ISTV 43

ISTV

Posted by Ali, Released on August 9, 2025

It was fortunate that I had dignity.

Without it, “Yes, Sister” might have slipped right out of my mouth.

Perhaps giving in to money was an undignified act—my words caught in my throat with a thunk!

I barely managed to regain my composure and asked back,

“What exactly did you see in me to make such a proposal? We aren’t even that close, are we?”

“It’s business. My lady, you have something very special that belongs only to you. I call it an aura. And your aura is the kind that shines brighter and brighter as time goes on.”

Camellia looked straight into my face before speaking again.

“I never imagined a young woman who has just gone through her coming-of-age ceremony could look like this. Honestly, I almost fell for you.”

“…”

“I’m certain you can fulfill countless fantasies people have about a lady.”

I couldn’t answer right away.

My head was a tangled mess.

‘With that much money, I could fend off most dangers.’

Money isn’t omnipotent, but it can block a great deal of misfortune.

It could certainly help ease the “ever-present threat of death” that hung over me.

‘But on the other hand, that much money could attract even greater dangers.’

For example, thieves or robbers might come for my wealth.

How many bandits had I already run into while coming to the Eastern Continent?

‘I’ll have to weigh this carefully.’

The biggest problem was that the Armagio family was a sponsor of <Gueogeu>’s final hidden villain, “Red Moon.”

In the future, they would be crushed by the male leads, and who knew how far the fallout from that would reach?

‘Wait—hold on!’

Was it the money in front of me, or something else? My mind began spinning fast.

‘At this point in time, has Armagio even made contact with Red Moon yet?’

Now that I thought about it, I didn’t think they had.

In fact, the very fact that Armagio had approached Queybak wasn’t even a major plot point.

It didn’t appear in the main story—it was just summarized in a few short lines in the setting notes:

“Due to reckless business expansion, Armagio suffers a temporary cash shortage and seeks help from Queybak, but is refused.

Later, in order to secure cash flow, the Armagio family is forced to reach out to the Red Moon, whom they had long avoided.”

What came next was important:

“After securing funds from Red Moon, Armagio’s business takes off into even greater success.

They establish a close cooperative relationship with Red Moon.”

‘So right now, the reason they’ve come to the Queybak family… is to borrow money.’

They would surely have brought along a convincing business proposal.

And they would present it in front of Lord and Lady Temanon.

‘That business plan will be flawless, I bet!’

To explain it briefly, what they were planning was a kind of pharmaceutical venture.

It specialized in a few types of heart disease, but in truth, the medicine was not very effective.

However, the side effect was weight loss.

It burned fat rapidly, making the weight drop off—a sort of diet pill.

After some additional development, the drug would be reborn in the <Gueogeu> world as the most perfect diet supplement.

‘If I recall, aside from the side effect of making hair strands slightly thicker, it had no other side effects.’

If that was the case, then right now, Armagio had not yet come into contact with Red Moon.

A glimmer of hope appeared.

A voice broke my thoughts.

“What are you thinking about so hard?”

“When are you meeting with the lord and lady?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

Tomorrow morning? There wasn’t much time.

I furrowed my brow slightly and said,

“My contract with you is a rather trivial matter, so it would be better to speak with them first and wrap up your discussion before we talk further.”

Once that conversation ended, I headed straight to Lord and Lady Temanon’s bedroom.

Seila stood outside their door for a long time, deep in thought.

It was currently 11 p.m.

Not only was it late, but this was their bedroom, not their office.

She hadn’t arranged a meeting in advance either.

‘This is really discourteous.’

But she still had to speak to them.

The Queybak family had gold practically rolling in through their front door right now.

It was important to make them aware of it.

As she lingered, the bedroom door opened.

“Seila. Why are you loitering outside my door?”

“…You knew I was here?”

“Of course I did. Come in.”

With a slightly embarrassed blush, Seila stepped into the couple’s bedroom.

“My apologies, for coming to your private space at such a late hour without permission…”

“No need for such formality. I don’t mind at all.”

Seila focused on the “I” in that sentence.

That meant Lady Temanon—Rachel—might feel differently.

Rachel was sitting on the bed in a white silk nightgown.

Seila was extremely nervous inside, but Rachel spoke in a surprisingly gentle voice.

“For someone as well-mannered as you to break etiquette at this hour means the matter must be urgent and important. Speak.”

Lord Temanon sat down next to Rachel, looking up at Seila.

When she hesitated, he simply smiled warmly, as if encouraging her.

“What I’m about to say must be known only to the two of you. No one else in the world can know—not even my father.”

“Wait.”

Temanon rose again.

Closing his eyes, he released mana from nine high-level magic circuits.

A faint blue energy rose from his body like heat haze, then formed into a round barrier that enveloped the three of them.

It was to prevent Seila’s voice from leaking out.

“Now, speak.”

“Yes.”

Seila had spent a long time considering how to deliver this information to the Queybak couple.

She couldn’t very well say, This is actually a game world, I’m the developer, so listen to me!—that would only get her labeled a lunatic.

“The truth is…”

Time ticked by.

She opened her mouth with difficulty, as if revealing a secret that was painful to speak aloud.

“I can read parts of the future.”

Temanon’s eyes widened.

“What nonsense is this? You’re not some temple prophet.”

“I knew I would draw Caliburn. That’s why I drew it so confidently.”

Temanon gave a bewildered laugh.

It was clear he didn’t fully believe her.

Seila expected as much.

“And I also knew how Lady Queybak would act once I had Caliburn in my possession.”

“…”

“It’s awkward to say this, but…”

“…”

“In the future I saw, I died. In many of those futures, my lady, you did not forgive me for possessing Caliburn.”

Rachel let out a faint sigh.

“So you returned Caliburn to Queybak for that reason?”

“I can’t say that was the only reason, but it was certainly one of them.”

“And when you collapsed from Lexo’s poison?”

“I knew about that too.”

“Then why let yourself be poisoned?”

“I didn’t let myself—I allowed it to happen. I believed it was the best course for Queybak.”

“…”

“In the futures I saw, corrupt elders were eating away at Queybak. Of course, I didn’t do it solely for the family’s sake—it was also the best path for me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if it hadn’t happened then, Lexo and the other elders would have eventually targeted me. You know why—the weakening of your influence within the family. Political motives. I was an easy target.”

“…”

“So I let myself be caught in his scheme. A small spark is easy to put out, but a blaze that’s already grown is much harder to extinguish.”

Temanon’s pupils quivered restlessly. Rachel judged there was some credibility to Seila’s words.

‘So that’s what explained everything.’

The vague unease she’d kept in her heart until now was gone.

Of course, Seila’s ability to foresee the future could be a danger to Queybak.

But a threat with a clear form was far better than a shapeless fear.

“It’s best that your ability isn’t made public. But why tell us this?”

“That’s because…”

“Don’t tell me it’s because you trust and believe in us—I’m not looking for flattery.”

Rachel’s reply was exactly what Seila had expected.

Now came the truly important part—the main point.