Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The Request
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I pondered where to start, then slowly opened my mouth.
"Do you know about the Buyer Guild?"
"Of course. I know you went to see them yesterday, and that you talked with Cadet Nam Da-eun."
Just as I figured. She had a rough idea of the situation.
She even knew my goal was Nam Da-eun.
"I need evidence of every illegal activity the Buyer Guild is involved in. Solid proof that would send them straight to ruin the moment it's exposed."
To expose them, I needed evidence first.
Once I had that, I could handle the exposure myself.
I had enough fame for it.
"Surely that's not all, right?"
"This next part is the most important. Nam Da-eun's little sister, Nam Da-hee, is being held captive in a hospital connected to the Buyer Guild. We have to get her out."
Nam Da-eun's weakness was her sister, Nam Da-hee.
It felt a bit wasteful giving away my info for free, but now wasn't the time to hold back.
"Hmm... So the lifetime contract's condition was her sister."
Kang Hyo-rin glanced at her smartwatch and tapped the air.
I swallowed hard, waiting for her next words.
"Ah... This throws off my calculations."
"Pardon? Calculations?"
I startled, worried it might cause issues.
"The info you just gave me makes this something I can handle alone. Feels too conscientious for using a request token."
"...?"
What was she saying?
Did she mean the info I provided made the job too easy?
"At this level, I don't even need to hand it to the Guild Master. I can take care of it myself."
"That's fine. As long as it's handled."
I'd obtained the request token to resolve Nam Da-eun's issue properly. As long as it got done right, who handled it didn't matter.
"No can do. This is a matter of pride for the Iris Guild Korean Branch Chief."
"I'm seriously fine with it."
I just wanted it handled quickly.
That would satisfy me fully.
"How about this? I'll keep the forces slandering Cadet Lee Ho-yeon in check, and we call that settling the balance."
Dr. Kang Hyo-rin suddenly started pushing something I hadn't even asked for.
But this was actually great.
"Forces slandering me?"
"Yes. You know about 'The Truth Lee Ho-yeon is Hiding,' right? The malicious agitation against you there. That's the Shin Young Guild's doing."
"Shin Young Guild... Shin Dong-min?"
The Shin Young Guild was run by the family of Student Council Vice President Shin Dong-min.
I'd wondered why he'd gone quiet after I crushed him at the festival. Turns out he'd been pulling strings like this.
No wonder the vice president's defeat faded quietly while rumors piled up on me. There'd been organized moves behind the scenes.
"They're usually thorough about cutting off loose ends, but right now, they've got a lot of openings. We can exploit that."
"Well... I'd be grateful. But you have to prioritize Nam Da-eun's issue. Shin Young Guild can come after."
Even with Professor Im Sol or Baek A-young's help, it didn't seem like it'd resolve quickly.
If they helped, great.
"Deal. I'll send you the related data as soon as the investigation wraps. Shin Dong-min can wait—Buyer Guild side... should be done by next week."
The Buyer Guild's defenses were so tight even elite Iris Guild member Scarlett couldn't infiltrate. A week was insanely fast.
But next week would be after the party ended.
With no telling what might happen to Nam Da-eun at the party, I wanted it done before then.
"If you focus solely on rescuing Nam Da-eun's sister? We need Nam Da-hee out by Friday at latest."
"Hmm, rescuing the sister isn't the end. To cover for a bit after, we'd need a doppelganger magic circle... Tch. Fine. I'll make it happen by Friday somehow. But other investigations get delayed."
"Thank you. That's perfect."
"Alright. I'll start the request immediately."
Dr. Kang Hyo-rin nodded, summoned a holographic monitor in the air, and began contacting someone.
I bowed my head and left the lab.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Just before lunch ended, I went to find Professor Im Sol.
She was famous enough to get invited to Saturday's party, so I planned to ask if I could tag along.
"Ah... You already declined?"
"Yeah. Obviously. I hate crowded places like that."
Slurp.
Im Sol sipped her mixed coffee and picked up a cookie.
Too late, unfortunately.
Her personality wasn't the party type anyway.
"But why the party?"
"Ah... Got interested. Thought maybe I could tag along with you."
"Hmm. Too bad."
Wait— if Professor Im Sol got invited, maybe Baek A-young did too?
She was a saintess in her own right.
"Come to think of it, did A-young get invited?"
Tsk—.
"Yeah. Probably."
"Oh? Ah, right. Guess I'll check the infirmary."
I could've sworn I heard a brief tongue click. Must've misheard.
Anyway, after finishing with Professor Im Sol, I'd head to Baek A-young.
"I'm looking into the forces slandering you now. Won't be quick, but I'll handle it somehow, so don't worry."
She'd noticed the forces too.
But she didn't know Shin Young Guild was behind it yet.
"I'm gathering info on my end too. If I find it first, I'll let you know."
"Good. But don't push too hard. I'm working my connections."
"Thanks, Professor."
Im Sol, the reliable one.
I considered telling her about Shin Young Guild upfront but held back, not wanting to hurt her pride.
No guarantee Iris Guild's intel was spot-on. Investigating multiple ways wasn't bad.
But even the grateful Im Sol had more to discuss.
"Anyway, remember our promise?"
"Promise? What promi— Ah."
"You remember. You have to go to the magic expo with me."
I'd promised if I aced the written exam, we'd go together.
