episode_0182

“Mm…” The owner of the whining voice certainly wasn’t me, and it was only when I turned my head that I realized Seol Hayeon was lying beside me.

…Come to think of it, we had quite a passionate time last night. Falling asleep utterly exhausted, as if passed out, was nothing unusual.

‘Well, it doesn’t affect me much.’ I let out a small chuckle and inwardly praised Kanzaki’s contribution today as well. The essence absorption ability always made me stronger…

“Mmh.” After gently stroking Seol Hayeon’s forehead as she mumbled in her sleep, I pulled the blanket completely over her and quietly got out of bed.

This was quite a few mornings I’d spent at the Cheon family mansion.

‘It’s about time I left, isn’t it?’ Staying any longer felt a bit awkward. No, my Mother-in-law would probably say I could stay as long as I wanted, but—.

I also had things to do, and honestly, as a student, I couldn’t just laze around forever. Though it was a legally sanctioned holiday granted by the Dean, I secretly found myself missing the Academy. It was as if the faces I hadn’t seen in a while were starting to flicker in my mind. Ryu Seeun would also be back from Cheorwon soon.

“Haa.” Leaning by the window, I mumbled to myself with a wistful expression.

“I want to have sex.”

It was the kind of casual remark male high school students might toss around without much thought, but I had actually spoken my true feelings.

Essence absorption is certainly a good ability. The only side effect, perhaps, is that no matter what, I can’t reach complete satisfaction. In a way, even the moment of exhaustion could be considered satisfaction. Perhaps it was because only mediocre opponents had challenged me recently; no matter what happened, the other party always ran out of energy first.

“Ugh.” Closing my eyes tightly with a hint of dissatisfaction, I yelled inwardly. Baek Ayun, Kanzaki Rie! I miss you…!

Knock knock! “Oh my.” That’s when the knock came. Startled like a thief whose feet are burning, I instinctively turned my head.

-Hey, are you awake? Can I come in?

It was Cheon Soyul’s voice. I swallowed hard, aware of Seol Hayeon still lying in my bed, but I didn’t get overly nervous. After all, it had only been a few days since I’d been given full permission for relationships with other women. Cheon Soyul wouldn’t have been entirely surprised by this turn of events once Seol Hayeon came to the Cheon family’s mansion…

‘…Still, no need to make it obvious, right?’ I quickly walked to the bed and pulled the blanket all the way up to Seol Hayeon’s head.

“Mmph.” Seol Hayeon, suddenly hit by the blanket, let out an adorable sound from beneath it, but I immediately turned and moved towards the door.

Pretending not to be flustered, I opened the door, and Cheon Soyul raised her head.

“…Why are you so late?”

Her gaze, as she tilted her head and glanced over my shoulder, was not ordinary.

I meticulously controlled my expression and replied to her.

“I was just about to leave anyway.”

“Oh? You must have woken up early then.”

I hadn’t actually been awake for very long, but there was no need to say that out loud.

I smoothly closed the door and moved into the hallway. And to prevent Cheon Soyul from feeling any suspicion, I immediately changed the subject.

“Where’s Mother-in-law? I think I should be leaving soon, so I need to say goodbye.”

“Uh…” At my question, Cheon Soyul looked at me with slightly widened eyes. She awkwardly scratched her cheek and asked back.

“Are you leaving already? Why don’t you rest a bit longer?”

“You have to go with me, don’t you?”

“Well, of course, but…”

After all, Cheon Soyul was also a student at Cheongsong Academy. She wasn’t in a situation like Ryu Seeun, where she needed to fully master her realm, so there was no reason for her to hesitate returning to where she usually stayed.

It seemed she didn’t dislike the time she spent at the main house with me, feeling a slight regret about it. With a slightly lingering expression, she clicked her tongue.

“Well, I guess it can’t be helped. We did spend a bit too much time traveling back and forth between Cheorwon and Seoul…”

“It’s time to go back now.”

“…Mhm.”

She nodded her head sullenly and turned around.

“Mom’s in her office. She had a lot of work to handle in advance because she’s participating in the operation…”

“So she decided to participate after all.”

I asked calmly, and Cheon Soyul nodded silently. She seemed to have pondered it a bit, but ultimately decided on this path.

If that’s the case, then two of the nation’s Archmages, excluding Ryu Jinseong, will be participating? Considering the existence of Ryu Seeun, who practically inherited the status and realm of Black Heaven, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that all three Archmages are participating.

‘And Yang Chan-ho, that guy, and if I’m not mistaken, Grandfather is coming too?’ According to Hong Yeonhwa, with whom I occasionally exchanged messages, Flame Emperor Hong Myeongseon would also lend his strength to the Moonlight Church subjugation operation. It seemed he was extremely infuriated by the attacks on Jeokho Academy and Busan.

So, how many S-ranks are being mobilized? Violet is bound by contract, so she’ll be with them, and I’ll be there too…

“…It’s almost Jörmungandr-level.”

