I’m Not That Villain

104 – The Queen of Seoul (1)

The suits worn by the Hundred Eyes executives.

As if they were making them internally, the tailor who was called took my measurements.

“I can make it in a day. The material itself is already prepared, so it’s not a difficult task.”

From the suit down to the coat.

Clothes, completed in a single day, lay before me. Actually wearing them felt strange, the fit almost… off.

“…Well, it’s not… *bad*. Looks alright, I guess…”

Beside the strangely subdued Baek So-yeon, Scarlett, dressed in a suit like myself, was panting.

“I want to have you stuffed.”

“…?”

Sounds more like a threat than a compliment.

Scarlett wore the same suit as I did. Due to its exquisitely designed form, she was flawlessly matched to it, beyond comparison to anyone else here.

Flawless beauty.

That was her weapon.

Her visuals alone rivaled that of any idol.

In any case, the preparations were quickly finished. Next was deciding on the members who would accompany us.

“Ten people per faction. That’s it. No more are allowed to participate. Only ten, including yourself, can attend the meeting. Of course, the actual possibility of fighting is extremely low. That place is under the jurisdiction of the Queen of Mapo.”

“…Queen of Mapo?”

“Yeah, there’s a woman. A meticulous woman. So damn meticulous that she’s more of a… *matron* than a queen. But her skills are real. However, there’s one thing you must keep in mind: under no circumstances are you to call her old. It’s the thing she hates most. ‘Matron’ is out, ‘Madam’ is out. ‘Miss’ might… maybe she’d like it? But just don’t confront her one-on-one. Don’t even exchange words, and if you encounter her at the indoor party, just give a simple bow. Respectfully. Got it?”

“That extreme?”

“That’s how it is. She craves youth more than anyone else. I heard she’s already over 70… thanks to the influence of an ability factor, her aging itself is very slow, but even so, you can’t hide the passage of time, can you? An old lion. That’s the feeling. Well, no matter how old she is…”

Baek So-yeon’s eyes narrowed.

“She is, unequivocally… the strongest human in Seoul.”

“Really?”

“Of course, she’s no match for *me* now! Because of what you gave me! Ahem. I digress. Anyway! Bring the executive staff… and that machine-chunk I don’t like… that should fill out the ten, right?”

“I want to go too.”

It burst out suddenly.

From behind me, like a stone statue quietly guarding her place, Lee Seo-yeon, opened her mouth in an unexpected situation.

“I want to go too, Boss.”

Baek So-yeon frowned.

“…Isn’t she the newbie? That whatchamacallit… Eternal Workshop? The one who came from there. Hey. This isn’t a place for you to meddle, you know?”

“It’s for the sake of the organization I currently belong to. If it’s a meeting with ‘Queen’, it’s better to bring me. She likes me.”

“Huh?”

“Eternal Workshop is a subsidiary workshop of ‘Quantum’, the giant organization that dominates Mapo-gu. It’s also called a partner workshop. And I was someone who belonged there. A founding member.”

“…”

“I’ve enjoyed a long and fruitful connection with Queen. And it remains so even now. She was the one who blessed my independence, you see. Therefore, if I were to go and speak with her directly, she might become our benefactor. That’s how much she cares for me. I adore this workshop as it is now. Or rather, to be precise, I adore the workshop owner who leads and maintains this workshop. He’s a veritable wellspring of inspiration. His fingertips are akin to the hands of a god, and the intangible sense he possesses, something impossible to grasp through mere theory, is more beautiful than any artwork I’ve ever witnessed.”

A torrent of praise that made even those merely listening feel awkward.

I subtly turned my head.

“I didn’t ask her to say that.”

Unfazed, Lee Seoyeon continued.

“I wouldn’t want to see a place like this fall apart. If Hundred Eyes collapses, the workshop owner will also lose his footing, and it would take him a long time to recover. Even that time is precious, so I simply want to assist separately as well. The new dedicated equipment Hundred Eyes possesses now grants them strength comparable to other large organizations, but… if an enforcement agency that even succeeded in raiding a black market were to join forces with a group like Back Hand… frankly, wouldn’t the chances of success be near zero?”

“…Hmm.”

“Even a little assistance from Queen would be helpful. The influence of Quantum, the massive organization that dominates Mapo District, is as vast as the combined might of several large organizations. It’s practically referred to as the ruler of Seoul, in both name and reality.”

Baek Soyeon subtly rolled her eyes.

“Are all those words true? She’s close to the Queen? A simple artisan like him?”

“Is that a derogatory remark about artisans?”

“…No, it’s just… well… it’s not that, but… if he left such a good job, wasn’t he practically kicked out? A person who was kicked out wouldn’t have that kind of influence…”

“He gained independence.”

“…Tsk… can’t argue with that…”

After deliberating, Baek Soyeon finally nodded.

“Fine. Just you can come along.”

Juyeonhwa, who had been beaming, raised her hand.

“Then I’d like to come along too. I am Seoyeon’s bodyguard, after all.”

