The Novel’s Villain

10. A Leisurely Afternoon (2)

“The ground…”

“Oh, that’s…there was an accident.”

“I see. I will instruct them to restore it.”

Yoo-na turned her gaze to the tree behind Jin-woo. The beautiful figure caught Yoo-na’s eye for a moment. He thought about planting only seeds, but it was difficult to hide it since it had grown up like this. Jin-woo opened his mouth with an awkward smile.

“I planted one as a hobby. There are quite a few people who enjoy gardening as a hobby these days, right?”

“It is a beautiful tree. It doesn’t look like a breed from Earth. Did you get it from the Gate?”

“Well…I guess?”

Yoo-na had a lot of questions these days. However, Jin-woo always spoke vaguely every time that happened. After all, there were a lot of things that were difficult to explain. Yoo-na nodded with a small amount of admiration. Except for monsters, the animals and plants of the Gate usually died shortly after coming to Earth. It was disassembled immediately after death, so storage wasn’t difficult.

Even though Yoo-na took care of Jin-woo nearly all the time, she could only speculate about his plan.

‘I’m working hard, but…it’s hard to keep up.’

She went on vacation to bring the equipment that she had left behind. She hadn’t used it for a long time, so it took some time to get used to. Yoo-na thought she should try harder not to disappoint Jin-woo.

‘…It’s not enough.’

She was still not confident enough to handle the solitude and unimaginable big plans he had spent his life building. She only understood to a certain extent thanks to the ‘Biography of Great Lee Jin-woo (Revised Version)’ she received from the General Manager. Come to think of it. Jin-woo always thought and moved without giving a definite answer.

He paved the growth path. It was Yoo-na who thought that such consideration was really like him. Yoo-na barely hid the smile that was about to come out.

“Um, what about the one I told you to investigate?”

Jin-woo changed the topic when Yoo-na’s expression hardened a little.

“First, this is a report on Miss Kim Se-yeon. The potential numbers were great. It was measured by Professor Choi Sung-min himself, and it is said that it is close to Rank A if you look at the numbers alone. She is a talent that the Young Master is paying attention to.”

“Did the professor go directly?”

“Yes, to faithfully follow your instructions, it had to be at that rate, and Choi Sung-min thinks so too. Kim Se-yeon is said to be specialized in high-speed calculation, mana analysis, formula sets, and other auxiliary fields. Many are looking forward to her future.”

Jin-woo nodded. Even the original story briefly showed that aspect. The author wanted to create a heroine with innocent, pretty, and intelligent vibes.

“Not long ago, I made a recommendation to the Central Policy Team of Frontline Group as instructed after graduation through the early screening for competent people.”

The Central Policy Team of the Frontline Group was a place where only the world’s most competent people gathered. It was like the head of the Frontline Group, the closest place to Chairman Lee Hee-jin. Jin-woo was also listed on the Central Policy Team, but Lee Min-woo was in charge. Jin-woo slowly pulled out his involvement and secretly handed it all over to Lee Min-woo. Thanks to this, Lee Min-woo’s burden doubled, but Jin-woo tried to overcome the line by introducing him to his future wife.

Besides, by Jin-woo’s recommendation, she also had the great spec of Rank A potential, so it wouldn’t be strange even if Lee Min-woo came to scout her himself. No, he certainly would.

‘That’s what I was aiming for. It’s a pity I didn’t get to see their first meeting.’

It was a very meaningful historical encounter. He wasn’t a fan, but still, as a reader of the original novel, the meeting between the two was exciting. The meeting itself was an impressive strategy; a plan made with consideration. The first meeting would be just perfect and exciting as it was expected to bring an interchange. Then Lee Min-woo would be a little nicer, and Jin-woo could avoid a terrible route, which was a win-win.

Although scary, it was Lee Min-woo who gave his life to this woman. Of course, Kim Se-yeon would also be happy.

‘Lee Min-woo is the best romanticist in the original story.’

He didn’t know how Chairman Lee Hee-jin would come out, but he didn’t think there would be a situation like in a morning drama. Kim Se-yeon was now going to be his sister-in-law? Jin-woo smiled happily until he heard Yoo-na’s words.

“But it didn’t seem to go well.”

“Um? But if she is a Rank A potential person…she will get a free pass, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is something missing?”

“No. The qualifications were overflowing. In addition to achieving grades far exceeding the requirements for early graduation, she is fluent in five languages. She has a high-speed analysis ability. Even though it just awakened, it was already close to that of a computer. It would be foolish to reject such a talented person.”

