Chapter 65: A Night's Dream With the troublemaker gone, seducing Merina wasn't difficult.
"You must have been very startled, right?"
"Huh? Oh... yes..."
Though a madman had just swept through, the party quickly returned to normal as if nothing had happened. As I stayed by Merina's side to calm her down, she opened her heart easily.
She seemed to have no immunity to men, appearing nervous when we were alone, but once Angelica joined us, she began to talk brightly as if her previous anxiety had been a lie.
Angelica, you're not just cute; you're a damn good wing girl, aren't you?
I couldn't stay glued to only the two of them for the entire party. Occasionally, people would strike up a conversation, and every time they did, I made sure to include Merina, letting her shine.
A prince on a white horse doesn't always have to defeat villains with brute force, right?
Women want a prince because he fulfills their sense of self-worth.
Self-esteem is vital to everyone, regardless of gender. And a person who boosts that self-esteem and shows genuine consideration is someone you can't help but like, regardless of their face.
Back at my old company, I was the "human bidet," beloved by my team leader and manager for exactly this reason.
Perhaps because she managed the Graham family's businesses, Merina was surprisingly well-spoken despite her timid appearance.
She was the type who excelled as long as the stage was set for her, even if she couldn't climb onto it herself. Or perhaps she had simply been suppressed by the other members of the Graham family and couldn't find her voice until now.
As the "star" of the party, I put weight behind her words, and soon everyone was listening intently to what she had to say.
Whenever the conversation grew dull, I played the clown to liven the mood. If a member of the Graham family made a barbed comment, I stepped in to shield her.
And once my job was done, I turned the spotlight back to her.
The wallflower, who had been starved for attention, was now receiving more focus than anyone else in the ballroom. Merina began to get swept up in the excitement.
It's impossible not to fall for it when everyone is listening to your stories with sparkling eyes.
The problem was Angelica.
I appreciate the help as a wing girl, but now... you really should go, you know?
I felt bad for her since we'd been having fun together, and I was a bit disappointed myself, but I had to settle my debt with Park Yu-jeong first.
Just as I was wondering how to handle it, Monica called Angelica over at the perfect time.
Angelica looked regretful, saying she'd be right back, but looking at the atmosphere, it didn't seem like she'd return easily.
Is she wary of me?
Monica had been keeping a close eye on me as I navigated the party, drawing everyone's attention.
It made sense. Some unknown kid shows up at the party and suddenly dominates the room, then casually donates 100 million G—from Monica's perspective, it was more than enough to be suspicious.
On top of that, her only daughter, Angelica, had been stuck to my side all night, so she was bound to be concerned.
Yet, while she protected Angelica, she left Merina alone.
I didn't know the reason, but for me, it was a welcome situation.
The alcohol had kicked in, and the mood was ripe. Merina's face was flushed.
"Milling about with everyone is nice, but I'd really like to talk with you alone somewhere quiet, Merina."
At my whispered words, Merina's eyes widened as she looked up at me.
Even if she didn't know men well, there was no way she could misunderstand my meaning.
Her wavering eyes soon found their focus. Without waiting for an answer, I whispered again.
"The party is almost over. Let's escape the nuisances and run away like this."
"..."
She still didn't answer, but I acted as if I had heard her consent. I told her I'd wait outside and left first.
It would have been best to take her hand and walk out together, but since Monica and the other Grahams were watching me, leaving together would have been far too conspicuous.
However, Merina watched my back as I walked away with the confidence of a man who knew she would follow.
A man speaks with his back! Gentlemen, this kind of confident attitude is exactly what makes women fall for you.
(Just don't forget to check the mirror once before you try to copy it.)
I sat in a lounge area near the hall and waited for Merina.
It was a bit away from the main ballroom, and the area was quiet, with not a single person passing by.
Why? Because I was the hotel's ultra-VVVVVVIP.
The hotel staff were blocking all paths leading this way.
