Even where there are tigers, foxes sometimes become kings (2)
‘What is she talking about…?’
Cha Hee-ra’s expression showed that she found my proposal amusing. The hunger in her gaze seemed to reinvigorate itself.
“No one has ever spoken to me so openly like this… Are you really that confident? To be honest, your appearance is just my type… I like snakes a little. I like the calculating look in your eyes. It might not look that good-looking to a lot of people, but it looks attractive to me.”
“That…”
“However, it doesn’t mean that my desire to buy you has disappeared. Still, I think I should try and see if you can be a product I can trust and use… What do you think?”
With her legs crossed, she calmly and invitingly patted the empty space on the bed next to her. Only then did I find out what she meant for me to do.
My face turned red in an instant.
‘What…’
Was she really going to go about the matter at hand in this manner? I knew it would be a mistake to think of her as a dumb woman, but I honestly didn’t expect her to make this kind of offer.
‘Is she really not taking this seriously?’
She probably was.
I brought my hands up as a sign of deference, “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Then what did you mean by that?”
“That’s…”
“Kiyoung Lee, my investment in you is the only story I was willing to hear when you came to our guild. Of course, if you came with your lovely lover, then I wouldn’t mind. However, even if you come alone, I’m willing to accept you into my guild. I don’t think you’re very talented, but… I’m not very negative about alchemy. I don’t think it’s bad to have a good relationship.”
“Ah.”
“But it’s ridiculous to ask for this investment even after you move to another guild. That’s not my role. It’s your guild’s job. Would you invest in someone who will give you nothing? Rather, it seems like a more profitable business to give money in exchange for playing with you in bed several times a month. You give me service, and I can compensate you for it. Do you understand?”
‘Damn.’
The facts that had come up hit too hard.
In other words, Cha Hee-ra was basically saying that she’d rather invest in my body than in my own personal growth. Honestly speaking, though, it didn’t seem like such a bad proposal.
I didn’t know if she was acting or not, but she seemed to want me as of the moment. Of course, I had to consider the fact that she thought of me as a toy, not as a person.
I hated myself for my pride – and most importantly – for debating whether or not it would be better for me to simply be her pet, following her every beck and call.
Nevertheless…
‘I can’t.’
I couldn’t simply devalue my worth in that manner. Once Cha Hee-ra is tired of me in bed, she’d get tired of me as an investment, too.
I didn’t want anything like that.
“Of course I can understand, Cha Hee-ra. I am not asking you to be a personal sponsor. I’m asking for you to be the sponsor of our party, which was the first to finish this tutorial. Kim Hyunsung and Jung Hayan will surely grow. One of them may grow up to be the strongest within the continent.”
“So?”
“W-What?”
“So what? Whether they grow up or not, it has nothing to do with me. I’m already one of the strongest this continent can count on. Our guild’s members are also superior to most. Although we lack wizards, it is easy to dazzle some with the amount of gold we have. The Red Mercenary is the type of guild who doesn’t lack the financial means to do so. Even if Jung Hayan grows, it will take at least three years before then. Why would I be sponsoring you for that long a time?”
“…”
“All I need are wizards for my guild. I don’t need anything else. If you’re going to keep spouting out nonsensical things, then why don’t you come over and show me your charm instead? I’ll give you a good price so you don’t feel disappointed, and I’ll bring you gifts often.”
‘Damn, she really wants me to be her pet…’
It felt embarrassing for her to explicitly state giving me money and gifts in exchange for bed service. I felt like no matter what I said, she would take it as a joke.
Slowly, I took out an artifact that I had been hiding and held it out to her.
Cha Hee-ra looked on, curious as to what I was bringing out. However, upon closer inspection, her face registered recognition.
It was the item she put in my arms when I first met.
[Magic Pendant-Rare Grade]
[It is a pendant that increases magic power by 3. It has a function that amplifies the magic effect. It is not known exactly where it was found.]
“I don’t need anything like this.”
In an instant, the pendant had been knocked askew, landing onto the bed. I didn’t know what was going on in her mind now.
“You…”
It was certainly irrational for me to continue, but I had to take the risk.
“Not gold. I don’t need gold.”
“…”
“What I need is your reputation and strength. You have a reputation as the Mercenary Queen Cha Hee-ra, but I don’t care about those things, either.”
“You, do you understand what you are doing now? Not touching new recruits is something that everyone has implicitly agreed upon, but coming out in such a bold manner will not be good for you. Since good offers keep flying in your direction, it seems that you have become more determined than before.”
“Of course I still know where I stand. This world is the kind of world where you can be admired one day, and then murdered in the next, all without a lot of people knowing.”
“…”
“So. What do you say?”
