Episode 563. Iris Guild (2)

Even though I sent a message, a reply still didn’t come.

Lee Hoyeon turned off his smartwatch and lowered his head, looking at the notebook.

“I wanted to see Alice and Irene too. Tsk.”

After the battle with Lucifer ended, Lee Hoyeon went around looking for the heroines and confessed the truth.

He had intended to apologize to the heroines, whether it meant getting slapped or kneeling, but their love was much deeper than Lee Hoyeon had expected.

It was definite motivation for Lee Hoyeon, who had to protect this world and the heroines.

“I really don’t think I was in my right mind… but somehow, this turned out well too.”

Thinking about it now, the actions Lee Hoyeon took were extremely absurd. Since he suddenly went to them and confessed that it was all his doing, how funny must it have been?

Getting through this so easily was all because the heroines cared about Lee Hoyeon.

And on that foundation, it was because everyone knew about the ‘curse’ placed on Lee Hoyeon.

‘Because of that, the situation did resolve well, but….’

The word ‘curse’ weighs on my mind.

Lee Hoyeon isn’t meeting the heroines because of the curse.

If by any chance a misunderstanding arises….

“That’s another useless thought.”

Lee Hoyeon shook his head and erased the useless thoughts from his mind.

Normally, he would have been buried in these negative thoughts, but today he cut them off quickly.

It must be because his mood improved a little after meeting the heroines in person.

“My mental strength was this weak.”

I lived thinking I was a tough guy, only to realize I was such a loser.

Having nightmares too, suppressing my clear mental state was quite difficult.

Tsk.

Lee Hoyeon clicked his tongue, looked around, and nodded upon seeing the medicine packet sitting there alone.

“Right. I should take the medicine Ahyoung gave me.”

Lee Hoyeon opened the medicine packet that was on the desk and put it into his mouth.

Since she told me to take it once a day without any specific instructions like ’30 minutes after meals’, it’s probably something like vitamins, isn’t it?

Let’s take it now before I forget.

Lee Hoyeon poured the medicine packet into his mouth. Somehow, it feels like his head is working better.

“Okay. The first thing I need to do is….”

• Must go to the Iris Guild.

First, I need to make contact with the Iris Guild.

I need to ask for help regarding the black pillars, and there are things to ask Chiron and Albedo.

‘It would be nice if Alice and Irene were there too.’

If I’m lucky, maybe I can hear something about Alice and Irene.

Tak-

Lee Hoyeon closed the notebook, stretched once again, and got up from his seat.

Holding the still-unanswered smartwatch, he sent a message to Scarlet.

• Me: Scarlet. Are you busy?

Shall I try doing some magic research until a reply comes?

Recalling the memory of sparring with Im Sol….

Ttirring-

• Scarlet: Yes.

“What is this?”

On the smartwatch screen, only the single word ‘Yes.’ was displayed.

I waited for a moment, but the message ended there.

Did she send it hastily while busy?

• Me: Contact me when you’re free. I want to visit the Iris Guild because I have something to do.

Ttirring-

• Scarlet: For what reason are you going to the Iris Guild? And I am no longer an Iris Guild member. You are currently dating the two daughters of the Iris Guild, so why are you making such a request to me?

“…This one doesn’t seem busy.”

Lee Hoyeon let out a hollow laugh as he looked at the smartwatch that was immediately ringing.

Scarlet was an elite recognized since her time in the Iris Guild.

If she were truly busy, she would have focused on work rather than replying.

Moreover, there were those useless extra comments.

I could bet my wrist that she’s free.

• Me: Scarlet. If you’re not busy, help me out a bit. I need to go to the Iris Guild, but it feels awkward to go alone. You know I trust you.

Actually, this isn’t the first visit.

I’ve been to the Iris Guild before, using the excuse of a career experience.

But this time, the situation is different.

The means of transport used then was Alice’s private jet.

In other words, Lee Hoyeon doesn’t know how to get to the Iris Guild.

With the Irene and Alice sisters out of contact, Scarlet was the only one who could help him.

“Why is there suddenly no reply?”

Did she go back to work because she seemed annoyed?

Then it’s a bit disappointing.

Knock knock.

“Okay. Come in.”

“It’s been a long time, Hoyeon-nim.”

