Side Story 46. The Story After (46)

Inside the Party Hall.

Even in the unstable situation where magic wasn’t functioning properly due to the magic-blocking barrier, the people in the party hall remained silent, their gazes fixed on the vision magic.

“No way…. Such impossible magic…”

Arthur, the President of the Wizard Association, gazed at Lee Hoyeon, forgetting even to analyze the magic-blocking barrier. As Arthur had dedicated his life to magic, he could truly feel Lee Hoyeon’s magnificence.

“Association President-nim. The analysis of the magic-blocking barrier…”

“Shut up! Everyone stop analyzing and face that bastard’s magic!”

The battle was already over. Lee Hoyeon, now that the monster had sided with the Iris Guild, the magic-blocking barrier was no longer important.

‘I never imagined my student’s student would be this strong….’

Although Im Sol had told me Lee Hoyeon was much stronger than me, the extent of it was astonishing. I wasn’t sure if the entire Wizard Association could win even if they all attacked Lee Hoyeon.

KWA-A-A-NG-!

An immense amount of pure magic covered the field. Since there was no barrier, the shockwave reached the party hall.

“He defeated that many demons alone? And subdued them without killing them…”

“The aftershocks are reaching us here. Are we really safe…?!”

“It seems like the magic only reacts to enemies. What kind of magic is this?”

One person was unleashing magic that was impossibly powerful. The VIPs in the party hall swallowed hard, watching Lee Hoyeon with relaxed expressions. The terrorists currently attempting to raid the party hall numbered at least 10,000. If they were all elite combat personnel, they possessed the power to swallow a small nation whole.

‘The strength of Mage Lee Hoyeon…’

‘Damn it. We won’t be able to stop the Iris Guild.’

‘We have no choice but to get friendly with him. Lee Hoyeon is an anomaly, a monster.’

Yet, Lee Hoyeon had subdued them all by himself. It was a moment that etched the names of Lee Hoyeon and the Iris Guild into the world once again.

“N-No way…”

Pretzel, the EK Guild Master, who had been watching this situation, stared at the vision magic with a look of utter despair. With a single gesture from Lee Hoyeon, clouds moved, lightning struck, and the field burned. It felt like a mythical immortal from a fairy tale had jumped into reality.

‘Damn it. If it’s come to this…’

Pretzel looked around, biting his lip. Everyone was astonished by Lee Hoyeon’s power, observing the Iris Guild’s intentions. If the party ended like this, the EK Guild was finished anyway. The Iris Guild had likely already gathered all the information related to the terrorism. If they even captured the demons alive, they would have perfect evidence. They would be in a state where making a comeback was unimaginable.

“Ribera. Prepare yourself.”

We can’t end it like this. We have to kill at least one of the Iris Guild’s high-ranking members.

“…Yes.”

He activated the last resort he had previously instructed the EK Guild members about. A magic circle capable of breaking the magic-blocking barrier was engraved on their bodies. Ribera, the strongest fighter of the EK Guild, moved first.

KWA-A-A-A-NG-!

Just as everyone was watching Lee Hoyeon through the vision magic. The windows inside the party hall shattered, and the magic from outside surged in.

“An attack! Damn it!”

“Everyone, be careful!”

The EK Guild members who had warned others unleashed their magic.

“…What are you doing right now?”

Isaac, the Iris Guild Master, stepped forward, expressing his displeasure. But Pretzel smiled sinisterly at the front of the EK Guild.

“There’s a possibility of a threat inside the party hall. We must ensure our own safety.”

“Your guild members are glaring at the Iris Guild, though?”

“Of course. Aren’t the Iris Guild the most suspicious ones here? They claim to be an information guild and have the most frequent contact with demons, and yet they couldn’t do anything to guarantee the party’s safety.”

“How do you explain Mage Lee Hoyeon, who is single-handedly holding off the demons outside, being a guest of the Iris Guild?”

“That’s right. Lee Hoyeon, the Iris Guild’s guest, directly made the barrier disappear. Thanks to him, the party hall suffered damage too.”

“Stop talking nonsense! If Lee Hoyeon hadn’t stopped the demons alone, everyone here would have been in danger!”

Isaac showed his emotions at Pretzel’s sophistry.

“It’s quite suspicious, isn’t it? Defeating thousands of demons alone… Wouldn’t it be more logical if the demons simply fell down on purpose?”

“You’ve truly lost it, Pretzel. I’ve been too lenient with you lately.”

