Chapter 40 : If You Don't Like the Temple, the Monk Should Leave
"Is this... Body Enhancement Pill?"
Hong Yeorin asked, looking at the yellow pill in front of her.
"Yes."
Cheon Myeong's short answer.
Then, Hong Yeorin cautiously picked up the pill on the table with her hand.
"..."
Hong Yeorin looked at the pill closely, holding it up to her eyes.
In her gaze as she examined the pill, a lot of doubt was mixed as to whether this was really Body Enhancement Pill or not.
However, no matter how closely she examined it, Hong Yeorin did not have the ability to determine whether this was really a genuine product.
'Is this Body Enhancement Pill?'
First of all, it was certain that its appearance was peculiar.
Because she had never seen a pill with a yellow color like this before.
But just with that, there were still many suspicious parts to conclude that this was Body Enhancement Pill.
"Is it really... Body Enhancement Pill?"
Hong Yeorin asked Cheon Myeong once again.
"Have you only been deceived all your life?"
"..."
"If you eat it, you'll know whether it's real or not. I wouldn't have given you poison to eat, would I?"
As he said, the possibility of this being poison was almost nil.
No matter how much it was Cheon Myeong, if he killed her, the head of the Finance Hall, he would not be able to avoid punishment.
Her death was the same as the paralysis of the entire finances of the Demonic Cult.
It would be fortunate if they could quickly find a person who could replace her, but frankly, how many people would be able to handle this position?
The losses that would occur in the meantime would be astronomical, so Cheon Myeong would never be able to handle it.
Although Hong Yeorin knew that fact, she did not completely let down her guard against Cheon Myeong.
"Hurry up and eat it."
Cheon Myeong said, as if he were recommending a candy.
In the end, Hong Yeorin decided to eat it herself.
"I understand... I will try eating it."
Hong Yeorin said that and slowly brought the pill she was holding to her mouth.
Whoosh-.
Unlike her hesitation, Hong Yeorin put the pill into her mouth in an instant.
Then, the pill stayed on Hong Yeorin's tongue for a while.
And as time passed, it disappeared in an instant, as if it had melted in her mouth.
"..."
After swallowing the pill, Hong Yeorin was still for a while.
Since she had felt the shape completely disappear in her mouth, it was certain that the intake had been properly done.
Swish-.
In order to check the effect, Hong Yeorin moved her two hands towards her chest.
However.
Strangely, no change was felt in Hong Yeorin's chest.
Twitch-.
As no effect was felt, Hong Yeorin's face was instantly contorted with venom.
And that venom was directed at Cheon Myeong.
And at the same time, a cold voice flowed out.
"What happened?"
"What?"
"What do you mean, what... don't you see if you have eyes, Young Master?"
Saying that, Hong Yeorin proudly stuck out her chest.
"It's the same, isn't it!"
"That's natural."
"...?"
To say that it was natural that there was no change.
As Cheon Myeong said that so calmly, Hong Yeorin was rather bewildered.
"Do you think the effect will come out so quickly?"
"...Does that mean the effect will come out if I wait?"
"Yes, a person's body is not that simple. You have to give it time to grow slowly."
"..."
When Cheon Myeong said that, Hong Yeorin's face returned to its original state for now.
Of course, those words could just be an excuse to buy time.
But since Cheon Myeong was at the main headquarters, he would not be able to run away from her, so Hong Yeorin decided to wait for now.
"How long do I have to wait?"
"Hmm, will it be enough to wait for about a month?"
"You mean the effect will come out perfectly in just a month?"
"That's right, but it might not grow as much as you think."
"What does that mean!"
Venom appeared on Hong Yeorin's face again.
However, Cheon Myeong maintained his composure and explained step by step.
"Did you think your breasts would grow enormously just by eating that one?"
"...Isn't that so?"
"It won't grow that much just by eating one. There will be some individual differences, but generally, it will probably grow about this much."
Saying that, Cheon Myeong raised his right hand.
And he made a gap with his index finger and thumb and showed it to Hong Yeorin.
