Soul mate (3)
Of course, the solution that Lee Jihye and I came up with slowly began to overturn the public’s opinion.
Bringing in Victor Hart as an excuse for the assassin actually managed to quiet the rumors within the royal castle, and had the effect of keeping Ito Souta in check.
Explaining Juliana’s functions and characteristics combined with Yuno Kasugano’s, there was a lot to say about the case itself.
The question of whether or not I willed my sword to hurt was still unanswered. Still, unless Ito Souma decided to make a solicitation to the Pope’s side, even this was suspected of disappearing soon.
The reason why I still had a suspect label was nothing more or less than that of the specificity of the case, which was the first murder case in the royal castle within the Holy Empire, and that it defied the Pope’s attempt to make the large Japanese guild look better.
Of course.
The reason all of this was possible lay in Lindel’s present state.
Originally, Lindel had a good relationship with Celia, but upon hearing the Yamato Guild’s trap for an innocent victim did not sit well with most people, especially since Yamato was suspected to be the main culprit in the Lindel terrorist incident.
Of course, the fact that I was in danger was a lie.
Even now, I sat comfortably in my chair and could drink if I wanted to, but it was important for Lindel’s citizens to believe the rumors.
Of course, that wasn’t all.
The real goal was to develop hostility within the Lindel citizens by spreading the idea of the Yamato Guild’s planned invasion in their Free City.
In particular, Lee Jihye’s plan was so disruptive that I felt it a little more radical than mine, so the possibility of a war between Lindel and Celia was a worrying possibility.
The biggest problem among them was that the Red Mercenaries and Black Swans did not intentionally suppress some radicals’ actions.
Even if I were to take a quick look at the current media, the answer was splattered everywhere.
[Guild Ilsung conducts bombing magic training in the Ramadel Mountains near Celia.]
[Today at 9 am, Lindel’s Guild Ilsung conducted bombing magic training in the Ramadel Mountains. The ultra-long-range magic that hit the Ramadel Mountains across Celia has not been seen in Guild Ilsung so far. Accordingly, Lee Seol-Ju (21), the highest dignity of the Guild Ilsung, said that the Japanese people’s arrogant behavior has reached the peak and are constantly testing their guild’s patience.
Not only did he not hesitate to say that it would make the Free City Celia into a sea of fire. But after three days, they were surrounded by Celia’s territorial waters and trained for ultra-long-range bombing magic… and is expected to proceed. – Lindel llbo, reporter Kim Sung-gyeong]
Among some of the radical factions, the actions of the Guild Ilsung were the most embarrassing. I had to ask Lee Jihye about the truth.
“These motherfuckers, this is fine, right?”
“Yes. They’re asking for money. Then you can rest assured. I made a deposit yesterday. Although all of these have been settled through agreements… Well, seeing what they’re doing, I got a little nervous. I didn’t know they would do this much.”
“Too much provocation is not very good…”
“The kids in their guild are weird, but you can rest assured that the Black Swan will definitely stop them.”
“Do you know them?”
“Well… I guess we do, a little bit… We had a drink together once, and that’s all. I thought it would be difficult to get along because I was a little bit dizzy, but who would’ve thought that I could use them this way? They had crazy guys singing war songs, so I tried not to get close… But after all, the more connections you have, the better.”
“There are all kinds of people.”
“Yes. Rather than going for some weak actors, something like that works. Thanks to this, rumors that a war is about to be waged is spreading throughout Lindel. A reaction certainly will come.”
In other words, Lindel was a time bomb just waiting to explode.
In fact, the merchants from Celia were quickly leaving Lindel in fear, and the innocent Taiwan’s large guild was also undergoing evacuation procedures for their citizens.
However…
“There won’t be a war. How will a war happen when the Holy Empire is preventing such conflict? Relations with the Republic and the Kingdom Union are also skewed, and the head-on conflict between the two cities is ridiculous. Tell them to enjoy doing bombing magic drills how much they want. The more they do that, the safer you are.”
“Ah. As much as possible, Juliana’s information should be spread out, especially towards Celia… State it as a wide-area curse that cannot be purified even by divine power. Research on wide-area magic that can curse an entire city by using Juliana as a medium is in progress. It’s paying off so far.”
“That’s not bad.”
“External war reporters were also sent to Celia for a different plan altogether… Oh, write a letter to announce that the Guild Ilsun is also developing mental attack strategy weapons. It seems like they like talking in this way. It would be more efficient for crazy guys like themselves to move than for normal people to announce.”
“Yes, Yes. I get it. Are you working on the Japanese press?”
“I’m working on spreading anxiety, since our shaman is also working hard. You don’t have to worry about the Japanese. No, don’t worry about Japan as much as possible.”
“You sure are talented. How did you make connections with Yuno Kasugano?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“No. It’s okay. As long she’s being useful, I don’t care who she is, or where she lives.”
“I like this side of you.”
“Is this a confession at this timing?”
“Who knows?”
At this, Lee Jihye slowly leaned in.
It was then that we heard a thump outside.
“Oppa!”
“I guess it’s time.”
“Yes. I’ll have to start preparing as well.”
“I will help with preparation on my side. I already told the Mercenary Queen, so please wait.”
The time to attend the social gathering this evening was fast approaching.
For now, I had to focus on Jung Hayan, so I stepped towards the door.
The door slammed open, and there stood Jung Hayan, who looked way different from before.
I didn’t know if it was because I had seen her a lot as a wizard, a class who wore hoods often, but her appearance for the social gathering looked quite beautiful.
She was wearing a white dress, a necklace, and earrings.
Overall, she looked very neat.
