The Second Coming of Gluttony Chapter 233:
Chapter 233
That night, a small party was held in Carpe Diem’s office to celebrate Kim Hannah joining the team .
“I’m paying so drink to your hearts’ content . ”
Chohong simpered, raising a bottle of booze into the air .
Thinking that she had escaped from Seol Jihu’s evil clutches, she had planned this event herself .
The team members reacted positively with cheers .
No matter how rich one was, free food and drinks were always the tastiest .
Everyone ate and drank merrily as a huge drinking party broke out .
Surprisingly, Kim Hannah didn’t reject Chohong’s goodwill .
No, never mind rejecting it, she was partying in high spirits, getting along with everyone . Her usual formal attitude was nowhere to be seen .
“Well, this is unexpected . I thought you’d hate parties like this . ”
When Seol Jihu struck up a conversation, the red-nosed Kim Hannah took her mouth off a bottle of liquor .
“Company get-togethers are an extended business duty . But here, they went out of their way to throw a party for me, so what would they think if I skipped it?”
Kim Hannah said it was important to participate in such parties to maintain a good relationship with one’s colleagues .
This aspect of her really showed how she became the chief of a large conglomerate like Sinyoung when she wasn’t even 30 yet .
It was then .
Just as the atmosphere was ripening, a light knock was heard from the door .
The clamor of the party made it hard to hear, but Phi Sora, who was near the door, heard it clearly .
“It looks like someone’s here . Who is it? Come in!”
The door clicked open, and a beautiful woman appeared behind it .
Everyone’s eyes widened .
Because Seo Yuhui was standing there with a backpack on her back, a sack in each of her hands, and a sack hanging over her shoulder .
Seo Yuhui walked in groaning before seeing the drinking party and widening her eyes in surprise .
“Oh, um… hello . ”
Jang Maldong was thrown into confusion with a vegetable pancake in his mouth .
The attention must have embarrassed Seo Yuhui as she blushed . She put down her baggage carefully and spoke .
“Um… Jihu told me to come…”
Hearing this, one or two people looked back and forth at each other and nodded their heads .
It wasn’t as if the team wasn’t acquainted with her . Given Seol Jihu’s personality, it was likely that he called her over to party together .
But why did she bring all those bags?
Did she bring food?
At that moment, Seol Jihu, who had offered her to join Carpe Diem, shot up from his seat .
“Noona, does this mean that you’re…!”
Seo Yuhui smiled bashfully as she tucked her hair behind her ear .
“Yeah…”
Her following words delivered an explosive shock .
“I thought hard about it… and I decided to rely on Carpe Diem for a bit…”
Silence instantly descended in the office .
“PFFFFT!”
Kim Hannah spat out a mouthful of liquor a beat later, and Marcel Ghionea hiccuped . The vegetable pancake in Jang Maldong’s mouth dropped to the floor .
“Welcome!”
Only Seol Jihu ran forward and welcomed her with open arms .
“Come in, hurry . Aii, it’s okay . You came at the perfect time . ”
Once he took the lead and grabbed her bags, she walked in modestly .
Just like that, Kim Hannah’s welcoming party also became a place to introduce Seo Yuhui .
Only after a huge ruckus were the other members of Carpe Diem able to face reality head-on .
“No way… Really? You’re really joining us?”
“This is insane . I really hit the jackpot entering this team . With the Daughter of Luxuria here, a bright future is practically guaranteed . ”
Chohong muttered in a daze, while Phi Sora laughed in disbelief .
With many people muttering to themselves, Seol Jihu noticed an empty hope and spoke up to clarify the situation .
“No, that’s not it . ”
He drew the line from the get-go . That way, there wouldn’t be any complaints later .
“Yuhui Noona won’t be participating in any outside activities in Carpe Diem . She’s going to focus on recovery, and I’m going to help her as much as I can . That was the condition for her joining in the first place . ”
Seo Yuhui nodded as people glanced at her to ask for confirmation .
“…Yes . ”
It was an open secret that Seo Yuhui had lost most of her ability as a Priest . Simply put, she currently owed a huge debt because she forcefully drew in all of the divine power that could be used in the future .
While she had recovered a little from constantly praying and using the offerings Seol Jihu brought, she still had a long way to go .
The restriction placed on her ability might be resolved through steady recovery, but that didn’t change the fact that she was indebted .
