Episode 200. Nam Da-eun

Victoria Academy lunch break.

“Hmm….”

Alice, having finished her meal, sat at a desk in the classroom, frowning.

Lately, an unexpected worry had cropped up.

News was playing on the screen Alice was watching.

– Mysterious monster Centaur. A nuisance in France. This monster, possessing immense strength and speed, is being dealt with by the French government with all its might….

It was the Centaur.

A monster with intelligence that had settled in France.

Since Alice’s Iris Guild was also based in France, the losses were quite significant.

It was ridiculous that losses were occurring over just one monster, but the situation was that serious locally.

“…Should I go check on the main family.”

No matter how important the Academy was, the Iris Guild came first.

“No. What would I even do if I went?”

Besides, adding just myself wouldn’t change anything, and it would be a nuisance rather than help if Father’s attention was divided.

– Next news. The Buyer Guild, which has recently been embroiled in massive corruption scandals. Contrary to their built-up image, it has been revealed that they were operating huge illicit funds from drugs, prostitution, and illegal artifacts behind the scenes. At the same time, the head of the Buyer Guild, Park Min-gyu, has disappeared, and experts believe he may have fled overseas….

“He seemed like such a nice person.”

I remembered seeing the Buyer Guild Master a few times.

He looked like a gentle old man, but I remembered not liking the way he looked at me.

‘Come to think of it, Lee Hoyeon has been discharged too.’

Alice felt pleased at the thought of starting massages again.

Speaking of which, I told him to report hiring a masseuse, but Dad hasn’t said anything yet.

Sebastian wouldn’t have forgotten my words, so he must be busy with work.

‘Even better.’

Nagging is always better late than never.

Just as Alice was killing time with random thoughts, the classroom door opened.

Flowing black hair strode confidently into the classroom.

‘Nam Daeun?’

She hadn’t shown up at the Academy for quite a while, making me wonder if she’d gotten involved in crimes with the Buyer Guild, but it seems she’s back starting today.

‘She must have had her reasons.’

Alice nodded, then something occurred to her.

‘They said all the Buyer Guild members were cleared, didn’t they? Seeing her walk around so confidently means she’s unrelated… And since the Buyer Guild is gone, isn’t she unaffiliated now?’

According to the information I got last time, Nam Daeun was actually being blackmailed by the Buyer Guild.

I was worried because she might have been forced into participating in crimes due to that leverage, but if that possibility is ruled out, she’s a top-tier talent for recruitment.

Recruiting Nam Daeun was something I’d planned for a long time.

I failed last time, but maybe this time is an opportunity.

Especially since the guild she was contracted with completely disappeared.

Since it was just the two of us in the classroom, Alice decided to approach Nam Daeun again.

“Ahem. Daeun-ah, it’s been a while?”

Alice’s voice, when speaking officially, was cute even to her own ears.

“Yeah.”

Nam Daeun, who had returned after finishing her meal, turned her head at the sudden cute voice.

Alice smiled brightly, meeting Nam Daeun’s eyes.

“I was worried something had happened. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Thank you.”

Nam Daeun felt awkward, being back at the Academy after so long.

She used to be accustomed to being alone, but now, living in Lee Hoyeon’s dorm, she had come to understand human warmth a little.

Perhaps because of that, she felt grateful towards Alice for speaking to her.

‘Now that I think about it, Alice was also the reason I ended up repaying Hoyeon.’

Alice’s casual remark, intended as a jab, had changed Nam Daeun’s mind, so the statement wasn’t wrong.

Of course, Nam Daeun didn’t even realize it was a jab.

“Thanks for the other day.”

“Huh? For what?”

“The advice you gave me at the flower shop was really helpful.”

“Advice?”

Alice pondered Nam Daeun’s words slowly, but she had never given any advice at a flower shop.

I did gossip about Lee Hoyeon… but surely that’s not it.

‘Whatever.’

If someone says thank you, just accept it.

There’s no need to question it.

“Yeah, yeah. So, about that… your contract with the Buyer Guild ended, right?”