“Then?”

“She applied to G&P. She got many scouting offers from big foreign companies, but she said she wanted to join the G&P research team.”

“Huh?”

Jin-woo blinked and looked at Yoo-na. Yoo-na continued again with a slight smile.

“She has seen my brother, hasn’t she?”

“Yes, I’ve confirmed that they met in person.”

“And yet at G&P?”

“Yes. Her thesis, ‘Mana Circuit and Artifact Analysis,’ is admired by Professor Choi Sung-min. It doesn’t look like a mere bachelor’s thesis. It’s still before the open recruitment in the second half of the year, but she will be hired through a special screening process.”

It wasn’t that Jin-woo heard it wrong. Yoo-na answered calmly, making herself crystal clear.

“If it were her, she would help. She is a talented person with infinite potential for development. It seems what caught your eye is indeed the right answer.”

“Um….”

“It seems to irritate Lee Min-woo. After all, a Rank A talent openly chose the G&P instead of the Central Policy Team. Public opinion in the Central Policy Team is also weak, but it is swaying. It’s a great start.”

“Ah….”

Those with Rank A potential could easily reach Rank A if they put in the effort. Even if it was an auxiliary sector, such a talent chose G&P, which was recently established, rather than an academy of competent people or applying for the Knights. Although the discovery of the mine had drawn enormous attention, it was before the announcement that she supported G&P.

It turned out to be something unintentional. Jin-woo felt troubled. He thought it was a win-win, but things were bizarrely twisted.

‘Let’s think positively. Anyway, they’re meant to be, so it must have started from there.’

Let’s keep an eye on it for now. Rather, it might be a good stimulus for a perfect man like Lee Min-woo. It was like ‘I’ve never seen a woman like this’ kind of feeling. The process may be difficult, but it was more effective if the end was good. Anyway, there were plenty of opportunities if he kept her close.

“And it’s about Kim Se-yeon’s younger brother, Kim Young-hoon.”

Jin-woo stopped thinking and looked at Yoo-na. He had no choice but to do so. Kim Young-hoon. Finally, the main character’s name appeared.

He felt strange hearing it. He had only read the description of the novel, but he had never actually seen him. It was a standard-setting, like the main character of any fantasy novel. However, he was also shown to be below average in many areas, perhaps to give a feeling of growth.

“Kim Young-hoon is twenty-one, one year younger than his older sister Kim Se-yeon. After graduating from high school, he is now working part-time independently without going to college.”

“I see. Is there anything out of the ordinary?”

“He is very ordinary. It’s hard to believe that he’s Kim Se-yeon’s younger brother. He didn’t do well in school, and he had loan debt.”

There was also debt in the original story. Jin-woo thought he would no longer have debt as his family situation improved, but it was a surprise.

“Debt?”

“It’s about 40 million won.”

“That’s quite a bit.

“Of course, it is not from the primary financial sector. It’s from a loan company…the Snake Shield Alliance. Although it is illegal, legal sanctions are difficult. It should be punished by the law of the competent people, but as you know, it’s rather loose in this regard. In addition, it shows great lobbying skills. The association’s response is lukewarm.”

A clause says that competent people should not harm ordinary people, but it was ambiguous when it came to the loan business. It was an area between laws that hadn’t yet been decided. The Snake Shield Alliance was kicked out from JW Gate and ripped off for a large amount of compensation for damages. The only thing they did was curse Jin-woo. However, their position was growing narrower as the days went by.

“Why did he borrow money?”

“It seems he lent everything to his high school classmates. His high school classmate is currently in hiding.”

Jin-woo nodded. The main character also needed proper hardship to grow. Let’s keep an eye on him for now as well.

Yoo-na’s report was quite long today. It seemed that there was still something left to report.

“What else?”

“And there’s the issue of meat disposal in storage. Rachel said the warehouse was full of meat harvested from Moo-jin.”

“It’s full?”

“Yes, didn’t you tell us to keep it for now?”

“Ah! that’s right.”

The owner of the Central Gate was Jin-woo, not Calverto. The overall setting of the Gate was possible, including prevention of decomposition of Earth’s objects and detoxification. It could have been removed by designating a specific area. Jin-woo had set the JW Center as a clear zone. Even though in the process he had to think of an excuse for his detoxification and decomposition technique, Jin-woo solved it quite simply.

“I lied about it as a Gate artifact, though…”

He said that a gem he brought from the Gate would detoxify and prevent decomposition. It was perfect for making an excuse. The gem he brought was a very fancy gem from the Dimensional Store.

