Side Story 37. The Story After (37)

EK Guild Leader Pretzel glared at his contact list, biting his lip.

His plan to prevent Iris Guild’s monopoly was undoubtedly perfect.

“These stupid bastards… acting like scared dogs.”

However, Iris Guild’s influence was stronger than he thought.

There were quite a few guys who didn’t want to fall out of favor with Iris Guild, even though Pretzel, the EK Guild Leader, had personally called them.

No, most of them didn’t even reply to his call.

At least, among the guilds with some reputation, only three replied.

Pretzel felt his pride deeply hurt by that fact.

“They’re guys who don’t know what’s truly scary because they’re too busy avoiding a fleeting light. Ribera. Don’t you think so?”

“….”

Ribera, the First Captain of the EK Guild.

He quietly lowered his head.

He had tried to convey his sincerity several times, but it didn’t get through.

There was no need to needlessly provoke the Guild Leader’s anger.

‘Even the guilds that are friendly haven’t participated in the war.’

The cowards hiding from the disaster don’t know the true strength of Lee Hoyeon and Iris Guild.

Even if trash gathers, they’re nothing more than a disorganized mob.

Ribera knew that fact, so he didn’t say anything further.

“Shameless bastards. Tsk. Jane. We’ll proceed with the plan even with just the people gathered so far.”

“Yes. Guild Leader-nim. Please tell me the plan.”

Jane, the Vice Guild Leader of the EK Guild, stood before Pretzel.

Knowing Pretzel’s personality well, she had always agreed with him and risen to this position.

“This is it.”

“A party…?”

“You know about the large-scale party being spearheaded by Three Star Corporation, Iris Guild’s biggest sponsor, that’s opening soon, right?”

A party where figures and guilds from all over the world gather to foster camaraderie.

An interview with Iris Guild regarding the incident recently criticized by the EK Guild is also scheduled here.

Since it will be broadcast worldwide simultaneously, people’s interest is highly focused on it.

“Yes. I understand that our EK Guild is also participating in this party, but…”

“Right. However, there are people targeting this place right now.”

“… This?”

Jane’s eyes widened as she looked at the hologram monitor that appeared before her.

Pandemic.

The name of the terrorist group that had shaken the world surfaced.

They were known to have been suppressed under Lee Hoyeon’s leadership, but remnants still remained.

Of course, most of the members died. But quite a few people who committed atrocities under their name were still alive.

“I’ve obtained top-secret information that they are going to attack this party.”

“… Guild Leader-nim. Surely you’re not thinking of helping the terrorist group?”

Ribera looked at Pretzel, startled.

No matter how loyal he was to the EK Guild and the Guild Leader, he couldn’t ally with a terrorist group.

“I don’t want to get involved with this trash either. But… it would be fine to coincidentally cause a ruckus at the party during that time, wouldn’t it?”

Iris Guild is responsible for the security of this party.

Pretzel just needs to insert himself into the situation and take the spoils.

A malicious smile flashed across his face.

*

A few days later.

Scarlet and I went to visit Dr. Kang Hyorin.

Because I heard the investigation had already concluded, even though not much time had passed.

“Scarlet. Shall we go to France or something after so long? The food was incredibly delicious back then.”

“If you’re thinking of taking me to that Korean restaurant we went to last time, tell me now. Because one of us will die, whether it’s me or you.”

“… It wouldn’t be that bad.”

“You weren’t really thinking of that restaurant, were you?”

“….”

Lee Hoyeon shut his mouth and quickened his pace.

‘Honestly, the Cheese Sundubu was delicious though.’

This Scarlet seems a bit picky about her food.

I entered Dr. Kang Hyorin’s office, savoring the thought.

She was sitting leisurely on the sofa with her legs crossed.

“Welcome, Mage Lee Hoyeon. You’ve come at a good time. The investigation just finished.”

“I heard about it, but it’s still surprising. It hasn’t even been a few days.”

“Since Iris Guild investigated for days, they hid it well for the EK Guild. They tried to hide it in their own way.”

Kang Hyorin continued speaking while tapping the air.

At the same time, a hologram monitor unfolded before Lee Hoyeon and Scarlet’s eyes.

The information investigated by Iris Guild was neatly organized.

“It looks like there’s a party in a week.”

“Yes. All the media is making a fuss these days, don’t you know?”

“Ah… I’m busy in my own way, you know.”

Recently, Baek Ahyoung and Im Sol have been avoiding my face every time they run into me, so my worries are endless.

I just can’t understand why these people feel embarrassed among themselves.

“To put it briefly, a party led by Iris Guild and Three Star Corporation is being held in France. They plan to conduct Iris Guild’s interview there. However, information has been obtained that the venue will be attacked.”

“They’re going to attack when so many people are gathered? Does that make any sense?”

“Blatantly criticizing Iris Guild and Mage Lee Hoyeon doesn’t make sense logically either.”

“… Is that so?”

“Yes. Mage Lee Hoyeon-nim seems to still think he’s an academy student.”

“No, I really am a student. Don’t negate that, even you.”

Everyone looks down on me, but I will graduate from the academy no matter what.

