Episode 164. Social Party

“Uh, uh… Mister Park Min-gyu…?”

“… Yeah. That’s not all. Since you were hospitalized, Daeun…”

Because she’s still a child, I didn’t want her to know the ugly truth.

However, if the accusation wasn’t serious enough, like ‘Park Min-gyu used you as an excuse to demand Nam Daeun’s body,’ there was no reason to kidnap Nam Dahee.

If I didn’t explain properly, it would look like the child who was hospitalized was brought in for no significant reason.

At first, she didn’t believe it, but when Scarlet brought some evidence of the Guild Master blackmailing Nam Daeun, Nam Dahee finally understood.

In the end, after hearing everything, Nam Dahee covered her mouth with her hands and started sobbing.

“Unnie… sob. I trusted Mister Mingyu… sniffle.”

“… Scarlet.”

A crying girl is hard to comfort.

It wasn’t my specialty, so I called Scarlet, the master of childcare.

“Dahee-yang. It’s okay.”

Pat, pat.

“Wanna eat chicken?”

Liliana brought a chicken leg and handed it to Nam Dahee.

Nom.

“…It’s delicious.”

Holding the chicken leg, Nam Dahee’s expression brightened slightly.

“Right? This is renewal chicken.”

Fortunately, thanks to the pretty older sisters, she seemed a little relieved.

While Nam Dahee calmed down, Liliana looked at me and asked.

“So, what are you going to do about her?”

“For a while, she’ll have to stay here.”

The Buyer Guild will soon notice Nam Dahee’s disappearance too.

Before that happens, I need to get Nam Daeun out of the Buyer Guild, and at the same time, Kang Hyorin will bring the evidence, which I just need to release.

What comes after that… honestly, I haven’t thought about it.

Wouldn’t it be fine for her to stay with Nam Daeun? Of course, staying like this in my dorm is safe, but…

Liliana and Scarlet probably wouldn’t be good for the child’s emotional well-being.

‘What’s going on? It feels like the dorm is getting more crowded with people.’

Maybe I should find a new place to live.

For now, I’ll think about the place later. Since the biggest worry is gone, I prepared for tomorrow’s party.

For the party, I specially ordered a suit.

Since I’m going to the party with Baek Ahyoung, and I didn’t want to be ignored, I ordered a rather expensive outfit.

Moon Surin is also coming, so I need to pay more attention.

• Me: Ahyoung-ssi. Where should we meet tomorrow?

Preparations are done, so all that’s left is to set the meeting time.

• Baek Ahyoung: Let’s meet in front of the party venue. Tomorrow will be incredibly chaotic.

• Me: Okay. See you tomorrow.

Hmm.

With Baek Ahyoung, the meeting is set, and all that’s left is to wait for tomorrow’s party.

But something felt unsettling.

For now, I should do all the preparations I can.

“Scarlet. Come here.”

“Yes?”

I called Scarlet, who was playing with Nam Dahee.

I had planned how things might unfold, but just in case, I decided to have a backup plan.

*

Saturday.

To attend the party, I headed to the venue.

Baek Ahyoung and I met right away.

I expected her to dress up for the party, but she was in her usual work attire.

Well, she always wears a suit to work anyway, so this is considered neat attire.

Besides, she’s always pretty, so going to the party like this wouldn’t look strange at all.

“There are so many people.”

“I know. Parties like this are usually crowded, but this time it’s even worse.”

We were standing a little distance away from the party venue.

The area in front of the venue was packed with civilians and reporters who came to see celebrities.

“What, what kind of important person is coming that it’s like this?”

Wanting to see celebrities, I understand, but so many people gathered like this is quite fascinating.

“Let’s go around that way.”

Baek Ahyoung pointed towards the back entrance, not the main entrance of the party venue.

“Why? We can just go through the main entrance.”

“The main entrance is complicated because of the reporters. If we go that way, there will be many interview requests and we’ll be photographed a lot.”

“What’s the big deal?”

Just a few days ago, you were spreading dating rumors with me to get attention, so what’s this about not wanting attention now?

I grabbed Baek Ahyoung’s hand and pulled her towards the main entrance.

“N-, Ah-, No! They’re going to take pictures!”

“Remember when you did that weird interview and put people in trouble? Who gave you permission to run away? Ahyoung-ssi, you should experience some trouble too.”

