Episode 578. The Night Emperor Isaac (6)

“What’s up? Showing up so suddenly.”

“I just came to hang out. Can’t I?”

Lee Hoyeon naturally entered the Team 1 Leader’s office, and Irene only then noticed the wine in his hand.

Chateau d’Yquem.

It’s Alice’s favorite wine.

Irene drank it often too, but she only drank it because Alice liked it; it wasn’t her preference.

“It’s working hours right now.”

Until just now, she had been lost in random thoughts about Lee Hoyeon, but Irene pretended to be prickly for no reason. She was already angry because of her father, and it felt irritating that Lee Hoyeon was only now coming to see her.

“Was yelling in the Guild Master’s office earlier part of your work? Guild Master-nim left somewhere with a very sad expression.”

“… You never back down. Sit there.”

“This is a gift. I saw you drinking it before.”

Lee Hoyeon put down the wine and plopped down on the sofa.

It felt awkward to come empty-handed, so I decided to grab a bottle of wine on my way to my room. Then, I heard Irene’s voice complaining loudly from the Guild Master’s office. So I came over without a second thought.

“Wine? What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

“I thought I’d try to have at least a heart-to-heart talk.”

“…?”

Irene tilted her head at his out-of-the-blue remark. Was there anything for her and Lee Hoyeon to have a heart-to-heart talk about?

‘… He really is quite handsome.’

Meanwhile, Lee Hoyeon was inwardly surprised at that sight. The reason Irene is a narcissist: It’s because she’s unbelievably beautiful. It feels like I haven’t treated someone this beautiful properly, so I should take better care of her.

“Irene-ssi, do you hate me?”

“… Suddenly, why are you asking something like that?”

“Just because. I’ve done many things I should be sorry for to Irene-ssi.”

“Coming now seems even more ridiculous. When you were acting like trash, you were so shameless.”

“That’s true.”

The words ‘coming now’ aren’t wrong. An apology is quite late.

‘I did apologize before, though.’

After our first threesome with Alice, when I said I was sorry, she thanked me for letting me spend a passionate night with Alice.

… Actually, because of those words, I feel less guilty when dealing with Irene.

Irene stared intently at Lee Hoyeon. Somehow, he seemed a bit different than usual. It seemed like he had something to say, so she got up from her seat and sat opposite Lee Hoyeon.

“I’m sorry, Irene-ssi.”

“… Huh?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever properly apologized when I was sober.”

Thinking back now, there might perhaps have been better ways. Past events can’t be undone, but an apology can be made.

… Besides, there’s a problem.

To Irene, there’s something I truly need to apologize for.

“And… the kids living at my place apparently caused some trouble.”

“Huh? …Ah. That.”

The surprise kidnapping show I suffered at the hands of Lee Hoyeon’s housemates. I don’t know how flustered I was because of those crazy women.

Irene crossed her legs as she looked at Lee Hoyeon, who was nodding his head down.

“It’s awkward, so stop nodding your head down. I’ve already sorted that incident out with them. They might be strange, like you, but they aren’t bad people.”

“That’s true. Everyone has a good heart.”

“… More than that, you. Ever since the talk about Lucifer last time, you’ve suddenly become strange. People around you are hyping you up as a ‘hero of justice’; you’re not actually mistaking yourself for one, are you?”

“No way.”

At Irene’s words, Lee Hoyeon let out a hollow laugh. Hero of justice. As if to prove it, Lee Hoyeon’s status in the world was steadily rising. He was already called strange nicknames like ‘Genius Mage’ and ‘Dreaming Mage’, but after killing Lucifer and becoming the hero who saved the Academy, his fame soared once. And a few days ago, the Iris Guild spread the Pandemic worldwide, and a proposal requesting research on its connection to the black pillars had my name on it, so this time, I ascended straight to the heavens. On the news or NewTube, searching my name was something I dreaded.

“Tsk. Late at night, now that the alcohol is kicking in, I’m becoming honest.”