And this debt would only increase every time she used a spell .
As such, the best method was to not use any skill until she fully paid off the divine power she borrowed .
“What Jihu said was still on my mind… so I shamelessly decided to come . I’ll do my best not to disrupt everyone’s activities . Please take care of me . ”
Seo Yuhui bowed with an apologetic look .
A hint of disappointment flashed across a few members’ faces, but no one opened their mouths carelessly .
They knew she lost her abilities because of Seol Jihu, their leader, so how could they say anything?
Moreover, it was obvious that saying something like, ‘Eii~ so she’s here to do nothing,’ would only make Jang Maldong yell and Seol Jihu resent them .
Jang Maldong hurried up a moment later .
“Welcome! Aigoo, thank you for coming . Think of this place as your own and make yourself at home . Jihu, well done!”
He made a fuss, which was unlike his usual self .
Regardless of whether Seo Yuhui was officially joining or simply staying, her coming here was a huge shock to Jang Maldong .
Plus, Carpe Diem wouldn’t be taking a loss even if Seo Yuhui did absolutely nothing . Even though her abilities were sealed, what the name ‘Seo Yuhui’ symbolized in Paradise was undeniable .
Although she had worked in temporary teams she formed, this was the first time the Daughter of Luxuria was choosing to be affiliated with a team .
Just this fact alone was enough to gather the public’s attention . And they would inevitably gain hard-to-measure benefits as well .
For example…
“…Hey . ”
Kim Hannah called the happily grinning Seol Jihu .
“Have you sent the documents yet?”
Seol Jihu went “Ah . ”
He had planned to do so in the morning but forgot about it after teasing Chohong .
“I forgot…”
Seol Jihu took out an envelope from his pocket and glanced at Kim Hannah . He expected her to immediately yell at him…
“Good job!”
But she surprisingly praised him before snatching the envelope out of his hand .
“Cheat keys! You have three cheat keys!”
Babbling on about things he couldn’t understand, she shot up from her seat .
Seol Jihu stared blankly as Kim Hannah ran into her room, saying she would add just one line before hurrying back .
Meanwhile…
“Ah… no… fuck, why…”
Chohong was wallowing in despair with her hands pressing down on her forehead .
*
“Come eat . ”
When the next morning dawned, Seo Yuhui woke everyone up with a kind voice .
But she smiled bitterly in the next moment as she felt someone sneaking a secret glance at her .
Although a day had passed by, yesterday’s shock had not fully vanished .
It couldn’t be helped .
What happened was the same as a world-class celebrity coming to live in an ordinary middle-class household .
Seol Jihu, who was responsible for inviting her, was sitting on the couch, smiling gleefully at Seo Yuhui .
Seo Yuhui must have felt his gaze as she returned a gentle smile .
“Why are you smiling, my Jihu?”
“Nothing . ”
“Hmm?”
“Just that, I like it . ”
Seol Jihu replied while swaying side to side . Even his legs were swinging front and back . He was clearly on the brink of dying from happiness .
“Are you that happy that I came?”
Seo Yuhui giggled and lightly pinched Seol Jihu’s cheek .
“Let’s go . You gotta eat before the food goes cold . ”
“Okay . ”
“What do you want for lunch? I can make anything . Just let me know . ”
“No . ”
Seol Jihu suddenly grabbed Seo Yuhui’s hands .
“You don’t have to cook . I didn’t call you over so you could make meals for us . ”
He looked up at her and spoke with a thoughtful gaze .
“Noona, you don’t have to worry about anything during your time here . And just tell me if you need anything . ”
“Oh, really? I’m happy to hear that . ”
“Of course!”
Seol Jihu wasn’t saying this for show .
His third Level of Cognition was the Golden Rule .
Seol Jihu was devoted to paying back the kindness she showed him .
Right, his intentions were good… but the problem was with his method .
“If you want, I can even pluck the stars and the moon in the sky and give them to you . From now on, I won’t let you dirty your hands at all . ”
A flustered look flashed past Seo Yuhui’s smiling face .
“Y-Yeah . I’m happy you would go that far for me . ”
“It’s true . I’m being sincere . ”
“R-Right . But Jihu, do you know what that means…?”[1]
“Sure, I do! Anyway, I won’t let anyone lay even a single finger on you . Not even the Parasite Queen . ”
When Seol Jihu brazenly revealed his intentions, Seo Yuhui gave him a renewed look . She smiled from happiness and an unknown sense of reminiscence .
