Episode 308. Alice

“… Can I take Alice, too?”

Alice, who had been listening to Lee Hoyeon and Isaac’s conversation, was startled when her name suddenly came up and looked beside her.

‘He didn’t forget.’

His words about giving her a good experience.

Knowing it wasn’t just a pleasantry, Alice felt happier.

“Taking Alice along wouldn’t be bad either. We came here for field experience together, after all.”

“… Dad. Really?”

“Yes. It’s time for you to gain some practical experience too.”

As the conversation eventually flowed towards Alice participating, she couldn’t manage her expression.

It felt like her father was finally acknowledging her.

It felt like she had finally shed her childhood.

Anticipation, joy, excitement. Even gratitude.

This wouldn’t have happened at all if Lee Hoyeon hadn’t brought it up.

But Lee Hoyeon didn’t stop there.

Followed by a bombshell statement.

Alice, startled, tried to stop Lee Hoyeon, but he looked straight into her eyes.

“Alice. The Guild Master wouldn’t really take you somewhere dangerous. Calm down and don’t get too excited. Did you forget we agreed to have a good experience together?”

“…!”

He had tried his best to keep his promise of giving her a proper experience.

Only then did Alice calm her excited heart.

“… Right. Thinking about it, it is strange. You never sent me to dangerous places before. You said Centaurs were so dangerous, yet you’re taking me?”

If she thought about it calmly, it was too different from her father’s actions so far.

Her father, who always tried to keep her away from danger, was suggesting practical combat first.

“That’s not it. My daughter. Since this is your first pursuit together, I just wanted to make it a bit safer. I wasn’t trying to deceive you. Lee Hoyeon. If you really want, I’ll include you in the proper pursuit team. That’s your choice. But Alice is not ready yet.”

“….”

At Isaac’s words, Alice mumbled.

She wanted to say something, but she didn’t know what to say.

Clearly, there was nothing wrong with Isaac’s words.

As her father said, maybe it was okay to make the first practical experience a bit safer?

‘Right. It is dangerous.’

Just as she was about to lose to her fear and deceive herself as usual, he moved again.

“Guild Master. I want Alice to join the proper pursuit team as well.”

Kkuuk-

Alice swallowed hard, looking at Lee Hoyeon, who held her wrist.

Why is he going this far?

It wouldn’t do him any good to displease her father.

“No. It’s too dangerous. It’s fine if you come along, but I can’t take my daughter Alice.”

“How long are you going to protect her like that? I think it’s time Alice got a chance too.”

“… That’s something for Alice and me to decide, not you. Don’t interfere anymore.”

“Then ask Alice directly. What she wants.”

“Huh. Huh?”

Alice, listening to the conversation, blinked.

Lee Hoyeon met Alice’s gaze.

“Alice. You decide. What do you want to do.”

“I, I….”

Of course, I want to go.

She knew her own skills best.

Even if it was a pursuit team composed of aces from the guild, she was confident she could pull her weight.

Because she was no longer at the level of a cadet.

Besides, she didn’t want to hide in the background forever.

But… at the same time, she was scared.

They said Centaurs were that strong.

Should she face such a formidable opponent right from her first experience?

As Alice continued to ponder, Isaac spoke.

“Alice, my daughter. I told you, didn’t I? It’s just our first pursuit, so I wanted to make it a bit safer. There’s no rush to gain experience gradually. You don’t need to join such a dangerous mission for your first time…”

“….”

It wasn’t wrong.

No, even though she had been fooled like that several times.

Because this time, he really said he’d take her.

Next time, surely…

“Alice.”

At that moment, Alice felt warmth on the back of her hand.

Lee Hoyeon’s hand was on hers, and when she turned her head, she saw Lee Hoyeon smiling confidently.

“You can do it. Let’s go together.”

Alice felt an unknown confidence fill her chest.

Alice, with a slight upturn of her lips, met Isaac’s eyes and slowly began to speak.

*

The next day.

