Episode 173. Hospitalization (4)

The next morning.

Last night, Liliana and Scarlet filmed the video and left right away.

Scarlet said she installed a camera in my room, but she wouldn’t tell me where it was, saying I’d be self-conscious if I knew.

“Is she a movie director or something?”

She said she’d bring Nam Daeun early this morning, so I guess I’ll wait.

The Chairman announced the Academy’s stance last night.

He presented solid evidence, like the artifact in the Hall of Honor I blew up during the Heavenly Festival, the magic circle used in the terrorist attack, and the projected damages.

With such good evidence, why didn’t they do this sooner?

That damn old geezer.

Anyway, the people who slandered me are almost all gone now.

‘The Truth Lee Hoyeon Hides’

The damn organization called ‘Lee Sum Jin’ (short for ‘Lee Hoyeon Hides the Truth’) was also getting trashed.

“The world is finally making sense.”

This weird world that treated an Academy talent like me so poorly is finally over.

——————————–

[Summary of Interviews Regarding Ironblood Guild Leader Lee Hoyeon]

– Meeting him in person, he’s truly an amazing young man. It felt like glimpsing the future of our country.

– I believe he’s a talent who will lead the domestic hunter society in the future.

You have to admit it at this point, ㅋㅋ

——————————–

[Thinking back, it really didn’t make sense. No matter how much the Academy talks about making heroes, they should at least make up something believable ㅋㅋ]

[The Academy is still deceiving the public. All those proofs are fabricated, and the interviews coming out now were all arranged.]

[Just crawl away now, you Shinyoung Guild bug ㅋㅋ]

“Yeah, yeah.”

I should just filter out bugs like that on my own.

The Shinyoung Guild hasn’t officially released a statement regarding the controversy, but they couldn’t stop the continuous stream of exposés.

The exposés kept coming, starting with that nice-looking old man.

Of course, a massive guild like Shinyoung won’t collapse from just this one blow.

Still, it’ll be a huge blow… They probably won’t be quiet for a while, huh?

‘Dr. Kang Hyorin just needs to bring the evidence from the Buyer Guild.’

The Buyer Guild will soon notice Nam Dahee’s disappearance.

Maybe they’ve already noticed.

Even though Kang Hyorin set up the magic circle, several days have already passed.

As I was thinking that and casually browsing the community forums.

Knock knock.

“Student Lee Hoyeon. You have a visitor.”

The knocking sound interrupted my thoughts.

“Who is it?”

“Someone named ‘Scout’ and two others are here.”

“Ah… Yes. Please let them in.”

Scout.

I wondered why they used ‘Scout,’ but I guess they used that name to avoid Alice finding out.

The other two must be Nam Daeun and Nam Dahee.

I sat up in bed, preparing to receive my guests.

*

Scarlet, Nam Daeun, and Nam Dahee were on their way to Lee Hoyeon’s hospital room.

“…”

“Are you nervous?”

Scarlet spoke to Nam Daeun, who had been silent and quiet during the walk up to the room after being granted permission for the visit.

“A little.”

Nam Daeun was contemplating.

Why he helped her, why he did it.

She had so many questions.

“It’s okay, Unnie. Oppa is your really close friend, right?”

“… Yeah. But we have to be quiet in the hospital room.”

Nam Daeun’s smartwatch rang.

Tring-

Beep.

The Buyer Guild kept contacting her, but she was ignoring all of them.

It was because Nam Dahee was right beside her.

As Lee Hoyeon, who had saved her sister, had told her to ignore them, Nam Daeun was following his instructions well.

Vrrr-

Something vibrated from Scarlet’s chest.

It was Liliana, transformed into the necklace.

It had been fidgeting since they left the dormitory, complaining about being stuffy.

Scarlet gently stroked the necklace with her hand.

“We’re almost there. Please bear with it a little longer.”

A moment later, they arrived at the hospital room.

“Extended visits are limited. Have a pleasant time!”

The attending nurse led the group into the room and then disappeared somewhere.

Knock knock.

“Hoyeon-nim. It’s me.”

Scarlet knocked on the door as the representative.

– Come in.

Hearing the voice from inside, they opened the door and entered the room.

Lee Hoyeon, sitting with his back against the wall, came into view for the group.

“You came so early in the morning. Everyone, have a seat. There’s nothing to eat, but there are drinks in the fridge, so feel free to take some.”

Lee Hoyeon spoke as he watched Nam Dahee and Nam Daeun look around the room.

“Hello. Handsome Oppa. I came with Unnie.”

After seeing Nam Dahee greet him demurely, he turned his gaze to Nam Daeun.

Nam Daeun, with her usual expressionless face, was staring intently at Lee Hoyeon.

‘… What does that expression mean?’

I’d seen Liliana for so long that I could tell what she wanted just by her gaze, but Nam Daeun was still a mystery.

