Chapter 147
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I Will Purchase Divine Power with Money
Chapter 147
"Not long ago, I didn't even know how to ride, so I had to go with you on the same horse."
She was referring to when we first went to Rubar Village together.
"You came alone from the Temple of the Sun God to Sheary Territory yesterday? Your horsemanship improving this much in such a short time doesn't make sense."
"...."
"You absolutely don't have that kind of natural talent for riding."
There's no way that could be true.
"It could happen."
"No, it couldn't. You're not particularly coordinated. I've seen you exercising every morning."
My friend might not be the most graceful, but that's no reason to criticize her like that.
Besides, in reality I'm quite capable. I only learned to ride because Ju Hyun-jin asked me to do it with her.
"...."
Wait. Could it be that Ju Hyun-jin learned horseback riding because of her past life—when she lived as Ordel Kiris?
She even learned riding before driving.
"...I learned it a very long time ago. I just pretended I couldn't ride because I didn't want to mention it. Though I also couldn't keep up because I lack muscle."
I offered a vague explanation.
Since I first learned about fifteen years ago, it wasn't even a lie.
"Your posture is remarkably good for a beginner."
She noticed that too. Her eye for detail really is impressive.
"I'm glad you ride well. There's an estate grounds behind the mansion—it's perfect for taking a leisurely ride during the day."
"Really?"
I'd been itching to ride again after such a long time!
"But you have to go with me. You can't go alone or with anyone else."
"Why?"
"I'll be waiting patiently at the mansion, and if you run away on horseback, what will I do? I'll be so sad I'll cry."
"...."
She's saying something ridiculous again.
"Why would I run away?"
"Regardless, you absolutely must go with me. Otherwise, I'll tell the stable hands not to lend you any horses."
I was at a loss for words.
So this was all she wanted. I could certainly indulge this much of a whim.
"Hmm. I don't really need to go horseback riding anyway."
But for some reason, I wanted to tease Lute Sheary a little.
As I glanced away and sipped my wine, Lute Sheary's mouth fell open.
"You just have to go with me—you don't like that?"
"I'm not desperate enough for riding to beg for it."
Lute Sheary began to fidget.
This teasing is more fun than I expected. I might get addicted to it.
"So if I beg, will you go with me?"
I nearly burst out laughing when Lute Sheary, after pondering for quite some time, asked me that question.
"Based on what I'm seeing?"
"Ah, this really isn't easy."
Lute Sheary let out a sigh and drained her wine in one gulp.
Apparently unsatisfied, she immediately refilled the glass to the brim.
Every movement of her hand was filled with frustration.
"You're the first person who's ever wanted to see me beg."
"I didn't say I wanted to see that."
"No, you do want to see it. So stop treating me this way."
It's not that I don't want to see it.
I've discovered there's a certain amusement in subtly teasing her.
Though if other people heard this—especially Yuri Polton—they'd be absolutely horrified.
"Even my good looks won't work on someone like you. Is it really just money?"
Lute Sheary downed her wine like it was soju and filled the glass again.
She's drinking without pause—is that really okay?
"Your silence tells me you really do want money. Fine, what can I do? I'm both a wine storage and a sturdy safe, after all."
Lute Sheary rummaged through her pocket.
"Stop treating me like some money-obsessed fiend."
I was obsessed with money because I needed to restore the Sun God, but that's not the case anymore.
Of course, to navigate the harsh world ahead, I do need to multiply my entire fortune of 60 million won.
But since I only need to take care of myself now, I have no intention of scraping together money with blood and tears like before.
"Ah, but I don't have any cash on me right now."
After rummaging through her pocket for a while, Lute Sheary clicked her tongue regretfully.
"All I have is this—would payment with this work instead of cash?"
Pfffffpt!
But the moment she pulled something from her pocket and held it out confidently, I spewed out the wine I'd been drinking.
....
Drip, drip.
Since I was sitting directly across from Lute Sheary, the wine sprayed out spectacularly and soaked her completely.
Though I managed to turn my head just in time, so at least only her hands and clothes got drenched, not her face—though that's hardly a consolation.
Ah, how embarrassing.
