F/VoH Ch 114: Just Talking

"Is that so..." Ellina glanced briefly at Ryan, her expression unchanged.

Not wanting to be outdone, Charlotte asked a more direct question, her meaningful gaze shifting to Cheonghee. "So... was that man with you... all night long?" Charlotte asked without a hint of hesitation.

"Yes!" Cheonghee replied enthusiastically, completely unfazed by the increasingly tense atmosphere. Cheonghee's gaze seemed so innocent, even cheerful.

"Hmm..." Charlotte then glanced at Ryan, her look sharp as a knife, filled with insinuation and hidden anger.

Meanwhile, Ryan, who had been the focus of this cold gaze, could only remain silent. He felt like a defendant being judged without evidence. Cold sweat began to trickle down Ryan's temples, and he truly felt exhausted, as if a heavy burden had suddenly been placed upon him.

In his heart, Ryan felt as if he had committed a great sin—though in reality, he didn't even know what to explain.

"What did you two talk about?" Ellina suddenly posed the most crucial question, her voice low but full of emphasis. Instantly, the tension in the room became palpable, the air thickening.

"We...? Just... talking to each other..." Cheonghee replied ambiguously, her eyes glancing at Ryan with a faint smile. That look made Ryan feel like a defendant, with no chance to defend himself.

"Really? 'Just talking'?" Charlotte repeated coldly, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"That's right!" Cheonghee nodded, her face appearing innocent and confident.

"Then... who exactly are you?" Ellina asked again, her gaze now sharp, trying to pierce through Cheonghee's smiling facade.

Cheonghee smiled widely, completely unburdened. "My name is Cheonghee, and I am... the owner of the largest Red District in the Kingdom of Polons." Cheonghee's words fell like a bomb in the room, intensifying the already tense atmosphere.

Instantly, Ellina and Charlotte turned to Ryan, their eyes piercing and meaningful, as if demanding an explanation for the information that had just been revealed. Ryan truly felt cornered, exhaustion beginning to envelop his thoughts. It seemed that all of Ryan's efforts to provide an explanation were in vain.

"So... you were 'just' talking?" Ellina asked again, her tone slightly calmer yet still piercing, as if she wasn't entirely convinced.

"Yes, we were just talking," Cheonghee answered firmly, nodding again. "After all, Ryan is an extraordinary person, so our conversation lasted quite a while."

Charlotte and Ellina's eyes remained fixed on Ryan, leaving him frozen in silence. Ryan wanted to clarify, but all the words caught in his throat. It felt like no matter what Ryan said, this tense atmosphere would continue to loom over him.

"If that's the case, what did you discuss?" Charlotte asked, her voice flat yet full of emphasis.

As Charlotte stared sharply at Ryan, it was as if she was expecting an explanation that never came. Ryan, feeling the pressure from that gaze, found himself powerless to provide a satisfactory answer.

"We discussed plans to support the Rebel Forces," Cheonghee replied, her voice sounding cold as breaking ice. "With the information we have as part of the Red District, we can help the Rebel Forces overthrow the current government of the Kingdom of Polons. We also want to stop those unreliable and utterly useless Heroes."

Every word that came from Cheonghee's lips seemed to carry a deep hatred for the Heroes summoned by the King, who were supposed to help fight against the looming threat of demon invasion but instead often caused more problems.

Ellina listened carefully, a sense of shock overtaking her as she observed the cold expression on Cheonghee's face. There was something that touched Ellina's heart, an empathy that she could not ignore.