Episode 482. Sweet Victory (2)

The Academy’s VIP ward is located on the top floor of the hospital wing.

Above the top floor was the rooftop, which, naturally, had been secured due to various incidents and accidents.

Lee Hoyeon, who had never even been near a rooftop in his life, gulped and asked Im Sol,

“… Can we really go in there?”

“It’s fine. I’ll take responsibility. I’m an Academy professor. There’s no way I’ll get disciplined just for getting some fresh air on the rooftop, right?”

Creeeak-

A cool breeze blew through the door Im Sol had forced open.

A safety fence towered, as tall as a person.

Im Sol immediately crossed the rooftop and looked down over the fence.

‘If that’s installed, isn’t it unnecessary to block it off?’

Although he had his doubts, Lee Hoyeon followed Im Sol and stood before the fence.

“Can you see the people well?”

“… Yes. I can.”

Im Sol stood with her hand on the fence, looking down.

Since the building was 15 stories high, she could look down on the people walking around inside the Academy.

Fortunately, this body didn’t seem to have a fear of heights.

Lee Hoyeon nodded as he watched the busily moving people.

“They look like ants.”

“Yeah. Sometimes, when I have important worries, I watch people moving outside the window. Seeing countless people living their own lives makes my own worries seem incredibly small.”

“Professor-nim’s office is on the second floor, isn’t it?”

“… If I use magic, I can see even the view from the 17th floor. Stop making weird observations.”

“Yep.”

Lee Hoyeon focused on looking down, following Im Sol.

Cadets chatting as they walked.

A man running, as if he had something urgent.

A couple out on an outing with their child.

The sight of people focused on their own lives.

Since I had never seen them like this before, something felt strange.

‘… Is this a change of pace?’

The atmosphere was unbelievably peaceful, making it hard to believe Lucifer had been here.

The mood was pretty good, I guess, but why did she bring me here?

Lee Hoyeon glanced sideways and spoke to Im Sol.

“Do you have any worries?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I’ll listen.”

“Of course, you have to listen. It concerns us both.”

“Ah….”

Lee Hoyeon straightened up.

If it’s that kind of talk, I need to focus even more.

“Since the sparring match is over, we need to decide for sure.”

“… Yep.”

Im Sol smiled, seeing her disciple swallow nervously, looking tense.

She had laughed confidently before the sparring match, saying she could order him to do anything, but now that she’d lost, why did she become so cute like this?

“Why are you so nervous? Didn’t you want to win?”

“Before that…. I did win, right?”

“Of course. Thanks to that, I even ended up hospitalized.”

“Ah. That’s a relief. I was really worried about that.”

“Is there anything to worry about?”

“They might say that if I hadn’t let my guard down until the very end, I would have won, or that it wasn’t a proper match.”

“… What kind of person do you think I am? The important thing is who is standing at the end. Nothing else matters.”

Im Sol smiled and quietly added,

“So… now you need to decide what you want to do. I said I’d do anything if you won. … Though I hope you won’t do anything too extreme.”

Im Sol avoided his gaze, seeming embarrassed.

She hadn’t expected her to say something like this so soon.

She wasn’t mentally prepared…

‘… What should I do?’

Lee Hoyeon was worrying just the same.

Lee Hoyeon blinked.

The original plan was simple.

– Since I won, come here. Kuhehe.

– Kya, kyaak….

… But when it comes down to it, trying to say it out loud is a bit difficult.

Besides, of all times, we’re both hospitalized, so we can’t do anything right away.

Even if I’m fine, Im Sol hasn’t fully recovered yet.

“Professor-nim. You know what I like, right?”

“Do you really like it?”

“I adore it. Where is there a man who would put in this much effort for someone he doesn’t like?”

“What number love is it?”

“….”

Lee Hoyeon avoided Im Sol’s eyes.

Im Sol’s piercing words made it hard for him to speak.

Again, he looked down.