[D+] Gem of Trap +7

A solid form of gemstone. It is beautiful but exudes wicked energy. It is mainly installed in the warehouse of the dungeon with valuables. It is also very popular as an interior accessory. When activated, the gem turns black, and all treasures, valuables, and artifacts containing mana are stored in the storage.

Their places were replaced with those in other storages. It usually set things like traps to deal with enemies. The Golden Maker had enhanced its power to become insanely strong, and it now had high-level anti-cognition magic so that it couldn’t be analyzed by ordinary methods.

*[-C] Cognitive Obstruction: Looks like a mysterious and beautiful gem.

*Storage: Room 16 of the Sanctuary of Gold.

It was made after trying things out with Enhancement Stone, and it was perfect as an excuse. It wasn’t easy to analyze, and the appearance was plausible. Furthermore, it was moved to the storage when activated, so it was good for any intrusions that might occur. In the original story, spies from each country were running wild to steal information.

‘Well…I don’t think there’s much to take.’

It was a perfect excuse for the researchers and others. Jin-woo purchased several, enhanced them, and then installed them. It was quite beautiful and perfect for an accessory. Anyway, Rachel and Moo-jin worked very hard, so the meat was accumulating day by day, to the point it was becoming difficult to dispose of.

Even if it was left at room temperature, there was no problem for thirty days. If it were kept in the refrigerator, it could be kept fresh for half a year, so the quantity continued to accumulate. Thanks to this, large warehouses were being built continuously. All of that was the result of what Jin-woo forgot.

Jin-woo, who remembered the meat, smirked. It was a huge amount of food that rarely went bad. There was only one thing that came to his mind.

“I think it’s going to be a hit if we open a barbecue restaurant…”

The monster meat came out of JW Gate that was different from other meats, even if it was just grilled. He said it jokingly, but Yoo-na nodded when she heard it.

“I think that’s a good idea. It seems like the right time to reveal that the Gate poison can be detoxified. We can also handle the meat effectively.”

“Isn’t it okay to just sell like that?”

“It cannot be sold in the market right now. But it is a matter of time.”

They couldn’t just sell whole new meat without permission. Although it had to go through a complicated procedure, anything related to Jin-woo was nothing but a free pass.

“Besides, that’s fine if it’s JW Gate jurisdiction. JW Gate Jurisdiction is subject to the JW Gate Internal Rules. Aren’t Gate-related products sold and used as tourist attractions using the Gate jurisdictions in the United States and Europe?”

These days, Gate tours were also emerging. It wasn’t going into the Gate, but it was a tour of the Gate jurisdiction. In the case of the French Gate, the stones from the Gate were sold at a very high price, but they had their jewelry-like feel and were selling like hotcakes despite their exorbitant prices. The Paris Gate Museum also surpassed the Louvre in becoming one of the most popular European tourist attractions.

It was a way to additionally utilize Gates that were relatively less valuable.

“Gate’s black bear bones and molars are selling well to ordinary tourists. They are setting a huge image as a symbol of good luck and selling it.”

“The JW Gate wide area is empty, right?”

“Yes, it is a very large area. Ah! I see. So…”

Yoo-na looked at Jin-woo with admiration. Jin-woo pretended to know nothing and was proceeding as planned. He allowed Yoo-na to reach the answer herself. Yoo-na’s brain turned quickly. The outline of the plan seemed to be somewhat visible.

She looked at Jin-woo, who smiled slightly when their eyes met. It looked like she had finally figured out his plan. Yoo-na’s heart was filled with pride.

‘Have I grown up, too?’

Yoo-na thought so. She was a step closer to the Young Master! Of course, Jin-woo was just smiling out of embarrassment.

The Gate wide area was originally the place where the wavelength emitted from the Gate reached. Legally, anything up to that area could be regarded as a Gate. There were many empty places around the actual gate. They were built for city construction inside the Gate but were abandoned as the construction was canceled.

The timing was just right.

“I think it’s going to be okay. There’s a recipe I made just in time.’

Jin-woo nodded. It seemed to be effective in breaking Calverto’s trial. What if he started with a meat restaurant and took over the restaurant culture? Wouldn’t that fit in with domination? Cultural triumph!

It was worth a try. He had a lot of money and still had enough time. Besides, JW Gate’s jurisdiction was quite wide, so it was possible to try many things.

“It’s a whole new area that even the Frontline Group didn’t think about. Maybe we could completely transform a city.”

