Episode 213. Confidence (3)

“… So, Dad disappeared?”

“Yes. I heard he left the Guild a little while ago.”

Alice checked her smartwatch after hearing Sebastian’s words.

The clock was already showing a time that wasn’t too late, even for nighttime.

“This is usually when he works, right? So why?”

Unlike others, her father’s work time starts now.

So why the urgent report?

“Before leaving the Guild… he mentioned to Vice Guild Master-nim that he was going to see Miss Alice…”

“… Me?”

Alice frowned slightly.

“Yes. However, I’m concerned his intention might be related to Cadet Lee Hoyeon.”

“Hmm…”

Her daughter was getting a massage, and it was from a male masseuse.

• Just who is this guy massaging my daughter? Let me see his face.

It’s entirely possible for a dad to say something like that.

He’s the poster boy for double standards, messing around with many women himself but stopping his own daughter from dating, saying it’s too soon.

“Did you tell him I said I wouldn’t see him again once he came to Korea?”

“Yes. I did relay the message, but…”

‘The Guild Master is so careless with his work, I wonder if he even properly reads documents…’

Sebastian swallowed the rest of his words.

He couldn’t badmouth her father in front of Alice.

“Hmm. Then it’s fine. He probably used me as an excuse to go meet women.”

“Is that so…?”

Sebastian tilted his head, knowing how much the Guild Master loved Vice Guild Master-nim and Alice.

“Yeah. If he heard me, he wouldn’t come.”

Alice knew her dad cherished her dearly, but she also knew he listened to her well.

That’s why Alice trusted her father, Isaac.

Unaware that Isaac was preparing to come to Korea.

*

The Nam Daeun sisters went out for what seemed like a picnic, and Liliana started her broadcast from her room.

Actually, she didn’t need to broadcast anymore.

I’ve become quite well-off myself.

But if I have nothing to do at home, my will to live disappears, so I just told her to keep doing it.

She seems to enjoy chatting with people in her own way, too.

-Ah, long time no see, everyone~ Huh? You told me not to act nice? Then get lost.

“Hmm…”

How can that kind of broadcast be popular?

It’s fascinating.

Using Liliana’s voice as background noise, I prepared to meet Moon Surin.

Preparation is just washing up roughly and fixing my hair… but that’s enough.

Whether it’s skin or hair, if you’re born with it, it looks pretty.

Ttiring-

I opened my dorm room door and stepped outside.

The meeting place is, as always, a Korean restaurant called Pungmidang.

Walking towards Pungmidang, I thought about what to talk about with Moon Surin.

‘I should talk about the PR department… and the stalking too.’

Last time we talked about the stalking, her reaction was strange.

It’s a bit frustrating that the stalking, which was the key to the conquest, is blocked, but I’m sure I can figure it out somehow.

“Conquest…”

Actually, while conquering Alice, I learned the power of affection.

Alice, who was cold to others, couldn’t treat me that coldly.

My face probably helped, but the affection level can’t be ignored either.

Because of that, maybe the conquest of Moon Surin, whose affection automatically increases, might also be solved easily.

In the end, in a relationship, the one who likes the other more loses.

Of course, the problem is that I don’t have just one partner.

‘That was a bit of a scummy thought just now.’

My scumbag level is increasing. I need to be careful about this.

Lost in thought, I walked until I arrived at Pungmidang.

Opening the familiar entrance, I saw the usual employee.

“Welcome.”

“I have a reservation. The name is Moon Surin.”

“This way, please.”

Passing through the various rooms on the second floor, the employee bowed at the room located in the deepest part.

“You may enter.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Deureureuk-

As I opened the door, I saw Moon Surin sitting and looking at her smartwatch.

“Noona. I’m here.”

“Mm-hmm. You’re here.”

It’s been quite a while since I saw you here.

The last time was before I was hospitalized.

I sat down opposite Moon Surin, who put away her smartwatch.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Moon Surin]

• [Affection: 88]

• [Lust: 45]

• [Appetite: 50]

• [Fatigue: 43]

Current Status: What should we talk about today…?

‘Nothing seems particularly strange.’

Her affection is still high, and there are no other special notes.

She was Moon Surin, reliable as always.

Moon Surin’s face bloomed with smiles.

She’s a cute Noona who hides her overwhelming joy appropriately.

“You must be hungry, right? Let’s talk while we eat lunch.”

“Yes. Sounds good.”

As soon as Moon Surin rang the bell, the food started being served, and we began our meal.

Yamyamyam.

As I stared intently at Moon Surin slowly eating her appetizer, she noticed my gaze.

“Wh-why? What’s wrong? Did something get on your face?”

Moon Surin’s eyes widened, and she brought a napkin to her lips, dabbing around her mouth.

“No. I was just looking at you, and it reminded me of when we first met.”

“When we first met…?”

“Yes. You were so surprised back then, weren’t you? Making such a mistake without even knowing you were the Student Council President.”

Thinking back, it’s quite funny how I approached her by spilling coffee on her.

Of course, I hadn’t properly adapted to this world back then… so I guess I handled it well with improvisation. Hmm. Probably?

“I was surprised too. Still, it was during a time of extreme stress from work, so it felt refreshing. Plus, I gained a close junior.”

“And I gained a cute Noona.”

“Hey now, is it okay to call Noona cute?”

Moon Surin took a slurp through her straw, smiled slightly, and leaned her face towards me.

“Aww. It means I like you that much. Speaking of which, isn’t there any more work for the PR department? It’s been a while since we did any activities.”

