A charming guy with a pleasant smile on his face.

‘Who is this?’

Baek Yu-Seol tilted his head, but Hong Bi-Yeon's fingertips trembled. It was so subtle and shallow that he wouldn't have noticed if it weren't for his enhanced vision.

So he immediately put on his Sentient Spec and was able to confirm his name.

"Edmon Atalek."

… Later on, the 'death flag' that would lead Hong Bi-Yeon to destruction appeared in front of Baek Yu-Seol.

"Bi-Yeon, we were supposed to have lunch with the club members today."

"... Senior, I clearly told you that I have an important separate appointment."

Hong Bi-Yeon frowned slightly. He was not sure, but it seemed like she was quite angry.

Edmon glanced at Baek Yu-Seol and Hong Bi-Yeon alternately.

"Just to have a meal with a commoner, you broke our appointment?"

He didn’t remember much about Edmon Atalek. But there was quite detailed information about him in his Sentient Spec.

First of all, he felt strong jealousy.

He already considered Hong Bi-Yeon as his woman, and the fact that she had a meal alone with another man...

That wouldn't sit well with him, especially if that man was a commoner.

That was also a weakness of a character named Edmon Atalek. Despite usually being wise and composed, he had a tendency to become dark and jealous, which clouded his judgment.

"He's not an ordinary commoner."

Hong Bi-Yeon said in a stern tone, as if reading a book.
The fact that Baek Yu-Seol was a co-author of a paper on the Delta Augmentation Formula of alchemy was kept secret, so very few people knew about it.

Although rumors quietly spread within the alchemy academic community, due to the overwhelming impact of Alterisha, nobody paid much attention to another anonymous co-author.

Hong Bi-Yeon, using the intelligence of the Adolveit royal family, had separately discovered the facts about Baek Yu-Seol during her investigation, so it was not entirely incomprehensible that Edmon Atalek didn't know about it either.

However.

So, she wished he wouldn’t intervene in matters that he didn't even know about.

"Baek Yu-Seol. It's a name that has been heard frequently these days, and I understand that he's a capable talent... But I honestly doubt whether you rejecting our appointment and creating such a situation is the right thing to do."

‘Damn, how annoying.’

Being disregarded as a commoner was now familiar to him. However, he simply didn't like the character of Edmon Atalek.

If he didn’t bring that man down, Hong Bi-Yeon would never find her happy ending.

But in truth…

There were plenty of ways to help.

To bring Edmon Atalek down and ensure Hong Bi-Yeon safely inherited the throne, the solution was recorded in the Sentient Spec.

It was not a method he came up with.

It was the result of years of research by eccentric players who were so fond of the villainess that they made every effort to save her.

Although the ending of her death remained the same...

’What should I do?’

It was impossible to bring down Duke Atalek right now.

Moreover, the timing was not favorable. By now, Duke Orkan, who was engaged in a power struggle with Duke Atalek, would be supporting her sister, Princess Hong Si-hwa.

If he blindly brought down Duke Atalek, an imbalance of power would occur. Was that really important?

After all, Hong Bi-Yeon would awaken as the "Incarnation of Fire" in the future and be able to stand on her own without any help. Even if she was in danger at the moment, slightly shaking Duke Atalek didn’t seem to be a problem.

‘Well, even so, there's not much I can do right now.
I still haven't built a solid foundation, so it's impossible for me to face the nobles as a commoner.’

‘However, I can take advantage of the fact that the cards given to me are much stronger than I thought.’

"Senior, please stop. I'm considering using this commoner to establish a connection with the alchemist Alterisha.' Anything beyond that would be crossing the line."

Baek Yu-Seol was still hiding the fact that he was a co-developer of alchemical engineering. That was why Hong Bi-Yeon didn't mention it unnecessarily.

"Do you really think that way? Bi-Yeon, snap out of it. Just against a commoner..."

As the two argued, Baek Yu-Seol let out a sigh of frustration and spoke up.

"Fine, forget it. I'll just leave."

"... What?"

Unusually, Hong Bi-Yeon looked startled.

"Well, wait a minute..."

"Let's pretend we never had the item trade discussion."

At his words, she bit her lip with a bewildered expression and lowered her head. It must be frustrating for her to be unable to express the resentment otherwise it would make Edmon want to kill him.

‘I'm sorry, but I can't help it. I'm doing it all for you.’

"Well thought. The commoner knows his place."

When Edmon flashed his bright white teeth and spoke confidently.

“As a bonus, regarding the item business transaction, the Duke of Atalek was very clear. I will reject it and inform Alterisha that we will not supply it to the Adolveit Kingdom.”

Then Edman hardened her expression coldly. It was not because he was afraid of his words.

It was because he was arrogant and conceited.

That was how it was.

In the end, Hong Bi-Yeon, who had clenched her fists and bit her lip, stood up first.

"... I'll go now."

"Yeah, Bi-Yeon. I'll be waiting at the restaurant we always go to."

As she left, Edmon glanced at Baek Yu-Seol again. His gaze contained disdain, disgust, and contempt.

He slightly lowered his head, speaking softly enough for only him to hear.

"Do you understand now, Commoner?"

"..."

"You and Princess Hong Bi-Yeon don't match. You should have known your place and stayed quiet."

Baek Yu-Seol wasn't looking at him, but he could tell. Edmon's expression must be contorted like a demon right now.

"And what? Duke Atalek refuses and won't make the trade?"

Edmon deliberately let out a hollow laugh.

"I genuinely don't understand. It's fascinating that you think such a pathetic threat would work."

"Considering your foolishness as a commoner and your enrollment in Stella, I'll overlook the crime of insulting nobility. But you've disrespected a senior. So, right now, kneel down..."

Edmon was about to say something more, but he couldn't bear to listen any longer.

Sizzle!

"Now's the time!"

Just then, the pork belly had cooked to perfection.

If Baek Yu-Seol didn't reach this moment when the juices were sizzling, he would never truly experience the real taste of this meat.

With lightning speed, as he reached his hand forward, Edmon flinched and stepped back. But his hand wasn't going for Edmon; it was reaching for the pork belly pieces on the grill with chopsticks.

And swiftly, into the lettuce!

Green onions, peeled garlic, three chili peppers, a spoonful of rice, and topped with ssamjang.

{TN:- Ssamjang is a Korean dipping sauce or condiment commonly used in Korean barbecue and lettuce wraps (ssam).}

The proportions were crucial.

He carefully strained the ssamjang with chopsticks, and the amount of rice depended on the size of the pork belly piece.

He didn't cook the garlic considering Hong Bi-Yeon's preferences, but raw garlic was also fine. The important thing was that garlic was included.

By the way, raw garlic was good for stamina as well.

The savory aroma of grilled pork belly tickled Baek Yu-Seol’s nose. It would be perfect with a glass of soju, but it was a pity he was underage. The completed lettuce wrap was slightly exaggerated in size, almost as big as his fist, but there was no problem fitting it into his mouth.

Crunch!

As the lettuce broke and the juices burst out, his whole body trembled with excitement.

Mmm…

‘This is the taste I've been longing for.’

"... You really have no shame. You brought this upon yourself, so don't expect smooth sailing future academy life."

Admonishing murmurs escaped from Edmon's mouth as he disappeared, but Baek Yu-Seol didn't pay any attention.

He had to quickly devour the wrap before the lifespan of the pork belly expired.