“Th-, That was just a mistake….”

I took Baek Ahyoung, whose voice was getting quieter, and headed for the main entrance.

Click! Click!

The shutter sounds coming from the main entrance and the entrance where celebrities were going in came into view.

“Look, there’s the Saintess and Lee Hoyeon!”

“Oh, they really came together!”

Already, people who noticed us were there.

Now, realizing it was too late to turn back, Baek Ahyoung seemed to feel it too, and lowered her head.

“Let’s go. Ahyoung-ssi.”

“Th-, This is… Ugh…”

In a place crowded with people, suddenly backing away is kind of cute.

After chuckling softly, I grabbed Baek Ahyoung’s arm and passed through the reporters.

Some reporters were taking pictures of us and chattering into their cameras, and some reporters thrust microphones directly at me.

“Student Lee Hoyeon! Just one word! What is your relationship with the Saintess! Are you really dating?”

“This is your first time on a public stage, please give us just one interview!”

It’s quite a commotion.

I can’t say I’m dating Baek Ahyoung directly. The other heroines need consideration too.

Since I came with Baek Ahyoung, I can’t deny it either.

I’ll just casually pass by.

“Let’s take some pictures together, striking a pose.”

“… Yeah.”

“Don’t be nervous.”

“How can you be so calm… You’re experiencing this for the first time too.”

Baek Ahyoung seemed amazed by me.

I, because of [Clear Mental Strength], can relax no matter how many people there are, if I decide to.

“As for me, I’m a great guy, aren’t I?”

“Haa….”

Holding the hand of the nervous Baek Ahyoung, I headed for the entrance.

Right before entering, we turned around and struck a pose.

Since we’re going to be in the news anyway, it’s better to look good.

It’s a photo time.

‘Wow, it’s blinding.’

After barely enduring the barrage of flashes that burst out, we entered the party venue.

“Ms. Baek Ahyoung and one companion. Entry confirmed. Please enjoy yourselves.”

Inside, I presented Baek Ahyoung’s invitation to the waiting Hunter Association staff member, and we were guided inside.

The party had already begun.

Actually, it’s called a social gathering party, but it’s just a drinking session with drinking and chatting.

It’s just a bit more formal.

As soon as we entered, people’s gazes turned towards us.

Poke.

“Eek?!”

I felt Baek Ahyoung stiffen, so I poked her side.

“I told you not to be nervous.”

Since it was a party hosted by the Hunter Association, some of Baek Ahyoung’s former colleagues were visible.

“Ahyoung-ah~.”

And then, a voice unfitting for a formal party was heard.

Coming this way was Min Yeji.

“Yeji… you came too.”

“Of course, I had to come. With my Ahyoung and…”

Min Yeji’s gaze turned towards me.

Her cat-like smile was pretty, but it felt burdensome.

“Student Lee Hoyeon is here. Nice to meet you, Student Lee Hoyeon. This is the first time we’re properly speaking, right?”

“Hello. I should have greeted you sooner, I apologize.”

Min Yeji was also speaking out in my defense and taking the lead.

Of course, she probably had her own reasons for acting, but I was grateful nonetheless.

Because Min Yeji spoke to me first, people who hadn’t dared approach started coming over one by one.

“Ahyoung-ssi. It’s been a while. How is the Academy?”

“Ah… the Academy is not bad. Of course, the Association was good too.”

Baek Ahyoung also started conversing with people she knew.

“Hoyeon-ah.”

“?”

Hearing my name called, I turned around, and saw the shimmering platinum blonde hair.

It was Moon Surin, wearing a neat one-piece dress.

“Surin noona! It’s really novel seeing you here.”

“I know. I didn’t expect to see you here either.”

In the direction Moon Surin came from, several young men were standing.

“Those people over there…?”

“Ah… Don’t worry about them. I just met them here. They’re aiming for my partner, you see.”

“Oh, as expected, noona is popular.”

From behind, holding glasses of alcohol, I flashed a victorious smile towards the men looking this way.

“Hehe, thanks.”

I also picked up a glass, and while chatting with Moon Surin, I enjoyed the party.

Although I don’t drink alcohol, everyone else was holding one, so I felt obligated to hold one too.

“Hello. School Nurse. Here, I’ll call you Ms. Baek Ahyoung.”

