Episode 187. Weekend (2)

“Guild Leader-nim! This time it’s the Ironblood Guild and the Azure Dragon Guild! More and more interviews are coming out!”

“Block it! Mobilize all your connections and try to shut this down somehow!”

Shin Yeongman, the Guild Leader of the Shinyoung Guild.

He had to block the sudden onslaught of attacks directed at the Shinyoung Guild.

The rumor was that his son, Shin Dongmin, was involved with the Mine.

[The Ugly Truth About the Association’s Networking Party. Was the Shinyoung Guild Involved?]

[Shin Dongmin, Heir to the Shinyoung Guild. Evidence of Contact with the Mine]

[Traces Found of Shinyoung Guild’s Shin Dongmin Entering a Mine Group Hideout]

Just as interest in the networking party terror was starting to cool down, reporters had found new fuel to reignite the flames.

They tried to counter the increasing number of articles by releasing others, but now major guilds had started issuing official statements.

[Victoria Academy Investigation Team. Demands the Association Investigate the Shinyoung Guild]

[Coincidence? The Person Who Was in the Blind Spot of the Party and the Terror]

[Ironblood Guild Interview. Someone is Behind the Association Terror.]

It was like a rigged game of Go-Stop; suddenly, articles poured out from Victoria Academy and guilds friendly with the Academy.

The Shinyoung Guild also had media outlets they were on good terms with, but seeing those same outlets publishing such articles was driving them mad.

While the guild members responded, Shin Yeongman also started making calls.

“Yes. President. This is Shin Yeongman. Shin Yeongman of the Shinyoung Guild. You can’t suddenly act like this. We have a relationship built over time, don’t we?!”

• I’m sorry, Guild Leader-nim. But strangely, the external pressure is immense. It’s unreasonable.

“That’s what you’re supposed to be prepared for…! That’s why you exist…!!”

• The Association won’t be able to ignore it anymore. Please be careful. I think Shin Dongmin-gun must have offended the Academy… It’s beyond our level to handle.

Hearing his son’s name, Shin Yeongman gritted his teeth.

He thought of his son, who hadn’t left his room since the terror incident.

• I apologize, Guild Leader-nim.

Ttuk-

“CEO! Wait a moment. CEO! How much did these fucking bastards take to act like this now!”

Kwang!

Shin Yeongman, throwing the phone aside, spoke irritably to a guild member standing nearby.

“What’s Dongmin doing?”

“He’s still holed up in his room.”

“Haa…. You guys try to hold them off as much as possible. I’m going to go check on him.”

Shin Yeongman headed directly to Shin Dongmin’s room to check on his condition.

Actually, Shin Dongmin’s strange condition wasn’t just a day or two.

Ever since he was defeated by first-year Lee Hoyeon at the Cheonsangje, he’d been like this.

But still, getting involved with the Mine…

Hoping it was a lie, Shin Yeongman arrived in front of Shin Dongmin’s room.

Tok tok.

“I’m coming in.”

Shin Yeongman opened the door without waiting for an answer.

But there was no one inside.

The darkened room was pitch black, and an unsettling atmosphere hung in the air.

“…What’s that?”

In the middle of the room, on the desk, lay a single, eerie skull mask.

*

Saturday Afternoon.

• Surin noona: I’ll come visit the hospital this afternoon. Can you tell me your room number?

After Baek Ahyoung left at lunch, I received a message from Moon Surin saying she’d come for a visit.

Seeing she’s messaging now, it seems her investigation is finally over.

“Maybe I should have sent one more message?”

Since I didn’t get a reply to the last message I sent, I hadn’t contacted her since, but thinking about it, she might have felt hurt.

I checked my smartwatch while waiting for Moon Surin to arrive.

“What’s this?”

But Every Day seemed strange.

Shinyoung Guild, Shin Dongmin.

Unpleasant names were positioned at the top of the search results.

There were also a huge number of related articles.

“…The Mine?”

This wasn’t in the original work.

Shin Dongmin simply uses the Shinyoung Guild’s power to stalk Moon Surin.

But now he’s involved with the Mine, and got caught.

Checking the communities and articles, the Academy and several major guilds had even issued official statements.

