Chapter 6: The Lee Family’s Pet (6)

　　Mr. Joo expected at least a moment of hesitation. But President Lee’s pig-like cheeks didn’t so much as twitch as he answered immediately.

　　"I don’t care. All that matters is that he succeeds. If he does, we’ll finally be able to crush the pride of those BM Group bastards."

　　Watching him focus more on destroying his rival than on his son’s life, Mr. Joo felt a chill crawl down his spine. He was here for the generous salary, but he knew he could never grow fond of this family.

　　Chapter 2: The Young Master’s Guide

　　The transparent, sky-blue mineral emitted a vapor far colder than dry ice. Dana, who had followed Mr. Joo with a strange sense of foreboding, narrowed her eyes.

　　"What is this?"

　　"An ice crystal," Mr. Joo answered instead of Doha.

　　He was a former hunter, awakened as a B rank, who had been comparable to an A rank in his prime. Despite his considerable power, he had retired early; his timid nature was ill-suited for confronting demon beasts. Instead, he made a living tutoring the children of wealthy awakened families and helping them prepare for university entrance exams.

　　Even to his experienced eyes, the girl named Dana Lee possessed a rare beauty. Being a Contaminant was a fatal flaw, but she could have easily profited from her looks. Yet she seemed to have no interest in anything but the Lee family’s son. Even Mr. Joo, a man with a weakness for gambling and women, found his gaze drawn to the girl who clung to the young boy like a shadow. Then he would meet her purple eyes and shudder in revulsion.

　　It was the same now. Mr. Joo glared, his posture more rigid than usual. Though he was a coward at heart, his intimidating aura—honed through years of facing demon beasts—was more than an ordinary person could withstand. It was certainly more than a girl treated like the family vermin could endure.

　　Dana flinched but glanced between the ice crystal and Doha before speaking, her face set with determination. "With all due respect, sir. That doesn’t look like something a person should consume."

　　Mr. Joo’s face twisted in a scowl. "And who are you to say?"

　　"I am the Young Master’s personal servant—"

　　"Do you really think I’m asking because I don’t know?" Mr. Joo’s eyes turned to a chilling glare. He deliberately infused his aura with killing intent, and Dana’s face went pale. To her, it looked as if a menacing red light radiated from behind him. As she bit her trembling lip, Mr. Joo spoke coolly. "This is a dangerous and critical moment. Why are you here?"

　　His eyes questioned her very right to be present.

　　Dana bit her lip. She had no answer. Here, she was nothing but a lowly servant, clinging to the Young Master’s fickle favor.

　　"I said she could be here."

　　Mr. Joo’s displeased gaze slid past Dana to Doha. He wasn’t surprised. His words had been for Doha all along. Though he was employed to serve the Lee family heir, he was sometimes seized by an overwhelming desire to break the spirit of this blessed boy. He looked down at him with a domineering air.

　　"Young Master, you’re taking this far too lightly. An ice crystal isn’t something that can be easily obtained, even with the Lee family’s vast resources. This was barely retrieved from the heart of a gatekeeper in the Arctic Ocean. And…"

　　"It’s also not something that can be implanted in a human body," Doha finished for him.

　　Mr. Joo fell silent, staring at the boy’s pale face. B-rank. Considering that rank was judged by power and utility rather than latent potential, Mr. Joo believed the young heir had room to grow—far more than he himself had in his prime.

　　Though he had long since retired with no intention of returning, Mr. Joo felt a bitter pang of jealousy.

　　"Cryokinetics like yourself have gotten greedy before, Young Master. They take an ice crystal, fail to assimilate it, and freeze to death on the spot. Does that scare you?"

　　Doha’s eyes were cold and calm, showing no fear at the mention of death. Mr. Joo’s lip twitched. The boy was talented, if childishly reckless. If that were all, Mr. Joo would have found another way. No matter how much President Lee claimed he didn’t care about his son’s life as long as he grew stronger, there would undoubtedly be repercussions if the boy actually died.

　　The reason Mr. Joo had presented such a dangerous option was because of the venom he saw burning behind the boy’s placid facade. Human will could push past physical limits, and this boy’s will to become stronger was ferocious.

　　"Do I look scared to you?" Doha asked, his tone nearly flat. His voice was as cool as ice.

