Regressor Instruction Manual - Chapter 126. Soulmate (3)
Library

Chapter 126. Soulmate (3)

Obviously, the solution Lee Ji-Hye and I came up with started to overturn the media’s opinion little by little. Bringing in Victor Hart by using assassins as an excuse calmed down the public opinion within the castle and it also kept Ito Sota in check. Explaining Juliena’s functions and skills, as well as the shaman Kasugano Yuno’s testimony, created a lot of conversation regarding this situation. The question about whether I intentionally threw my sword still remained, but if Ito Sota didn’t submit a request to the pope, then it would be a charge that would soon be dismissed. The reason why I was still a suspect was because this was the first murder case that happened within the castle of the Holy Empire and the pope was working hard to save the face of Japan’s large guild.

‘Of course…’

All of this was only possible because of Lindel’s current situation. Originally, Lindel and Celia didn’t have a bad relationship, but after the news that the Yamato Guild could potentially be behind the terrorist attack and that innocent people could lose their necks at any moment started to spread, people weren’t too happy about it. Of course, saying that they were going to lose their necks was a lie.

Even though I was comfortably sitting and drinking in my chair, it was important for the citizens of Lindel to believe that lie and naturally, that wouldn’t be the end. My real goal was to develop hostility among the Lindel citizens by spreading the news about Yamato Guild’s invasion of Lindel in advance. I felt like Lee Ji-Hye had used the media more aggressively and unconventionally than me to the point that I was really worried that a war was really going to break out between Lindel and Celia. There was also another big problem. It was the fact that the Red Mercenary Guild and Black Swan Guild were intentionally allowing the extremists and their actions.

A quick look at the news would give the answer.

[Ilsung Guild, Conducting Explosive Magic Training at Ramadel Mountain Near Celia.]

[Today at 9 AM, Lindel’s Ilsung Guild started explosive magic training at Ramadel Mountain. Cutting through Celia, the guild damaged the Ramadel Mountain by using ultra long-range magic, which was never used by them before… omit… Lee Seol-Joo (21), the most dignified person in Ilsung Guild commented that the arrogance and impudence of the Japanese had reached its peak and it is testing their patience. Not only did they say that they would turn the Free City of Celia into a sea of fire, but in three days, they’re going to surround Celia’s waters and begin their ultra long-range explosive magic training… omit… is their plan.

- Lindel Daily Report War Correspondent Kim Sung-Kyeong]

Among the extremists, the Ilsung Guild was a guild that I had heard of before and their actions were shocking. I unknowingly stared at Lee Ji-Hye and had no choice but to ask for the truth of the matter.

“These bastards… this is okay, right?”

“Yes, they’re just asking for money so you don’t have to worry and the money has been deposited yesterday. We’ve already discussed this, but… seeing them do that does make me feel a bit anxious. I didn’t think they’d go this far either,” Lee Ji-Hye answered.

“It’s not good if they’re provoking too much…” I told her.

“Those guild members are definitely strange, but the Black Swan Guild has been controlling them, so you don’t have to worry,” she told me.

“Do you know them personally?” I asked.

“Hm, not really, but I did go out to drink with them before. I thought that it was going to be difficult to get along with them since they’re kind of strange, but who knew that they would be so useful at times like this? They’re crazy bastards that only care about war, so I didn’t want to get close to them, but the more connections you have the better it would be for you after all,” she answered.

“There are strange people in this world,” I commented.

“Going out strong like they did is more effective and the rumors about Lindel going to war are spreading so fast that I’m sure there will be some kind of reaction sooner or later,” she said.

Basically, Lindel was on the brink of exploding. The merchants from Celia had been avoiding Lindel in order to prevent trouble and the innocent large guild of Taiwan was carrying out an evacuation plan for their people, but…

“A war won’t break out. The Holy Empire is blocking the conflict, so how can a war break out? The Republic and the Union of Kingdoms have a bad relationship, so it wouldn’t make sense for the two cities to go to war. Just let them use this opportunity to do their explosive magic training as much as they want because the more they do that, the safer you’ll be, oppa,” she explained.

