Episode 448. End of Vacation (5)

The ruler of Pandemic. Maestro.

Inside the quiet room, he surrendered himself to the darkness.

“…Why is nothing descending.”

He muttered, kneeling before a statue resembling a chilling demon.

No revelation came down.

Normally, he wouldn’t have been this anxious.

Normally, the Demon King’s revelations aren’t a common occurrence.

But they always appeared when it mattered.

The mysterious black pillar that suddenly appeared worldwide a few days ago.

Because of it, Maestro felt tension and anxiety.

‘What on earth is that?’

The investigation into the black pillar was already complete.

Although there were sacrifices from the demons during the investigation, he had grasped that the pillar was a structure that aided the Demon King’s summoning.

In other words, it was beneficial to Pandemic’s progress.

That was the problem.

While he held the position of Pandemic’s leader, he had often received revelations from the Demon King.

How he should act. How to summon the Demon King.

Not everything, but he had acted according to the revelations for all important matters.

The anomalies in dungeons were no different.

Before major events occurred, there were always revelations.

“If you say nothing now… what am I supposed to do.”

Things Maestro didn’t know about were continuously happening.

The appearance of his destined partner, Lee Hoyeon.

The mysterious black pillar.

The increasingly rapid pace of events.

Was he no longer needed now?

Why?

I’ve strived only for you my entire life.

Maestro continued praying to the statue, his head bowed.

But no answer came from him.

The hideous demon statue, which evoked a sense of foreboding just by looking at it.

Maestro stared at the statue, then blinked.

He suddenly sensed it.

That praying to the statue would no longer bring an answer.

…That the ‘He’ he knew had already vanished.

“Who the hell are you…?”

Maestro muttered, glaring at the statue.

This wasn’t the Demon King he had tried to summon.

The entity targeting humans now… was the Demon King, yet different from the Demon King.

Feeling terror at that otherness, Maestro quietly closed his eyes.

There was nothing he could do now.

*

Most people have experienced their parents nagging them when they were young.

Lee Hoyeon’s extremely ordinary parents disciplined him using a mix of rewards and punishments, and as a result, he was able to live so well with proper values, even after falling into another world.

Have you ever counted the patterns on the floor every time you were nagged?

How interesting the floor patterns, which he normally paid no attention to, or the world affairs flowing from the news became.

‘The craftsmanship here is excellent. The tile quality is great too… Is this a VIP ward, as expected?’

Lee Hoyeon looked at the hospital room floor and genuinely admired it.

If he didn’t do even this, it was hard to endure the atmosphere.

“Of course… of course, I understand. I knew you’d be selfish from the start, Hoyeon. I accepted everything knowing that… Yes. I think that’s understandable. But, honestly, I thought it was three people at most. Then who were those women I saw there? Who is Rebecca, and even that woman who broadcasts. Just how many women…”

“…I have nothing to say.”

“No, that’s not what I want to hear. I, I like Hoyeon… but if you chose me, Hoyeon, you should show that kind of attitude, shouldn’t you? I, I feel wronged. No, I’ll take back the word ‘wronged’. I’m really sorry… B-but still, just a little…”

Lee Hoyeon listened to Moon Surin’s words, lowering his head.

Even counting the floor tiles was gradually becoming difficult.

‘…Why am I even doing this?’

I just came to visit him in the hospital.

After meeting the God of Betting, I rushed here the moment I woke up.

But why did it turn into this situation?

Lee Hoyeon still couldn’t understand.

To summarize Moon Surin’s words, she was asking for more love directed towards her.

Seeing her ramble, it seemed like she herself hadn’t organized what she wanted to say.

While that sight was cute, it was quite difficult to listen to.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Moon Surin]

• [ Affection: 100 ] (+ 0.8)

• [ Lust: 80 ]

• [ Appetite: 45 ]

• [ Fatigue: 70 ]

Current State: …Did I talk too much? I knew there were many other women, but… I’m sad.

[Upon reaching 100 Affection, dependence on Lee Hoyeon intensifies.]

‘…Dependence?’

