Episode 241. Final Exam Celebration (2)

The afternoon of Tuesday, when Lee Hoyeon went to the magic expo.

Alice, whose regular academy classes had ended, prepared to head home.

‘He didn’t show up until the very end, huh.’

Alice glanced at Lee Hoyeon’s empty seat.

Wondering why trouble seemed to erupt wherever that guy went.

She didn’t know if it was a field trip or what, but apparently, he got caught up in a terrorist attack at the magic expo with Professor Im Sol.

‘Could Lee Hoyeon be the mastermind?’

His frequency on the news was increasing to the point where that thought crossed her mind.

Tsk.

Alice chuckled at her strange thought and shook her head.

It couldn’t be.

‘They said it was perfectly blocked, so he probably wasn’t hurt, right?’

News of the terrorist attack spread across the internet and even to foreign media within just a few hours.

While the terrorist attack was a big problem, attacks by demons happened multiple times a day all over the world.

Therefore, it wasn’t an issue that would spread to foreign media instantly.

What truly became the issue was Professor Im Sol’s magic that blocked the attack.

In a word… it was magic that made you think, ‘I absolutely cannot mess up in this Professor’s class.’

There was other news, like people saying Professor Im Sol needed to be re-evaluated, or statements from the Wizard Association, but none of it was particularly important to Alice, so she didn’t look into it.

What was important to her was Lee Hoyeon.

There was a reason he couldn’t get hurt.

His mana circuits had finally narrowed.

It was time for mana massages again.

She needed Lee Hoyeon’s help.

“When… is a good time again?”

Just as Alice was reviewing her schedule.

“Excuse me, Miss Alice?”

Someone called out from behind her.

She casually turned her head and saw a familiar face.

“It’s been a while. I came because of the final exam celebration party.”

“… The final exam celebration party? Ah, Secretary-sunbae.”

She only remembered after hearing that.

The senior in front of her was the student council secretary.

She hadn’t visited the student council in so long that she was a bit confused.

“Yep, yep. This is the plan, could you take a look? The publicity department is part of the student council, after all…”

Alice looked over the document and her first thought was annoyance.

[Student Council Final Exam Celebration Party Plan!]

It looked like a bothersome plan just by glancing at it.

It seemed like a lot of people would gather.

It was completely different from Alice’s style, as she preferred quiet.

If it were an important party, she’d endure it and go, but it wasn’t like that…

‘Wait, they said publicity department, so wouldn’t Lee Hoyeon be coming too?’

Alice, who was about to politely decline, remembered Lee Hoyeon.

Given his personality, Lee Hoyeon wasn’t the type of guy to skip this kind of social gathering.

“Even though it looks complicated, the first-years actually…”

“Is Lee Hoyeon participating?”

Alice asked the secretary while glancing at the documents.

“Huh? Ah, of course, Hoyeon is participating. Anyway, the first-years…”

“Then I’ll do it.”

If Lee Hoyeon was participating, she had to do it.

Alice didn’t hesitate any longer and signed the document.

“Huh? Eh?”

“I said I’ll do it, sunbae-nim.”

She handed it to the blinking secretary.

The secretary was surprised for a moment, but then, thinking the task was done, accepted the document with a smile.

“Thanks. It seems you’re quite close with Hoyeon, Miss Alice?”

“… Uh, not really.”

“Signing without hesitation just because Hoyeon is participating. That’s fortunate. It’s good that you juniors are close. The seniors’ camaraderie is already ruined, so at least you two should get along well.”

“….”

Alice couldn’t retort even as the secretary casually disappeared, dissing the vice president who was the shame of the student council.

Come to think of it, why did she sign based on Lee Hoyeon’s participation?

Fortunately, the deliberation wasn’t long, and she soon reached a conclusion.

“… Because I need to talk about the massage.”

There’s also the centaur thing to discuss, not to mention one or two other things.

Hmm hmm.

Of course, these were things she could discuss over the phone or via message, but Alice avoided the truth.

“Massage, centaur, business… Yep. These are things you need to discuss face-to-face.”

She just kept repeating the same words to herself.

