Chapter 10: The Web of Deception

In the past, back on Earth, I once had drinks with Min Sena, the femme fatale.

– “Hey.”

– “Want to have some fun?”

After a few drinks and whatever conversation had passed, I found myself going to a motel with Min Sena.

– “Nice, huh?”

– “If you’re ever bored, call me. We can grab a beer now and then.”

It wasn’t like either of us was seeing anyone at the time, and Min Sena wasn’t dating anyone either. So a thought crossed my mind.

– “You’re good. Yeah, I like this. Let’s keep seeing each other.”

– “What? A girlfriend? Hmm… rather than a serious relationship, how about something more casual?”

We ended up meeting like that about three times.

– “You little punk! How dare you flirt with Sena?!”

– “Are you insane?”

– “What did you say?! That’s no way to talk to your senior!”

– “And grabbing me by the collar out of nowhere is just fine? Are you even dating Min Sena?”

– “You arrogant jerk!”

An argument broke out.

That guy had just been “set up” by Min Sena. He saw me leaving her apartment and was so blindsided with jealousy that he confronted me.

– “Seriously, this is embarrassing. What’s with you? And you, too? Ugh…!”

– “Ugh, I’m over it. Don’t contact me again. I don’t owe either of you anything.”

– “Just when I was about to enjoy a good meal, you two ruined it. Bye, blocking you both!”

That’s how it ended. I didn’t particularly mind, though things got awkward with the guy who confronted me. But Min Sena? She didn’t care at all and continued meeting other men.

Here, in this new world, things weren’t much different.

She used her charm to wrap men around her finger. Back on Earth, she used her body to lure men, while here, her skills in using “the Gaze of Enchantment” had advanced so much that she didn’t even need physical contact.

Like this guy here.

“Hey, Admut, Lord of the Tower. Did Min Sena ever go to bed with you?”

“Shut up…!”

“Have you even held her hand? Or kissed her? My guess is, you haven’t even seen her underwear.”

“You little…!”

Admut swung his fist at me. I dodged it easily, countering by kicking him square in the solar plexus.

“Argh!”

He sprawled messily on the deck. This guy, the Lord of the Tower?

It’s almost laughable.

“Hey, Admut. She’s just fooling you. Your heart skips a beat every time you see her, doesn’t it?”

“That… is love!” he spat, coughing up blood but still laughing at me.

“What would a guy who’s never known love understand about my feelings…!”

“That’s not love.”

“It is love! And I have proof…”

He pointed shakily toward the ship’s interior.

“She came here… just for me!”

“…What?”

Out stepped a woman dressed luxuriously, as if a Korean was a guest at some foreign party. Her hair bleached blonde, her familiar face smiling at me, was none other than Min Sena.

“Long time no see.”

She folded her fan with a flourish, her face lit with a smirk.

“You and that saint tried to frame me, but thanks to my dear ‘brothers,’ I’ve been cleared of all charges.”

“Framed?”

“Right. That story about me being pregnant with the Demon King’s child? Sorry, but…”

She waved her fan behind her.

“It’s not me; it must be some other wench.”

“…Oh, so you used your influence to escape on your own?”

“Only you would say something so selfish. And here I thought I could rely on you. Truly disappointing. Are you alright, dear?”

“I… I’m fine. Sorry for showing you my weakness, Lady Sena.”

She took out a handkerchief, gently wiping the blood from Admut’s lips. His gaze lingered on the curve of her chest hidden beneath her dress, and she knowingly helped him up without a word.

Min Sena knew exactly the power she held as a woman.

Rumor has it she even wore a mask, streaming as a Paprika BJ, making money off “light balloons,” and mixing with high rollers.

Flashback

Back on Earth, there was a time when I drank with Min Sena, the femme fatale.

– “Hey.”

– “Want to try it once?”

I don’t recall the exact conversation that led us there, but somehow, we ended up heading to a motel together.

– “Nice.”

– “If you’re ever bored, call me. Let’s grab a beer from time to time.”

Neither of us was dating anyone at the time, so I let myself wonder.

– “You’re good at this. Yeah, sounds good. Let’s keep meeting like this.”

– “What? My girlfriend? Hmm… How about we keep it light and enjoy ourselves instead? I think I’d prefer that over a serious relationship.”

After meeting up like that about three times…

– “You jerk! Why are you hanging around Sena?!”

– “Is he crazy?”

– “What?! Is that any way to talk to your senior?!”

– “And what’s with grabbing my collar out of nowhere? Are you even her boyfriend?”

– “This punk!”

It turned into an altercation. That guy had been trying to woo Min Sena, and when he saw me leaving her apartment, he lost it and confronted me.

– “Tsk. This is so embarrassing. And you, what are you doing? Seriously…!”

– “Ugh, annoying. I don’t care anymore. Both of you, stop contacting me. I don’t have time for this.”

– “I thought I was going to enjoy a nice meal for once, but this is just… Both of you, get lost. Blocked!”

That was the end of it with her. I didn’t feel particularly disappointed, though things became awkward with my senior who started it all. Meanwhile, Min Sena went on to date other men without a care.

And in this world? Nothing’s changed.

She captivated countless men, including the Knight Commander Arhan, and used her allure to create a web of influence among powerful people. Back on Earth, she used her body to lure them in. Here, she’s perfected the art of wielding her charm without even needing to touch them.

Take this guy, for example.

“Admut, Master of the Tower, have you ever even been to bed with her?”

“Shut up…!”

“Have you held her hand at least? Kissed her? I bet you haven’t even seen her underwear.”

“You bastard!”

Admut threw a punch at me, but I had no reason or obligation to let him land it. I parried his fist and kicked him right in the pit of his stomach.

“Gah!”

Admut stumbled onto the ship’s deck.

This guy is supposed to be the Tower Master? Ridiculous.

He’s only level 60, a mere sixth-circle mage at best. The real archmages, those above seven circles, had all fallen in battle against the Demon Army.

“Hey, Admut. You’re being deceived. When you look at her, doesn’t your heart race and flutter? Hmm?”

“That’s… love!”

Admut spat blood as he sneered at me.

“What would someone like you know about my feelings if you’ve never loved?”

“I’m telling you, it’s not love.”

“It is love! The proof…!”

Admut pointed weakly towards the interior of the ship.

“She came here in person just for me!”

“…What?”

Inside the ship, a figure clad in luxurious clothing began to ascend the deck, like a Korean at a foreign party in an expensive dress.

“No way…”

“It’s been a while.”

With golden hair and a coquettish smile, Min Sena folded her fan as she turned her gaze towards me.

“You and the Saintess tried to frame me, but thanks to my patrons, I was cleared.”

“Frame you?”

“Yeah. Claiming I was pregnant with the Demon King’s child? Sorry, but that’s…”

Min Sena gestured behind her with her fan.

“Someone else, not me.”

“…Oh. So you used your influence to get out of trouble alone?”

“Don’t say it like I’m selfish. Hmph. Brother, are you alright?”

“I-I’m fine. I apologize for showing such weakness, Lady Sena.”

Min Sena pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the blood from Admut’s lips. His gaze lingered on her neckline for a moment, and she didn’t seem to mind, continuing to clean him up as she supported him.

She knows exactly how to use her charms.

According to rumors, she even used to wear a mask as a popular Paprika streamer to earn pocket money, mingling with big names.