Side Story 6. The Story After (6)

The hot summer sunlight receded, and the weather turned to one with a cool breeze blowing.

The Victoria Academy cadets’ clothes also became lighter, and the leisure time of cadets who couldn’t go out and have fun due to demon and orc terror attacks increased.

“But why are there no customers?”

Liliana was sitting in the fish-shaped pastry truck that Scarlet had arranged.

It had already been an hour since she set up shop in front of the Academy, but there were no customers.

…Of course, the reason was that the cadets were in the middle of class.

“Look over there. There’s a place selling fish-shaped pastries?”

“Huh? They’re selling fish-shaped pastries even though it’s not winter yet.”

Just then, cadets who had come outside during the Academy’s lunch break saw the fish-shaped pastry truck and approached it.

Although it wasn’t cold enough for fish-shaped pastries to be tempting yet, they could at least look around.

“Hello. Owner-nim. You are selling fish-shaped pastries, right?”

“Welcome! It’s chicken fish-shaped pastry!”

The woman inside the truck, who had been wearing a bored expression, brightened up and welcomed the customer.

An hour had passed since she started business, but this was finally the first customer.

“…Chicken fish-shaped pastry?”

The Academy cadet who had spoken blinked at the unfamiliar term.

The immediate informality was bewildering, but what was this chicken fish-shaped pastry instead of cream filling?

“Yep. One is five thousand won. Buy one.”

“…Five thousand won?”

Moreover, even that price was outrageous.

Even if fish-shaped pastries have gotten expensive, isn’t 5,000 won for one just price gouging?

Glancing at the sales counter, I could see the fish-shaped pastries being baked.

The chicken smell wafting out made it seem like real chicken was inside, but no matter what, buying and eating it at this price felt a bit much.

“Ahem. I understand, Owner-nim. I’ll come back next time.”

“Ah, no….”

The first customer was indifferently about to leave.

Liliana lowered her head in despair.

She had clearly thought she’d become rich just by starting the business, but customers weren’t coming as expected.

‘…No. Not having good business isn’t bad either.’

Liliana’s sudden decision to start a fish-shaped pastry business had a reason.

While it was true she wanted to do the fish-shaped pastry business she saw on YouTube, the second reason was to get Lee Hoyeon’s attention.

Of course, receiving attention isn’t difficult.

If she just rushed at Lee Hoyeon and played around, attention would naturally be focused on her.

‘That’s embarrassing…!’

This morning, Liliana whined petulantly to Scarlet and Rebecca.

She insisted on her idea to the point where one might think, ‘Isn’t this being a nuisance?’

She acted as much as possible according to the memories of her wild past.

However, Rebecca and Scarlet complied with Liliana’s words as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Within just a few hours, they had somehow arranged even this fish-shaped pastry truck.

‘It didn’t feel bad.’

Succubi are faithful to their desires.

The feeling of having everything she wanted provided wasn’t just not bad; it felt quite good.

This must be why living like a degenerate is so good.

Since she practiced on those two, next was Lee Hoyeon.

She had intended to try acting a little spoiled towards Lee Hoyeon at the breakfast table.

However, as soon as she sat at the table with Lee Hoyeon, her confidence vanished.

It was too difficult to show more of her embarrassing side to that man.

In the end, it was the next plan.

Her Master, Lee Hoyeon, paid extreme attention to Liliana’s actions.

She already knew his personality and behavioral patterns inside out.

If she played around while doing the fish-shaped pastry business, he would surely come looking worriedly.

At that time, she could try again.

‘It’s a perfect plan!’

Liliana clenched her fist, thinking so.

Of course, Lee Hoyeon was on a date with Scarlet, so there was no reason for him to come looking.

“Hey. Wait a second. Isn’t the person selling fish-shaped pastries just now… Lily?”

One of the cadets, who had been backing away, surprised by the price, squinted as they looked at Liliana.

“Uh, huh?! It really looks like her! The person who was with Lee Hoyeon!”

The footage of Lee Hoyeon’s battle with the Demon King had occupied the top ranks of YouTube within a month.

In that video, which showed him fighting fiercely alone with the Demon King trapped in a special space, one woman also appeared.

The flower of darkness that appeared right before Lee Hoyeon collapsed and saved him, and the woman who bloomed from that flower.

Their combined effort pushed the Demon King back to the very end, and she, who fell to the Demon King after he revealed his power, triggered Lee Hoyeon’s awakening.

She, known as Lee Hoyeon’s close aide, is known by the name Lily.