Iris Guild Master’s Office.

The blonde beauty slammed her arms down on the desk.

It was fortunate the furniture in the Guild Master’s office was treated with magic, otherwise, ordinary solid wood furniture would have already been destroyed.

Isaac, seeing Irene frowning, broke into a cold sweat.

“… My eldest daughter. Why are you so angry?”

“Father. I heard Alice is joining the pursuit team.”

“Uh-huh. I told you beforehand.”

“That’s not the issue! Weren’t you just pretending? What if Alice gets hurt?!”

“….”

Isaac avoided Irene’s eyes, seeing how furious she was.

“Father…!”

“… I wanted to, but…”

Isaac recalled yesterday’s vivid conversation and bowed his head.

• Dad. I want to go too. I can do it. No, I’ll definitely succeed.

How could he stop his daughter, who was once just cute, now that she had become an adult?

Isaac recalled the face of that scoundrel who held Alice’s hand.

Is this the feeling of a father whose daughter has been taken by a man?

I never wanted to feel this my whole life.

I had decided not to approve of any man who appeared.

But the happy look on Alice’s face when that guy held her hand was still vivid before Isaac’s eyes.

“Sniffle…”

“Father!”

“Irene. You need to get permission beforehand when you bring a man home. Definitely…”

“No, now is not the time for such strange talk! How can you take Alice to such a dangerous place!”

“Calm down, my daughter. What’s decided cannot be reversed. It’s what Alice wanted.”

“Alice?”

“Yes. Let’s work well together. Alice isn’t a child anymore.”

“… Understood.”

This person is hopeless already.

Trying to take Alice to such a dangerous place.

Irene nodded and left the Guild Master’s office.

• Sniffle. Alice. No. Absolutely not…. But if you want to register your marriage, you have to beat me….

Ignoring Isaac’s muttering from behind, Irene exited the Guild Master’s office, biting her lip tightly.

‘Alice wanted it?’

I told her how dangerous practical combat is so many times.

“What am I supposed to do if she still doesn’t listen to her Unnie… Alice.”

I thought she’d be fine for at least a few more years.

She had a congenital mana disorder, and I had ingrained the fear of practical combat in her since childhood.

But for some reason, even her father, who used to be on her side, started taking Alice’s side.

Not only is her congenital mana disorder being fixed, but she’s being deployed for practical combat too.

Everything was going completely differently from Irene’s plan to keep Alice like a hothouse flower.

“Hello, Team Leader!”

“Yeah. Hi.”

Irene greeted the passing guild members as she headed to her office.

Deolkeok-

Irene, back in the Team Leader’s office, locked the door and sat on the sofa.

Then, she crossed her legs, looking at her reflection in the full-length mirror.

The line from her waist to her hips and her sexy legs.

Breasts that weren’t small but not excessive. Attractive collarbones and a snow-white nape.

Admiring her perfect body, Irene took out a teddy bear from the drawer.

The grubby, stained bear was one she had taken from Alice when she was in kindergarten.

Irene hugged the teddy bear tightly, thinking of her cute younger sister.

Hugging the teddy bear helped calm some of her rising anger.

Of course, her scent had completely faded, but the emotions Alice cherished remained.

Alice was beautiful even when she cried.

But sadly, there were no more precious items to take from Alice.

Because at some point, Alice started focusing more on self-improvement than hobbies.

“Sigh… My sister. My lovely sister. What am I going to do.”

All my efforts to protect her were useless.

Is it because of that man?

“Lee Hoyeon….”

No matter how she thought about it, Lee Hoyeon was the only reason Alice’s personality had changed.

He was even the one who fixed her congenital mana disorder.

If even her sister’s only flaw disappears…

“Heeung….”

Irene felt her body tremble.

What a beautiful work of art would be completed then.

“No. Yeah. Absolutely not….”

I can never give Alice to anyone else.

Forever.

*

Two days after meeting Isaac.

I was still holed up in the dorm.