For reference, Liliana had already transformed back from the necklace into a succubus and was currently rummaging through the fridge, contemplating which drink to have.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Nam Daeun]

• [ Affection: 75 ]

• [ Lust: 20 ]

• [ Hunger: 37 ]

• [ Fatigue: 50 ]

Current State: Why, why did he do it? I need to ask. Why did he save Dahee?

‘Ah….’

That topic is a bit difficult to discuss with everyone listening.

Lee Hoyeon made eye contact with Scarlet.

“As I mentioned yesterday, I brought everyone today….”

As he conveyed his strong desire to speak with Nam Daeun alone by moving his eyes with all his might, Scarlet responded.

“Umm… Nam Dahee-yang. Liliana-nim. Let’s step outside for a moment.”

“Why?”

“I need to get a drink. I want plum juice.”

“It will only be for a moment. I’ll buy you drinks.”

Trot trot.

Scarlet led the two away, leaving them alone for a moment.

‘Scarlet, as expected.’

Lee Hoyeon nodded slightly, then looked at Nam Daeun.

“Um, are you feeling okay?”

He opened his mouth cautiously.

“… I don’t think that’s something you should be saying, considering you’re the one hospitalized.”

“You think so?”

“…”

Nam Daeun bit her lip.

She had so many questions.

Why he saved Dahee, if he was okay, and why he was helping her.

But she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

She was afraid to voice these words.

She feared he might trap her like the Buyer Guild, and she was scared he might demand something in return for his help.

Of course, she knew that wasn’t the case.

Lee Hoyeon wasn’t that kind of person.

But Mr. Min-gyu wasn’t like that either, until he changed in an instant.

Nam Daeun clenched her teeth at her pathetic self, unable to speak due to her lingering doubts.

“Are you getting any contact from the Buyer Guild?”

Just then, Lee Hoyeon spoke first.

“Yeah. I haven’t been answering. You told me not to….”

“Good job. Those guys are ruthless, so never take their calls. My forces are currently investigating the Buyer Guild’s corruption, so we should expose them soon.”

“… Why are you helping me?”

Nam Daeun finally blurted out the question she had been holding back.

She hadn’t shared that deep of a relationship with Lee Hoyeon.

Yet, he mobilized his own forces, helped her wholeheartedly, and ultimately saved Dahee.

Even after that, he helped with the aftermath without asking for any compensation.

At this point, she started to fear what Lee Hoyeon might demand.

An elephant trained by its handler since childhood cannot rebel against the handler, who is smaller than its own legs, even after becoming an adult.

Having suffered all sorts of abuse from the Buyer Guild, Nam Daeun couldn’t help but suspect others.

“I… I have nothing. I have nothing to offer you as compensation, though I will repay this somehow….”

Lee Hoyeon watched Nam Daeun babble incoherently.

Her shoulders and hands trembled slightly. Tension and fear were palpable in her stiff eyes and lips.

She must feel awkward with the sense of freedom she hadn’t felt in so long.

It was pitiful how much she must have suffered under the Buyer Guild to react like this.

“There wasn’t any particular reason.”

“Huh?”

Nam Daeun’s eyes widened at Lee Hoyeon’s words.

“I found out about your connection with the Buyer Guild while investigating Shinyoung Guild’s background. I just saved you while dealing with the Buyer Guild, who handles Shinyoung Guild’s dirty work. So, you don’t need to worry about it.”

“B-but… I’ve incurred too large a debt to just not worry about it.”

“Then, like you said, repay me someday. You’re free now, so live with your sister, do the things you want to do, and if you find a way to repay me later, then do so.”

Honestly, I don’t really need repayment.

I’m not short on money, and she doesn’t have any connections either.

Just feeling grateful is enough. I’m satisfied with that.

“…”

Nam Daeun lowered her head and trembled.

It seemed like she still couldn’t quite grasp it.

A moment later, Nam Daeun began to shed tears quietly, accompanied by sniffles.

Seeing this, Lee Hoyeon waited until Nam Daeun calmed down.

“Th-thank you. I’ll find a way to repay you for this… no matter what.”

“Yeah, come to think of it, I heard something from Dahee. What was it again? Going to a cafe, eating a meal, watching a movie… When did you do all that with me?”

He relayed exactly what Nam Dahee had told him before joining the party to Nam Daeun.

To ease the stiff atmosphere, Lee Hoyeon wore a slight smile.

Nam Daeun’s face turned bright red, tears welling up in her eyes.

“… I’m sorry. I made it up because I had nothing to tell Dahee. Please keep it a secret from Dahee.”

“Ah… I see.”

I thought something was strange; it seems she used me as the subject of her lie because I was the only one she could think of.

“… Sorry. If I offended you, I sincerely apologize….”

“Then, shall we go to a cafe first?”

“Huh?”

“We can just do everything you mentioned. Then it won’t be a lie anymore.”

Nam Daeun was also a young, twenty-year-old girl.

She probably wanted to hang out with friends, go places, and do many things.

That’s probably why she made up that lie.

Nam Daeun wiped away her tears and broke into a bright smile, no longer expressionless.

“… Yes!”

That smile was far brighter than when she spoke with her sister on the phone.