Seeing Moon Surin’s status window, Lee Hoyeon frowned at the new word.

He had naturally assumed that when affection reached 100, all heroines’ love would deepen, but that wasn’t the case.

For each person, there was an emotion that intensified upon reaching 100 affection.

For Moon Surin, it was dependence.

Lee Hoyeon observed Moon Surin’s face again.

She wasn’t blaming him; her face looked anxious.

She was anxious.

Afraid Lee Hoyeon might drift too far away. Afraid he might stop paying attention to her.

Hence, dependence.

‘Come to think of it, Surin noona always seemed to depend on me.’

From the stalking incident to the Moon Sungmin incident, whenever Moon Surin faced hardship, Lee Hoyeon comforted her.

Lee Hoyeon had decided to be Moon Surin’s pillar of support, and Moon Surin depended on that Lee Hoyeon.

He could guess why Moon Surin had lost control.

Moon Surin, who was initially grateful just for Lee Hoyeon’s presence, must have relaxed now that the incidents were gradually being resolved.

A little more. A little more.

Greed began to arise.

He naturally had no intention of blaming her for changing her feelings.

Lee Hoyeon himself changed his mind daily, so how could he blame a woman asking to be loved more?

He half-expected the gift from the God of Betting to pop out and resolve the situation, but naturally, that didn’t happen.

‘Where on earth am I supposed to use this gift?’

Sigh.

Lee Hoyeon sighed and looked at Moon Surin, who was pouring out her words.

“So, I don’t mean you should abandon the other women… um… I just want a little more… It’s not like you’re not paying attention at all right now, but…”

Moon Surin’s eyes were reddened. Her face looked like tears would burst out if you so much as touched her.

Anyone looking would think I gaslighted her.

Lee Hoyeon looked at Moon Surin, spreading his arms wide.

“Surin noona. Come here.”

“N-now…”

“Let’s hug first. Then we can talk again.”

“Mmm…”

Lee Hoyeon held Moon Surin and stroked her back.

Gosh, I don’t know how to handle this.

What did I do to make her cry like this?

Lee Hoyeon chuckled wryly and stared intently at Moon Surin’s face.

Tears flowed out like a dam breaking the moment she was embraced.

As I’ve said many times, Lee Hoyeon is susceptible to situations where women cry.

No matter how many times he experiences it, he doesn’t know how to resolve it.

Is this something I must endure, just because I was born male?

“I’m sorry, Hoyeon… I knew everything too, but I just…”

“…It’s not like that. It must be my fault for not expressing myself well. I love you, Surin noona.”

“Ah, um… Me too.”

Light returned to Moon Surin’s eyes.

Unaware that her face was flushed, she nestled into Lee Hoyeon’s embrace.

Only then did Lee Hoyeon, feeling relieved, casually bring up another topic.

“How is your father-in-law’s condition? I did ask Ahyoung…”

“Yes… the Saintess is taking good care of him.”

Lee Hoyeon looked at the bed with a faint smile.

Moon Sungmin actually looked healthier than before.

I told Baek Ahyoung to pay as much attention as possible, but just how much effort is she putting in?

Surely she isn’t trying to turn him back into a human, right?

“…What do you plan to do once he fully recovers?”

“Well. I don’t really know either. Part of me wants to quietly bury the matter, and part of me wants him to pay for his crimes. People are truly selfish, aren’t they? Like me, throwing a tantrum even though I knew about your relationships with women from the start… I know Dad is a murderer, but I don’t know what to do.”

Moon Surin gave a sad smile.

She loved her father.

That’s why she was conflicted.

Was it right to tell him to pay for his crimes when she was forcibly extending the life of a father who had given up on it himself?

Dying irresponsibly was bad, but ultimately, it was her father’s choice.

Was it okay for her to interfere?

She didn’t know.

“Did you tell the Chairman?”

“…No. I’m keeping it a secret because I’m afraid he’d collapse if I told Grandfather.”

“You can’t keep hiding it forever. At least ask for his opinion.”

“I suppose that’s true…?”

