Side Story 66. The Story After (66)

Screeeech-

As soon as he entered Class A, the students’ eyes turned to Lee Hoyeon.

“Oh, Hoyeon!”

“I heard you could come starting today, but you really came? I thought you’d be too busy.”

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

Seeing the students’ uniformly surprised reactions, Lee Hoyeon smiled.

As expected, the reactions from the young bloods in their 20s were great.

The French people’s reactions were good too, but of course, my country is the best.

Swish-

Nam Daeun, who was sitting in her seat, also gave a light wave.

Lee Hoyeon smiled back at her before heading inside.

“Lee Hoyeon!”

“Hoyeon-ssi!”

The ones who welcomed Lee Hoyeon the most upon entering Class A were the Lucy and Lumi twins.

It had been a while since I’d seen the two of them at the academy, so I was even happier.

“Hi. Were you bored while I was gone?”

“So bored! But it was okay since your face was always on the news.”

“That’s right. I was worried you’d become too famous now and wouldn’t play with us anymore…”

“Hey, there’s no way that would happen. What do you take me for?”

Lee Hoyeon chuckled and sat down between the Lucy and Lumi twins.

Although the other students’ gazes were focused on them, he couldn’t not sit between the two girls.

If I don’t do things like this, there’s no point in living.

‘I should thank Surin noona.’

Lee Hoyeon exchanged pleasantries with Lucy and Lumi before turning on his smart watch.

He intended to contact Surin noona.

• Me: Surin noona. Thanks for helping me re-enroll. I’ll stop by the student council room next time.

• Surin noona: Yep, yep. Let’s do some PR club activities before Alice gets here.

• Me: Understood, noona. Could you maybe ask the professors later not to remove me from classes?

After a brief exchange, he turned off the smart watch.

Since it had been a while since he’d been to the academy, he needed to soak in the atmosphere of Class A.

“Is the first class today Professor Im Sol’s?”

“Yes. It is.”

“Are you still taking private lessons from Professor Im Sol these days?”

“Yeah. The professor calls me sometimes to teach me magic.”

Since Lucy and Lumi were talented students too, it was natural that Im Sol liked them.

“Lee Hoyeon. But at your level, don’t you not even need an academy diploma?”

“I suppose so… But it’s the thought that counts, right?”

For Lee Hoyeon, the academy was a place to buy time.

If he became a jobless bum, his days would end after spending all day meeting women.

‘The academy really is the best.’

Lee Hoyeon chatted with the two of them for a while, something he hadn’t done in ages.

The twins’ advantage was how comfortable he felt every time they talked.

Screeeech-

After some time had passed.

The door to Class A opened, and Im Sol walked in.

It was his first class in a while.

Lee Hoyeon watched Im Sol, his eyes sparkling.

“Let’s begin the Introduction to Magic lecture… Huh?”

Im Sol blinked, noticing the man sitting in a seat.

Her Introduction to Magic class was one that explained the basics of magic.

“Student. Why are you here?”

Im Sol stared intently at Lee Hoyeon and spoke.

Introduction to Magic was quite difficult for a student, but it was definitely not a class Lee Hoyeon should be taking.

He was already receiving special private lessons, so why did he come here again?

“Because I’m an academy student too.”

“You’re supposed to be taking my special class. Taking Introduction to Magic is a waste of time. Didn’t I tell you all your credits would be waived?”

“Ahem.”

Lee Hoyeon didn’t bother to answer.

In fact, he didn’t really need to take the class.

He just wanted to enjoy his academy life.

“Wow, I’m jealous.”

“What exactly do you learn in Professor Im Sol’s special class?”

He lightly ignored the comments coming from behind.

There’s no point being jealous, guys…

“Professor. Let’s start the class soon. The students are waiting.”

“Student. Come to my lab after class today.”

“…Yes.”

Lee Hoyeon clicked his tongue slightly, looking disappointed.

Still, he hoped there would be a place for him at the academy.

“Today, I’ll talk about a topic currently being researched by the Wizard Association. Imbuing magic with emotions…”

Im Sol’s magic lecture began.

Watching the students diligently take notes, Lee Hoyeon also looked at Im Sol.

Since he didn’t need to learn about magic, he decided to just admire Im Sol’s face.

‘…My Sol is quite pretty.’

Her passionate way of lecturing magic was especially captivating.

That person still loves magic.

It’s great that her feelings haven’t changed.

“…Lee Hoyeon. What do you mean by practicing imbuing magic with emotions?”

Just then, Lucy, who had been concentrating on the lecture, tapped Lee Hoyeon’s arm.

She had asked for help because she couldn’t understand Im Sol’s lecture.

“It means to imbue emotions not into the entire magic circle, but only into the core incantation.”