“…What if I said no?”

“Wouldn’t I just follow along secretly?”

“Have I become too lenient lately…? More and more people are getting too big for their boots…”

Baek Soyeon’s brow twitched.

Before things could escalate, I gently smoothed out the space between her eyebrows.

“She says it could be helpful, right? Let’s cut her some slack.”

“…Just so you know, I’m only giving in because of you. The remaining six. I’ll choose those six myself. Anyway, there’s something you two need to remember during this regular summit. You two. And Lee Seojun and Kkangtong. Listen carefully. Absolutely. Absolutelyyyyyy.”

Baek Soyeon sighed.

“Under no circumstances, absolutely no circumstances, are you to use your abilities inside the summit venue. Got it? That’s the rule. A rule that’s only been broken once in the history of regular summits between major organizations.”

“…It’s been broken before?”

“It has.”

Baek Soyeon groomed her nails.

“The Queen of Seoul herself, she scooped out its brains.”

. . .

The date for the regular summit drew close.

Seo Jisu puffed out her cheeks.

“Why does *she* get to go, and not me?”

“If Seo Jisu goes too, who will be in charge of the Workshop?”

“…Ehehe…That’s not it! No, but what’s the reason?! If you at least told me the reason, I’d stay put! I know my place! “

She was given the reason.

Seo Jisu whimpered. As if unable to shake off her frustration, she bit her lip, then nodded.

“I…understand…Ugh…Pissed…”

“Still, you’re being rational.”

“Because it’s my job. Work and private life, separate. It’s the Workshop Owner’s principle, isn’t it? Same for me. I don’t like letting personal feelings show in my work.”

“Aren’t you already showing them?”

“I haven’t crossed the line, have I?”

With Seo Jisu’s clean surrender, we immediately boarded the vehicle.

Surrounded by several escort vehicles, within the bulletproof limousine, we mentally rehearsed the general procedure.

“There isn’t much for you lot to do. Just me and Darko. We’re the only ones actually participating in the meeting.”

“…Hmph.”

“The rest of the underlings, you’ll wait in the banquet hall below. The banquet itself goes on continuously for three days.”

“What kind of party lasts that long?”

“It’s for building camaraderie between the organizations. The more you see someone, the more you bond. It’s an idea from the head of Quantum. Since it’s a proposal from the strongest group in Seoul, who would refuse? Three days a year. During that time, you smile and say things you don’t mean. Well, still, essentially you just watch the events Quantum has prepared…just enjoy yourselves. There’s nothing else. It’s always been like that.”

Baek Soyeon leaned her head back against the seat.

“But this time will be different. Rumor has it the Executive Agency and Bad Sector might intrude upon the banquet hall…things could go in another direction. Even though no one can cause any disturbances within the banquet hall…unseen disturbances could happen. You. After the summit ends, stick to my side at all times. Or at least bring that tin can along. To the bathroom, everywhere. No exceptions. Understand?”

“Understood.”

“The heads of each organization and their underlings are the ones roaming around. You can assume that all of the top-ranked ability users in Seoul are gathered. Since they also have brains, they won’t use their abilities in the banquet hall…but it’s best not to provoke any trouble. Got it? Even if something happens that makes you frown, just ignore it. Pretend you didn’t see it. Quantum’s employees. They’re hired specifically to manage the banquet hall, so they’re no different from highly-paid whores. They’re aware of their role, so even if they’re treated like toys, ignore it. Understand?”

I nodded. I also sunk my head into the seat.

Baek Soyeon turned and looked at me.

“Hey.”

“What?”

“Just asking, and I mean *just asking*, okay? Answer straight, no sugar-coating. Got it?”

“What is it?”

“…Hey, hypothetically…if some other big organization tried to headhunt you, would you go?”

What kind of nonsense is this now?

I glanced sideways at her.

Baek So-yeon chattered on.

“Another…like, a *successful*…yeah. Quantum. If the Queen herself told you to come, what then?”

“I wouldn’t go.”

“Really?”

“Seriously. I said I wouldn’t. Don’t worry. Why would I go there? What would I even trust?”

“…Can you trust *me*?”

“I can trust you. We’re…”

I turned my head too.

Lightly flicked her forehead with my finger. Annoyed that she’d been spouting such ridiculous things.

“People who share a secret. Right? “

“…Why’d you hit me?”

“You deserve it for talking crazy.”

“…Ugh.”

Baek So-yeon rubbed her forehead. She whipped her head away.

“Whatever. Fine. Even if you *did* go, I could just lock you up.”

“That last part sounds threatening.”

“Quiet before I feed you dumplings three meals a day. And keep your guard up from now on.”

The scenery outside the window shifted.

The already towering buildings were replaced by even *taller* structures, and a city far more refined and developed than any district I’d seen sprawled before us.

Seoul’s most affluent area.

A district of the wealthy, where even a decent sum of money wouldn’t secure you a place, stretched into the distance.

“This is Mapo District.”