Episode 197. The Girl’s Revenge (5)

An Ironblood Hospital room.

I was having a conversation with Scarlet.

“Really, is that right?”

“Yes. I can edit it well. Rather, if Hoyeon-nim talks first, the probability of him being suspected increases more.”

The video of going to a room with Park Min-gyu.

Of course, I was going to confess to the press first, but Scarlet opposed it.

“… Is that so?”

“Rather, we can make the manager of the room Park Min-gyu took expose him directly. Since Park Min-gyu seemed to be a regular, if we expose other customers while saying Hoyeon-nim was the only one who was pure… crafting a story like this would be better.”

“Still, I’m a little worried. What if I’m misunderstood as the same kind of guy?”

If I claim my innocence first before it blows up, at least that won’t happen.

“Aren’t you a similar guy?”

“….”

It’s good that Scarlet helps me a lot now that we’re closer, but sometimes she stabs me in the back like this.

Well, the teasing is okay, but honestly, I’m still anxious.

Sensing my anxious expression, Scarlet let out a deep sigh.

“Haa, right now Hoyeon-nim is having a big misconception.”

“Misconception?”

“An impression, once set, doesn’t change easily. If a good image is set, whatever they do looks as positive as possible, and if a bad image is set, whatever they do looks negative.”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

Come to think of it, I’ve been working hard on my image until now, so maybe it’s time to receive the rewards?

I might be underestimating myself.

I, Lee Hoyeon.

I stopped terrorism, was top of the academy, and I’m a genius mage.

I’m someone who can do anything, right?

“And….”

“Yeah.”

Was there something else important?

I waited for Scarlet’s next words.

“If Hoyeon-nim just apologizes while crying, everyone will forgive him, even if he was the ace of a host bar. He has that kind of face, right? The problem is that Hoyeon-nim only uses his face for charming women. When it comes to public relations, a handsome face is a huge blessing.”

“… Alright. Let’s go with your opinion.”

I casually glanced at the mirror beside me.

Even I could admit it was a handsome face.

It’s the kind of face that would make people automatically say, ‘No, I was sorry too,’ if I apologized.

…I can’t argue with that logic.

I opened my mouth while watching Park Min-gyu’s apology interview.

– To everyone who suffered damage due to this incident and caused controversy….

“But he does apologize well.”

Of course, considering the evidence I have, it’s meaningless, but just looking at that apology, I think I would believe it.

“It’s just a pathetic last resort. We have too many weapons.”

“Hmm. Scarlet, how about asking Daeun for her opinion?”

“Daeun-yang?”

“Yeah. Anyway, the moment we spread the video, Park Min-gyu is socially finished, right? Her wishes seem important too.”

In the first place, Nam Daeun is the reason we’re pushing Park Min-gyu like this, so maybe starting the revenge together is the right thing to do.

“… That makes sense. I will ask her.”

*

“No.”

“What?”

Scarlet, who went to ask about Nam Daeun’s wishes, opened her eyes wide at the unexpected answer.

It was the first time Scarlet had expressed her opinion so decisively since meeting Nam Daeun.

“I’m sorry….”

Nam Daeun also seemed flustered by her own sudden short answer and apologized.

“Um, it’s okay. Daeun-yang. Hoyeon-nim told me to accommodate you as much as possible. Feel free to say anything.”

Nam Daeun pondered whether she should say this.

But it was something she had been thinking about since she first considered revenge, so she eventually opened her mouth.

“A conversation with Uncle Min-gyu…. I want to have a conversation. Why he did it, why he did those things to me and Dahee…. I need to know that to feel at ease.”

“….”

Having a conversation with Park Min-gyu.

It wasn’t impossible.

It would just become troublesome.

Especially Scarlet would become troubled.

Originally, we intended to slowly threaten Park Min-gyu and corner him.

And then, we would deal with Park Min-gyu directly in front of Nam Daeun. Or, we would entrust the handling to Nam Daeun.

This was the new plan Lee Hoyeon and I had devised.

A cornered person becomes impatient.

Calm judgment becomes impossible, and they easily get agitated.

Therefore, it’s easier to control, and things become easier.

However, if we are to grant what Nam Daeun wants, things become complicated.

If all the information has already been released and he’s fallen into ruin, a proper conversation cannot proceed.

Park Min-gyu’s life is over anyway.

If we were to have Nam Daeun talk with him before releasing the information, Park Min-gyu would still have the capacity to prepare.

From Scarlet’s perspective, it becomes very troublesome.

“… Is that not possible?”

“No. I will deliver the message to Hoyeon-nim.”

Haa.

Scarlet inwardly swallowed a sigh.

If it were up to her, she’d want to just kill Park Min-gyu, but she couldn’t ignore Nam Daeun’s trembling eyes standing right in front of her.

‘I’ve become too soft.’

Scarlet wondered if she hadn’t become too soft lately.

“A conversation with Park Min-gyu in a proper state. I will arrange a meeting.”

“… Thank you.”

Bowing deeply.

Nam Daeun bowed her head, filled with gratitude.

She knew how difficult and troublesome a request she had made.

Watching Nam Daeun bow her head, Scarlet opened her mouth.

“The thanks should go to Hoyeon-nim. I’m just doing as I’m told.”

“Hoyeon… Yes. I’ll be sure to tell him.”

Nam Daeun truly felt grateful to Lee Hoyeon.

All of this would have been impossible if not for Lee Hoyeon.

After Scarlet left, Nam Daeun, alone, clenched her fists tightly.

“… Uncle Min-gyu.”

She wasn’t trying to forgive Park Min-gyu.

It was the opposite.

She still remembered the warmth from when they first met.

That benevolent smile still remained in her heart.

Nam Daeun wanted to definitively cut ties with Park Min-gyu.