　　The man’s voice softened slightly. "You don’t. But I’ll ask again. Are you absorbing this of your own will, not because your parents are forcing you?"

　　"What are you really asking, Mr. Joo?"

　　He couldn’t answer the question.

　　"As an Esper, are you going to run away?" Doha pressed.

　　Mr. Joo, who had meant to steel the boy’s resolve, found himself provoked instead. He felt an eyebrow twitch. Doha smirked, his tone becoming much gentler.

　　"My parents’ wishes aside, I want this too. If I were going to be satisfied with a B rank, it would have been better not to be an Esper at all, don’t you think?"

　　"Is this because of the BM Group’s heir?"

　　A frigid chill bled into Doha’s eyes, a coldness akin to killing intent. Mr. Joo, a man who had survived countless encounters with demon beasts, nearly scoffed but swallowed hard instead. Still, no matter his potential, the boy was just a high school student. His pride stung, Mr. Joo grinned, the scar at the corner of his mouth writhing like a snake.

　　"Your will is commendable. A rival is a good thing. It becomes the fuel that makes you stronger. I can only hope your will is strong enough to overcome the ice crystal."

　　Doha didn’t respond.

　　"Now, get rid of this girl. She’s no help. In fact, she’ll only be a hindrance."

　　"No."

　　"You still don’t under—"

　　Mr. Joo, about to lose his temper, stopped short when he met Doha’s gaze. The boy’s expression had changed.

　　"You’re the one who doesn’t understand, Mr. Joo."

　　His tone had changed as well. Doha had always maintained a level of politeness, acknowledging him as his teacher, but he was aware that Mr. Joo was sometimes jealous and tried to challenge him. He could let it slide once or twice, but if it kept happening, he had to make the hierarchy clear.

　　"You should know that while you may offer advice, you have no authority to give me orders."

　　Mr. Joo was speechless.

　　"I want Dana by my side while I assimilate the ice crystal."

　　He remained silent.

　　"Do I need to repeat myself?"

　　Mr. Joo’s face contorted at the arrogant tone. A burning desire to teach this insolent brat a lesson about his place in the world welled up inside him. But he couldn’t lecture the boy as a normal adult would. The dwindling balance of his bank account flashed in his mind. Damn it, I never should have touched that game. It was a thought worthy of a hopeless gambling addict.

　　"…If the Young Master insists, then I have no choice… But I did warn you. It could be dangerous."

　　His pride wounded by his submission, he added the last part, though it would have been better left unsaid. Having effectively bowed his head, he watched as Doha smiled sweetly, all traces of his previous arrogance gone. The unwavering eyes were now hidden by his eyelids, transforming his face into one of impossibly gentle beauty.

　　Mr. Joo felt a bitter taste in his mouth. For someone not yet an adult, the boy’s control over his emotions was masterful. Someday, this boy would rise to a position where Mr. Joo would be lucky to even exchange words with him.

　　"Dana, come here."

　　Ignoring Mr. Joo completely, Doha beckoned to her. Like a dog obeying a command, she moved to his side.

　　"Hah."

　　Mr. Joo covered his eyes with one hand as if in disbelief. Through his fingers, his debauchery-stained, dark brown eyes glinted with the sharpness of his active days.

　　"I will now begin the implantation."

　　Let’s see if you’re still so arrogant after experiencing a world of pain.

　　Mr. Joo pulled on gloves made from black lizard hide and placed the ice crystal on Doha’s chest, directly over his heart. The crystal, a gem-like ice that did not exist on Earth, touched Doha’s skin and dissolved as if melting.

　　The change was immediate. Ice began to form where the crystal had been. A faint crackling sound filled the air as his skin and even the air around it began to freeze.

　　Doha’s expression remained calm. He gritted his teeth against the pain, but his face was otherwise serene. That changed the moment the blood vessels near his heart turned a deathly blue.

　　"Ack…!"

　　Doha’s eyes flew open. Thick veins bulged along his forearms and neck. He threw his head back, his jaw straining as if he could no longer contain his agony.

　　Just as he was about to open his mouth to scream, Mr. Joo shouted, "Didn’t I tell you! You must not open your mouth! And you cannot lose consciousness! If you pass out before the crystal settles, your blood will freeze solid. Endure it, if you want to live."

　　Dana stared, frozen in place. Doha forced his mouth shut, but his lips trembled violently.