“Considering the situation, I think you should spread information about Juliena as well, especially to Celia. Tell people that there’s a wide-area curse that can’t be stabilized with holy magic. By using Juliena as a medium, say that people have been researching ways to curse an entire city and that there are actual results,” I told her.

“Not bad,” she said.

“Send the outside war correspondents to Celia so that we can get this published… Oh, and also send a letter announcing that the Ilsung Guild are working on some kind of weapon that attacks the mind. It seems like that guild is into this kind of stuff and it’ll be more effective if crazy people like them take action rather than ordinary people just announcing it,” I told her.

“Okay, okay, I got it. You’ve been dealing with the Japanese media, right?” she asked.

“I’m trying to make them feel anxious for now by making our shaman work hard. You don’t have to worry about the Japanese, actually, don’t even worry about them at all,” I said.

“You’re so skilled. How did you get in touch with Kasugano Yuno?” she asked.

“You want to know?” I asked.

“No, it’s fine. It doesn’t matter who they are or where they live as long as they’re useful,” Lee Ji-Hye answered.

“That’s what I like about you, noona,” I said.

“Are you confessing to me at a time like this?” she asked.

“Who knows?”

I saw Lee Ji-Hye’s face getting closer to mine and I also slightly stood up, but that was when I heard knocking from outside.

“Oppa!” Jung Ha-Yan yelled.

“I guess time’s up.”

“You’re right. We need to start preparing,” I said.

“We’ll help you with the preparations and I already told the Mercenary Queen, so just wait a bit,” she told me.

It was time to attend the social gathering that would take place tonight.

Since I had to let Jung Ha-Yan in, I headed toward the door and as the door opened, I saw Jung Ha-Yan and she seemed different from her usual self. Maybe it was because I had been seeing a lot of mages wearing hoods, but Jung Ha-Yan looked beautiful. She was wearing a white dress, necklace and earrings. Overall, she looked very neat. She had a really nice body to begin with and the way the dress brought out her curves made it seem like the dress was made for her. The makeup that was on her cute and simple face made her look sexy. She didn’t overdo it and I strongly felt that she was trying to show a different side of her to me.

“You look pretty, Ha-Yan,” I said.

“R-Really?” she asked.

“Of course…”

“Hehehe…”

I noticed Jung Ha-Yan glancing at Lee Ji-Hye even while smiling. She seemed thankful rather than hostile toward her because Lee Ji-Hye was the one that got me out of the semi-imprisonment and made it possible for me to be here.

“Oh my, you look so beautiful, Miss Ha-Yan,” Lee Ji-Hye exclaimed.

“R-Really? Thank you, Miss Ji-Hye,” Jung Ha-Yan said.

“You seem more mature today. Seeing how you finished early, I guess you really wanted to show yourself to him, right?” Lee Ji-Hye asked.

“Yes,” Jung Ha-Yan answered.

“You two are a cute couple. Oh, Ki-Young oppa was actually getting ready… could you please wait outside? Or you can sit here…”

“I’ll sit here!” Jung Ha-Yan yelled, interrupting Lee Ji-Hye.

“Sure, if that’s what you want.”

The moment Jung Ha-Yan sat, I started dressing up. I wanted to go with the clothes I was wearing now, but it was important to wear an outfit that would fit the occasion, but what Lee Ji-Hye prepared for me was a bit too much.

“Come in everyone.”

“Okay.”

The Black Swan Guild was known to have a lot of female members and I didn’t expect so many makeup artists to come here.

“You don’t have a handsome face, but you don’t look so bad. Do your best, everyone. I don’t want my oppa to be looked down upon when he goes there,” Lee Ji-Hye said.

“Okay, Miss Lee Ji-Hye.”

I couldn’t deny the fact that I wasn’t handsome.

Naturally, I sighed when I saw everyone gathering around me, but I decided not to worry too much about it because Lee Ji-Hye was going to take care of everything anyway.

“Leave some of his bangs and for the makeup team, please make him look like a kind person. I think it would be good to make him look a bit melancholic and give him a bit of a sickly look. Costume team, pick out something with the strongest color and it’ll be good to make him wear something that’ll stand out,” she added.

“Okay…”

“Sure...”

