Episode 224. Why Only Me? (4)

Alice’s mansion.

Tadak- Tak- Tak-

The problem facing the Iris Guild.

Alice, who was gathering information about the Centaur that appeared in France, stretched and stood up from her seat.

“Haa… What am I supposed to do about it.”

Since it wasn’t a properly established monster, the reliability of the information was low.

Alice, frowning from fatigue, poured the wine on her desk into a glass.

“Hmm.”

Enjoying the wine’s aroma with her eyes closed, Alice realized that the weekend would end tomorrow.

She had worked all weekend, and the weekend was already over.

She had to go to the Academy, and information gathering and studying would start again.

‘Hmm….’

Speaking of which, where did Scarlet go again?

There was a mountain of information to collect.

Information about Lee Hoyeon, information about the women around Lee Hoyeon, or information about Lee Hoyeon’s dormitory….

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

The only one who knocks on her door like this is Sebastian.

Scarlet strangely likes to move around through windows.

Alice put down her wine glass on the desk and greeted Sebastian.

“Ah, Miss.”

“… Why?”

Sebastian entered the room as if he were in a hurry.

Lately, he often seemed so rushed.

He was originally a man with the leisure of middle age.

And when he wasn’t like this, it was always about her father.

“I received a call from the head of the Korean branch. The Guild Master has visited Korea.”

“Why on earth? No, where is he now?”

“Well… we’re searching using the Korean branch personnel.”

“How did you know he entered the country?”

“He stopped by the head of the Korean branch immediately upon arrival to ask for directions. The Guild Master specifically asked him to keep it a secret, but I’m telling you secretly, so absolutely don’t tell the Guild Master…”

“… What a strange person.”

Dr. Kang Hyorin, the head of the Korean branch.

Even though she’s at the same Academy, she’s someone I don’t understand.

To ignore the Guild Master’s words like that.

Perhaps she was showing consideration for a student as a professor?

Beep beep beep-

Just then, Sebastian’s smartwatch rang loudly.

“Yeah, hey. Where is it? What?!”

Sebastian frowned as he looked at his smartwatch.

Judging by the way he glanced at Alice during the call, it seemed her dad had caused trouble.

After a moment, Sebastian, who finished the call, cautiously looked at Alice.

“… Miss. He’s said to be near the Academy’s commercial area.”

“Haa, what is Dad doing? Did he get lost?”

He probably got lost trying to find his way here.

Alice’s poor sense of direction was genetic.

Her father, Isaac, often got confused with directions too.

“It doesn’t seem like that… uh, he’s said to be with student Lee Hoyeon.”

“What? Why is Hoyeon involved?”

Alice couldn’t help but be flustered.

The two shouldn’t have any connection at all?

“I don’t know either. It was based on tracking magic power… but the barrier is strong, so I don’t know the details…”

Haa.

This guy gets like this whenever her dad is mentioned.

What on earth happened to him during his active duty days?

“Stop. Sebastian. Guide me quickly.”

“Understood….”

I explicitly told him not to come.

And he’s going to meet Lee Hoyeon without telling me?

He’s probably going to see him because of the massage, no doubt.

“… What’s the point of him saying he likes me all the time.”

That crazy dad.

Alice stormed out of the mansion, her mood completely soured.

*

“… Passed.”

“…?”

‘What the hell is he talking about.’

I looked at Isaac, then glanced at Scarlet behind him.

Scarlet made eye contact with me, then slightly shook her head.

Understanding the signal, I immediately looked away.

“Hoo…”

What exactly passed?

Was he testing my strength?

‘Why would someone I met for the first time today…?’

‘Is he saying I passed as a potential son-in-law?’

Many thoughts came to mind, but I didn’t bother voicing them.

Because I didn’t want to get involved unnecessarily.

He’ll probably tell me himself if I wait.

“….”

“….”

But the other party was indeed not normal.

