Episode 346. Harmonious Sisters

Tuesday morning.

Alice woke up, bathed in the morning sun.

But it wasn’t her room.

This was a hospital room at the Iris Guild. She was even wearing patient clothes.

Explaining why she, who wasn’t even injured, was lying here would be a long story… But to summarize, you could say Irene and Isaac forcefully shoved her in.

Because they found out about the minor injuries she sustained fighting a goblin during the Centaur Pursuit Operation.

‘N-No way! Examine her immediately!’

‘It’s fine. It’s nothing serious.’

‘No! Alice! You need to be hospitalized right now!’

‘That’s right! Hospitalization! Hospitalization!’

‘What are you talking about….’

She clearly stated there was no need to make a fuss over minor injuries, but they weren’t people who would listen to her.

By the time she came to her senses, the admission procedures were already finished, and she had to take a break in the hospital room under semi-coercion.

“…This is annoying.”

Alice frowned, looking at her smartwatch.

As if things weren’t annoying enough, there was one more thing bothering her.

“Why isn’t this guy contacting me.”

Alice muttered, looking at Lee Hoyeon’s empty message window.

A man full of secrets.

What was Lee Hoyeon’s objective, and what were his secrets?

Alice recalled the day of the Centaur Pursuit Operation.

A woman who suddenly appeared when Scarlet was injured by a centaur’s attack.

At first, she was flustered, not knowing who it was, but after thinking hard, she remembered.

It was definitely the woman who was staying at Lee Hoyeon’s place.

Because she remembered seeing her in the information Scarlet had brought back.

But why was that woman here?

Wasn’t she just a casual fling?

What was her relationship with Scarlet?

From beginning to end, it was full of questions.

“…I really don’t know how this is all unfolding.”

Alice felt so frustrated she wanted to beat her chest.

She couldn’t tell anyone about this situation and had to wait frustratingly alone until Lee Hoyeon arrived.

However, that man, whether he had forgotten her or was postponing things, had visited the captured centaur twice.

It was probably for research purposes.

He promised to explain everything to me, so what is he doing?

Is that damn research really that important?

‘Could it be… the centaur is the target this time?’

That’s impossible.

Even that beast wouldn’t get excited over a horse, right?

‘…No, maybe not.’

Alice recalled the night before the pursuit operation.

The huge thing that kept entering deeper, even when she told him to stop.

A pleasure so good it overcame her shame.

Her own embarrassing, vulgar moans.

Even the strange feeling of something warm entering deep inside her.

Everything from that night was vividly remembered.

Because her legs still felt tingly.

Considering his unstoppable lust and stamina, she couldn’t let her guard down, even if the partner was a centaur.

“Sigh. Well, maybe he’s just busy.”

Alice stopped her pointless thoughts and looked back at the ceiling.

Knock knock.

Then, a knock was heard.

She knew who it was without looking.

“Alice. Can I come in?”

“…Yeah. Come in.”

“I brought you some sliced apples.”

“…Aren’t you working, Unnie?”

“How can I work when Alice is injured?”

“No, I told you I’m not injured… Haa.”

Alice sighed, looking at the apple sliced into the shape of a rabbit.

It was Irene who brought the apple.

Even though she wasn’t injured, Irene stayed by her side for several hours every day just because she was in the hospital.

She was so kind it made Alice wonder if this was really the Unnie she knew.

“Open up. Unnie will feed you.”

“…Ah.”

Alice opened her mouth, looking at Irene’s beaming smile.

She had been fed like this several times since yesterday, so she was used to it now.

Trying to refuse only led to Irene smiling apologetically and insisting again, so it was easier just to eat.

“How is it? Isn’t the rabbit cute? I cut it well, right?”

“I know, right. Do you practice stuff like this?”

Alice looked at Irene, admiring the perfectly shaped apple.

How could she be so good at this while undergoing tough training and work every day?

“Remember when you were 13 and got injured during training and had to stay in the hospital? You said you wanted a rabbit-shaped apple, so I tried my best to cut one, but you cried because it was so ugly.”

“…Don’t remember things like that.”

“I practiced every day after that, so I’m glad you’re satisfied now.”

Alice avoided Irene’s gentle smile.

They say family is all you have in the end; maybe her sister, with whom she used to fight, had finally matured.

Whether it was during the Centaur Pursuit Operation or now, she took such good care of her.

When someone treated her with such devotion, Alice couldn’t help but soften her feelings.

Before she knew it, she was chatting comfortably with Irene.

Ting-

Just then, Alice’s smartwatch beeped.

“Hold on a sec, Unnie.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Irene nodded and put down the apple.

She was incredibly happy at this moment.

Just seeing her sister opening up to her felt like she had the whole world.

If she even smiled just once, Irene would be even happier.

Her smile was that rare.

“Hmmmm.”

Meanwhile, Alice looked at her smartwatch and nodded.

• Crazy Casanova : Alice. What do we do now? Are we going back?

Finally, contact.

It’s way too late.

• Me : Hmm. Let’s meet and talk. I think it would be better for me to stay a few more days. I have plenty of excuses.

It would be too wasteful to go back right away after using her father’s influence.

Alice smiled without realizing it.

It seemed like her questions would finally be answered.

Just then, a cold voice came from beside her.

“…Who are you messaging?”

“Lee Hoyeon. We’re discussing schedules.”

“Oh… okay? Alright. I should get going to work soon.”

“…? Yeah. Okay.”

Irene put the apple down on the table and left the room.

‘Why is she acting like that all of a sudden?’

Did she have too much work piling up?

