Episode 579. The Easiest Way

Scarlet’s accommodation.

Lee Hoyeon, lying on the bed, watched the conversation between Liliana and Scarlet, who were flying around the room with a ‘boong boong’ sound.

[Scout. Wanna be a guest on my broadcast?]

“If it helps Liliana-nim, then it’s fine.”

[Lee Hoyeon! You should come out soon too!]

“I’ll think about it later.”

Lee Hoyeon spoke familiarly, looking at Liliana floating in mid-air.

Liliana’s body was strangely in a semi-transparent state.

[Hmph. It won’t work even if I ask you later. My broadcast is hitting its golden age again these days.]

“…Then go do your broadcast. Stop the necromancy.”

[Are you ignoring the Succubus’ secret techniques right now?]

“It’s my fault for trying to talk to you.”

Necromancy.

Usually, people think of necromancy as dark magic that summons the souls of the dead, but what Liliana learned was a bit different.

It was so-called astral projection.

I don’t know why it’s called necromancy.

“It was incredibly awkward when I first saw it, but it’s not like that anymore.”

[That’s the scary part about Succubi.]

“Still, isn’t this better than you coming in person, Liliana-nim? I heard you have that kind of skill.”

“…You said you’d kick me out if I came in person, so that’s why I came like this.”

[Idiot. There’s no chicken in France, so I wasn’t going to go anyway?]

Last night, while I was drinking coffee at Scarlet’s accommodation, Liliana suddenly popped out from my chest.

She said this is possible because they have a master-servant relationship.

It seems she found out something strange after the restrictions were lifted.

[Scout. But when are you coming back? I’m so bored.]

“There are about 3 days left now, Liliana-nim.”

Lee Hoyeon savored the coffee Scarlet gave him.

By the way, it’s quite late. I should probably send her back soon.

“…Liliana. I have to go to work now, so head back soon. See you tomorrow.”

[Already?! It’s only been 30 minutes! You bad guy! Is work more important, or is family more important!]

“Obviously, work.”

[Sob sob… Humans are too cruel.]

Liliana expressed her displeasure, but then with a ‘ppong!’, she disappeared.

It’s quiet now that the number of people has decreased from three to two.

“Liliana really talks a lot.”

“That’s her charm. By the way, weren’t you going to rest starting now? Your work should be finished for today.”

“…If I don’t exercise restraint, I’ll be held captive all day.”

The reason I don’t keep in touch with the other heroines for long is the same.

If it were up to me, I’d want to video call them on my smartwatch too.

But even talking for a short while reduces the time Lee Hoyeon has for research.

They also see the news and know how busy Lee Hoyeon is, so they understand.

…Liliana acts like that because she doesn’t think much of it, but I can’t just accept her alone.

Furthermore, the biggest problem is that once you do it, you want to do it again.

It means it’s a shortcut to becoming lazy.

“I should get going soon. Sleep well, Scarlet.”

“You have a good night too.”

It was late.

After saying goodbye to Scarlet, Lee Hoyeon came out of the accommodation.

“Ah. I miss Daeun. Lucy and Lumi too…”

Lee Hoyeon yawned and headed towards Alice’s accommodation.

The night air tonight was particularly bitter.

*

Kkuk-.

“How are you feeling, guest?”

“Mmm…”

There was no answer from the guest, but Lee Hoyeon continued the massage.

“You must have been tired today too.”

“Of course. To persuade them about the hellish mana you mentioned, I have to feel the mana directly from Lucifer’s corpse, which takes a lot of time and makes the process complicated.”

The guest lying face down on the bed was, of course, Alice.

It’s been four days since I started staying with her at Alice’s accommodation. I’ve been giving her this massage every day.

Lee Hoyeon said while pressing firmly on her back.

“Isn’t that why we divided Lucifer’s corpse?”

“Do you think there’s only one or two organizations in the world we need to persuade? Ten is far from enough.”

“Cheop. You’re going through a lot, Alice.”

“Mmm… Hng. Of course.”

Lee Hoyeon nodded while channeling mana into Alice’s body.

It’s no wonder Alice is having a hard time.

But it couldn’t be helped.

To change the perception of hellish mana, she had to experience the hellish mana that I myself emitted.

It would have been much easier if it could be applied to fake dungeon magic circles, but ultimately, because the caster of the magic circle was Lucifer, the trapped people didn’t notice the hellish mana.

‘One corpse wasn’t enough, so compromising by dividing it into 10 pieces was the solution.’