“Ah… Hello. Moon Surin-yang.”

Moon Surin greeted Baek Ahyoung.

The two of them formed a connection during the last dungeon training.

Moon Surin was the one who first discovered us.

“After you came as the School Nurse at the Academy, this is the first time we’re properly talking.”

“I know. I’m always grateful to Moon Surin-yang. I heard you spoke well of me.”

The atmosphere of their conversation was good.

Since we work at the same place, well, it’s natural.

“Yes. But I never imagined there was such a motive.”

Moon Surin, smiling, looked back and forth between me and Baek Ahyoung.

“… Wasn’t the atmosphere good just now?”

“Ah… Th-, That’s not it, but.”

“Haha… Still, spreading such false information puts us in a difficult position. Please be careful.”

“F-, False information…”

Baek Ahyoung couldn’t continue speaking and looked at me.

No, what are you going to do looking at me right now? Ahyoung-ssi.

“Oh my, perhaps what I heard is different from the truth? Hoyeon-ah?”

“… Calling it false information is a bit much. We didn’t explicitly say we were dating, we just said things that could be misunderstood.”

Hearing my words, Baek Ahyoung became dejected.

But right here, I can’t say we’re dating. If she’s disappointed, what should I do?

★ Heroine Status Window

[Baek Ahyoung]

• [Affection: 97] (+ 0.8)

• [Lust: 82]

• [Appetite: 30]

• [Fatigue: 65]

Current Status: Spreading false information… She’s my wife….

‘I’m sorry. Ahyoung-ssi.’

Moon Surin also didn’t continue the sharp conversation any further.

After that, mundane and peaceful conversation continued.

I don’t know how it was in reality, but that’s how it felt to me.

Anyway, just in case there might be someone helpful to me, even while talking, I looked around and saw a few familiar faces.

Do Jin-hyuk, an extra from Class A, or Kim Hyundo, the head of the Magic Research Department.

Familiar enemies came into view.

‘Those bastards were here too.’

I was too busy with things to remember.

They frowned and avoided my gaze whenever our eyes met.

Well, now that I’ve become too big, they probably can’t do anything about it.

*

“Gasp… Hic…”

Crackle- Snap-

An unstoppable change was beginning in his body.

Swallowed by the magic stone, it was the demonization.

After coming into contact with Pandemic, Shin Dongmin, who had embarked on the path of a demon, could no longer control his body.

Squirm, squirm.

“Still… I’m still okay.”

Unaware that his own body was breaking down, he stared at the screen.

The sight of Moon Surin and Lee Hoyeon chatting happily fueled his anger even more.

That place should have been mine.

I should have been the main character of the party, and I should have been next to Moon Surin.

“Lee Hoyeon…. and Baek Ahyoung too.”

Shin Dongmin glared, and ordered the Pandemic demon waiting behind him.

“Start in two hours.”

“Yes. I’ll inform Rebecca-nim.”

Pandemic’s abilities were certainly impressive.

If they provided the funds, they would do anything.

This time, they even promised to cover the entire party venue with a barrier.

I’ve almost spent the money I received from my father, but it’s fine.

Once this terror attack is over, Lee Hoyeon will also fall into ruin.

Shin Dongmin smirked, raising the corners of his mouth.

‘It’s not long now. I’ll be watching to see if you can still smile like that after two hours….’

*

“Ah, I’m tired.”

Starting with Min Yeji, most of the guild members also came by to greet me.

Even though I wanted to ignore them, with Baek Ahyoung and Moon Surin beside me, I couldn’t afford to ruin my image.

‘I think I’ve greeted about a hundred times.’

The fortunate thing is I don’t have to exert effort remembering names.

Anyway, just by hearing them, I know who they are.

Right now, I’ve escaped, saying I’m going to the restroom for a moment.

Heading towards the restroom, I arrived at a place I’d never seen before.

The party venue was large, so there were many people I hadn’t seen yet, and here, there were many people I didn’t recognize.

“Hahaha…. Indeed. Chairman.”

“As expected of President Park. Speaking of which, is the young lady next to you a new secretary?”

“Yes, yes. Chairman. She’s something like that.”

While looking around, I subconsciously turned my head towards the sound of conversation.

And there was the person I was looking for.

‘Found you.’

In a dark corner of the party venue.

Behind an older man, Nam Daeun was standing.