novelraw Chapter 75 : Chapter 75
Chapter 75 : Chapter 75
Chapter 75: Ryu Jin-seong (3)
"Ha? Stop talking nonsense you do not even mean."
The Puppeteer retorted with an exasperated expression at the man's words.
To suggest they should have a conversation because it had been a long time since they met—considering their relationship for even a moment, those were words that did not suit the situation at all.
However, the man paid no mind to her reaction and continued speaking.
"Do not be so cold. I think this is a pretty good deal for you, do you not?"
"A deal? What kind of bullsh—"
"In exchange for me overlooking what you have been up to lately, a few words of conversation is quite a fair trade, is it not?"
"……!"
The Puppeteer could not help but be greatly flustered by the man's words as his sharp eyes gleamed.
That was because she could easily deduce what he was trying to say.
‘Tsk, was I acting too conspicuously?’
It seemed that doing things she had never done before recently, all for the sake of her deal with Choi Yu-seong, had ultimately become the source of the trouble.
Was she not the one who had never shown a single bit of interest in how the organization was run?
So, it was only natural for suspicion to arise now that she had suddenly started paying attention to the organization's movements.
‘But seeing as he is speaking with conviction rather than just suspicion, did he conduct a separate background check?’
She wondered if the problem was that she had diverted too much of the Blue Nightmare that the boy had requested at once, or if he had found out about her relationship with the boy altogether.
Various possibilities began to fill the Puppeteer's mind, and as a result, her expression could not help but gradually stiffen.
In the worst-case scenario, she might have to eliminate the man before her, no matter what it took.
However, those dangerous and bloodthirsty thoughts of the Puppeteer were soon scattered by the man's voice.
"Do not wear such a scary expression. I have no intention of threatening you or anything like that."
"……."
"Unlike that woman, I have absolutely no desire to report you for the sake of an organization I have no affection for."
She could not completely dispel her suspicion with just those few words, but the Puppeteer still let down a layer of the tension she had built up.
As she had just heard, the Puppeteer was well aware of the fact that the man held no affection for the organization.
In fact, his feelings were likely closer to loathing.
Therefore, within the tension she had partially shed, the Puppeteer slowly opened her tightly closed mouth.
"…Then what is it you want?"
"I told you already, did I not? I just want to have a conversation since it has been a long time."
"Bullshit. Since when were you ever so interested in me?"
"Well, it is true that I do not have much interest in you. I do not think I will in the future, either."
The Puppeteer was dumbfounded by the man's words, spoken with such certainty.
Those were not the kind of words that should come from someone who had just suggested they have a conversation because they had not met in a long time.
He had no interest in her and likely never would. If this was not a play on words, then what was?
However, the man added more as if he did not care about such things.
"But it is not as if I need to be interested in you to have a conversation, is it?"
"…What exactly is your goal? State it clearly. Do not annoy me by talking in circles."
"Oh boy, you are not exactly in a position to take such a stance… but since you are so curious, I will tell you as a special favor."
The man spoke and offered a faint smile toward the Puppeteer.
However, the Puppeteer's expression could not help but stiffen even more than before upon seeing that smile.
It was because he was someone who had never once smiled, whether he was meeting her or anyone else in the organization.
For such a person to show a smile, even if it was faint, was something a bit too unsettling to simply ignore or brush off.
"Are you not wearing too serious an expression? This is not a heavy topic at all, so there is no need to react like that."
"I will be the judge of that after I hear it."
"Oh, to think I would hear such a thing from your mouth. You were always someone who moved driven by pleasure rather than thinking, were you not?"
"Shut up and just say it already. That way I can decide what to do with you."
At the Puppeteer's words, which were as sharp as an awl, the man nodded as if he had no choice.
The man also knew.
No matter what he said, he could not erase the Puppeteer's wariness right now.
Therefore, he judged that it would be better to get straight to the point rather than adding useless words.
"I do not have much interest in you, but I am quite interested in the one you are showing interest in."
"What?"
"Why are you pretending not to know? I already know for a fact that you are meeting someone separately."
The Puppeteer could not help but raise her guard again at those words.
However, the man continued speaking without pause, as if he had no intention of giving her such leeway.
"I am aware of the fact that you infiltrated the Academy under instructions. And surely, your recent odd behavior is related to someone at that Academy."
"……."
"Well, the other guys do not know because they do not take an interest in things that are not their business, but I am different."
"Tsk, you boring and annoying bastard."
Though her irritation flared up, those words were not a lie.
It was already a known fact that the man before her occasionally conducted background checks on the other members of the organization.
She had moved carefully because she knew that, yet she had still been caught. This was undeniably her mistake.
‘But it does not seem like he knows exactly who it is. Is that at least a relief?’
What the man just said was not absolute certainty.
It was a guess mixed with conviction; in short, he did not know everything.
‘He is certain that I am contacting someone, but he does not know exactly who it is.’
Having finished her thoughts to that point, the Puppeteer spoke to the man.