“Right. Because the Buyer Guild disappeared.”

“…Yeah.”

Alice felt a chill run down her spine for a moment.

It felt like Nam Daeun’s hatred for the Buyer Guild was contagious.

‘She must have had her reasons too.’

Being under such a scummy guild master, she must have suffered various injustices.

Alice continued, feeling sorry for Nam Daeun.

“Iris Guild, are you still not interested in joining? We’ll treat you the best. You won’t find better terms anywhere else.”

The strength of an information guild isn’t just secrecy.

It’s their immense financial power.

Alice was confident.

If recruitment competitions started with other guilds, she wouldn’t lose out on terms.

However, there was one thing she didn’t know: Nam Daeun didn’t care about terms.

“Sorry. I don’t think I can.”

Nam Daeun felt grateful to Alice for speaking to her.

But even so, she couldn’t give a positive answer to that question.

Her affiliation was no longer something she could decide on her own.

It was Lee Hoyeon’s decision.

“…Uh, yeah. Okay.”

‘What’s the problem that makes her answer like that?’

Unaware of the circumstances, Alice returned to her seat, feeling awkward.

Her professional smile remained plastered on her face.

• Thursday. Ironblood Hospital, Special Room.

I had a conversation with my attending physician in the hospital room where I was admitted.

“You can be discharged whenever you feel comfortable. We only delayed it briefly because of Hoyeon student’s request; your body was normal from the start.”

“Ahaha… Thank you.”

“Not at all. Famous people often make such requests. Public scrutiny can be tiring.”

I had postponed my discharge to handle Nam Daeun’s situation, but the doctor misunderstood it in a positive light, so I wasn’t suspected of anything.

“Um, what is Baek Ahyoung-ssi doing?”

She should be coming around soon, but I don’t see her.

“There were many emergency patients yesterday, so she’s likely resting right now.”

“Ah…”

Seriously, she works so hard.

If she came to nurse me, she should just focus on me.

Her sense of duty is too strong.

The attending physician finished a few perfunctory pleasantries and left the room.

“Discharge… I guess I should.”

Honestly, I don’t feel like leaving.

If I stay here, I can just lie around and hang out with Baek Ahyoung every day.

Of course, I can’t do that.

There are still many heroines left to conquer.

‘Today is a bust, so I can just go to the Academy starting tomorrow.’

Knock knock.

“Yes. Come in.”

The person who gently opened the door and entered was Baek Ahyoung.

“Ahyoung-ssi?”

“Haaah… Honey… I came because I heard you’re being discharged now.”

Baek Ahyoung had dark circles under her eyes and approached me, yawning tiredly.

“You stayed up all night because of the emergency patients yesterday, right? Why did you come?”

“To help you with the discharge… Hoo.”

“I appreciate it… No, thank you.”

It wouldn’t be polite to refuse when she’s going this far.

I accepted Baek Ahyoung’s kindness and started preparing for discharge.

There wasn’t much to prepare, really, but since she’s helping…

“Are you going back to the Academy now?”

“I have to. Aren’t you returning to the Academy too, Ahyoung-ssi?”

“I think I need to stay here until this weekend.”

“Hmm. I see.”

I went through the discharge procedures while chatting with Baek Ahyoung.

Leaving the hospital room where I’d spent over a week felt strange.

“I’ll be waiting at the Academy. Honey.”

“Yeah… Honey. I’ll be there soon.”

Pat pat-

I patted Baek Ahyoung’s back and left Ironblood Hospital.

“…Should I head to the dorm first, I guess.”

I need to prepare a bit if I’m going to the Academy starting tomorrow.

I walked along the main road towards the Academy dorms.

Vibration-

“My mana circuits have definitely improved.”

I cast a strong perception-blocking barrier around myself.

Articles about my discharge were appearing online, and reporters were swarming the hospital entrance.

Anyway, casting a strong barrier definitely gave me a sense of it.

The efficiency of my mana circuits had increased compared to before I was injured.

