Friendly Party (2)

The corner of the party venue was dimly lit, but Nam Da-eun's face was clearly visible. Her straight black hair cascaded down, paired with a glamorous dress. She looked even more stunning all dressed up. The dress was skimpy, her back partially covered by her hair and her cleavage modestly shielded by her hand. Nam Da-eun smoothly dodged Park Min-gyu's hand as it reached for her shoulder, straightening her outfit in the process.

Park Min-gyu shot her a slightly irritated glare but held his tongue, mindful of the man in front of them.

"Whoa, so... huh?"

The man chatting with Park Min-gyu glanced over and spotted me. He approached with a grin, extending his hand.

"Well, look who we have here—a celebrity! Nice to meet you. I'm Shin Young-hoon, guild master of Shin Young Guild."

I hadn't planned on chatting, but it might work in my favor.

"Pleasure to meet you. Lee Ho-yeon."

Shin Young Guild... so this guy's the father of the student council vice president. Seeing him with the Buyer Guild master, he's no saint either.

"Hey, Min-gyu, come here. This is the cadet who's been making waves lately."

Shin Young-hoon pulled Park Min-gyu, who had been hanging back, to his side and introduced us.

"Ah... Cadet Lee Ho-yeon?"

"Yes. Nice to meet you."

Park Min-gyu stepped forward and offered his hand. Only then did Nam Da-eun, who had been staring blankly into space, turn toward me upon hearing my name. Her lifeless eyes met mine and immediately began to tremble. She slowly shook her head and backed away, her gaze like she'd spotted a monster.

"Huh? Da-eun."

"...I'll be right back from the restroom."

"Uh, yeah, go ahead."

With Park Min-gyu's permission, Nam Da-eun bolted away.

"Must be tough holding it in. To bail mid-conversation like that."

Shin Young-hoon chuckled at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sight of her and took a swig of his drink.

This wasn't the time to linger. I needed to follow her.

"If you'll excuse me."

"Hey? We still have business to discuss..."

I ignored the hand grabbing at me and headed in the direction Nam Da-eun had fled. Tracing the faint scent of her mana led ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me to a dark corner near the restroom hallway, where I found her sobbing with her face buried between her knees, trembling faintly.

"...Nam Da-eun."

The moment I touched her arm, she slapped my hand away with a sharp smack!

"Please... just leave me alone..."

"...Hey."

"Go away! Why are you even coming near me?"

Nam Da-eun sprang to her feet and shoved me once more, refusing to give up on pushing me away.

"I'll help you, Nam Da-eun."

Her expression turned icy at my offer.

"What do you even know to talk about helping? Do you have any idea what situation I'm in?"

"I know everything. You're being blackmailed because of Nam Da-hee."

"...Yeah, and there's a massive debt on top of that. I can't defy Mr. Min-gyu."

Nam Da-eun looked utterly defeated. She'd probably tried her best on her own, but nothing had changed. She wouldn't trust my help right away.

"Debts like that aren't meant to be paid. And I've already rescued your sister."

"...What? What are you talking about?"

"I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. I saved Nam Da-hee. Let me explain everything step by step..."

Boom! Boom! Kaboom!

Just as I was about to explain properly to Nam Da-eun, mysterious explosions rocked the party venue. A familiar mana wave washed over me.

Rune Barrier...?

A Rune Barrier was being deployed, dividing the venue into isolated pockets.

Bzzz—

I reverse-engineered the barrier segment blocking Nam Da-eun and me. Ever since awakening, mana control like this was a breeze.

"Wh-what is this...?"

Panicking, Nam Da-eun scanned her surroundings and drew up her mana.

"Nam Da-eun. It's fine."

Terror. And a Rune Barrier terror attack could only mean Pandemic. I had no idea why they'd hit a friendly party, but I needed to wrap things up with Nam Da-eun first...

"...."

The only heroine without combat power was one: Baek Ayoung. I didn't know the reason yet, but if she was the target, I had to rescue her immediately. She had zero fighting ability.

I looked at Nam Da-eun. I wanted to explain everything properly to her trembling form, but there was no time.

"Nam Da-eun. Ignore all guild contacts right now and head straight to the academy's central fountain."

Thankfully, I'd prepared insurance. I'd tipped off Scarlett.

"...What?"

"Follow the blonde woman who approaches you there—she'll take you to my room in the Male Dormitory. Nam Da-hee will be waiting, and she'll explain everything. I have to go save people now."