He saw the people moving around like ants.

After steeling himself, telling himself these worries were nothing, he spoke.

“… Obviously, it’s the first.”

“When you’re with me, I’m first, and when you’re with Ahyoung, Ahyoung is first?”

“Hey, Im Sol-ssi, why are you saying that? You know how hard I worked to beat you. You shouldn’t repay me like this.”

“Hmm. But… Keuhup.”

Cough. Cough.

Im Sol stopped talking and started coughing, clutching her chest.

Her condition hadn’t fully recovered yet, and she might have gotten too much cold air.

“You’re not even well. Honestly….”

If I had my outer jacket, I would have taken it off for her.

Lee Hoyeon patted Im Sol’s back.

“Still, it would be nice if I became your favorite woman, right? For me, there’s no one but you, Hoyeon.”

“… For now, let’s focus on getting better, then we can think about it.”

It’s a sad story, but… I don’t know what to do.

Due to my circumstances, I can’t prioritize just one person.

If only the fake dungeon plan could quell everyone’s dissatisfaction….

Creeak.

Just then, the rooftop door Im Sol had forced open made a sound.

Baek Ahyoung poked her head through the slightly opened door and widened her eyes upon seeing the two inside.

“Sol-ah, you! I told you not to wander around!”

“Ahyoung-ah… Kolok.”

“No, wait… Hoyeon is here too. Everyone needs to rest, what are you doing?”

“We were just getting some fresh air.”

At Lee Hoyeon’s words, Baek Ahyoung frowned.

Even if nothing else mattered, Baek Ahyoung would get angry when it came to treatment.

“… Everyone, go back to your rooms quickly.”

“Yep.”

“Mm-hmm….”

*

‘I hope Sol-ah recovers quickly too.’

Even though it’s Lee Hoyeon, I didn’t want to do anything lewd to a patient.

Still, there should be compensation for all the trouble.

I plan to storm her lab as soon as Im Sol recovers.

Drip, drip.

Water was flowing down from Lee Hoyeon’s forehead.

As he unconsciously winced, a voice came from beside him.

“Hoyeon-ah. Is your temperature okay?”

“It’s okay, but… You don’t need to do this much. It’s not even a cold in the first place, so you don’t have to use a wet towel.”

“Still… there’s nothing else I can do.”

“You’re a patient too.”

“No. I’ve completely recovered. Look.”

“I was discharged because I recovered completely too….”

Lee Hoyeon spoke, feeling the wet towel on his forehead.

Nam Daeun was taking care of him beside the bed.

Nam Daeun drew up her magic into the air to show how healthy she was.

The reason Lee Hoyeon was home was literally because he had been discharged.

After enjoying a date on the rooftop with Im Sol and getting caught by Baek Ahyoung, he was discharged on the grounds that his body had fully recovered.

His condition wasn’t perfect yet, but… it felt like he could have stayed longer.

Of course, Baek Ahyoung must have had her reasons.

Surely Baek Ahyoung wouldn’t have discharged him just because he was hanging out with Im Sol.

… Probably.

“Since there’s no one else at home but me, I’m doing it. Don’t worry about it.”

“… Okay. I appreciate it if you do.”

I tried telling her it was okay and to stop, but seeing her make a sad face made me feel sorry for stopping her.

But the wet towel is a bit much. The water keeps dripping.

Lee Hoyeon said to Nam Daeun, raising both arms.

“Daeun-ah. I’m cold. I feel like my body temperature is dropping.”

“Uh, uh… Should I warm up the towel?”

“No. Lie next to me. I need healing.”

“Hmm…?”

“It’s not even a cold. You won’t catch anything.”

“Mmm. Okay.”

Nam Daeun wriggled under the covers and lay down next to Lee Hoyeon.

“Mmm… I think this is healing me.”

“If Hoyeon likes it, then… well….”

Lee Hoyeon magically stuck the wet towel to his forehead, lay on his side, and pulled Nam Daeun into a hug.