‘Jeez…’
“Jihu . ”
“Yes?”
“Come here . ”
In the end, Seo Yuhui could no longer hold back and embraced Seol Jihu .
“You talk so kindly and have a good heart… What a shame!”
Rubbing her cheek against Seol Jihu’s head, she showed a blissful expression .
Seol Jihu was happy too, though he couldn’t understand what was a shame .
It was then .
Kiik— Kim Hannah, who came back from her morning workout, froze as soon as she stepped into the office .
“…The hell?”
Seo Yuhui babying Seol Jihu .
He was really receiving a king’s treatment when he was nothing .
Cold air seeped in from the gap in the open door, making her sides chilly .
“What are you doing now… really…”
Muttering as if she was talking to herself, she snorted and trudged past them .
For the record, Kim Hannah was a 28-year-old bachelorette with no previous dating experience .
For some reason, she was suddenly reminded of her mother, who naggingly kept asking her when she was going to get married because her younger sister got herself a nice man .
Kim Hannah’s grievances only became deeper today .
*
After sending the newly written documents via a messenger, a reply came back exactly ten days later .
The sender was the Eva Royal Administrator, Sorg Kühne .
Seol Jihu carefully took off the seal of the envelope like a student opening up his SAT scores .
The letter was written in a refined handwriting and tone . Although it was a rather lengthy letter, the content could be summarized as a definitive ‘Yes’ .
Along with the words ‘Welcome to Eva!’, the letter contained a postscript expressing their wish to meet Carpe Diem personally . They even asked what time would work best for their visit .
Seol Jihu clenched his fists .
The normal course of action would be to exchange a few more letters before setting a date for a meeting, so Kim Hannah was surprised that they received such a response on their first communication .
It was clear that Eva was just as interested in their move .
As this didn’t seem like a bad thing no matter how he thought about it, Seol Jihu copied down a reply Kim Hannah came up with .
The gist was that they were free to visit whenever they wanted .
And a few days later, something even more surprising happened .
Eva sent a reply, which, on top of them visiting as soon as possible, said Sorg Kühne would personally come .
The royal administrator in charge of overseeing the Eva Royal Palace had revealed his intentions to visit .
“Wow… Usually, even at the land purchasing step, you only have a small chance of meeting the royal administrator… . ”
Kim Hannah emphasized that a high-ranking official like the royal administrator usually only received reports from his underlings . Then, she read the letter again and again .
“Cheat key!”
In the end, she shot her hands up in the air and shouted .
Seol Jihu laughed inwardly .
*
The day of the meeting dawned .
All members of Carpe Diem worked busily for this day . They cleaned every nook and cranny of the office, aired out the smell of booze from the walls, and soldered up any cracks .
They did everything they could to make the place clean and professional .
And just to be safe, Seol Jihu began a final inspection while Kim Hannah went out to greet Eva’s royal administrator .
“Oi, Eggy . ”
When he called the round guy busy nibbling on rice, the egg paused and turned about 45 degrees backward .
“We have an important guest coming over today . Stay quiet, okay? Eating until you’re full and sleeping is your work anyways, right?”
Seol Jihu requested earnestly while picking off a grain of rice stuck on the egg’s surface .
The egg went back to eating as if nothing happened .
“Hey, at least give me a reply… ah, you don’t have a mouth . ”
Seol Jihu sighed and poked the egg that was busy eating .
The egg flinched and bounced angrily .
“Oh, I guess you can reply that way . ”
Seol Jihu opened his mouth as if he just came up with a good idea .
“Okay, bounce once to say yes . Bounce 5,000 times to say no . ”
Bounce…!?
The egg paused in the middle of bouncing .
“You bastard, you tried to say no, didn’t you?”
After gently tickling the surface of the egg, Seol Jihu clasped his hands together and pleaded .
“Anyway, please! They’re going to jump out of their seats in shock if you suddenly come out and bounce around the room . ”
The egg turned to the side as if it was sulking .
Then, it went back to eating .
“Don’t forget what I just told you! If you do as you please, I’ll turn you into a fried egg and eat you . ”
After threatening it severely, Seol Jihu sat down on the couch and waited for Kim Hannah to return with the rest of the team .
