Episode 160. Preparing for the Party is Hard

Wednesday afternoon.

In the inner room of the largest mansion among the luxury residences.

There, Alice was lying on the bed.

“… Did he not notice he left it here?”

Alice looked at the smart watch she was holding.

It was Lee Hoyeon’s smart watch.

He forgot about something he left behind during his massage for three whole days, does that even make sense? And it’s not just anything, it’s a smart watch.

He even seemed to have bought a new one in the meantime, as he was wearing a smart watch on his wrist.

It seemed like he had concluded it was completely lost.

“Then I don’t have to return it. Since he bought a new one.”

If someone buys a new item thinking they lost the old one, but it turns out they didn’t, it just makes them feel bad.

Alice nodded to herself and placed the smart watch on the drawer.

It’s too early to masturbate. Because Sebastian will be coming to report soon.

Knock knock-

“Yes, come in.”

“Miss. The Korean branch manager sent the organized requests from cadet Lee Hoyeon.”

Sebastian handed Alice the documents.

“… Nam Daeun?”

After reading the materials, Alice frowned at the sudden appearance of the name.

It wasn’t a name she liked.

She was the woman who had always been above her, whom she considered a rival.

Of course, she acknowledged her abilities.

If she hadn’t been contracted with the Buyer Guild, she would have been the top priority recruit.

“The Buyer Guild is holding Nam Daeun’s sister captive… Interesting.”

It felt suspicious that she signed with a small, insignificant guild, but it seems Lee Hoyeon had already figured it out.

Alice tilted her head while reading the documents.

What could be the reason?

Setting aside the fact that Lee Hoyeon knew such things, why is he trying to save Nam Daeun?

“You don’t know the reason why he wants to save Nam Daeun?”

“Yes. He said he doesn’t know the reason. Perhaps it’s something like friendship or love.”

“….”

Friendship and love.

They are truly useless emotions, but it’s a plausible story.

It’s not like other guilds are gathering information to poach Nam Daeun; if it weren’t for reasons like that, Lee Hoyeon wouldn’t need to use an request voucher.

It’s a request voucher directed to the Guild Master of the Iris Guild, no less.

Although the Korean branch manager handled it because it was a simple request, he used something like a guarantee of success to save Nam Daeun.

‘… His body isn’t the objective, is it?’

Alice thought of Baek Ahyoung, Lumi, and the mysterious beauty captured in the video.

‘They say he has that kind of relationship with Professor Im Sol too, maybe Nam Daeun as well….’

She recalled Nam Daeun, who always beat her and quietly disappeared.

Imagining that woman being dominated by Lee Hoyeon….

Throb-

Just thinking about it sent a strange, peculiar sensation over her body.

It was the same feeling she got when receiving a massage from Lee Hoyeon.

Alice glanced forward.

Sebastian, who always faithfully stood by her side, was reliably present.

He was an all-around man practicing the extreme profession of being her secretary, bodyguard, and manager all at once.

However, lately, he had become Alice’s biggest obstacle.

Because he was too perfect, there were no openings.

“… Sebastian. You look tired lately. How about taking a vacation?”

“I am fine. Guarding you, Miss, is no different from a vacation.”

“No, really, it’s okay. Scarlet is here too, so take a short break.”

Alice began trying to persuade Sebastian for the sake of her massage time, but Sebastian wouldn’t budge.

“If the Guild Master permits it, I will consider it.”

“… Do as you please. I suggested it with my own thoughts.”

“I apologize. Speaking of which, Miss, there is new information regarding cadet Lee Hoyeon.”

“What is it?”

“Please check this.”

Sebastian sent Alice a video.

Alice played the video, which showed Baek Ahyoung’s face.

*

Ting-

After parting ways with Lumi, I returned to the dorm.

• Scout, what is this…

I heard Liliana’s voice from inside, so I thought Scarlet was playing around again, but for some reason, both were staring at the smart watch screen.

They could just each hold one and watch, but they were unnecessarily watching together on Scarlet’s watch, their faces pressed close.

Did she decide to just live at my place? She’s sitting on the bed so naturally.

“What’s so interesting that you’re watching it?”

I spoke to the two of them while taking off my outer clothes.

“Hoyeon-nim. You’re here.”

“You came at just the right time. We were watching because they said your name would appear here.”

