Episode 558. Things Gone Wrong (4)

Inside the quiet research lab of Im Sol.

The sound of wet friction filled the space.

Jjook- jjop.

A lewd sound, like licking ice cream.

The endlessly continuing sound was broken by Lee Hoyeon’s voice.

“Sol-ah, ah… Stop it now.”

Lee Hoyeon, shuddering, gently pushed Im Sol’s shoulder away. Im Sol’s red tongue, pulled away from his crotch, writhed like a snake. Im Sol tilted her head, meeting Lee Hoyeon’s eyes.

“Hoyeon-ah, already?”

“Already? Are you asking because you don’t know how many times this is?”

Lee Hoyeon said, mustering all the strength in his body. He couldn’t withstand the stimulation in his overly sensitive lower body any longer. He felt more drained than right after their sparring match.

‘So this was the reason I had the assistant instructor lock the door.’

Subjectively, the ‘love charging’ with Im Sol felt longer than an hour of playing board games with the twins. …Of course, it wasn’t quite that long, but constantly feeling like my body was floating made it mentally taxing, even though it felt good.

“Hmm. Okay.”

Still, was this enough?

Cheop. Im Sol smacked her lips and snapped her fingers, casting Clean magic.

“That was a bit too intense for just confirming our love.”

Lee Hoyeon muttered, looking at his now fluffy lower half. It was mostly like this when making love with Im Sol. Of course, I didn’t hate it, but I always felt like I was being dragged along.

“Did you hate it?”

“I didn’t hate it.”

He said firmly, looking up at Im Sol gazing down at him. It was really good.

“You came several times today, didn’t you? You looked like you were having a blast.”

“It’s not that, it’s just a little…”

“What I’m curious about is, why do you always push me away when you like it, my disciple? It’s such a waste of time.”

“…….”

Fumbling. Lee Hoyeon pulled up his pants, his mouth shut tight. When she said that with such a genuinely confused expression, he had no words to refute her.

Yeah. It was really good. Did I forget its value from using it so much every day? I didn’t realize resting a little would feel this good. It ended up being squeezed out several times in my mouth.

“Ahem. Come here, Sol-ah.”

Lee Hoyeon naturally changed the subject, opening his arms wide. Sexual ‘love replenishment’ is good, but isn’t this kind of skinship important sometimes too?

“Hoohoo. Cute. My Hoyeon.”

Im Sol hugged Lee Hoyeon with a light smile. His soft yet firm chest pressed against hers. Her disciple, showing a weak side in many ways, looked particularly adorable today.

“…Ah. Right. I had something to talk about regarding the Underworld’s mana. I almost forgot. Haha.”

“Yeah. You did?”

Kkeueung. Lee Hoyeon, hugging Im Sol tightly, sat up with effort and leaned his back against the bed.

“Can you even get up?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

Actually, resting a little longer would be good, but I couldn’t just lie here like this. It wasn’t enough just being motionlessly squeezed out; being held in Im Sol’s embrace made me feel like a spoiled child. I don’t know how Im Sol felt about it, but as a man, it felt strange.

“Anyway… I have a guess too. Why the genius mage Im Sol didn’t pay attention to the Underworld’s mana.”

The black pillars that appeared worldwide and the dungeon rampages. The common point between those two was that they were emitting the Underworld’s mana. With the world’s mages and scholars focused on it, it was natural that research should have progressed. But in reality, it wasn’t.

“It’s not just you, Professor. People’s interest is suspiciously low. Isn’t it strange that even those who researched the black pillars didn’t show this much interest?”

“I think so too. But the strangest thing is, I can’t understand why I myself ignored those entities.”

“…….”

No matter how bizarre the incident was, no one noticed.

‘I should have noticed sooner. Tsk.’

Every result has a cause. If the people of the world are acting strangely now, then a cause for it must exist.

An entity capable of deceiving the attention of the world’s mages.

The answer was surprisingly simple. Only one person possessed the ability to pull off something like that.

‘This world’s God.’

The very one who summoned Lee Hoyeon to this world. This world’s God, who had become the Demon King of the Underworld.

If it’s a ‘God’, a being surpassing humans. Changing the perceptions of the world’s mages would be an easy task.

‘…But does that even make sense?’

Lee Hoyeon had been guaranteed a fair bet by the God of Betting. The special privileges and various abilities were all meant to ensure a fair bet. But no matter how I think about it, changing the consciousness of the entire world isn’t a fair bet.

“Tsk. This is frustrating.”

Perhaps it was unrelated to this world’s God. It might have happened for another reason Lee Hoyeon hadn’t considered. Of course, that would be even more troublesome.

If only I could meet the God of Betting again, there would be so many things I’d want to ask. It was strange enough that this world’s God appeared as the Demon King, but now this is happening too. Out of frustration, I just want to ask something.

“Hoyeon, do you have any ideas?”

“I think people’s perceptions changed because of an unknown entity. There’s no proof yet, but…”

“Maybe so.”

“Huh?”

“If you’re looking for proof, it’s right before your eyes. If all other possibilities are wrong, then Hoyeon’s words would be correct.”

Im Sol crossed her arms and closed her eyes.

[Because of an unknown entity, people’s perceptions changed.]

It was an absurd statement, but what was happening now was just as absurd. Im Sol trusted herself more than anyone else. There was no possibility of her making a mistake in the realm of magic. Between something with no possibility and something with even a little. If I had to choose one, I’d naturally pick the latter.

“Magic… probably not. Because I didn’t notice it. Strangely enough, the more I talk, the harder it is to get a grasp on things.”

It was an event completely beyond Im Sol’s common sense, so no answer came even after thinking deeply about it.