"W-wait a sec!"

"Don't trust the Buyer Guild, no matter what. Just believe in me this once."

I locked eyes with her stunned expression. She started to say something but closed her mouth at my serious look. It was a strange expression I'd never seen on Nam Da-eun before—deeply flustered by my sudden words. But one thing was clear: she trusted me.

I left Nam Da-eun behind and raced back to the party venue.

*

"Hah... what the hell!"

"Break it! Break, damn it!"

A man swung his sword at the barrier. Clang! Clang! But the barrier didn't even scratch.

The hunters enjoying the party were trapped in isolated sections with a few conversation partners. Even top hunters were taking forever to reverse-engineer the unprecedented barrier strength.

"What lunatic pulls this at a friendly party...?"

Trapped Min Ye-ji scowled at the barrier. With the invite-only system, betrayal was obvious. They'd vetted everyone thoroughly—impossible without an insider traitor.

At this rate, it'll take 10 minutes to crack.

In a terror situation, 10 minutes was an eternity—the fight would be over. Shoving distractions aside, Min Ye-ji focused on reverse-engineering.

Then the barrier shook, breaking the hunters' concentration.

"Damn it, the reverse-engineering broke!"

Woooong—

The hunters eyed the source of the tremor. One section of the barrier was quivering.

Riiip—

Something ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tore with a ripping sound, and a head poked through.

"...Not here either. Oh? Min Ye-ji? Seen Ayoung?"

"Y-you... how?"

Min Ye-ji gaped not just at Lee Ho-yeon's sudden face but at how he'd casually torn through the barrier top hunters were struggling with.

"Explanations later. You haven't seen Ayoung?"

"N-no... I haven't."

Min Ye-ji had forgotten about Baek Ayoung amid the party fun.

"Got it. Everyone here, come out and help take down the mines. There are tons outside."

Lee Ho-yeon vanished outward after that. The trapped hunters squeezed through the hole suspiciously but emerged outside.

It was pandemonium. Countless mines clashed with hunters—mostly those Lee Ho-yeon had freed. Min Ye-ji surged her mana and plunged into the fray.

*

"Hah... ah... ahn."

Baek Ayoung had ducked into a corner, exhausted from hours of schmoozing. She planned a quick drink break in the empty spot, but explosions erupted like clockwork, signaling the terror attack.

A male hunter was with her, thankfully...

"Ayoung... ugh, run..."

But he was skewered by a group mine attack. Too many for her healing to handle.

"Y-Young-ho... ugh."

The mines, having pulped the man, turned to Baek Ayoung next.

- Grrr... heh heh

- Saintess... saintess...

Baek Ayoung fled the mindless mines, but dozens were too much. The lead one shredded her dress from behind.

"Kyaa! Aaaah!"

Slash—!

Sharp claws raked her body, leaving deep gashes.

"A-ahh... hng..."

Baek Ayoung collapsed, healing the blood gushing from her back. She knew she had to run, but the mines closed in.

Is this the end...?

She didn't want to die so pointlessly. No, she couldn't—too much left undone.

Against her wishes, the mines drew nearer.

If I'd known, I would've confessed.

Baek Ayoung accepted her final moments. And rising in her mind wasn't anyone else, but Lee Ho-yeon. Knowing she'd die ridiculously, she regretted not trying.

A tear traced her cheek—regret, sorrow, pain, and complicated love mingled.

"I don't want to die... Ho-yeon."

Baek Ayoung whispered his name softly, facing the approaching mines.

- Grrruk...

- Saintess... kill...

Their claws neared. Sensing death, Baek Ayoung squeezed her eyes shut. Suddenly, her pitch-black vision brightened—even closed-eyed, the intense external light pierced through.

She cracked her eyes open.

- Kyaaaaah!

Dozens of mines before her were ablaze.

"Ayoung. Who said you could die? Not on my watch."

Turning at the familiar voice, Baek Ayoung saw his relaxed smile that always made her heart race. But unlike the smile, Lee Ho-yeon was drenched in sweat, clearly having rushed desperately.

"Came to save you. Good job?"

Thump. Thump.

"...."

Seeing his face, Baek Ayoung's heart pounded unusually hard. She barely swallowed the confession bubbling up—regretting not confessing earlier, but not mid-battle.

"Stay put. It'll be over soon."

Baek Ayoung watched him fight the mines, calming her racing heart.