
However Kim Olim nodded seriously, “Like that, he keeps on sniffling endlessly. It’s like I’m imagining a whimpering dog nearby; I can’t help but lose my focus.”
“So, you’re saying that you’re concerned about Lee-kyung’s whimpers?”
“Yeah. Something like that.”
“Pffft…..”
Just what are they comparing me to?!
“Just suck on some candy. It would honestly be better to hear the candy rattling against his teeth.” Kim Olim, still completely serious, spared nothing while giving advice.
* * *
“Now, breathe easily.”
I was covering myself with a blanket in the room; At Seo Dawon’s voice, I gently lowered the coverings.
Ever since Kim Olim spoke, I had been so concerned about the sound of my own voice, so I had no choice but to cover my head even though I was alone in the room.
I looked around the room, lowered my voice, and asked, “This…you can’t hear me out there?”
“Yeah.”
“Haah……” It wasn’t util I received confirmation that I breathed out loud and lowered my head. It was hard to make a conscious effort to sit still and not make a sound. It wasn’t like I could act impudently towards the Paladin…
“Why didn’t you just ignore her,” Seo Dawon said.
“Am I you?”
“Don’t be too concerned about her.”
Seo Dawon could be so carefree since she was his friend. As for me, who was threatened by her, it would be far better to stay under the covers for the rest of my life than to be someone who agitated her.
After seeing me shake my head, he leaned down and sat next to me on the bed. Then, with a teasing tone, he asked, “Why do you listen to Kim Olim so obediently? I’m jealous…..”
“Are you joking? You said it, didn’t you? It’s not true that Servants can’t attack their contractors!”
“Those are very rare cases though?”
“I was strangled immediately after I signed the contract?”
Seo Dawon took my flushed cheeks in both hands and forced my head up. It was a bit of an…*ambiguous* position, so I shook my head trying to make him release me. As expected, he didn’t let go.
Just like that, Seo squished my cheeks with a smirk. “If it was truly loud enough and agitating enough for her to not want to hear it, that girl’s the type to gag you or cut off your tongue.”
“……”
“She only told you to eat candy. That speaks of how cute she finds you.”
“I’m not cute–I don’t need this cute aggression!!!”
However, as soon as I finished speaking, Seo Dawon firmly pressed his fingers against my lips this time. He had often touched my cheeks, but this was the first time he’d touched my lips from so close a distance. I flinched, and my body stiffened.
Seo Dawon was sure to know that I’d feel flustered, but he still pressed down on my lower lip–as if he were spreading them. I couldn’t resist and opened my mouth slightly.
“…..W-what’s this?” I asked.
Something round and hard slipped into my mouth; when it touched my tongue, a sweet taste filled my mouth. The taste was similar to green grapes 2, but it crumbled quickly and disappeared without a trace.
‘Stamina’ increased by +1!
Then, out of nowhere, a system message popped up, informing me that one of my stats increased.
At my bewilderment, Seo Dawon finally held out his right hand, which had been held behind his back; he shook a tin case with the [Flavor 13] logo emblazoned on the lid.
It contained alchemical candy that randomly increased stats when eaten. Of course, I knew about the existence of such things, but it was the first time I’ve actually eaten it because of the high price.
I felt somewhat embarrassed after seeing the candy’s wrapping paper, labeled [Flavor: Shine Muscat] 3 .But, why……does he keep doing such shameless things? He always makes fun of me…
“Thank…you?” I said.
“No need for the thanks. After all, I ordered it with Lee-kyung-ie’s money.”
Of course, not 1 second passed before the fuzzy feeling disappeared.
Afterwards, Seo Dawon laid me down and popped the candy one by one into my mouth. The last candy was stolen by Jung Garam, who stormed into the room, pouting, “What are you doing all alone in the room after setting up noise cancelling?”
TL: Would I spend 20-30 dollars on a grape bunch? No. But am I curious as to the taste? So much >.<
Also, I would say Dawon needs to tell Lee-kyung-ie his feelings straight, or the dense guy will never understand…but I feel like he’s already dropped not hints but sledgehammers around to let him know. Lmao.
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