Side Story 53. The Story After (53)

Isaac, held by the Vice Guild Master throughout the conversation, spouted nonsensical things like ‘Kill him.’ and ‘Bastard.’

Ultimately giving up on having a proper conversation, Alice and Irene, who came out of the Guild Master’s office, tilted their heads and talked.

“Dad’s often strange, but… he’s even more so today.”

“I heard from Mother that he’s been complaining of anxiety since last night. Maybe it’s because of his age.”

Thanks to the Guild Master-nim complaining of chest pain, they couldn’t have a proper conversation.

Because of that, the two of them had to return to the office to check information.

“….”

Lee Hoyeon, who seemed to know the reason for that pain, quietly followed behind them.

Lee Hoyeon, who was killing time in the office for a moment, immediately made arrangements to leave for Korea.

He had to get away since he didn’t know when Isaac might attack.

A few hours later, Lee Hoyeon stood in front of the private jet.

Lee Hoyeon liked that the Iris Guild was fast at handling things like this.

“Are you going back?”

“Yeah. The party’s over, so I have to go.”

Lee Hoyeon smiled as he looked at Alice and Irene, who came to see him off.

He was just grateful they came all the way here despite being busy.

“We’ll be returning to Korea soon too, so wait for us.”

“… Shouldn’t Irene-ssi have to stay here?”

“I can switch my affiliation to the Korean branch anytime.”

Right, she’s the Iris Guild Master’s daughter, so she can probably change her affiliation as she pleases.

Lee Hoyeon suddenly recalled the time when the two of them came to Korea.

‘If the two of them move in next door, it’ll get even noisier.’

Once he returned to Korea, he already had a lot to deal with.

There was Rebecca’s business, and he had to meet Im Sol and Baek Ahyoung, and Moon Surin too.

‘It feels like it’ll be hard just to survive after another year.’

After going through the trouble of killing this world’s god, it felt like the real trials were waiting now.

Of course, in the end, it was all problems Lee Hoyeon had to handle.

“Anyway. I’ll be going now. See you next time.”

“I’ll finish up quickly and be right there, so wait for me. I’m planning to graduate from the Academy too.”

“… Even if Alice, you come, there won’t be any classes for us to take together.”

“?”

“You probably don’t understand. Yeah. I don’t understand either….”

Lee Hoyeon boarded the private jet, receiving their farewells.

As the private jet slowly rose into the sky and the two waving figures became invisible, Lee Hoyeon turned his head.

In the cockpit, he saw a familiar face.

“Nice to meet you. Your name is… Vector, right?”

“That’s correct. It makes my heart swell that you remember me, Archmage-nim.”

“Please take care of me. Thank you again today.”

“It’s nothing. I’m also grateful to Scarlet. To see the Archmage-nim this closely.”

Lee Hoyeon nodded and checked the adjacent seat.

Next to him, naturally, sat Scarlet.

She had participated in this trip as his secretary, but he hadn’t even properly seen her face.

“I heard you decided to return to the Iris Guild? You seemed busy throughout the schedule.”

“It happened somehow. I also spoke with the Guild Master-nim.”

Scarlet was wearing the neat suit he’d seen her in before.

It seemed she was paying attention to her clothes again after returning to the Iris Guild.

“That’s a relief. Was there any trouble with your reinstatement?”

“As Hoyeon-nim probably saw, the Guild Master-nim has a very straightforward personality. By the way, Hoyeon-nim, did you enjoy yourself?”

“… Hm?”

Scarlet, sitting beside him, leaned in.

Scarlet whispered in his ear, making sure Vector in the front seat couldn’t hear.

“Lady Alice and Lady Irene’s faces were full of life. Who do you think was the reason?”

“….”

Lee Hoyeon just shut his mouth.

He couldn’t lie, and besides, it felt like no matter what he said, he wouldn’t be able to fool her.

“It’s fine. Thanks to Hoyeon-nim diverting all official contact to the Iris Guild, the two ladies will be much busier. We can just enjoy ourselves slowly back in Korea, right?”

“Ahem. Right. Scarlet. We just need to have a good time in Korea.”

Lee Hoyeon also said, sticking close to Scarlet.

Vector was focused on flying, not paying any attention to them.

“To act so brazenly about it, you have quite the thick skin.”

“If it’s like this, just stab me with a sword.”

“I’m just kidding. I guess I must be feeling good after returning to the Iris Guild.”

Scarlet chuckled and linked her arm with his.

‘I’m going to die from exhaustion.’

It was a time that made him worry even more about his future life.

• Lee Hoyeon, having landed in the mansion’s yard, greeted Vector and went inside.

The air of Korea, felt after a long time, was still clear.

“I’m home.”

“Huh? Lee Hoyeon! You’re finally back! I thought my neck would fall off waiting!”

“Yeah, yeah. It’s been a while.”

Seeing each other every day, a week really did feel like a long time.

Lee Hoyeon gave Liliana a light hug and then checked the state of the house.

And he nodded at the surprisingly clean state of the house.

“You’re cleaning well even without Scarlet. … You’re not leaving everything to Daeun, are you?”

“Hey! If she doesn’t clean the house, she doesn’t cook properly, making things so hard for me!”

