Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Grade Announcement (3)
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"Lu, Lumi… Did I do something really wrong?"
Lucy buried her face in Lumi's chest as she watched Lee Ho-yeon run off with a stiff expression.
"It's okay, Lucy… You know Ho-yeon's personality. I'm sure there's no hard feelings."
Pat pat.
Lumi, fortunately back to her senses, comforted Lucy.
Of course, Lumi knew Lucy had messed up, but now wasn't the time to point it out.
Knowing Ho-yeon's occasionally playful but kind and gentle nature, Lucy was soon able to calm her excitement.
A moment later, Lee Ho-yeon burst into the lecture hall.
He grabbed the books from his desk and started packing his things.
"H-Ho-yeon. What are you doing?"
"Something urgent came up, so I have to go."
"…Right now?"
"Yeah. I won't be able to join you for afternoon classes."
Lucy, who had been about to suggest going to the cafe together after class, couldn't hide her panic at the sight of Ho-yeon suddenly packing up.
"Th-then, how about the cafe after class tomorrow? I heard they have some delicious new cakes at the academy cafe…"
"…Sorry. Things are going to be busy for a while. I'll let you know when I have time."
With those words, Lee Ho-yeon dashed out of the lecture hall.
Left behind, Lucy turned to look at Lumi.
"Lumi…"
"I-It'll be fine, Lucy. No hard feelings… definitely."
Even Lumi had never seen Ho-yeon act like that before.
Lumi wondered what could make the always-composed Ho-yeon from the survival exam look so urgent.
It must really be something pressing.
'Still… he'll keep up the secret friend activities, right?'
While comforting Lucy, Lumi made sure to secure her own territory.
*
"Haa…"
Untangling a knot you don't even know where it starts is such a hassle and exhausting.
I skipped afternoon classes and headed straight to the dorms.
I felt a little bad for Lucy, but there was no helping it right now.
As harsh as it sounded, Lucy wasn't in mortal danger.
Her mental state could be fixed somehow.
But Nam Da-eun was different. No telling what might happen to her.
With it being afternoon class time, I was the only one wandering the academy.
Ding-
I arrived at the dorm and opened the door.
"Huh? What the…"
Lilia, who had been lying on my bed watching videos on her smartwatch, bolted upright.
"Why are you back so early? Isn't it class time?"
"It is. But something urgent came up."
"You can't skip class for that. Back in my student days, if I skipped to play games, my mom would beat me senseless."
For reference, the academy doesn't care. Once midterms are over, you hit the minimum attendance requirement.
That's when Nam Da-eun starts skipping too, but that's not important right now.
"Don't worry, it's fine."
I pulled a bead out from the sub-space pouch hidden in my desk drawer.
The 'Request Token' from Ellis.
Apparently, it contained a direct line to the Iris Guild master.
But if you didn't contact them within an hour of opening it, the number expired, so I hadn't checked yet.
Click-
I opened the bead without hesitation.
Inside was a phone number.
I called it immediately, and it started ringing.
"What? What are you doing?"
"Hold on. Be quiet."
"Hmph."
I held out one hand to Lilia, who pouted and squirmed on the bed.
Lilia gnawed and played with my hand like a puppy, while I took the call.
Click-
The call connected.
But there was silence, so I spoke first.
"Hello. I have a request."
- …We only take requests in person. Wait at the academy tomorrow morning, and I'll come find you.
Click.
A modulated voice—impossible to tell if male or female—responded, and the call ended abruptly.
"What the hell? These bastards."
Every minute counted, and this was ridiculous.
Security was one thing, but this was too much.
Big problem. My plan was derailed.
I'd planned to slowly gather info on Nam Da-eun using Ellis's token, but taking first place in practicals had made things urgent.
Thinking about it, even the great Iris Guild master, the Night Emperor, agreeing in one day was suspicious.
"What now… Next is… Agh. Stop biting. That hurts."
I yanked my hand away from Lilia, who had been chomping on it possessively.
Maybe Nam Da-eun was in the girls' dorm? Should I sneak in?
Whoosh-
As I pondered seriously, a familiar mana signature approached.
"Oh! Scout's here."
Something slipped through the slightly open transom window, skittering across the ceiling.
Thud-
Scarlett dropped from the ceiling and greeted me.
"Hello, Ho-yeon. You're back early today. Perfect timing—I had something to report. A little rebellion now and then is good for the soul."