“Nice, nice.”

Getting stronger is always welcome.

Walking slowly while observing my surroundings, I arrived at the dorms.

Ting-

I heard the familiar door opening sound and entered the dorm.

“Welcome back.”

“Ah, shit. You startled me.”

Scarlet was waiting right in front of the entrance door, in a demure pose.

Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?

“Scarlet. What are you doing?”

“Hoyeon-nim. It seems I need to focus on my work for a while.”

“Work?”

“Yes. The Korean branch manager of the Iris Guild, whom I met when dealing with Park Min-gyu, seems to have noticed my deviation.”

“You mean me lounging around and eating in my dorm?”

“That’s right.”

She didn’t even deny the ‘lounging around and eating’ part.

I appreciated it, but from the Iris Guild’s perspective, I was just freeloading.

“The Korean branch manager… Kang Hyorin, right? That makes sense if it’s her. She’s definitely capable.”

“I’m not worried because she’s not the type to spread rumors, but just in case.”

“Hmm… Right. Well, I don’t have anything for you to do for the time being.”

Scarlet is bound to me by an unfair contract… but she’s already helped me plenty.

Besides, if I pursue Alice, I’ll naturally run into her again.

“Thank you.”

“Did you tell Liliana or the others?”

Nam Daeun might not know, but Nam Dahee and Liliana must have grown quite fond of Scarlet.

“I’ve already said our goodbyes.”

“As thorough as ever. Alright. See you later.”

“It won’t take that long.”

Swish swish-

Scarlet disappeared, crawling up the ceiling like a spider.

“…I feel a bit strange.”

Actually, seeing her every day until now was the strange part. Seeing her occasionally like before is the norm.

In the living room where Scarlet had vanished, Nam Daeun sat blankly.

I entered the living room and spoke to Nam Daeun.

“Where’s Dahee?”

“She’s at school. I found a preparatory school supported by the Academy.”

“Ah…”

Right, it’s fine for her to attend school now. The Buyer Guild is gone, after all.

“Are you going to the Academy now too?”

“Yeah. I went today.”

Finally, everything is back to normal.

Thinking about going starting tomorrow gives me a headache, but it can’t be helped.

“Thank you.”

“Hm?”

Nam Daeun, who had been staring blankly at the sky, spoke.

“It’s thanks to you. Dahee, and me…”

“What did I do? It’s thanks to you all and the people around us.”

Scarlet deserves a lot of credit among them.

It would have been incredibly troublesome without Scarlet.

“Yeah. I thanked the others too. Scarlet-ssi, Liliana-ssi. Alice-ssi.”

“Good job… Wait a minute, Alice?”

“It’s nothing.”

“…”

Why was Alice’s name coming out of Nam Daeun’s mouth?

Nam Daeun averted her gaze from my face and looked far into the distance.

“….”

If she doesn’t want to talk about it, I shouldn’t push.

I’m a sweet guy, after all.

“…Let’s do it.”

Nam Daeun said something out of the blue.

“Huh?”

“The thing we couldn’t do yesterday. Let’s do it now.”

“Ah…”

Actually, yesterday, amidst a good atmosphere, I tried to slip away with Nam Daeun… but it failed because Nam Dahee didn’t want to be separated from Nam Daeun.

I shouldn’t have brought her along if I knew that would happen.

• Hey, you sons of bitches! Kill them all! Aaaargh!

Liliana’s broadcast could be heard from inside the room, and Nam Dahee was out.

“…Perfect timing.”

“Yeah.”

★ Heroine Status Window

[Nam Daeun]

• [ Affection: 99 ] (+ 0.1)

• [ Lust: 91 ]

• [ Appetite: 55 ]

• [ Fatigue: 40 ]

Current State: I want to do it properly today.

‘I wonder if I can reach 100 Affection this time.’

Even with 99 Affection, Nam Daeun’s personality was still similar.

I want to break through that personality today.

Thinking like the sweet guy I am, I slowly placed my hand on Nam Daeun’s face.