I murmured in a low voice. They said that over a dozen S-ranks from around the world gathered to subjugate Jörmungandr, the King of Serpents, once the most horrific disaster.

Assuming there might be other forces I don’t know about in this Moonlight Church subjugation operation, it truly was on par with the Jörmungandr incident. In fact, considering Haru’s abilities, it might still be slightly insufficient. After all, she wasn’t the only formidable individual in the Moonlight Church that couldn’t be underestimated. Eileen Lewis, that S-rank serial killer, also seemed like no ordinary opponent. She was likely among the top-tier S-ranks.

Somehow… it would be good if we could successfully suppress the Moonlight Church, even including those Bishops. However, nothing was certain, so we would have to proceed with caution.

Anyway.

“Mother-in-law.”

Following Cheon Soyul, we arrived at the office of this Cheon family’s leader(?). The piles of documents, stacked like mountains, truly resembled a work hell. Cheon Sehee, though pretending otherwise, also showed no small amount of fatigue on her face…

I looked at her with a hint of pity and lightly bowed my head.

“I came to say goodbye, as I think it’s time for me to return to the Academy. I’ve been greatly indebted to you these past few days.”

“…Is that so? Won’t you stay a little longer?”

Mother-in-law Cheon Sehee lifted her head and replied in a weary voice. Even as she said that, she knew that if I stayed longer, there would be more things for her to worry about.

“I’ve already stayed long enough. Both Soyul and I are students, so shouldn’t we focus on our main duties?”

Well, strictly speaking, even if I put Cheon Soyul aside, I wasn’t exactly the type to be diligent in my studies. But for Archmage Manroe’s full participation in the operation, it was indeed time for me to leave. Ideally, I wished our Teacher-nim would stop bothering her and return to where she usually stayed… But I couldn’t force her. Well, she’d probably figure it out on her own.

“If you put it that way, then alright.”

Anyway, Mother-in-law also put down her pen and nodded. Soon, her gaze shifted from me to Cheon Soyul.

“Soyul, you go carefully too. We’ll probably see each other again during winter break, won’t we?”

“Yeah. I’ll come again soon.”

Cheon Soyul replied lightly, and Mother-in-law wore a refreshing smile.

“Until then, I’ll finish my work.”

The ‘work’ she mentioned probably referred to the operation. Unfortunately, Cheon Soyul wouldn’t be able to accompany her on that. Cheon Soyul herself knew this fact, so she made a slightly gloomy expression. But what could she do? If she was dissatisfied, she just needed to improve her skills and return. Cheon Soyul was undoubtedly an outstanding genius, but she was still only Special A-rank.

“…What was that?”

“Oh, nothing.”

A senseless laugh escaped me, and I patted Cheon Soyul’s shoulder, making her glare at me sharply. I shrugged casually, meeting her gaze.

And then I looked back at Mother-in-law.

“Then I’ll truly be going now.”

“Alright, my son-in-law.”

I couldn’t help but pause slightly at the immediate reply, but I felt pleased by the tone, which seemed to truly acknowledge me. With a faint smile, I bowed deeply to Cheon Sehee.

And then, as I was about to leave the Cheon family mansion, leaving behind Miss Seol Hayeon, who was still in sweet dreamland.

“Don’t forget your training, Lee Hyunjin. Even if you’ve been recognized as S-rank, there’s no end to the Demonic Path…”

“Brother-in-lawww!!”

It was my Sister-in-law, Cheon Hyeon-a, who pushed aside Cheon Woohyuk Hyung-nim, who was about to make some uncharacteristically pompous remarks for his age, and rushed into my arms. Her face was beaming with joy as she tightly embraced me. She looked extremely happy.

“See you again next time. Your Sister-in-law will wait for you.”

“…Ah, that.”

I instinctively had to check Cheon Soyul’s expression. She had been wearing a troubled and complex look ever since Cheon Hyeon-a rushed over.

Cheon Hyeon-a also seemed to notice her younger sister’s hesitation, but the slight curl of her lips suggested a dark ulterior motive. In the end, Cheon Soyul couldn’t object to her older sister’s actions. Cheon Hyeon-a subtly glanced at her younger sister with playful eyes. Caught between the two, I had to stiffen my body, and Cheon Woohyuk watched me with an utterly complicated expression…

I felt somewhat guilty. Was this it? ‘The man who stole my older sister and younger sister’? …What a crazy thought. I gently pushed Cheon Hyeon-a away and lightly slapped my own cheek.

“…Well, I’ll really be going now.”

“Okay, goodbye! Don’t forget me.”

With that, I grabbed Cheon Soyul’s wrist and practically fled into the car. The Cheon family had a separate driver, so we would arrive at Seoul Station quickly. Glancing in the rearview mirror, Cheon Hyeon-a was still beaming, waving her hand at us until the very end.

With an indescribably complex feeling, I blurted out a remark.

“Hey, Cheon Soyul.”

“What?”

“…Your sister is really amazing…”

Fzzzzzt!!

A large, golden bolt of lightning struck the back seat. It was another day where I envied lightning resistance.