Episode 481. Sweet Victory

“… Hmm. Now that I’ve actually done it, I’m so embarrassed.”

Lee Hoyeon walked down the hospital room hallway, scratching his head.

Having sent Liliana and her group back, Lee Hoyeon was heading back to the hospital room.

… Yeah, hugging them was probably too cringe.

I didn’t hear anything particularly weird, but it’s making me self-conscious for no reason.

Besides, everyone smiling so warmly was embarrassing too.

I need to maintain my manly persona. Hmm.

From now on, should I be more careful with my words and actions?

“Still, since it turned out well, it should be fine.”

Lee Hoyeon returned to the hospital room, smacking his lips.

It wasn’t that long since he’d left the room, but since Im Sol was asleep, a barrier was naturally set up.

“She’s still not awake.”

Lee Hoyeon approached Im Sol’s bed.

Im Sol, sleeping with a peaceful expression, her chest rose and fell with every soft breath.

Baek Ahyoung said she was okay, so I’m not worried, but I wish she’d wake up sooner.

‘But isn’t pretending to be asleep a cliché in these situations?’

If I poked her, she’d subtly shake her head, then unable to hold back her pleasure, Im Sol spreading her legs on her own… seemed like it would be quite fun.

Poke. Poke.

Pat pat.

“As expected, reality is harsh.”

But even after poking her all over, Im Sol didn’t wake up.

Lee Hoyeon lay down on the bed with lingering disappointment.

Although her natural healing ability is good, for a speedy recovery, rest must come first.

The Demon King Lucifer I know is very belligerent.

In fact, he attacked as soon as he met Liliana, so who knows when a fight might break out next.

I need to shake off this poor condition quickly.

Lee Hoyeon lay on the bed and activated his smartwatch.

There was a lot on his mind, but he planned to check the news first.

“As expected, it’s causing a stir.”

The sparring match between me and Im Sol.

It was more than just training; anyone could see it was the real deal. Naturally, it must have become quite the topic online.

There were many reporters in the main hall, so articles might have already been published.

[Genius Mage Im Sol and Genius Mage Lee Hoyeon’s Generational Shift? Im Sol’s Attempt to Establish Dominance Under the Guise of Training]

[Academy Chairman Reveals It Was Merely a Sparring Match Between Master and Disciple]

[Why are Master and Disciple Clashing? Exclusive Interview with a Wizard Association Member]

[Mage Im Sol Hindering Cadet Lee Hoyeon’s Tremendous Growth…]

“What bullshit. They’re really spewing nonsense.”

How do those guys manage to produce bullshit every single day?

Because of a few irresponsible people, prejudice against the profession grows.

Lee Hoyeon turned off his smartwatch, lay on the bed, and covered his eyes with his hand.

‘… Maybe I should ask Irene-ssi about that.’

The Korean branch of the Iris Guild collaborates with Victoria Academy and is quite well-established.

They could easily put out a few favorable articles for me, right?

“Wait a second, now that I think about it, I haven’t even thanked her yet.”

Irene saving Rebecca and her group. I intended to thank her, but I passed out after the sparring match.

It was to deliver Chiron’s message, but ultimately, everyone survived thanks to Irene.

“Right now, let’s take care of everything.”

Lee Hoyeon activated his smartwatch and sent Irene a text message.

• Me: Irene-ssi. I have a favor to ask…

“Hmm… it would be better to do this over the phone.”

As Lee Hoyeon was typing on the keypad to send the message, he thought.

Even so, for a thank-you message plus an additional request, doing it via text might be a bit too impersonal, wouldn’t it?

It’s not like I have a bad relationship with Irene-ssi, so it felt too stiff.

Lee Hoyeon closed the text window and immediately called Irene.

Ring… Ring…

Click.

After a few short rings, Irene’s voice came through the smartwatch.

• Hello? What is it, Lee Hoyeon. You’re awake?

“Yes. Irene-ssi. I just regained consciousness.”

• That’s a relief. But what’s up? It’s been a while since you called.

“I just thought of you and called.”

• Really? I thought you were calling to ask for help with managing public opinion.

“… That, too, would be greatly appreciated.”

• Tsk, I knew it.

Lee Hoyeon gave a wry smile at Irene’s laughter.

As expected, coming from an information guild, she’s quick-witted. She already knows everything.

• About the negative articles concerning Professor Im Sol? You want me to take them down, right?

“Yes. Thank you for always helping me.”

• It’s not that difficult a task, so it’s fine. Is that all you needed?

“Oh. I also wanted to say thank you.”

• Thank you?

“Irene-ssi saved Scarlet and her group when they were attacked. I’m really grateful.”

• Ah. That incident? It’s nothing. I just got lucky saving them.

“Still, I need to be clear. If it weren’t for you, Irene-ssi, it would have been a disaster. Just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine. Thank you so much.”

• … Hmm. That’s true, but…

Lee Hoyeon suddenly felt a strange atmosphere.

What was that? Irene’s voice had changed.

Did I say something wrong just now?

While Lee Hoyeon was feeling confused, Irene continued.

• I understand, but receiving your thanks directly feels kind of strange.

“Huh?”

• I don’t know how to put it. It feels like I’m an outsider who protected someone precious to you? It feels like you care more about them. Ah, is that not the right feeling…? Hmm… never mind. Just pretend you didn’t hear what I just said.

“Uh….”

Lee Hoyeon shut his mouth and pondered.

I just expressed gratitude because she saved someone precious to me, but could another heroine feel that way from their perspective?

Of course, it’s questionable whether Irene harbors that much affection for me, but I’m not clueless enough to ask about it right now.

Perhaps she was even speaking on behalf of Alice.

I don’t know the right way to react here.

Lee Hoyeon, without overthinking it, spoke the first thing that came to mind.