As she had a very nice body, it looked like the dress was prepared for her, and the makeup on her cute and blunt face looked a little sexy.
Overall, I had a strong feeling that she brought out her unique charm without going overboard.
“You look pretty, Hayan.”
“R-Really?”
“Of course.”
“Hehehehe…”
While laughing, I could see her glancing at Lee Jihye sitting on the side of the room. However, her expression showed gratitude, not hostility.
It was natural for Jung Hayan to show such a look, as Lee Jihye was the one who made it possible to be with me by releasing me from the halfconfinement.
“Oh, Hayan is so beautiful.”
“R-Really? Thank you, Jihye-ssi.”
“You look more mature today. Seeing you finished it so early, I think you wanted to show it to Kiyoung quickly, too. Am I right?”
“Yes.”
“You’re a cute couple. Ah. I was just about to prepare Kiyoung… Would you like to wait outside? Or you can sit here…”
“I’ll be sitting here!”
“Okay. Do whatever you feel comfortable with.”
When Jung Hayan settled, a full-scale renovation began.
I just wanted to go like this, but it was essential to wear clothes that suited the formal occasion. Of course, what Lee Jihye was preparing for me felt a little too much.
“Everyone, come in.”
“Okay.”
This is because I didn’t know that Black Swan artists, who were known for having many female guild members, would appear.
“He’s not very handsome, but he isn’t that bad. Please do your best, everyone. Kiyoung can’t go to such a place and be ignored, right?”
“Yes, Lee Jihye.”
I can’t deny that I wasn’t handsome. As these people clung onto me, I couldn’t help but sigh and decided not to pay too much attention to them.
Lee Jihye would be doing most of it, anyway.
“It would be better to leave a little bang. I would like the makeup team to create a good impression. It would be nice to go with a slightly weak, yet charming disposition. The costume team should avoid strong colors as much as possible… I think it would be good just to make him stand out.”
“Okay.”
“Alright.”
“Not red. Did you hear me? He has to look like a victim, enough to make the nobles feel compassion for him. Make him look as young as possible… Instead of a suit, he’s going to wear an imperial outfit. It’s good to make him look friendly.”
“Yeah… Yes. Okay.”
I knew keeping appearances was important. This was also part of politics, after
all.
However, the sight of the Black Swan staff sweating and moving to meet Lee Jihye’s demands was a spectacle. Some of the world’s most renowned makeup artists, coordinators, and even beauty creators were here.
I had been checking myself in the mirror, but I honestly couldn’t figure out what was changing.
However, in Jung Hayan’s eyes; it didn’t seem that way at all.
Little by little, her gaze became blunt.
‘She’s always like that.’
“Hayan.”
“Hayan?”
“Hayan?!”
“Yes… Yes!”
It would be no exaggeration to say that my transformation was going smoothly just from her reaction.
“Did you finish all the work I ordered you to do?”
“Yeah?”
“The thing you had to send to Blue and the letter you should’ve given to the shaman.”
“Yes, I did it all. As you’ve said, I tied it tightly with magic and sent it.”
“Well done. After all, Hayan is the best.”
“But Kiyoung… So, from now on, you don’t have to stay here?”
“Huh. It doesn’t mean I won’t have any movement restrictions, but as long as I can attend the gathering, it’ll be a convenience. It’s all thanks to Jihye-ssi.”
“Ah…”
“Perhaps, when the time passes, it will be completely removed.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
As I talked with Jung Hayan, I could feel the time pass us by. In the meantime, Lee Jihye and the other Black Swan members continued to struggle with my appearance.
After a while, even the physical change became apparent to me.
‘Huh…
I feel like I’d become a handsome guy for some reason. Not as much the original face, but still…
‘It’s worth comparing with Hyunsung as well…’
I could now kind of understand what clothes, hair, and makeup were, and how they were important.
When they said that most of it was finished, I got up and once again looked at myself in the full-length mirror.
I had gone into a suit, but the aristocrats’ clothes, along with its many cumbersome decorations, certainly did not make it easy to move.
“Turn around, Kiyoung. I want to see if it went well.”
“Yes, of course.”
“The decorations are a little crooked.”
Lee Jihye quietly pinpointed what was wrong, but the expression of the guild staff told me they thought it looked good.
‘So sly.’
The sight of Lee Jihye coming to me to check my clothes for the last time looked like a mother tying a father’s tie to work.
I don’t know if it was because she wanted to show off to Jung Hayan or because she wanted to do it herself, but annoyance flashed onto Hayan’s
face.
‘If only they got on each other’s nerves openly…’
I would have felt a little more comfortable if they did, instead of going with such annoying subtlety.
“Our oppa is so cool, right, Hayan?”
“Ah? Yes…”
Even with an important task ahead, Jihye still seemed to have some time for provocations.
“T-The rest, I will…”
“Since you’ve been sitting so far, keep sitting. It’s better to leave this to an expert, right?”
Even tidying up the back of my jacket seemed to bother Jung Hayan.
‘Stop, Jihye…
“That’s right. All done!”
“Thank you, Jihye-ssi.”
“You’re welcome. Of course, this is something I should do. Since our Hayan is still young and doesn’t know anything, shouldn’t I have to work hard to support you? I’m having such a hard time because of this… Ah…”
The moment I saw Lee Jihye’s face, which seemed to provoke openly, I was sure that we were soulmates.
‘This is my wife, kid.’
Lee Jihye’s expression as she taunted Hayan, was very similar to my usual expression.
“Shall we go now? I also have to prepare. Hayan, please take care of our oppa today.”
“Yes, of course…”