Episode 222. Why Only Me? (2)

Emperor of the Night.

The one who reigns like a sole deity among assassins.

‘If he speaks, do it.’

It’s the rule of the Iris Guild, and the rule of all assassins.

And Isaac was right before her eyes.

Scarlet swallowed hard as she looked at Isaac, who had naturally settled onto the sofa.

It didn’t matter when or how he got in.

Because he could go anywhere he pleased.

Isaac had completely relaxed into the sofa, but… that didn’t mean he looked vulnerable.

After a moment, Isaac spoke first.

“Is Alice doing well? I came straight here without being announced, so I didn’t get to see her face.”

“She should be resting at the mansion right now. Shall I contact her?”

Why on earth did he come?

Isaac, famously devoted to his daughter, wouldn’t have come to her without telling Alice unless there was a reason.

“No, no. It’s nothing like that. I came because I have something to ask. You know Lee Hoyeon, right?”

“… Yes.”

Scarlet barely managed to hide her surprise.

Because an unexpected name had come out of Isaac’s mouth.

“I heard he made a massage contract with Alice… is that true?”

“It is.”

“A 20-year-old guy, and Alice’s classmate?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm….”

Isaac nodded his head, making a humming sound.

“What do you think? Is it possible there’s some intention other than massage in this contract?”

‘So he suspects that.’

If Scarlet’s own daughter were spending a fortune on massages from a 20-year-old man with no prior experience, Scarlet would likely react similarly.

Especially considering Lee Hoyeon’s appearance and the rumors surrounding him, it would be quite worrying.

Of course, that’s if it were her own situation. Right now, it was someone else’s problem.

Scarlet had to defend Lee Hoyeon.

“Only Miss Alice knows the truth… but from what I’ve seen, she’s not the type to act like that.”

“Ah, right. Yes. Alice is smart… she wouldn’t do that.”

Isaac frowned again, lost in thought.

His beloved daughter wouldn’t do such a thing.

Then what could be the reason?

Naturally, Lee Hoyeon was the focus of his thoughts.

“Scarlet. Do you think that guy is better than the high-class masseuses I found?”

“…”

Scarlet couldn’t say anything.

She didn’t know about the previous mana masseuses, but they were likely the best in the world.

Comparing them to Lee Hoyeon didn’t make sense.

Besides, even though she tried to defend Lee Hoyeon somehow, the man’s imposing presence was too intimidating.

She felt like one wrong word could put her in a difficult situation.

“About that massage… does it seem effective?”

“Miss Alice said it was effective. Extremely effective, even…”

“Really? And there was no ulterior motive in the massage? Tell me your opinion, not Alice’s words.”

“… I’m not sure about that.”

“… You’re not sure?”

Isaac, who had been talking to Scarlet while looking into space, suddenly turned his head.

And met Scarlet’s tense gaze.

“You’re not sure? Scarlet?”

“… Well, she said the massage was effective, and also…”

“Scarlet.”

“… Yes.”

‘It’s no use.’

Scarlet had expected this outcome from the moment he asked for her opinion instead of Alice’s.

She had tried to deceive him somehow, but he wasn’t the type to be fooled easily.

The moment Isaac came in person, she knew she couldn’t stop him from meeting Lee Hoyeon.

“Are you lying to me right now?”

“… No.”

Emperor of the Night.

He could discern lies.

Not just lies, but any words spoken with malice towards him.

It was an ability perfectly suited for an information guild.

Knowing this, Scarlet had tried to be evasive… but it was useless.

“Tell me straight. Did Lee Hoyeon have any ulterior motives?”

She considered lying with her life on the line, but that would only arouse more suspicion.

Whether she said “I don’t know” or “No,” it wouldn’t work.

She could try to lie indirectly, but he wasn’t a man who wouldn’t notice such subtleties.

She didn’t have time to prepare any elaborate schemes.

It would be a bigger problem if her relationship with Lee Hoyeon were exposed.

