-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Alliance
-----------------------------------------------------------------
There were quite a few reasons why I decided to cooperate with Lee Seol-ah.
At first, I even considered just eliminating her, seeing as she *is* the mastermind.
After much thought, I concluded that it would be more advantageous, overall, for her to be in control of South Korea. From what I saw in the original story, she reigns while maintaining a reasonable line.
And more importantly, if I leave her as the mastermind, I can use her to my advantage.
Realistically, hacking and terrorism are the limits of what I can do, so I need to borrow greater power. And Lee Seol-ah is perfect for that.
So, I proposed that we form an alliance.
A week later, she accepted, and thus, a collusive relationship between a hero and a villain was established.
"Hmm. This coffee tastes good."
"Hehe. You surprisingly appreciate coffee. This is Esmeralda Special. It's a very rare blend, you know?"
What the hell is that?
But here, I just quietly nodded. It's usually best to just keep quiet; you'll at least pass for normal. Es... Matilda? Well, I guess there's something like that.
"By the way, you've been speaking informally to me quite naturally since earlier, haven't you?"
Lee Seol-ah said, giving me a slight glare.
Well, I mean.
"We're allies now, isn't it stranger to keep using formal speech? You can speak informally too."
As I said that, shrugging my shoulders, she narrowed her eyes.
"No thanks."
Lee Seol-ah said, crossing her arms. Well, I knew from the original story that she only speaks informally to Shin Ha-ru and uses honorifics with everyone else. So it's nothing new, really.
Anyway, even though she shows a slightly curt attitude, she's quite compliant. To be precise, I should say she readily follows my words. The USB I gave her last time probably had a significant effect.
Lee Seol-ah. As far as I know, she should be focused on conquering the business world around this time. Being as ambitious as she is, she'd be diligently working to swallow up other corporations. Especially since Han-eun Group went bankrupt.
Of course, it wasn't easy, and she was probably racking her brain over it when, ta-da! I appeared and simply handed her the answer key. Things that would take her several more years to achieve, she can now solve with the information on my USB. Of course, I gathered the information using Seo-eun. Thanks, Seo-eun.
In any case, my small gift seems to have significantly reduced her vigilance towards me. In fact, the atmosphere now is much more relaxed than before. This is probably because she realized I genuinely intend to cooperate with her, and that it would indeed be beneficial to team up.
"Excuse me. I've written it all down, so take a look."
As I was momentarily lost in thought, her voice came from in front of me.
Top floor of Yoosung Group, Busan.
We were in a reception room set aside, finalizing the terms of our agreement.
"Oh? Right. Is this the basic contract?"
"Yes. We'll decide the rest verbally, so I just wrote down the basics."
The contents were written in her neat handwriting, quickly penned down.
I skimmed through it; to summarize, it basically said, 'Let's help each other.'
"Additional information provision. Okay. I'll help as much as I can. We're a team now, so if you do well, it's good for me too."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Have you been lied to your whole life?"
I chuckled and said to her, her eyes sparkling.
Just as I thought. Her ambition truly was incredible even back then. The attitude that she'd do anything for her dream, it's cool. Though the dream being to conquer Korea is a bit of a miss...
"And, if there's anything else you want to add, say it now. Let's settle everything here."
"Oh, really? Then... let's meet once a week from now on."
"What did you say?"
"Let's meet once a week to share information. You said we're allies, right? Allies should see each other often."
"...You want me to come down to Busan once a week?"
That's ridiculous.
As if reading my negative expression, she huffed and said,
"If you don't like it, I can come up to Seoul."
The contract we made was actually simple.
I help her conquer South Korea, and she tells me about any forces trying to interfere with me—whether it's the government or the association. That's it.
But is this really something that requires meeting face-to-face every week? Meeting occasionally seems like it would be enough.
"Once a week is overkill. Let's meet once a month. That should be perfect."
"What's perfect about that? Don't be ridiculous."
She retorted, as if dumbfounded.
In the end, after discussion, we agreed to meet once every two weeks.
"...So, how's the South Korea conquest project coming along?"
"Don't even get me started. Haa, you'd think they'd just merge willingly, but they're so resistant..."
I subtly probed about how things were progressing these days, and she spoke freely. I nodded, listening to her lamenting story. Right, right. So that's how it was.
We talked for quite a long time like that. Perhaps because we shared the common ground of hiding our true intentions and identities while outwardly acting as opposites, we communicated well. This was unexpected.
How long did we talk like that?
As we continued our various conversations, we eventually arrived at the topic of Shin Ha-ru.
"Our Ha-ru... Haa. Oh, right. Huh. You didn't know her identity, did you? Did I accidentally let it slip?"
"You think I wouldn't know that? Stardus. Shin Ha-ru. I know everything."
"Well, I suppose I did think you'd know. But, you see..."
She said that much, then leaned her head closer to me, as if incredibly curious, and spoke.
"But... this is something I've been curious about for a while now: why are you so obsessed with Stardus?"
"Obsessed? Me?"
"Yes. You."
When was I ever obsessed? This is slander.
As I put on a brazen act, feigning ignorance, she smiled with her eyes and opened her mouth.
"Aren't you specifically targeting our Ha-ru to help her grow? It's like you're power-leveling her in a game or something. And your villain activities are an extension of that concept. Right?"
Why is she so sharp?
While I hesitated for a moment to answer, she had already gotten up and subtly approached my side.
Then, she came closer to the chair next to mine, where I was sitting, and placed her arm on it. Then, she began to speak as if whispering to me.
"Honestly, I'm a little jealous of Stardus. You know, how much our Ha-ru's popularity increases every time she fights you."