“I understand how you feel, but even if Rebecca had saved Irene-ssi, I would have thanked her. Irene-ssi is precious too, so don’t worry.”

• D-Don’t say weird things. I wasn’t worried.

“Still, thank you for being honest with me. Irene-ssi. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

• Whatever. Anyway… If that’s all, I’m hanging up!

Irene, sounding like she didn’t want to continue this conversation, was clearly about to end the call immediately.

Lee Hoyeon, who still had something to say, desperately tried to stop her.

“Wait! Wait a moment! Irene-ssi. I have one more thing to say.”

• What is it?

“Chiron at the French Iris Guild. He’s still there, right?”

• Yes. He’s still working as an instructor at the Iris Guild.

“Then, as soon as possible, please arrange a meeting for me to talk with him.”

Since Liliana has no memory of it, the ones who know the most about Lucifer are likely Chiron and Albedo.

I considered having Irene or other guild members listen in and relay the information to me, but it would be better for me to ask directly to minimize information distortion.

• I can connect you right now. You just need to wait a few minutes.

“No. I’m hospitalized right now… After I’m discharged, I’ll come visit you at home.”

Although I haven’t fully recovered yet, Im Sol is in the next bed.

Conversations about Lucifer or the Underworld are not something I want to have in the hospital room.

• Okay. I’ll arrange that too.

“Yes. Thank you always. Irene-ssi.”

Lee Hoyeon hung up the phone with a satisfied smile.

Ever since spending time with Alice and the two of us, Irene has become much more agreeable.

The way she got jealous earlier, she’s kind of cute in her own way.

“Ugh, mmm… Ungh….”

“Huh?”

Suddenly sat up.

Hearing Im Sol’s groans, Lee Hoyeon immediately got out of bed.

In the next bed, Im Sol was wriggling her body with her eyes closed.

Lee Hoyeon looked at Im Sol’s face.

Her expression didn’t look uncomfortable.

Since she didn’t seem sick, maybe she was about to wake up.

Lee Hoyeon peered at Im Sol’s face and thought.

‘… When she wakes up, what should I ask her to do?’

Even her sleeping face is so beautiful.

Thinking that I can do whatever I want with this person, as a man, I can’t help but have inappropriate thoughts.

‘As expected, starting with oral… No, I’ve always done that. Doing it directly to a virgin might be a bit much, so… Hmm… is there some other special experience?’

While Lee Hoyeon was seriously contemplating, looking at Im Sol’s face,

Im Sol slowly opened her eyes.

“… Ah.”

My head feels foggy.

My whole body felt as if it were being crushed by steel, heavy.

But that was just how it felt; thanks to Baek Ahyoung’s treatment, there were no remaining injuries on my body.

It was probably my muscles or mana circuits that were shocked.

“Huh? Sol-i Professor-nim! Are you feeling better?”

At the familiar voice, Im Sol looked up.

Her disciple, Lee Hoyeon, was looking at her, blinking.

He smiled faintly as their eyes met.

“My disciple….”

“Yes. It’s me. Professor-nim. Now, look at my hand. How many fingers do you see?”

Swish. Swish.

Lee Hoyeon held up his index and middle fingers and waved his hand left and right.

Seeing this, Im Sol couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.

“Two.”

“Oh. My head seems to be functioning normally, thankfully.”

“My body is fine too.”

Creak

Im Sol stretched her stiff body with effort and leaned back against the bed’s headrest.

“Don’t push yourself. You should just lie down.”

“I told you I’m fine.”

Lee Hoyeon looked at Im Sol and shook his head.

Who did she get that stubbornness from?

Im Sol looked healthy, without any aftereffects. Although she seemed slightly unstable, she’d be fine after a little rest.

I guess it was good I trusted Baek Ahyoung.

‘It’s fortunate she looks healthy, but….’

Lee Hoyeon felt a sense of disappointment.

It was fortunate there were no aftereffects, but Im Sol’s condition was exactly the same as usual.

Every time I visited Im Sol’s lab, she maintained a certain level of indifference in her actions.

It was probably her own way of trying to keep her distance.

Im Sol’s mindset, that she would only allow everything to a man stronger than her.

Lee Hoyeon respected that.

‘Still, I wasn’t expecting a complete 180-degree turn immediately….’

This is just too much the same, isn’t it?

It was exactly the same as before I won the sparring match.

Avoiding my gaze slightly. Getting embarrassed.

Couldn’t things have changed even a little?

As I thought about Im Sol, thoughts I had been deliberately avoiding began to creep in.

‘What if she claims it doesn’t count because it wasn’t her best effort? Or what if she says she can’t accept it because she let her guard down?’

It wasn’t like I hadn’t considered that.

From Im Sol’s perspective, she might have been going easy on her disciple, and in a moment of carelessness, she might feel her victory was snatched away.

Or perhaps she believes that only a man who overwhelms her in every aspect can be the victor.

If that were the case, Lee Hoyeon would inevitably need time.

‘If she were to say this match is invalid… what would I do?’

Ugh.

Lee Hoyeon groaned and agonized.

He had poured everything into this sparring match, so this outcome was incredibly important.

“…?”

Meanwhile, Im Sol watched Lee Hoyeon groaning and tilted her head in confusion.

Why is my disciple acting like this all of a sudden?

But since it wasn’t the first time Lee Hoyeon had acted strangely, Im Sol didn’t pay it much mind.

She just needed to say what she had to say.

Im Sol looked at Lee Hoyeon biting his lip and spoke.

“Hoyeon-ah.”

“Yes?”

“It’s been a while, shall we have some fun?”

“… Fun?”

Im Sol gave a shy smile,

and Lee Hoyeon blinked at Im Sol’s sudden remark.