And about ten minutes later, the door opened along with a chatter .
“It’s a bit shabby, but please come in . ”
“Mm . ”
A man followed Kim Hannah inside .
Seol Jihu stood up from the couch and got a better look at him .
He had an average height of about 175 centimeters . Most of his central hair had receded, making him look rather bald .
‘He’s… maybe in his 50s or 60s?’
Although his body was covered with a gown, the wrinkles on his face proved that he wasn’t young . Moreover, the hair on his temple was laced with strands of white hair, and the way they protruded up reminded him of Tekken’s Heihachi .
‘This person is…’
Eva’s royal administrator, Sorg Kühne .
His glasses and the way he walked in with imposing steps made him look like an uptight old man . At least, that was the impression he gave Seol Jihu .
But he suddenly paused his steps and bowed toward Jang Maldong respectfully .
“I heard that you retired… I’m glad you chose to come back . ”
An aged voice rang out .
“That’s old news . Thank you for coming all the way out here . ”
Jang Maldong also replied with a smile . Next, when Seo Yuhui got up saying she would bring some tea, the royal administrator also bowed to her .
“Long time no see, Lady Seo Yuhui . ”
“Yes . Is the queen healthy?”
Seo Yuhui replied with a gentle smile .
“She is . In fact, she’s a little too energetic… anyway, I doubted my eyes when I saw the documents . I never even imagined the Daughter of Luxuria’s name would be written there…”
“I have my reasons, fufu . ”
“I heard the news . I don’t know what to say…”
“It’s fine . I’ve been very happy recently . Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise . ”
“I’m relieved to hear that you’re doing well . ”
Seol Jihu stared at the courteously talking royal administrator with curious eyes .
Sorg Kühne seemed very uptight from his first impression, but it seemed you really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover .
As Seol Jihu activated his Nine Eyes out of curiosity, the royal administrator turned his gaze . Sorg Kühne instantly put on a stern expression before opening his mouth .
“Nice to meet you . The name’s Sorg Kühne . ”
He sounded rather brusque .
“Welcome! Thank you for coming all the way here . ”
“Not at all . It was most definitely worth the long trip . ”
Next, Seol Jihu guided Sorg Kühne to a seat .
“Here, have some tea . ”
Seo Yuhui handed him tea that she personally brewed .
Sorg Kühne accepted it with thanks, but he didn’t drink it . He placed the cup on the table and pushed it slightly to the side .
“First… there are a few things I want to confirm . ”
He spoke while taking out a few documents from his pocket .
He cut straight to the point . Sorg Kühne, who was staring at the documents fixedly, suddenly glanced to the side .
“Are you the Earthling called Phi Sora who was previously the ace of White Rose?”
“Yes, I am . ”
Phi Sora replied apathetically . She didn’t seem all that happy about him bringing up old news .
But when Kim Hannah sent her a sharp glare, she put on a beautiful smile .
“Yes~ I am~”
“Hmm… then the lady next to you must be the Priest Warrior, Chung Chohong . ”
“A Templar, to be exact . I’m not a fan of the phrase ‘Priest Warrior’ . It just doesn’t sound right . ”
Chohong retorted while crossing her arms .
“My apologies . ”
Sorg Kühne replied calmly, then moved his gaze again .
Hugo sat straight with a nervous expression, but Sorg Kühne’s eyes brushed past him .
“And you must be the Archer of Steel…”
“Marcel Ghionea . ”
“Mm . I have a question for you . I heard several organizations have reached out to recruit you after your return . What is the reason you refused all of them and joined Carpe Diem?”
“I have two reasons . ”
It was a sudden question, but Marcel Ghionea replied smoothly .
“The first is because Leader Seol Jihu saved my life . The second is because he can grant my wish . ”
“Wish?”
Marcel Ghionea closed his mouth and narrowed his eyes .
“…To thoroughly destroy Vulgar Chastity . ”
“Ah, photon magic’s Marika Larisa… . I understand . Thank you for telling me . ”
Sorg Kühne moved on right away . It seemed he understood Marcel Ghionea’s reasoning perfectly .
Seeing the royal administrator slowly flipping through the documents, Seol Jihu finally realized .
That the evaluation had already begun .
1 . The above phrase is usually used by a devoted husband to his wife .
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