In the end, Scarlet spoke, showing as much tension as possible.

As if she hadn’t wanted this situation.

As if she hated seeing an innocent student suffer.

“… I can’t say there were no ulterior motives.”

“Take me there. Right now.”

“… Yes.”

Isaac stood up and walked out of the house.

Only then did Scarlet, slightly relieved, take a deep breath.

Hoo-

It wasn’t a good situation, but it wasn’t the worst.

What would have happened if she had continued to stick close to Lee Hoyeon?

If she had been caught spying for both the Iris Guild and Lee Hoyeon…

Gulp.

Scarlet swallowed.

She admired Lee Hoyeon’s intuition.

She had dismissed it as bullshit, calling it some kind of beastly sense… but it seemed like some people were just destined for success.

• Sunday Afternoon.

I opened my notebook and slowly thought about the next week’s plans.

“I need to play with Lucy and Lumi. Oh, speaking of which, Ahyoung is returning too.”

[Meet Baek Ahyoung]

[Play with Lucy and Lumi]

I jotted down tasks as they came to mind.

• Unnie. What’s this?

• …! Th-that’s not something you should touch.

• Huh? That’s for my broadcast…

I could hear the conversation between the women over there, but for now, I focused on my notebook.

“The exhibition with Professor Im Sol… that’s confirmed. No plans with Surin noona yet… I think I’ll have a massage session with Alice once.”

[Go to the exhibition with Professor Im Sol.]

[Massage with Alice (?)]

[Meet Surin noona (?)]

It would be nice if I had about three bodies.

Why are there so many things on my schedule?

“I also need to meet Rebecca. There’s a lot to learn about Rune Barriers.”

[Learn Rune Barriers from Rebecca (?)]

• Hey! Give me back my chocolate!

• Unnie! Help me!

• … Liliana-ssi. If you just give it…

“Sigh.”

I sighed and stopped thinking.

I just couldn’t concentrate.

Getting up and heading to the kitchen, the source of the noise, the voices grew louder.

“Should we get chicken?”

“Liliana unnie. Eat something other than chicken!”

“… I think I’ve had a bit too much chicken myself.”

“Gasp, what about roasted chicken then?”

That crazy succubus’s eyes are set on chicken again.

I entered the kitchen and placed my hand on Liliana’s shoulder.

“Hey, hey. Order something the kids want to eat.”

“Tch. Fine.”

“Liliana. And clean your room. Your broadcast clothes are rolling around under the bed.”

“Yes~ I understand!”

“… Hey.”

“Ow, ow! Ahh…! Fine, I get it!”

“Think about how bad that is for the kids’ emotional development. Huh?”

I continued lecturing a bit more while pinching Liliana’s cheek.

“Sob, hrrr…”

I pondered, leaving Liliana sobbing while holding her cheek.

‘Do I really need to find a bigger place?’

There’s no space for me to concentrate, and the kitchen, bathroom, and dining table are small.

This is all because the house is too small.

With four people living here, we can’t stay in the dorm forever.

Especially after the recent attack… We’re not lacking money, so it would be good to find a nice house like Alice’s and live there.

“Since I thought of it, I should go out now.”

If I don’t go now while I’m free, I’ll definitely put it off again.

Because I have a lot to do next week.

I’ve put it off until now, so I need to act quickly.

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“The dorm seems too small. I’m going to look for a house.”

“I’m coming too!”

“No. Stay home and rest.”

Liliana following me wouldn’t be helpful and would just be noisy.

Based on past experience, that’s certain.

“Ah, why! Take me too!”

I ignored Liliana’s whining and got ready to leave.

Liliana kept insisting she wanted to come, but thankfully, she calmed down when Nam Daeun and Nam Dahee said they’d eat the chicken.

“Thanks. Daeun-ah.”

“It’s nothing. Have a good trip.”

While Liliana was playing with Dahee, Nam Daeun saw me off at the entrance.