Scarlet and Liliana were watching a replay of an interview.

I sat down next to them and looked at the smart watch screen.

• I heard that the Saintess will be participating in the Association’s social party. Is this your first public activity since transferring to the Academy?

• Yes. That’s right.

On the screen, Baek Ahyoung was seen being interviewed by a female reporter.

Her face clearly showed she was nervous, anyone could tell.

She’s cute, but why is she doing this?

What’s with this interview all of a sudden.

• This might be a sensitive question, but there are so many questions about your partner. Are you single, or are you bringing someone along? There’s a lot of talk, so could you perhaps answer regarding this?

• Actually, the partner who will be attending with me is already decided. You all probably know him too. Cadet Lee Hoyeon, the genius mage of Victoria Academy.

• Wait a moment. You’re participating in the party with cadet Lee Hoyeon? Just a second. Camera. Is this recording properly? Saintess, this is the first time you’re revealing this in an exclusive interview, correct?

• Yes. That’s right.

• … L-ladies and gentlemen! Huge news…!

“What the heck is this?”

Ahyoung-ssi. You didn’t say anything like this.

Why are you doing this between us?

“If this isn’t related to Hoyeon-nim, shouldn’t we address it quickly?”

Scarlet asked, concerned about my flustered appearance… but it wasn’t false information.

“Uh… Actually, he is my partner. The problem is that it was revealed so suddenly.”

“Ah….”

“A party? Can’t you take me too? I want to be your partner.”

“… No. So many people will be there; if they find out you’re a succubus, you’ll be dissected on the spot.”

“Gasp. That sounds a bit scary. But I still want to go to the party.”

I patted Liliana’s cheek as she wanted to go to the party, trying to soothe her.

Meanwhile, the video was still going on, chattering away.

Now they were asking how I met her, so I focused on watching the video.

• Ah, so you became close starting from the dungeon training terrorism incident.

• Yes. We met privately after that and have maintained a good relationship since then….

• Oh, oh! Does that mean perhaps…?

• Hehe… I won’t say more. It’s also about cadet Lee Hoyeon’s position.

• Ahhhh! Understood. That’s all for now! We don’t know anything!

“Seriously… Are these people kidding me?”

Saying it like that, anyone would think we’re a couple.

This is actual false information dissemination!

“This video. When was it taken?”

I asked Scarlet, looking at her.

“It was released about an hour ago. It caused quite a stir immediately after it was released, though.”

“Wow… I’m fucked.”

Fortunately, Liliana didn’t react much.

And well… Alice, Nam Daeun, and Im Sol probably won’t react strongly either.

Nam Daeun won’t have the time to care about this, and Alice doesn’t like me yet.

As for Im Sol… she’ll probably contact Baek Ahyoung directly and ask.

The problem is something else…

Ting-

• Surin noona : Hoyeon-ah, it seems Teacher Baek Ahyoung is spreading false information, so the Academy will proceed with a lawsuit immediately.

• Me : Noona. Just a moment. It’s not false information, just a simple party participation. I wanted to go to the social party and needed someone to go with.

I calmed down Moon Surin, who was overreacting.

Why are you suddenly suing, noona.

• Surin noona : I’m attending the party too, why didn’t you tell me?

“Ah….”

I didn’t think of that.

In the series of incidents starting from meeting Im Sol and leading to Baek Ahyoung, I forgot about Moon Surin’s existence.

But if Moon Surin received an invitation, shouldn’t I have received one too?

I’m somewhat famous, aren’t I?

Wait a minute. Could it be….

“Liliana. Did any invitations or anything come to the dorm?”

“Invitations?”

Liliana rubbed her face against my hand, closed her eyes, and seemed to be recalling something.

“Umm… Actually, there were so many flyers from nearby restaurants that I threw away everything except the chicken place ads, but I didn’t read the others carefully….”

“….”

It can’t be. It must not be.

There’s no way an invitation would come to someone like me. Yeah.

The past is not important.

What’s important is from now on.

• Me : I’m sorry, noona. Still, it’s nothing serious, so don’t worry about it.

• Surin noona : … Aren’t you two dating?

• Me : Of course not.

• Surin noona : Okay.

“Ah, crap… This is going to lower my affection points.”

Thanks to Baek Ahyoung’s sudden actions, I’m going to be exhausted.

The next dangerous heroines are Lucy and Lumi.