My already panting breath returned to normal, and I started to feel awkward in this space where two men were making eye contact.

Two men stared at each other for over 10 minutes. There’s no way that wouldn’t be awkward.

“… Who are you?”

In the end, I spoke first.

If he were a demon, I would have cursed him out informally, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak informally to Alice’s father.

“Did you know me originally?”

Isaac looked at me with curious eyes and spoke.

‘This guy is handsome too.’

Perhaps because he’s Alice’s father, his appearance stats are overflowing.

He looks exactly like how a popular tanned blonde delinquent would look after getting older.

‘I shouldn’t pretend to know him.’

In the first place, Isaac doesn’t often show his face like this.

The head of an information guild must remain shrouded in secrecy.

Just knowing Isaac in person means you’re someone with a certain level of authority.

But it’s absurd for a mere student, who’s only just starting to become famous, to know the Emperor of the Night.

“I don’t know.”

That’s why I lied.

The ‘Clear Mental Fortitude’ perk.

Thanks to that, I was confident in my calm acting.

“Hmm… Really? Well, that makes sense.”

Isaac nodded and slowly scanned me.

“… So, who are you? And what did you mean by ‘passed’?”

“‘Passed’… It means you’ve surpassed my standards. Rejoice. You’ve become one of the most outstanding men in the world.”

“….”

Why is this guy’s way of speaking like this?

Hasn’t his chuunibyou been cured yet?

“And who I am… is a secret. While the dark night watches over you….”

“Dad!”

From behind Isaac, who was lowering his voice and striking a strange pose while looking at me, a sharp, angry voice rang out.

Upon confirming the owner of the voice, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

“Who’s interrupting the mood right now… Huh?”

Naturally, Isaac and Scarlet also turned around and saw the approaching blonde beauty.

“I told you not to come!”

“Eh, Alice. How did you get here…”

Alice, approaching angrily, glanced at me, then let out a deep sigh.

Then, she immediately went up to Isaac and stomped the heel of her shoe onto his shin.

“Ah, Aagh!”

Isaac, perhaps not even thinking to block his daughter’s foot with magic, grabbed his shin and rolled onto the floor.

Oof.

Even I can see that hurts. How much must it hurt.

“Does it hurt? Huh? I told you not to come. I even told Sebastian I’d never see you again if you came, so why are you here?”

“S-Sorry… I didn’t read the documents properly…”

“That’s your problem, Dad. You always interfere with what I…”

How many minutes had passed?

Scarlet and I watched the fearsome Isaac get scolded by Alice.

“Don’t you trust me that much? Do you think I’d look at another man?”

“It’s not that, Dad, you just…”

It was absurd, and also a little funny.

For the record, Scarlet was standing behind Isaac, watching the scene seriously.

I wanted to exchange a glance with Scarlet, but she didn’t look at me at all.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”

“Enough. I’m sulking. I’m not talking to you anymore.”

“Eh, Alice. I’m sorry. What should I do…”

“Apologize sincerely to Hoyeon, not me. He’s the one who’s treating my illness. You shouldn’t have acted like that.”

“Alice. I am the Guild Master of Iris. It’s not a position where I can just bow my head.”

Isaac straightened his hunched back and spoke confidently.

Was it pride that couldn’t be bowed?

“Then don’t pretend to know me anymore. If you don’t apologize, I won’t talk to you.”

“Alice….”

Isaac, as if forgetting his pride from moments ago, bowed his head subserviently again.

Good job! Well done!

Boyfriend over dad. Mhm mhm.

Isaac, who had been showing off his pride, stared blankly at Alice, who had her arms crossed and her head turned away, then turned his body dejectedly.

He looked like he had lost the world.

Was the phrase ‘If you don’t apologize, I won’t talk to you’ that hurtful?

Isaac, with a look of utter humiliation, bowed his head to me.

