Chapter 64: Crazy Bitch "Oh, did you invest there too, Mr. Yeon-woo? I've been keeping an eye on that company myself."
"I recently purchased a wonderful yacht. Would you like to go for a sail with me sometime, Yeon-woo?"
"Yeon-woo, you have a depth of thought quite rare for a young man these days."
"Really? I've wanted to go there too! But it's so popular that getting a reservation is like catching a star in the sky."
The party guests surrounded me, their faces blooming with smiles.
Do you know the best way to seduce a woman at an event like this?
It's a fact I only realized after my face became this handsome: once you become the most talked-about person in the room, the game is over.
I don't mean you should go take a dump in the middle of the ballroom. I mean you have to be the most prominent, most radiant person at the party.
The literal star of the show.
The more people flock to me, the more social power I gain within the party, and the more everyone tries to get on my good side.
In this specific setting, people start to view me as someone greater than I am; they desire me more, envy me, and want to be near me.
So, how do you become the star of the show?
Well… you could start by having a face as handsome as mine.
Look, I haven't been this handsome or popular for very long either. Don't expect too much advice.
A handsome face draws the eye and provides its own justification.
My jokes become as funny as a professional comedian's, and people hang on my every word.
How I flaunt myself afterward is up to me, but the initial spark that makes them focus is entirely due to my looks.
And so, while ignoring Merina, I drew everyone else toward me.
Park Yu-jeong, who had separated from me as soon as we arrived, watched me with intrigued eyes before tapping her finger against her wrist.
Focus on the target? Yeah, yeah, I'm building up to it. Just be patient. This is like fishing. You scatter the bait first, wait, and then cast your line right at the sweet spot.
Once you become the star of the show, the socialites naturally form a wall around you.
At the same time, people like Merina become marginalized. Even if they're interested, they won't dare try to break through that wall of "popular" people.
So what? I just have to be the one to approach her.
I haven't spoken a single word to Merina yet, but I've already built up a massive amount of favorability.
The more I shine, and the more Merina envies me or takes interest in me, the greater the impact will be when I finally make my move.
Since my client is getting anxious, I suppose it's time to head over.
"Yeon-woo? What are you doing here?"
"Oh? Ah—this party was hosted by your mother, wasn't it?"
As soon as I excused myself from the crowd and stepped away, the timid Angelica—who had been hovering on the outskirts of the social circle, looking for an opening—snapped up the bait.
Looks like Angelica got hooked first.
"Yeah. I'm glad you remembered what I said back then."
"I was hoping you'd be here when I got the invitation. It's good to see you."
I gave Angelica a charming smile while making eye contact with Park Yu-jeong, who was standing further back.
Judging by her "kind" smile, it looked like her patience had reached its limit.
I'm a professional, remember? You said I was reliable. Just trust me and wait.
After some small talk with Angelica, I pointed toward Merina, who was tucked away in a corner.
"Is she also from the Graham family?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Do you know Merina?"
"No, it's my first time seeing her. It's just that this is a Graham family party, but she seems so quiet. Is something wrong?"
"Well, she's…"
Perhaps because they were distant relatives, Angelica trailed off as she looked at Merina, whom she called "sister."
It seemed she was quite ignored within the family.
Angelica's eyes were filled with worry and pity for Merina.
After checking her surroundings, Angelica leaned in and whispered cautiously.
"Merina… she doesn't have any talent for magic, so the relatives are a bit… Ah, but it's just that her mana is low! She's great at everything else and she's a really kind person."
You're kind and cute too.
As I locked eyes with Angelica, who was hurriedly defending Merina while looking up at me, she realized how close I had gotten to whisper in her ear. Flustered, she quickly backed away.
"Is that so? Then could you introduce me? Let's all talk together."
"O-oh, okay! I'm sure Merina is bored too."
See? I told you she doesn't "like" me like that.
If she did, there's no way she'd be so happy to introduce me to another woman.
Of course, it's possible Angelica is just that nice.
