Chapter 162: Party Preparations Are Tough (3)
Party Preparations Are Tough (3)
"Yes, I'd like to join the party."
Inside the student council room at Victoria Academy, Moon Soorin's voice resonated through the quiet space. She finally applied to participate in the party she had been postponing and settled into a chair, burdened by the accumulated fatigue from her work.
Although this should have been a moment to relish some rest before concluding her tasks, there seemed to be no such opportunity.
"Hoyeon…"
Baek Ahyeong's interview played on the smartwatch in Moon Soorin's hand. While nervously biting her nails, she felt a sense of unease.
"I should've made a move a bit quicker…!"
Thankfully, they're not officially together, but I know how people perceive things. Baek Ahyeong seemed eager to project that they were a couple to anyone watching. But if that's not the case, it means the saint is my rival… I need to put in effort to avoid falling behind.
Raising the smartwatch, Moon Soorin tapped the file labeled [Lee Hoyeon Love]. This compilation was a result of discreetly recording and editing each encounter with Lee Hoyeon.
[Noona, I… love you. I really do.]
The meticulously adjusted voice file, complete with pitch variations, sounded remarkably natural.
"Hmm… Hoyeon." Listening to his voice, Moon Soorin reassured her racing heart.
My rival may have taken a step ahead, but I can somehow catch up. Somehow.
***
After spending time with the Lucy and Lumi, I returned to my dorm. For dinner tonight, chicken was naturally the chosen menu.
"Scarlett."
"Yes, Hoyeon?"
Setting aside Liliana, who was enthusiastically indulging in the chicken, I turned to Scarlett.
"If you were given the order to extract information from the Buyers Guild, how would you go about it?"
My curiosity sparked for no particular reason, wondering about the methods employed in this industry.
It's been three days since Kang Hyorin decided to save Nam Daehee, the younger sister of Nam Daeun. With little time left and still no updates, I'm contemplating whether I should pay a visit tomorrow.
"Hmm… the last time I saw it, the security seemed formidable, making it a challenging breach. In situations like this, a long-term approach is needed. For instance, undercover employment or disguising as an existing employee."
"Oh… how long do you think it would take if it were you?"
Scarlett suddenly became sharper when discussing work matters.
"If it were me, I think it would take about a month. Such methods require that much time to avoid suspicion. I'm not sure how the Korean branch leader will investigate, she might be more skilled than me. She could even opt for a direct approach, potentially shortening the time."
"Don't you all share information with each other?"
Despite being in the same guild, Scarlett seems to possess less information than me.
"I knew nothing about her. I didn't even know there was someone called Kang Hyorin."
"Hmm, interesting."
I may not comprehend it fully, but there must be some rules within Iris, the information guild. Anyway, my concern lies here. Scarlett is undoubtedly capable, but can Kang hyorin handle a task estimated to take a month in just a week?
I initially wasn't worried, but as Thursday night approached with still no contact, my concerns grew.
"Would it be a bother if someone comes to check how the work you assigned is progressing?"
"It might not be pleasant, but it's not a bother. It's the customer's right, after all."
Okay. I should go check tomorrow. Although I don't want to rush like an impatient customer, the urgency of the matter took precedence.
"Scout, I thought of something you could do!" Liliana, who had been listening to our conversation, suddenly raised a chicken leg and exclaimed.
"Yes? What is it?"
"Go around the chicken joints near here and find out which one is the most hygienic. Then, we can just order from there."
"Oh… that's an interesting approach."
"Can't we stop the whole chicken thing now?"
Until when are they planning to stick to this chicken idea? But contrary to my expectations, Liliana seemed genuinely serious. She and Scarlett started checking chicken places on the map.
Sure. Have fun on your own. If you're happy with it, I don't mind, Liliana.
"I should go and pester her tomorrow."
Nam Daeun is still holed up in the dorm, and there's no way to contact her. All I could do is to pester Kang Hyorin. I should at least do that diligently.
