Chapter 96 – 26. Esna (3)
The wagon carrying Esna and I moved toward the western part of the ecliptic without hesitation.
The ecliptic ‘Cairapellium’ is divided into four zones, east, west, south, and north, centered on the huge imperial castle in the center.
Among them, the west district, where we are headed, is lined with shops from all kinds of merchants.
It is a district where shops and shops of various fields, restaurants serving various cuisines from all over the continent and numerous leisure facilities are concentrated. It is perfect to spend time eating out and shopping with acquaintances on a day off.
I have been to these streets a few times over the weekend with Jihye and Hyerin.
Will Kim Yuna and I come around here tomorrow?
Esna’s sumptuous wagon quickly passes familiar roads, heading further west.
The grandeur of the imperial castle in the distance fades little by little. The bustling downtown area and leisurely ladies gradually disappeared, and the number of busy merchants running around carrying documents and boxes began to increase.
After about 10 minutes, the carriage slowly slowed down as if it had finally reached its destination. Admiration comes out of the hugeness of the building forest in front of my eyes outside the window.
“Wow, is this your business building? It’s very tall.”
The building the carriage stopped in front of was taller than any other commercial building I had ever seen in another world. The 20th floor seems to be well over. There are many tall buildings around here.
How to say, it feels like I’m always hanging out in the back alleys of Minso subway stations, and suddenly I’m in the middle of the city at Gangnam Station.
One of these tall buildings belongs to Esna’s company. She was good at getting along with her.
The 20-year-old injured Danju corrected my misunderstanding by twisting the ends of her own gray hair, a bit embarrassed.
“Umm, actually, all of the surrounding buildings belong to our company. This is the main building for VIP reception…”
“Oh···.”
······Not a building, but the owner of a forest of buildings.
We got off the wagon and entered the building side by side. Beyond the transparent glass automatic door, more than 10 executives and employees were lined up on both sides, bowing at right angles.
“Welcome to Haries Co.!!”
Their loud voices echoed in the lobby, where the ceiling was open up to the third floor. The sight of everyone wearing black suits greeting us is like a gangster gang in a movie.
It was completely unexpected hospitality, but I, who had been trained by my experience of attending banquets, did not show a surprise. She nodded her head as if it were a natural treatment, and looked at Esna’s profile with her sidelong glance.
Esna, who only thought she was a commoner working hard, was an executive of a business that had prospered so much. She is amazing with her reverse charm.
Her confidence, familiar with giving instructions to the executive who came next to her, is different from her appearance, which was ignored at the academy as a non-attribute.
“Where is your father?”
Esna she proudly crosses between rows of people.
“The Lord of the Top is currently waiting for guests in the lounge on the top floor. The dinner is ready to be served at any time.”
“OK.”
She spun from her place and looked at me. A lively smile hung on the 20-year-old business woman’s face.
“Jihoo, shall we have lunch first? I’ll treat you to the most expensive menu!”
“Yes, yes. Then.”
Esna is as bright as a puppy out for a walk. I ran after her.
* * *
“This is the ‘Pionnelyi’, which is made by mixing the raw flesh of ‘Tiaound Fish’, a specialty of the Riera region, with the finest ‘Gosley Sauce’ with a purity of 99%.”
“This is a dish stir-fried with the liver of a monster called ‘Kreak’.”
“This one-“
“This way-“
“Thank you···.”
I have no idea what is what.
The banquet hall on the top floor arrived after Esna.
I am sitting at the head of the large table and enjoying a sumptuous course meal for lunch.
The meat and fish gently melt on the tongue, and the refreshing feeling spreads throughout the body as the cool drink passes through the mouth and throat.
Most of the food that has reached me is new to me, but all of them are delicious. Of course, it’s not as good as the food at ‘Palace of the Holy Spirit’, the castle of the 3rd Princess Amer, but it’s much better than the cafeteria in the academy commoner’s dormitory.
“How about our company’s cuisine? Does it taste good?”
“Awesome. Some even want to buy the recipe.”
My answer was half a joke. Usually, the recipe for this kind of dish is an important asset of the merchant, so it is not for sale, and even if it is sold, it will be very expensive.
But,
“It’s free for you Jihoo. Just tell me what dish it is and I’ll let you know later.”
Esna grinned as she sliced the meat to my left with a knife. Her hand movements were as elegant and noble as that of an aristocratic young lady who was educated in etiquette. To the point where she for a moment forgot that she was a commoner.
“This is a dessert where you can feel the freshness of natural mana as it is by freezing clean magical water from the ‘Furiya Mountains.’ Also, this is a ‘Rutella Biscuit’ made with finely ground ‘Rups Beans’.”
Unfortunately, it is already the last order of the course meal. A middle-aged male waiter in a dandy outfit put sweet snacks and ice cream on the table for dessert.
Feeling drowsy and full, I leaned back on the soft cushion. I fall asleep easily because of starvation. But it shouldn’t be like that. Because there is someone who is planning to meet now.
“After you finish eating this, are you going to see the lord of the upper division here? Isn’t that your father?”
According to the staff at the lobby on the first floor, the top bar is currently waiting for me. I went upstairs and thought I’d see him right away, but Esna led me to the dining room.
Therefore, my next schedule must be meeting Esna’s father.
“Umm…”
She lowered her head and swallowed her incomprehensible laugh.
The waiter who had just brought us food suddenly bowed politely to me.
“It’s nice to meet you, Jung Ji-hoo. I’m Esna’s father, Hendor.”
A dandy middle-aged male waiter with pomade-style gray hair. He was Esna’s father and the head of Haries Firm.
I immediately stood up from the chair with a surprised expression on my face.
“Hello. I’m Esna’s friend Jeong Ji-hoo.”