"So, what exactly do you want? Do not say something pathetic like wanting to have a conversation with me again."
"…Right. After all, the conversation was merely a means to an end."
"So stop beating around the bush and just get to the point. That is better for you too."
"I shall do that."
Agreeing with the Puppeteer's opinion, the man went straight to the main point.
"It is nothing much. I just want to meet the person you are contacting as well."
"…Why on earth?"
"There is no need for you to know that, is there?"
Despite being asked for the reason he was requesting a meeting, the man boldly asked back why she needed to know.
Normally, it was a situation where it would not be strange to get angry at such a ridiculous response, but the Puppeteer actually acquiesced.
"That is true. It is none of my business what you do."
That was because of the Puppeteer's nature.
The Puppeteer is someone who does not take an interest in anything unless it is something she finds exciting.
To her, the man's movements were not particularly interesting, so it was not strange for her to react that way.
…Of course, it was a reaction difficult to understand by the common sense of ordinary people.
"But I cannot do that."
"Hm? Why? It is not as if you would lose anything by letting me meet them."
"Why would I not lose anything? If I am not careful, my fun could be stolen. And it is not as if I can tell you even if I want to."
What on earth did that mean?
The man interpreted the meaning of the Puppeteer's words for a moment before offering a response.
"Hmm, have you formed some kind of contract?"
"……."
"If you are keeping your mouth shut even in such a disadvantageous situation, I can think of nothing else."
At those words, the Puppeteer could not help but be inwardly impressed.
To interpret it to that extent in that brief moment—it was a situation that reminded her once again that he was not an opponent to be taken lightly.
‘Is it only natural considering his background?’
Well, even so, there was nothing she could say here.
‘The Guardian Document of the Unchanging Pledge is not a contract to be taken lightly.’
The binding force possessed by an S-rank artifact should not be considered through human common sense.
The reality is that one can never escape the contents of a contract unless they possess something equal to or greater than an S-rank artifact.
And was it not clearly stated in the clauses of that contract with such terrifying binding force?
That she must never reveal Choi Yu-seong's identity to others and must never reveal the contents of the contract to others.
Therefore, the Puppeteer, who could not even utter a word regarding Choi Yu-seong, could do nothing but keep her mouth tightly shut.
"Judging by that reaction, it seems my guess is roughly correct."
"…Think whatever you want."
She spoke those words, but her heart could not help but continue to burn with anxiety.
At this rate, it was obvious that the man, having failed to obtain what he wanted, would take an aggressive stance.
If so, there was only one action the Puppeteer could take.
‘I have no choice but to kill him somehow.’
Of course, the probability was slim.
The body she was currently using was not her original body, but a clone made of mana.
Naturally, her stats were lower than her original body, and even the location and situation were not in her favor.
‘In a one-on-one battle, the possibility of winning against him is practically zero, if not non-existent.’
The Puppeteer's ability was such that it was difficult to see her as an S-class Villain in a one-on-one combat situation.
It was only natural considering the Puppeteer's combat style, which involved fighting using those she had turned into toys.
However, there was no choice in a situation that was turning sour.
Therefore, the Puppeteer braced herself and finished her preparations to launch a surprise attack at any moment.
But the situation where those preparations would be executed did not come.
"Then it cannot be helped. I guess I have to give up."
"I am not going to be taken down easi… what?"
"What are you talking about? I am not as violent as the others. I am a bit disappointed."
Contrary to the Puppeteer's expectation that he would immediately show an aggressive attitude because his plan was thwarted, the man was incredibly calm.
At that attitude, the Puppeteer felt flustered but continued to speak.
"So you are saying it does not matter even if you cannot meet them?"
"Yes. After all, today is not the last day of the world, and an opportunity will come eventually."
"……."
"Furthermore, I have no desire to maintain a bad relationship with you. Though, I have no desire to have a good relationship either."
The Puppeteer frowned at the man's words, which felt like he was talking in circles again.
Given her personality, which disliked complicated things, such words only made her feel uncomfortable for no reason.
But as said before, the Puppeteer's mood was not particularly important to the man.
"So, I shall wait for the opportunity that will come later. While wondering who it is that has managed to pique your interest to such an extent."
"Barking more nonsense again. Anyway, are you done with your business then?"
"Yes. Since I have confirmed the fact that you have a diva, this is a sufficient harvest."
The man's words, spoken as if he knew everything, were incredibly annoying to the Puppeteer, but she did not bother to respond.
Thinking about it, he was not wrong.
Was he not the boy who had brought new fun into her tedious life?
To that extent, he was certainly worthy of being called her diva.
However, she could not simply let the words that followed pass.
"Ah, the next time we meet, I hope you do not use that body. Honestly, a girl's body at your age—is that not crossing the line a bit too much?"
"Shut up. Before I sincerely tear you apart and kill you."
When it came to her age, even she was not an S-class Villain, but just an ordinary woman.