“… I haven’t even opened the wine yet, and it’s only 8 PM. Are you perhaps sick?”

Lee Hoyeon let Irene’s words slip out the other ear. Still, now that they had opened up once, it was easier for him to pour out his heart. Originally, Lee Hoyeon wanted to be a bad boy. A bad boy who steals the heroines’ hearts and forces them to follow him. He thought that was the only way he could have a harem. But as time went on, he realized. That approach didn’t suit him. The nightmares he had every night were proof of that. He wanted to blame it on his ‘strong willpower’, but… still, he had to apologize.

“It might sound funny when I say this, but I cherish Irene-ssi too, as much as Alice. So, I want to get rid of the bad image I have.”

When I first tried to win Irene over, using forceful methods actually weighs on my mind. In a way, Baek Ahyoung was similar, but that’s different because she enjoyed it immensely.

‘Irene enjoyed it too, but… no. This is different.’ I used forceful methods. And although she’s recovered somehow now, the fact that Alice came to know Irene’s feelings like this also bothers me a little. It means I feel responsible.

“You’re saying quite something. It’s okay now, so don’t worry about it.”

Irene also agreed that the relationship with Lee Hoyeon wasn’t romantic. However… it wasn’t all that bad. There were times she resented him, but it was also true that she had become even closer to Alice thanks to Lee Hoyeon. Besides, he’s good at sex.

‘For starters, his abilities are so great… even my father probably couldn’t refuse.’ As a son-in-law, his capabilities are also excellent. Lee Hoyeon and Im Sol’s sparring match. And the battle with Lucifer. The way Lee Hoyeon fought there was still vivid before her eyes. With this level of competence, wouldn’t her father allow both his daughters to be with him?

‘… But two people, he probably wouldn’t allow.’ Even so, two is pushing it. Knowing her father’s personality, not killing Lee Hoyeon would be a blessing.

While Irene was lost in those thoughts.

Lee Hoyeon shook his head.

“No. I can’t just let it slide.”

“I told you it’s fine! Hmmph. If you feel that sorry, why don’t you come over tonight…”

“I’ll take responsibility and make the threesome with Alice seem natural.”

“…?”

*

After chatting idly with Irene, I left the Team 1 Leader’s office. Time had already become late at night. In the end, I couldn’t even open the wine, but who cares? Irene played along in her own fun way, so I felt good.

“Before Alice gets off work, I need to play with Liliana in Scarlet’s room… Huh?”

Liliana was whining about being bored, and I was wondering how to handle it, when a faint magical energy appeared right before my eyes. The suddenly appearing energy spun around and around, then flew off somewhere. The energy, leaving a blue trail, seemed to be saying, ‘Follow me this way.’

“What is this?”

Without much thought, as I followed the energy, the Guild Master’s office came into view. Lee Hoyeon peeked into the room slightly, just in case.

“You’ve arrived. Mage Lee Hoyeon.”

“… Huh, Guild Master-nim?”

In the Guild Master’s office sat Isaac, a handsome blond man with his arms crossed. He had a faint smile, seemingly wanting to make a cool entrance. Couldn’t he have just sent me a message on my smartwatch telling me to come to the Guild Master’s office…?

“This is the first time we’re meeting alone like this since the Centaur pursuit, isn’t it? A guest has been staying for over a week, and not calling him even once felt rude. So I called you over.”

“Ah, I see.”

Still, the reason for calling me made sense. Since I’m staying at the Iris Guild, and they’re providing tremendous support, trusting me, it’s natural he’d want to see me at least once as the Guild Master.

“Rather, I should have come to see you first; I apologize.”

“It’s alright. Our first meeting wasn’t very good. I was worried you might be uncomfortable, you see.”

“Huh? Ah, ahaha….”

Right. I still remember the first meeting with the Emperor of the Night. Under the guise of a test, he attacked me in an alleyway at the Academy. What a psycho.

“You don’t look happy?”

“… No. Is there something you wanted to say?”