This was because Lee Hoyeon’s faint voice could be heard in the video.

There was no other information, and the biggest reason was that Lee Hoyeon refused interviews because he wanted to keep Liliana hidden.

Surprisingly, no one recalled Liliana’s broadcasts.

Having regained the memories of Liliana Calliope, Liliana’s features became sharper and her expression changed, making it difficult to recall the sexy succubus.

“Uh, excuse me… Is it Lily-nim?”

“Lily? Are you calling me? I guess so?”

Liliana narrowed her eyes, looking at the woman before her.

She compared it against the few human faces she knew, but it was a face she didn’t remember.

‘Ah, is she a viewer from my broadcast?’

Thinking that way, it made sense.

She hadn’t particularly cast any perception-altering magic today.

Hmm? But had she ever mentioned her name on the broadcast?

“A photo, can I take a photo?”

“There’s no reason not to, but could you buy a fish-shaped pastry?”

“I’ll buy it! Please take a photo!”

“So you were a customer! I welcome it anytime!”

She could gladly take a photo for a fan who liked her.

As long as they bought just one fish-shaped pastry.

“Isn’t that her?”

“Looks like it? Wait a moment. I’ll upload it to Everyday.”

Cadets began to gather around Liliana’s fish-shaped pastry truck, which had been empty for an hour.

Only then did a smile bloom on Liliana’s face.

“Ahaha. I had no idea I had so many fans. If you want a photo, buy a fish-shaped pastry.”

Even though she had regained her memories, Liliana was still Liliana in the end.

To the pouring attention, a smile unconsciously flowed out.

‘Huh? But is it okay to be like this? I was planning to ask Lee Hoyeon to take me home if he came, since the fish-shaped pastry business would be difficult….’

She regained her senses for a moment, but got carried away again by the pouring orders.

“I’ll buy 10 fish-shaped pastries! Please take a photo! Unnie, you’re so pretty!”

“You have a good eye, huh?”

Beaming with a big smile at the cadets’ compliments, Liliana forgot her own plan and mingled with the people.

*

Going out to have fun together, a woman and a man, is called a date.

Lee Hoyeon knew that fact too.

However, after finishing his preparations and stepping outside, his mind went blank.

…How does one go on a date?

Although Lee Hoyeon was involved with women every day, when he thought about it, he had almost no memory of going on a proper date.

He had played with Lucy and Lumi many times, but he mostly just followed them around.

The Magic Expo he went to with Im Sol? It’s a bit much to call that a date.

Grocery shopping with Nam Daeun? …This doesn’t seem like it either.

“Scarlet.”

Scarlet.

While I was quickly washing up, she also appeared, having finished getting ready to go out.

A black miniskirt revealing her thighs and a white blouse.

It looked similar to her work attire, yet felt different.

She did look pretty enough to make someone turn their head if their eyes met on the street.

“Yes. Hoyeon-nim.”

“We’re going out alone together for the first time in a while, shall we go see a movie or something?”

“Why are you asking me that? Hoyeon-nim should take the lead.”

“…Okay. Follow me.”

Alright. I need to lead like a real man for once.

Lee Hoyeon confidently headed towards the movie theater.

It was crowded with people, and the smell of sweet popcorn stung his nose.

Lee Hoyeon avoided the crowd to check the movies currently showing.

“Wow. This is here too. Bad City 3.”

The movie series he loved before possessing this world existed here too.

It was a popular movie because of its exhilarating action, and it seemed popular here too.

“Scarlet. Want to watch this?”

“…Yes. As you wish.”

Lee Hoyeon happily booked the movie tickets.

He didn’t forget to buy the movie theater essentials: popcorn and cola.

It was time to enjoy some cultural activities after a long time.

‘Fucking boring.’

After the movie ended, Lee Hoyeon was engulfed in disappointment.

The problem wasn’t just that it was boring.

Teasing Scarlet, who was munching on popcorn, was more fun than the movie.

No, it wasn’t unbearable, but… I didn’t feel any of the movie’s strong points: its exhilarating action and catharsis.

The reason was obvious: Lee Hoyeon fought better.

Why did I watch something like this? I should have watched a romance movie.

“…Sorry, Scarlet. I should have watched a romance movie.”

“I did not find it bad.”

A faint smile appeared on Scarlet’s face.

Did she really not find it bad?

“Really? Ahem. Then let’s at least go get something to eat.”

Lee Hoyeon took the lead with an awkward expression.