“Are you surprised? My father said he wanted to serve you personally, so it’s like this.”
“I sincerely apologize if you felt uncomfortable.”
“No. The food was so delicious that it just made me feel good.”
Hendor smiled softly and invited me to return to the high table. Then, without even looking at the chair himself, he politely put his hands together and bowed down again.
“I heard that you saved my daughter’s life this time. Besides, unlike the other non-awakened saints who lost her reason and ran amok, you used mana to put her daughter to sleep… I really don’t know how to express my gratitude.”
“Esna is my best friend. She just did what she deserved. Her father, please have a seat too. Feel free to talk to me too.”
Es I lowered her gaze and wiggled her fingers as her cheeks blushed slightly at my answer.
However, she froze immediately after being scolded by her father.
“How can I, a mere commoner, do that to a nobleman?
Yes. I am no longer a prospective aristocrat whose status rises only after graduating from the academy. Although it is still an honorary position, he is a strict nobility whose name is officially registered in the House of Nobility.
Hendor and Esna must be hundreds of times richer than me, but they are commoners and their status is absolute. There is a wall between us that money can never cross.
I could, if I wish, punish Esna immediately ‘for insulting the honor of a nobleman by openly ignoring the difference of her status’.
A few days after I ascended the throne, Esna finally realized her mistake and jumped up from her seat. Her quivering eyes turned to me. Apparently, she was so used to being comfortable with me that she didn’t even notice.
Of course, it’s also because I didn’t bother.
“It’s okay. I came here today not as a noble guest, but as Esna’s friend. Esna treats me as usual, too. I don’t care.”
If a worthless commoner insults me, I’ll punish him as I see fit when no one is around. Esna and Hendor are useful, so don’t treat them carelessly. The external image of being merciful even to the lower classes is a bonus.
“I’m sorry… Jung Ji-hoo, would you mind if I chat with you for a while?”
“Sure.”
“Esuna, go out and rejoice while you wake up. I’ve prepared a dress that suits you in advance.”
“Yes. That… Jung Ji-hoo, sir, I’ll come back…?”
There was no need for that, but Esna took a much more cautious attitude than before and left the banquet hall. Only me and Hender Sangju were left in the restaurant. He is still standing and not sitting in a chair.
Hendor spoke as he refilled my empty glass of ice.
“S, I am my one and only precious child. She has a glimpse of her own commercial talent as well, and she is also planning to inherit my company in the future.”
Suddenly, the clear ice vibrates and collides with the purple liquid that gradually fills up, making a clear sound.
“It is my treasure and my future.”
His gray eyes met mine. A pair of marbles, cold, inorganic, like a ball of ash.
“I wonder what Jung Ji-hoo thinks of Esna.”
“He’s a good friend. I think he’s kind-hearted, pretty, and a sincere hard worker. He has a challenging spirit to aim for a dream that seems impossible. I don’t know why he gave up on his dream recently.”
S I dreamed of being a non-attribute wizard. Today I want to hear why she suddenly quit her club.
As if he liked my positive evaluation, he tilts the bottle with a brighter expression.
“In return for Mr. Ji-Hoo Jeong’s saving her daughter’s life, we have prepared a very unconventional product.”
Hendor handed me a glass full of purple. A drink that was responsible for my lunch with a course meal. The color is very slightly different from before.
To the point where I wouldn’t recognize it if it weren’t for me.
Maybe it was because it pooled at the bottom of the bottle, or…
“Today’s recommended product is Esna. In addition, now, you can bring this large store with you.”
…For some reason, it seemed like this.
His gaze as he observes me is not just a welcome and welcoming atmosphere. A gaze as if examining and evaluating me.
It is never easy for commoners to prosper as much as this. Nonetheless, Hendor succeeded, which is quite remarkable. However, as a commoner in the end, the limits of growth are obvious.
‘I didn’t just call to repay me.’
This is actually not a bad suggestion for me either. If the deal goes through, you can get a decent woman for a commoner along with great wealth.
“Hmm… There are a lot of conditions to consider, but first I’ll ask the most important thing. What about the price?”
Esna’s price list.
When I properly understood and responded to his intentions, the corners of Hendor’s mouth went up as if tearing.
“Originally, it was planned to be different depending on whether Esna is a wife, concubine, maid, rental or possession, usage period, and childbirth, but… This is a special event limited to Jung Ji-hoo. I’ll give it to you free of charge, on the condition that you give birth once.”
I passed all the fresh drinks down my throat. A familiar sense of refreshment refreshed the body, and at the same time, a strange aura that had never been invited spread throughout the body.
A small amount of pink mana hidden in the purple liquid was torn into three branches, each headed for my brain, heart, and genitals.
Then they were all eaten up by my light blue mana.
I thought Leah’s warning that an unknown aphrodisiac was spreading across the ecliptic had nothing to do with me.
I’ll meet you right away…
“You don’t have to buy it right away. Please enjoy today as much as you want with our company and Esna.”
Just in time, the banquet hall opened and Esna entered in a light blue dress. The sound of high heels stopped in front of me.
She covered her bare thighs and her breastbone with her hand, glaring at her father with her eyes asking what the hell was this. A shy blush bloomed on top of the light makeup.
“Ah, if you open the packaging, you can’t exchange or refund.”
Hendor whispered quietly in my ear.
“I’ll be careful.”
I got up and escorted a shy Es me out of her door.
‘The packaging looks like it could peel off even with the slightest breeze.’
He is a man like a snail.
A trader who knows how to take risks, regardless of tools and methods for a purpose. Did I inherit her father’s spirit of challenge?
The guy’s tricks have already been exposed.
I looked down at Esna’s milky collarbone.
She must have put on some perfume, and the nape of her neck exuded a dizzying pheromone that stimulated her man’s heart.
The scent was still pink.