Even if I get kicked out of all my classes…

“Although Three Star Corporation is leading the party, Iris Guild is its main focus. The visitors are participating in the party, trusting Iris Guild’s security.”

“Yes. So what kind of attack are they expecting? Surely the EK Guild won’t raid the party venue.”

“It’s highly likely to be a terrorist attack.”

“Terror… Wow. It’s been a while since I’ve heard about terror.”

Lee Hoyeon suddenly recalled past memories.

This world, typical of academy stories, used to have many terrorist attacks at the academy.

Stopping Pandemic was really difficult back then, but now, I’m not even scared hearing the name Pandemic.

Because even if it’s Pandemic without Maestro, only incompetent people would be left.

“Mage Lee Hoyeon made a name for himself by stopping the terrorist attack on the academy. I saw him explode the Hall of Honor back then too.”

“It’s an old story, what else. But is the EK Guild doing this large-scale terror alone?”

“There are guilds cooperating with the EK Guild too. Most of them are guilds that fell out of favor with Iris Guild for doing illegal things. Of course, those guilds aren’t leading the terror… it’s highly likely to be remnants of Pandemic.”

“Pandemic… Indeed. We didn’t completely clean up that scum.”

Maestro and the key leaders were all dealt with, but the cleanup of the remnants wasn’t done.

Lee Hoyeon was also busy in many ways back then.

Still, I hadn’t heard the name Pandemic, so I thought it had effectively collapsed, but apparently not.

Lee Hoyeon scrolled back through the hologram monitor and nodded.

The information organized by Iris Guild was extremely detailed.

“By the way, Iris Guild’s power is incredible. To extract this much information in just three days.”

“Yes. There were many guilds that received contact from the EK Guild. However, a few of those guilds are Iris Guild’s secret branches. They are deliberately infiltrating and extracting information.”

If guilds made into secret branches can receive contact from the EK Guild, just how strong must Iris Guild be?

‘Well, they’re my friends anyway. It’s good if they’re strong.’

After reading the information, Lee Hoyeon turned off the hologram monitor.

He had basically grasped the situation.

If a terrorist attack occurs while I’m at the party venue, I just need to handle it all.

It was the task Lee Hoyeon was most confident in.

“Understood. Dr. Kang Hyorin-nim. Then I’ll join Iris Guild’s side on the day of the party.”

“Huh? Ah, still, wouldn’t it be better to go to France in advance? We’ll need to coordinate with the security team…”

“Why?”

“Because… a terror attack is going to happen.”

“That’s why I said I’ll join on the day of the party.”

In the slightly diverging flow of conversation, Kang Hyorin subtly turned her head and looked at Scarlet, who was quietly reading the information.

She wasn’t reacting particularly to Lee Hoyeon’s words and was reading the information with a calm expression.

Scarlet clearly distinguishes between work and personal matters.

And she is closer to Lee Hoyeon than Kang Hyorin is.

If Lee Hoyeon were talking nonsense, Scarlet should be the one to point it out, not Kang Hyorin.

Because his personality is mild, he’s having a private meeting with Kang Hyorin, but in reality, considering his reputation, it doesn’t make sense for Kang Hyorin to have a private meeting with Lee Hoyeon.

It’s not a good look, position-wise, for the head of the Korean branch to reprimand Lee Hoyeon.

However, even she didn’t particularly deny Lee Hoyeon’s words.

‘… Was I overreacting?’

Kang Hyorin finally realized.

Lee Hoyeon.

There are various names people call him.

Genius Mage, Dreaming Mage, Strongest Mage…

However, hunters who are truly active call Lee Hoyeon a ‘monster’.

Knowing he possesses incomparable strength compared to other hunters, they never provoke him.

‘He knows it too. His own strength…’

Lee Hoyeon isn’t even worried in the first place.

He had a firm conviction that casualties would never occur where he was present.

Unbelievably, even Kang Hyorin found it hard to deny that fact.

Because it’s as natural as a lion crushing a rabbit.

Because a predator wouldn’t make mistakes while catching a little mouse.

‘… So why are they provoking this crazy man?’

Did they think he was a pushover because he was being quiet?

There existed crazy bastards in the world who would forcibly pull out a lion’s nose hair.

Kang Hyorin shook her head and turned off the hologram monitor.

“Okay. Mage Lee Hoyeon. I just need to trust you, right?”

“Yes. Just trust me. Then, see you later.”

Lee Hoyeon gave a quick nod and left the office.

Not preparing even though he knew about the terror could be seen as arrogant, but because Kang Hyorin knew his strength, only a bewildered laugh came out.

“Kang Hyorin.”

“Huh? Scarlet. Why aren’t you leaving?”

“Don’t call Lee Hoyeon ‘you’. That person doesn’t really like such terms of address.”

“… Ah, really? Okay. I’ll be careful.”

Only then did Scarlet leave the office with a satisfied smile.

Watching her retreating back, Kang Hyorin clicked her tongue after Scarlet disappeared.

“She’s completely lost it… Scarlet. I thought she clearly distinguished between work and private life…”

Tsk tsk.

That’s what happens when a person goes crazy over a man.

Kang Hyorin downgraded her assessment of Scarlet, an Ace Guild member.