She didn’t have to, but I let her do it since she said she felt more comfortable this way.

“I’ll be back.”

“Yes. Please return safely.”

“What was that?”

Why was she suddenly speaking formally?

“… I just tried it. Like seeing you off.”

“Tsk.”

I grabbed the slightly blushing Nam Daeun by the waist and pulled her towards me.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Nam Daeun]

• [Affection: 100] (+0.3)

• [Lust: 80]

• [Appetite: 35]

• [Fatigue: 45]

Current State: Maybe jokes like this aren’t that funny…?

She’s cute.

Just cute.

It’s still awkward, but it’s fun to see her change like this.

“Nngh….”

Nam Daeun, now in my arms, met my eyes.

“Should we do it again tonight?”

“… If you want to.”

“Last night was really great, wasn’t it?”

“I don’t know….”

Yesterday, we couldn’t do it together because Liliana fell asleep, so it was just me and Nam Daeun.

I wonder if we can do it together today.

I lightly kissed the blushing Nam Daeun on the forehead and left the dorm.

‘This is quite luxurious.’

I can’t believe the things I’m doing.

Holding a woman first and kissing her forehead.

I’m living a life that the original me from my old world could never have imagined.

I truly have no regrets, even if I were to die now.

Of course, that’s just a saying; I don’t actually want to die.

To find a nearby real estate agent, I left the academy and entered the shopping district.

“Wow~ The fruit is incredibly cheap today.”

“It’s the season. Buy a basket.”

The voices of people around me.

Hearing the sounds of others living their lives makes me feel truly alive.

“Real estate… it’s this way.”

Naturally, there were several real estate offices in the shopping area.

Since I wasn’t going to visit just one place anyway, I decided to start with the closest one.

Following the path shown by my smartwatch, I entered a narrow alley.

And at that moment.

The surroundings fell silent.

“… Again?”

I further strengthened the Rune Barrier I had activated for perception hindrance.

I tried to get out of the alley in that state, but it felt like something was blocking me; I couldn’t exit the alley.

‘Strong.’

Could I break through if I used my full power?

I wasn’t sure.

That’s how strong this attacker was.

Subjectively, maybe slightly weaker than Rebecca?

Thump-

But being weaker than Rebecca wasn’t a reason to feel safe.

Thump-

My heart was pounding. It was a precursor to combat.

‘Why is this happening only to me?’

Are other promising talents being attacked every day like me? Huh?

Hoo.

I took a deep breath and debated whether to wait for an attack or advance.

‘Going in.’

When Rebecca attacked.

If Rebecca hadn’t revealed herself, I would have continued to be attacked.

And I had something to rely on.

This sturdy Rune Barrier.

It felt impenetrable, no matter who came.

If I couldn’t escape anyway, I should get closer.

I followed the faint magical energy I could sense and moved deeper into the alley.

• “What, he’s coming this way? He figured out my location…? They weren’t wrong calling him a genius mage.”

Isaac smirked slightly as he watched Lee Hoyeon approach him.

His expression was like that of someone seeing a fun new toy.

“… Guild Master. The opponent is a student. Perhaps you should exercise some restraint…”

“Surely I’m not going to kill him? I’ll just scare him a bit. People usually listen better after being put in their place first.”

“…”

He sure talks smoothly, despite radiating actual killing intent.

Scarlet was reflecting on how the situation had escalated like this.

She thought that if she had been a little more careful, it wouldn’t have gotten this far.

‘… Or maybe not?’

But seeing Isaac smiling, she quickly changed her mind.

Even if she hadn’t said anything, the outcome would have been the same.

He would have ended up coming here eventually after nagging Sebastian more.

‘Sigh.’

Still, the fortunate thing was that it wasn’t nighttime.

It would have been truly dangerous at night, but there was no sign of the moon rising yet.

Scarlet watched Isaac slowly gathering his magic, resolving to prevent the worst-case scenario, even if it meant throwing herself in harm’s way.