Life and magic began to fill the room as I looked up to stare at Cha Hee-ra. The pressure was more than Lee Seolho could ever emit. This was, after all, the power of the Mercenary Queen. However, unlike the old geezer, she did not intend to harm me with it.
“I find this fun. I think I’m more annoyed because I know where you’re coming from, and how you should go about it. It’s been a while, but my interest has been piqued because I can see just what type of personality you have. To be honest, I really like it. There are not a lot of men who can be this confident in front of me… I don’t know the last time I’ve been treated like this. And to think, it’d be a newcomer who would dare treat me this way…”
“…”
“But are you aware that the degree that you’re asking for is a little bit too much? Hey. Originally, alchemy is said to be an equivalent exchange. If you’re going to use me as your shield, you’ll probably have a product equivalent to what I can offer, right? If you don’t, you’ll be responsible for what you did.”
I almost forgot about the pressure in holding a conversation like this. However, it wasn’t going as badly as I expected it to go.
After all, Cha Hee-ra was actually willing to listen to what I had to say.
“Well? Say it.”
“This is the stake in the potion that I will make in the future.”
With a trembling hand, I took out a hero-grade book from my chest and threw it on the ground. A curious expression emerged in Cha Hee-ra’s face.
“It sounds like you can actually be capable… I don’t know where you got the hero-grade book, but is that all I’ll be getting?”
“I’ll give you one percent.”
“One percent?”
“Don’t worry. You will be sitting on the money cushion soon enough.”
It could have very well been a lie or a bluff on my part, but I knew she would find it in herself to trust me. Why?
Because there was no reason for me to risk my life on such a lie.
“Secondly, you will be able to establish a friendly relationship with our party.”
“I already told you. I am not interested in things that are not mine.”
“We will grow beyond your imagination.”
“Don’t try and scam me.”
“I am not kidding. We will be strong and we will soon be representing this empire. If we establish good relations with the Red Mercenaries, then we will always be with you. With a small investment, you will be able to build a good relationship with us in the future, before any guild or faction comes in the way.”
“Do you know that what you’re talking about is the bravado of snake-tongued men? Even if there is no investment cost, there is no guarantee that your potion will be of any value or that your party can grow.”
“Third.”
“…”
“I’ll give you the wizard you need.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“Out of the people who came out after the end of this tutorial, I will select the people who can achieve proper efficiency within at least three years- no, make that two years. I will make a chart and give the list to you.”
I saw her quietly mulling this over.
If the Red Mercenary Guild’s project was just beginning, my suggestion would definitely be appealing to her.
“It’s interesting, but… is it possible?”
“The main reason why I am confident is that I will soon become a Blue executive with bargaining rights.”
“Hmm…”
“The second reason is…”
“…”
“It’s a secret.”
“You…”
“After all, alchemy was originally said to be an equivalent exchange.”
Of course, I would never tell her how exactly I would be able to distinguish the talented ones.
Her protection was important, but it still wasn’t worth my secret.
Cha Hee-ra remained silent.
I knew she must still be thinking that her compensation still weighed heavily compared to my offer. I kept myself carefully composed. I knew there was a high chance that she’d give in.
However, at the same time, I knew she might not.
I could see her trying to work out the pros and cons in her head,
‘Shit.’
Was she really not going to consider our offer?
I thought I convinced her that our party was set to grow and that I would be able to offer her the best wizards among this batch.
It wasn’t a perfect set of conditions, but I could see that it was good enough to work on.
‘Has she looked into this too much?’ I bit my lip out of nervousness.
“The share of the potion you will make is 3%, not 1%. I’ll make sure to get a list of melee workers as well as a list from the wizards. And, I’ll decide how to go about this.”
“What…”
“Did you not need my protection? No one will ever touch you. However, that means I must be the one to decide.”
“How?”
“I’ll find out about that today. So, are you going to do it or not?”
Of course, there was no reason to refuse.
“Please take good care of me.”
“Let’s take some time to talk again later. Separately.” Cha Hee-ra gestured to the door, and I knew she meant for me to leave. However, there was a satisfactory expression on her face.
“I realized that I liked this offer way more than I should’ve.”
‘It’s a success!’
At the same time that I exited the room, a bunch of people out on the hallway rushed inside. All of them appeared to be in the higher positions within the Red Mercenary Guild. Sure enough, when I used my abilities, I was correct. Were they this excited to know how our meeting had turned out?
Cha Hee-ra had already agreed to protect me at a price. However, how exactly would she go about with this protection?
The moment I exited their quarters, the answer came to me. A status window popped out of the blue.
[You have obtained a title.]
“What?”
[Title-The Gigolo of the Mercenary Queen]
“Shit.”
It was my first-ever title.