***
The Magic Tower, where all the magic professors' labs located. In Professor Im Sol's lab taking up the entire second floor, Baek Ahyeong, Min Yeji, and Im Sol were having a chat. The topic of conversation, of course, was Baek Ahyeong.
"You've got a thing for Lee Hoyeon, right? Right?" Min Yeji playfully nudged Ahyeong, a mischievous grin on her face.
"…"
Ahyeong dropped her head low. She'd been ignoring the messages popping up on her smartwatch. Now Her poker face wasn't thick enough to throw out a nonchalant "Oh, it's not like that" after intentionally stirring up misunderstandings. But well, it wasn't the worst misunderstanding, she thought, so she just went with it.
"Sol-ah, you gotta say something too. It's a big deal!" Min Yeji shook her head animatedly, giving a playful tap to Im Sol's arm.
"Haa… Ahyeong, why'd you do that? What if the beasts start munching on the bait you tossed…"
"Sorry…" Ahyeong bowed her head as if she could bury it in the ground and Im Sol chuckled at the scene.
Watching the interview, Im Sol was initially surprised, but on second thought, it didn't add up. There were no signs that Hoyeon, who claimed she'd meet Ahyeong yesterday, had any such intentions.
She thought that most likely, they just agreed to be party partners. But that doesn't automatically translate to a romantic relationship. Hoyeon probably roped Ahyeong in as a party buddy without overthinking it, and Ahyeong seemed aware of that.
However, yesterday's interview was deliberately engineered to cause a stir. This hinted that Ahyeong genuinely harbored feelings for Hoyeon. At this point, even Im Sol felt a bit intrigued.
"So, do you really like him?"
"…"
With Im Sol joining the interrogation, Ahyeong couldn't dodge it any longer.
"You do, right? You're 28 and trying to score with a 20-year-old?" Min Yeji resumed her teasing.
Ahyeong finally spilled the beans, "An 8-year age gap… can be overcome."
"Whoa, Sol-ah, look at Ahyeong's confession. You're the teacher, and Lee Hoyeon is your student…"
"I'm not a professor; I'm a staff member."
"Oh, wow. Looks like you're seriously smitten. Amazing…"
In the end, Baek Ahyeong came clean. For the first time, she openly spilled her true feelings in front of others.
"Yeah, that's right. I like Hoyeon. Satisfied now?" Confessing openly like this made her earlier frustration fade away.
However, Min Yeji's next words triggered Ahyeong's internal alarm system. "Sol-ah, what are you gonna do? Looks like you've got yourself a rival~"
"A rival?" Ahyeong looked at Im Sol in surprise.
"Pay her no mind. Yeji thrives on your reactions, so she keeps at it."
"Sorry, Ahyeong…" Min Yeji offered a genuine apology, but Ahyeong shot her a pointed look.
Observing the scene, Im Sol pondered.
Lee Hoyeon…
To Im Sol, Lee Hoyeon is still an adorable student. They share a magical connection, being among the rare mage who can understand her words. Plus, Hoyeon is a unique source of delightful sweetness.
"Ahyeong, want some tips on how to charm Lee Hoyeon with confidence?" Min Yeji grinned mischievously at Ahyeong.
"What is it…?" Though she didn't want to entertain Min Yeji's ideas, she couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.
"Get physical. He's a 20-year-old guy, he'll go crazy right away."
"…"
"Really? Straight to the point…"
Min Yeji's suggestion was a mix of jest and earnestness, but Ahyeong wasn't impressed.
It didn't work. We've already crossed that line, and it changed nothing.
In a situation where she wanted to blurt out, "I have sex with Lee Hoyeon every time we meet," Ahyeong felt frustrated. Despite her heart being laid bare, she wasn't ready to discuss the physical aspect of their relationship.
"Sol-ah, Ahyeong doesn't believe it."
"…"
Im Sol saw Ahyeong seriously contemplating and thought to herself.
