Episode 626. Gate of Hell

“…How could this happen?”

The Iris Guild in France.

Alice, who had been spending time in the Team Leader 1 office, gazed at her smartwatch, lost in thought.

Something had happened that defied her common sense.

True to its nature as an information guild, the Iris Guild secretly collects information on high-ranking officials worldwide.

By gathering and organizing this information internally, the guild can naturally identify suspicious activities.

Such as suspiciously large gaps in alibis or unexplained funds being deposited.

Anyone suspicious is managed by the Iris Guild with an elevated alert level.

This is because the Iris Guild needs to be the first to know, even if strange things happen.

Of course, this is conducted in secret, as the high-ranking officials wouldn’t stand for it if they knew.

Anyway.

Recently, the movements of high-ranking officials with elevated alert levels had been strange.

Especially everyone who met Lee Hoyeon.

“High-ranking officials with high alert levels have become favorable towards Lee Hoyeon. What on earth did he do?”

It wasn’t inherently strange for people to be favorable towards Lee Hoyeon.

He was a genius mage, and his future was bound to be brilliant.

But people who had been hostile towards him turned favorable overnight.

It wasn’t just a simple shift to friendliness; they were holding press conferences and interviews daily, praising Lee Hoyeon.

Such a phenomenon was incredibly bizarre.

“I know, right? To make them act like that just from a brief meeting… Surely he didn’t charm the elderly too?”

“…That can’t be it. We’re investigating their movements, but the suspicious activities seem to have disappeared.”

“I bet he threatened everyone with magic to their throats, saying, ‘If you don’t listen to me from now on, I’ll kill you.'”

“Even Lee Hoyeon wouldn’t do something like that, Unnie.”

Alice shook her head, looking at Irene.

Lee Hoyeon might be a bad guy, but he wasn’t crazy enough to pull off something like that.

“But you don’t actually believe his claim that they understood his true intentions, do you?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

With something like this happening, they didn’t need to just puzzle over it within the Iris Guild.

Last night, Alice had naturally contacted Lee Hoyeon first.

However, the reply she received was the vague statement that they understood his true intentions.

It was clear Lee Hoyeon had done something, but she had no idea what.

Did he actually threaten them?

Alice’s headache intensified.

“Alice. Put that aside for a moment and look at this.”

Just then, Irene handed over the documents she had been examining to Alice.

It was data concerning accidents occurring around the Pacific Ocean.

“…The number of disappearances around the Pacific has increased ridiculously over the past few days?”

“Yeah. There have been an unusually high number of flight and ship cancellations recently. The cause, naturally… is the monsters from Hell. It matches the characteristics Lee Hoyeon mentioned.”

“Isn’t it strange for people to disappear even when there are no monsters on the route? It could be a cover-up for other crimes.”

“We investigated that angle too, but without any significant results. It seems more likely we should suspect areas where we lack information.”

“Understood. I’ll leave this to the Asia investigation team.”

The two sisters focused on their work, exchanging opinions.

Only the faint hum of computers and the tapping of trackpads filled the office.

Several hours later.

Tak-

A sound next to her broke Alice’s concentration, which had been fixed on the screen while reviewing reports.

Turning her gaze towards the source of the sound, she saw a coffee cup in the corner of the desk.

It was coffee brought by Irene.

“The sun has already set. Take a break, Alice.”

“Ah, Unnie. Thank you.”

The clock already indicated 8 PM.

Only then did Alice sigh and stretch both arms overhead.

She hadn’t realized how much time had passed.

She had been so focused on work that she lost track of time.

“Alice, when should we head back today?”

“If you want to go back early, Unnie, let’s go.”

“Then, how about a glass of wine in my room for the first time in a while?”

“…I’ll think about it.”

Alice casually dodged Irene’s gaze, which seemed intent on luring her to her room.

Ever since they had slept together a few times, Irene kept approaching her like this whenever she had the chance.

It felt like she was being hit on.

“Speaking of which, have you heard from Lee Hoyeon?”

Fortunately, Irene was the type to know when to back off.

She knew her younger sister’s personality well.

As soon as she realized today wasn’t the day, she quickly changed the subject.

“No. He seemed incredibly busy.”

Holjjak-

Alice said, bringing the coffee cup to her lips.

According to the head of the Korean branch, he was still meeting with high-ranking officials.

He did the same in America, so he must have something planned.

“He’s quite ill-mannered, isn’t he? We went out of our way to help him destroy that black pillar, yet he won’t even show his face. We should pay him a visit sometime, right?”

“He’s probably still out and about.”

Alice replied to Irene, glancing absently at her smartwatch.

Indeed, waiting for the next reply wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

…Maybe it’s time to head back to Korea.

The moment she thought that.

A news flash came from her smartwatch.

• Breaking news. Unidentified monsters have appeared on the West Coast of the United States…

*

“Hoo…”

Late in the afternoon, Lee Hoyeon returned home and took off his outer coat, hanging it on a magic coat rack.

He smoothed out his slightly wrinkled dress shirt and headed towards the kitchen, looking tired.

Lee Hoyeon poured water into a cup from the water purifier, letting out a groan.

“I should have met the President of the Hunter Association… Hmm.”

Just as he had done in America, Lee Hoyeon was meeting with high-ranking officials in Korea as well.

However, arranging meetings proved more difficult than expected.

“Working too hard isn’t good either.”

Seeing the high-ranking officials avoid him, it seemed a false rumor had spread that everyone who met Lee Hoyeon became his follower.

If only they would meet him, they would all understand his true intentions.

What a shame.

Kkulkeok.

Lee Hoyeon tore open a packet of medicine and poured it into his mouth.