Angelica led me toward Merina, who was sitting gloomily by herself in a corner of the extravagant ballroom.
Is that what they call a wallflower? As the wallflower who couldn't fit in met the star of the party, I could feel everyone's eyes on us.
At first, Merina seemed intimidated by me—the guy who had been laughing and chatting with the "in-crowd"—but with Angelica's help and by bringing up topics she liked, we grew close in no time.
"I cried during that scene! When Eria chases after Tsuno and screams for him to come back—"
It turned out Merina and Angelica both had a bit of an otaku streak. Once we started talking about manga, they began chatting excitedly.
Me? I watched plenty in my past life, but I've been here less than a year. How much could I have possibly seen?
I've been too busy learning magic, seducing women, and hunting for items to properly watch anything.
I had only skimmed the manga on Merina's purchase list to prepare, but it was enough to keep the conversation going.
I didn't expect Angelica to be so into it, though.
Just as the conversation was blooming over a romance manga called The Distance Between You and Me is 5cm, a pink-haired man approached.
It was Justin, the one who actively bullied Merina.
Seeing a guy with pink hair making such a menacing face just made him look incredibly flamboyant.
It was a trait of the Graham family; apparently, the more vibrant the pink, the stronger the mana.
Merina's hair was a dull, colorless gray. Because her face was so plain, it looked more like a bad bleach job she'd gotten to try and stand out, making her look even more awkward.
"Merina, come here."
"Huh? I'm… with Mr. Yeon-woo…"
"Dammit, I said come here."
This little prick. He looked about the same age as Angelica, but his manners toward an elder were non-existent.
Yet, even as Justin spoke informally and acted with such arrogance, Merina couldn't say a word.
"Hello, I'm Seo Yeon-woo—"
"Who said you could act like we're friends? You're just some dog who came here to suck up to our family. Wag your tail somewhere else and get lost."
"Justin!"
When he insulted me, Angelica raised her voice and glared at him.
"Ye-Yeon-woo is m-my… f-friend! Don't you dare insult him!"
She tried her best to look fierce, but her expression was so adorable it reminded me of a red panda trying to look threatening.
Apparently, this cute creature held high status in the family, because Justin didn't treat her as poorly as he did Merina.
Then again, who could be mean to a red panda? They're too cute for that.
"…You're acting pretty high and mighty just because you got into Yggdrasil."
"Ygg… Yggdrasil has nothing to do with this! How can you act like this to a guest at an event hosted by my m-mother?"
She must call her "Mom" at home, because she kept stumbling over the formal word for mother.
That aside, you've got quite the inferiority complex, don't you?
I placed a hand on the shoulder of Angelica, who was protecting me, and gave Justin a gentle smile.
"I take it you didn't make it into Yggdrasil? The entrance exam wasn't that difficult. That's a shame~ If you'd passed, we could have studied together~"
"You little…"
"It's okay~ It wasn't a hard test, so I'm sure you'll pass next time. You're a Graham, after all; surely you can pass a simple test like that? Otherwise, you shouldn't really go around bragging about being a mage."
Listen here, kid. The moment you failed that entrance exam, you became lesser than even Rio or Masayoshi.
As I needled him, Justin's face contorted.
However, when I dropped the smile and stared back with a blank expression, Justin went silent, unable to say a word.
I've noticed this lately, but when a handsome guy who's been all smiles suddenly goes cold and glares at you, the pressure is apparently intense.
Damn, do handsome guys even get "plausibility" for their intimidation? Being handsome is the best.
Suppressed by my aura, Justin took his anger out on Merina instead.
"Hey, what are you doing? Follow me."
"She was in the middle of a conversation with me. Aren't you being a bit rude?"
"…This is family business. Stay out of it."
Relying on his family name to regain his bravado, Justin forcibly dragged Merina away.
Angelica apologized to me and followed after them, leaving me alone.
"Heh—maybe I shouldn't have trusted the 'expert' after all~"
Park Yu-jeong had appeared out of nowhere, sipping champagne and smirking.