Except for one person—a young lady with long grey hair tied up.
I waited leisurely, sipping the coffee she brought me despite the area being closed for service, and as expected, Merina arrived.
Hmm... as I thought, she wasn't managing the family business just for show.
Her aura wasn't that of a young lady expecting a night of passionate sex with a man she loved.
Excitement wasn't entirely absent, but it was hidden deep within her eyes. For the most part, her gaze was layered with distrust, caution, and a cold composure.
Ignoring my smile, Merina sat gracefully on the opposite sofa and looked me straight in the eye.
"Who exactly are you?"
"I'm a student at Yggdrasil. You can find that out if you investigate."
The Graham family certainly had that much power.
"And I'm the man who's going to spend an intimate night with a grey-haired lady."
"Ugh..."
When I spoke so bluntly, Merina showed a moment of fluster before swallowing hard and regaining her composure.
"I won't be of any benefit to you."
"...I don't understand. Why are we talking about 'benefits' right now?"
"Don't you want something from the Graham family? I'm not in a position to influence the family. I manage the business, but I only execute what's ordered from above and solve problems to keep things running. I have no decision-making power. Even if you want something, Yeon-woo, I..."
"Wait, wait a second."
She must have had a lot bottled up from being suppressed by her family.
I stopped Merina, who had suddenly become talkative in her agitation, and shifted my posture.
"I only found out you were in business tonight at the party."
"...Then... why did you talk to me...?"
In a normal situation, she wouldn't have believed me.
However, thanks to my Maxed-out Probability appearance and the fact that she was already half-fallen for me, Merina ignored her own suspicious heart—driven by a sliver of hope and desire—and tried to listen to my words.
I scratched my cheek as if embarrassed and spoke.
"Actually... I saw you standing all alone at the party."
"..."
"I didn't have any special intentions at first. It was just... you looked like you weren't having fun, and it was obvious you wanted to go home. I just wanted to make you happy."
"For... for that reason?"
"Yes, for that reason. At first."
I continued, smiling as if bashful.
"I'm a 'light' man. If I meet a woman I like at a club or a party, I might spend the night with her. I have casual relationships often."
"..."
"At first, I didn't think much of it. You're Angelica's friend and relative, and since you looked uncomfortable, I thought I'd just show you a good time. But as we kept talking and I saw you speaking in front of people... you were so intellectual. It was charming."
"..."
Whether in games or manga, in worlds like this, even a beautiful girl who has heard she's pretty ten million times will blush as if it's the first time she's ever heard it when the protagonist says it.
How many times in her life had Merina—who was considered "plain" or even "ugly" in this eroge world—been told she was charming?
I could see Merina's cheeks turning red as she panicked.
"I-I'm not that kind of easy woman."
"I'm sorry. I'm just an easy man."
"Oh, no... I'm sorry... I misspoke."
Merina apologized and lowered her head to hide her crimson face.
Is it because of the nature of an eroge? The women here act cute no matter what they do.
Except for Park Yu-jeong.
When I stood up and sat next to her, Merina tensed and scooted away.
As much as she moved away, I moved closer. This little game of cat-and-mouse repeated until she was cornered at the end of the sofa.
"I... I have a... fiancé..."
Yeah, I know.
It's a semi-forced political marriage for the sake of business.
It wasn't that the fiancé was a total scumbag, but they weren't close either—just people who had seen each other's faces a few times.
I took her chin, lifting her head so our eyes met.
"It's okay. Let's just call it a night's dream. Didn't you have fun today?"
At the question of whether she had fun, Merina's eyes wavered.
She had been truly happy today.
The most handsome man in the world stayed by her side; she was the center of attention at the party; everyone liked her and listened to her stories; even the Graham family members who used to look down on her showed her respect.
For the suppressed Merina, it was a dream-like situation.
That night's dream was simply being extended.
I slowly brought my face closer, and Merina closed her eyes, accepting me.