Calling me this late at night, it seems you have something to discuss. Isaac looked at Lee Hoyeon and nodded.

“Alice and Irene trust you a lot.”

“Ah, yes.”

Actually, receiving the Iris Guild’s cooperation can be attributed to those two. The Guild Master, who dotes on his daughters, can’t help but do what his beloved two daughters ask. I thought he called me for an important matter, but Isaac kept bringing up trivial topics afterwards.

“Speaking of which, aren’t you interested in joining the Iris Guild? When I asked before, you refused, didn’t you?”

“… I refuse now as well. I’m sorry. I have other things to attend to.”

Lee Hoyeon replied and slightly frowned. As the conversation continued, the aura Isaac was emitting was subtly bothering him. It wasn’t an aura that flowed naturally; the pressure was quite intense. Was this perhaps some kind of intimidation tactic? If I endure it here, will it be easier to see Alice and Irene in the future? I don’t want to exert my magic against Father-in-law…

Thump-

Just then, Isaac threw a photo onto the table, cutting short Lee Hoyeon’s contemplation.

“This is…?”

“Check it yourself.”

Aha.

Lee Hoyeon chuckled inwardly. This must also be Isaac’s own kind of test. The fact that I meet Alice or Irene regularly can’t be hidden anyway. From his perspective, some leech-like guy getting close to his daughters must have been displeasing. Even if rumors say he’s strong, some people only feel at ease after seeing it with their own eyes. As proof, after throwing the photo, the aura pressuring him intensified. Right now, simply moving my body is the test.

“I’m seeing something like this for the first time.”

Of course, it wasn’t a particularly difficult problem. Lee Hoyeon naturally absorbed Isaac’s magic power into his body. Possessing [Magic Resonance], for Lee Hoyeon, this level was easier than Liliana’s biting attack.

“… As expected, Lucifer’s power is underestimated. If a monster like you hadn’t been at the Academy… the lives of my daughters too would have been in danger.”

“No. Lucifer was interested in me. Actually, Alice and Irene getting caught up in it is probably my fault.”

Isaac revealed a surprised expression and spoke to Lee Hoyeon, but Lee Hoyeon wasn’t falling for words like that. The information about the Pandemic that Alice obtained. Isaac must know about that too, of course. It wasn’t difficult to give him the answer he wanted.

“By the way, what is this gate? Is it like a work of art?”

Lee Hoyeon looked at the photo and frowned. Grotesque monsters eating humans, humans killing humans, and humans suffering as if receiving punishment were depicted. It was a grotesque gate.

“A gate appeared on a deserted island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Our informant discovered it, and after that, we’ve been controlling it.”

“… When did it appear?”

“About two hours ago. I confirmed it myself, so there’s no mistake.”

That was two hours ago, when I was getting yelled at by Irene and leaving with a sad expression. Even in that state, going to investigate something like this, he’s a person with strong professional ethics.

“The reason I’m showing this to you is because it seemed related to your research. The hellish magic that was in Lucifer’s corpse. That was flowing out from this gate.”

“Aha…”

“Mage Lee Hoyeon, I know you’ve been conducting personal research about the Pandemic. Do you perhaps have any information?”

A giant gate emitting hellish magic. Of course, I know. The latter half of the original story. Starting in the dungeons, the rampaging phenomenon gradually intensified, eventually leading to the opening of a gate connecting to the Underworld. Commonly known as ‘The Gate of Hell.’ The moment that gate opens, demonic beasts from the Underworld will surge out, and the Earth will descend into chaos.

“It’s not certain yet. However… it should be okay for now.”

For that gate to open, such a massive sacrifice is required. In the original story, only after several countries were annihilated was the Gate of Hell opened.

‘The current Pandemic doesn’t have enough time to gather that much sacrifice.’

This is something that couldn’t be helped, even with the butterfly effect. Because the physical ‘sacrifice’ is insufficient.

… But an inexplicable sense of unease kept poking at Lee Hoyeon’s heart.