There was also the method of dividing Lucifer’s corpse into 100 pieces and scattering them worldwide, but doing so wouldn’t allow enough hellish mana to be infused.

Dividing it into 10 pieces was something Lee Hoyeon insisted on cutting himself, barely managing to achieve it.

‘I intended to provide Lucifer’s corpse to Sol as material for magic research.’

That’s a shame.

Since it was used to prevent the world’s destruction, our Professor will understand, right?

Just then, Alice, who was receiving the massage from Lee Hoyeon, flinched in surprise.

“Wait, just a moment.”

“What’s wrong, Alice?”

“…You know why, don’t you?”

“Sorry.”

Blushing shyly, I avoided Alice’s gaze as she looked at me.

I was carefully channeling mana towards my lower abdomen, but she seemed to have noticed already.

“I told you. Today, I’m just getting the massage and not doing anything else. I’m too tired.”

“Consider my position too, having to just give a massage and then sleep.”

“Don’t you remember why you’re staying at my place for a week?”

“…”

It was because I was caught living with four people.

Lee Hoyeon carefully moved his mana, spreading it widely through Alice’s mana circuits.

“Haa… That feels good.”

“I’m glad, guest.”

“Yeah. I think I’m addicted to this sensation.”

Mana massage that cured congenital mana disorder.

It was an absurd method where Lee Hoyeon’s mana stimulated Alice’s mana circuits by expanding them, but Lee Hoyeon’s mana sensitivity made it a real cure.

Since the congenital mana disorder has been perfectly cured, there’s no need to receive the massage anymore.

However, Alice became addicted to that pleasant sensation.

Even without doing anything lewd, surrendering to this massage relieves the day’s fatigue and brings on sleepiness.

“Has something been going on with Irene lately?”

“…Why do you ask?”

“I heard shouting and fighting in the Guild Master’s office earlier, so I thought you might know something.”

“Haa.”

The reason Unnie fights with Dad.

It’s naturally because of Alice.

‘She said she allowed it before, so why is she acting like this again?’

When Alice became the successor of the Iris Guild, she was saying things like ‘My little sister has finally become an adult,’ but now she’s changed her attitude like that just because she didn’t receive contact for a week.

Anyone would think I’m still 10 years old.

“I don’t know either. Unnie will cool down on her own if you leave her be. Or you could go see her and try to appease her.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Didn’t you do anything strange with Unnie when you came to the Iris Guild?”

“Of course not. If you don’t allow it, Alice, Irene-ssi can’t even hold my hand.”

“I naturally assumed the perverted Lee Hoyeon must have secretly approached her. How unexpected? Well done.”

“…”

Am I being praised for something like this?

I feel like a pet dog kept at home.

Honestly, I don’t mind it deep down.

“Hoo. That’s enough. Let’s sleep now.”

After that, while continuing the massage and chatting, Alice yawned first and got up.

She stretched and fastened her pajamas, while Lee Hoyeon looked at Alice with a devastated expression.

“Are you really just going to sleep?”

“I told you I’m tired. Come here. I’m going to sleep holding you.”

“…Okay.”

Sleeping while holding was simple.

Lee Hoyeon went next to Alice and lay down like a corpse.

Then Alice would pull Lee Hoyeon into a hug, using him like a pillow.

It was a position that was incredibly difficult for him to endure as a man.

“Maybe go see Unnie tomorrow. She might be stressed from not seeing you for a long time.”

“Okay. I’ll at least check on her condition.”

“You could release her tension just once…”

Saek- Saek-

Alice fell asleep, breathing softly, leaving only those words behind.

Seeing her fall asleep right away, she must have been really tired.

Still, I got permission to do lewd things with Irene. (Probably)

Now, how should I sleep?

I got quite aroused while massaging Alice, but Alice herself fell asleep.

If I were to relieve myself alone, the Alice holding me might wake up.

‘…I guess I’ll just sleep. What else can I do.’

Lee Hoyeon closed his eyes, maintaining a stiff, upright posture.

*

The next morning.

A suburb quite far from Paris.

I went for a walk quite far out, escorted by the Iris Guild members.

“If I want to finish this quickly, I have to do the work myself…”

Lee Hoyeon muttered, looking at the giant pillar in front of him.

Black pillar.

It, still spewing ominous mana, stood motionless in its place again today.

‘Hearing that the Gate of Hell appeared, I can’t just stand by.’