Normally, I'd tell her not to come via the ceiling, but not today.
I saw a glimmer of hope in Scarlett.
"Scarlett… you're my hope."
"Pardon?"
Scarlett blinked at the sudden declaration.
"I need you to do something. Sneak into the girls' dorm and check if a cadet named Nam Da-eun is in her room."
"Right now? I also have a report on Ellis…"
"…This is more important."
I was dying to know if Ellis had gotten off to my video, but no choice.
"Understood. It won't take long—I'll go and come right back."
Thankfully, Scarlett obeyed and stuck to the ceiling before heading out.
"What's going on? I wanna play with Scout."
"I'll play with you instead. Just hang on a bit."
"For real? Yay! Then let's get chicken."
"…Order it."
I had no idea how playing connected to chicken, but if it kept her happy, fine.
As Lilia hummed and picked out chicken, Scarlett returned.
"That was fast."
"It was simple. There is one first-year cadet named Nam Da-eun, but no one's entered her room since she left this morning."
"…I see."
This was serious.
High chance she went to the Buyer Guild.
Whether she went willingly or was summoned, the reason didn't matter.
What mattered was Nam Da-eun was in danger.
'I can't go looking for her myself.'
Storming in blindly wouldn't get me to her and would just raise suspicions.
"She must be important to you, Ho-yeon."
"Yeah. Scarlett, do you know the Buyer Guild?"
"Hmm… I've heard the name, but I don't think it's very famous."
Exactly.
Buyer Guild had lucked out with Nam Da-eun; it was just a mid-tier guild.
But behind it were massive powers.
Money laundering, dirty work, assassinations, plundering—anything big guilds couldn't do directly.
Unless Scarlett had insider domestic intel, she wouldn't know.
"Scarlett, check inside the Buyer Guild. See if Nam Da-eun is there. But your safety comes first—come back if it's iffy. Got it?"
"Yes, understood."
"Wait—no. I'll come too. I'll wait in front of the guild building."
I couldn't just sit in the dorm waiting for intel.
Might be something I could do.
Even if not, I'd get info a second faster.
"I'll head out first. I'll find you in front of the guild."
Scarlett nodded and slipped out.
"Spicy chicken okay?"
"Whatever. Play a bit then order. I'll be back in a few hours."
Showing up at a guild in cadet uniform would draw eyes.
I changed into casual clothes, cast a light perception-lowering barrier, and left the dorm.
*
Inside a dark room at Buyer Guild headquarters.
A man lounged on the sofa with legs crossed, while a woman knelt before him, head bowed, as they conversed.
"How did this happen…?"
"…"
"Da-eun clearly said she got first place. Didn't we even check with Da-hee again?"
"Th-that's…"
Nam Da-eun looked up at Buyer Guild master Park Min-gyu from her knees.
"Hmm… Da-eun. Got any excuses?"
"…I'm sorry, Uncle. Please, just give me one more chance…"
Park Min-gyu pondered as he gazed at the trembling Nam Da-eun pleading from her knees.
By contract, he could force her to drop out.
Then turn her into his slave. That's the kind of underhanded deal between them.
But expelling her now would be inefficient.
Her value had skyrocketed.
Best to let her graduate; worst case, finish first year.
That way her price would rise more, and so would Buyer Guild's reputation.
They handled big guilds' dirty work now, but Park believed he'd claim that seat someday.
"Hmm… What to do. Da-eun still has use, so maybe send Da-hee to the brothel instead?"
"If you touch Da-hee… I really won't stand for it."
"Then you'll have to work hard, right? Yeah?"
"…Yes."
"There's a party with Korea's major guilds and hunters coming up. Be my partner. I even prepared a dress for you."
"…"
Nam Da-eun trembled on her knees.
But better her reputation ruined than her sister's safety threatened.
"What, don't like it? Think of Da-hee. Do well, and I won't touch her."
"…Yes. Understood."
Park Min-gyu grinned ear to ear.
'That's how you train them slowly.'
He smiled, dreaming of the day Nam Da-eun would spread her legs for him willingly.
Just having the girl he'd raised since childhood on her knees was thrilling enough—what ecstasy when she stripped and begged?
That's why he hadn't touched her yet.
The thought of that day sent shivers through him.
Unaware his words had spared her life, Park Min-gyu leered at Nam Da-eun, lost in vile lust.