Since he ruined the movie, he had to take her to a proper place for a meal at least.

Scarlet, following behind him, slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

Actually, even in Scarlet’s opinion, the movie wasn’t great.

In the first place, action movies like that were made for ordinary people to watch, not for hunters.

‘He’s a truly strange person.’

Still, the sight of him leading the date was nice.

Because she wanted to receive this kind of treatment too.

Scarlet nodded and followed Lee Hoyeon.

“How about here for lunch?”

“Pasta, I see. With Hoyeon-nim’s taste, choosing a restaurant better than this must have been difficult.”

“Hey. This place is so famous.”

The place Lee Hoyeon brought Scarlet to was a pasta specialty restaurant.

He actually wanted Korean food, but he didn’t know what kind of curses he’d receive if he took her to a Kimchi Jjigae specialty restaurant, so he ended up choosing this place.

“The atmosphere is nice.”

She liked the entrance with its marble base, black and white color scheme, and modern, clean design.

Did he find this himself?

For that level, he deserves praise.

“Bad City 3… I thought it would be fun. Tsk. What a shame.”

“Are you still dwelling on that thought?”

After taking seats in a room inside and finishing their order, Scarlet poured water for the regretful Lee Hoyeon.

Why was he acting like that over a movie?

“I guess I just don’t have an eye for movies. Next time, you choose, Scarlet.”

“Next time?”

“We have to come see another one. Ah, but you have to show me the Liliana imitation one more time.”

“…”

I had almost forgotten it, but you bring it up again.

His manners are still a mess.

…Still, it wasn’t bad.

Scarlet did not dislike this kind of atmosphere.

Hmm hmm.

Scarlet brought up a topic that would embarrass Lee Hoyeon to change the mood.

“Lately, Rebecca-nim’s complaints have been getting worse. If it goes on like this, her prime childbearing years will pass. I’ll have to make offspring someday too, and I’m truly worried about Hoyeon-nim’s capabilities.”

“…The choice of words is a bit much. But don’t worry too much.”

Lee Hoyeon laughed confidently.

The reason he had failed to get anyone pregnant until now was because his body couldn’t assimilate into this world.

Now, it’s different.

Lee Hoyeon was no longer a seedless watermelon.

“Your confidence is excessive, isn’t it?”

“Well now. I can’t exactly show you right now.”

Lee Hoyeon smiled and threw out a joke.

Going on a date just the two of us was indeed fun.

I should take the other heroines out often, not just Scarlet.

While exchanging nonsense talk, the pasta arrived.

Seeing the delicious-looking pasta made my mouth water.

After Scarlet took a neat bite of pasta, her eyes widened too.

“…It’s delicious, more than I expected. It’s the best pasta I’ve had in Korea.”

“Oh. Wow. Whoa. This is really! Really delicious!”

As expected, is pasta delicious only when eaten occasionally?

It was the most delicious food I’d eaten recently.

“Your reaction just now was incredibly like Liliana-nim’s.”

“…”

The taste of the pasta was beyond expectations.

The noodles soaked in sauce and the shrimp scattered throughout were good.

It was good enough that I’d want to visit again next time.

After finishing the meal while focusing on the pasta.

Lee Hoyeon, having paid the bill like a real man, felt helpless again as he stepped out of the restaurant.

It felt more comfortable when they were chatting and bantering back and forth.

‘Where should we go now?’

Since they came out so early, even after doing everything, the sun was still high in the sky.

There was a lot of time left until dinner.

“…”

“…”

Scarlet just stood there, waiting for Lee Hoyeon to say something.

Because today, she planned not to take the initiative and just be led.

After a moment of silence passed.

Lee Hoyeon opened his mouth.

“Scarlet. Shall we go to a hotel or something?”

“I can’t say that isn’t a date, but ultimately, it’s heading in that direction, isn’t it.”

“…Because there’s nothing else to do. Or do you want to take a photo booth picture or something?”

Lee Hoyeon reached out his hand and pointed to a photo booth on the street.

It was a cute booth made of pink and white.

Scarlet looked that way for a moment, then shook her head.

Just imitating Liliana’s way of speaking depleted her mental strength rapidly; taking photos together would be absolutely unbearable.

Scarlet was not accustomed to such actions.

It was better to just be intimate with Lee Hoyeon.

“Even so, I don’t think I can do that. Please lead the way to the hotel.”

“Uh, yeah. Okay.”

I need to research more diligently next time.

Lee Hoyeon thought so and looked for a nearby hotel.