"There is a nuisance attached to her. You didn't tell me there'd be an interloper like that."
I had already found out through Trevor, but I feigned ignorance. Park Yu-jeong shrugged.
"You're the expert. Isn't a loser like that supposed to be beneath your notice?"
"Depends on the situation. If the goal is just to seduce a woman, I don't care who the opponent is. But that guy is just a troll looking to ruin everything."
"Hmm—I suppose that makes sense."
Except for Akito, I'm not afraid of anyone.
But people who just want to wreck the situation and take everyone down with them are incredibly annoying.
Just then, Monica Graham, Angelica's mother, stepped onto the podium to thank the guests for attending the charity party.
The timing was a bit off. It would have been better if Monica had come out while Merina was still here.
After boasting about the meaningful event and expressing gratitude to the donors, Monica finally called my name.
"Mr. Seo Yeon-woo of Yggdrasil has donated 100 million G to our foundation. He expressed his wish that it be used to help children suffering from rare diseases."
All eyes turned to me. I gave a light nod in acknowledgment of their applause.
Usually, the top donor has to go up and give a speech, but I had politely declined in advance when I made the donation. Monica showered me with praise and thanks before returning to the topic of the charity.
"You're rich. I didn't expect this."
"It's a meaningful event. And a bit of insurance."
I trust my face, but since this was my first high-society event, I had taken out some insurance just in case.
I had planned to use money to get attention if I failed to become the star of the show, but it turned out the insurance wasn't necessary.
"Yeah, I really didn't expect it. I was supposed to be the one on that podium."
"… …"
Shit. It seems I accidentally sabotaged Park Yu-jeong's plan.
Well, she should have explained things properly instead of being so secretive.
Park Yu-jeong, who had been bumped to the second-place donor and only had her name mentioned because of me, looked up at me with a beaming smile.
"Whatever. You just do your job. Ah—I should have just taken that 100 million G as part of your debt. I really didn't see this coming."
"Did I get in your way that much?"
"No, being second still leaves a record. Anyway, you're saying that guy is in the way?"
Park Yu-jeong pointed at Justin, who had returned to the party floor.
Merina, who had been so bright while talking about manga earlier, was now following him with a depressed expression while Justin treated her like a maid.
What kind of leverage does he have on her that she tolerates that treatment?
Seeing Justin glance my way while mingling with others, it was clear he was intent on interfering.
How did he know I was targeting Merina? Is it just pure malice, not wanting to see anything good happen to her?
But then again, I need bottom-feeders like him to make me shine brighter.
Merina wants a prince on a white horse to rescue her. If I defeat a blatant villain like him, she'll fall for me even harder.
Now, how should I cook this guy?
"I'll take care of that."
While I was coming up with dozens of plans to ruin Justin, Park Yu-jeong, who had been standing beside me, began striding toward him.
Before I could even think to stop her, she reached out and grabbed a champagne bottle from a waiter's tray.
"Where do you think you're touching! You pervert!"
CRACK!
Ah… this crazy bitch. She was quiet for a while, but she finally did it.
It's great if Justin is retired from the party. But aren't there plenty of peaceful, sophisticated ways to seduce or distract someone?
A physical retirement via a champagne bottle to the head is a bit much, don't you think?
His mana barrier would prevent any real injury, but Justin was now drenched in champagne, and the party was descending into chaos.
"This bastard was rubbing his dick against my ass! Let go of me!"
After coolly smashing the head of a Graham family member, Park Yu-jeong shouted as she was being dragged out by security.
As she did, the look she shot me was terrifying.
I've done this much, so you better succeed. If you fail, you're dead.
Hey, you're the one who caused the scene! Why are you looking at me like that?
Thanks to her, my plan to defeat Justin and become the prince on a white horse had also crumbled.
Sigh.
Fine. We both got in each other's way, so let's call it even.
The stage is different than planned, but a stage without interlopers? That's all mine.
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