Episode 176. Investigation Scene

Wednesday, the third day of my hospitalization.

I brought up wanting to go out with Baek Ahyoung, who came to check on my condition once a day.

“Go out? Is something up?”

Baek Ahyoung tilted her head and looked at me, so I told her the reason I’d prepared.

“I heard they’re still cleaning up the aftermath of the social party terror attack. They say the investigation of related individuals isn’t even finished yet…. In a way, I’m also involved, so I thought I should help with the investigation.”

“Ah….”

It’s also about time I met Moon Surin… I need to stop by the dormitory too, and there are many people I need to see.

Baek Ahyoung scanned my body, pondered for a moment, and then slowly opened her mouth.

“Actually, moving around in your current condition won’t put too much strain on your body. You’re past that stage. The problem is you don’t have any means to protect yourself… Will you be okay?”

“Moon Surin noona will be there, and Min Yeji too, so won’t it be fine?”

“Hmm. Then they are reliable… Honey, but why are they all women?”

“….”

At Baek Ahyoung’s gaze, I turned my head away.

What can I do? It’s a dating sim world, so everyone is a woman.

It’s the world where all the capable people are women that’s the problem. It’s definitely not me.

“Haa. Still, no overnight stays. You won’t be able to react immediately in a dangerous situation.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of myself.”

I slightly raised the corners of my mouth.

It was because the way she forbade overnight stays was so predictable and cute.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s because it’s genuinely dangerous?”

Baek Ahyoung glared at me, her face slightly flushed.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Baek Ahyoung]

• [ Affection: 100 ] (+ 1.0)

• [ Lust: 85 ]

• [ Appetite: 42 ]

• [ Fatigue: 29 ]

Current Status: If I can just get her to sleep at the hospital tonight… it’ll be fine.

What do you mean, ‘fine’? I can see it just by looking at her face.

“Tsk… Alright.”

“Y-You bad person….”

Pak! Pak!

I accidentally let out a laugh, and Baek Ahyoung bit her lip and started hitting me.

“Ah, wait a minute. Ahyoung-ssi. Honey. It hurts. I’m a patient.”

While taking Baek Ahyoung’s punches to the chest, I hugged her with both arms.

“Thank you. Honey.”

“Ugh… Honey….”

Fortunately, she didn’t swing her fists even while in my arms.

*

It’s Wednesday, the third day since Lee Hoyeon was hospitalized.

Inside a bright room in a huge mansion.

“Ughm….”

Alice lay on the bed, lost in thought.

She had intended to visit Lee Hoyeon in the hospital, but when it came time to go, she couldn’t find a reason.

Of course, she could just say, ‘I came to visit because we’re friends.’

That’s normal for friends.

But Alice wasn’t that type of person.

If anything, she considered her relationship with Lee Hoyeon to be strictly business.

“Come to think of it, maybe there’s no need to go… Still, I want to check on his condition….”

Alice continued her pointless deliberation.

Knock knock-

Just then, she heard a knock on the door.

That steady rhythm could only be Sebastian.

“Miss. May I come in?”

“Yes, come in.”

Alice got up from the bed and sat on a chair.

Sebastian approached Alice, gave a slight bow, and then spoke.

“The Guild Master granted me leave. You asked him to, Miss….”

Alice clenched her fist inwardly upon hearing Sebastian’s words.

Her constant calls to her dad, using her charm, had finally paid off.

“Wait a minute, can Lee Hoyeon even receive massages?”

I heard he was critically injured.

Of course, Scarlet told me it wasn’t that severe, but he probably isn’t in a condition to receive massages.

“Hmm, how long were you planning to go for?”

“I received a week’s leave. If you wish for me to shorten it, Miss, I don’t mind.”

“It’s fine. Yes. A month is fine too.”

A week.

In fact, it was too short, which was the problem.

There was no telling how long it would take Lee Hoyeon to recover.

“… Am I bothering you?”

“I’m just saying it because you’ve worked hard. Go on your vacation quickly. You finished handing things over to Scarlet, right?”

Sebastian seemed slightly hurt, but Alice didn’t care about that.

She just wanted him to go on his vacation quickly.

“Yes. Scarlet has personal missions too, so she won’t be able to stick by your side like I would… However, I’ve briefed her as much as possible, so please don’t worry.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

She found it frustrating how her family was overprotective of her, even though she was already 20 years old.

