The Girl's Revenge (3)
"Then I'll be going. Call me anytime you're ready."
"Yeah. Thanks, Scarlett."
Rustle— Scarlett vanished across the ceiling in her usual fluid motion. At first, it creeped me out like a spider, but watching her now, it had its own weird charm.
The conversation made Nam Da-eun's intentions crystal clear. With her ironclad resolve for revenge, all I had to do was lay the groundwork.
After Scarlett left, I dug up the reporter's contact from the friendship party.
"Nah, not yet."
Calling in a reporter was a solid move. The media had gone quiet on me since the terror attack and my hospitalization—too busy conquering heroines. Time to fan the flames a bit.
But first things first. I fired off messages to the heroines. No way was I letting them find out about my discharge through some interview.
"...That's a lot."
What can I say? Too many girls. Factoring in that I skipped Liliana, Nam Da-eun, and Baek Ayoung, it's still way too many. No giving any up, though—I'd bring 'em all along.
Anyway, messages sent. Time for the reporter.
Prep complete. I pondered how to hype Park Min-gyu in the interview while waiting for Hayoung.
*
Ring— "Sigh... Huh?"
Ellis, deep in meditation, jolted at the smartwatch alarm—not her usual one, but the special tone for messages from Lee Ho-yeon.
She checked it immediately.
"...He's discharging."
Ellis exhaled deeply, vaporizing her sweat with a Clean spell. She itched to rewatch his discharge-celebration sex tape, but...
"Sebas Chan."
"Yes, miss."
Sebas Chan stood by, guarding against meditation mishaps. Ellis shelved her regrets and spoke slowly.
"Found a mana massage therapist."
"...Pardon? Didn't you give up on that?"
"Found a good one. Restarting. Contract's already signed."
"You could've told me first—we'd have guild support."
"Reasons. Therapist's a guy. Young guy."
"..."
Sebas Chan fell silent. Everyone in Iris Guild hoped Ellis would overcome her congenital mana disorder somehow. If a young man fixed it via massage, he didn't care. But the guild master might.
Massage had that connotation, especially with a young man and woman.
"Will Father... approve?"
"Think I'd sign without checking? Saw real results."
"I never doubt your judgment, miss."
Ellis had been a genius since childhood. Sebas Chan, who'd watched her grow, trusted her implicitly. Guild master would too.
But that male therapist might be trouble. The guild master lost his Night Emperor cool over Ellis-related matters.
"I'll report it. Who's the therapist?"
"...Hm."
Ellis opened her mouth to say Lee Ho-yeon's name—planned it out—but hesitated. Even she found it suspicious.
"Miss?"
"Lee Ho-yeon. My new therapist."
"...?"
Sebas Chan blinked at the familiar name. He'd personally background-checked the cadet—on Ellis's orders. No massage training on record.
Sudden therapist? "Hard to buy, but... trust me. I thought it through. No weird motives."
Poke poke— Her conscience twinged at the lie.
'It's treatment. Treatment. Essential therapy.'
Ellis brainwashed herself and continued. "Got it. I'll inform the guild master."
Luckily, no suspicion. Ho-yeon was iffy, but Ellis trusted him—that was enough. Sebas Chan's job.
"Yeah. Tell him to stay calm, no freaking out."
"I'll try."
"...If he storms Victoria Academy to 'see Ho-yeon himself,' tell him we're done."
"Understood."
Sebas Chan sighed inwardly.
'Sebas Chan, you stop guys near Ellis, right? That's why you're there.'
Guild master's nagging echoed already. He hated reporting. Dating a peer boy? He'd look away. But congenital mana treatment? Mandatory.
Sebas Chan waited glumly for the guild master's active hours.
*
Buyer Guild master's office. Sudden growth exploded paperwork. Park Min-gyu flung aside documents and slumped in his chair.
"Haa. Wrong timing."
Business smooth. But zero word on Nam Da-eun and Nam Da-hee sisters.
'How can they just vanish?'
No sightings? Maybe dead. Ten years' investment down the drain.
As he scowled, the door burst open.
"Master! Check this. Huge!"
"Quit yapping, asshole. We're past old habits now? Be proper. Knock! What if I had a girl here?"
"S-Sorry!"
The tattooed exec scratched his head sheepishly.
"Tch. Out."
"Yes, sir!"
He shoved a hologram monitor, slammed the door.
Buyer Guild needed muscle for dirty work—and shameless idiots for it. Lustful, strong, dumb, controllable. Execs like that.
Result: Bigger guild, sloppy mess.
"Once we grow more, purge those clowns."
No bandwidth now amid rapid expansion. Park Min-gyu tsked, eyed the monitor.
A parasite-looking guy appeared.
"Hoo...?"
Park Min-gyu grinned. His status soaring. Plus, Ho-yeon—he'd talked before.
'Recruitment shot.'
Knock knock. "Come in."
Only the director knocked calmly.
"Master. Sighting on Nam Da-eun and Nam Da-hee."
"What?!"
Park Min-gyu snatched the papers.
"Anonymous tip... Saw Ho-yeon with Da-eun...? Reliable?"
Anons usually shady.
"Yes. Famous in those circles."
"Hm... That type?"
He pondered, smirked slyly.
'Perfect. Tied together.'
Trusted sources—no fakes. Not hacks.
Ho-yeon even showed goodwill.
"Director. Book interviews."
"Pardon? What kind?"
"Anything! Just do it!"
"Y-Yes!"
Director fled the roar. Park Min-gyu crossed his legs.
"Convince Ho-yeon... Problem solved."
Regretted mentioning girls before—but official interview proved interest. So, Da-eun with him.
Annoying thief, but whatever. Booze, women—get the stamp. Mold her after.
"Opportunity. Heaven-sent..."
He pulled a mana-forged fake contract. Real ones bound execs.
All lining up perfectly.
"Da-eun, Da-hee... Just reclaim. Fine."
Training a deflowered girl had its fun. Park Min-gyu prepped the interview, scouting meetup spots.
*
Iron Blood Hospital room.
"Interview next day? Fast mover."
"Reliable source. He'll bite."
I watched Park Min-gyu's interview with Scarlett.
My praise aired—then she leaked the Da-eun intel.
Onscreen Park Min-gyu looked awkward, questions all favorable.
"That obvious okay?"
"People overlook it. Good image helps."
Ding—
Boring watch interrupted by my smartwatch.
"Showtime."
I slipped out, headed to his spot. Entertainment district, packed with bars. Fame hadn't changed him.
"Ready? Camera on?"
"Yes. Don't worry."
Scarlett shadowed me, artifact recording in her ear.
Start light.