And I, with my memories of the original work, could tell.

“…This is the Academy.”

The Victoria Academy made a move.

Most of the guilds that issued statements were friendly with the Academy.

‘Could it be the Chairman?’

No. That’s unlikely.

I had asked the Chairman to publish an article defending me, but I didn’t expect that old geezer to do anything beyond what I asked.

Honestly, even I thought I was being a real jerk back then.

‘A coincidence?’

Maybe it was just a coincidence.

Perhaps the Academy, while investigating the Association’s networking party terror, stumbled upon Shin Dongmin’s tracks, and decided to leak it first to quickly cut ties with him, the student council vice president.

“This is great… or is it? Is it bad?”

It’s good that things are becoming easier, but Shin Dongmin is the culprit in Moon Surin’s stalking incident.

Of course, the stalking incident was delayed because he got tangled up with me, but ultimately, the key to conquering Moon Surin remains Shin Dongmin.

But if he gets caught like that… isn’t that bad?

Tok tok.

Just then, a familiar knock sounded.

I’d received so many knocks that I could tell it was the assigned nurse just by the sound.

“Yes. Who is it?”

“Patient Lee Hoyeon. Someone named Moon Surin is here to visit. Shall I let her in?”

“Please send her up.”

Has it gotten to be that time already?

I turned off my smartwatch as I prepared to receive Moon Surin.

‘…Wait a minute. Moon Surin?’

I remembered Moon Surin saying she was conducting her own investigation.

“Even for Moon Surin, mobilizing something on this scale seems difficult.”

According to the game’s settings, even though Moon Surin, the Chairman’s granddaughter, has significant authority, it’s not this much.

Tok tok.

Then, another knock sounded.

“May I come in?”

“Yes. Come in.”

The door opened, and platinum blonde, straight hair caught my eye.

With neat features and striking fair skin, she was Moon Surin, the student council president of Victoria Academy.

Even in her uniform, the way her chest and hip lines were accentuated was unbelievable – that’s our Surin noona.

Moon Surin smiled slightly upon seeing my face, approached, and sat down in the chair.

“Hoyeon-ah. Are you okay? Sorry for coming late.”

“I’m just grateful you came at all, Surin noona.”

“Really? Then why didn’t you leave a message or two?”

“…I’m sorry. I thought you were busy, noona.”

So she was indeed hurt.

No matter how much I try to woo the heroines, I can’t seem to escape being a novice in love.

I bowed my head and apologized.

“No, no. I’m sorry too for not contacting you. Oh, right. I bought these for you to eat while you’re hospitalized.”

Moon Surin placed the drinks she brought onto the desk.

That wasn’t all.

Looking closely, plastic bags and boxes seemed to be walking along the path Moon Surin had taken.

“These are snacks, drinks, I even bought a game console because you might be bored, and a massager and vitamins…”

“Wait a moment, noona. Just a moment. I’m getting discharged soon. I’ll just accept the thought behind it.”

I waved my hands in panic.

Who brings things like that using telekinesis?

“Oh, really? When are you getting discharged?”

“Probably around next week. My body is gradually getting better.”

“That’s a relief… Then let’s go out for a meal to celebrate your discharge.”

“Of course. I’ll pay this time.”

It feels a bit strange for me to pay for a discharge celebration meal… but I’ve received so much already, it’s fine.

Since I’ve got Alice, my sugar mama, I should spend lavishly when opportunities like this arise.

“Thank you. It feels rewarding that noona went through all this trouble.”

“Trouble?”

“Yeah. Do you perhaps remember this?”

Moon Surin held out a photograph.

In the photo was the skull mask that looked terrifying just by looking at it.

“This… is the mask the Mine wore when they attacked me during the terror incident.”

The skull mask.

The very thing responsible for putting me in this state.

Just looking at it makes me annoyed.

“Actually, this is what I was investigating. The skull mask that attacked you.”

Documents kept coming out from Moon Surin’s bag.

From investigating the skull mask, to searching the party venue alone and finding the brooch.

And then finding the connection between Shin Dongmin and the Mine using that brooch.

Neatly organized documents were laid out before my eyes.

