Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Party Preparations Are Tough
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Wednesday afternoon.
In the innermost room of the largest mansion among a cluster of luxury estates.
Ellis lay on her bed there.
"...Did he really not notice I took this?"
Ellis stared at the smartwatch in her hand.
It was Lee Ho-yeon's smartwatch.
He had left it behind during the massage and forgotten about it for three whole days. Did that even make sense? It wasn't just any item—it was a smartwatch.
And to top it off, he seemed to have bought a new one, since he was wearing it on his wrist.
She figured he must have decided it was lost for good.
"Then that means I don't have to give it back. He's got a new one anyway."
If someone thought they'd lost something and bought a replacement, only to find out it wasn't lost after all, they'd probably just feel annoyed.
Ellis nodded to herself and placed the smartwatch on top of her dresser.
It was too early for some self-love. Sebastian would be coming soon with his report.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
"Miss. I've compiled and sent the details of Cadet Lee Ho-yeon's request to the Korean branch chief."
Sebastian handed Ellis a set of documents.
"...Nam Da-eun?"
After reading through the materials, Ellis furrowed her brow at the sudden appearance of that unexpected name.
It wasn't a name she liked.
The woman who had always ranked above her, the one she'd considered her rival.
Of course, she acknowledged her abilities.
If she hadn't already signed with Buyer Guild, she would have been Ellis's top recruitment target.
"Buyer Guild is holding Nam Da-eun's little sister captive... How intriguing."
She had found it suspicious that he'd signed with some no-name mid-tier guild out of nowhere, and it turned out Lee Ho-yeon had already figured it out.
Ellis tilted her head as she read through the documents.
Why, though?
Even setting aside how he knew all this, why was he trying to rescue Nam Da-eun?
"Do you know why he's trying to save Nam Da-eun?"
"No. He says he doesn't know the reason. Probably something like friendship or love."
"..."
Friendship and love.
Utterly pointless emotions, but a pretty convincing story.
It wasn't like another guild was trying to poach Nam Da-eun with this intel, and as an individual, Lee Ho-yeon had no reason to use his request right unless it was personal.
This was a request to the guild master of Iris Guild, no less.
The Korean branch chief had taken it because it seemed simple, but it was still like cashing in a guaranteed solution for rescuing Nam Da-eun.
'...Not after her body, is he?'
Ellis thought of Baek A-young, Lumi, and the mysterious beauty from that video.
'Rumors say he's involved with Professor Im Sol too... Could Nam Da-eun be next?'
She pictured Nam Da-eun, who always beat her and then quietly vanished.
Imagining that woman pinned beneath Lee Ho-yeon...
A sharp twinge.
Just the thought sent a strange, lewd sensation washing over her body.
The same feeling from when she'd received his massage.
Ellis glanced down briefly.
Standing steadfast by her side as always was Sebastian, reliably holding his post.
The ultimate multitasker handling secretary, bodyguard, and manager duties all at once.
But lately, he was her biggest obstacle.
He was too perfect—no openings whatsoever.
"...Sebastian. You look tired lately. How about taking some vacation time?"
"I'm fine, Miss. Guarding your side is vacation enough for me."
"No, really, it's okay. Scarlett's here too, so go rest for a bit."
Ellis began trying to persuade Sebastian to give her some massage time, but he wouldn't budge.
"If the guild master approves, I'll consider it."
"...Do whatever you want. I was just giving you my honest advice."
"My apologies. Oh, and Miss, there's new information on Cadet Lee Ho-yeon."
"What is it?"
"Please take a look at this."
Sebastian sent a video to Ellis.
She played the one featuring Baek A-young's face.
*
Ding- I parted ways with Lumi and returned to the dorm.
- Scout, what is this...
I heard Lilia's voice from inside, so I figured Scarlett was messing around again, but for some reason, both of them were staring at their smartwatch screens.
They could each just look at their own, but no—they were sharing Scarlett's, faces practically pressed together.
Are you just moving in here or what? She was sitting on the bed so naturally.
"What's so funny that you're both watching it?"
I took off my jacket and asked them.
"Ho-yeon, you're here."
"Perfect timing. Your name came up, so we were checking it out."
Scarlett and Lilia were watching a replay of an interview.
I sat down next to them and peered at the smartwatch screen.
- I heard the Saintess is attending the Association's networking party this time. It's your first external activity since transferring to the Academy, right?
- Yes. That's correct.
On screen was Baek A-young being interviewed by a female reporter.
Her face clearly showed she was nervous. Anyone could tell.
She's cute, but what's going on with her?
Sudden interview out of nowhere.
- This might be a bit personal, but there've been tons of questions about your partner. Solo? Bringing someone? Everyone's talking. Can you comment on that?
- Actually, my partner is already decided. Everyone knows him. Cadet Lee Ho-yeon, Victoria Academy's genius mage.
- Hold on. You're attending the party with Cadet Lee Ho-yeon? Wait. Camera—is this rolling? Saintess, this is the first reveal from this exclusive interview, right?
- Yes. That's right.
- ...E-everyone! Huge news...!
"What the hell is this?"
A-young, you didn't say anything about this.
What's going on between us?
"If this has nothing to do with you, Ho-yeon, shouldn't we address it quickly?"
Scarlett asked, worried about my flustered reaction... but it wasn't false information.
"Uh... She is my partner, technically. The problem is her announcing it like this."
"Ah..."
"Party? Can I come too? I wanna be your partner."
"...No. Tons of people will be there. If they find out you're a succubus, they'll dissect you on the spot."
"Eek. That's scary. But I still wanna go to the party."
I pinched Lilia's cheek to soothe her as she begged to go.
Meanwhile, the video kept playing, now asking how we met.