I need to make excuses to them too, but I haven’t heard from them.

I can’t just contact them first and say, ‘I’m just going to the party with the Saintess, we’re not involved in anything strange!’

It’s ridiculous to make excuses when I’m not even dating the twins.

It was also awkward to contact them first just because I hadn’t heard from them.

Because I don’t usually initiate contact.

If I start with casual conversation, it feels like I’m contacting them right after this incident happened, which makes me uneasy.

“I should have contacted them more often….”

Tsk.

Regretting it belatedly, I spoke to Scarlet.

“Scarlet. Did you get the information I asked for?”

“Yes. I’ve compiled the information about the social party and put it on your desk.”

“As expected of Scarlet. Your performance is reliable.”

I sat down at the desk and read the materials Scarlet had organized.

“A social party… Many famous people are attending.”

If I manage to rescue Nam Dahee before the party, the party itself isn’t really that important.

It was just an insurance policy, after all.

But now that things have turned out this way, I really need to attend.

Baek Ahyoung seems to have high expectations. If I don’t attend after she went this far, she’ll be very disappointed.

“Sigh…. What about Nam Daeun’s condition?”

Nam Daeun hasn’t even shown her face at the Academy since that day.

“She hasn’t left her dorm bed. I think she hasn’t eaten for days.”

“Ha….”

Even when I try contacting her using the number we exchanged last time, she doesn’t answer, so there’s nothing I can do.

“For now, if she makes any move, tell me immediately.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“Is there anything unusual with Alice?”

“She’s been using the video from the smart watch you left behind every night. The usage time is also gradually increasing. On the first day, 2 hours and 15 minutes. Last night, 3 hours….”

“… I’m not curious about that.”

I don’t want to hear the details of Alice’s masturbation time.

“I apologize.”

“Scout. How about this? Jungle flavor, Jungle Chicken.”

Liliana had already opened the delivery app and was choosing a chicken place.

“Sounds good. I agree.”

“You like Jungle Chicken too?”

I pushed Liliana, who was clinging to me, away slightly.

“Do as you please.”

My mind is too complicated right now to care if it’s Jungle Chicken or Amazon Chicken.

While the two of them chose chicken, I prayed that Kang Hyorin would handle her task quickly.

And I pondered over what I needed to do.

*

Inside a dark conference room.

The executives of Pandemic, seated around a giant round table, were waiting for Maestro.

Seeing them waiting rigidly like dolls, Rebecca clicked her tongue.

“Sigh….”

Bastards like Maestro’s pawns.

They are dolls who follow Maestro’s commands without their own will or assertion.

“I’m sorry. I got a little late because I was praying.”

‘A little? What are you talking about.’

He arrived two hours past the meeting time, but no one complained.

No, complaints weren’t the issue.

Because I couldn’t feel any emotion from these people.

Maestro, who had taken his seat, opened his mouth.

“Shall we begin the meeting then… By the way, Rebecca. Why does your expression look so bad?”

“How long do I have to wait? You said you’d send me to the Academy.”

I was excited about going to see the descendant of the Rune tribe immediately, but the order to wait and observe the situation for a while had continued for a week.

“Hmm, the damage from the terrorism was minimal, and now that the festival and exams are over, the tension will ease soon. Perhaps in about a month….”

“A month? Are you crazy? I can’t wait.”

“Rebecca! How dare you talk back to Maestro-nim!”

The bull-headed demonkin sitting next to Rebecca shouted, emitting magical power.

But Rebecca scoffed and didn’t move an inch.

“It’s alright. Joshua. Calm down. And Rebecca. Look into my eyes for a moment.”

Zzzzz-

The magical power flowing from Maestro’s body enveloped the surrounding space.

The bull-faced demonkin who had shouted at Rebecca lost focus in his eyes, calmed his anger instantly, and sat back down.

Maestro, who had slowly approached Rebecca after taking his seat, met her eyes and spoke.

“Rebecca. You must remain still for a month. Understand?”

As their eyes met, the anger gradually faded from Rebecca’s face.

“… Yes. I understand.”

To Maestro’s softly spoken words, Rebecca replied with a dazed expression.

“There’s something more urgent than the Academy. And it happens to be something that requires you, Rebecca.”

Maestro smiled, his lips curling up as he looked at the now docile Rebecca.