Episode 568. Iris Guild (7)

“Haaaaa.” Irene entered Team Leader Room 1, sighing with a force that could sink the earth.

Slumping into the chair, she glanced at the documents on the desk and recalled the conversation she had just been having.

“Anyone would think he’s the Guild Master of Iris Guild.”

It was always like this whenever she got involved with Lee Hoyeon.

Could that guy really be just an Academy student?

He had been strange ever since she first saw him.

From the day Alice brought her classmate, who could cure congenital mana deficiency as a masseuse.

Lee Hoyeon always seemed one step ahead of her.

He knew that she liked Alice, and he knew what Alice liked just as well as she did.

An Academy student with no background whatsoever cured Alice’s congenital mana deficiency, which no one else could cure, and after that, he skyrocketed, eventually earning the title of the world’s greatest mage.

Moreover, his combat power was also ridiculously high for an Academy student.

Thinking about his fight with Lucifer, Irene wouldn’t stand a chance; her father would have to step in personally to even stand a chance.

Still, the fact that he knew information about Pandemic that she herself didn’t know felt incredibly unreasonable to Irene, the top executive of the information guild.

‘He’s also strangely good at sex… Hmm.’

Irene pushed away the lewd thoughts filling her head.

What was important now was not that.

Seeing an Academy student casually bring up information she didn’t know, she couldn’t help but suspect Lee Hoyeon’s information network.

“Where on earth does he get all that information? Are genius mages just good at everything?”

After meeting Lee Hoyeon, she had pondered it many times, and although she had investigated thoroughly, she couldn’t obtain any information.

He was an orphan with no background whatsoever.

“It can’t be Scarlet. She’s quite capable in her own way, but… Then Im Sol? No. Isn’t she clueless when it comes to information?”

The genius mage Im Sol, who has slightly faltered since Lee Hoyeon appeared.

Befitting the title ‘genius mage’, she shows no interest in anything else aside from magic.

Such achievements could be considered natural, given her effort and talent.

But Lee Hoyeon was not like that.

“If you’re a mage, you should be holed up in a lab like Im Sol, obsessed with magic. Why is he wandering around like that?”

Tsk.

Frustrated, Irene tilted her head, then operated her smartwatch.

She sent a request to a guild member to transmit the investigation results regarding the black pillars and the dungeon rampages.

“Hell’s mana…? He mentioned that strange thing too, didn’t he.”

While she didn’t doubt Lee Hoyeon’s abilities, she couldn’t make all decisions based solely on his word.

She needed to review the investigation records of Iris Guild once more.

“This bastard, if you think about it, isn’t he a spy for Pandemic? How does he know internal affairs?”

Pandemic, an anti-humanitarian terrorist group targeting the entire world.

They carry out terrorist attacks indiscriminately, without religious or political reasons.

Since they want nothing, negotiation is impossible, and since their goals are unknown, preparation is also impossible.

Irene pondered seriously, but there was no possibility of Lee Hoyeon belonging to Pandemic, which was composed of demons.

Besides, the Pandemic terrorist attacks that Lee Hoyeon foiled were too numerous to count.

…Moreover, if Lee Hoyeon were a spy for Pandemic, having shown her naked body to him multiple times would make her feel utterly pathetic.

It would mean that her and Alice’s records remained in Pandemic’s database.

“Hmm. If that were the case, I’d have to bite my tongue off.”

Those humiliating moments falling into Pandemic’s hands would be worse than death.

Being teased by Lee Hoyeon and letting out beast-like moans-those moments were embarrassing even for her to recall.

“Why do I keep thinking these thoughts? Haaa…. Is it because I can’t release the tension?”

Irene unconsciously frowned.

“When sexual tension builds up, they say you should solve it with exercise or work, but that was all bullshit.”

Even though she juggles work and training, she couldn’t suppress her sexual urges.

Since she indulged in self-pleasure every night, it made sense she’d be thinking like this all the time.

Maybe she should restrain herself a bit from now on.

Zzzzzzing-

Just then, the data Irene had requested appeared on the holographic monitor.

