605
[Chapter 162]
[Belonging Nowhere (2)]
Han Do-young, chairman of Sirius Group.
He had one problem he was worrying about recently.
"To think the day would come when I'd be worrying like this because of Seo-hyun..."
His second daughter Han Seo-hyun.
His precious daughter who he cherished was recently becoming a cause of his headaches.
"Still, it's good that she's not just following everything I say like before..."
After breaking off her engagement with Choi Ye-jang.
Unlike before, Han Seo-hyun showed a firm stance in her own opinions.
She also started saying what she wanted to her family, and sometimes making requests.
Han Do-young was satisfied thinking his daughter had finally opened her heart to her family.
But because of that, she started making unreasonable requests at times.
"How much did she spend in a month? Still, I can't block her card..."
Han Do-young sighed.
With the view from the high-rise building behind him.
He was looking at Han Seo-hyun's card statement from last month.
"Her spending has increased too much."
Is it a rebound from studying abroad in Japan?
Or is it a reflection of desires that were suppressed until now?
Her monthly spending noticeably changed before and after she left to study in Japan.
"It's not like Seo-hyun is being particularly extravagant, and she's not spending money recklessly like other kids... But this is still spending a lot."
Han Do-young clicked his tongue.
Actually, he didn't think entirely negatively about his second daughter's spending.
It's embarrassing to say himself, but as the chairman of Sirius Group, ranked 2nd in the business world, he had a lot of money.
No matter how much Han Seo-hyun spent, it wouldn't be a problem for his assets.
Rather, the reason he earned so much money was to let his family live without worrying about money.
So even if her spending increased, he could just let it go thinking that's how it is.
The problem was─.
"─What is she using elixirs for... I bet she bought them to feed Eun-ha again."
That the money she was spending was mainly flowing to Noh Eun-ha.
Last year, she even paid several billion won in a lump sum to buy a phoenix egg for Eun-ha.
Han Do-young was so shocked then his eyes nearly popped out.
"Taking care of Eun-ha but not her own father..."
Han Do-young smiled bitterly.
At this rate, he shuddered thinking there was a not-impossible possibility that she might uproot the family fortune and hand it over to Eun-ha.
☆
Evening of the 3rd day of the academy cultural festival.
At that time when the moon rose in the night sky, Eun-ha visited the Nodongso booth.
"Min-ji! Eun-ha's here!"
"I just got the makeup team ready so someone take Eun-ha!"
"..."
Behind the Nodongso stage.
Eun-ha who entered the tent was immediately grabbed by students.
Kim Min-ji who was directing Nodongso had some students take Eun-ha to do his makeup.
What am I doing...
Sitting still in the chair.
Eun-ha had to receive makeup from female students and Bong Gu-rae like a doll.
Eun-ha felt a sense of disbelief about where he was.
"Honey, stay still. Otherwise we might have to redo your makeup. Come on, close your eyes quickly. Pucker your lips too."
"Pipi pipi papa papa pupu pupu!"
"Min-ji! What should we do with Buldak!?"
"Buldak is one with Noh Eun-ha so it has to go out together! It'll be hard to do makeup so just attach something simple!"
"Okay!"
"Pipi pipi papa papa pupu pupu!"
"Hah..."
"Honey, I said you can't sigh?"
The theory of Noh Eun-ha and Buldak being one.
Abbreviated as the No-Bul unity theory, Eun-ha felt confused about his identity when he heard it.
In contrast, Buldak seemed to enjoy the students' touches to the fullest.
The students combed Buldak's fur and put a bow tie around its neck.
"Why did you come so late? Didn't I tell you? You need to check the stage movements and do a rehearsal."
It was then.
Having just finished rehearsal it seems.
Jin Seo-na who was in charge of hosting came down from the stage holding a script.
She approached Eun-ha who was receiving makeup like a doll and spoke.
"It's just standing still and going out, why do I need to check stage movements, and why do I need to rehearse? I'm not going to say anything anyway."
"This kid is talking back to noona's words? Should I put handcuffs on your hands and feet and lock you in a mobile prison to bring you up?"
"That noona talk again..."
A fox giving a scolding.
Eun-ha decided to ignore her reflected in the mirror in front.
Meanwhile, following Jin Seo-na, Yoo Do-jun who was co-hosting with her spoke.
"Eun-ha. Let's hit it big today. I saw the people gathered outside, and it seems like scouts from all the famous clans are here."
"Haven't we already earned a lot? But do you have to sell me too?"
"This kid doesn't know what he's talking about. Hey, if other kids are just coffee, you're coffee made from cat poop. You're the main, the main! Other kids just played the role of operating Nodongso yesterday and the day before."
Sticking right next to him.
Yoo Do-jun explained the charms of capitalism to Eun-ha.
Eun-ha was disgusted.
The students were excited thinking about having an after-party with the money, saying they were earning the most money in cultural festival history.
But Eun-ha couldn't be happy thinking he was being sold off like a slave.
And soon after─.
[─We will now begin the final night of Nodongso! I'm the cute fox Jin Seo-na who will introduce the academy's gems to the employers gathered here!]
"Not cute but stingy..."