Before the bitter taste could spread, he drank water, swallowing the medicine down his throat.

This was medicine Baek Ahyoung had prepared for him after he returned to Korea.

He needed to take this to calm his mind.

‘I should at least take this diligently.’

After swallowing the medicine, Lee Hoyeon sat down at the table.

He had been running around every day lately, and it was quite exhausting.

Leaning back in the chair and staring blankly at the wall, his eyes caught the calendar.

“…Today marks exactly one week.”

The darkness emanating from the Gate of Hell was growing larger in the Pacific.

The moment that darkness reached the continents, the monster attacks would begin.

That estimated period was one week.

In reality, the darkness spewing from the Gate of Hell had already approached the continents, so the monster attacks could happen at any moment.

‘Even if monsters attack… it’s better to wait until a certain amount of damage occurs.’

Even though Lee Hoyeon had persuaded quite a few high-ranking officials, they were all in America and Korea.

Despite what the Iris Guild said, nothing had changed.

Without visible damage, it was difficult to persuade people worldwide.

‘Still, is there no way to minimize the victims as much as possible?’

Seuk-

Just as he was lost in thought, something cold touched Lee Hoyeon’s cheek.

Startled, he turned his head to see Nam Daeun offering a glass with a faint smile.

“Sorry. Was I interrupting…?”

Seeing her smile shyly and cutely, Lee Hoyeon naturally smiled back.

Lee Hoyeon took the drink Nam Daeun offered and asked,

“No. It wasn’t an important worry. What is this?”

“It’s a Claire Rose Latte. The Student Council President packed a tea bag, saying you like it too.”

“…Ah. It’s Surin noona.”

No wonder the smell felt familiar.

Lee Hoyeon took a sip of the latte and shivered slightly.

He was used to it now and could drink it, but the first sip after a long time was still tough.

“I also have cookies from Lucy and Lumi, want to share?”

“Yeah. I was just about to take a break.”

Nam Daeun brought a bunch of cookies from the kitchen, and Lee Hoyeon picked up one of the cutely packaged cookies.

“Hmm, I guess I can eat this.”

‘The kids’ cooking skills have improved a lot.’

Cookies made by Lucy.

Before, they were barely edible, but now, he could eat them with his eyes closed.

While he slumped in his chair, putting cookies and Claire Rose Latte into his mouth, Nam Daeun looked at him with worried eyes.

“Hoyeon-ah. You look really busy, I’m worried. You’ve been running around for two straight days since returning from America.”

“Thanks. But I’ve met pretty much all the important people, so don’t worry.”

“…Okay. Don’t push yourself too hard. Oh, and I’ll help with anything I can.”

Seuk.

He felt a warm touch on the back of his hand.

Lee Hoyeon gently stroked Nam Daeun’s hand resting on his.

The warmth against his cold skin brought a sense of comfort.

“Thank you. Daeun-ah.”

“Are you perhaps planning to enter politics? Scarlet-ssi and Liliana-ssi were talking about it.”

“…There’s no way. Wait, what do those two talk about whenever I’m not around?”

“Well, you do have too many weaknesses to enter politics, Hoyeon.”

“Hmm…”

Hearing this from Daeun made his heart ache even more.

Because she was speaking sincerely.

Just then, the heroines entered from the kitchen.

“What’s this? Can I eat it?”

“It seems to be from Daeun-yang’s friend. I believe it’s safe to eat.”

“Mmm! They look cute. Nyamnyam. What the… These taste bad?”

“Scarlet, Liliana. You came at the perfect time. Both of you, come sit here. I need to hear what you two talk about when I’m not around.”

“Still, didn’t you gain strength thanks to us? You seemed quite worried until you went to America, so it’s a relief.”

Scarlet sat down and spoke to Lee Hoyeon with a smile.

It was true that he had worries when going to America, as she said.

He hadn’t realized Arthur Kennedy wanted [Infinite Entropy] so badly.

However, since he had done so much for that old man, things went smoother than expected.

No, that wasn’t the important thing in the first place.

He really needed to find out what they said when he wasn’t around.

“Scarlet. Stop changing the subject and sit down. I’ve decided today’s the day.”

“Tsk.”

Lee Hoyeon let out a hollow laugh looking at Scarlet.

As if nothing was wrong, she tore open a cookie and put it in her mouth.

“…”

Scarlet’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and she quietly put the cookie down.

Seeing this, Lee Hoyeon spoke up.

“Scarlet. Even if Liliana doesn’t, you should at least understand my true intentions, right?”

“What are you talking about? I understand perfectly.”

“It’s worse when someone who knows does it.”

Lee Hoyeon shook his head and brought the Claire Rose Latte to his lips.

Right.

If they listened to me just because I said something, they wouldn’t be Scarlet and Liliana.

“Daddy’s boy. Don’t scold her too much. Scarlet-yang was so worried.”

“…Rebecca-nim.”

Rebecca, who had somehow joined the table, smirked.

It seemed she too had started enjoying teasing Scarlet.

“You have no idea how cute she’s become lately. Always watching ‘Daddy’s boy’s’ schedule…”

“Rebecca-nim!”

“Why are these cookies so disgusting? Ugh.”

Still, they all seemed to get along well.

With the current tense atmosphere, it was a relief to maintain such a mood within the house.

Amidst the noisy table, Lee Hoyeon glanced at his smartwatch.

• B-breaking news. Australia, Russia, Japan, the West Coast of the US, etc. Attacks on continents adjacent to the Pacific…

“…Just when I was feeling good.”

Lee Hoyeon clicked his tongue and stood up from his seat.