We followed the lead of ‘Guard’, a private soldier of the ‘Red Knight’, and went to her room.
At a glance, it seemed like the number of guards had increased significantly.
“Surely it’s not because of me….”
Despite that, that was an excessive amount of self-awareness.
I internally reproached myself.
When we entered, the sight of the ‘Red Knight’ seated on the sofa, sipping brandy, greeted us.
Her crimson hair added to her charisma.
A silk dress that left nothing to the imagination on her cleavage.
Beautiful and with a great figure, it suited her well.
“Come in. You must be Shinnoda?”
“Yes. Nice to meet you.”
“I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere…”
“It must be a feeling.”
She didn’t even exchange words with Yang Min-seo.
In effect, she was being treated as if invisible.
When I glanced, Yang Min-seo’s face had stiffened.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Red Knight.”
Finally, she greeted her first and only then did the ‘Red Knight’ acknowledge her.
“Hmm, you’re Yang Min-seo, right? You look like a mere child, but it seems like you’re full of snakes within.”
“What? What do you mean….”
“Yang Min-ki and Yang Soon-ok. You killed them, didn’t you?”
“Ah.”
The ‘Red Knight’ asked with a sly smirk.
Her sharp gaze, like that of a hawk, met Yang Min-seo’s eyes.
“Yang Min-seo killing someone? What nonsense is this?”
Contrary to my doubts from her sudden statement, Yang Min-seo’s face turned pale and her body trembled.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. They died in a tragic accident. We were close enough to exchange gifts and I cried into my pillow for days.”
“Are gifts like assassins? Anyway, if K Group is taken down by Awakened Ones, it might be good for this side. Actually, that’s probably true.”
Chug.
The ‘Red Knight’ poured herself another glass of brandy.
She created two glasses, giving them to me and Yang Min-seo.
“Take it. It’s expensive alcohol.”
I quickly took the drink.
In contrast, Yang Min-seo slightly voiced her dissatisfaction.
“We’re minors?”
“Hmm. I started drinking when I was in middle school. Isn’t Academy high school? Judging from Shinnoda, he seems to drink a lot too.”
The ‘Red Knight’ pointed at me and asked.
It’s not a wrong statement.
Both ‘me’ and ‘Shinnoda’ have had drinks.
“Yes, well…”
Yang Min-seo and I received the drink with a somewhat uneasy expression, respecting our elder.
“First off, thanks for saving my little brother.”
Finally, the ‘Red Knight’ brought up the topic I’d been wondering when she’d get to it.
Even she, being human, must feel gratitude.
“Though it wasn’t intentional.”
She pointed to a mannequin placed at the corner of the room.
A full-body armor painted black and a spear with runes engraved on it were on display. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen that the last time I was here.
“It’s a gift. I was initially going to set conditions, but I’ll just give it to you. Yang Min-seo probably doesn’t need material things, so I’ll take care of you separately.”
Gift…
The full-body armor and spear were definitely not from Earth but items from the Dungeon.
Dungeon items carry enhanced stats and therefore usually have a price in the billions.
“I did not do it with the expectation of a reward, but if you’re giving a gift, I can’t refuse.”
In truth, except for the spear, I didn’t really need it but the armor could be decently handed over to Park Hayeon.
Dungeon items automatically adjust size to fit the wearer when they drop.
“Hmm. You haven’t even tried to decline once?”
“I’m not as wealthy as Min-seo.”
“Your greed is endearing. Above all, you’re handsome. Don’t you hear that often?”
“That’s right.”
“Had I had a boyfriend like you when I was in high school, it would have been great. Yang Min-seo must be pleased. How far have the two of you gone?”
Yang Min-seo and I briefly made eye contact, then embarrassingly turned our heads away.
“…”
Since we didn’t answer, the ‘Red Knight’ smiled as if understanding.
“Ah. So, you’re just pure friends, huh? But do relationships like that exist between men and women?”
She continued to tease us relentlessly.
I didn’t mind, but Yang Min-seo is a regular (albeit unusual) teenage girl who might get hurt.
‘If only she would stop…’
At long last, Yang Min-seo, unable to endure, spoke up.
“Tell us why you summoned us.”
“Pfft. So boring. Fine. To be honest, Yang Min-seo, there’s nothing interesting about you. Shinnoda, how is your negotiation with the government going?”
The topic brought up by the ‘Red Knight’ was the expected content.
It meant whether we planned to side with the government.
“No. They lack a sense of reality.”
“Fh. I knew that. They seem to be trying to handle you like career bureaucrats, but it’s hogwash. Politicians who have pursued power all their lives don’t know the source of power.”
She bottoms up her glass and filled it again.
“What are you trying to say?”
I urged her to get to the point.
Frankly, I didn’t want to stay too long with such a dangerous element as the ‘Red Knight’.
“I was about to say I just wanted to strengthen our ties, but looking at your face, I understand. You’re not just a student— I’ll treat you like an adult.”
The smile disappeared from the ‘Red Knight’s’ face.
“To be straightforward, if it comes to an all-out war between the government and us Awakened Ones, whose side will you choose? The government or the Inner Circle?”
