Episode 472. Practical Sparring (3)

“Hmm~. Magic circle, check. Announcements, check. Audience entry time, check. Done!”

Moon Surin reconfirmed the safety of the training arena.

Since the Academy is putting their all into it, there shouldn’t be any accidents.

Slurp.

Moon Surin brought the coffee Lee Hoyeon had bought for her to her lips.

Even though it wasn’t anything special, her lips curled up and she felt good. It was a magical taste.

“President-nim. Isn’t this good enough?.”

“Mhm, mhm. You worked hard. Since there won’t be many spectators for the morning matches, let’s wrap this up for now.”

The Professor practical sparring matches are divided into morning and afternoon sessions.

The cadets have different skill levels, and there are cadets the spectators and staff look forward to.

The more attention-grabbing matches have been scheduled for the afternoon, so there should be fewer people than expected in the morning.

After the other student council members had all disappeared.

Moon Surin, left alone, examined the coffee Lee Hoyeon had given her from side to side.

“Hmm. He seemed a bit down today.”

Lee Hoyeon’s complexion was poor.

Could something be wrong with his health…? That would be truly sad.

“Or maybe he dislikes something? Hmm. I hope it’s not me.”

Moon Surin pondered for a moment if she had done anything wrong.

She couldn’t think of anything.

“Um, excuse me….”

“Hm?”

Just then, a cute voice was heard from beside her.

“Hello. President-nim.”

“Hello… President-nim.”

“Um… you’re Lucy and Lumi, right?”

Moon Surin lowered her gaze slightly and looked at the two approaching.

Lucy and Lumi.

They were the famous twins within the academy.

They said just looking at them was healing, and the rumors were true.

Up close, they looked like adorable dolls, making her want to hug them.

“President-nim…?”

“Ah, right. Sorry. What’s up? Lucy’s match isn’t scheduled until the afternoon, is it?”

“Just now, you were with Hoyeon-ssi, weren’t you?”

Lucy and Lumi, who were waiting for their match, saw Moon Surin talking with Lee Hoyeon at the training arena and came down.

It just so happened that they were planning to gather information about Lee Hoyeon.

“Huh? Yeah. That’s right. Hoyeon’s part of the student council too.”

“We have something we wanted to say…”

“Something to say?”

Suddenly, why was Lee Hoyeon’s name coming up?

She knew the twins were close with Lee Hoyeon. She had thought of them as rivals… but surely they weren’t trying to pick a fight?

She liked Lee Hoyeon, but she hated fights.

Moon Surin nervously began to listen to what Lucy was saying.

*

Inside the Grand Auditorium, the Medical Team.

Lee Hoyeon headed towards the medical team to deliver the cadets’ personal information files.

This area too, in preparation for any potential accidents, looked quite busy.

Lee Hoyeon stopped a passing medical team member.

“You’re working hard. I’m from the student council. I came to deliver some files, where should I go?”

“Ah, thank you. If you give them to me, I’ll report it.”

After handing over the files, Lee Hoyeon looked around.

Where is Baek Ahyoung? I was sure she’d be here.

“Saint-nim, do you know where she is?”

“She’s probably working inside. But outsiders aren’t allowed in.”

“Thank you.”

The restriction on outsiders wasn’t a problem.

Still, since I came all this way, I should at least see Baek Ahyoung’s face.

Of course, I visited often during the break, but ever since Baek Ahyoung joined the emergency room team, I haven’t been able to see her as often.

“Ah, there she is.”

“If the training arena’s magic circle vibrates, immediately stop the match. But we need to be on standby just in case….”

Lee Hoyeon spotted Baek Ahyoung, who was muttering while looking at the documents.

It must be something she has to do during the match.

Lee Hoyeon quietly tiptoed up behind Baek Ahyoung.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Baek Ahyoung]

• [ Affection: 100 ] (+ 3.0)

• [ Lust: 50 ]

• [ Appetite: 30 ]

• [ Fatigue: 70 ]

Current Status: The worst won’t happen, but… I need to be prepared.

[Upon reaching 100 Affection, she craves Lee Hoyeon’s affection.]

Baek Ahyoung was so focused on her work she didn’t notice him approaching.

Lee Hoyeon smiled and placed his hand on Baek Ahyoung’s shoulder.

Tap.

“Ahyoung-ssi. You look busy.”

“Eek!”

Baek Ahyoung, who had been focused on the documents, jumped in surprise and turned around.

Behind her was Lee Hoyeon’s smiling face, and Baek Ahyoung’s eyes widened upon seeing the suddenly appearing Lee Hoyeon.

“I came to visit. Aren’t you surprised?”

“M-my darling… Gosh. You startled me.”

Baek Ahyoung opened her arms and hugged Lee Hoyeon.

Maybe it was because it had been a few days, she felt much happier to see him.

“You look busy.”

“I have things to do….”

Lee Hoyeon glanced at the documents Baek Ahyoung was looking at.

“Even with the training arena’s magic, there might be problems?”

“Unexpected situations always happen… The training arena’s magic circle could malfunction, or they might fight so intensely during the match that the magic circle can’t handle it.”

“True… Human pride can be like that.”

“Of course, today should be fine. If both were cadets, maybe, but one is a Professor. There’s someone to mediate.”

“Right. That’s true. Hmm….”

Lee Hoyeon pondered for a moment.

What if, during a match with Im Sol, the match was about to end?

Would Im Sol consider the training arena and stop her magic?

She’s usually rational, but when it comes to magic, she gets tunnel vision.

…Of course, Lee Hoyeon is the same. In a situation where the match is about to be decided, he probably wouldn’t stop either.

“Darling? Your expression looks strange.”