“Isn’t that too much?”

“After all, that’s what you do, Young Master. Wouldn’t it be at least that much? I will make sure the plan is not disrupted.”

They decided to proceed through the General Manager, Future Strategy Office, and G&P. The wolves would always respawn so that supply wouldn’t be an issue. There are various creatures at the Gate, so it would be good to show one in advance. Honestly, there were piles of things that were a pity to taste alone.

“It has finally begun. Then we will move on quickly.”

The plan for domination finally began! Yoo-na looked full of grim motivation. Jin-woo nodded vigorously. Something great was about to happen again. All work-related reports were over. However, Yoo-na still had some business left.

“You got a letter from Ms. Choi Hee-yeon.”

“A letter?”

“Yes.”

It was in a large envelope, and when he opened it, the first thing he noticed was that it was beautifully written in calligraphy. It was only a simple greeting, but there was a lot of formality, so he straightened his posture as he read. There were also a lot of difficult words. It wasn’t a big deal because he had the Magic Eye of information, but it was inconvenient to read.

“Should I reply?”

“I think you’d better.”

“May I ask her to do it comfortably with a chat or something like that? We could use the phone, too.”

“Yes, I’ll do it right away.”

It was the moment when a base station and optical LAN were installed at the Choi Family’s Sword School. Choi Hee-yeon stared intently at the latest smartphone delivered by Lee Jin-woo’s man. He was a member of the Laiden Guild, but he disappeared like smoke as soon as he completed the delivery.

But it was serious enough not to bother her.

“…”

She hadn’t used a cell phone even once though she was already in college. She focused solely on her training and studies, and on weekends she came down to her parent’s house to do personal training, so there were no inconveniences. She was a woman who hardly ever watched TV either. She had a solitary room on campus and didn’t have time to make friends.

She only had her mind on her sword. Her sword was her everything. However, in recent years, interests other than the sword have arisen.

“Umm…”

After staring for a long time at the box containing the latest model cell phone, she barely moved her hand. She opened the box carefully after releasing the seal, revealing the phone. She took it out very carefully and placed it on the table.

Click!

She began to memorize the instruction manual, rereading every letter. Choi Hee-yeon gulped and finally touched the cell phone. She checked the material first. She felt like it would bend if she applied too much force.

“Uh, um….”

She knew how to turn on the power, but after that, there was no progress. She put it on the table and touched it with one finger in case it would break. Her fingers were shaking slightly. A drop of sweat fell to the floor along her jawline.

“Um, I’m coming in.”

“Grandfather.”

The Sword Master came inside from the yard. He could see that Hee-yeon was concentrating with sweat dripping down her cheeks. He tilted his head and approached her.

“It’s a Universe 10S+. It’s nice to have a big screen.”

“What?”

“Did you get it from Jin-woo? Haha, that’s good. It’s a good time. Hahahaha. There was a time when I was burning hot when I was your age. What a fiery love.”

“Ah….”

“The sword of the day was fiery, too. Sometimes the sword moved like a human being.”

“Uh, Ummm…”

She was concentrating on the cell phone rather than the Sword Master’s words. He sat down next to her as he watched her clumsily manipulate the phone. He took over setting it up instead. Starting with the account, the setup was over in an instant.

Hee-yeon just stared blankly at him. The Sword Master, who lived a life cut off from civilization in the mountains, handled the smartphone so skillfully. It came as a great shock to her. Her mouth opened slightly.

“H-h-how are you so good at this?”

“Water splits into numerous rivers and eventually reaches one sea. Hahaha. Where there is a sword, there is a way.”

“I-is…that so?”

“Let’s see. Today’s plan is…oh! The phone is working fine now. I don’t need to go down to town. Hahaha! With Wi-Fi, my heart is calm like a lake.”

Come to think of it. There were rumors that the Sword Master often appeared in the lower villages these days. It was said that he staggered into the air and flew away in an instant. The Sword Master took a cell phone out of his arms, checked his schedule, and nodded.

It was like watching his powerful swordplay. The sight left her half-carried away. The picture taken with Lee Jin-woo was set on Sword Master’s cell phone screen as his background.

“Ah….”

She stared blankly for a long time. Then, her lips moved slightly.

“That… I want that too.”

“Um? Hahaha! So youthful.”

Saying so, Hee-yeon couldn’t raise her head while the Sword Master laughed out loud. The Choi Family’s Sword School members stopped walking and tilted their heads at the sound of laughter.

It was a leisurely afternoon.