Ah, I'm exhausted.
After soothing the dreaming girl until dawn, I left the hotel.
It was the weekend, so I didn't have to go to Yggdrasil, but I still had to train. I think I got about two hours of sleep before heading out.
I have sleep-aid items at home, so it's fine there, but sleeping out makes things difficult.
"Yo—Expert."
As soon as I got a little distance from the hotel, Park Yu-jeong, who was sitting on a street bench, greeted me.
We hadn't agreed to meet here, but the fact that she was waiting as if she knew I'd be coming was chilling.
I sat down next to her. She was dressed comfortably in short shorts and a hoodie.
"Is it okay to leave already? You ate her once; she'll be disappointed if you just heartlessly dump her."
"I told her beforehand that I had to leave early today, so I wouldn't be there when she woke up. And I left a sweet message on the mirror. She won't be disappointed when she wakes up."
"Ooh—the mirror... right where she'd see it while showering or doing her makeup?! How romantic! Your after-service is top-notch. Choosing you was definitely the right answer."
Park Yu-jeong laughed brightly and handed me a breakfast set she'd bought from a nearby fast-food joint.
"I already ate breakfast at the hotel."
"...Wow. I've been waiting here anxiously, and you enjoyed a leisurely breakfast?"
"If you're going to do something, let me know beforehand."
Park Yu-jeong was so meticulous that she had forbidden all contact while I was seducing Merina, fearing we might get caught.
Even though she was dying to know the results, she never reached out and just waited like this.
I pulled a drink from the morning set and asked.
"So, why did you want me to seduce her?"
"Because that lady is helpful to us... no, to me."
"In terms of business?"
"Yeah, exactly. The Graham family is a bit... hmm... old-fashioned? No, no, arrogant bastards? That's the vibe. There's very little room for me to wedge into their business. It's clearly better for the Grahams to do business with me, but those jerks only work with people they know, friends, or people who give them kickbacks."
Park Yu-jeong cursed the Graham family while eating her breakfast.
The Graham family must be pretty rotten.
"But not Merina?"
"Right. That lady has great business sense. To the point where I'd want to hire her myself if I could. But she has a weak voice in the family, so she can't influence the direction of their business."
"What does that have to do with me sleeping with her?"
As if she had been waiting for this question, Park Yu-jeong smiled brightly and started rambling.
"That lady doesn't lack decision-making power because she lacks strength. Think about it. Even if it's a mage family, would someone who brings in massive amounts of money be a nobody? She's just been suppressed by the family since she was young, kept on a leash, so she can't actively express her will."
"...So, I ask again, what does that have to do with me sleeping with her?"
"She probably gained confidence by sleeping with you. You did better than I asked. I didn't see it, but I heard you built her up at the party. Having been suppressed by her family, she'll now stand up on her own and be confident. She'll start wielding that decision-making power she's been timidly clutching onto."
...
Is this like... a shonen manga thing? Where one catalyst changes someone's behavior and all that?
Well... Akito... yeah, if it were Akito, it would feel like that.
But would Park Yu-jeong really make such a flimsy, childish plan that might not even work?
When I stared at her, Park Yu-jeong shrugged at my gaze.
"If it doesn't work, I'll just threaten to tell her fiancé that she slept with you."
Of course.
She has it all figured out.
Still, the idea of threatening a woman I was just holding didn't sit well with me.
"Don't threaten her; just wait. If it doesn't work, tell me first. I'll handle it."
"Yeah, that's the last resort. Looking at it, I don't think I'll need to use it. But geez—isn't the after-service a bit too thorough? Did you enjoy the sex with that lady that much?"
"I finished the job you asked for, so the debt is paid. I can do whatever I want now, can't I?"
At my words, Park Yu-jeong's eyes sparkled, and the corners of her mouth curled up.
I couldn't tell if she liked what I said or if she wanted to kill me, but her face was damn pretty.