*

Wednesday morning.

I saw the Nam Daeun sisters off at the entrance.

“I’m heading out first. Hoyeon-ah.”

“Oppa! I’m leaving!”

“Yeah, yeah. See you later.”

The reason I sent the Nam Daeun sisters off first was that I had something to discuss with Scarlet about the move.

Scarlet, who had come home late yesterday from who knows where, finally talked to me about the house this morning.

And then she started with a surprising story.

“… 20 billion?”

“Yes. You told me to find a good deal, didn’t you?”

“I did say that. Yeah…”

Just how good of a deal did she find?

The only places I’d ever lived were a villa, a studio apartment, and the academy dorms, so a 20 billion [Won] house suddenly felt unreal.

“I found the best house in the neighborhood. Land prices are expensive around the academy, you know.”

“That’s true, but… uh, still, 20 billion is quite a sum.”

“Surely you don’t think the money is too much for a house where Liliana-nim and Miss Daeun will be living, right?”

Scarlet widened her eyes and covered her mouth.

She was pretending to be surprised.

“How could that be? I just… sigh. Fine. Do as you please.”

Seeing her smug smile, I was sure she’d done something, but she kept dodging my questions and hiding it.

“You didn’t spend money on anything weird, did you?”

I asked just in case, but Scarlet shook her head firmly.

“Absolutely not. In fact, I found it for much cheaper than the market price. If we sell it after living there just a few years, the profit will be enormous.”

“Tch. If that’s the case then.”

If it were my money, I’d be angry, but it’s not my money.

The 30 billion [Won] I took from the Buyer Guild was actually meant to be given entirely to Nam Daeun.

But she absolutely refused to accept it, so I had no choice but to take it.

Since she used it to buy a house, I don’t regret it.

“… But why are you smiling.”

“I’m not smil, cough ing.”

I just found that smile unsettling.

“Is it okay if I don’t check it myself?”

“Yes. Please don’t worry.”

It bothered me that she wouldn’t give me the address… but since it’s a house we’ll be living in together, not one I live in alone, she must have found something good.

It’ll probably be a bit luxurious.

She wouldn’t have bought something like a [10 Billion Won Ceramic Vase (Authentic)], would she?

I’d be really angry then.

“Alright. I’m off then. Keep Liliana entertained.”

Liliana had locked herself in her room, saying she needed to stream more diligently before the move.

‘She’s in such a hurry, even though she’ll be here for another week.’

After saying goodbye to Scarlet, I left the dorm.

I arrived at the academy and headed towards the first-year Class A classroom.

This place was always bustling.

• Can I bring alcohol to the party…?

• Wanna hang out with me?

The cadets were gathered in groups, talking about the celebration party.

Seeing the party being talked about so much, it must be quite famous.

That probably means there’s a lot of work to do too.

Thinking about it again brought on a wave of annoyance, but I forced myself to endure it.

I naturally walked over to Lucy and Lumi, who were already seated.

“Hoyeon-ssi. Hello.”

“Lee Hoyeon, you’re really tough. Couldn’t you have gotten hurt just once with something like that?”

“What are you talking about?”

As I greeted them and sat between Lucy and Lumi, Lucy looked at me curiously.

“The news called it a massive-scale terrorist attack… Of course, I saw the professor handle it instantly, but…”

Lucy shivered slightly, perhaps recalling Im Sol’s magic.

Well, I was surprised too, so how much more shocked must others have been?

I saw on the news on the way here that the Wizard Association was inviting her, or something like that. I wonder what will happen.

“Still, I’m glad you weren’t hurt… Hoyeon-ssi.”

“Thanks. Lumi.”

Until class started, I chatted with the Lucy-Lumi twins.

It ranged from what we did yesterday to, finally, ‘Do you have time today?’

I tried my best to ignore the desire radiating from Lucy’s eyes as she asked the final question, avoiding her gaze.

“… I have to go to the student council today.”

“The student council?”

“Yeah. Because of the final exam celebration party.”

“Ah, right. I got a message. It said we should participate unless there’s a special reason not to.”

“I’m part of the student council too. They called me in to do some work.”

