Side Story 38. The Story After (38)

“It’s a beautiful day….”

The birds are chirping and the flowers are blooming.

On a nice day like this, I should be enjoying my youth at the Academy….

“It’s strange, but the more I go to the Academy, the fewer classes I seem to be able to attend.”

In reality, if Lee Hoyeon wanted to, he could have asked Moon Surin to let him attend all his classes, but Lee Hoyeon didn’t bother.

Having grown up in the Land of Etiquette in the East, he respected the professors’ judgment and the other cadets’ right to learn.

But thanks to that, the professors realized they could just kick Lee Hoyeon out of class.

“I don’t get it. They’re telling an ace like me that I don’t have to attend class. Tsk.”

Has everyone lost their minds?

Lee Hoyeon sighed and looked up at the sky.

He was currently lying in a hammock in the yard.

It was a bed made by tying a net between two trees.

It was something Liliana bought, saying it was fascinating, but this was the first time he was actually using it.

“Most of it is junk, but sometimes she buys good stuff like this.”

Lee Hoyeon yawned and let his body relax into the net.

I got kicked out of Academy classes. Im Sol and Baek Ahyoung are avoiding me.

So I played with the Lucy-Lumi twins and came home.

Now that I have nothing else to do, I might as well relax and soak up the sun….

“Hoyeon-nim.”

“… Huh? Scarlet?”

Tok-tok-

As the leisurely silence was broken by the sound of footsteps, he turned his head and saw Scarlet approaching.

She walked towards me along the stone path in the yard.

“What’s up? Did Liliana cause some trouble?”

“No, sir. We received a call from the Iris Guild. It seems things have escalated.”

Swoosh-

Lee Hoyeon stared intently at the hologram monitor that appeared before his eyes.

It had been three days since he met Kang Hyorin, enough time for the Iris Guild to dig up some significant information.

Indeed, the hologram monitor displayed a long list of unfamiliar information.

“Scarlet. Any chance you have a three-line summary?”

“The number of organizations and guilds participating in the terrorism has increased dramatically.

Most of them are guilds that have committed crimes or are being blackmailed by the EK Guild.

After identifying their entire list, we found their forces to be greater than expected, so I have a report for you.”

“Good, good. You really are an ace.”

As he looked through the information, he noticed something strange.

Only one among the numerous organizations had a red name.

“Qualdea? Why is their name in red?”

“They are notorious extremist terrorists from the Middle East. They announced to the world that they would be terrorizing this party.”

“Hmm… Well, they probably aren’t that strong, are they?”

“But people’s anxiety is growing. Since the Pandemic disappeared, Qualdea has become the most famous terrorist group in the world. Some celebrities who had agreed to attend the party are now reconsidering their participation.”

I understand.

From a civilian’s perspective, who would want to go to a party where terrorism is predicted?

Even with the Iris Guild providing protection, there’s no guarantee that there won’t be any casualties.

“In that regard, the Iris Guild has sent an official request for cooperation.”

“Suddenly?”

“Yes. They want you, Hoyeon-nim, to give an interview stating that you will personally protect the party in France. Preferably, showing off your close relationship with the Iris Guild as well.”

If Lee Hoyeon were to appear in France himself, those who are worried would likely change their minds.

In other words, it would demonstrate the strength of the Iris Guild.

“… Scarlet. I have something I’m curious about.”

“Feel free to ask anything.”

“Am I really that influential? Does the world shake when I make a move? Have I become a big shot in the hunter industry?”

Lee Hoyeon still felt a sense of bewilderment.

Of course, he didn’t deny the power he possessed.

He was confident he could fend off even a truckload of terrorist groups.

No, honestly speaking, he didn’t believe he could lose to anyone.

But having people flaunt their friendship with him… or others constantly calling him ‘Wizard Lee Hoyeon’… each time, there was still a part of him that felt awkward.

His lingering small-town mentality held him back.

“… It’s about time you started acknowledging it, Hoyeon-nim.”

“Haa. Right. I guess I have to accept the life of a celebrity now?”

“……”

Scarlet had a lot she wanted to say, but she simply closed her mouth.

She figured he inwardly knew his influence quite well.

But he probably wanted to hear it confirmed by someone else.

She understood that feeling, but…

‘If you indulge their bullshit, there’s no end to it. Liliana-nim. Sometimes, you actually say something right.’

Despite her thoughts, Scarlet continued speaking with a poker face.

“Anyway, I’ll proceed assuming you’re going to France.”

“It’s a hassle, but if it’s an official request from the Iris Guild… I don’t have to leave today, right?”