“I have an idea.”

There are only two mages around Lee Hoyeon researching the Underworld’s mana. Im Sol. And Rebecca. The common point between them is having experienced the Underworld’s mana from Lee Hoyeon. Before that, they were in a similar state to other mages.

‘Maybe one might feel a sense of caution only after properly experiencing the Underworld’s mana.’

It was still just a hypothesis, but there was a possibility. Just like how the mana of a top-tier mage differs from that of a low-class mage. The Underworld’s mana Lee Hoyeon unleashes and the Underworld’s mana emanating from the black pillars are on different levels. Earth’s humans haven’t yet experienced the true Underworld’s mana.

‘And if the consciousness of those who experienced the Underworld’s mana changes…’

It becomes certain that this world’s God intervened. Because Lee Hoyeon’s perception is too distinct to be considered merely a characteristic of the Underworld’s mana.

“First, I plan to contact Mr. Arthur and request another investigation into the black pillars and dungeon rampages. If you and I speak up, they might take more caution.”

“But I don’t think another investigation will change anything. We’ve investigated several times already, and nothing changed.”

“I have a plan for that too.”

The solution was simple. Lee Hoyeon just needed to go himself. He could easily create any reason needed to investigate the Underworld’s mana. If he said it was dangerous mana obtained from the battle with Lucifer, they’d probably listen. Using that as a pretext, he intended to raise awareness about the black pillars and dungeon rampages.

“…Will that work?”

Hearing Lee Hoyeon’s plan, Im Sol blinked. On the surface, it wasn’t a bad plan, but how should I put it? Should I call it sloppy? Or shoddy?

“It’s fine. If you and the Professor push it, what can’t be done?”

Lee Hoyeon smiled confidently.

Arthur, the President of the American Magic Association. Their friendship was strong. If he and Im Sol asked for a favor, he’d naturally grant it.

‘If he doesn’t grant it, maybe I can threaten to remove Im Sol from the Magic Association?’

Surely he wouldn’t refuse, but if it really comes down to it, I can use my trump card.

“Then, shall I contact the Association?”

“Yes. I have someone else to contact.”

The Iris Guild. It was just one guild, but it held tremendous influence. I should put the connections I have there to use too.

‘It’s paying off that I used to run around so busily.’

Especially since I have things to say to those guys from the Underworld there. Since I’m going anyway, I’ll talk to them face to face. I have a lot of questions.

“Mm-hmm. Okay. I’ll handle it.”

“Yes. Let’s do that for now. We can figure out the detailed plan later.”

Lee Hoyeon nodded.

This wasn’t the end. There were many personal matters to consider regarding this world’s God.

“Sigh. I need to go for now. I have a lot more things to do.”

“Are you going back home?”

“Before that, I plan to see Ms. Ayeong once.”

“Should I talk to her for you first?”

“Huh?”

“If it’s Ayeong, I can help persuade her. Ayeong has a weak heart, so she might get hurt.”

It meant that since he came to her first, he was naturally going to tell Baek Ayeong the truth next. Im Sol noticed Lee Hoyeon’s intention, but he shook his head.

“…It’s okay. I’ll tell her myself.”

Receiving Im Sol’s help might resolve things easily, but he wanted to tell Baek Ayeong directly. Because their relationship was a little more special, as she was the very first heroine he had won over.

Clearing his throat, Lee Hoyeon quickly changed the subject of the conversation.

“Speaking of Lucy and Lumi, you meant it sincerely back then, right?”

“…? Of course, I meant it sincerely. Their talents are immense.”

Indeed, she wasn’t the type to just say empty words.

“Once I finish my work, I’ll bring them along too.”

“Those children felt just like looking at you. Their growth was incredibly fast… and the way they used magic was similar to yours.”

“That’s because I taught them personally.”

Lee Hoyeon’s special training and mana lectures were high-class sessions you couldn’t buy with money. Their talents were already top-tier. With Lee Hoyeon’s lectures every day on top of that, it was only natural they grew so quickly.

“Then Lucy and Lumi are disciples of my disciple?”

“Well, you could see it that way, right?”

They probably learned more from me than they did at the academy.

“Hmm. If they’re my disciple’s disciple, then I’m the master’s master…”

Master’s master.

Perhaps it was a pleasing resonance, as Im Sol looked pleased.

“Right. Speaking of which, what was that magic you used earlier in the sparring match? At the end, it felt like my magic was being erased.”

Im Sol belatedly recalled the magic Lee Hoyeon had unleashed at the end. She had felt like her magic was disappearing, but she had never seen or heard of such magic before.

“Ah. I don’t know about that either. I just got annoyed and told you to stop, and then suddenly mana started flowing out of my body.”

He was confident in his mana operation, so it was flustering for Lee Hoyeon too that mana moved regardless of his will.

‘…Or maybe not?’

Perhaps it wasn’t moving regardless of his will, but rather it quickly recognized his will? I’ll have to check this again later.

“Speaking of which, I created a magic spell about 10 hours ago. Can you check how it is?”

“Yes, yes. Of course.”

It was a brief mention of magic to change the subject, but led by Im Sol, the conversation naturally flowed into a discussion about magic. Seeing the smile naturally emerge as she talked about magic, she looked genuinely happy.

…She seemed even more excited than during ‘love charging’, which made me feel a little left out. Was it because I was only receiving? Next time, I need to do some charging too.

“The magic circle is still unstable, but the composition is finished. The analysis of the Underworld’s mana is also almost…”

Still, this must be Professor Im Sol’s charm. Lee Hoyeon happily joined Im Sol’s magic discussion.