CHAPTER 205: INTERLUDE - NEW HOPE (2)

Song Ha-Eun’s eyes turned cold as she glared at Kwon Oh-Jin.

“Hey.” She jerked her chin toward Isabella as if silently demanding him to explain this mess.

“I never did such a thing,” Kwon Oh-Jin protested.

Narrowing her eyes, Song Ha-Eun turned to Isabella.

“Hmm, he’s saying he never said that.”

“Haha. Mr. Oh-Jin must be feeling too embarrassed to admit it.” Isabella shrugged and looked at Kwon Oh-Jin seductively. “Didn’t you say so yourself, Mr. Oh-Jin? That you’d be my new hope.”

“What does that have to do with being a maid?” he asked.

There’s no way becoming my maid is her new hope, right?

“Oh my? But that is my new hope.”

Shit, it is.

“What is that even supposed to mean?” Kwon Oh-Jin looked at Isabella dumbfoundedly.

Becoming my maid is your hope? What is this, some cheap porno setup? This plot twist is way too out of pocket.

With a sweet smile, Isabella gracefully walked toward him.

“Haha. I’m just joking.”

Her platinum-blonde curls shimmered like a flowing stream.

“Of course, I’m serious about moving into your place, though.”

“Ha. This isn’t even Oh-Jin’s house. It’s under my name, thank you very much,” Song Ha-Eun remarked.

“Oh really?”

Song Ha-Eun lifted her chin proudly and nodded. “So that means you need to get permission from—”

“Come to think of it... Wasn’t it you, Miss Ha-Eun, who dropped those fireballs on my mansion?”

Song Ha-Eun’s expression instantly shifted to panic. “H-Huh? Y-Yeah, but why?”

“Oh, no particular reason. I just didn’t realize how powerful the Stigma of Draco was until then.” Isabella sweetly smiled and continued in a gentle voice. “Your firepower was so intense that it completely reduced all the valuables and artworks inside to ashes.”

“T-That’s—”

“Haha. Don’t worry. I know you only did it to help me, right?”

Song Ha-Eun nodded furiously. “Y-Yeah, that’s right!”

Honestly, she wasn’t really thinking about helping Isabella. She had simply followed Kwon Oh-Jin’s instructions and thrown fireballs without much thought.

“Still, even though the Colgrande Family is wealthy, the damages were significant. At minimum, about one trillion won of valuables went up in smoke. We’re in a bit of a tight spot, you see.”

Song Ha-Eun’s jaw dropped. “O-One trillion?”

Just how much even is that?!

Her mind went blank trying to process a number that large.

Up until now, money in the hundred billion range was something she had only heard of on the news, never in real life. Even if Awakeners made a lot of money, they rarely made money on the trillion scale. It was impossible to make that much unless one were the head of a major guild or running a major business.

So I... burned a trillion won worth of things? Not even a billion, but a trillion?!

Granted, she had done it to help protect Isabella from Damian. It wasn’t really her fault whether a billion or a trillion went up in flames.

The sheer number overwhelmed her, and an apology escaped her mouth involuntarily. “Um... s-sorry about that.”

“Oh my, if you really feel sorry, then surely you won’t mind letting me borrow a room here while my mansion is being rebuilt, right?”

“Uh? W-Wait, that’s—”

“Of course, I understand you only did it to help me... Still, after turning my entire mansion into ashes, you’re not going to deny me even a single room, are you?” Isabella’s eyes gleamed as she pressured Song Ha-Eun.

“I-I guess?”

“Thank you, Miss Ha-Eun. I’ll never forget this kindness.”

Isabella held real power in the Colgrande Family for a reason. Her logic barely even qualified for such a demand. However, she skillfully gaslit Song Ha-Eun using only words, gestures, and expressions.

“Then, I’ll come in now.” Isabella took off her shoes and entered as if it were her house.

She glanced around the modest twenty-pyeong space, and her eyes narrowed slightly.

“This place is a bit small for three people.” She snapped her fingers. “Roberto.”

“You called.”

From among the bodyguards in sunglasses, an old man in a butler uniform stepped forward.

“This is the seventh floor, right? Go ahead and buy out all the units on this floor. Actually, just buy the whole building. I’ll give you a month. Offer the current owners a premium or do whatever it takes, just get it done.”

“Understood.” Roberto bowed without even blinking.

“W-Wait! Why are you buying the whole building?!” Song Ha-Eun asked.

“Hm? Why else? I’m going to remodel it so we’ll have more space. It’s a bit too cramped for three people to live here, don’t you think?”

Just like Isabella said, it was a bit cramped for three people to live in a twenty-pyeong apartment.

“If you wanna expand, can’t you just buy the unit next to us?”

“I just don’t like the idea of other people living in the same building as Mr. Oh-Jin.” Isabella stated something completely outrageous with the calmest expression as if there was nothing strange about what she just said.

She wanted to buy out an entire apartment building just because of that?

“W-What’s wrong with her, Oh-Jin?”

“I have no idea.”

“She must’ve taken a shotgun to the head or something!”

“That was a bit much, Ha-Eun.”

Shotgun? Really?

“Well... that’s part of the reason.” Isabella calmly continued. “Because of this whole incident, Mr. Oh-Jin and I will probably be targets of the Black Star Society now. It’s safer to have bodyguards stationed in the building and turn it into a fortress.”

“Well, yeah, that makes sense,” he said.

As central figures in the incident, the Black Star Society would likely target them. A fortress sounded excessive, but taking some precautions wasn’t a bad idea.