Nodongso began.
Eun-ha clicked his tongue at the cheers that erupted the moment Jin Seo-na who went up on stage burst out her telepathic lines.
He could tell how many people were gathered outside right now.
[Then I'll introduce the first gem. This gem is...]
Then Yoo Do-jun's introduction.
Eun-ha looked at the students going up on stage according to the order.
They were excited at the thought of showcasing their skills to people.
But Eun-ha who was standing in line with them just felt complicated.
It was then.
"Noh Eun-ha! Look at me!"
"...Why are you here?"
Ariel suddenly appeared from somewhere.
Eun-ha was dumbfounded seeing her who wasn't even staff suddenly appear in front of him.
Regardless, Ariel suddenly grabbed both of Eun-ha's hands.
Her red eyes trembled.
"Eun-ha Eun-ha."
"What's wrong with you?"
Ariel speaking as if about to cry.
Eun-ha was flustered.
He thought she seemed much more stable recently, but wondered if a day of depression surging had come.
But Ariel completely betrayed his thoughts.
"─I'm sorry! I didn't win the contest so I couldn't get the prize money..."
"...Huh?"
Eun-ha asked back in disbelief.
Ariel continued speaking as if about to cry.
"So I gathered all the money I had left including my soul, and even borrowed 1 million won from Grae-gu to make 1,985,000 won!?"
"So... What do you want me to do?"
"So, so... It's money I saved recently without even drinking..."
"If you didn't drink, shouldn't you have saved more? How much sponsorship are you receiving..."
"So, so!"
Noh Eun-ha retorted.
Then Ariel raised her voice and ignored his voice.
"I'll buy you for 1,985,000 won, so don't get sold to someone else? Please don't get sold!"
"Say something that makes sense. And what do you think I can do?"
So she came to say that in the end.
Eun-ha snorted after hearing Ariel's story.
1,985,000 won.
It was an amount that didn't even reach the average bid price for 3rd year students.
To think she was trying to buy him with that money.
Eun-ha immediately rejected her plea saying it was nonsense.
"And what are you going to do after buying me? What request are you going to make?"
"I was going to buy you for 1,985,000 won and drink with you all night! I was going to ask you to buy alcohol worth over 3 million won!"
"Geez..."
"Papa..."
The calculation of earning over 3 million in profit after buying for 1,985,000.
Even Buldak was dumbfounded.
But Ariel didn't have any doubts about what she was saying.
"Anyway! You promised me!? You absolutely can't get sold to someone else!"
"Where did this kid come in from? Take her away, and you guys look around to see if there are any side paths!"
Finally she was discovered by the students.
The students following Kim Min-ji's orders grabbed both her arms and dragged her away somewhere.
Eun-ha watched the mermaid who kept telling him to please get sold to her even as she got farther away.
"She's not drunk, is she?"
"Pipi..."
And so, time passed.
Noh Eun-ha's turn came.
☆
Introducing Noh Eun-ha's Companions.
Abbreviated as Nodongso.
When officials first heard news about Nodongso, they felt a shock like their hair standing on end.
It was that groundbreaking.
The clans had decided by mutual agreement not to recruit any students until the day the cultural festival ended.
But it was obvious that the clans who sent guest instructors this time would use their positions to approach students in some way and build bonds with them.
In the end, clans who couldn't get that opportunity would start at a disadvantage when recruitment time came.
In that situation, Nodongso was a way for them to approach Noh Eun-ha and the Noh Eun-ha squad students without violating the agreement between clans.
"Did they come up from Daejeon too..."
"I heard the Suwon kids brought a lot of money this time..."
"How much did you bring?"
"What about you? How many bullets did you bring?"
So the clans who heard the news hurriedly gathered available money and visited the academy cultural festival.
Even clans who sent guest instructors sent scouts with plenty of money.
As a result, Nodongso was breaking the highest profit record in cultural festival history.
"How much money do you need to hire kids known as the Noh Eun-ha squad for a day?"
"Surprisingly, other kids besides the Noh Eun-ha squad are skilled too?"
"Then you buy those kids. I'll buy the Noh Eun-ha squad kids. Let's not overlap."
"A day... It's at least 5 million won to hire for half a day in reality..."
"If I knew this I would have bought on the second day. Then I could have bought Choi Eun-hyuk for 5 million won..."
The winning bid prices for students who came out in Nodongso averaged 2 million at first, but the average kept rising each day.
On the last day of Nodongso, it was approaching close to 4 million.
But in the case of students belonging to the Noh Eun-ha squad, known as the main of Nodongso, they were sold at even higher prices.
Choi Eun-hyuk who was sold on the second day went for 5 million, while Bong Gu-rae and Kang Si-hyung's winning bids were only 4 million each.
But Hoshimiya Kaede who came out in Nodongso on the third day was sold for 8 million, and Jin Pa-rang for 10 million.
And again on that day─.
[─12 million has been bid! 12 million! Is there no more!?]
Though Youngwon Group has a separate chairman.
Yoo Do-jun who is actually the real power of Youngwon Group.
He was stimulating people holding a microphone in a tone like at a marketplace.
[Ah, 14 million has just been bid!]