CRUNCH-

Isaac, frowning, also unleashed his magic. Not content with orchestrating the terrorism, he was now trying to attack the Iris Guild-Isaac couldn’t stand it any longer. As Isaac revealed his power, the Iris Guild members behind him also unleashed their magic. Naturally, the situation became one where a fight could break out at any moment.

‘Tsk. Are they ignoring the magic-blocking barrier over there?’

Isaac soon realized there was a significant difference between the EK Guild and the Iris Guild. Whatever method they were using, those guys weren’t affected by the magic-blocking barrier.

“Damn it! Adjust it again quickly!”

“We’re, we’re doing it now!”

The Wizard Association moved again to disable the magic-blocking barrier, but even starting now, it would take at least 20 minutes.

“…Alice. Stay behind Unnie.”

Irene deployed her magic, hiding Alice behind her. Their claims made no sense, and magic still wasn’t functioning properly. But it wasn’t the Iris Guild deciding to fight; it was the EK Guild. Those guys intended to fight, even if they had to force it.

“Mr. Ribera. I didn’t know you were that kind of person.”

“I am truly sorry.”

Ribera avoided Irene’s eyes and drew his sword. He had objected several times, but having come this far, he had effectively agreed with the EK Guild Master.

“If you surrender now… I’ll stake my name on it that your lives will be spared.”

“That foolish brain of yours is still the same. There’s no way Pretzel would let us live.”

“U-Unnie….”

Alice couldn’t hide her panic. She knew she had to fight too, but she was astonished at how Pretzel had created such an atmosphere in an instant.

‘Can we handle that man?’

Alice drew her sword, looking at the man exuding immense pressure. Ribera. He was the man called the strongest hunter before Lee Hoyeon appeared. If it were a dark night, Isaac might have managed somehow, but with the magic-blocking barrier active, there was no one who could defeat him.

‘…Even if I can’t handle it, I have to.’

It was a tense, hair-trigger situation. She felt cold sweat trickling down her back. Having recognized the need to fight, Alice couldn’t stand idly by. Lee Hoyeon was outside. He was holding off thousands of demons alone; she couldn’t face him if she couldn’t handle even one guy like that.

“…?”

Just then, she felt a round object in her hand. Alice lowered her gaze and blinked, looking at the button.

‘Right. The magic tool Lee Hoyeon gave me.’

She hadn’t heard him clearly, but what did he say again? He said to use it if the EK Guild went wild, didn’t he?

…Isn’t this that time?

Click-

Alice pressed the button. And then, dozens of EK Guild members, who had been radiating murderous intent while targeting the Iris Guild, simultaneously dropped to their knees.

“Subdue the Iris Guild immediately… Khhhk!”

“Aaaargh!!”

Ribera, the strongest man present, was no exception. He collapsed face-down on the floor, unconscious.

“…What in the world is going on?”

Isaac, who had been forcibly channeling magic at the forefront of the Iris Guild, could not hide his bewilderment as he looked at the fallen EK Guild members. It was enough to make him suspect if it was some prank prepared by the EK Guild.

“Body paralysis…?”

A moment later, Isaac noticed the magic enveloping the EK Guild members. Finally, he turned his head towards the source of that magic.

“Huh….”

There stood Alice, mouth agape.

“H-Hey, Alice. What is it? Alice?”

“Unnie. I-I don’t know either….”

Alice mumbled, looking at the numerous gazes directed at her. She hadn’t even relaxed from the tension yet. She had only pressed one button.

“What? This hasn’t been restored yet? Wait, it hasn’t even been 30 minutes, has it?”

Just then, a man entered the party hall. Lee Hoyeon, who entered confidently through the main entrance, let out a hollow laugh upon seeing the magic-blocking barrier still filling the party hall.

‘Yeokcheon is quite something.’

He never thought it would only take 10 minutes to subdue that many demons and terrorists. Lee Hoyeon brushed off the faint residual aura of Yeokcheon and warped space.

CRACKLE-

He forcibly separated the magic-blocking barrier from the space. This method normally affects those inside, but by shedding the power of Yeokcheon, he channeled the backlash along with it. Only then did Lee Hoyeon survey the party hall.

“Alright, it’s done. Huh? Alice. But why are those people like that? Did they really attack?”

He had set it up as a precaution, and seeing them like this, it seemed quite effective. But why are they collapsed like that?

‘Ah, they must have been caught while in the Yeokcheon state?’

It was a weak magic that paralyzes nerves, but it seems absorbing the Yeokcheon energy put a strain on their bodies.

“Lee Hoyeon. Can you explain this….”

Alice approached Lee Hoyeon as if finding her savior.