“That’s amazing, Hoyeon-ssi…”

“Tsk. Okay. I’ll pass today! Ah, speaking of which, the final exams are right after the party, what should we do?”

Lumi looked up at me from beside me, her eyes sparkling, while Lucy twirled her fan with an annoyed air.

“Is it already that time? I guess we need to study for the finals.”

Time flies.

Or maybe not?

My schedule is packed every day, so there’s just too much to do.

“Hoyeon-ssi… you’re good at studying, aren’t you.”

“Exactly. Why are you always playing around but still good at studying?”

“You have to get it done in advance. In advance.”

I prepared for class while receiving the twins’ envious gazes.

Actually, my grades are due to special privileges, but to maintain a perfect lie, I’ve reached a level where I even deceive myself.

I consider myself a genius.

That way, I can lie without feeling guilty!

“Then, could you teach us too…? In the club room.”

“That sounds good! Not today, but maybe starting tomorrow?”

The perverted twins invited me with intentions that were obvious to anyone.

“You guys aren’t going to study anyway… Tch. I’ll teach you if I don’t have other plans.”

Of course, I didn’t refuse.

*

“Wow, you’re famous! So famous!”

“… Be quiet.”

Im Sol frowned as she saw Min Yeji looking at her in surprise.

“Ayoung-ah, did you see Sol’s magic? She floated up into the sky, and with a flash of light, poof, all the demons just melted away.”

“Hey, don’t drag Ayoung into this.”

“I saw it. It was pretty cool. Why? Isn’t it something to be proud of?”

Im Sol sighed at her teasing friends, but on the other hand, she felt grateful.

They treated her the same way even after seeing such power.

However, even though they supported her just the same, she didn’t feel the same fluttery excitement she felt for Lee Hoyeon.

‘…I’m really smitten.’

Slurp-

While Im Sol took a sip of coffee to clear her head, Min Yeji started teasing the next target, Baek Ahyoung.

“Well, there are professors who like cadets, right?”

“I-I’m not a professor, I’m the nurse, so it doesn’t count? Nurses are staff, just staff.”

“Sol-ah. Sol-ah. Look at what Ayoung is saying. Huh? Look.”

“Ah, sorry. I was spacing out. What is it?”

Im Sol, who had been nodding absently while thinking about Lee Hoyeon, finally snapped back to attention at Min Yeji’s words.

“She says the nurse isn’t a professor, so it’s okay to like a cadet…!”

Kyaa-

Min Yeji wickedly teased Baek Ahyoung, who lowered her head, blushing furiously, and took a sip of her drink.

This was the usual conversation when the three of them met.

Min Yeji teasing Baek Ahyoung, and Im Sol trying to calm Min Yeji down.

But today was different.

“… If you like each other, maybe other conditions don’t matter?”

Im Sol took a sip of her coffee, pretending it was nothing.

But the moment she spoke, the table fell silent.

The two who had known Im Sol for a long time knew.

This woman wasn’t someone who would give such a demure answer.

“… Sol-ah?”

“R-Rival…”

Min Yeji stared at Im Sol with disbelief, and Baek Ahyoung almost spat out her drink.

“Please stop looking at me like that. It’s just my opinion.”

Im Sol tried to defend herself by stating it was just an opinion, but there was no way Min Yeji would listen.

“Th-This Lee Hoyeon. That scoundrel. He’s trying to steal all my friends…”

Min Yeji closed her eyes tightly as if sad, but the corners of her mouth were turned up.

She was happy because something interesting was happening.

“No, he hasn’t stolen them yet… Calm down.”

“Ah, not yet…”

Baek Ahyoung’s jaw dropped as if stunned upon hearing Im Sol’s words.

Because it confirmed Im Sol saw her as a rival too.

“Sol-ah. Speak clearly. Why did you do that!”

“Haa…”

Min Yeji pounced on Im Sol like a lion finding prey, while Im Sol let out a wry laugh looking at Baek Ahyoung, who stood there with her mouth agape.

She figured if it was going to be revealed eventually, getting caught now wouldn’t be so bad.