This way might help me recover faster than actual treatment.

Touching her soft body brings mental stability.

“Uh, mmm. Hoyeon-ah. Didn’t you say you were going out later?”

“I’m going to try contacting the French Iris Guild for a moment. There’s an incubus they captured that I need to ask about Lucifer.”

“Ah…. Right. Speaking of which, I have something to tell you, Hoyeon-ah. It’s about Lucifer.”

“Oh, did you remember something?”

“It’s not something I just remembered… I couldn’t say it because Liliana-ssi was there. It wasn’t in Rebecca-ssi’s memories, but I’m sure it was like that. Liliana-ssi has a restriction placed on her….”

“A restriction…?”

Restriction.

It’s a word I’ve never heard before.

I’ve cleared games based on this world setting many times, but I’ve never heard that word.

“She asked if I couldn’t notice the restriction on Liliana-ssi’s body. And she asked several times, as if she couldn’t understand at all….”

“… Hmm.”

I had thought Liliana had some kind of secret.

But a restriction?

Just the word itself is too ominous.

What secret does Liliana have, anyway?

The more I learn, the more tangled it seems to get.

“Hoyeon-ah…. Liliana-ssi is okay, right? Everyone is worried.”

“Yeah. She’s fine. I’m here.”

Lee Hoyeon unconsciously relaxed his frowning face and hugged Nam Daeun.

She told me that thinking of me, so I shouldn’t make her worry.

“Hearing that makes me realize I need to go out soon. Thanks for telling me, Daeun-ah.”

“Mmm. It’s okay.”

Lee Hoyeon got out of bed, hugged Nam Daeun once more, and left the room.

Since I definitely got healed, now I need to get to work.

– Me: Irene-ssi. I’m coming now, so please connect me to France.

Sending a message to Irene, he walked out of the house.

Since it’s the house right next door, it’s certainly convenient.

– Irene: Come in 5 minutes. I’ll get ready quickly.

“Hmm… 5 minutes.”

Going back into the house again would be awkward timing.

Lee Hoyeon stood in front of Alice’s house and used his magic.

Just like Im Sol told him.

He looks down from the sky.

The people moving around like dust motes come into view.

“… Nothing particularly changes.”

But I think I understand what kind of emotion it is.

The reason Lee Hoyeon goes through so much trouble is not just for himself, but also for this world.

Of course, no one knows it, but I do like this world.

“… Bullshit. I’m not Batman.”

Lee Hoyeon let out a hollow laugh and chuckled.

I don’t want to be a dark hero. I deserve proper compensation.

Wasting some time, Lee Hoyeon passed the familiar gate and garden and entered through the open front door.

Irene, whom he saw as soon as he entered the house, welcomed Lee Hoyeon.

“You’re here? The preparations are finished, so come this way.”

“Yes. Where is Alice?”

“She’s out for a bit.”

Lee Hoyeon followed Irene into her room.

Since he had come often during the vacation, it wasn’t his first time.

“Here. Pour your magic into the magic sphere. I’ve already passed on the message to Wild Gladiator and Strange Nightmare too.”

“… Who?”

“The incubus you brought. His name is Strange Nightmare, isn’t it?”

“Ah.”

He didn’t want to delve too deeply into the Underworld’s naming sense.

Lee Hoyeon sat before the blue magic sphere and poured in his magic.

Swoosh.

The magic sphere, absorbing the magic, displayed a screen before his eyes, and soon the faces of Chiron and Albedo appeared.

– It’s been a while, human.

– … Ah, hello.

– Hmm? What is it, Strange Nightmare. Why are you speaking formally to that human?

– … Shut up.

Lee Hoyeon smiled.

Seeing them doing well is somehow fascinating.

Albedo’s expression has improved a lot too.

Maybe that’s why.

“It’s been a while, Chiron, Albedo. I contacted you because I have something to ask.”