“Since I saw you yesterday, it’s not that long ago, is it?”

Lee Hoyeon sighed as he saw Scarlet entering the room.

I knew it was Scarlet from the moment I heard the knock.

Right. She was coming after finishing work.

I was played by Scarlet again.

“Why are you intending to go to the Iris Guild?”

“It’s because I have something to investigate. I have a lot to say, so sit down.”

There was no need to hide it.

Lee Hoyeon shared information with Scarlet, just as he had told Rebecca.

After hearing the information about the magic power of the Underworld, Scarlet pondered with her arms crossed.

“The magic power of the Underworld. I also thought it was a bit strange… but I didn’t realize it was on such a large scale.”

As expected, Scarlet didn’t seem to know properly either.

Even with the hints of Liliana and Lee Hoyeon, that she didn’t feel anything strange.

‘If it’s this much, the people of Iris Guild probably wouldn’t have noticed either. … No, didn’t they say they were helping guild members in the training room?’

If they move together in the training room, they would naturally encounter the magic power of the Underworld.

I thought about it for a moment, but still, seeing it directly seems much faster.

“Tsk. Anyway, I want to go to the Iris Guild, can you come with me?”

“I don’t know why you’re trying so hard, but if Hoyeon-nim asks for help, I should help, right?”

“Thanks, Scarlet. I want to go as soon as possible, so when shall we go?”

“Let’s go right away.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. Please get up.”

“Wait a moment. Just a moment, Scarlet.”

I grabbed Scarlet, who was leaving the room as if about to get on a plane immediately.

“Still, I should at least say goodbye. Liliana and Daeun aren’t home, you know.”

“I just need to finish the work quickly and come back, so what does that matter?”

“No… considering the time to get to the airport and the flight time, it seems difficult to come back within today, doesn’t it?”

“You don’t need to worry about the plane.”

[Daddy! Kyaak! What is that!]

Rebecca’s scream was heard from outside the door.

Lee Hoyeon quickly ran outside.

Hududududu-

A huge shadow filled the unnecessarily wide yard.

When he lifted his head, a small airplane was approaching the yard.

The airplane, imbued with magic, landed neatly, and Scarlet approached it as if familiar and opened the door.

“Get in.”

“Hey. You said you weren’t an Iris Guild member.”

Lee Hoyeon looked at Scarlet with his hands on his hips.

This airplane clearly remained in his memory.

It was the plane he rode when he went to the Iris Guild with Alice.

“Although I’m not an Iris Guild member, I can borrow a plane.”

“What kind of bullshit is that….”

“Because I’m so good at social interactions, my connections still remain.”

While talking to Scarlet, I felt a soft touch on my right arm.

Rebecca had come over and linked arms.

“Daddy! What is this? You startled me!”

“I’m sorry, Rebecca-ssi. But I’m seeing this for the first time too.”

“Leaving right away? Your schedule seems tighter than expected.”

“…It just became like this from now on. Please tell Liliana and Daeun when they arrive. I’ll be back by tomorrow at the latest.”

I’ll send a message too, but I should ask Rebecca as well.

“Okay. Daddy! You have to come back quickly.”

Gently stroking her red hair, Lee Hoyeon followed Scarlet onto the plane.

*

“We’ve arrived, Scarlet. Get off now.”

“Thank you, Victor.”

“From next time, don’t call me on holidays. … And can I assume the person next to you is in ‘that kind of relationship’?”

“If that’s sexual harassment, I will sue. Don’t you know the nature of the legal team SN in the guild?”

“Still so cold. Ah, Mage Lee Hoyeon-nim. It was truly nice to meet you. The core principles of magic you presented at the Wizard Association and the anti-magic secrets were so impressive that I wanted to see them someday, and thanks to Scarlet, this good opportunity has arisen.”

“Ah, yes. If you say so, it’s an honor.”

Slightly bowing his head, he received the handshake from the man called Victor.

Although it looked like an airplane, this craft was actually like a magical tool.

The pilot only prepared for potential accidents and didn’t drive directly, so we had a conversation on the way here.

Since he seemed like a mage, I said a few words about magic, and he was very happy, which made me feel proud.

“I’ll be going now, Victor. I will contact you later if I have something.”