Data investigating the black pillars and the dungeon rampages.

And even Iris Guild’s internal data about Pandemic.

“Black pillars investigation complete. Pandemic remains unidentified….”

The loyalty of Pandemic’s demons was notorious in the industry.

Most of them took their own lives before enduring torture, and even if captured alive, they never spoke, making it incredibly difficult to figure out their identities.

“If the black pillars are connected to Pandemic, it’s definitely dangerous.”

Lucifer’s attack on the Academy being Pandemic’s doing was practically a foregone conclusion.

There was no one else but Pandemic who would carry out such a terrorist attack for no reason.

“Lucifer’s mana… If we find a connection between that strange mana and the black pillars, we’ll have enough grounds for a reinvestigation.”

The black pillars appearing worldwide being a tool for Pandemic’s terrorism…

If true, it would be a massive incident, and its danger goes without saying.

Knock knock.

• Irene-ssi. I’m coming in.

“Yeah. Come in.”

Irene pushed the air away and dismissed the holographic monitor.

Although there were still many questions, she decided to listen first and think later.

If Lee Hoyeon wasn’t just messing with her, it could be a good thing for Iris Guild.

“Sorry I’m late. I had something to sort out. What were you doing?”

“The things you mentioned, I was checking the data.”

“Aha.”

Lee Hoyeon casually sat down in the chair.

Fortunately, Irene believed his words right away, so things unfolded easily.

“What about Scarlet?”

“Hmm? She’s probably greeting the guild members. She had a good reputation within the guild.”

“…That’s unexpected.”

It seemed like she wouldn’t have that kind of personality.

But since she had seen it herself, she couldn’t disbelieve it.

“Now that it’s almost time for the guild members to return, she’ll be even busier.”

“Has the investigation into Lucifer concluded?”

“Not exactly, but there are other things to do. Right. Speaking of which, you said you had information on Lucifer too? Since you fought him directly, do you know anything more?”

That image of Lee Hoyeon confronting Lucifer remained vivid even for Irene.

As a genius mage, he must have felt something while fighting Lucifer directly.

“It’s similar. First, what’s the most crucial information?”

“The most important thing is whether Pandemic has the ability to install such a large-scale magic circle. If so, the whole world would need to prepare for terrorism. The world’s mages have been trying to decipher it, but they can’t.”

“Is it that difficult?”

“Yeah. That’s why Iris Guild is also going all out in investigating Lucifer.”

Of course, the Academy professors, led by Professor Im Sol, are also taking a break.

Magic has always been a field led by one or two geniuses.

“Regarding the magic circle, perhaps ordinary mages wouldn’t understand it even if they studied it their whole lives.”

“You know something?”

“Yes. That magic circle was actually created by me.”

“…?”

Irene, who had blinked for a moment, widened her eyes and stood up.

“Are you really from Pandemic?”

“What? No, that’s not it. …Lucifer stole the magic circle I created.”

Facing his gaze with his red eyes, she swallowed hard.

Her heart pounded, but having come this far, she had no choice but to speak.

Lee Hoyeon continued nervously.

*

Hearing Lee Hoyeon’s words, Irene felt a throbbing headache.

The sudden influx of strange information made it impossible for her to keep her composure.

“…I don’t understand. Lee Hoyeon. Why did you do something like that? I never thought you were such an idiot.”

“I thought this was the only way to sort out my relationships with women… I guess I lost my mind for a moment. I don’t really understand my past self either.”

“Do the other women know about this?”

“I told everyone except Alice and you, Irene-ssi. If I had heard from you first, I would have told you before anyone else. I felt I had to take responsibility for what I did.”

“Hmm….”

Irene crossed her legs and pondered Lee Hoyeon’s story.

She had expected some kind of information, but to hear such a bombshell…

‘He actually created that magic circle….’

The words ‘genius mage’ weren’t wrong after all.

Even though mages from all over the world were involved, the magic circle they couldn’t decipher was made by Lee Hoyeon.