• Me: Really? The Ironblood Guild seems to be having a tough time.

• Nam Daeun: Yeah. But it’ll be easier than for Hoyeon. Since he’s struggling in a foreign land.

• Nam Daeun: ‘고새하니까’ > ‘고생하니까.’ Typo.

• Me: Uh, yeah. It’s a bit tough, but bearable. I’ll contact you later.

I finished messaging the cute Nam Daeun.

Everyone over there seemed to be struggling, but I had been playing around for two days straight, so I felt guilty.

I turned off my smartwatch and snuggled back into Liliana’s body.

The best way to relieve guilt is with breasts, of course.

“Yummy. France really is about bread.”

Omnyomnyom.

Liliana, held in my arms, stuffed donuts into her mouth like a hamster.

“Yes, yes. Eat a lot.”

I pressed my stomach against Liliana’s back and slipped my hand under her clothes.

Since there was nothing else to do, I figured I should at least get some physical contact.

Liliana’s body never gets old, no matter how many times I touch it.

Jumooljumool-

“A pleasant sight, Hoyeon-nim.”

Scarlet looked at me with slightly disgusted eyes, but it didn’t hurt much.

It’s not like this is the first or second time she’s seen this.

“Scarlet. How long do I have to keep doing this?”

“The pursuit team only goes out when there’s a terrorist attack.”

Scarlet was right.

It was good that I settled things with Isaac and got Alice into the pursuit team. Thanks to that, I think I’ve gotten closer to Alice too.

However, since no terrorist attacks have occurred so far, I’ve had to wait around all day.

“Hmm… That’s true, but it’s a shame.”

“Are you perhaps wishing for a terrorist attack in France?”

Scarlet’s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth.

Why is she trying to make me out to be trash?

“No, no. It’s not like that… I just mean I have nothing to do. I wish I had something to do.”

“Understood. I’ll make a suggestion about that. You expressed a desire to help with Iris Guild’s miscellaneous tasks, Hoyeon-nim.”

“… There’s really no need. It’s a hassle for you too, right?”

I’m not wishing for people to die in a terrorist attack… but there’s no need to find other work either.

It’s just more comfortable to be like this.

They said terrorist attacks happen about two or three times a week on average, so one should occur soon.

“Then how about visiting Miss Alice? She must be in the same situation.”

“Hmm, maybe I should?”

Scarlet came up with a good suggestion.

I’ve been playing around too much lately.

I practiced magic alone, but it wasn’t satisfying since there wasn’t a proper training ground.

I considered asking to use the training grounds, but the facilities were too poor.

It’s probably because most guild members are out on assignments.

In the end, having nothing to do, I went around having fun.

I kept in touch with the kids back in Korea and went on food tours with Liliana.

I went shopping with Scarlet and picked out souvenirs to give as gifts.

Even after playing so much, there was no news, so I was getting a bit bored.

Maybe I should go see Alice.

“Don’t do that, play with me!”

“I’ve been playing with you constantly. We went on a food tour the day before yesterday, and shopping yesterday.”

“Play with me more! More!”

“Hey, hey. Alright, alright. Just get off me a bit.”

“Mmm. Or maybe from the afternoon today…?”

Just as Liliana, clinging to me, was about to nibble my neck.

Tok tok tok-

A knock came from the door, which had been silent for two days.

“Liliana. Hide.”

“H-Hieek.”

Liliana scrambled onto the bed, wrapped herself in the blanket, and rolled into a corner.

It’s like an ostrich hiding only its head.

I wondered if hiding like that would work, but they probably wouldn’t come into the room anyway.

“Yes. Who is it-!”

Finally, good news, or rather. Bad news has arrived?

When I opened the door, someone different from who I expected was standing there.

Slightly wavy blonde hair and a hairpin I’d never seen before.

A fancy dress that seemed a bit more dressed up than usual, and a cute handbag.

It was Alice’s casual wear, which I hadn’t seen before.

“… I just wondered what you were doing. Came to visit.”