“I-I’m sorry… I am Alice’s father and the Guild Master of Iris. I was just curious about the man my daughter is close to. But I didn’t know how to approach… I’m truly sorry….”

“… No, it’s alright.”

It’s… well. It’s kind of… something.

The current situation of receiving an apology from Isaac, and…

As a father, no, that’s not right.

Since I’m not a father yet, as a man.

I guess I can relate to that humiliating situation.

Isaac looked at me, then subtly turned his head towards Alice.

Zzzzt-

But under Alice’s glare from the side, he bowed his head again.

“… If there’s anything you want, tell me. Within my capabilities… well, not that I can do everything…”

“It’s alri-…”

I stopped myself before I could say ‘alright’.

I couldn’t just let such an opportunity pass.

“… Then, I have a request.”

Isaac swallowed, waiting for my next words.

“I want to investigate the Centaur that appeared in France together.”

“… That much? I can do that.”

Isaac trembled slightly and smiled.

It was a bit scary, but I couldn’t miss this chance.

I maintained my composure and put on my most friendly smile.

*

Saying that wasn’t enough and she needed to apologize personally, Alice took Lee Hoyeon with her.

“Eh, Alice….”

Isaac watched Alice disappear over the alleyway, looking crestfallen.

“….”

I’m tired.

Scarlet thought.

I want to get away from this crazy person quickly.

A moment later, after Alice had completely disappeared.

Isaac’s expression changed, and he put on a cheerful smile as if nothing had happened.

“… Tsk. What a shame. I couldn’t show off even a bit of my coolness. It was a ‘pass’ after so long.”

“It is a shame.”

Does he really think that’s cool?

Scarlet sometimes didn’t understand men.

“That was a lie.”

Isaac suddenly spoke.

The corners of his lips were still raised with interest.

“….”

Scarlet suddenly didn’t understand what Isaac was talking about, so she waited for his next words.

“Scarlet.”

“Yes.”

“Is there any possibility that information about my personal details has leaked to Lee Hoyeon?”

“There isn’t.”

I can state that with certainty.

I don’t know exactly how far Lee Hoyeon has deduced.

Maybe just hearing about Alice’s massage made him think the Emperor of the Night would attack.

That might be why he pushed me away.

However, I can confidently say there’s no way he could know personal details.

“Hmm… Then he judged based on the situation alone? That’s not bad either. Since his abilities are so good anyway, it doesn’t matter.”

Isaac muttered meaningful words with Scarlet in front of him, then looked back at Scarlet.

“Scarlet.”

“Yes.”

Scarlet bowed her head, waiting for Isaac’s words.

Seeing his expression, it didn’t seem like he was angry.

“Watch him. You monitor him directly.”

“… Pardon?”

“Lee Hoyeon. Lee Hoyeon.”

As if it were nothing.

Isaac took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit the tip with his finger.

“Even while Alice and I were talking, he kept glancing at you. It seems he’s interested in you. Or does he just like blondes?”

Scarlet’s eyes widened at Isaac’s sudden words.

And Isaac, reading her reaction, slightly raised the corners of his lips.

“What, you don’t like it?”

“No. I will carry it out.”

‘Thank goodness.’

Scarlet breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Just in case, she hadn’t even reacted to Lee Hoyeon’s eye contact.

Because she knew best that the man before her was a monster.

When in the same space as Isaac, one cannot afford even the slightest lapse in vigilance.

‘I must tell Master Hoyeon next time.’

If she had even returned Lee Hoyeon’s eye contact, she might have been suspected unnecessarily.

“Right. He’s a monster. Be careful, because even you, with your excellent stealth skills, could be discovered at any time.”

“… Yes. I will be careful.”

It’s too late. Guild Master.

No matter how careful you are, you get discovered anyway.

Besides, I’ve already been discovered and had both my body and mind remodeled.

Scarlet recalled her absurd situation and bowed her head.

Also, to avoid revealing the slight, unintentional upturn of her lips.