“Ahem. It’s nothing. Oh, right. Do you know where Professor Im Sol’s waiting room is?”

I wanted to see Im Sol before the match, but she wasn’t replying to my messages.

Besides, the auditorium is so crowded, I couldn’t even find where the professors were waiting.

“I haven’t seen Sol since this morning. She’s probably focusing on her match, so she’ll likely come out right before it starts.”

“Oh… I see?”

It feels a bit much to go all the way to her lab.

Seeing as she’s not replying, she must have her reasons.

Lee Hoyeon stared intently at Baek Ahyoung, who was blinking, then naturally took her hand.

“So, shall we hang out for a bit, Ahyoung-ssi? It’s been a while.”

“U-um. But people are walking around here… It feels a bit dangerous….”

“… No. We don’t have to do anything ‘lewd’. I just meant hanging out and chatting.”

“Oh…”

Baek Ahyoung let out a disappointed sigh.

“…So, are we or aren’t we?”

Lee Hoyeon sat down next to Baek Ahyoung and smiled.

“Let’s just relax today. I have a match soon, too.”

“Right. Darling, you have a match soon, so you need to manage your condition.”

Baek Ahyoung clung to Lee Hoyeon’s arm, rubbing her face against it.

Sex was good, but she also enjoyed conversation.

Especially since Lee Hoyeon didn’t visit often, she couldn’t miss this chance.

Baek Ahyoung pouted, looking disappointed.

“Hmph…. Darling. I want to see you more. You’re too busy.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sob. If Sol were here today, you’d go to her… It makes me so sad. I really need proof of your love….”

“….”

“What am I going to do?”

Lee Hoyeon looked at Baek Ahyoung clinging to his arm and gave a wry smile.

It’s true that compared to before, we meet less often.

Still, Baek Ahyoung had consistently paid attention to him throughout the break, but it seemed insufficient from her perspective.

“Come here. Today, until the match begins, I’ll stay with you.”

“Mmm, people are walking by….”

“They won’t notice this much.”

“Ah, mmm…. Smooch.”

Lee Hoyeon carefully hugged Baek Ahyoung and gave her soft lips a short kiss.

It was nice that the heroines wanted him, but it was definitely becoming more burdensome.

He seriously wondered if he could handle it. It was to the point of genuine concern.

But… for now, he needed to give Baek Ahyoung more affection.

He could worry about that later. He needed to focus on Baek Ahyoung right now.

Lee Hoyeon stroked Baek Ahyoung’s hair, clearing his mind.

*

France’s Iris Guild.

Once again, in the Iris Guild’s training facility, a monstrous presence that shouldn’t be there stood.

“Human. Your posture is poor. You have too many unnecessary movements.”

“Ah, my apologies….”

“Don’t be discouraged. Human potential is limitless. If you don’t give up, you’ll reach a new level someday.”

“Th-thank you!”

“….”

Chiron’s training was receiving rave reviews from the Iris Guild members.

He pointed out their flaws immediately, and all they had to do was call him ‘Wild Gladiator’, and they didn’t have to pay.

Although Alice never quite got used to it until the last day, the other guild members all liked Chiron.

“I just don’t get it.”

“What are you talking about? Strange nightmare.”

“Don’t call me that. Chiron. How would you feel if I called you ‘Wild Gladiator’?”

“Good morning. Wild Gladiator-nim. Please take care of me today too!”

“Mm, alright. Human.”

“….”

Albedo frowned, watching Chiron answer joyfully.

It had already been a month since Albedo started staying at the Iris Guild.

After being physically castrated, he hadn’t felt anything for weeks, but now, while he couldn’t feel lust, other actions were possible.

Therefore, he understood Chiron even less.

“I don’t understand. Why are you, Chiron, in a place like this?”

“Teaching humans is quite fun. You’ve been working hard lately too, haven’t you?”

“…That’s because I don’t have the strength to resist. Chiron, you have the strength to escape, so why are you staying put?”

“I don’t harm those weaker than me. That is the pride of me, Wild Gladiator.”

Albedo gave up on further conversation.

If he talked any longer with this crazy bastard, he’d be ruined himself.

“Strange nightmare-nim. I’ve come for mental attack training today.”

“Don’t call me that name.”

“Y-yes? But Wild Gladiator-nim told me to call you that….”

“Chiron…!”

Albedo glared and turned his head.

Why on earth is he making my name like that?

This is a disgrace to the Underworld. An oddball like Chiron is ruining the Underworld’s image.

“…What is this?”

“What are you doing, Chiron? Don’t ruin my name. And don’t say strange things to humans.”

Albedo snapped at Chiron, who had his eyes closed.

But Chiron didn’t have time to pay attention to Albedo’s words.

“So, everyone has been drawn in? Then the last one is the Demon King… What should I do?”

“What?”

Thump. Thump.

Chiron approached the tallest human in the training area.

The weakened Albedo didn’t seem to notice, but he did.

The demon of destruction. His arrival.

“Hey. Human.”

“Yes. What is it? Wild Gladiator-nim.”

“The last one has appeared. Send word to Lee Hoyeon to run immediately.”

“…What? Lee Hoyeon? You mean Cadet Lee Hoyeon? What’s this all of a sudden…?”

“Mm, and also, tell the girls who are my friends, Alice and Irene. That great turmoil will strike around Lee Hoyeon….”

Chiron closed his eyes and shook his head.

Killer Queen. She had lost all her memories.

Since it was Chiron’s pride to show mercy to the weak, it should be fine to mention his appearance.

The Iris Guild’s second-in-command stared blankly at Chiron, who was suddenly talking nonsense, and raised his smart watch.

He was used to the Centaur’s ramblings, but Chiron had never specifically told him to send a message like this.

It seemed worth reporting to Irene.