Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Grade Announcement (4)
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"Welcome. This is the Buyer Guild."
"Hello. I'd like to entrust a request to the Buyer Guild."
"Yes. Could you show me your ID?"
"...Uh, just a moment. I left it behind. I'll go grab it from the car real quick."
"A smartwatch will do just fine instead, sir. Sir?"
I slipped out of the Buyer Guild lobby and ducked into a nearby café like I was fleeing.
I ordered an Americano and sat down with a heavy sigh.
"Yeah. No way this was gonna work."
I'd only tried it because I couldn't just sit still, but as expected, no dice.
From the café, I stared at the Buyer Guild building.
It was a small, unremarkable building from the outside.
High chance Nam Da-eun was in there.
I'd stormed out of the dorm because I couldn't stand waiting around for Scarlett, but now I had nothing to do.
I'd considered sneaking in using a rune barrier, but if it were that easy to breach, they wouldn't bother with request tokens in the first place.
Like that, I spent about an hour just glaring at the building.
Right as I was seriously debating charging in through the front door and wrecking the place...
Someone sat down next to me.
"Ho-yeon."
"...Scarlett."
It wasn't the familiar blonde woman but a black-haired glasses girl I'd never seen before.
"Yes. We can't risk being spotted together outside."
"Good thinking. So, what'd the investigation turn up?"
"For a mid-tier guild, their security is absurdly tight. It took a bit longer because I had to be extra careful, but I spotted traces of Cadet Nam Da-eun."
"...For real?"
Worth the wait, then.
"Yes. I caught her coming out of the guild master's office. Couldn't probe inside—the magic arrays were too thick. Nam Da-eun looked bloodshot-eyed, but her clothes were neat, no signs of dishevelment or assault."
"Phew, that's a relief. Got it. Let's head back to the dorm for now."
I'd figured we weren't storming in to rescue her right this second, but confirmation was nice.
If Scarlett hadn't been around, I might've actually barged in recklessly.
If I couldn't win Nam Da-eun over, my own life was on the line anyway.
Without intel on the interior, caution took a backseat to action.
Had to dodge even the slimmest chance of a bad end.
I stood up from the café to head back to the dorm when I spotted Nam Da-eun staggering out of the Buyer Guild building.
Her usual sharp eyes were lifeless, her chiseled features drained of energy.
"Scarlett, you head back first."
"Yes. Lilia and I will be waiting."
"Cool. Tell her I said order some chicken."
I sent Scarlett off and slowly trailed behind Nam Da-eun.
Thankfully, she didn't veer off elsewhere—heading straight toward the academy.
I watched her back as she turned into an alley, then looped around big to "accidentally" run into her near the academy entrance.
"Oh? Nam Da-eun?"
A moment later, we crossed paths. She lifted her downcast eyes slightly at my voice.
"..."
"Where you headed back from?"
Her face brightened a touch at the sight of me, but she still looked rough.
"...Sorry. Not feeling great today. Let's talk later."
Nam Da-eun bowed her head to me and shuffled onward unsteadily.
★ Heroine Status ★ Name: Nam Da-eun Favorability: 57 Lust: 12 Appetite: 42 Fatigue: 89 Current Status: If it weren't for Lee Ho-yeon... No. It's my fault. I can still hold on. I'm fine. Da-hee mustn't know anything. Just endure one day until Saturday. It's okay.... Nam Da-eun's mentality was completely shattered.
'Saturday...?'
I zeroed in on that one word.
Something happening Saturday?
Nothing came to mind, though.
"..."
Seeing her trudge along so listlessly ignited a surge of rage.
'Sorry, sorry... Da-hee. I'm so sorry... I should've done better, sis.'
The final scene of Nam Da-eun's bad end flashed in my memory.
After massacring the guild members, she kills herself with her little sister.
I wanted to rip that trash guild master apart right then and there, but wiping them out now would just get me killed in retaliation.
And fighting without a plan would put Nam Da-hee, Nam Da-eun's sister, in danger too.
The Buyer Guild's own power wasn't that impressive.
Nam Da-eun alone could crush them.
But their backers were the real issue.
They wouldn't sit idle if their puppets got smashed.
Sure, with help from Professor Im Sol, Baek Ah-young, Moon Soo-rin, and others, I could probably survive.
But involving other heroines in conquering Nam Da-eun was a no-go.
It'd just block the harem ending later on.
On the flip side, exposing the Buyer Guild's dirt would make the big guilds cut ties via scapegoating, but it'd endanger Nam Da-eun's sister.
The deranged guild master might lash out at her in some twisted way.
So, I had to extract Nam Da-eun's sister first, then blow the lid off the Buyer Guild.
That way, the big guilds would back off, and without her sister as leverage, Nam Da-eun wouldn't have to endure anymore.
'One day. That's all I need.'
Contact the Iris Guild tomorrow, and a way to save her sister would open up.
"...Nam Da-eun!"
She paused at my call as she dragged herself along.
I dashed ahead and locked eyes with her.
"Whatever it is, I don't care. I'll help you. Just hang in there a little longer."
"..."
Nam Da-eun gazed into my eyes with the saddest expression I'd ever seen on her.
"You..."
Pent-up emotions burst forth, tears welling in her eyes.
"You... sob."
What do you know about me? Do you get my situation?
She didn't finish, but her eyes screamed the questions.
"I know everything. Just trust me. I'll fix it somehow."
