Side Story 10. The Story After (10)

After dinner.

Liliana was haphazardly gathering bundles of money in the living room.

‘This can’t be. It really can’t be….’

Strangely, it seemed like there was much less money than when she had first scattered bundles of it.

The pleased smile of Nam Dahee, who was being taken away by Nam Daeun, flashed through her mind… but Liliana didn’t particularly care.

What was filling her mind now were her own actions.

Selling pastries.

‘Right. It was better than I expected.’

The attention she received from people and the gazes of those looking up to her(?).

Although the number of people pointing cameras at her increased, it definitely satisfied the vanity deep within Liliana’s heart.

Besides, she earned a lot of money. Tonight’s dinner was chicken, ordered with the money Liliana earned.

She devoured the chicken, the reward for her labor, without hesitation.

Any shame about the chicken disappeared in just one night.

‘How pathetic. It’s so pathetic… I’m Liliana Calliope….’

The Succubus of Slaughter, Liliana Calliope.

She is pure terror, the very embodiment of fear, whose name makes even the Underworld tremble.

‘I can’t enjoy this degenerate life anymore.’

‘If this continues, Liliana Calliope’s identity will disappear!’

‘But isn’t this part of me too?’

‘Degenerate Liliana or Liliana Calliope, what does it matter?’

‘In the end, both are just components that make me up. I should be tolerant to some extent….’

‘Aagh!’

Liliana, who had been nodding at a sudden thought, soon let out a screech.

And she raised her hand, repeatedly slapping her own head.

‘These kinds of distracting thoughts shouldn’t fill my head.’

‘…As expected, it has to be Master.’

Liliana wanted to stop living like a degenerate, but she had no intention whatsoever of parting from Lee Hoyeon.

Affection that surpassed their contractual relationship had already taken root deep within Liliana’s heart.

‘Sex. One incredibly hot session of sex would surely cool my head down.’

In fact, having sex with Lee Hoyeon isn’t difficult.

If I approach Lee Hoyeon when he’s alone and flirt a little, he won’t be able to resist his lust and will jump on me.

According to Liliana’s memory, that’s how it should happen.

…It’s just that actually doing it is difficult.

Because she was still embarrassed.

‘What day is it today…? I had my turn last Friday. And Lee Hoyeon stayed out on Monday…’

‘Of course, if I wait, my turn will come.’

The women in the house have established a clear rotation for sleeping with Lee Hoyeon.

Although turns sometimes get pushed back because Lee Hoyeon doesn’t come home every night, it had to be fair among the women living together.

‘Thursday… that’s the day after tomorrow? How can I wait until then!’

But Liliana wanted it more.

She wanted it at least tonight. She felt like doing it frantically would cool her head down.

It wasn’t mere wishful thinking; it was a succubus’s intuition.

‘What should I do? How…’

Liliana continued her contemplation as she headed towards the bathroom.

Bathing was also one of the processes for overcoming her laziness.

Succubi are a ridiculously advantageous race; they have a fragrant scent even without washing properly. If I don’t consciously bathe every day, I’ll succumb to laziness.

‘Kyaak!’

‘Oof!’

As Liliana was entering the bathroom like that, she bumped heads with someone just coming out.

Instantly, along with the sensation of her head spinning, she collapsed onto the floor with a thud.

‘Ugh. Uh…’

‘Liliana-ssi! Are you okay? I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention…’

With difficulty, as she opened her eyes, she saw Nam Daeun, wrapped in a towel, looking down at her with worried eyes.

Seeing her wet hair and smooth skin, it looked like she had just finished washing up.

‘You… Ah. Today was your turn, Daeun.’

‘Yes. I’m truly sorry, Liliana-ssi….’

Liliana and Nam Daeun.

With their senses, bumping into someone was unusual, but unfortunately, both were lost in thought.

Liliana was wondering how she could have sex with Lee Hoyeon.

Nam Daeun was wondering how she would spend tonight.

It was all because of Lee Hoyeon.

‘No. I should have been careful too. Oof. My head hurts….’

Liliana sniffled as she wiped her forehead.

And without much thought, she scanned Nam Daeun up and down.

Nam Daeun, freshly washed, would head to Lee Hoyeon’s room after putting Nam Dahee to sleep.

And they’d have a hot night….

‘I’m envious. So envious.’

‘Couldn’t I go instead?’

That thought occurred to her.

‘Anyway, the order is set, so I can just substitute Nam Daeun in for the day after tomorrow, right?’

Liliana smiled at her own genius idea and nodded.

‘Kind Nam Daeun would surely grant a request like this.’

‘Daeun-ah. I have a favor to ask.’

‘A favor? If it’s something I can do, I’ll help you with anything.’

‘Could you switch the order for doing it with Lee Hoyeon today? Mine is the day after tomorrow. Okay?’

Liliana said that, her eyes sparkling.

She knew how kind Nam Daeun usually was, and how much she considered others.

Even if she takes some loss herself, she always takes care of others first.

Knowing her personality, she had made this request….

“…”

“Daeun-ah…?”

Liliana stared intently at the unresponsive Nam Daeun.

She slightly widened her eyes, then soon put on a faint smile and slowly opened her mouth.

“Liliana-ssi.”

“Hm?”

“The order is a rule we decided on. If we change it, things will get complicated.”

“I know that. Anyway, if you do it the day after tomorrow, it’s the same thing, isn’t it? So…”

“Liliana-ssi.”

“…Hm?”

Nam Daeun was still smiling.

However, Liliana inexplicably took a step back.

This feeling was like the sensation of one’s neck being targeted on a battlefield. It was similar to murderous intent.