*

The next day, in the Buyer Guild’s Guild Master’s office.

– I apologize. Not managing guild members properly is all my fault. There will be many citizens who won’t believe me. But I will say this one thing. I, Park Min-gyu, have lived my whole life without a single shame in my heart. Placing my hand on my chest, I am not involved in the drug incident….

“What’s the reaction?”

As soon as Park Min-gyu returned to the guild, he mobilized all his known connections to announce interviews and apology statements.

He consistently maintained an attitude of complete non-involvement, and to avoid suspicion, he showed an attitude of reflection and apology.

And the public’s reaction was not bad.

“It’s very good. Since the Guild Master’s impression is so good, everyone says there’s sincerity in the apology too.”

“Good… Let’s just get through this.”

“Yes. I’ll go do some comment moderation.”

“Okay. Let’s endure this, thinking of it as the final hurdle before moving into the light….”

Park Min-gyu pressed down his still wildly pounding heart.

And then, he soon discovered a letter that was on the desk.

“… What is this? The manager?”

But the manager had already gone outside.

In the room where no one was, a single letter suddenly appeared.

“….”

I must have seen it wrong.

Due to fatigue, I’m only just now seeing the letter that was originally there.

Park Min-gyu closed his eyes, opened them, and shook his head back and forth.

Thus, after clearing his head, he tore open the letter.

Soon, after examining the contents of the letter, Park Min-gyu’s face turned pale.

It listed photos of Park Min-gyu drinking alcohol with women, and evidence of the illegal acts he had committed in the past.

“Th-this, what is this… I surely must have disposed of them all.”

Moreover, at the establishments Park Min-gyu frequented, magic circles were installed to summon guards immediately if magic was used.

‘An inside job?’

Gulp.

Swallowing hard, Park Min-gyu discovered that there was a back page on the letter.

[Today at 5 PM. Come alone to this address. If you don’t come on time, I will release the evidence immediately. If multiple people come, I will also release the evidence.]

‘I have to find out. Who the hell is it….’

Park Min-gyu felt his lips drying out completely.

It would have been fine if I had been under the Shinyoung Guild like before.

I could ask the Shinyoung Guild for help.

Even if I was scapegoated, since I was at the bottom anyway, I could have started over by abandoning one or two guild members.

But it’s different now.

“How did I climb all the way here…!”

I was seeing the end of over 10 years of life at the bottom.

Only now did I feel something like honor.

I absolutely couldn’t give up here.

“….”

If it were up to me, I’d want to mobilize everything to catch the culprit, but there was no time.

Moreover, I couldn’t grasp the enemy’s level.

Park Min-gyu’s only remaining hope was that the other party wanted something from him.

‘Should I just go alone? No, that’s too dangerous.’

Park Min-gyu took out a dark sword from the safe in the corner of the Guild Master’s office.

“Haa….”

It was the very last resort, and I didn’t expect to use it here.

Park Min-gyu tucked the sword into his coat and came outside.

*

The next day, after Scarlet delivered the letter, we were heading to the meeting place.

We were going to meet Park Min-gyu directly to grant Nam Daeun’s request.

“Don’t be nervous.”

“… Yeah.”

Of course, Nam Daeun was being brought along too.

She was the one who said she wanted to see Park Min-gyu, and she’s today’s main character.

Afraid she’d be nervous, even though I kept talking to her, Nam Daeun took deep breaths to calm herself.

‘She’s incredibly nervous.’

In times like this, it’s better to leave her be.

I spoke to Scarlet on the opposite side.

“Park Min-gyu won’t really come alone, right?”

“Watch the people around you carefully.”

“People?”

Hearing Scarlet’s words, I turned my eyes and looked around.

There doesn’t seem to be anything strange?

“There are people intentionally not looking at us. They’re probably sent by Park Min-gyu. He probably didn’t use cheap ones, but seeing that it’s obvious, the other side seems quite desperate.”

“Oh….”

Certainly, after hearing those words, it seemed so.

Even though an awareness-hindering barrier was cast, it’s currently applied weakly.

It’s a barrier that makes it difficult to recognize me as Lee Hoyeon even if they see my face; it doesn’t mean the person themselves disappears.

As expected, a current information guild member is different.

“So Park Min-gyu can’t know, let’s enter through the back door.”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

“… Yes.”

We entered the warehouse.

‘Well, I didn’t think he’d come alone anyway.’

Still, since he doesn’t know our strength, he wouldn’t bring a group, right?

If more people than we can handle come, we can just run away.

We waited, hiding ourselves in the darkness of the warehouse, for Park Min-gyu to appear.

As the appointment time approached.

Screeeech- The rusty door opened.

The usually benevolent face was filled with tension.

After confirming Park Min-gyu entering the warehouse, I revealed myself from the darkness.

“Hello. Mr. Park Min-gyu.”

“… Cadet Lee Hoyeon?”

Park Min-gyu slightly frowned upon seeing my face suddenly appear, then soon clenched his teeth.

“This piece of trash… you were aiming for me from the beginning.”

While cursing at me, he rolled his eyes back and forth, checking who was around.

“It’s not exactly like that… Let’s assess the situation first, shall we?”

Seeing Park Min-gyu gathering magic power, I took out the documents that were in my pocket.

It was the Buyer Guild’s double ledger.

“Wait, just a moment… Tell me what you want. Cadet Lee Hoyeon also has something you want, so you called me, right?”

Park Min-gyu waved his hand, controlling the magic power he was gathering.

“I have a client. Come out. Daeun-ah.”

“Daeun? Wait a moment, could it be….”

Thump. Thump.

Nam Daeun, who had been hiding in the darkness with me, stood beside me.

“… Uncle Min-gyu. It’s been a while.”

Looking at us, Park Min-gyu’s expression was filled with humiliation and disgrace.