"..."
Seeing the gap that Cheon Myeong was showing with his fingers, Hong Yeorin's two eyes widened.
Does that mean that the gap between the index finger and thumb is all there is?
The distance between the fingers was so short that if one didn't look closely, one would be under the illusion that the index finger and thumb were touching.
"Is that all?"
"For now, the effect you can see with this one is only this much."
She could not be satisfied with just that much.
In order to approach the ideal she wanted, she needed an effect several times greater than that...
This was almost no different from not having eaten Body Enhancement Pill.
"Did you deceive me!"
Hong Yeorin said in a loud voice.
She had taken the risk of becoming enemies with Jang Hyeon to get this.
As the reward was not as great as she had thought, Hong Yeorin couldn't help but be angry at Cheon Myeong.
However, Cheon Myeong rather retorted to Hong Yeorin as if he were the one who was wronged.
"Why did I deceive you?"
"Isn't that so! For just this much of an effect, I..."
"I don't think I've ever mentioned the effect."
"That's..."
Cheon Myeong's words were right.
Although Cheon Myeong had presented Body Enhancement Pill as a condition for the deal, he had not said how much of an effect it would have if he ate it.
If her breasts grew even a little, it would be Body Enhancement Pill, wouldn't it?
Come to think of it, Cheon Myeong's words were not wrong.
However.
'It's just a play on words!'
But that didn't mean she thought that Cheon Myeong had not deceived her.
Rather, as she thought that he had cleverly played with words, Hong Yeorin became even more angry.
"So you're saying you've done nothing wrong, Young Master!"
"Calm down for now."
"..."
"So what you want is to get a little more effect than now, right?"
"...That's right."
Hong Yeorin nodded her head at the same time as she answered.
Cheon Myeong, seeing this, said with a light clap.
"Then you can just eat more Body Enhancement Pill."
"What is that..."
"Isn't that right? If you take more, it will grow that much more, so in the end, you can see the effect you want."
"..."
There was nothing wrong with those words.
However, one fact that Cheon Myeong was overlooking.
If she could, Hong Yeorin would also want to do that.
But isn't there a decisive reason why she can't do that?
"If I could get Body Enhancement Pill that easily, I would have done so too. But as you know, Young Master, is it that easy to get Body Enhancement Pill? Since you've gotten it yourself, you must know well how difficult it is."
"It's not that difficult."
"That's right. I also searched for several years and finally... what did you just say?"
"If you want, I can get you more."
"Is that really true!"
Thump-.
What a surprise.
As Hong Yeorin suddenly slammed the table with her hand and leaned her face forward, Cheon Myeong's body flinched slightly.
Phew-.
Cheon Myeong calmed his surprised heart with a sigh.
And he nodded lightly and answered Hong Yeorin.
"Yes."
"How much more can you get?"
"Well, I can probably get you as much as you want."
Because he was making it himself.
Since there were still many medicinal herbs used as ingredients for Body Enhancement Pill in his possession, it would probably be enough.
If it was not enough, it was a problem that could be solved by going to Musan and digging them up himself.
Besides that, since it seemed that there would be many routes to get the ingredients themselves, there would be no particular problem with the supply.
'I can get more Body Enhancement Pill?'
Hearing that, Hong Yeorin's anger towards Cheon Myeong had already disappeared.
Of course, she had not yet confirmed the effect of the Body Enhancement Pill that Cheon Myeong had provided.
But if it showed even a little effect, she was planning to take several to raise it to the level she wanted.
"Then get it for me right away!"
Hong Yeorin said, as if there was no need to think any more.
If Cheon Myeong could really continue to provide Body Enhancement Pill, the fact that she had become enemies with Jang Hyeon was not a waste at all.
Rather, it was a level where she was more than satisfied.
Since she was fulfilling her long-cherished wish, she was satisfied no matter what she offered as a price.
"Okay."
When Cheon Myeong answered, a smile appeared on Hong Yeorin's lips.
However, after hearing Cheon Myeong's following words, the smile that had appeared on her lips immediately disappeared.