“Not red. You heard me, right? He needs to look like the victim so that the noblewomen will pity him… make him look as young as possible… he’s going to wear an imperial outfit, not a suit. It’s better to make him look friendly,” she said.

“Okay, got it.”

I knew that my appearance was important because the outer image that I would portray was part of politics.

The way the Black Swan Guild’s employees were working while sweating in order to fulfill Lee Ji-Hye’s request was a sight to see. There were makeup artists, costume coordinators and even beauty creators that were well-known on Earth. Even though I was looking at myself in the mirror, I couldn’t tell what changed, but I guess that wasn’t the case for Jung Ha-Yan because she was staring at me in a daze.

‘She has always been like that.’

“Ha-Yan.”

“...”

“Ha-Yan?”

“...”

“Ha-Yan?!”

“Y-Yes!”

Seeing how she didn’t really hear me, I guess it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that my transformation was going well.

“You finished all the tasks I’ve given you, right?” I asked Jung Ha-Yan.

“Excuse me?”

“The item I asked you to send to the Blue Guild and the letter that needed to be sent,” I answered.

“Yes, I did it all. I sealed it tight with magic, just like you asked, oppa,” she answered.

“Good job. I knew I could count on you,” I told her.

“Hehehe. But oppa, does that mean you don’t have to keep staying here?” she asked.

“Yeah. I’m sure my actions will be limited, but they’re being lenient by letting me attend this social gathering. It’s all thanks to Ji-Hye,” I answered.

“Oh…”

“I’m sure my charges will be cleared as well once time passes,” I added.

“Th-That’s a relief,” she said.

After talking with Jung Ha-Yan a bit, time continued to pass by and during that time Lee Ji-Hye and the Black Swan Guild members were working hard to complete my look and as they continued their work, I noticed myself changing.

‘Huh…’

I felt like I became handsome and even though there was nothing I could do with the face I was born with, this wasn’t that bad…

‘I could probably compete with Hyun-Sung now…’

I finally understood why clothes, hair and makeup were important.

When I stood up after they were done, I looked at myself in the full-length mirror. Even though I was wearing something that was somewhat of a suit, the imperial outfit had a lot of annoying decorations, making it difficult to move in.

“Turn around, oppa. Let’s see how you look,” Lee Ji-Hye said.

“Okay, Miss Ji-Hye,” I said.

“The decorations are crooked.” She pointed out.

Even though she had pointed out a mistake, the Black Swan Guild members looked happy.

‘How sly...’

Lee Ji-Hye quietly approached me and the way she checked my outfit reminded me of my mother tying a necktie for my father who was getting ready for work. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to show it off to Jung Ha-Yan or if she wanted to do it herself, but Jung Ha-Yan looked frustrated for some reason.

‘What if they just came out and fought?’

It would make things more comfortable for me.

Lee Ji-Hye was a pro when it came to provoking Jung Ha-Yan and invading her territory.

“Our oppa looks so handsome. Don’t you think so, Miss Ha-Yan?” Lee Ji-Hye asked.

“Huh? Oh, yes…”

I guess she couldn’t stop provoking Jung Ha-Yan despite the important event we were about to attend.

“I-I can do the rest…”

“You’ve been sitting down, so just keep sitting. It’s better to leave this to the professionals,” Lee Ji-Hye said, cutting her off.

She quietly wrapped her arms around my neck and was fixing the back of my outfit, but it felt like she was purposely doing this to show off to Jung Ha-Yan.

‘Stop, Ji-Hye noona…’

“Okay, all done,” she said.

“Thank you, Miss Ji-Hye.”

“It was nothing. I’m glad I could help. Miss Ha-Yan is still young and doesn't know much, so I should work hard in helping you, right? Oppa? You must be having a hard time because of your young girlfriend. Haha,” Lee Ji-Hye said.

She was blatantly provoking Jung Ha-Yan and the moment I saw the look on her face, I realized that we were soulmates.

‘This is what support is, kid.’

That was the expression Lee Ji-Hye had and the way she looked at Jung Ha-Yan really resembled my usual expression.

“Shall we get going? I need to get ready as well. Miss Ha-Yan, please take care of oppa for me today,” Lee Ji-Hye said.

“Okay…” Jung Ha-Yan answered.