“Then I’ll just take this room, okay?” Isabella slightly opened the door to the room being used as storage.

With a light snap of her finger, the bodyguards waiting in the hallway rushed in and started unpacking her luggage, which consisted of a small amount of clothes and some daily essentials.

Maybe because each of them had a transcendent physique as Awakeners, it didn’t even take ten minutes for them to turn the room into a luxurious space that suited Isabella.

“We’re finished, Lady Isabella.”

Isabella nodded in satisfaction. “Good work. You may leave now.”

The bodyguards, who had rushed in all at once, left just as quickly like a giant wave that had crashed in and pulled back out.

Isabella broke the awkward silence. “Has everyone eaten yet?”

“Nope, not yet,” Kwon Oh-Jin replied.

Song Ha-Eun recalled what they were about to do before Isabella arrived and opened the delivery app on her phone.

“We were gonna order something. What do you want to eat?” she asked Isabella.

“Order?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re seriously going to let Mr. Oh-Jin eat something as low-quality as delivery food?” Isabella frowned as if she had just heard the most absurd thing.

Caught off guard, Song Ha-Eun nodded with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“Haa... I didn’t expect this from you, Miss Ha-Eun. I’m honestly a little disappointed.”

“O-Oh-Jin likes ordering food though...”

“Isn’t that just because you can’t cook, Miss Ha-Eun?”

“Gasp.” Song Ha-Eun was so taken aback that she couldn’t respond.

As if Isabella knew this would happen, she opened one of her luggage and pulled out an icebox full of fresh ingredients.

“I’ll quickly cook something. Just give me a moment.”

She headed into the kitchen and immediately began chopping and cooking with practiced ease.

“Oh-Jin...”

“Yeah?”

“Do you really just like ordering food because I can’t cook?”

Yes.

“Of course not. Isabella is just saying that because she doesn’t know how good Korean delivery food is.”

“Right? It’s not because I can’t cook, yeah?”

“Of course, of course. I love your cooking, Ha-Eun.”

Trying to cheer Song Ha-Eun up, Kwon Oh-Jin turned to glance over at Isabella.

She’s gotten better at least.

Considering how much Isabella had cried after Paolo died, she was recovering surprisingly quickly. Kwon Oh-Jin faintly smiled as he watched her move around the kitchen.

“Alright, the food is ready!” Isabella placed the dishes on the table.

It was a very traditional Korean meal with japchae[1], Korean pancakes, and soft tofu stew.

“I’ve been practicing Korean food a lot. Please try it,” she confidently said and quickly slid into the seat next to Kwon Oh-Jin.

“Thanks for the food.”

Her confidence was justified since her cooking could easily pass as restaurant-quality.

From across the table, Song Ha-Eun muttered bitter complaints under her breath, “... This is so fucking unfair. She’s rich, has massive tits, and can cook? Give me a break.”

Vega, quietly perched above Kwon Oh-Jin’s head, floated into the air. “By the way, I heard you were an executor of the Black Star Society.”

Isabella’s shoulders flinched slightly. “That’s right.”

“Hmm. I’ve already heard your circumstances from my child.”

Isabella cocked her head and found something about Vega’s wording odd. “My child?”

She still didn’t know that Vega was a Celestial.

“I am Vega, the Celestial of Lyra.”

“Excuse me? You're not a guardian spirit, but a Celestial?” Isabella’s eyes widened, and she turned to look at Kwon Oh-Jin.

He nodded.

“I didn’t know a Celestial could manifest directly on Earth,” Isabella said.

“It’s only possible because Vega is a Celestial of the North Star,” Kwon Oh-Jin explained.

Isabella looked at Vega in shock.

Vega crossed her arms and looked at Isabella. “Your circumstances are understandable, but it still displeases me that you deceived my child for so long.”

“I apologize.”

“You must atone for this.”

“Of course.”

With a resolute look in her eyes, Isabella pulled Kwon Oh-Jin closer by the arm. “I’ll spend the rest of my life asking for Mr. Oh-Jin’s forgiveness.”

“Hm? No, you really don’t have to go that far.”

Isabella clung tightly to Kwon Oh-Jin and rested her head on his shoulder.

“I’ll give my body and soul entirely to Mr. Oh-Jin.”

“S-Stop! That’s enough atonement!” Vega frantically shook her head, visibly flustered.

Song Ha-Eun muttered with a sigh, “Haa. I knew it was going to end up like this.”

She glared daggers at Kwon Oh-Jin and kicked his shin under the table. He lowered his head in silent surrender, knowing he had no defense.

***

While Song Ha-Eun and Vega cleaned up after the meal, Kwon Oh-Jin helped Isabella unpack the rest of her belongings in her room.

“Why did you bring a maid outfit?” Kwon Oh-Jin turned to look at Isabella as he pulled out a black maid uniform from her suitcase.

Isabella smiled and lifted the outfit. “I told you, didn’t I? I’m going to be your exclusive maid from now on.”

“I thought you were joking?”

“Haha. Who knows? Was I really joking?” Isabella mischievously smiled and hugged his arm. She leaned in and whispered seductively in his ear, “If you like... I really could become your maid, you know?”

He struggled to figure out how to respond.

“By the way, Mr. Oh-Jin. Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Ah, yeah. It was really good.”

“In that case... I think it’s time I ate my meal too.” She gently stroked the back of his neck and licked her lips ever so slightly. “Would it be okay if I had a taste of my Master?”

Sorry, what?

1. Korean sweet potato noodles with a mix of vegetables and beef. ☜