Episode 194. The Girl’s Revenge (2)

Nam Daeun arrived at the hospital, surrounded by Scarlet’s magic power.

“Did you come to meet Hoyeon?”

“Yes. Daeun-ssi, didn’t you mention it last time? That you wanted revenge on the Buyer Guild.”

“…Did Scarlet-ssi tell Hoyeon?”

Nam Daeun frowned slightly.

She had to repay Lee Hoyeon.

She shouldn’t receive anything else.

For now, because she thought she and Lee Hoyeon were still in a superior-inferior relationship.

“No. Before I could even say anything, Hoyeon-nim planned it himself. He even gathered information on the Buyer Guild himself, and he had wanted to help with your revenge since before.”

“…Why?”

Thinking back, she had heard directly from Lee Hoyeon that he was gathering information.

But how could Hoyeon have known her feelings?

She hadn’t told anyone that she wanted revenge, except for Scarlet-ssi.

If Scarlet-ssi hadn’t said anything, he wouldn’t have known.

“Well, I don’t really know the exact reason either. Hoyeon-nim always has his own plans.”

“Why do you keep trying to help me? I have nothing I can give Hoyeon…”

Scarlet watched the dejected Nam Daeun bitterly.

Because there were people in the world who couldn’t receive favors like this.

Originally, Scarlet had lived without caring about others and only thinking of her own life, but she felt herself changing after getting to know Lee Hoyeon.

Scarlet wished things would go better for Nam Daeun.

As they lived together, she had grown fond of her, and her younger sister, Dahee, followed her well.

So, she slowly opened her mouth.

“Do I really have to try to repay him?”

“Huh?”

“Hoyeon-nim probably wouldn’t want that. He just… well, he just likes helping people. So, maybe just once, accepting it with a simple ‘thank you’ might be okay.”

Wishing Nam Daeun could become someone who could receive favors.

And, to leave a good impression on Lee Hoyeon as well, she added a word.

Although their first meeting wasn’t good, she now knew he was quite an interesting person.

Besides, frankly speaking, Lee Hoyeon is a lottery ticket with a guaranteed win, so there’s no reason not to get in line.

Life in a major guild, where you never know when you’ll get fired, is harder than it looks.

I need to be prepared so I can switch anytime.

“…”

Nam Daeun heard Scarlet’s words, closed her mouth, and began to ponder.

What happens next depends on what Nam Daeun does.

No matter what Scarlet said anymore, it wouldn’t resonate.

“We’re here. Once you go in, Hoyeon-nim will be waiting.”

“Yes. Thank you, Scarlet-ssi.”

Scarlet nodded as she watched Nam Daeun enter the hospital room.

When Nam Dahee wasn’t around, you could see Nam Daeun’s characteristic listless appearance, like a drenched herbivore.

Compared to then, she had a little more energy back.

*

Clatter-

While I was meditating on the bed, the hospital room door suddenly swung wide open.

‘Is it Baek Ahyoung?’

I casually opened my eyes and turned my head, and there stood Nam Daeun.

“Nam Daeun?”

Scarlet already brought her here.

I naturally thought she’d come through the window, but surprisingly, she came in normally.

‘Clean.’

Before starting the conversation, I removed the sweat from meditating with magic.

Now, even light magic could be used without burdening my body.

“You said you were looking for me, so I came.”

“Right. I have something to say. Would you like to sit there?”

After confirming Nam Daeun sat down, I also took my position.

But, today especially, why does it feel so awkward?

Clearly, Nam Daeun was sitting expressionlessly, just like usual, but the atmosphere,

felt a bit serious.

For now, I brought up the story I had prepared.

“Last time, I mentioned I was gathering information on the Buyer Guild, right?”

“Yeah.”

“The information gathering is finished. I’m going to release it soon, but before that, I wanted to hear your opinion, so I called you.”

Actually, the information gathering finished a while ago, but now that the preparations are done, it’s all the same.

I observed Nam Daeun’s expression.

Nam Daeun’s expression, blinking, was still hard to read.

But I could tell she was pondering a bit.

“The moment I release this information, Park Min-gyu is finished. Then, you two will be able to move around freely.”

“…Yeah.”

“But I don’t want to end it this simply. I don’t want to end just by ruining Park Min-gyu, who tormented you and Dahee.”

“…”

No, why isn’t she reacting?

Since there was no reaction at all, even when I mentioned Park Min-gyu’s name directly, there was no response.

Nam Daeun, who had been looking at me, closed her eyes slightly and opened her mouth.

“Why?”

“Huh?”

“Why can’t you forgive Park Min-gyu? Why are you helping me so much?”

“Uh…”

Nam Daeun’s eyes were more serious than ever.

It’s understandable that she’d think that way.

When I first saved Nam Dahee and Nam Daeun, the excuse I gave was ‘coincidence’.

‘I was investigating the Shinyoung Guild, so I ended up investigating the Buyer Guild too, and I happened to save you.’

But this time is different.