""""They're crazy....""""
That day, Mok Min-ho's price kept rising and not only broke the 10 million wall, but recorded a price of 14 million.
Though they certainly brought a lot of money, the scouts who didn't expect such a large sum would be needed to hire an academy student for half a day clicked their tongues.
"Then how much will Noh Eun-ha's price jump!?"
"Hey, you. Tell me honestly. How much did you bring to buy Noh Eun-ha?"
"We didn't know it would cost over 10 million to buy just one kid! But we can't ask the clan lord to draw more..."
Most industry officials fell into panic after seeing Mok Min-ho get sold for 14 million.
The reason Mok Min-ho's price skyrocketed was surely because of the skills he showed in today's comprehensive division competition.
Then how high a price would
They were busy calculating.
And people who were aiming only for Noh Eun-ha without hiring anyone had to rack their brains.
They had firmly believed an opportunity would come if they waited, but actually the second day was the opportunity.
"But there's still hope left."
"Hope? What hope?"
"Didn't the academy put a limit on the amount that can be used in Nodongso to prevent excessive speculation?"
"You mean there's a limit."
"So how much is the limit?"
"30 million won."
""""..."""""
The maximum amount a single company could use during Nodongso was 30 million.
Those who had dismissed it as an absurd thought when they first heard the regulation, saying who would spend 30 million in Nodongso, had to be dismayed.
The officials who never expected students' prices to soar like this had to confirm Noh Eun-ha's price as 30 million won.
Therefore, most industry officials who had used even a single won in Nodongso the previous day and the day before showed reluctance.
Also, those who didn't participate in Nodongso but couldn't bring the large sum of 30 million had to be frustrated.
"So it's one of two in the end."
"One of two?"
"You're so clueless... I wonder if there's a clan among those gathered here that can pay 30 million won to hire Noh Eun-ha for half a day. And that's for a student they're not certain they can recruit unconditionally."
"I don't think they'll try to buy Noh Eun-ha by spending 30 million. Probably between 25 million and 30 million... I think it'll be set around there."
"It's a battle of wits from now on. In a situation where most have spent money once, the clan that left the most money will buy Noh Eun-ha."
"This is really difficult. Spending 30 million just to get to know one student is too much of a loss no matter how you think about it, but we can't not participate either..."
People all let out sighs.
Then while being wary of each other, they tried to guess how much funds each other currently had.
Time passed like that and finally─.
[─Then we will now start the auction for
Jin Seo-na's telepathy rang in the heads of the people present.
☆
Noh Eun-ha's auction began.
Eun-ha who went up on stage had to receive mischievous teasing from Jin Seo-na.
She told him to show something that could appeal his charms, as other students had done.
It's not like some talent show...
To this, Eun-ha had to show Buldak's magic, not wanting to ruin the atmosphere.
People then marveled at Buldak's abilities.
Anyway, people who confirmed Eun-ha's abilities had their eyes sparkling─.
[─20 million has been bid! Ah, 21 million has just been bid!]
Eun-ha's winning bid price was rapidly soaring.
Eun-ha was just bewildered seeing people showing enthusiasm to buy his 6 hours.
What's 6 hours?
It's not even 6 hours in reality.
Moreover, though it's nominally employment, it's just having errands run.
It was nothing but a waste of money.
Eun-ha clicked his tongue.
People seemed to know that too, as the price rose to 25 million and then showed signs of slowing down a bit.
[26.2 million! Is there no more!?]
Between 26 million and 27 million.
Eun-ha watched the price that seemed to be gradually stabilizing.
While people were slowly withdrawing their hands, the excited person was Yoo Do-jun who kept banging the gavel while looking at the electronic board.
That kid is really excited.
He's completely become a slave to money.
Even Jin Seo-na's eyes hosting next to Yoo Do-jun were possessed by money.
Just then─.
[─29 million! Is there no more!]
The price that was becoming 27 million suddenly jumped to 29 million.
People were surprised and lost for words.
But the Incheon clan that hadn't participated in Nodongso at all until now had a proud expression.
[Is there no more!]
Do-jun urged while banging the gavel.
But no clan was trying to offer an amount over 29 million.
It was then─.
[─Yes, over there! The woman in the black dress... Oh? Han Seo-hyun noona?]
Someone raised their hand from the back.
Yoo Do-jun pointed to her.
And his eyes widened when he realized her identity.
It was Han Seo-hyun.
Why is that noona here?
She said she was too busy to come...
At the name Han Seo-hyun.
Eun-ha's head turned automatically.
Indeed, as Do-jun said, she was standing there with bodyguards.
Then Han Seo-hyun who received a microphone from staff made eye contact with Eun-ha and─.
[─100 million.]
[...Excuse me?]
""""..."""""
Instead of raising a sign, Han Seo-hyun suddenly stated the price through the microphone.
Yoo Do-jun unconsciously asked back, wondering if he had heard wrong.
People were lost for words.
What is that noona saying now?
Eun-ha was the same.
He doubted his ears too.
Regardless, Han Seo-hyun─.
[─100 million. I think it's worth 100 million to hire for 6 hours...]
Han Seo-hyun said proudly.