Since the Iris Guild started helping, matters concerning hellish mana have been progressing smoothly.

I could see why Isaac was called the ‘Emperor of the Night.’

In an instant, major guilds and associations worldwide supported Lee Hoyeon’s opinion.

As expected, capable women are the best.

However, the one disappointing thing is that the investigation into the black pillar is still dragging on.

Lee Hoyeon also continued the investigation personally, but he couldn’t figure out how this was causing the assimilation effect of hell.

“Ugh, ugh. Mage Lee Hoyeon-nim. It seems this is the limit for us.”

“Yes. I’ll go alone, so please rest back there.”

Lee Hoyeon left the Iris Guild members behind and approached the black pillar.

It had a strange texture, like tree bark forcedly peeled off.

It looked strange from afar, but up close, it felt even more unpleasant.

“Is it because it’s something directly manipulated by God? No matter how much I search, there’s no evidence.”

Although they couldn’t use mana, unlike the guild members, Lee Hoyeon was quite alright.

This was because his power to control hellish mana had strengthened after the near-death battle with Lucifer.

Furthermore, with the magical achievement from creating [Hall of the Moonlit Night], he didn’t even feel a headache now when standing right next to the black pillar.

“A-amazing. To be able to use mana even when getting that close.”

“Mage Lee Hoyeon is a genius. Oof, my head hurts. I’m going further back.”

Lee Hoyeon ignored the voices from behind and placed his hand on the pillar.

It felt like sharp wooden splinters piercing his hand. At the same time, a cold chill was felt.

“It’s certain that this is the source of all evil.”

Tung. Tung.

Is it hollow inside? Or does it make this sound because it’s a substance not found on Earth?

Lee Hoyeon, while touching the black pillar, suddenly thought.

The hellish mana and ominous energy coming from here…

…Will it keep coming out even if I break this pillar?

Lee Hoyeon, with his hand on the black pillar, slowly infused hellish mana into it.

Perhaps because a lot of mana is condensed within, it’s certainly sturdy.

However, there’s nothing that cannot be broken.

Lee Hoyeon’s magical achievement was currently at its peak.

Why haven’t I tried to break this until now?

“…Because getting close causes severe headaches and disrupts mana.”

This world isn’t a martial arts novel, and no matter how capable someone is, no one can break this pillar without mana.

That’s why the investigation process was arduous, and even if one got close, they’d quickly lose consciousness, making the thought of breaking it impossible.

If Lee Hoyeon’s magical achievement hadn’t increased, he wouldn’t have thought of using mana this close either.

‘If I set my mind to it, I can break it.’

It might be different for others, but for Lee Hoyeon, he can use mana within the black pillar’s domain.

[Spiral.]

Woong- Woong-

A black storm, sucking in the surrounding wind, formed in Lee Hoyeon’s hand.

This will do for now.

If this isn’t enough, I can just keep pouring stronger magic into it.

‘…It should be okay to break it, right?’

I thought about it for a moment, but it didn’t seem like there would be any particular problem.

Lee Hoyeon cocked his arm back and, without hesitation, slammed Spiral towards the black pillar.

Kwaaaang-!

Along with a huge sound like a bomb exploding, immense debris and smoke obscured the view.

Lee Hoyeon flicked his fingers, blowing away the smoke that obscured his vision.

“So it does break after all.”

Before his eyes lay the fallen black pillar and scattered debris.

It was similar to the scene of a giant tree being cut down in a documentary.

“I- Mage Lee Hoyeon-nim!”

“Are you alright?! What happened!”

“The, the black pillar!”

The Iris Guild members waiting behind also rushed over in surprise.

Lee Hoyeon smiled as he looked at the approaching guild members.

“How about it?”

“Y-yes? Of course, it was an amazing spell!”

“That’s right! As expected of a genius mage…”

“Not that. Do you have a headache even though you came close?”

“Huh…? Huh?!”

“You can use mana too!”

The guild members’ eyes widened, and they frantically felt their own bodies.

Watching each other touch themselves and exert mana wasn’t a very pleasant sight.

Lee Hoyeon picked up a fragment of the shattered black pillar.

The fragment, which looked like rusted metal, gave off no ominous aura whatsoever.

Right.

I only just thought of something this simple now.

Forget the investigation or whatever… I just need to break it all.

Lee Hoyeon put down the fragment, brushed the dust off his clothes, and said.

“Please ask the Guild Master-nim to rewrite the cooperation letter.”