She didn’t need bodyguards or anything.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

Sebastian gave a slight bow, just as he had when entering the room, and left.

Now, for the next week, Scarlet would be acting as her secretary.

Tiring-

As Sebastian left, a message arrived from Scarlet.

• Scarlet: Lady Alice. I will proceed as instructed.

• Me: Yes. Keep up the good work, Scarlet.

She had already told Scarlet in advance.

The order was not to come to her but to continue with her work.

“This is real freedom.”

Alice licked her lips once, then activated her smartwatch.

She had a video Scarlet had reported to her.

A new video, a full two hours long.

The performer was the same beautiful woman from the previous video.

Indeed, her decision to install a camera in the hospital room was correct.

How long could she enjoy this?

Gulp.

Alice slowly brought her hand down to her crotch.

*

I came out of the hospital for the first time in days.

I had to get one more check-up before leaving and get a pass stating I had to return before nightfall, but I was satisfied enough.

I had already contacted Moon Surin.

An investigation headquarters had been set up at the party venue, and the investigation was ongoing there.

Seeing as they were still investigating days after the terror attack, this incident must have been quite significant.

They were probably investigating thoroughly, considering the involvement of high-profile VIPs.

“I’ll see Surin noona, help with the investigation… stop by the dormitory, meet Lucy and Lumi… I won’t be able to see Professor Im Sol.”

I had a plan, though I wasn’t sure if I’d have the time.

Upon arriving at the party venue, I saw people bustling about.

“Surin noona!”

I approached Moon Surin, who was waiting for me ahead.

Her shimmering platinum blonde hair caught my eye, making her easy to spot.

“Hoyeon! Are you okay?”

Moon Surin’s eyes widened as she approached me and examined my body from head to toe.

She looked just like an older sister I hadn’t seen in a while.

“Of course, I’m fine. I came to help you, noona.”

“Thanks. Actually, I moved around the party venue a lot, so I had a lot to testify about. It’ll be easier now that you’re here.”

Moon Surin smiled brightly, seemingly glad to see me.

“Just trust me. Only me.”

I entered the investigation area with a confident expression.

Three hours later, I emerged from the interrogation room, completely drained of energy.

“Noona. I’m dying….”

“Oof, you worked hard. Drink this, at least.”

Moon Surin handed me a drink familiarly, as if she knew exactly how I felt.

“Thank you….”

Gulp gulp.

It feels a bit better now that I’ve got some fluids in me.

It’s true that there were many casualties among the high-ranking officials, but this was the first time Pandemic mobilized such a large number of demons.

That’s probably why it’s classified as such a major incident.

The manpower deployed was also immense.

Thanks to that, I felt completely drained throughout the entire investigation.

They kept asking about the barrier, of all things.

It was tough trying to get out of it by maintaining the ‘genius mage’ persona.

“Why wasn’t such a major incident in the original work?”

It’s definitely a butterfly effect… but I can’t pinpoint anything specific.

Click click!

There were many reporters wandering around the party venue, taking pictures.

“It seems like it’s still a big deal. Seeing the reporters here.”

The fact that reporters, who stake their lives on clicks, are still taking photos here means public interest hasn’t waned.

“It was even worse on the first day. Half reporters, half investigators.”

“Ah….”

Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.

Having been hounded by reporters before, I could relate.

“Rest here for a bit. I’m staying behind because I have some personal investigations to do, so I’ll be going now.”

“Yes, yes. Go ahead.”

As Moon Surin left for a moment, someone approached me while I was resting on a bench.

“Cadet Lee Hoyeon…. Hello.”

A familiar woman with cat-like eyes sat down next to me.

“Ah, Min Yeji-ssi. Hello.”

“Hoo. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve had first-meeting-like greetings.”

“I know, right? I was actually planning to visit you this time. Thanks to you, things worked out well. Thank you, Min Yeji-ssi.”

So Min Yeji was here too.

Well, combat personnel would likely be staying longer due to the extensive investigation.

They probably came and went to undergo questioning, rather than staying continuously.

“If you’re grateful, how about reconsidering joining the guild?”

“Uh… that’s a bit….”

I politely declined with the most courteous smile I could manage.

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t manage guild activities while dating women.

“You could at least consider some terms, right? You’re so blunt, Cadet Hoyeon.”