"True. The debt is settled. But since you did more than required, I was thinking of helping you out sometime."
"Forget it. Even if I over-delivered, it was a job I took on."
"Fine. I'm not going to help you anymore. You said you loved my pussy so much, but now you're saying sex with that lady was so enjoyable? It makes me jealous."
I really can't read this girl's mind.
She's probably just saying it, but her actions are unpredictable.
Anyway, the debt is gone, so it ended well.
The Graham Family Executive Meeting Room.
The Graham family is famous for its strong blood ties; even distant relatives are part of the family community and help each other.
As a family that frequently produces high-talent mages, their community holds power and exerts influence across society.
However, due to human greed—which cannot be bound by old organizations or blood alone—everyone at the family meeting was frantic to secure their own interests.
Some tried to place their associates in key businesses, while others engaged in all sorts of schemes to gain even a bit more power in the meeting.
Not everyone was like that, but Monica, who served as the head of the family, had a headache because of the relatives who only cared about their own greed.
If only that child would assert herself a bit more...
Monica looked at Merina with regret.
As a mage clan that valued magical talent above all else, Merina was not treated well within the family.
However, there was no part of the family business her hands hadn't touched, and she possessed the business acumen to somehow clean up the messes caused by the greed and stubbornness of other relatives.
Monica thought highly of her and gave her more support and a voice in meetings, but Merina never used it properly.
The main agenda of this meeting was a proposal brought by a distant branch member named Patrick.
He had many excuses, but his point was that he wanted a piece of a major project the family was launching.
Since he was from a branch that had been gaining influence recently, Monica didn't have the leeway to actively block him.
Unless she could persuade everyone else here...
"No. That is not acceptable. If we include that company, the profits from this project will decrease by 60%."
While Monica was deliberating, Merina voiced her opposition.
Since Merina never spoke first in a meeting unless someone asked for her opinion, everyone stared at her in a daze.
Naturally, Patrick, who was acting on his greed, flew into a rage, but Merina calmly showed the materials to the people and listed the problems.
Her voice didn't have the power to enchant people, but the numbers she showed were more than enough to sway them.
Comparing the company Patrick recommended with the one originally planned, the expected profit difference was nearly tenfold. There was no way people wouldn't be tempted.
"Those are all just estimates! Where did you even find this unknown company? You're talking nonsense!"
"They are estimates, but it's also a fact that there are many problems. There is no need to take on a company when we already know its flaws."
Merina used to tuck her tail the moment someone intimidated her, but now she didn't waver in the slightest, presenting data that people could relate to.
When Patrick tried to cross the line, Monica intervened, allowing Merina to persuade the others without further interference. The decision was made to go with the originally planned company.
It was the company owned by Park Yu-jeong.
That man... he came with the invitation given to Park Yu-jeong...
Merina had suddenly become confident and steadfast, as if she were a different person.
Monica suspected that man was involved.
Thinking of the family, it wasn't a bad thing. Monica had wanted Merina—who had great business sense and cared for the family—to have power.
But that man had achieved in one night what she couldn't do no matter how hard she tried.
The man who also seemed close to her daughter...
I'll have to investigate him.
As Monica began to take interest, Angelica stared blankly at Merina.
The woman leading the meeting was undeniably cool right now.
The Merina of the past, who only looked at her relatives' reactions, was gone. A confident and impressive Merina was leading the discussion.
The strong image Angelica had hoped for...
What kind of magic did Yeon-woo perform?
Everyone associated with him changed.
When she first introduced him to Merina, Angelica was grateful for Yeon-woo's kind heart in looking out for and helping her marginalized older cousin.
But he had gone beyond protecting her and staying with her at the party; he had completely transformed the timid woman.
Yukina, Chika, Merina... he gave strength to others and made them better.
Have I... changed too...?
Though her time with him had been brief, during the entrance exam test...
Angelica stared blankly down at her empty hands and bit her lip.
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