Alice picked up and ate one of the cute rabbit-shaped apples, watching Irene’s retreating figure.

*

I thought with my eyes closed.

Ah. I’m tired. So tired.

I want to sleep forever like this.

My body grew lighter and lighter. As if I could fly soon…

“Hhhuup…!”

Haa haa.

I gasped for breath and shot up from the bed.

“…Am I alive?”

As I endured the fatigue and clenched and unclenched my fist, I felt a bit more lucid.

It felt like I almost died just now, but was it a mistake?

‘What did I do before sleeping.’

Yawning, I retraced the faint memories of last night.

I remembered wrestling with Scarlet, who whined about me leaving her alone on our first night, and eventually giving in to have a passionate night… but how did I fall asleep?

“Good morning. It’s a lovely morning.”

Just then, something warm and soft wrapped around my arm.

“…Ah, Scarlet. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes. Last night was wonderful. You.”

Scarlet, naked, rubbed herself against my arm.

It was a temptation I wouldn’t have resisted if I weren’t so tired, but I was so exhausted that my body felt stiff even after waking up.

I looked at Scarlet, who had wedged my arm between her breasts, and said.

“Scarlet. Just use informal terms from now on.”

Even if it was a contractual relationship before, we could be informal now.

Besides, Scarlet is older than me.

Scarlet is the same age as Baek Ahyoung and Professor Im Sol.

“No. That wouldn’t be any fun.”

“Or how about I call you ‘Noona’?”

“…Just once then?”

“Scarlet Noona. I’m tired. Let’s sleep a little longer.”

“……Shall we sleep quickly?”

“Nngh.”

Scarlet pulled my face towards her and buried it in her chest.

Well, it’s a bit stuffy, but it feels good.

I’m tired, so I should sleep more.

*

Perhaps it was because my body was so sturdy.

After dozing for a bit in Scarlet’s embrace, the fatigue subsided somewhat.

This must be the power of high natural healing.

“So, what’s the schedule for today?”

“Hmm. Honestly, I didn’t expect it to end this quickly.”

“I know, right. Capturing it alive in just one day.”

I chatted with Scarlet while drinking coffee in the living room.

Things went well.

We found the centaur, obtained some information about the Underworld, and came to France to conquer Alice and Scarlet.

Everything was good, but the problem was that today was only Tuesday.

The Academy was holding a week-long exam.

I don’t hate exams, but it feels ridiculous to go back when it’s only the second day.

Currently, thanks to Isaac’s lobbying, I’m being treated as a hero in France.

The French government is going crazy trying to give me an award, and the Academy has agreed to hold a special exam out of consideration for me.

My actions are also a hot topic back in Korea.

But returning this quickly seems like it would be too bothersome.

Of course, there’s the narrative of ‘The genius mage was so brilliant he solved it in a day and returned,’ but it’s not exactly an ideal picture.

“I do want to go back to Korea, though.”

“It seems okay to delay returning for a few days.”

“That would make for a prettier picture, wouldn’t it.”

“Indeed. It would put everyone in an awkward position. You, the French government, the Academy. It’s a path that leads to unhappiness for everyone.”

“I wouldn’t mind returning to Korea quickly to take care of the others… I’ll ask the Guild Master first. No, wait, I should tell Alice.”

I have things to tell Alice, so I need to meet her soon.

I activated my smartwatch and sent Alice a message.

• Me : Alice. What do we do now? Are we going back?

Now that I looked, there were quite a few stacked messages.

I was too busy yesterday to check them.

• Nam Daeun : When are you coming back. I saw you caught the centaur.

• Baek Ahyoung : Honey……. Honey… ㅠㅠ. Sol is worried too. Are you okay? Why aren’t you replying.

• Professor Im Sol : Come back quickly and help me with the exam questions.

• Moon Surin : Hoyeon-ah. There was a cooperation request from the Academy, and it had your name on it, so I just approved it. That’s right, isn’t it?

I replied to each message with a smile.

If the messages are this fun, imagine how much fun it’ll be when we meet in person.

I want to see them soon.

• Lucy : When you come to Korea, you have to come straight to the club room!!!

• Lumi : Hoyeon-ssi. I did well on the written exam! It’s thanks to you, Hoyeon-ssi!

“…My body won’t survive.”

When I return to Korea, I think I’ll have to be more careful about dying from pleasure than final exams.

Maybe I should look for an artifact that boosts stamina.

“Haaawwwnnn. So sleepy.”

“Good morning, Liliana-nim.”

“You’re awake, Liliana.”

Liliana emerged from her room, rubbing her eyes and slumping over the desk as she spoke.

“Nngh… Are we going back to Korea now? I haven’t tried many French dishes yet.”

“In that case, shall we stay a bit longer under the pretext of researching the centaur?”

Ting-

Just then, a message arrived from Alice.

• Alice : Hmm. Let’s meet and talk. I think it would be better for me to stay a few more days. I have plenty of excuses.

• Me : When should we meet? Anytime is fine for me.

• Alice : Let’s meet after lunch. I’m currently hospitalized, so I’ll send someone shortly.

• Me : Okay. Rest well.

“Why is she in the hospital?”

“Who are you referring to?”

“Alice. She says she’s hospitalized now. Was she injured?”

“I haven’t heard anything. Perhaps the Guild Master forced her into hospitalization again? I heard he even hospitalized her once for tripping during training.”

“…That’s harsh. That old man.”

At that point, maybe he’s not just a doting father, but simply an idiot.

I turned off my smartwatch as I prepared breakfast.