“…Actually, the budget hasn’t come through. We haven’t even used all the photos from your and Alice’s first activity…”

“…”

Having such great models means things like this happen, huh.

“Noona. Speaking of which, what exactly happened to the Vice President?”

“… Shin Dongmin, right?”

“Yes.”

The gloomy atmosphere and dead expressions I saw when I visited the student council last time are still vivid.

Moon Surin leaned back in her chair, sighed once, and opened her mouth.

“Haaah, honestly, there’s nothing unusual. He just stopped coming to the student council one day and then disappeared.”

“I guess his cronies stopped showing up around the same time?”

“Yeah. In the end, we’re handling all the work. We need to recruit more people… but the process for expulsion is a bit complicated.”

“It’s the Victoria Academy student council, after all.”

Being a former executive of the Victoria Academy student council is a huge asset later on.

That’s why getting in or out is damn complicated.

Anyway, where did that bastard Shin Dongmin hide?

He was annoyingly persistent even in the original work, so he wouldn’t give up like this…

Just then, Moon Surin tapped the desk.

“How about you take over, Hoyeon? I’ll give you the Vice President position. With someone like you, the others won’t have any complaints.”

“Uh, I’m a bit busy…”

“It’ll be great experience for when you look for a job later, right? Or maybe I could get you a job at the academy… or if not, you could work under me… maybe?.”

“…”

I thought of every excuse I could possibly come up with.

*

I finished the ice cream dessert cleanly and leaned back in my chair.

“It’s always delicious here.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Moon Surin, sipping her Claire Rose Latte, giggled at my words.

“Noona, aren’t you having a hard time with anything?”

“Huh? I’m not. Why do you keep asking me if I’m having a hard time lately?”

“…Just because. Just wondering. It’s sad when things are hard, you know. Haha…”

Tch.

Leading the conversation too much is also a bad habit.

I was scraping the empty ice cream bowl absently when I felt Moon Surin’s gaze.

Her eyes seemed to hold something she wanted to say.

“Noona. Do you have something to say?”

“Um. Hoyeon-ah. If… if the paparazzi ever bother you too much, tell me. I’ll handle everything.”

“…What?”

“You said that last time, remember? That it was really hard.”

The keyword “paparazzi” coming out of nowhere made me pause in confusion, but then I remembered.

I definitely said it was hard last time we met as an excuse.

‘What an absurd situation this is.’

I’m supposed to be the one seducing Moon Surin like that.

Instead, Moon Surin is trying to seduce me like this.

For now… I can’t let her waste her energy on something unnecessary.

Honestly, maybe because I’m a guy, but I don’t mind receiving attention.

“Well, it’s okay. I was just going through a lot back then. I don’t mind it now.”

“R-really…?”

As I continued speaking, Moon Surin’s lips curved upwards slightly.

“Yes. Honestly, it’s a bit weird when strangers save my pictures… but I have to get used to it. I’m famous, after all.”

Come to think of it, many people use celebrity photos as wallpapers, and they probably didn’t get permission for all of them.

I should approach it with that mindset.

“Wh-what if it’s someone you know?”

Moon Surin leaned her face closer to me.

“Huh?”

“Is it still weird… if someone you know saves it…?”

“?”

Seeing my slight frown as I didn’t immediately understand, Moon Surin’s eyes widened. She returned to her seat and waved her hands frantically.

“Ah, no. Sorry. That’s not the point. I misspoke. Cough. Cough!”

Moon Surin suddenly started clearing her throat.

‘What is she doing?’

“Cough! Cough! Okay, if we’re done eating, shall we get going now?”

…Wait a minute.

My beast senses are tingling.

I can’t just let this slide.

How many times have I been caught like this before?

It’s not like it’s only happened once or twice where I got into trouble for taking the heroines’ words lightly.

There was the heroine who wanted me to rape her, the time I came back after a week away only to be raped immediately, and the professor who demanded ‘ejaculation’ as payment for helping with research.

The twins came on to me wanting to do it together, the rich young lady had voyeurism, and the beautiful girl whose younger sibling was held hostage clung to me saying she’d live for me-in situations like these.

Thinking Moon Surin hasn’t gone down a weird path is naive, no, it’s just plain stupid.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Moon Surin]

• [Affection: 88]

• [Lust: 45]

• [Appetite: 50]

• [Fatigue: 43]

Current Status: Wh-what should I do if I say something stupidly foolish like this? Aah… What if she gets suspicious?

Judging by her reaction, it seems correct.

Could it be that Surin Noona is collecting my pictures?

“…”

“…Hoyeon-ah. Aren’t you getting up?”

‘But honestly, that’s acceptable, isn’t it?’

Compared to the other heroines, that’s a perfectly normal preference.

She’s not collecting my nude photos, is she?

I can accept normal photos, much like a celebrity fan club.

I pretended to ponder for a moment before slowly opening my mouth.

“Well… maybe it would be okay if it was someone I knew?”

“…Really?”

“Yes, yes. If it’s someone I know, they already know my face well. I could even give them photos if they asked.”

“…Then, ah, no.”

Moon Surin started to say something, then shook her head vigorously.

I could roughly guess what she was going to say… but I didn’t bring it up first.

It’s already a bit suspicious, and if it goes further, it’ll seem like I’m intentionally leading her on.

“Noona. Shall we go now?”

“S-sure?!”

Moon Surin grabbed her twitching lips and led the way out of the room.

It was obvious she was trying hard not to laugh.

“…Well, yeah. Compared to the others, she’s practically an angel.”

Collecting photos is something I can easily allow.

It’s not like she has weird tastes.