All I could offer was faith.
Talking about the Buyer Guild now would be pointless.
She'd suspect me more than believe some guy who popped up out of nowhere.
I just needed to plant a sliver of hope to keep her going.
By then, everything would be wrapped up.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Where'd he go?"
Ellis lay on her bed, smartwatch in hand.
She'd only checked the exam results before planning to return it, but Lee Ho-yeon had vanished, leaving her stuck with it.
"One wrong answer... and second place."
Im Sol's magic written exam, question 30.
Everything else perfect.
She'd given her all to win, but Lee Ho-yeon was a bigger monster.
Ranks were public, scores weren't, but Ellis was certain.
She'd aced everything but 30.
If she was second and he first, he'd nailed that one too.
"...Crazy bastard. Ridiculous freak. Jerk."
Per Im Sol's answer key, a hidden magic circle lurked within the spell.
Insane difficulty drew a sigh, but Ellis was more shocked he'd spotted it.
Knock knock.
"Miss Ellis."
"Yeah. Come in."
Sebas Chan entered at her permission.
"Cadet Lee Ho-yeon activated his request token around lunchtime."
"...At this timing?"
Right after grades dropped, bolting from the academy to use it? Probably related.
"He has a meet with the Korean branch chief tomorrow. Want the request details?"
"Of course."
He'd given the token, not sworn secrecy on its contents.
More intel, the better.
"Also, Scarlett says good news incoming. If footage turns up, should the guild apply pressure?"
"No, no need."
Ellis just wanted fuel for her excitement—blackmail via video wasn't the plan.
"But guild-wide pressure would be more efficient."
"It's fine. I'll handle this one myself. Wanna gain some experience."
"Ah, apologies. My judgment was lacking."
Sebas Chan bowed slightly.
'Whew.'
Ellis sighed inwardly in relief.
No intent to blackmail Lee Ho-yeon, but Sebas Chan's sudden zeal threw her.
No need to go that hard.
Slacking off would give her more openings.
'Why hasn't Scarlett brought the video yet? Taking that much cash and half-assing it?'
Ellis griped about Scarlett's recent busyness and rarity.
Pure teasing, of course. As Iris elite, she knew Scarlett worked harder than anyone.
And right then, Scarlett was at Lee Ho-yeon's place, licking Lilia's breasts.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hoo..."
-Ding.
The familiar moan hit as I opened the dorm door.
"Lady Lilia... haah. Haaah♡"
"You're back? Got chicken comin'."
Clearly Iris Guild's ace earlier, but with Lilia, she turned puppy in seconds.
Scarlett suckled Lilia's breasts while Lilia's tail plunged into her.
"Good girl. Gotta ask Scarlett something, so let her go for a sec."
"Okay, okay."
"Haa... haa. What is it, Ho-yeon?"
"You had info on Ellis."
Nam Da-eun tomorrow for sure, so time to check Ellis intel too.
"Ah... Confirmed Miss Ellis masturbating while watching the smartwatch. She glanced at the massage vid and ditched it—no big deal apparently."
"Anything else stand out?"
"Mm. Super intense, went on forever, chanted your name like crazy."
"..."
Useful info, but kinda...
Still, confirmed Ellis had developed some voyeuristic tendencies.
"Drop Ellis surveillance. Monitor Nam Da-eun till tomorrow. She's in the dorm now, so alert me if she slips out."
"Got it."
"Oh, and any big plans for Ellis this Saturday?"
"From what I know, Korean hunters and top guilds are throwing a party. Miss Ellis opted out."
"Party? A party, huh."
Reason for Nam Da-eun to attend?
Maybe with the Buyer Guild?
"Chicken's here~ Let's eat~."
While chatting with Scarlett, Lilia arrived with the delivery chicken.
I tore into it, pondering tomorrow's request.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Tuesday morning classes ended. I turned down Lucy and Lumi's lunch invite to find Dr. Kang Hyo-rin.
Grade protest time.
In Dr. Kang Hyo-rin's lab, I laid out my case.
"So, you racked up big points in dungeon practice and live monster training, outpacing Nam Da-eun. Thus, even though she took first in the 1v1 duel, you edged her out overall by a hair."
"...I see."
Convinced instantly.
Expected failure, but had to try.
Effort across the board.
"Normally wouldn't spill another student's scores, but you looked desperate. What's got you begging to dock your own grade?"
"Eh, nothing. Thought it was a grading error. Thanks. I'll head out."
Score-fixing ploy busted—time to bounce.
11:30, and no Iris Guild contact yet.
Lingering would make it harder.
"Take it easy. Have some tea."
"Nah, got an appointment."
"Hot date?"
Dr. Kang Hyo-rin grinned at me like it was the best thing.
Isn't this privacy invasion? If genders were flipped, reportable.
"Haha, yeah. I'll get going. See you."
I brushed it off and rose, but she stopped me.
"No rush. Expected you this morning. Not late—sit."
"...Pardon?"
Dr. Kang Hyo-rin savored her tea, then set it down.
"Proper intro? Iris Guild Korean Branch Chief, Kang Hyo-rin. Here to take Mr. Lee Ho-yeon's request today. Well, I can guess what it's about."
"...!"
Clicking into place, chills ran up my arms.
Trust surged at the thought of confiding in her.
Whoosh.
A solid barrier enveloped the lab.
Dr. Kang Hyo-rin smiled with her eyes.
"So, shall we hear the request?"