The Heroine Stole My Regression

16 – Compensation (3)

The negotiation was satisfactory.

Especially for me.

Leaving the negotiation table, I held a makeshift voucher in my hand.

A token that could be exchanged later, once the Japanese side sent the Dongbaek sword to the Korean Association.

They said they’d send it within a few days.

The expressions of those on the other side weren’t bad after the negotiations ended.

It wouldn’t have gone that way if I had only pushed them too far.

Leaving some breathing room is the basis of negotiation, after all.

There’s no need to make enemies of an entire nation, though it wouldn’t really matter if I did.

Of course, I definitely nailed down the core issue.

While declaring that the cross could never be handed over, I provided additional relic information about Iano, hidden somewhere on their mainland.

The settings weren’t detailed, so pinpointing the exact location was impossible.

They claimed it was somewhere near Hokkaido, but that hint alone seemed to satisfy them enough.

I wondered if it was alright to give it away, but the rewards there are poor.

And I can’t go anyway.

“Hae-in-nim…!”

From far away, Mr. Kim Gil-gyu hurriedly called out to me.

“Yes?”

“We received an urgent call from the Chinese side. It seems to be about Iano’s tomb. They offered a huge reward….”

Seems they caught a whiff of it too.

They must think they can still overturn things, since the final contract isn’t sealed yet.

“What will you do? Since the deal isn’t finalized, you could start a new round of negotiations—”

Before I knew it, a laugh burst from me.

“Ah… China… heh.”

I couldn’t hold back the escaping chuckle.

I never even considered selling to them in the first place.

“Not selling. Absolutely not.”

It wasn’t just Japan with the bad blood, after all.

*

The upscale hotel cafe in the heart of the city, run by the Yeonggwang Corporation, is always bustling.

Beneath the antique chandeliers, elegant classical music fills the air. But right now, all eyes were fixed on the center of the cafe.

There, were the renowned cadets of Gaon, Yu Hana and Cheon Yeoul.

Yu Hana sat with her long, slender legs crossed, her azure hair shining brilliantly under the lights. In contrast, Cheon Yeoul, with her neatly styled bob and modest attire, emanated an aura of warmth, almost saintly.

“Unni…! Please, give me your autograph…!”

A young fan, having squeezed next to Yu Hana, held out a small piece of paper.

She replied with a bright smile, her voice soft.

“Sure, hand me the paper?”

The sight of her signing and interacting with the fan with such graceful movements was picturesque in itself.

From afar, the two seemed like a match made in heaven. Their beauty and grace were more than enough to captivate those around them.

However, the reality was different.

The conversation audible at a closer proximity revealed a completely different atmosphere.

Yu Hana spun the teacup on the table with her fingertips, and began to speak.

“Did you enjoy it?”

Cheon Yeoul calmly put down her teacup with a smile.

“Yes, very much.”

Cheon Yeoul’s voice flowed smoothly, but a peculiar energy lingered within.

Yu Hana lifted her teacup, the corner of her lips tilting upward.

“I’ll admit you did well this time, while I respect him, that elixir…”

Yu Hana stopped mid-sentence and looked up, sensing something strange.

Cheon Yeoul took a sip of her tea, her expression still lost in the lingering afterglow.

A faintly flushed face, and a gaze that seemed to drift into the distance.

“…What are you doing?”

Yu Hana’s sharp voice jolted Cheon Yeoul, who looked up as if snapping back to reality.

“Ah.”

Cheon Yeoul smiled languidly, tilting her head slightly.

The subtle curve of her lips was more than enough to provoke Yu Hana.

“Sorry, it’s just that when I think about then, even now…”

Yu Hana’s eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

Cheon Yeoul, seemingly unconcerned by her reaction, tapped her fingers on the table as she continued, her words measured.

“Had to circulate the medicine, massage it into every inch of her body… You know how it is.”

“Sleeping soundly in my arms… Do you know how adorable she was?”

Yu Hana’s smile faltered, ever so slightly. You could almost see the tension coiling in the tips of her fingers.

Cheon Yeoul seemed to relish her reaction, lifting her glass to take another sip before adding,

“Oblivious to whatever I might do to her…”

“It’s fortunate, then.”

Yu Hana placed her untouched glass down slowly.

Her voice was low and quiet, but the smile remained fixed on her face.

“That there are so many people around.”

Cheon Yeoul cocked her head, looking at her questioningly.

“Why?”

“Or else I might have actually killed you.”

The air seemed to freeze for a moment at her words.

Cheon Yeoul lifted one corner of her mouth in a small smile.

“Such drama.”

“Just be careful.”

In the midst of this, a young male fan approached Cheon Yeoul, asking for an autograph.

Cheon Yeoul smiled with an almost maternal warmth as she signed the paper the boy offered.

The boy clasped his hands together, shifting his weight slightly, as if he wanted to say something. His small feet shuffled on the floor, and his lips moved hesitantly.

“Little one, is there something you want to say?”

Cheon Yeoul smiled softly, as if trying to ease the child’s hesitation.

“Is it true that Saintess is dating the Warrior Johan?”

“Pfft!”

Cheon Yeoul’s expression tightened momentarily at the child’s unexpected question.

Yu Hana, on the other hand, covered her mouth, stifling a burst of laughter.

“No, absolutely not. No, absolutely not.”

“Then, when I grow up, I’m going to marry Saintess!”