“Alice-nim and Irene-nim requested that you come as soon as possible.”

“Hoo. I guess I’ve been too relaxed lately.”

Lee Hoyeon immediately jumped up from the hammock and stretched.

His body was already feeling stiff.

“Let’s go! Scarlet. Get ready.”

He lightly ignored Scarlet’s look of pity and went inside the house.

He needed to tell the other heroines about France too.

“What the?”

As soon as he entered the living room through the large window, the first thing he saw was a red-haired beauty sprawled on the sofa.

I spoke to Nam Daeun, who was sitting demurely beside her.

“Daeun-ah. Why is Rebecca like that?”

“I don’t know. She started acting like this a while ago, saying things like pregnancy yoga is unnecessary…”

“……”

People can change so drastically in an instant.

Lee Hoyeon approached the sofa and patted Rebecca’s thigh, pat-pat.

The soft skin felt pleasant.

“Get up, Rebecca-ssi.”

“Baby’s daddy. I’ve lost all will to live now.”

“No, anyone would think you can’t get pregnant for the rest of your life. You found a way, so that’s good. You should try harder.”

“… Is that so?”

As the conversation continued, Rebecca’s eyes regained some spark.

Seeing this, Liliana clapped her hands enthusiastically from the side.

“Seduction! Seduction! It’s the magic of an Incubus!”

Lee Hoyeon let her words go in one ear and focused on Rebecca.

“Of course. Rebecca-ssi. Who knows? Maybe it’ll work out perfectly on the next full moon.”

Thinking about it, I’ve never consciously aimed for the full moon.

Wouldn’t it be more likely to get pregnant immediately if we tried then?

“Uh, uhm….”

“You only get one chance a month, you know. You have to work harder for that day, or what if you miss it?”

“R-right. Baby’s daddy seems to be right. I need to prepare for that day instead.”

Rebecca immediately sat up and started doing various stretches while sitting on the sofa.

It’s good that she changed, but isn’t it too sudden?

She didn’t seem this simple originally… Hanging out with Liliana seems to have made her strange.

“Rebecca-ssi. You heard from Scarlet, right? We have to go to France, want to come along?”

“Why would I go if baby’s daddy is going? You’ll be back soon anyway.”

“That’s true.”

Rebecca, who often sparred with Lee Hoyeon, knew his strength well.

If he set his mind to it, he could probably protect an entire country, so there was no way he couldn’t protect a party venue.

“Be quick. I’ll just be doing yoga with Liliana.”

“Huh? But I’m going to eat authentic Parisian baguette in Paris, France?”

It was Liliana who reacted to Rebecca’s words.

She was lying on the living room floor, looking at her smartwatch, when her eyes widened in surprise.

“We have those in front of my house too.”

“No, that’s a fake Parisian baguette! What do you know!”

Lee Hoyeon blinked, watching the two suddenly start arguing.

Seriously, these two never have a quiet moment.

“Hoyeon-ah. Are you going to France?”

“Yeah. Do you want to come along?”

Lee Hoyeon sat down next to Nam Daeun and continued the conversation.

She tilted her head as if in thought for a moment, then shook it.

“I don’t think I can go because of Dahee. I also have to attend Academy classes…”

“Ah, right.”

The model student Nam Daeun had many obligations, unlike him.

Of course, Lee Hoyeon felt indignant.

He too was a top student who had never missed the top spot.

“Still, it’s a shame. It would have been fun to go out with Hoyeon…”

Nam Daeun slightly lowered her head, looking disappointed.

Since Nam Daeun usually didn’t express her emotions much, Lee Hoyeon reacted quickly even to such a small gesture.

“Ah, um… Let’s go out together after this schedule is over. I’ll make time.”

“Really? Can Dahee come too?”

“Of course. I promise.”

“Then really promise me. Here. Pinky swear.”

Lee Hoyeon linked his pinky finger as she said.

Only then did Nam Daeun lean her head on Lee Hoyeon’s shoulder with a smile, seemingly satisfied.

“You promised, so you have to keep it. Hehe.”

Scarlet, who had entered the living room late and observed the situation, nodded with an approving expression.

‘Daeun-yang… Your calculations have become faster.’

Rebecca and Liliana, still arguing over baguettes, would probably forget about France by the time they eat dinner.

In that case, it’s better to secure practical benefits like Nam Daeun.

‘If I feed her cheese soft tofu again this time, I’ll really have no choice but to draw my sword….’

Of course, she considered herself the ultimate winner for naturally following along without saying a word.