Episode 347. Harmonious Sisters (2)

Tok-tok.

“Good day. Rebecca-nim.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Pandemic’s hideout.

Greeted by a subordinate, Rebecca stepped inside and slightly furrowed her brow at the musty smell.

Of course, she quickly smoothed her expression since she was acting under mind control, but she couldn’t help feeling disgusted every time she came here.

‘Why are they summoning me at a time like this?’

Rebecca, who had intended to storm Lee Hoyeon’s place since morning, returned to the Pandemic branch due to the sudden summons.

She could finally have a child now that Lee Hoyeon’s issue was resolved, but the timing was terrible.

‘I need to start pulling out soon… When should I time it?’

The reason she joined Pandemic in the first place was to find survivors of the Rune clan.

Now that she had achieved that goal, she didn’t want to stay any longer with Pandemic, who had used her.

Truthfully, it was a convenient position for feeding information to Lee Hoyeon, which was a shame, but she couldn’t just leave.

Because she needed to find the right timing.

It wouldn’t do for Lee Hoyeon to get bothered because of her.

Rebecca entered the dim conference room.

Most of the executives were already seated inside, waiting.

It must be because they were strongly mind-controlled, valuing Maestro’s orders above all else.

Rebecca sat down in her seat, passing by the Pandemic executives sitting there blankly.

Perhaps the mind control was stronger today, as not a single private conversation was happening among the executives.

Rebecca was probably the only one feeling the awkwardness and discomfort filling this space.

The unfamiliar feeling made the space even more unpleasant.

Fortunately, just then, the sound of men’s dress shoes began to echo.

Tuk-tuk.

“Ah, apologies. I’m late again today after receiving a revelation from Him.”

Crazy bastard.

He probably just came back from some weird prayer session.

Rebecca cursed Maestro in her mind as she looked at him.

It was his sick hobby to summon all the executives and then arrive hours late.

Maestro sat at the head seat and began speaking in a gentle voice.

“Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules. Thanks to the executives’ efforts, we are getting closer to our ideals.”

Although he spoke with a kind tone and a smile, Maestro had mind-controlled every executive present.

A dictator in the truest sense.

Leading an organization like Pandemic alone requires that level of madness.

It was a pointless meeting discussing terrorism and kidnappings, but Rebecca listened intently, wondering if there might be any information she could pass on to Lee Hoyeon.

“Pandemic’s name is growing worldwide. We’re getting more applications to join. However… there’s something weighing on my mind. Victoria Academy and France.”

Victoria Academy and France.

Both are places related to Lee Hoyeon.

Perhaps there was information that could help Lee Hoyeon?

Rebecca perked up her ears.

“Strangely, the results from both places are poor. Most of the terrorist acts at Victoria Academy failed, and our Apostle was captured in France. Could I see the data?”

“Here you go.”

At Maestro’s command, the secretary standing behind him handed over the files.

“The festival terror and the commemorative event terror at Victoria Academy. And the Centaur capture operation in France. There’s a common thread in these three incidents. Rebecca?”

“…Yes.”

Rebecca was momentarily flustered when her name was suddenly called, but thankfully, she had been paying attention to the meeting and could answer immediately.

“You participated in these operations. Do you know what the problem was?”

“I apologize. It was my oversight.”

“No, no. That’s not it. These weren’t operations that should have failed. The power analysis was perfect. Even if they failed, they were supposed to cause significant damage and chaos… Strangely, someone kept ruining the terror attempts every time.”

Tak-

Maestro projected a man’s face onto the hologram.

“Lee Hoyeon. A first-year student at Victoria Academy, known as a genius mage.”

“…!”

Rebecca quietly held her breath.

Pandemic already noticed Lee Hoyeon?

“Executives, make sure you keep a close eye on this individual.”

“”Understood.””

Watching Maestro drill Lee Hoyeon’s face into the executives’ minds, Rebecca thought:

‘…I need to run right now.’

This isn’t the time to be calculating.

While leaching information from Pandemic was beneficial, the moment they recognized Lee Hoyeon’s existence, the possibility of her relationship with him being exposed increased.

Pandemic’s personnel and eyes are everywhere.

I’ll soon be unable to travel light, so I should retire while I have the chance.

Rebecca held her breath, waiting for the meeting to end.

*

After the meeting ended, the executives returned to their respective areas.

Naturally, Rebecca also quickly left the conference room. Seeing her retreating figure, Maestro’s secretary quietly muttered,

“Just as Maestro-nim said, she seems like she’ll betray us. Should we take care of her?”

“Leave her be.”

Maestro calmed his subordinate, who was stirring up magic.

Then, he chuckled in the quiet conference room.

“This is interesting… Khh-huhu. So interesting.”

Lee Hoyeon.

Maestro continued his contemplation while looking at Lee Hoyeon’s picture.

Even though he thwarted every terrorist act Maestro initiated and committed the atrocity of stealing Pandemic’s ace, Rebecca, Maestro wasn’t angry.

Because he had finally found a candidate for his adversary.

Maestro clasped his hands and asked his secretary.

“Do you know about fate?”

“…I apologize. I don’t really know.”

“Yes. That too is fate. It’s called fate because it cannot be resisted. Parts like you should never notice it in your lifetime. That’s how the world keeps turning.”

Maestro stood up and left the conference room.

From the moment he was born, his destiny was to bring about the end of humanity.

That means there must also be a destiny to save humanity.

“I suppose I’ll have to meet him in person.”

He needed to definitively distinguish whether he was his adversary or merely a student who had become strong by chance.