Finally, the ultimate question came out.
This was the reason why she called me.
To determine whose side I was on.
“I don’t intend to side with anyone. I mean that I will support neither side.”
I gave my prepared answer.
Although the government’s proposal was quite inadequate, I didn’t want to get involved in a troublesome fight.
Besides, in the original story, no full-scale war occurs and it ultimately ends in the government’s victory.
“There’s no such option. The coup will happen, and the government, which doesn’t have the cards, will issue mobilization orders even to Academy students.”
Her tone was as if it were a foregone conclusion.
I felt a slight sense of unease.
‘Wasn’t there no issue at all in the original story?’
The original has already changed quite a bit.
There was a possibility that the result of this conflict might also change, which led me to decide carefully on how to respond.
“If such a thing happens, I will not side with the government.”
“Similarly, it seems you aren’t willing to align with us either. But staying neutral might result in not receiving proper treatment later.”
I don’t desire such treatment.
I’m confident that I can grow without their help, so I just don’t want interference.
“I don’t need that. I desire nothing. I’m just a student, after all.”
“Hmph. That’s enough. There are cases where young kids run wild with a sense of justice. But Shinnoda, you don’t seem like one of those kids.”
I chuckled and downed the glass of alcohol in one go.
High-proof alcohol flowed down my throat and I could feel the burning sensation as it reached my stomach.
“Haha. Sense of justice… huh…”
That doesn’t fit me.
In the meantime, Yang Min-seo wore an expression of deep thought.
Everything mentioned by the ‘Red Knight’ was like a bomb.
It was serious business for her.
“Do you plan to dismantle democracy?”
Finally, Yang Min-seo opened her mouth to the thought that had been weighing on her.
She wore a slightly frightened expression.
“No, not that. Just appropriate modifications will be made. To start with, Awakened Ones will strengthen their voting rights based on their rank. One person, one vote could become something like ten thousand votes.”
“…”
“…”
Both Yang Min-seo and I groaned at the outrageous plans of the ‘Red Knight’, glancing nervously at each other.
“Will private property be protected?”
The reason for Yang Min-seo’s concern must be about the continuation of K Group.
As a current powerbroker, she seems to be gathering information about how far the Inner Circle desires to go.
“Of course. Otherwise, society would collapse.”
Fortunately, the ‘Red Knight’ gave a positive answer and Yang Min-seo’s expression slightly eased.
“In that case, I understand the intentions of the Inner Circle. K Group will support it wholeheartedly.”
“Hmm. Are you in a position to make such statements? Besides, we don’t really need your support.”
With that defiant one-liner from the ‘Red Knight’, Yang Min-seo’s face reddened as if she felt shame.
“The Chairman fully trusts me. Moreover, if we genuinely support the government, it won’t be smooth sailing for them either.”
“Huh. That’s just a joke. Why so serious suddenly? We know the intentions of the K Group well. Well, if you’re going to help, why don’t you donate a bit of money too?”
She stood up, ruffled Yang Min-seo’s hair, and teasingly said.
Yang Min-seo frowned, as she felt like ‘Red Knight’ was treating her like a child.
“Yang Min-seo, I have something to talk about with Shinnoda privately, so go out for a while. Go to the Deck Club and dance or something.”
The ‘Red Knight’ suddenly stood up, lifting Yang Min-seo and spoke.
“Uh? What do you suddenly mean…?”
Yang Min-seo was startled by her sudden actions.
“Why? Are you scared? I’ll assign a Guard to you.”
“…”
In the end, faced with the ‘Red Knight’s’ confident demeanor, she could only nod.
I was curious.
‘What does she intend to talk about?’
The matter at hand has already ended.
Soon after Yang Min-seo exited, only the ‘Red Knight’ and I were left in the room.
Looking at her face-to-face, I realized anew how truly stunningly beautiful she was.
‘Is she really in her 40s?’
Her youthful appearance made me believe she could pass as a 20-year-old. Her teardrop-shaped bust was as large as her own face.
“Are you curious why I sent Yang Min-seo out?”
“Yes.”
“If you two were something more, I wouldn’t have sent her out. There’s a particular charm to being with three of you.”
The ‘Red Knight’ sat next to me and spoke.
Then, she leaned her body towards my side.
Her cheek touched my shoulder.
I could feel her warmth.
Her hand, winding around my body like a snake, slowly moved toward more intimate areas.
“Do you mean it?”
I asked with an expression of disbelief.
I understood what she intended to do.
And also the reason why she had to send Yang Min-seo out.
“Hmm, well, who would look like that?”
Her face was brimming with anticipation.
She looked at me with a flushed expression.
“Hah…”
To tell the truth, my appearance, upgraded after the transmigration, was a fact.
Although I wasn’t that bad-looking to begin with, Shinnoda was truly idol-level handsome.
Still, I didn’t expect things to go this far.
“Leave tonight to your older sister.”
Of course, I’m not going to decline.
A beautiful woman with red hair is the kind that stirs the heart of a man.
But I do need to clarify one point.
“Sure. However, about leaving it up to you, since I don’t play defense, why don’t you let me take charge?”
[…]
That night, our trust in each other became stronger.