‘Absolutely not. Absolutely. If it’s any other favor, it’s fine. But if you interfere with time with Hoyeon, even you, Liliana-ssi….’

‘Wait! Just a moment…! I’m sorry. Daeun-ah. I’ll take back what I just said, so please don’t be angry…!’

Liliana cut off Nam Daeun’s words and offered an apology.

The instincts of her, the Succubus of Slaughter who once ruled the Underworld, cried out.

Provoking Nam Daeun any further could lead to unknown consequences.

She immediately backed down.

‘It’s nothing. You don’t need to apologize, Liliana-ssi.’

Nam Daeun was smiling brightly, as if nothing had happened.

If it weren’t for the cold sweat trickling down her back, the tension she just felt would have seemed like a lie.

‘What on earth was that vibe?’

Smirk.

Nam Daeun was still smiling. It was her usual face, but… seeing that smile, Liliana suddenly felt overwhelmingly sleepy.

‘Ah, ah… I’m so sleepy. I’m going to head to my room now. You sleep well too, Daeun!’

‘Yes. Liliana-ssi. Have a good night.’

Liliana slowly backed away, watching Nam Daeun, then slipped into her room.

---

The next morning.

We had a leisurely breakfast for the first time in a while.

We were all sitting at the table together, and today, the seat next to me was Nam Daeun’s.

‘Hoyeon-ah. Eat this too. It’s the rolled omelet you like.’

‘Thanks.’

A piece of rolled omelet plopped onto my side plate.

As I put the neatly rolled omelet, much like Nam Daeun’s personality, into my mouth, the soft taste of egg spread.

I nodded and gave a thumbs up.

‘Wow, it’s really delicious. Daeun-ah.’

‘I’m glad.’

‘Unnie. I want some rolled omelet too.’

‘Uh-huh. Dahee-ya. Ah, would you like to try some too, Liliana-ssi?’

‘Uh, yeah. Yeah. Thanks….’

‘…?’

‘What’s wrong with her now?’

Liliana was glancing sideways, trying to read Nam Daeun’s reaction.

‘Did she get scolded for not cleaning her room yesterday?’

‘Oppa. Hoyeon oppa. You’re giving a special lecture at the Academy this afternoon, right?’

‘We talked about that yesterday too.’

Nam Dahee, her eyes sparkling while eating the rolled omelet, leaned forward.

I’ve heard her talk about it so many times since last night that my ears are getting calluses.

Of course, I can understand.

It’s a bit awkward to say myself, but the name Lee Hoyeon carries quite a bit of weight at the Academy.

Being close to Lee Hoyeon would be a huge source of pride in school life.

Especially for middle schoolers, it’s a phase where they’d go crazy for that kind of image.

I understand completely, since I was like that too.

‘You must come greet me after class ends, Oppa.’

‘Okay. I’ll even call out your name during class.’

‘Wow. Awesome!’

‘Hoyeon-ah. I’m sorry. She’s still young…’

Next to Nam Dahee, who was expressing her joy physically by waving her hands up and down, Nam Daeun bowed her head as if embarrassed.

‘It happens. It’s not a big deal.’

‘Are you really okay? The special lecture isn’t putting you under any pressure, is it?’

‘I told you it’s fine.’

Daeun really worries a lot.

What’s so difficult about playing around with middle schoolers for a bit?

---

Now that the war with the Demon King has ended and classes at the Academy have returned to normal.

What was taught at the Academy remained largely the same.

‘The demons that threatened humanity and the hell assimilation phenomena have disappeared… but dungeons and gates still occur all over the Earth. Students must always strive not to lose their practical combat sense.’

There were more practice-oriented classes than written lectures.

Because the war with the Underworld had created such significant repercussions.

There’s no guarantee such a thing won’t happen again.

‘It probably means we should prepare in advance.’

I unconditionally agree with that approach.

‘I am Lee Hoyeon.’

That’s why I intend to participate in the practice sessions even more diligently.

Since I was kicked out of the written classes, I have to work hard at least here.

Today was a simple magic demonstration, not a sparring match, so there were no victims.

I channeled mana and stood up from my seat.

‘If you’re weaker than me, I’ll tease you.’

‘Hoyeon-ssi! Do your best!’

Receiving cheers from Lucy and Lumi, I stood in my place.

Until now, the atmosphere seemed noisy, but during my turn, only the cheers of Lucy and Lumi could be heard, and strangely, it was quieter than when others performed.

‘You just need to use magic on… the scarecrow in front. Student Lee Hoyeon….’

‘Yes. Understood.’

Lee Hoyeon nodded and unleashed his mana.

Pure blue mana instantly enveloped the practice field.

At the same time, the students’ eyes widened.

‘Sky Piercer Deployment.’

It had been a while since I last cast this magic, but it felt as natural as breathing.

Lee Hoyeon reached out his hand towards the scarecrow.

The mana cannon gathering in front of his palm instantly took shape, vibrating the space.

Seeing the mana condensing with terrifying momentum, the students’ expressions began to turn grim.

‘Hey, hey. Is that really okay?’

‘…It should be okay, right? Lee Hoyeon isn’t going to kill us.’

I thought it would obviously be okay, but the pressure of the Sky Piercer bearing down on the surroundings and the threatening power of the mana cannon made it impossible not to feel afraid.

Immense magical power, like it could devastate an entire city with just a light throw.

Who would think of that as a mere mana cannon?

‘Ah… Why today of all days is my class…’

Despair bloomed in the eyes of the new female professor, deployed into the practice session in place of Im Sol, who had gone on a business trip to the Wizard Association.