Side Story 25. The Story After (25)

Sky-Piercing Palace.

This was the reason Lee Hoyeon didn’t lose to mages.

Once the Sky-Piercing Palace was deployed, no mage inside could contend with Lee Hoyeon.

It was the same for Im Sol.

No matter how powerful the magic she unleashed, Im Sol’s magic couldn’t properly exert its firepower within the Sky-Piercing Palace.

This was magic that had a reason for surprising the Magic Association.

“The Sky-Piercing Palace is still hard to break through. No wonder you were so good at sparring when it wasn’t deployed.”

“I’m improving too. Changing the mana patterns won’t be easy now.”

“…Yeah. The pressure has definitely gotten stronger.”

The method Im Sol used when she broke through the Sky-Piercing Palace was simple.

She changed the mana patterns every second, making it impossible for Lee Hoyeon to grasp her mana.

However, the Sky-Piercing Palace had become even sturdier than before.

Constantly changing mana patterns inside the Sky-Piercing Palace placed a much greater burden on Im Sol.

“Hoo…”

To break through that Sky-Piercing Palace, I need to pour all my concentration into it.

But right now, Im Sol’s mind was filled with a demon.

If I lose this spar, I have to show Baek Ahyoung me and Lee Hoyeon having sex.

‘I’d rather die than go through that humiliation.’

Well, of course, I wouldn’t die since Lee Hoyeon is here, but still.

“I won’t give you time to ponder.”

Crackle-zzzt-

Blue lightning erupted around Lee Hoyeon’s body.

Im Sol analyzed the magic and slowly immersed herself in the spar.

*

After the spar ended.

Baek Ahyoung, who had been waiting below, greeted them with a bright smile.

“You both worked hard. Here, have a glass of ice water.”

“Thank you, Ahyoung-ssi.”

Lee Hoyeon came down from the sparring stage and gulped down the ice water Baek Ahyoung handed him.

The coldness filling his head cooled the heat of the spar.

“…Thanks.”

Following him down was Im Sol, her shoulders slumped.

Im Sol stared blankly at the ice water before placing it on a nearby desk.

She wouldn’t have wanted to drink a chocolate latte right now, even if offered.

‘Is she embarrassed about losing in front of Ahyoung-ssi?’

Lee Hoyeon blinked, seeing Im Sol’s deflated energy.

Since Im Sol was always serious about magic, the sight before him was strange.

The spar they just had was incredibly high-level, so normally she would have been nagging him already to review it.

“Professor. Is it okay not to review today’s spar?”

“Review… We should. Yeah. Let’s head back to the lab for now.”

Im Sol trudged along.

She tried her best to win somehow, but some things just couldn’t be helped.

Lee Hoyeon, unaware of Im Sol’s feelings, had mercilessly crushed her.

‘It really was a good spar…’

In fact, the content of the spar itself was excellent.

As a mage, today’s spar was material for tremendous growth.

However, the devastating future that would unfold shortly afterward cast darkness before her eyes.

Baek Ahyoung, Im Sol, and Lee Hoyeon returned to the lab side-by-side.

As soon as they entered the lab, Im Sol and Baek Ahyoung made eye contact.

This was because, depending on the outcome of the spar, one of them was supposed to leave.

“Sol-ah. Hoyeon-ah. I should get going soon.”

“Huh? Ahyoung-ssi, don’t go yet. Let’s grab a meal together. My treat.”

Taken aback by the sudden words, Lee Hoyeon, who had sat down, stood up again.

It was a welcome reunion, and he felt reluctant to part already.

“No, you two need to review the spar. I have things I need to do too.”

Baek Ahyoung smiled, pleased by Lee Hoyeon’s words trying to hold her back.

But now was the time to sacrifice the small for the greater good.

She left the lab, holding back tears.

“Ahyoung-ssi must be very busy.”

“…Yeah. Seems like it.”

“Should we review quickly too? I think we’ll have a lot to discuss today.”

Usually, Im Sol led the spar review, but today Lee Hoyeon took the initiative.

Since the spar was very substantial, Im Sol must have been looking forward to the review too.

“Hoo, reviewing sounds good, but let’s rest a bit. I’m really not feeling well today.”

Lee Hoyeon’s eyes widened at Im Sol’s words.

Could it be that Im Sol suggested resting first?

“If Sol is postponing the review, it must be serious… Shouldn’t we call Ahyoung-ssi right away for a diagnosis?”

“Student. It’s not that bad, so don’t overreact.”

“No, it really is that bad. Im Sol, the woman obsessed with magic, refusing to review…”

“…”

How was his image built up in his student’s mind usually?

Im Sol sighed and sank onto the sofa.

And that sight made Lee Hoyeon even more worried.

‘At this point, it’s severe.’

Perhaps the problem from the battle with the Demon King was only now surfacing.

Im Sol being indifferent to magic was that significant.

Lee Hoyeon got up and approached Im Sol.

“Stay still. Sol-ah.”

He reached out and tucked the silver hair covering Im Sol’s eyebrows behind her ear.