No matter how busy, I had to make time for this.
"Sigh..."
Im Sol sighed wearily, but I wasn't backing down even if she showed it.
"It's a promise. You wouldn't ditch a commitment to your student, right?"
I knew how to prod her now.
Strong pride like Im Sol's always caved to a little nudge.
"...Fine. I'll definitely go. Promise."
"Thanks, Professor. I'll help with research diligently instead."
Play when it's playtime, but work when it's work—that's Lee Ho-yeon.
A man who gets things done.
"Got it. Now drop your pants."
Im Sol stood from the sofa, walked over, and knelt before me.
She placed a hand on my thigh, slowly sliding toward my groin.
"Wait, Professor. What about the paper research?"
"I can do it alone. You just provide sugar."
"My semen doesn't have su— Yes. Understood."
I met Im Sol's eyes but folded under her cold gaze and dropped my pants.
Smack. Kiss. Slurp.
Im Sol took my protruding cock in her mouth and sucked hard.
"Ow. Hold on, Professor. You're not mad, are you?"
Mmmph. Smack.
What was she saying?
Her mouth was too full to make out.
★ Heroine Status ★ ❤️ Favorability: 64 💖 Arousal: 30 🍽️ Appetite: 25 😴 Fatigue: 45 Current Status: Paper's almost done... but a promise is a promise. It's about pride. Why do people these days fuss over pride and self-esteem? [Im Sol] "Ah, it hurts. Professor, your teeth... Yes. I'll stay still."
Today's fellatio from Im Sol hurt a bit.
But her soft tongue rubbing apologetically where her teeth grazed felt good.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Haa..."
Baek A-young leaned back in her chair after lunch.
The academy infirmary was busier during lunch than work hours.
Cadets visited most then.
Work hours were empty unless emergencies, making it spacious.
Knock knock—
A knock sounded.
'Not an emergency. Lobby staff?'
Staff usually announced themselves. No one came so quietly.
"Yes, come in."
With guards outside and no reason for weirdos, Baek A-young allowed it casually.
Click—
The door opened, revealing a familiar face.
"Ho, Ho-yeon?"
"Hi, A-young. Got bored, came to hang out."
"Isn't it class time? Why here..."
"You're more important than class. Dropped everything."
Her lips curved up, eyes forming pretty crescents in that smile.
She knew it was teasing, but it made Baek A-young's heart race.
"D-don't say weird stuff. What do you want?"
"Got a question. You going to the party this Saturday?"
Thud.
Lee Ho-yeon sat familiarly in the patient chair.
"Party...? Oh, the association's networking one?"
"Yeah, that."
"Probably not. No partner..."
The association elders' parties loved pairing men and women.
Not official rules, but long-standing unspoken ones.
Young singles attending alone sparked partner-hunting rumors, drawing unwanted advances.
Too annoying, and nothing for Baek A-young to gain.
"Partner? They have that?"
Lee Ho-yeon asked like it was news.
"Yeah, usually couples attend. Young singles without means they're looking."
"Ah..."
Damn. That's how it was.
Lee Ho-yeon finally got it.
That old geezer planned to attend as Nam Da-eun's partner.
Seeming pathetic to others would keep guys away from her.
Seeing Lee Ho-yeon's face harden, Baek A-young worried she'd offended him.
"A-young. Come with me."
"Wh-what?"
She doubted her ears at his words.
"Be my partner."
"...People might talk. Association parties... partnering up means more than you think."
"I'm fine. Even if we're misunderstood together."
"...Hng! Hii!"
Baek A-young made a weird noise in fluster.
Sudden advances like this left her rattled.
"Pft, what was that."
Her face burned seeing him laugh like she was amusing.
"Y-you keep teasing!"
"A-young. Not teasing. Go to the party with me."
"Ugh..."
He said it without grasping the implications. She resented that playfulness.
Why keep leaving openings?
Was it sincere?
After agonizing, Baek A-young nodded.
"Fine. You asked. Don't regret it later."
"No regrets."
Lee Ho-yeon stood, thinking.
'Rumors of us as partners? Not bad.'
He'd come to check her status while securing party entry. She looked too healthy.
Whatever shifted her mood, favorability rose back up, resentment in her eyes faded.
★ Heroine Status ★ ❤️ Favorability: 96 (+0.7) 💖 Arousal: 82 🍽️ Appetite: 30 😴 Fatigue: 65 Current Status: Why do you keep... making it so I can't give up. [Baek A-young] "..."
Her inner thoughts made me feel a little guilty.
Once this was over, I'd resolve things with Baek A-young right away.
Endless incidents had unintentionally made her a tragic heroine.
Better fix it before more worry.
Push-pull like this makes her pull hard when ripe.
My self-developed law of action-reaction for seducing women.
"Honey, come here."
"...Yes, honey."
Thump thump—
Baek A-young's heart pounded.
She hated how Pavlov's dog-like she got at "honey."
'But... not hating it.'
Baek A-young rose, hugging Lee Ho-yeon.
"Three days."
"Yeah, honey... W-wait, at least lock the door..."
"Locked it when I came in."
"Hnnng..."
Baek A-young surrendered to his touch.
Each peeled garment intensified her pounding heart.
How long could she feel this thrill?
Maybe it could really happen.
Baek A-young clung to him, dreaming of a shared home where "honey" felt natural.