Episode 604. The Culprit Was Lee Hoyeon.

“Gah, what are you doing right now…!”

The mana circuit twisted abruptly.

Moon Sungmin, bearing the full brunt of the damage, collapsed onto the bed, spitting blood.

Lee Hoyeon stared at him with indifferent eyes.

Although painful, with a demonkin’s healing power, this much shouldn’t even count as a scratch.

He was even fully rested, so he’d be fine in about an hour.

“That’s what I want to ask you. Father-in-law. What are you doing? Leaving without even saying hello to Surin noona isn’t something a father should do.”

“…If I tell Surin, she won’t let me leave.”

“Then you don’t have to leave. Surin noona will want that too.”

Moon Sungmin closed his eyes, his lips sealed shut.

Moon Surin was so kind that she’d take in the father who abandoned her and keep him by her side.

That very trait became his weakness.

“…What do you want me to do? I’ve already hurt Surin too much. I can’t be a burden to Surin anymore.”

He was a demonkin, not human.

He was a weakness to Victoria Academy, and a weakness to Moon Surin personally.

His existence offered no help to Moon Surin whatsoever.

Moon Sungmin knew this all too well, especially after losing his ordinary wife.

“Before, whenever I closed my eyes, I saw my wife’s face. But now, when I close my eyes, I see the people I killed.”

When Moon Sungmin, as a demonkin, had almost lost his sense of self, he had targeted civilians unrelated to his wife’s revenge.

Upon belatedly receiving the information, Moon Sungmin was immensely shocked.

As the trauma of his wife faded, the memories of the innocent victims resurfaced.

“I don’t deserve to be by Surin’s side. …Disappearing quietly is what’s best for Surin.”

“Haa…”

Lee Hoyeon sighed as he looked at Moon Sungmin.

His eyes were completely dead.

‘I can’t do anything for my daughter, so I’ll disappear from her sight.’

Moon Sungmin must have made this decision after careful thought.

As a father, he didn’t want to be a hindrance to Surin noona, let alone help her.

But such circumstances didn’t matter to Lee Hoyeon.

“I understand what you’re thinking, Father-in-law. But your hardship isn’t important to me.”

Moon Sungmin became a demonkin to avenge his wife’s death.

His revenge ended futilely.

The demons who killed his wife were mere pawns who were manipulated, and the real culprits hid their identities.

‘In the end, he went mad vowing to kill all demonkin.’

Lee Hoyeon knew Moon Sungmin’s story all too well.

He knew it was pitiful, and if he were in the same situation, he might have gone mad like Moon Sungmin.

“What’s important to me isn’t your feelings, Father-in-law, but Surin noona.”

Lee Hoyeon clenched his fist tightly.

If he ran away swayed by his immediate emotions, what would happen to Surin noona who was left behind?

That was running away from the present situation, not truly doing what was best for Moon Surin.

“You regret it so much, yet you’re going to regret it again?”

“…”

“Surin noona needs you, Father-in-law. Please stay for Surin noona’s sake.”

“I…”

Hearing Lee Hoyeon’s words, Moon Sungmin’s lips moved slightly, then he lowered his head.

Complex and convoluted emotions filled his mind.

*

While Lee Hoyeon and Moon Sungmin were talking.

Moon Surin, who had been waiting outside, was handling Academy affairs to save every second.

• Student Council President nim. We’ve submitted the agenda regarding the Academy’s normalization. The professors will soon…

• Student Council President nim. I’d like to discuss reducing Victoria Academy’s operating expenses this year…

• Greetings. This is Min Yeji, team leader of the Ironblood Guild. The reason I’m here is about the first-year students currently…

Most of the damage from Lucifer’s attack had been restored, and now it was time to discuss the Academy’s normalization.

They couldn’t rest forever.

The return of the Academy’s board members and professors.

Meetings with security contractors and major guilds.

Purchasing teaching materials, protective gear, potions, and cold weapons.

All of it was Moon Surin’s responsibility.

“It is harder without Grandpa. I guess I should listen to Hoyeon.”

The Chairman wasn’t idle.

But due to his age and poor health, most of the work fell to Moon Surin.

If they hired a professional manager as Lee Hoyeon suggested, Moon Surin’s burden would be significantly lighter.

However, she felt resistant to entrusting the Academy, which she had managed herself until now, to someone else.

Victoria Academy was something her parents had left behind.

“Haa…”

Moon Surin looked up towards the hospital room.

Inside, the man she loved and her father were talking.

Last time, he had acted like a fool, asking her to take good care of him, so she was curious about what kind of conversation they were having this time.

‘I just hope he doesn’t say anything weird.’

When she was young, she missed her father.

As she grew older, she resented him, and now she thought she had no strong feelings left.

‘But why do I get nervous every time I see my father?’

Her current feelings towards her father.

Moon Surin herself wasn’t sure.

“…Maybe I should listen to Hoyeon’s voice.”

Feeling stifled, Moon Surin put on her earphones.

In times like these, Lee Hoyeon’s voice brought her peace of mind.

[Hoyeon’s Love Confession]

• Surin noona. I love you…

“Hoyeon, I love you too.”