The little one puffed out his chest with confidence, as if he’d been waiting for the chance, and declared it boldly.

Cheon Yeoul smiled, amused, and gently stroked the child’s head.

“That’s kind of you, but it’s not possible.”

The little boy’s face fell instantly, and he looked like he was about to cry.

“Is it because you’re already taken? Sorry?”

*

A massive, medieval-style building stood tall in the heart of the city.

Its appearance seemed out of place, yet it blended surprisingly well into the cityscape.

‘The Arcadia Order.’

I had now arrived before the Order’s temple.

Since I was on vacation anyway…

Strike while the iron’s hot, as they say. I was planning to get rid of all those cross relics today.

‘We can keep it confidential, or make it public.’

The Association had asked me whether or not to publicly announce the successful dungeon raid.

I’d tentatively said I wanted it kept private.

But…

“Will it stay that way?”

There were quite a few people within the Association who enjoyed supplementing their income by selling information.

Thanks to them, it was bound to come out soon anyway.

I sorted through my thoughts as I stepped inside the temple. Unlike its exterior, the interior was clean and modern.

I approached a priest who was reviewing documents at the counter.

“Priest.”

“Yes~? How can I help you?”

The priest greeted me with a kind smile.

“I wish to sell an artifact.”

“An arti…fact?”

Her expression tightened, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she began shuffling through papers. “And the name would be?”

“Jeong Hae-in.”

The moment my name left my lips, a distant clatter echoed from somewhere deep within.

Then, a priest came rushing out, a flustered look upon his face.

“Ah, you should have announced yourself!”

“…Is there someone I needed to know?”

“Haha, I suppose not?”

The priest offered an awkward smile, scratching the back of his head.

“I’ll escort you to the reception room. This way, please.”

He bowed politely, gesturing for me to follow.

“The truth is, Lady Cheon Yeo-ul specifically instructed us to treat Jeong Hae-in with the utmost respect should he arrive.”

“Speaking of which… if you could perhaps put in a good word for me with her…”

I nodded subtly.

Seeing him so eager to please her, it seemed Cheon Yeo-ul was already solidifying her power within the Order.

The Arcadia Order’s internal power structure was divided roughly into two factions.

Those supporting the Hero, Johan, and those supporting the Saintess, Cheon Yeo-ul.

Johan’s supporters clung to tradition and past glories, a gathering of stodgy old men centered around the Hero.

From that perspective, Cheon Yeo-ul securing her influence, as she just demonstrated, was precisely the right move.

The Order’s reception room was considerably more lavish.

“Would you mind waiting here for a moment? The individual overseeing the transaction will arrive shortly.”

After the priest excused himself, it wasn’t long before a middle-aged man, dressed in an impeccable suit, entered.

He gave a composed bow in my direction.

“Jeong Hae-in-ssi, I presume? It is an honor to meet you. I am Bishop Luke, and I will be handling the transaction for the Arcadia Order.”

His demeanor was quiet, yet dignified.

Instead of replying, I retrieved the cross from my bag and displayed it.

“I wish to sell this.”

As the crucifix in my hand came into view, Father Luke’s gaze underwent a subtle shift.

A flicker of both surprise and reverence seemed to cross his features, as if he already grasped the significance of the object before him.

He carefully studied the crucifix, collecting himself, then asked in a low voice,

“From my meager understanding, I sense an extraordinary divine power. If you happen to know its name…”

“It is a relic of the shamaness, Iano.”

“Ah… I see. Indeed.”

I nodded, offering him the crucifix.

Father Luke accepted it with a tense expression, saying,

“We are already grateful for you even considering selling it to us. However…”

His voice dropped slightly.

“It is only right that we offer you terms that Mister Jeong-in would find satisfactory, but… this is such a significant item…”

Ah, I could roughly guess what he was getting at.

‘Setting a price falls outside my purview, as it’s too monumental of an object, so I require time for deliberation.’ That was the gist of it.

Truthfully, I wasn’t overly concerned with the money. I was originally planning on just giving it away.

“You can inform me of the price later. Could I just have a contract?”

At my words, Father Luke seemed slightly flustered, hastily producing a blank contract and pen from within his robes.

Taking the contract he offered, I quickly scribbled something down.

“Done. Here you go.”

“As long as these conditions are met, feel free to contact me with the price whenever it’s decided.”

It was a contract bearing the guarantee of Arcadia’s deity. One that must be obeyed.

His eyes widened as he read the contract I had written.

He examined the contents for a long while before finally nodding.

“Very well. To ask for so little… We are grateful for your generosity.”

While Cheon Yeo-ul was convinced that the order would certainly give her the crucifix, one never truly knew.

It seemed more advantageous for her if I set clear conditions.

The contents of the contract were simple.

‘Iano’s crucifix must be used for a ‘Saintess’ candidate.’

Father Luke reviewed the contract once more, then quietly smiled.

“There isn’t anyone within the order who would… reject these terms.”

He carefully folded the contract and tucked it away, adding,

“Unless, of course, one is a heathen.”

And the Bishop Luke before me was renowned within the Arcadia Order as a staunch ‘Pro-Saint’ faction member.

He inclined his head toward me, saying,

“The divinity imbued in this relic must, without fail, be entrusted into the hands of one who is truly qualified.”

He would fulfill the role I desired, perfectly.