That meant if Lee Hoyeon decided to do evil, he could plunge the entire world into terror.

‘The fact that he lost control at the very moment he was trying to dismantle the magic circle… must be the truth.’

If Lee Hoyeon hadn’t said anything, Irene wouldn’t have known the magic circle belonged to him.

No, not just her, but no one else could have possibly known.

There was no reason for him to reveal the truth by telling such a lie.

“If what you’re saying, Lee Hoyeon, is true, then the investigation into Lucifer seems to be over.”

The source of Lucifer’s power was the magic circle, and Pandemic didn’t have the ability to install such a magic circle.

The connection between Pandemic and Lucifer could be definitively proven by investigating the black pillars.

There was no need to continue the investigation into Lucifer any further.

“If there’s anything you need, I’ll cooperate fully.”

“Haaa… This is a mess. It’s an outcome I never imagined.”

Feeling unsettled, Irene picked up the wine glass on the table.

Alice’s favorite, Chateau d’Yquem. Smelling its sweet aroma seemed to clear her head a little.

She knew about Lee Hoyeon’s complicated relationships with women, of course, but the idea of kidnapping the entire Academy to resolve them was incomprehensible.

Moreover, even while planning such a thing, he tried to ensure no one got hurt.

If you’re going to do something bad, do it thoroughly bad. Why take such an ambiguous stance?

Had he really lost his mind? Or did he still have hidden circumstances?

‘Maybe he himself doesn’t even realize the problem.’

Irene put down the wine glass.

Surprisingly, there was no sense of disappointment.

After all, she hadn’t said he wasn’t a bad guy, just that he wasn’t evil. She never thought he was a good person.

Still, considering he didn’t get caught but confessed this fact himself, she had to take that into account.

“Well, okay. Anyway, I already knew you were a weirdo. You’ve been like that from the start.”

“…Yes.”

“I’m angry that you tried to put Alice and me in danger… but I won’t press charges. There were no actual victims, and you said you were trying to dismantle it in the end.”

“You can curse me out more. I know I was wrong.”

“What if I told you to never show your face in front of me again? What would you do?”

“I’d kneel and beg. Well. I don’t know what you’ll think, Irene-ssi, but I consider you just as precious as Alice.”

“…Seriously.”

Why was he suddenly trying to act all cool?

Before her pale cheeks turned red, Irene changed the subject.

“First, I’ll send word for Alice and the Guild Master to return. You should also stay at Iris Guild and help with the investigation.”

“Yes. Oh, but since I left in a hurry, I’ll go to Korea and come back soon. You’ll provide accommodation, right?”

“Yeah. Accommodation is the least I can do…”

Just then. Scarlet, who had been sticking to Lee Hoyeon like his attendant, flashed in Irene’s mind.

If she provided accommodation, wouldn’t the two of them naturally end up staying together?

She remembered her calling out to her, ‘Irene-ssi,’ her face reappearing in her mind.

“What’s wrong, Irene-ssi?”

“Wait. …Just a moment.”

Irene recalled the week-long stay Alice had secured for Lee Hoyeon.

In effect, Alice’s house was like sharing it with Irene.

And if Lee Hoyeon stayed at Alice’s house, having a relationship with Irene was a certainty.

‘…So doesn’t that mean 3.5 days are mine?’

After pondering for a moment, Irene shook her head.

What was she thinking right now?

No matter what, that wasn’t right.

Irene had a conscience, too.

Taking away the week-long stay her sister secured was not the right thing for an older sister to do.

Was it because her sexual urges were building up that she couldn’t make a proper judgment?

Anyway, even if she went back home, staying with Scarlet would be the same.

She decided to put aside such useless greed for the moment.

“I don’t know when Alice will return either. It could be up to two days, or she might come back today, so it would be best to come back as soon as possible.”

“Understood. Oh, before that, should I give you Lucifer’s corpse too?”

“Yes. It seems worth investigating, at least.”

Now that the conversation was over, she should go find Scarlet.

Lee Hoyeon, calming his pounding heart, continued his conversation with Irene.