“Right. When you ran out of the Iris Guild, I wondered what you were thinking, but if your lover is the world’s best mage, even I would quit the guild.”

“Khum.”

Lee Hoyeon cleared his throat unnecessarily and raised the corners of his mouth.

That person has a talent for flattery. My self-esteem is rising rapidly.

“Since when has the Iris Guild cared so much about other people’s love lives?”

“Sorry, sorry. Since I came out on a holiday, please overlook it just this once.”

“Tsk. If it’s a holiday, shouldn’t you just not answer calls? Anyway, thank you. Let’s not see each other again.”

Lee Hoyeon smiled as he looked at Scarlet’s uncomfortable expression.

Normally, he wouldn’t have let another man tease Scarlet, but since she came out to help Scarlet on her holiday and showed respect to Lee Hoyeon, he didn’t point it out.

Rather, it was amusing to see Scarlet, who always teased him, being teased herself.

She also seemed to feel guilty about calling Victor on his holiday.

“Scarlet. This is different from the place I came to last time, isn’t it?”

“At that time, we came together with Miss Alice.”

After getting off the plane.

Lee Hoyeon looked around the forest he had never seen before.

I thought we would land on the Iris Guild grounds, but we landed in the middle of a forest, so I was a bit flustered.

“At that time, it was an official academy event and Miss Alice was with us, so we headed straight for the Iris Guild grounds, but normally, you must state the password here and enter.”

“Is there such a thing?”

“Of course. The Iris Guild is the world’s best information guild. If you land on the grounds without prior permission, you don’t know what kind of situation you’ll end up in.”

Now that I hear it, that makes sense.

It would be stranger if anyone and everyone could land on Iris grounds.

In Lee Hoyeon’s case, it’s a sudden visit.

“Okay. Let’s go. Lead the way.”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

After walking for a few minutes deep into the forest, sunlight couldn’t be seen due to the dense trees above.

Scarlet, walking ahead, glanced back.

“Why?”

Lee Hoyeon, scanning the surroundings without letting his guard down, tilted his head when their eyes met.

Seeing that expression, the corners of her mouth turned up unconsciously.

“Until a few days ago, your eyes looked dead like a pollack’s, but you look like you’re in a good mood today. You seem to have changed since the battle with Lucifer ended, are you perhaps a battle maniac who gets excited by fighting?”

“It’s not like that. I hate fighting the most in the world.”

“It’s good to see you seem to have regained your former spirit.”

“It’s thanks to you, Scarlet.”

There needs to be someone like Scarlet, who throws direct pitches bluntly, for someone like me to snap back to reality.

“I also think it’s thanks to me.”

Scarlet nodded, then started walking forward again.

‘Geez.’

Still, that kind of behavior is kind of cute.

Watching Scarlet’s back as she led the way, Lee Hoyeon increased his speed.

After going further inside for about ten minutes, the flow of magic power changed slightly.

At the same time, Scarlet stopped walking. There probably seems to be a space around here to speak the password.

“Just in case, at least deploy a rune barrier.”

“I was already deploying the barrier.”

“I mean deploy it more strongly. Actually, if the password doesn’t work, there’s a slight possibility of being attacked.”

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

Lee Hoyeon was surprised upon hearing Scarlet’s words.

After coming all this way, what am I supposed to do if you say something like that?

“Iris Guild members are each given a password. When they return after finishing a mission, they state the password here, have their identity confirmed, and use the warp gate to enter the guild.”

“But what’s the problem?”

“Since I am a former guild member, my password will have been deleted from the database.”

“…….”

Hearing Scarlet’s words, Lee Hoyeon pondered for a moment.

He grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently.

“Hey. Then why did we come all this way? Huh? Are you kidding me?”

“It’s okay. I have a plan.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

“Iris Guild members are people too. Even though I might look like this, my image in the guild was quite good. I was an elite and got along well with everyone. So, they will accept me if it’s me.”

“…… Are you serious? Is that the best you can do?”

“Let’s go.”

Lee Hoyeon frowned looking at Scarlet walking confidently, then sighed and followed behind her.

She must have some plan. Scarlet is not someone who acts thoughtlessly like Liliana.

Of course, he didn’t forget to pour magic power into the rune barrier.