"Then what will you give me next time?"
"...What does that mean?"
"Since this deal is over, we'll have to find a point of agreement next time too, right?"
"..."
Does that mean that every time he provides a Body Enhancement Pill, he wants something in return?
Hearing Cheon Myeong's words, it seemed that her thoughts were right.
'The effect is as small as a rat's dropping, and he wants me to pay a price every time I eat it?'
Judging from this deal, it was certain that he would demand something huge from her again.
She didn't know about once, but to ask for such a price again.
If she could see a huge effect, she would gladly offer it, but as Cheon Myeong had also said earlier, since the effect was only at that level, paying a price every time was a burden no matter how she thought about it.
'This is not it.'
In the end, Hong Yeorin judged so to herself.
No matter how much she wanted Body Enhancement Pill, wasn't she being dragged around too much by Cheon Myeong in this situation?
Hong Yeorin belatedly realized that fact and thought that she needed to negotiate with Cheon Myeong.
"Don't you think it's unfair to make a deal like this every time I eat something with a minimal effect?"
"If you don't like it, then don't."
Cheon Myeong said, as if he had no lingering attachment at all.
Then, Hong Yeorin was flustered and hurriedly changed her words.
"I-it's not that I don't like it... what I mean is, we need some room for negotiation."
"Speak."
"..."
What is this feeling?
She had clearly thought that she would not be dragged around anymore, but for some reason, it was not going as she wished.
'Is this person Young Master Cheon Myeong?'
She had felt it since she had seen him after a long time, but he seemed to be a completely different person from what she knew.
Isn't this person as skilled in negotiation as someone who has swallowed dozens of cunning snakes?
To the point where even she was being swayed, Hong Yeorin was quite flustered.
'Was I mistaken? Or...'
That was a problem to think about later, and now it was more important to successfully conclude the negotiation with Cheon Myeong.
Hong Yeorin tried hard to maintain her composure and said.
"At least give me three at once."
"No."
"Then at least two..."
"One at a time. That's an equal deal for both of us. Isn't that right?"
"..."
"If you don't like it, go somewhere else. Well, I can't guarantee you'll be able to get it."
As they say, if you don't like the temple, the monk should leave.
This negotiation was a structure where the person who was more desperate would eventually lose from the beginning.
And it seemed that anyone could tell who was more desperate between Cheon Myeong and Hong Yeorin.
"...I understand."
In the end, swallowing a groan, Hong Yeorin raised her two hands first.
As Cheon Myeong had said, she would not be able to get Body Enhancement Pill even if she looked elsewhere.
If that was wrong, she would have gotten Body Enhancement Pill a long time ago.
Since it was a fact she had already experienced, Hong Yeorin had no choice but to look for Cheon Myeong, even though she knew it was unfair.
Grin-.
The corners of his mouth went up after hearing the answer.
Of course, the owner of that mouth was Cheon Myeong.
"Then let's see each other in a month."
"Can't you get it right away?"
"You have to take one a month anyway. Even if you take them all at once, the effect won't double."
"...I understand."
Hong Yeorin nodded her head as if she understood.
And looking at her, Cheon Myeong thought to himself.
'Hong Yeorin will be a great help in the future.'
Not just anyone, but the head of the Finance Hall.
To be able to use such a person like a limb with Body Enhancement Pill as bait, it could be said to be a very satisfactory result.
'I'll have to reduce the efficacy as much as possible.'
In fact, he could have increased the efficacy of Body Enhancement Pill more than now.
However, Cheon Myeong had deliberately reduced the effect.
That way, he would be able to use Hong Yeorin for a long time.
Fortunately, Hong Yeorin did not know that fact, but if she found out, he could fully predict what kind of reaction she would show.
'But still, if you increase the efficacy recklessly, it will put a lot of strain on the body, so reducing the effect is mutually beneficial.'
But that didn't mean he had any intention of telling Hong Yeorin this fact.
Cheon Myeong was just smiling quietly while hiding such secrets.
(End of Chapter)