“How do you do that?”

“Can’t you just do it? Like this.”

Lee Hoyeon drew mana onto his palm.

A small fire arrow was imbued with destructive magic.

“…”

Seeing the process, Lucy slumped her shoulders and took notes on Im Sol’s words.

Advice from a genius was, as expected, not helpful.

“Not right now, I’ll explain it in detail later during your special session with Professor Im Sol.”

Lee Hoyeon smiled, seeing her expression.

It seemed like he’d have to explain it thoroughly later in Sol’s lab.

Since Lucy and Lumi are Professor Im Sol’s favorite students, our professor will probably be happy if they come along too.

“Hoyeon-ssi. Professor Im Sol asked for only you today.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yes. Since it’s been a while since she’s seen you, she said she needs to solve a problem requested by the Wizard Association.”

“Aha…”

Right, I need to consider Chairman Arthur too.

I’ve received quite a bit of help thanks to that guy.

If I don’t start returning the favor soon, he’ll probably throw a fit again, telling me to become chairman.

“Using Lee Hoyeon student’s magic as an example…”

Lee Hoyeon looked straight ahead.

Im Sol was still focused on her lecture.

*

After the academy classes ended.

Lee Hoyeon headed towards the magic tower with a smile.

There weren’t many professors who had approved his classes yet… but he planned to resolve this with Surin noona’s help later.

‘Then, my academy life will finally return.’

Lee Hoyeon arrived at the magic tower, where the magic professors resided, for the first time in a while.

There were still many magicians here, and even more people glancing sideways at Lee Hoyeon.

As expected, he seemed to be quite famous among magicians.

Ting-

Lee Hoyeon got into the elevator and headed to the second floor.

He sensed Im Sol’s familiar magic.

“…”?

However, he sensed another presence from deeper inside the office.

‘Isn’t that Ahyoung-ssi?’

It was Baek Ahyoung’s magic.

Didn’t she say she had to solve a problem for the Wizard Association today?

Why was Baek Ahyoung here?

Screeeech-

Lee Hoyeon opened the office door without much thought.

Inside Im Sol’s office… a delicious smell wafted out.

Chicken, pizza, snacks, and more…

Next to the food filling the table, expensive-looking liquor was lined up.

“Y-you… Hoyeon. You’re here.”

“My student is here too?”

Baek Ahyoung and Im Sol sat in the office with awkward expressions.

Lee Hoyeon looked at them and spoke.

“Yes. Hello. …But what is all this? I came here to solve a problem for the Wizard Association, so why is Ahyoung-ssi here?”

“We can eat first, then get to it. They say even Mount Geumgang is best after a meal.”

Snap-

Im Sol casually snapped her fingers.

A liquor glass and chopsticks were neatly placed in front of Lee Hoyeon.

“You want to drink too? Why are you guys drinking when you usually don’t?”

“We received it as a gift.”

“…Then why did Ahyoung-ssi come?”

“I just came over to hang out with Sol, and Hoyeon happened to arrive too.”

“….”

Judging by the amount of food, it looked like it was prepared for three people from the start.

‘Well, maybe they’re having a team dinner?’

Actually, a gathering like this wasn’t bad.

Since Im Sol and Baek Ahyoung were close, they probably wanted the three of us to hang out and eat.

It’s all good.

“Shall we all just eat then? It’s been a while since I’ve had alcohol, so I’ll just have a little.”

“Okay. Student. Check this out too. It’s a magic tool made by the Wizard Association. They say it blocks nearby mana fluctuations.”

“It’s similar to the one used during the Pandemic, isn’t it?”

Lee Hoyeon nodded and examined the magic tool.

It was crude by his standards, but it looked like they had tried their best to replicate it.

“So about that… even though we’re drinking today, you can’t use alcohol decomposition. We need to test the magic tool.”

“…? What does that have to do with anything?”

“Just… you can’t. Promise me.”

“Uh… Okay. I understand. You and Ahyoung-ssi are drinking too, right?”

“Of course.”

If that’s the case, then fine.

Lee Hoyeon nodded without much thought.

“But what is this?”

Lee Hoyeon tapped a magic circle on the wall.

At the same moment.

With a loud BANG-!, the bookshelf toppled over and transformed into a bed.

“…”?

Lee Hoyeon looked at Im Sol with a puzzled expression.

She blinked, then said nonchalantly.

“Ah, this. I made it for when I get tired.”

“There’s already a bed in that room.”

“That one’s too small.”

“…It’s big enough for two people, and it’s small?”

“Beds are better the bigger they are, aren’t they? Can’t I use a big bed?”

“No, it’s not like that.”

Why does she seem angry?

Lee Hoyeon cautiously sat down.

He figured he could just eat first and then find out why she was acting like this.