I better not clue Ahyeong in on the fact that every time Hoyeon swings by the lab, I'm on my knees, sucking him off. Well, even though the aim is to replenish my glucose needs… it might be a bit too progressive for people to grasp. The concept is just light-years ahead.
And looking at Baek Ahyeong, who seemed to be fumbling, Im Sol felt a sense of pity. Having already established a deep connection with Lee Hoyeon, she felt like she had surpassed Baek Ahyeong.
It's strange that this brings me joy.
Im Sol shook her head and took a sip of her instant coffee.
***
Finally, Friday had arrived. Despite the approaching party, there was still no word from Kang Hyorin.
"Due to personal reasons, Dr. Kang Hyorin won't be able to conduct today's class. I'll be covering Dungeon Research in her place."
With even the class canceled, she must be occupied. Is it possible she ran away? Did I set the deadline too tight?
But there's no turning back. I invoked the request token as soon as the grades were out; I couldn't have acted faster. If I can't save Nam Daeun, it's more her fault than mine. If she hadn't assured me it could be done, I would've devised a different plan.
After the class, I headed straight to Dr. Kang Hyorin's research lab.
Knock-knock—
"Come in."
Luckily, there was someone inside. Upon entering, I found Kang Hyorin seated.
"Hello, I came to discuss the progress of the task."
"Um… sure. Have a seat."
Kang Hyorin seemed somewhat uneasy, and my anxiety grew inexplicably.
"The party is tomorrow… Are we good?"
"Honestly, the defense is more severe than I anticipated. It's worse than it looks on the outside. It'll take some time, but I'll break through. I'm staking my position as the leader of the Iris Korea branch, so don't worry."
"…"
I couldn't argue with someone so confident.
"I might have set the deadline too short… Please hang in there."
"No, I won't make excuses. I underestimated my opponent. Even if the opponent is strong, I'll break through in no time… Wait a moment." Kang Hyorin furrowed her brows, then started tapping her smartwatch. After waiting quietly for about a minute, she spoke again, "Just now, Nam Daeun left the dormitory."
"Now?"
If she stayed holed up in the dorm for a few days and just came out, it's likely related to the party.
"Yes, she's probably heading to the Buyers Guild."
"…"
She's likely summoned by the guild leader. I considered potential unexpected situations—Park Mingyu attacking Nam Daeun.
"This is an opportunity. With Nam Daeun going there, the opening for me to dig deeper will widen. I'll go deal with the matter right away. I'll make sure to compensate for this mistake after it's all done, so don't worry."
"Can I make an additional request for that compensation?"
Before, I was just watching passively, but now, if I can stop it, I must.
"An additional request?"
"If, by any chance, Nam Daeun goes berserk and starts killing people from the Buyers Guild, please find a way to stop her, somehow."
Anyway, there's no fear of Nam Daeun being sexually assaulted or physically harmed. In such a situation, she would go berserk and annihilate everyone. The real issue arises afterward.
The Buyers Guild itself lacks strength, but Nam Daeun alone doesn't wield enough power to wipe them out completely. Several major guilds outsourcing tasks to the Buyers Guild are unstoppable, they operate on a different scale of power, with a significant manpower advantage.
To prevent retaliation, we need to extract Nam Dahee.
"Usually, additional compensation would be necessary, but I understand. Also, when I rescue Nam Dahee, can I hide her with me?"
"Uh…"
While it would be safer if Kang Hyorin hides her, it's difficult for me to take proactive measures in handling the situation. The Buyers Guild is unaware of my existence, so they wouldn't suspect me if Nam Dahee disappeared.
"No, please bring her to my dorm."
For now, keeping Daeun's sister close to me is the best option. Plus, with Scarlett and Liliana around, she should be relatively safe even when I attend the party.
"Got it. And make sure to lock up when you leave the lab."
Swoosh—
Kang Hyorin wrapped up her talk and smoothly vanished through the floor.
"Wow."
That must be her ability. Judging by the urgency, it must have been an incredibly urgent matter.
I should head back quickly.
After securing the lab door, I headed to the dormitory.