She said that, then lowered her head slightly, leaning her entire body towards me. As her flowing sky-blue hair obscured my view, she whispered to me from the side, her voice softer than before.
"...So, I'm asking you. Could you, perhaps, terrorize me too? We're allies, aren't we? Like you say 'Icycle, out!' and do it for me too, hmm?"
I turned my face towards her, as she now whispered to me in a completely alluring voice.
Then, my eyes met Lee Seol-ah's, who was looking at me from a distance so close our breaths could mingle. Her face, smiling with her eyes at me, filled my vision, and as she got closer, I unconsciously raised my hand towards her.
And flicked her forehead.
"Ow!"
She grabbed her forehead and recoiled from the sudden attack. Her face was flushed red, and tears even welled up in the corners of her eyes.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
I chuckled and replied to her, as she cried out as if the world had wronged her.
"What do you mean? It's to tell you to snap out of it."
"What are you talking about?! Th-this is sexual harassment! I'm going to report you!"
"A-rank hero shocked after being sexually harassed by a villain in her own home. That'd make quite the news story, wouldn't it?"
I simply chuckled quietly at her, as she glared at me, her eyes still slightly teary. I barely touched her, but she's such a drama queen.
....And she's probably overreacting like that because she's embarrassed. No, what was that atmosphere just now? I have no idea why she's acting like that. I know she's comfortable with me, but suddenly? Was she trying to seduce me or something?
Well, considering her ears are red, that seems to be it. Still naive, I see.
Anyway, let's reconsider her proposal.
Terrorism. If I were to do it, she'd probably mean Busan, right?
"...And, no terrorism."
"What? Why?!"
She shot back at me.
Why, you ask? Because my acts of terror are only reserved for Stardus, of course.
As I was about to answer that, it occurred to me that it wouldn't be bad to help Icycle grow too. In the original story, I took care of the Behemoth instead of her, so her power-up event was canceled. I guess I should take some responsibility.
...But it doesn't have to be right now, does it?
I changed my words and spoke again.
"...Alright, I'll do it. But not now. Later."
"When is later?! Give me a concrete plan!"
There is no such thing.
I quickly changed the subject.
"...Anyway, you're close with Stardus, right?"
"Ha-ru? Yes, we're close. But why are you suddenly bringing that up?"
I continued before she could hastily return to the original topic.
"It's nothing much. Just, badmouth me in front of Ha-ru from now on."
"...Huh?"
She tilted her head, as if she hadn't understood my words for a moment. And not missing the moment she was flustered, I hammered in my point.
"Keep talking bad about me behind her back."
"...Why? Are you a pervert?"
What is she talking about?
*
"So, you want me to badmouth you in advance so Ha-ru definitively sees you as a villain, before she starts to suspect you?"
"Exactly."
"...Uh, I don't think that'll work."
"No, it will."
Who am I? Am I not a Stardus expert?
I can be 100% sure this will work.
Who is Shin Ha-ru? Is she not a person brimming with a sense of justice?
On top of that, she's not very perceptive, and she's easily swayed by her friends' words. So, if someone keeps reminding her that I'm an atrocious villain, she won't suspect me and will continue to treat me as an enemy.
Even though Lee Seol-ah in front of me had a doubtful expression. No, trust me!
"...Well, alright for now. I'll try."
"Thanks."
I said that much and stood up.
Done everything I needed to. Let's go back.
As I stood up, Lee Seol-ah, who had been sitting in front of me, also jumped up and said,
"You're leaving?"
"Yeah. We've settled everything, haven't we? See you in two weeks. We exchanged numbers too."
"...No, wait a minute! What about my terrorism?"
I'll do that someday. Someday.
Just as I was about to say that, a sudden thought struck me. Come to think of it, isn't that event in Busan happening soon? If that's the case... maybe... I don't necessarily have to be the one...
I changed what I was going to say and spoke again.
"Alright. Fine. I'll contact you soon, so be ready. Got it?"
"Really? You'll do it for me soon?"
"I'm serious. Have you been lied to your whole life?"
I found myself smiling as I looked at the delighted Icycle.
Seriously, a hero begging a villain to cause some terrorism. What is this? It's not like we're fixing a match. This is what they call the adult's underworld, something kids wouldn't understand. Politicians too, they fight in public, but behind the scenes, they're like brothers, sharing a drink.
After the additional agreement was finalized, I was finally able to leave the place.
Well, it seems like things went well.
...But maybe *too* well?
***
"Young lady. Is there something good happening?"
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing."
In the back seat of the car heading home.
Leaning back in her seat, Lee Seol-ah reviewed the day's events and found herself smiling unconsciously.
Ego-stick. Her meeting with him was quite good.
When she saw him on broadcast, she expected him to just be a madman, but meeting him in person, he was far better than she imagined. To her surprise.
Especially, he was someone she could genuinely converse with after a long time, besides Ha-ru. Especially since he understood things she couldn't even discuss with Ha-ru.
"...I like him."
She murmured unconsciously, her eyes sparkling.
Lee Seol-ah. She was very taken with this man named Ego-stick. Capable, easy to talk to, and trustworthy. In a word, she was captivated.
As someone with absolute confidence in her own judgment, she was certain.
Yes. She absolutely had to make this man her ally. She decided that.
Since childhood, whatever she set her mind on having, she invariably obtained through any means necessary, so she was confident.
Thus, in the dark back seat of the car.
Only her eyes glittered in the darkness.
Ego-stick.
She would make him hers.
***
"...Something feels uneasy."
Shin Ha-ru unconsciously murmured that.
For some reason, instead of her unease dissipating, it was growing stronger.
What is it?