"I-cough cough. I-I'm so sorry."
"You didn't need to spit wine on me to give it to me."
Lute Sheary looked down at her wine-soaked palm.
A perfectly cut sapphire was rolling around in it.
One that was easily the size of two finger joints.
Is she insane? Who casually carries a cut gemstone in their pocket, not even gold?
And she's offering to give it to me?
This is exactly why I spewed wine!
"Who gives a sapphire as payment for a walk? Are you crazy?"
"I figured you'd want something at least this good."
Lute Sheary cast a cleansing spell.
Every embarrassing trace I'd left behind vanished without a trace.
That cleansing magic of hers—I really should study it more thoroughly than I have been.
"That's not necessary. Come on, you're no fun when you won't even let me joke around."
"Oh, you were joking? Thank goodness. I was actually disappointed, thinking we couldn't go for a walk together."
"If you ask me to go, of course I'll go. How could I refuse when the master of the house wants something?"
Lute Sheary had been smiling contentedly at my words, but suddenly her expression twisted again.
What was bothering her this time?
"I'm not forcing you. If you don't want to, you don't have to."
But it wasn't displeasure at all.
"I just want to have fun with you. I have no intention of dragging you along against your will. If you don't like it, you can refuse."
Lute Sheary clicked her tongue, saying that going together without genuine enthusiasm wouldn't be enjoyable at all.
Feeling a bit sorry, I shrugged my shoulders.
"I don't dislike it. I was just joking, like I said."
"Then you want to?"
"Yes. If I don't like something, I'll say so clearly."
Once I spoke with certainty, Lute Sheary's expression finally relaxed.
"But is it okay to play with me this often? Count Polton will probably complain that you're not working and just playing around."
"Why should I care what he thinks?"
""
This one really is an unscrupulous employer.
Poor Yuri Polton. I'll play a little less for your sake.
Or I could work alongside Lute Sheary instead.
Since I'm just eating without doing anything here anyway, maybe I should help out a bit.
Besides, I know about several future events I could assist with.
"By the way, do you have whiskey besides wine? I noticed you were eyeing some whiskey at the Count's Residence last time."
Lute Sheary, who had been clearing away the wine we'd finished, asked me this.
"You have whiskey?!"
I threw all thoughts of work far aside and eagerly asked back.
"Of course."
Lute Sheary smiled brightly and suddenly pulled a bottle of whiskey from her spatial pouch.
But that wasn't the end of it.
One bottle, two bottles, three bottles... and only after pulling out about five did her hand finally stop.
"These are all aged at least seventy years. They're the Duke's Residence's pride."
Heavens. Look at that beautiful amber color. It gleams even in the night.
I enjoyed wine well enough, but it had been quite a while since I'd had spirits, making this all the more moving.
"If there's anything you want to do with me, just say the word. I'll do anything for you."
"So you prefer alcohol to money. Now I understand for certain."
I like both money and alcohol, though.
And honestly, who gives a sapphire just for taking a walk together?
You have to give money appropriately too.
"But if you drink whiskey on top of wine, won't you have a terrible hangover?"
Lute Sheary asked as she poured whiskey into a fresh glass.
Faced with words I couldn't comprehend, I tilted my head.
"What's the problem? This isn't a tavern—it's just home. Drink and die, that's all."
If I get drunk and lose consciousness, everyone will just carry me to my room anyway. Why worry about that?
"You're quite the drinker after all. I worried for nothing."
That's right, that's right. No need to worry.
"Here, enjoy."
We drank the whiskey straight without diluting it with ice.
The alcohol, far stronger than wine, wrapped around my tongue and burned with searing heat as it went down my throat.
Ah, this warmth. I'd really missed it.
And so we, intoxicated and spirited, carried on merrily until the deep hours of dawn.
* * *
How many hours had it been since we started drinking?
I found myself in a predicament.
Drooping eyes, unfocused pupils, flushed cheeks, and a head swaying back and forth.
Was that me?
That was precisely the problem.
"...What do I do about this?"
Remarkably, Lute Sheary—whose constitution was potent enough to break down alcohol itself—had become completely intoxicated.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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