Lee Hoyeon placed the back of his hand on Im Sol’s fair forehead.

“No fever… Sigh, maybe I really should call Ahyoung-ssi.”

Honestly, even if she had a fever, there was nothing he, an amateur, could do about it.

But he had a hunch something was wrong with Im Sol, so he was checking for a fever anyway.

“Wh-what are you doing…?”

Im Sol’s eyes widened as she looked at Lee Hoyeon, who had suddenly approached her.

She had closed her eyes for a moment, mourning her wretched reality, when suddenly Lee Hoyeon was right in front of her.

“I’m checking your temperature. Huh? That’s strange. It feels like she’s getting a fever?”

“…”

Why was this embarrassing?

Lee Hoyeon’s firm chest was right in front of Im Sol’s face.

Moreover, having just finished the spar, a faint scent of sweat and a masculine fragrance wafted from him.

Various factors made Im Sol’s body feel hot.

“I really should contact Ahyoung-ssi…”

The thoughts of the genius mage Im Sol flowed slowly.

Contact wasn’t necessary. Baek Ahyoung was waiting in the next room, just as planned.

She had to have sex with Lee Hoyeon.

Im Sol instinctively hugged Lee Hoyeon’s chest.

“Student. No, Hoyeon-ah…”

“Yeah, yeah. Tell me what the problem is.”

Lee Hoyeon more or less caught on to how the situation was unfolding.

It seemed like the right moment for Im Sol to bring up something important.

“I’m not feeling well today, so let’s review later… I’d like it if we could just lie down on the bed together.”

“Just lying down is enough?”

“…”

Nod-nod.

Im Sol’s silver hair, nestled against Lee Hoyeon’s chest, swayed side to side.

Seeing that, Lee Hoyeon could finally understand the situation.

‘She wants me to have sex with her.’

Usually, she would only ask for ‘sugar replenishment’ after all the magic research or spar reviews were done, but was she perhaps in heat today?

‘…Liliana too, everyone I meet is like this.’

Does my semen have healing properties or something?

Still, the way she demanded it was cute, so he decided not to make a fuss about it.

*

A small room attached to the lab.

Inside was a bed Im Sol used whenever she was tired.

It was also used for times like this, when Im Sol and Lee Hoyeon slept together.

“If you wanted to do something naughty, you should have just said so. I genuinely thought Sol was sick.”

“It’s not like that. Hoo…”

Im Sol hid her trembling fists behind her back.

She wanted to retort that this was all because he suddenly sparred so intensely, but she couldn’t.

“Clean.”

“…Clean.”

Like true mages, they wiped away the sweat from the spar using magic.

Amidst this, Im Sol diverted a strand of mana aside.

Hidden in this room was a magic circle Im Sol had prepared beforehand.

It was a magic circle Im Sol designed herself so that Baek Ahyoung, who was hiding in the next room after saying she was leaving, could watch.

She had originally intended to watch herself… but even though the plan went awry, the task had to be done.

Im Sol confirmed the connection to the next room’s view before looking at Lee Hoyeon.

‘I need to try harder so we don’t get caught…’

The thought of Baek Ahyoung watching made her feel like she’d go crazy, but she couldn’t just passively lie there.

Lee Hoyeon’s magical senses were immense.

No matter how well Im Sol hid it, Lee Hoyeon could sense the flow of mana.

‘But my student’s senses dull when he’s with me.’

When he was alone with Im Sol.

Especially when engrossed in sex, he paid no attention to anything else.

Therefore, to hide the magic circle, Im Sol needed to completely distract Lee Hoyeon.

“Come here, student. I lost the spar, but I won’t lose in bed.”

“You said you were tired, so that was all a lie.”

“I had my reasons too…!”

Im Sol blushed shyly and pulled Lee Hoyeon into an embrace.

Hands craving each other caressed each other’s backs, slowly stripping away their clothes.

“These clothes don’t change, no matter the season.”

The pink t-shirt and black leggings Im Sol wore every day.

She wore them because they were comfortable, whether the weather was hot or cold.

“Besides, they have magical treatments, so what does it matter?”

“True, it is convenient that they’re easy to take off.”

“…I wish you’d stop saying perverted things. Mmm.”

Lee Hoyeon cut off Im Sol’s words and removed her clothes.

As soon as he lifted the pink t-shirt, luscious breasts were revealed.

“Wow.”

“Why are you so surprised by breasts?”

“Magic is always beautiful to behold. Sol’s breasts are the same.”

She wasn’t even wearing a proper bra.

She claimed the feeling of support was stifling when drawing out mana?

She said the shape of her breasts and even protruding nipples were all taken care of by wearing magically treated shirts.

This is what magical advancements are for.

‘It always feels good when breasts appear the moment clothes come off.’

Anyway, it was good news for Lee Hoyeon.

It meant one less step in the process of undressing.

“Comparing breasts to magic feels unpleasant… but if my student likes it, then so be it.”

“Thank you.”

Lee Hoyeon buried his face in Im Sol’s breasts without any resistance.

His sharp senses were dulled, and he didn’t imagine for a moment that someone was watching.