Since the Shinyoung Guild collapsed, there was no need to investigate the Buyer Guild, yet for Nam Daeun’s sake, I continued the investigation.

Without any excuse, I acted for Nam Daeun.

Of course, if I really had to stretch it, I could make an excuse.

‘I investigated it before, so I investigated it together.’

‘I started the investigation before I even met you, and it just happened to end now by luck.’

Even without these excuses, I could find some way to explain it.

But Nam Daeun was looking right at me.

Showing all her emotions, she looked into my eyes.

“…”

★ Heroine Status Window

[Nam Daeun]

• [ Affection: 94 ] (+ 0.1)

• [ Lust: 75 ]

• [ Appetite: 35 ]

• [ Fatigue: 40 ]

Current Status: Why. Why is it? The reason Hoyeon is helping me.

Nam Daeun is pure.

Even though her sister was imprisoned and exploited by Park Min-gyu, in difficult situations, she cried and laughed over a few hundred won, and when going to see her sister, she became innocent like a child.

To express her gratitude, she learned about sex and tried to repay him physically, and whether there was a succubus in the men’s dorm or a suspicious blonde beauty, she didn’t doubt it.

Because they were all my colleagues who helped her.

Although Nam Daeun is this pure, that doesn’t necessarily mean she’s stupid.

Stopping my thoughts, I looked into Nam Daeun’s eyes.

Her expressionless eyes held a hint of affection.

They weren’t eyes of suspicion towards me.

Just simple curiosity.

If I had just made a vague excuse here and moved on, it wouldn’t have caused much trouble; it was just that level of curiosity.

It wouldn’t lower the already high affection level.

But for a perfect conquest, I couldn’t lie now.

Up until now, my instincts for conquering heroines told me so.

In the end, I retracted the lies I had considered.

After taking a slow, deep breath, I met Nam Daeun’s gaze.

“A favor.”

“A favor?”

“Is it okay to call it a favor? I just wanted to be nice to you. You… I like you, Nam Daeun.”

“…”

“That’s my honest feeling. So, you too, tell me honestly. What needs to be done to Park Min-gyu so your heart can find peace.”

Although it’s a little different from what I expected, this is unfolding well enough.

Nam Daeun chewed on her lip.

It seemed like she was contemplating how to speak the words forming in her mouth.

I patiently waited slowly.

I had said everything I needed to say, and now it was just up to Nam Daeun to decide.

“…I want revenge.”

“…”

“Mr. Min-gyu. No, I want to see Park Min-gyu ruined with my own eyes. I don’t want to let him just be socially ruined… letting him end comfortably.”

Biting her lip until it bled, Nam Daeun poured out the words she had held back.

Her trembling body and reddened eyes

felt hatred in every word.

For the first time, Nam Daeun poured out her emotions about what happened to her.

I can’t even imagine how much determination was needed for that series of actions.

“Yes. Don’t worry. The preparations are already finished.”

I just gave a faint smile and gently held Nam Daeun’s hand.

Her trembling, cold hand paused for a moment, but didn’t pull away from mine.

*

“Scarlet.”

“Yes. Hoyeon-nim.”

After calming her emotions, I sent Nam Daeun back for a moment, then called out to the hidden Scarlet.

Clinging to the ceiling, Scarlet’s expression looked more subdued than usual.

“Did you cry?”

“…I did not cry.”

I asked jokingly, but her strong reaction surprised me.

“Well, anyway… You heard everything, right?”

I handed Scarlet the letter I had written beforehand.

“Yes. Shall we proceed as you told me last time?”

“Hmm, wait a moment, Scarlet.”

Spread the rumor to the informants that I had Nam Daeun and Nam Dahee, and proceed with the threat to the Buyer Guild leader through personal contact, stating I have the information.

This was the original plan.

But the current situation has changed slightly.

The Buyer Guild leader has started to emerge into the public eye.

Claiming to be a whistleblower from the Shinyoung Guild, he was appearing frequently on TV.

I came up with a new plan.

“People who rise high accelerate even more when they fall.”

In the prime of his life, when he is at his peak, I’ll drop him into the abyss.

That’s true revenge.

“First, it would be good to release something small first.”

Release something small first, and then release the big things one by one.

“How about something like this?”

Then, Scarlet gave a meaningful smile and looked at me.

“What kind?”

“It’s using Hoyeon-nim’s image. We’ll raise the Buyer Guild leader all the way to the heavens, and this time, Hoyeon-nim will be the whistleblower.”

Wow, that’s sneaky.

The plan is so sneaky.

But I liked it that much.

“…Are you a genius?”

“I am used to this kind of thing. The public doesn’t know Hoyeon-nim’s womanizing side, so they can easily use the image of a genius mage.”

“If you hadn’t said that last part, I would have seriously considered releasing you from the contract.”

Anyway, shady business is Scarlet’s specialty.

Later, I’ll have to ask her again.

“Then, first, shall I call the reporters I know?”

All the legwork I did at the association’s networking party was for today.

I checked my smartwatch, looking for people to contact.