Tsk.

Lee Hoyeon decided to stop his unnecessary meddling.

He just slowly stroked Moon Surin’s back.

Moon Surin’s gently swaying platinum blonde hair tickled Lee Hoyeon’s hand.

Indeed, hearts can only be conveyed when skin touches.

When bodies grow closer, hearts grow closer too.

“Surin noona.”

“Mmm.”

“Don’t worry too much. I’m here, okay? If things get tough, I’ll figure something out.”

“Mm, mmm. But I… gasp.”

Moon Surin stopped talking. She didn’t resist the force led by Lee Hoyeon.

In an instant, she was kissing Lee Hoyeon.

It was a warm, soft, yet brief kiss.

It was enough to exchange emotions.

Lee Hoyeon pulled away and looked at Moon Surin’s face.

It was true that women showing vulnerability were difficult to handle, but if she wanted to lean on him, he could accommodate her endlessly.

Lee Hoyeon affectionately caressed Moon Surin’s body.

Of course, he had no intention of going all the way with her while her father-in-law was present.

After exchanging affection moderately, Moon Surin shyly averted her gaze.

Although he didn’t want to stop, she also didn’t want to go all the way with her father present.

Instead, she settled her emotions with this.

“Next time… tell me everything. After Dad wakes up.”

“Don’t worry.”

Lee Hoyeon immediately understood what she meant.

She must be talking about the other women.

Yes. Someday, he would have to tell them all.

He was postponing that day, but he could feel its approach palpably.

Hoping the gift from the God of Betting would be helpful.

Lee Hoyeon held Moon Surin’s hand.

*

Several weeks had passed since the ominous black pillar appeared.

Even the Iris Guild, an information guild, was collecting information about it, but there were no noticeable results.

Alice, who was in the Iris Guild, was no different.

She focused on her own training rather than the black pillar, about which there was no information.

“…I shall grant you, girl, the right to become my friend, Wild Gladiator. You are a human worthy of coveting even in the Underworld.”

“Forget it.”

Alice ignored the approaching Chiron and walked out of the training ground.

That crazy centaur kept trying to act friendly, didn’t he ever get tired of it?

The special training was now almost over.

Alice had achieved remarkable growth in France over the past month.

She had defeated all the Iris Guild members in sparring matches, and could even exchange several moves on par with the Guild Master Isaac, the Emperor of the Night.

Of course, she was still far short of Isaac’s true strength, but being able to spar with Isaac during the day was tremendous growth.

Talent enough to make one arrogant.

She had become strong enough to have no rivals among those her age.

If Alice hadn’t seen Lee Hoyeon, she would have become quite conceited.

Sebastian, her secretary, approached Alice as she emerged from the training ground.

“Alice-nim.”

“Yes, Sebastian.”

“How should I arrange the schedule for our return to Korea?”

“Ah… it’s about time I returned. There’s nothing more for me to do here.”

“Yes. The semester is about to start. Isaac-nim did ask to postpone it as much as possible, but…”

“Then, shall we return tomorrow?”

“I will follow Alice-nim’s intentions.”

I feel sorry towards Isaac, but I’ve seen my father’s face enough for a month.

Now I need to go see my boyfriend and my older sister.

‘…I couldn’t do it for a whole month.’

Alice unconsciously frowned.

There’s a saying that you should release pent-up lust through exercise.

They say releasing energy through physical or social activities can suppress lust…

Alice realized during her month in France that all those words were complete bullshit.

Even though she trained with intense intensity every day, she never skipped masturbating at night.

Even her body, ‘developed’ by Lee Hoyeon, was difficult for Alice to soothe alone.

The lack of sleep she experienced in France was virtually Lee Hoyeon’s fault.

“Yes, Sebastian. Let’s go back tomorrow. Don’t contact my sister…”

It should be fine not to.

I wanted to see the surprised faces of my sister and Lee Hoyeon, whom I hadn’t seen in so long.

Heh heh. Alice smiled mischievously, thinking about the faces of Lee Hoyeon and Irene she would see tomorrow.