His sweet voice calmed her mind.

Listening to Hoyeon’s voice made her want to be held in his arms again.

Actually, she should have seen Lee Hoyeon right after he returned to Korea, but she met him too late.

If only it weren’t for the Academy work…

“Huh?”

Moon Surin’s eyes widened.

She finally understood why Hoyeon had told her to hire a professional manager.

“Hoyeon felt the same way I do…”

He meant that since they couldn’t meet often because of the Academy work, she should reduce her workload to spend more time with him.

It meant he missed her even more.

Knowing Hoyeon’s feelings, the voice coming from her earphones sounded even more lovely today.

“Indeed, a professional manager…”

Creeeak-

Just then, as if timed perfectly, the hospital room door opened and Lee Hoyeon walked out.

Lee Hoyeon waved lightly upon seeing her.

“Hoyeon-ah! Is it all done?”

“Yes. I wrapped things up nicely.”

Moon Surin, who had approached and hugged him, said with a smile.

“A professional manager. I’ve decided to hire one. Hoyeon.”

“Really? Phew, that’s a great choice.”

Lee Hoyeon let out a sigh of relief.

Moon Surin’s overwork was becoming a serious issue.

If it continued, an accident was bound to happen.

“Yeah. Now we can see each other more often, right?”

“…Of course. Naturally.”

Jjeop.

Truthfully, Moon Surin’s busy schedule had made it easier to manage her time when meeting the heroines.

But how could he say anything else when she was smiling so happily?

‘It’s better than collapsing from overwork. If she works hard, she might be able to see me more often.’

Lee Hoyeon hugged Moon Surin with a smile that came from the bottom of his heart.

“Right. What did you talk about with Father?”

“You’ll know when you go inside, noona.”

Lee Hoyeon gave a wry smile watching Moon Surin tilt her head.

The emotional chasm between Moon Sungmin and Moon Surin was something the father and daughter would have to resolve themselves.

It wasn’t his place to interfere.

*

[Black Pillars and the Suspicious Actions of Genius Mage Lee Hoyeon.]

[What are the Deal Details Between Victoria Academy and Lee Hoyeon?]

“Crazy bastards.”

Lee Hoyeon shook his head as he looked at the news articles.

His act of destroying the black pillars seemed to have caused a stir not just in Korea, but in other countries too.

It wasn’t unexpected.

The public readily accepts the incitement and fabrications of the media without question.

Even spreading a baseless rumor about Lee Hoyeon’s actions being suspicious was enough for it to be accepted as truth.

“If the Iris Guild helped, this would be suppressed quickly, but…”

Why should he forcibly stop the current flow?

The longer this trend continued, the greater the impact would be when the situation reversed.

[The Government and the Hunter Association announced that Cadet Lee Hoyeon’s actions could be problematic. They expressed concerns about safety and stated that acts causing fear among the public are unacceptable for a Hunter…]

Lee Hoyeon narrowed his eyes as he watched the breaking news from other countries.

The more time passed, the more suspicious Maestro became.

According to Moon Surin, his actions hadn’t been officially questioned by the Association council yet.

But these news reports were coming from countries other than Korea.

That was what was more suspicious.

He hadn’t even been harmed by the Gate of Hell yet, nor had he destroyed a black pillar within his own country, yet they were giving interviews like this.

It was crude, if you thought about it, and rushed if you were in a hurry.

“I guess I just have to wait.”

[Father. Black-]

“…”

Lee Hoyeon forcibly lowered his senses whenever he heard muffled sobbing sounds from the hospital room.

It seemed they had a lot to talk about.

He had worried that his father-in-law might run away again, but he wasn’t quite like that.

“I’ll just wait a bit.”

He could have gone to do other things, but Lee Hoyeon turned on his smartwatch again and checked the news.

Today, he decided to spend some time with Surin noona.

*

How many hours had passed?

After running around busily since morning, resting quietly was making him feel sleepy, and he yawned.

Just then, the hospital room door slowly opened.

“Hoyeon-ah…! You were still waiting?”

Moon Surin, her eyes red and swollen, was surprised to see Lee Hoyeon.

She had been so engrossed in conversation that she’d forgotten Lee Hoyeon was waiting outside, but he was still here.

Her chest, which had felt heavy moments ago, filled with guilt.

“Come here. Surin.”

“…Hoyeon.”

Lee Hoyeon opened his arms without saying much.

He slowly stroked Moon Surin’s head as she buried herself in his chest.

‘At least I’ve taken one thing off Surin noona’s mind.’

Her father, Moon Sungmin, was one of Moon Surin’s traumas.

From Lee Hoyeon’s perspective, it was something that needed to be addressed, and she had finally shed that burden.

“….Hoyeon.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

She saw a glimpse of her father’s old self after 10 years.

One day was far too short to process the sadness she had accumulated over a lifetime, but the irreplaceable presence of family gave Moon Surin great strength.

[Surin. I wish you could live an ordinary life.]

[Don’t worry, Father. I’m strong… And I have someone precious beside me.]

The conversation she had with her father still flashed before her eyes.

Moon Surin held onto Lee Hoyeon tighter, the one who made it possible.