“Noona… You did all this? Then the media…”

“If you find evidence, you strike immediately. Besides, he was the Vice President of Victoria Academy, so I had to cut him loose quickly. Ah, but I started investigating because Hoyeon was attacked. Shin Dongmin came into the picture later.”

Wow.

Moon Surin’s head seemed to sparkle brightly before my eyes.

“Noona. I love you.”

“Then shall we get married?”

“I’m sorry. But marriage is still a bit early.”

Seeing Moon Surin smile playfully, I chuckled awkwardly.

I was so grateful, I didn’t know how to express it.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Moon Surin]

• [ Affection: 86 ]

• [ Lust: 45 ]

• [ Appetite: 50 ]

• [ Fatigue: 43 ]

Current Status: If not yet… is there not much time left?

I’m grateful it’s auto-clearing, but she even takes care of troublesome enemies for me, so I can’t be thankful enough.

It’s a bit scary to think about… but it should be fine.

“Noona. One meal won’t be enough. Tell me if there’s anything you want to do.”

“Hmm, nothing right now. I’ll tell you if I think of something.”

“Yes, yes. Anything at all.”

Watching Moon Surin’s cute smile, I nodded.

*

Keok keok-

Contrary to the thought that resting would make it better, Lumi was suffering from a fever.

She had gotten even more dizzy right after visiting Lee Hoyeon in the hospital.

Forcing herself to move around when she should have been resting was also a cause.

“…How could you actually catch a cold, Lumi.”

“It’s okay. Hehe. I’ll get better soon. Eet.. Tch!”

“Haa…”

And then, as if by magic, Lucy, who had recovered from her fever, came instead to nurse Lumi.

She herself was fine now, but this time Lumi was bedridden.

It made me feel unnecessarily guilty, as if my sister had really taken my fever.

Moreover, although my body had recovered, my heart was still heavy.

But she couldn’t neglect her sister’s care, so Lucy wrung out the washcloth and placed it on Lumi’s forehead.

“Lucy… are you going to meet Hoyeon-ssi tomorrow?”

“…Why?”

“Since I couldn’t go… I thought Hoyeon-ssi might be bored too?”

Lucy pondered.

Could she face Lee Hoyeon?

Ever since that day, just thinking about Lee Hoyeon made her head throb.

But she couldn’t keep avoiding him forever.

After all, if he’s Lumi’s boyfriend, she’ll have to face him eventually.

“…Did you contact Lee Hoyeon about the fever?”

“My smartwatch broke… so I couldn’t.”

“Ah…”

Watching Lucy hesitate, Lumi could sense it too.

For some reason, Lucy didn’t seem to want to see Lee Hoyeon.

And she knew she was connected to the cause.

Because they were twins.

They could understand each other’s feelings just by the slightest movement of their fingertips.

“Lucy.”

“Yeah. Do you need anything?”

Lucy was worried about Lumi.

But Lumi was worried about Lucy too.

It wasn’t the best time, given her own poor health, but this was the moment to bring it up.

“You like Hoyeon-ssi too, don’t you, Lucy?”

“Wh-wha-what? What are you talking about all of a sudden? Your head must hurt a lot. Let me change the wet cloth. Wait a moment. Wow, look how hot you are. Ah, or do you want some porridge?”

Flustered by Lumi’s sudden ambush, Lucy waved her hands frantically and moved busily.

She changed the wet cloth on Lumi’s forehead and took out the reheated porridge.

But that wasn’t going to stop Lumi.

“Lucy. I like Hoyeon-ssi. What about you?”

“… “

Lucy couldn’t understand why Lumi was saying this, but she knew Lumi wasn’t trying to tease her.

So, she decided to listen.

“…Me too, I think I like him too.”

For the first time, Lucy spoke her feelings aloud.

Her face grew hot, and she felt an urge to hide under the blanket Lumi was covered with.

“Let’s share Hoyeon-ssi, Lucy. If it’s with you, no, we can definitely make it work.”

“Share…?”

It was a word that shouldn’t come up between lovers, but Lumi looked at Lucy with a serious expression.

“I mean it literally. Hoyeon-ssi already agreed.”

Lucy slowly began to listen to Lumi’s words.