At Lee Hoyeon’s words, Liliana scowled.

She had a look of indignation.

“Then why don’t you clean up normally too?”

“Normally, you’re here, so even if I don’t clean, you cook.”

“….”

‘What a trashy Succubus…’

Lee Hoyeon sighed and sank onto the sofa.

He felt like he’d need to make time later to educate her.

“Anyway, are you okay? Your name’s on the news every day. They say you caught a ton of Mines! Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine, of course. A world-class mage like Lee Hoyeon doesn’t have time to get hurt by Mines.”

“… Why are you talking like that? It’s annoying.”

“There’s a saying, ‘If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.’ I’ve decided to accept the flow of this world too.”

Of course, he planned to pawn off all official communications to the Iris Guild.

Because troublesome things are troublesome.

“There were apparently a lot of humans who sided with the Mines. What happened to them?”

“… Well. Honestly, I wasn’t interested, so I didn’t really listen.”

To be honest, he hadn’t been interested in that side of things since the terror attack was announced.

It was because Lee Hoyeon was confident he could have stopped it without victims if he’d put his mind to it.

‘I have to meet the heroines, and I can’t be bothered to worry about places like that.’

He figured the Iris Guild would have dealt with the bad guys properly.

“The EK Guild and its subordinate guilds have naturally been dismantled.”

Scarlet, who entered later, resolved the curiosity of Lee Hoyeon and Liliana.

She only began her duties as a secretary after returning to Korea.

“Really? But can such a huge guild be dismantled in just one day?”

“Yes. It’s a natural outcome. They were caught leading the terror attack, and the Guild Master himself was the ringleader hiding the Mines. Guild Master Pretzel resisted until the end and was subdued after his limbs were severed, and the rest were instantly torn apart under the leadership of the European Union.”

“Right. Guys like that are like cockroaches eating away at the world.”

“As far as I know, most of the EK Guild members were imprisoned, and only Libera, the guild’s ace, received consideration. They say he constantly voiced his opposition alone… but ultimately, he’ll have to live with magic tools for the rest of his life.”

Lee Hoyeon nodded.

Thinking back, there was one useful person among those who collapsed back then.

It seemed that hunter was Libera.

“Even though he opposed it, the Guild Master forced him to come along? That must feel unfair.”

“It can’t be helped. If he didn’t like the terror, he should have forced himself to quit the guild.”

It might be unfair, but… the world is inherently unfair.

“Speaking of which, what about Rebecca-ssi? Daeun should be at the Academy by now.”

“It’s almost the full moon, isn’t it? She was preparing something in her room.”

“… What is she up to now?”

“Shouldn’t she just focus on having sex properly on a full moon night?”

He really wished she would stop making strange preparations.

• On the second floor of the Academy’s Magic Tower.

Inside a quiet office, two women were pressed close together, focusing on the news on their smartwatches.

“[An expert analysis states that Lee Hoyeon alone can contend with all of the world’s top 10 guilds….]”

“[Breaking news. Archmage Lee Hoyeon has entered Korea….]”

“[Lee Hoyeon. Tips for maintaining his good looks revealed!]”

“[The terrorists who attacked the party venue possessed a scale of power capable of overthrowing a small nation. Under the EK Guild’s leadership, numerous Mines covertly stormed the site, but a single mage….]”

The news was playing footage of Lee Hoyeon subduing the terrorists.

Although the video was filmed using sight magic, the quality was incredibly clear, befitting a party hosted by the Iris Guild.

“I knew my honey was amazing, but…”

Baek Ahyoung gaped as she watched the Mines fall listlessly.

She suddenly remembered the first time she saw Lee Hoyeon fight.

She remembered the immoral thrill when he, injured while catching an Ogre in the dungeon, touched her chest….

“Ah… honey.”

Those memories were precious, but the love she felt with her honey now was just as precious.

Baek Ahyoung pouted, wanting to protect those loves.

“Sob. Sol-ah, this is terrible. It’s already hard to meet him, what if honey becomes even more famous…?”

If he’s that amazing, he won’t even need to visit the Academy anymore.

The whole world already knew how great he was.

It was clear that the time he’d have to meet Baek Ahyoung would decrease even further.

“M-my disciple is using magic like that…”

Of course. Im Sol couldn’t hear Baek Ahyoung’s words.

She had already played this video dozens, no, hundreds of times.

Yet, she still couldn’t analyze the subtleties and overwhelming power contained within that magic.

“There’s no magic circle. But the clarity of the magic power is top-tier. It’s impossible for such magic to manifest just because the quality of magic power is high… Talent? No. It’s magically impossible…”

Im Sol’s mind had already checked out.

It was amazing enough that such magic existed in the world, but the one casting it was her beloved disciple.

“Talking like a dreamer mage without knowing anything… As expected, my disciple needs to be with me…”

Im Sol, the human who loved Lee Hoyeon, and Im Sol, the mage reveling in the beauty of magic, were both being completely fulfilled.

The thought that she couldn’t let that person go took root firmly in Im Sol’s values, like an unremovable thorn.

Inside the cramped office, Im Sol and Baek Ahyoung made eye contact.

Their mutual resolve was understood without words.

Now that he was in Korea, they couldn’t delay any longer.

It was time to prepare.