Side Story 40. The Story After (40)

Lee Hoyeon and the key figures of the Iris Guild (Alice, Irene, Isaac) had an in-depth discussion to prepare for the terrorist attack.

Of course, not much changed from the initial plan.

‘In the end, I have to do it all.’

There are no complaints.

Because the harder he works, the more the strong friendship between Mage Lee Hoyeon and the Iris Guild will be showcased.

It’s understandable in many ways, but it’s still a hassle.

“Guild Leader-nim. I have something I’m curious about.”

Lee Hoyeon roughly organized the pile of documents and spoke.

“What is it?”

“The EK Guild is one of the top ones in the world, right? Plus, with other guilds and terrorists joining forces, their strength seems pretty formidable… If I hadn’t helped, would the attack have succeeded?”

Even for the Iris Guild, the opponent’s strength was formidable.

Especially the EK Guild, the ringleader, was still quite powerful, as the saying goes, ‘even rotten, they’re still croaker’.

Isaac, who blinked for a moment at Lee Hoyeon’s question, firmly shook his head.

“Since we’ve already figured everything out about the attack… no matter how strong they are, there’s a high chance the Iris Guild could have stopped it on their own. There might have been a few casualties, but the terrorists could never have taken over the party venue.”

“Right? But it doesn’t seem like the opponents wouldn’t know that… Why are they insisting on going through with the attack?”

Simply calling them stupid isn’t enough explanation.

The opposing guild must have talented people too, so Lee Hoyeon couldn’t understand, with his common sense, why they would push through with the attack in such a disadvantageous situation.

“Because they are cowards.”

“Cowards?”

“Most of the guys who teamed up with the EK Guild are ones who didn’t participate in the battle against the Demon King. They’re the ones who got scared and chickened out during the fight for humanity’s survival.”

“…They really are bastards.”

Lee Hoyeon frowned.

He still remembered all the hunters who participated in the final battle.

Lee Hoyeon himself wouldn’t let those bastards who only reaped the rewards without participating in that fierce battle get away with it.

“The guilds that didn’t participate lost credibility as the price for playing it safe. It’s only natural. They didn’t understand the foundation upon which their rights were built.”

Isaac was almost grateful for their actions.

Because if time passed like this, the battle with the Demon King would gradually be forgotten, and then seeing the EK Guild run wild would be infuriating.

“Isn’t it strange that cowards would suddenly take the lead in an attack?”

“Even a scared dog will bark when its territory is invaded. It’s the last desperate act of a defeated dog.”

“…As expected, killing them seems like the best option.”

The more I hear about them, the more they seem like hopeless trash.

“It’s natural for you to be angry, since you were the one fighting. But… that’s precisely why we can’t just kill them easily, isn’t it? They must pay for their sins.”

Isaac smirked and finished speaking.

“We must expose all their shame and make sure they can never show their faces again.”

“This terrorist attack will be the starting point.”

“Indeed. Because they’re trash that can’t be killed easily.”

Lee Hoyeon looked over the list of crimes committed by those guys in the corner of the table.

Thinking that such scumbags didn’t even participate in the final battle made his anger surge even more.

“They say there’s no one completely clean in the world, but these guys are truly something else.”

“Are you saying that about the Iris Guild?”

“No way. I’m talking about myself too.”

Lee Hoyeon shrugged and put the documents down on the table.

The Iris Guild probably couldn’t have stayed completely righteous to grow this large.

Even if not major crimes like these, they probably did some questionable things.

“Mage Lee Hoyeon. Your emotions are plain on your face. The Iris Guild is a better place than you think. I can’t be an embarrassing father to my two daughters.”

Lee Hoyeon gave a faint smile as he looked at Isaac.

Sometimes, I think I understand a little why women flock to this guy.

“Okay. I’ll cooperate with the Iris Guild as much as possible…”

Just then, he remembered what Isaac had said earlier.

He had said they needed appropriate terms of address fitting their respective positions.

“I’ll cooperate. …Father-in-law.”

“……?”

Kolok-

At Lee Hoyeon’s words, Alice, who had been quietly drinking tea, turned her head.

Irene, who had been focused on their conversation, looked away as if embarrassed.

Ppudeuk-

And watching his two daughters’ actions, a vein throbbed on Isaac’s forehead.

‘This son of a bitch….’

Who gave him the right to call me father-in-law?

Although he acknowledged Lee Hoyeon’s relationship with his daughter, actually hearing the words ‘father-in-law’ made his blood boil.

“…But even for Mage Lee Hoyeon, I can’t entrust him with such an important task without proper vetting.”

Isaac instinctively spat out aggressive words.

By then, his favorite dagger was placed on the table.

He was solely focused on the thought that he must protect his daughter as a father.

“Dad? What are you talking about?”

“Father. Lee Hoyeon came here for us, didn’t he?”

“I know Mage Lee Hoyeon is strong… but shouldn’t we find out who’s really stronger? What do you think, Mage Lee Hoyeon?”

“…How could I possibly dare to challenge Guild Leader-nim.”

Lee Hoyeon licked his lips and avoided Isaac’s eyes.