Min Yeji treated me casually, like a long-time friend.

‘She’s more cunning than she looks.’

For a team leader in the Ironblood Guild, she’s quite frivolous.

But she had a point.

Saying ‘thank you’ verbally doesn’t amount to much.

“Uh… well, maybe I could hear the terms? Or perhaps we could explore options other than direct guild membership.”

Joining the guild wasn’t the only solution.

Forming a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship was also an option.

“Shall we? Then….”

As I engaged in business talk with Min Yeji, more people started gathering around us.

Just as our conversation was winding down, and I was about to agree to terms other than guild membership…

People began to chime in.

“Cadet Lee Hoyeon. Please consider the terms offered by the Noblesse Guild as well. We won’t lose out to the Ironblood Guild.”

“Excuse me! We’re currently negotiating with the Ironblood Guild!”

Min Yeji retorted sharply, looking at the man who interrupted their conversation.

“Give us, us the Warrior Guild, a chance too!”

“These bastards, no. Don’t these people have any professional ethics?!”

“Please don’t fight. Yeji-ssi. Just a moment. Ah….”

How old are these lunatics to be acting like this in front of a cadet?

There were too many people watching, so I couldn’t curse them out. I quietly waited for Min Yeji to handle the situation.

*

Meanwhile, at the party venue, a man was emerging after finishing his investigation.

“Haa… Fucking bastards. They left everything to me and ran off.”

It was Park Min-gyu, the Guild Master of the Buyer Guild.

He usually handled the dirty work for high-ranking individuals, so he was doing chores here too.

Ultimately, Park Min-gyu had to endure days of investigation.

As a result, he couldn’t even tend to the guild’s business.

As he was heading outside for a smoke, he saw a crowd of people exiting from one side.

“Ugh, that crazy bitch. She really needs to calm down. Trying to kill someone for interfering with recruitment.”

“Exactly. Lee Hoyeon shouldn’t be fooled by that face.”

Overhearing their conversation, Park Min-gyu frowned.

“What? Lee Hoyeon?”

There shouldn’t be any reason for people to flock like that at an investigation site.

Feeling suspicious, Park Min-gyu headed in that direction.

Over there, Min Yeji and Lee Hoyeon were conversing.

A moment later, Min Yeji bowed her head and walked away in the opposite direction.

Having observed the entire situation, Park Min-gyu got the gist.

“It’s an attempt to recruit Lee Hoyeon!”

Lee Hoyeon, the genius mage currently all the rage.

If Lee Hoyeon were to join the Buyer Guild… we could soar instantly.

However, Park Min-gyu soon dismissed the thought.

Even the Ironblood Guild was bowing their heads like that; he had no bargaining chips to offer.

“… Wait a minute.”

No, on second thought, he did.

The irresistible temptation for a man in his twenties: lust.

The Buyer Guild had Nam Daeun, bound by a slave contract.

Nam Daeun would become his sooner or later anyway.

Since she’d be his, he couldn’t give her away for the first time. But after he’d enjoyed her enough… he could lend her to Lee Hoyeon.

They were in the same year, so he surely knew her beautiful face.

Given societal norms, he couldn’t mention it in public, but now that they were alone, it was worth a subtle probe.

“Come to think of it, it’s thanks to that guy that Nam Daeun lost first place. Tsk. If he joins the Buyer Guild, I’ll let him hold her as a reward.”

Park Min-gyu waited until Min Yeji was completely out of sight before approaching Lee Hoyeon.

Lee Hoyeon was stretching, looking tired.

“Cadet Lee Hoyeon. Hello. We met once at the previous party, didn’t we?”

“… Hello. You’re Park Min-gyu from the Buyer Guild, right?”

“Y-yes… You remember me.”

“It’s because of Nam Daeun. Definitely.”

The only reason someone like him, a mere guild master of a small-to-medium guild, would be remembered was Nam Daeun.

Park Min-gyu began to feel a baseless confidence that this negotiation might go well.

He slightly curled the corners of his lips and continued talking to Lee Hoyeon with a friendly smile.

Meanwhile, Lee Hoyeon, playing along with the conversation, barely managed to keep his expression neutral.

“…Why the hell is this bastard talking to me?”

Lee Hoyeon was flustered but dealt with Park Min-gyu without showing it.