I focused on watching.
- Oh, so you got close starting from the dungeon training terror attack.
- Yes. We've met privately since then and kept a good relationship going...
- O-oh! Does that mean...?
- Hehe... I won't say more. Gotta respect Cadet Lee Ho-yeon's position.
- Aaaah! Got it. That's all! We know nothing!
"No way... Are they messing with me?"
Anyone seeing that would think we're lovers.
This is straight-up spreading false rumors, right?
"When was this video posted?"
I asked Scarlett.
"About an hour ago. It blew up the second it dropped."
"Damn... We're screwed."
Thankfully, Lilia didn't seem too fazed.
And well... Ellis, Nam Da-eun, and Im Sol probably wouldn't react much either.
Nam Da-eun wouldn't have time for this, Ellis doesn't like me yet anyway.
Im Sol would probably just ask Baek A-young directly.
The real issue was elsewhere...
Ding- - Soo-rin sis: Ho-yeon, looks like Teacher Baek A-young is spreading false info. I'll get the Academy to file a lawsuit right away.
- Me: Sis, hold up. It's not false. Just going to the networking party together. I wanted to go but needed a date.
I calmed down the overreacting Moon Soo-rin.
Why jump to lawsuits, sis?
- Soo-rin sis: I'm going to the party too. You could've asked me.
"Ah..."
I hadn't thought of that.
In the chain of Im Sol and then Baek A-young, I'd completely forgotten about Moon Soo-rin.
But if invites went to her, shouldn't one have come to me too?
I'm kinda famous at this point.
Wait a sec. No way...
"Lilia. No party invite came to the dorm, right?"
"Invite?"
Lilia rubbed her face against my hand, eyes closed, thinking.
"Hmm... I threw out all the flyers from nearby restaurants except the chicken place since there were so many, but I didn't read the rest closely..."
"..."
No way. It couldn't be.
No invite would come to a guy like me. Right?
The past doesn't matter.
What counts is from now on.
- Me: Sorry, sis. It's no big deal, so don't worry.
- Soo-rin sis: ...You're not dating, right?
- Me: Of course not.
- Soo-rin sis: Got it.
"Damn... There goes some favorability."
Baek A-young's sudden stunt was already wearing me out.
Next risky heroines: Lucy and Lumi.
I'd need excuses for them too, but no messages yet.
Couldn't just text first like, 'It's nothing weird with the Saintess, just party partners!'
We're not even dating the twins—making excuses would look ridiculous.
No contact made initiating awkward too.
I don't usually message first.
Starting casual after this would seem suspicious.
"Should've messaged more often..."
Tsk.
Late regrets as I turned to Scarlett.
"Scarlett, got the info I asked for?"
"Yes. I compiled everything on the networking party and left it on the desk."
"Scarlett's the best. Reliable as always."
I sat at the desk and skimmed her notes.
"Networking party... Big names attending."
As long as I rescue Nam Da-hee before it, the party itself doesn't matter.
It was just insurance.
But now that things have blown up, I have to go.
Baek A-young seems to have high expectations. Bailing after all this would crush her.
"Tch... How's Nam Da-eun doing?"
She hasn't shown her face at the Academy since that day.
"Hasn't left her dorm bed. Hasn't eaten for days, looks like."
"Ha..."
No response to texts on the number we exchanged. Nothing I can do.
"If she moves at all, let me know right away."
"Yes, sir."
"Nothing unusual with Ellis?"
"She's been using the smartwatch you left behind every night. Usage time's increasing. First night: 2 hours 15 minutes. Last night: 3 hours..."
"...Not curious about that."
I didn't need details on Ellis's masturbation sessions.
"My apologies."
"Scout. How about this? Jungle Flavor Jungle Chicken."
Lilia had opened the delivery app and was picking chicken spots.
"Sounds good. I'm in."
"You like Jungle Chicken too?"
I gently pushed Lilia off me for a moment.
"Order whatever."
Head was too full for chicken debates—Jungle or Amazon, who cares.
I prayed Professor Kang Hyo-rin wrapped things up fast while they ordered.
And pondered my next moves.
*
In a dark conference room.
Pandemic executives sat around a massive round table, awaiting Maestro.
Rebecca clicked her tongue at their doll-like rigid postures.
"Ugh..."
Maestro's long-term pawns.
Puppets blindly following his orders without will or opinion.
"Sorry. Got caught up in prayer and ran a bit late."
'A bit, my ass.'
Two hours past schedule, yet no one complained.
Not that complaints mattered.
She felt no emotions from them at all.
Maestro took his seat and spoke.
"Shall we begin...? Oh, Rebecca. Why the sour face?"
"How long do I have to wait? You said you'd send me to the Academy."
Her heart raced to go see the Rune clan's descendant right away, but the standby order had dragged on for a week.
"Hmm. Terror damage was minimal, festival and exams are over—so tensions should ease soon. Probably a month..."
"A month? You're insane? I can't wait."
"Rebecca! Don't talk back to Maestro!"
The boar-headed demon beside her unleashed mana and yelled.
But Rebecca just scoffed, unmoved.
"It's fine. Joshua, calm down. And Rebecca—look into my eyes for a moment."
Vrrr-
Mana flowed from Maestro, enveloping the space.
The boar-faced demon who'd yelled relaxed his eyes, fury fading as he sat back down.
Maestro rose slowly, approached Rebecca, locked eyes, and spoke.
"Rebecca. You stay put for a month. Understood?"
Anger drained from Rebecca's face as their gazes met.
"...Yes. Understood."
Rebecca answered Maestro's soft words with a dazed expression.
"Something more urgent than the Academy came up. And you fit perfectly."
Maestro smiled, lips curling at the now-docile Rebecca.