‘Did I mess around too much? The mood was good, so I just casually brought it up….’

“I’m not asking for much. Wouldn’t a brief spar be okay?”

Of course, he knew.

Even if they fought, Isaac couldn’t win against Lee Hoyeon.

But… if he got lucky, he might be able to land a blow on the thief who took his daughter.

“Dad. Stop it. Don’t even spar.”

“Father. You told me not to pick fights I can’t win.”

However, Alice and Irene’s firm words hit Isaac hard.

He looked at his two daughters with a devastated expression.

“D-, Daughter. How could you say that to Dad…”

“I’m saying this because I like you, Dad. I don’t want to see you get beaten by Lee Hoyeon.”

“Father. Even considering your authority as Guild Leader…”

Alice and Irene shook their heads with serious expressions.

They were genuinely worried about Isaac.

The more they did, the more Isaac’s expression went from sad to downright rotten.

‘Everyone in the Iris Guild seems weird.’

Lee Hoyeon sipped his tea, watching the three-person comedy act.

*

“Finally, the disturbance is gone. Now we can talk properly. Haa… What strange wind blew in all of a sudden.”

Alice sighed and tidied up the table littered with documents.

Only Alice, Irene, and Lee Hoyeon remained in the office.

‘Calling her own dad a disturbance is a bit harsh, isn’t it?’

Lee Hoyeon glanced at Alice, recalling the scene from moments ago.

After the official business was concluded, Lee Hoyeon had planned to spend time talking with Alice and Irene after so long.

• “We met after so long, let’s catch up, Mage Lee Hoyeon.”

However, Isaac stayed put until the very end.

He wouldn’t budge no matter what Alice and Irene said, but eventually, the Vice Guild Leader-nim, who appeared from somewhere, took him away.

• “Ohoho. Please take good care of my daughters, Mage Lee Hoyeon. Now, Darling, come here.”

• “Wait, Honey. I’m the Guild Leader. Lee Hoyeon should be talking to me! Kkeueuk….”

Isaac was dragged out the door, unbecoming of his title, the ‘Emperor of the Night’.

The sight was similar to how Scarlet was dragged away by an Iris Guild member.

Indeed, the Iris Guild today was clearly strange somehow.

“Now… shall we have a chat with Mage Lee Hoyeon-nim, whom we haven’t seen in a while?”

Alice brought the teacup to her lips and smiled.

Since Dad was gone too, it was time to truly catch up with Lee Hoyeon.

“Alice. If even you call me that, it’s too much pressure. Stop it.”

“Mm-hmm. Our sibling. Since it’s just us now, isn’t it okay to call him casually?”

“…What are you two doing? Can’t I even joke around?”

Alice looked at the two of them and blinked.

No, more accurately, she looked at Irene.

Lee Hoyeon was normally a stiff guy, so that was understandable, but Irene reacting like that was surprising.

“Unnie. Whose side are you on? You shouldn’t act like that.”

“Whose side am I supposed to be on…”

Irene avoided Alice’s gaze, inwardly flustered.

It was because she had just sided with Lee Hoyeon’s words, not Alice’s.

‘What have I done to Alice, who is as precious as the apple of my eye….’

Irene was the type to take Alice’s side first, even if she witnessed a murder right before her eyes.

“A demon must have entered your head… Ugh, eueut.”

It must be that seeing Lee Hoyeon after so long got her thoughts tangled.

Irene gulped down her tea and shook her head back and forth.

“Unnie…?”

Watching the two sisters’ confused state up close, Lee Hoyeon calmly just drank his tea.

Indeed, these two were also part of the Iris Guild. They didn’t seem normal.

“Still, it’s nice seeing you after so long. Alice, you’ve been all over the news lately.”

“…Mm, that’s right. Because I’m going to be the Guild Leader of the Iris Guild. I’m appearing in positions where I can make a difference.”

Alice, who had been looking at Irene, turned her head back at Lee Hoyeon’s words.

“Oh… You are graduating from the academy, right?”

“Of course. Graduation from Victoria Academy is such a great academic background. Surely you’re not planning to quit?”

Victoria Academy is the world’s best educational institution.

Just having the diploma proves you’re an elite, so there’s no need to drop out.

“No. I don’t intend to quit, but the world is making me that way.”

“…?”

Alice tilted her head for a moment, then gave up trying to figure it out.

Normally, you shouldn’t try to think too deeply about Lee Hoyeon’s words.

“By the way, Lee Hoyeon, do you have any plans until the party?”

“Plans?”

The party was in three days.

There were still two days left.

‘Originally, I was planning to tour France with Scarlet….’

Before coming to France, Lee Hoyeon had thought Alice and Irene would be incredibly busy.

Anyway, Scarlet also seemed to have a lot on her plate, so spending a day with them would be fine.

“I plan to rest in France. I’ll do some work for the Iris Guild if needed.”

“Oh? That’s great timing. We needed to announce the strong alliance between the Iris Guild and Mage Lee Hoyeon.”

“What’s that?”

“You’ll find out if you follow me.”

Alice, smiling, looked the happiest she had all day.