‘Lee Hoyeon….’

Desire flickered in Maestro’s eyes.

He would only know if the young man could satisfy him after meeting him.

*

Lunch on the day I made plans with Alice.

I took a bite of bread and spoke to Scarlett.

“Speaking of which, where did Rebecca-ssi go?”

“I don’t know either. She said she would come today.”

Since I haven’t heard from her either, she must be busy.

It’s a shame because I was hoping to have a meal together today.

I spoke to Scarlett, who had about half her bread left.

“Scarlett, aren’t you eating any more?”

“The life of a woman is tiring. Sometimes, one must endure hunger.”

“…Really?”

Sometimes I think Scarlett might be the most feminine person alive.

She lives more femininely than anyone else.

“If you’re not eating the bread, give it to me!”

“Liliana-nim, please have it.”

“But Liliana, how come you don’t gain weight even though you eat so much?”

“Because I’m a succubus!”

“Is that damn succubus invincible or something?”

I let out a hollow laugh watching Liliana snatch Scarlett’s baguette and munch on it, ang-nyang-nyang.

Anything and everything, it’s always ‘succubus’.

“Are you going to meet Alice-nim this afternoon?”

“Yeah. I think I’ll decide how many days I’ll stay. Though it’ll probably only be a few days at most.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Aren’t you coming back for dinner? I want to eat something delicious~”

“I don’t know. I’ll try to come back early.”

“Liliana-nim. I will take you somewhere delicious.”

“Ooh! Scout! Do you have a lot of money too?”

“Don’t worry.”

“Okay, okay. Since you’re a new junior, be nice to your senior!”

Liliana nodded and twirled her spaghetti.

I shook my head watching that.

That’s what happens when you rely on your looks to act spoiled.

If she weren’t so pretty and cute, I would have scolded her.

“I’m going to head out now. You two have dinner together.”

“Understood.”

“Okay, okay. Have a good time!”

The atmosphere is really nice.

It’s comforting that Scarlett is covering for Liliana.

I finished my meal and left the dorm.

• Me: Rebecca-ssi. No one’s in the dorm, so please contact me before you come.

I had sent Rebecca a message too.

Since Scarlett and Liliana said they were going out for dinner, the dorm should be empty.

I need to let her know in advance so she doesn’t panic finding an empty dorm.

“Come to think of it, I have a lot to tell Alice.”

I need to talk about Liliana, and explain a bit about the Centaur too.

About the schedule, and the massages….

I probably won’t have enough time.

“This must be it.”

I headed towards the Iris Guild’s medical team.

When I told them at the lobby I was visiting Alice for a check-up, they immediately gave me directions to her room.

Alice must have given them a heads-up.

I took the elevator up to the fifth floor and knocked on the door of Alice’s hospital room.

Knock knock.

“Alice. I’m here.”

“It’s open, come in.”

Creeeak-

As I opened the door and entered, I saw Alice lying in bed wearing a hospital gown.

It was too luxurious for a hospital room, but Alice deserved this kind of treatment.

“Are you okay?”

“…It feels like every time I see you, you only ask if I’m okay. Try a different greeting for once.”

Is that so?

Come to think of it, I always asked if she was okay after the massages.

Should I try being sweet today?

“Hello, my lady.”

“…”.

“Sorry. It was a joke.”

I apologized to Alice, who was giving me a stern look, and sat down.

On the table right next to me was an apple carved into a cute rabbit shape.

“What’s this? It’s carved so nicely. Did you do it?”

“No. My sister did.”

“Sister? Ah. Irene-ssi. That’s amazing. She has talents like that too.”

“Right? She’s an amazing person.”

Alice nodded and took the apple to her mouth.

I feel like my resistance towards Irene has lessened.

Did her kindness during the Centaur pursuit operation have a big impact?

“But are you really okay? I was surprised when you suddenly got hospitalized.”

“…Yeah. I’m just here because my dad forced me to.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Hmm. So, you came prepared with things to tell me, right?”

I had hoped she might let it slide, but no chance.

I answered as casually as possible.

“Ask what you’re curious about. I’ll answer.”

“Who was that woman who appeared when Scarlett got hurt? What’s your relationship with her, and what is her identity?”

Just as I expected, that’s what she’d ask.

I had actually worried about how to explain Liliana, but I decided it would be okay to be honest with Alice.

Alice tends to make rational judgments.

Besides, she’s the daughter of the Iris Guild, so she has a lot of information, and she’s smart, so I don’t think I can easily fool her.

I braced myself and met Alice’s eyes.

Alice waited for my lips to part, gazing at me steadily.

“First, I should talk about the Centaur. There’s a place in this world called the Underworld.”

“…The Underworld? Like heaven and hell? Or is it the name of an organization?”

“The heaven and hell you know. Centaurs are monsters from the Underworld, and that woman you saw is the same. A succubus from the Underworld.”

“….?”

Alice blinked, wearing an expression that clearly asked, ‘What kind of bullshit is this?’

Right. She wouldn’t understand.

I didn’t expect her to understand it all at once anyway.

Given how complicated the relationship is, I never intended to lie from the start.

“Sorry, it’s natural that you don’t understand. Should I explain Pandemic first then…? Hmm, this is going to take a while.”

“Wait a moment, can I ask one thing before that?”

“Sure. Ask away.”

Since there are so many unfamiliar elements, it’s better to explain while answering Alice’s questions.

“Is the reason you’re such a playboy because of that succubus?”

“…”.

For a moment, I considered selling Liliana out.