Nam Da-eun, Victoria Academy Lunchtime
Victoria Academy. Lunchtime.
"Hmm…."
Ellis, having finished her meal, sat at her desk in the classroom and furrowed her brow. She had an unexpected worry on her mind these days.
The screen she was staring at was playing the news.
The centaur. An intelligent monster that had taken root in France.
Since Ellis's Iris Guild was based in France, the losses were considerable. It was ridiculous that a single monster could cause such damage, but the situation on the ground was that serious.
"…Should I go back home."
No matter how important the academy was, the Iris Guild came first.
"No. What would I even do there."
Adding just herself wouldn't change anything, and if her father's attention got divided to her, she'd be a nuisance rather than help.
"He had such a nice face."
She vaguely remembered meeting the Buyer Guild leader a few times. He seemed like a kind uncle, but the way he looked at her rubbed her the wrong way.
Come to think of it, Lee Ho-yeon has been discharged too.
Ellis felt her mood lift at the thought of resuming the massages.
Come to think of it, she'd passed on the message to hire a masseuse, but there was still no word from her dad. Sebas Chan wouldn't forget, so he must be busy with work.
Even better.
The longer it took for the nagging, the better.
As Ellis killed time with random thoughts, the classroom door opened.
Black hair swayed confidently as she entered.
Nam Da-eun?
She hadn't shown up at the academy for quite a while, so Ellis had wondered if she'd gotten involved in crimes with the Buyer Guild, but it seemed she was back starting today.
She must have had her reasons.
Ellis nodded, then something occurred to her.
All Buyer Guild members have been investigated and cleared. The way she's striding in so boldly means she had no involvement… And with the Buyer Guild gone, she's unaffiliated now, right?
According to the info she'd gotten last time, Nam Da-eun had actually been blackmailed by the Buyer Guild. That raised concerns she might have been forced into crimes, but if not, she was prime recruitment material.
Recruiting Nam Da-eun—something she'd planned for a while. It had failed before, but this could be a chance. Her guild contract was gone, after all.
With just the two of them in the classroom, Ellis decided to approach her again.
"Ahem. Da-eun, long time no see?"
Ellis's public voice was cute even to her own ears.
"Yeah."
Nam Da-eun, back from lunch, turned at the sudden cute voice.
Ellis beamed, locking eyes with her.
"I was worried something happened. Glad you're okay."
"Thanks."
Nam Da-eun felt awkward returning to the academy after so long. She'd been used to going solo before, but living in Lee Ho-yeon's dorm had taught her a bit about human warmth.
So she felt grateful toward Ellis for approaching her.
Thinking about it, Ellis was the reason I ended up repaying Ho-yeon.
Ellis's casual jab had changed Nam Da-eun's heart, so it wasn't wrong. Of course, Nam Da-eun hadn't realized it was a jab.
"Thanks for the other day."
"Huh? For what?"
"The advice at the flower shop helped a lot."
"Advice?"
Ellis pondered slowly but couldn't recall giving any advice at the flower shop. She'd badmouthed Lee Ho-yeon, but that couldn't be it.
Whatever.
If she's thankful, just accept it. No need to nitpick.
"Yeah, yeah. So, about that… Your contract with Buyer Guild ended, right?"
"Yeah. It's gone now."
"…Yeah."
Ellis felt a chill run through her body. The disgust toward Buyer Guild in Nam Da-eun's words seemed to rub off on her.
She must have her own story.
Working under a trash leader like that, she'd probably faced all sorts of injustices.
Pitying her, Ellis continued.
"Iris Guild—still no interest? I'll give you the best treatment. No guild will offer better terms."
An information guild's strength wasn't just secrecy. It was massive funding. Ellis was confident.
In a recruitment war, she'd never lose on conditions.
But she didn't know one thing: Nam Da-eun didn't care about conditions.
"Sorry. Doesn't look like it."
Nam Da-eun appreciated Ellis approaching her. But she couldn't give a positive answer.
Her affiliation wasn't her decision anymore. It was Lee Ho-yeon's.
"…Uh, yeah. Okay."
What's the issue that's making her answer like that?
Unaware of the circumstances, Ellis felt awkward and returned to her seat, her sales smile still plastered on.
*
Thursday. Iron Blood Hospital special room.
I chatted with the attending physician in my hospital room.
"You can discharge whenever you're ready. We delayed a bit at Cadet Ho-yeon's request, but your body was normal from the start."
"Ahaha… Thanks."
"No problem. Famous people request it often. The public eye is exhausting."
Discharge had been postponed while handling Nam Da-eun's matter, but the doctor mistook it for something positive, so no suspicions arose.
"Uh, what about Baek Ayoung?"
She should be here by now, but no sign.
"Lots of emergency patients yesterday, so she's resting now."
"Aha…."
She works way too hard. If you're nursing me, nurse just me. Too much professional spirit.
The doctor finished the formalities and left.
"Discharge… Guess I have to."
Honestly, leaving was a hassle. Here, I could lounge and play with Baek Ayoung daily.
But no such luck. Plenty of heroines left to conquer.
Today's a bust, so academy starting tomorrow.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Baek Ayoung slipped in quietly.
"Ayoung?"
"Haa… Darling… I came since you're discharging now."
Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and she yawned tiredly as she approached.
"You pulled an all-nighter with emergencies yesterday. Why come?"
"To help with discharge… Hoo."
"Appreciate it, but… No, thanks. Really."
She went this far; refusing would be rude.
I accepted her kindness and prepared to leave. Not much to pack anyway.
"Back to the academy now?"
"Gotta be. You too, right?"
"Stuck here through the weekend."
"Mm. Got it."
We chatted idly while handling discharge. Leaving the room after over a week felt odd.
"I'll wait at the academy. Darling."
"Yeah… Darling. Be there soon."
Pat pat—I stroked her back and left Iron Blood Hospital.
First, back to the dorm.
Need to prep for academy tomorrow.
I walked the main road toward the academy dorms.
Bzzz—
Mana circuits are definitely better now.
I cast a strong perception-blocking barrier around me.
Articles about my discharge were online, and reporters swarmed the hospital entrance.
Anyway, with the strong barrier, I could feel it clearly. Mana circuit efficiency was higher than before the injury.
Good, good.
Strength gains are always welcome.
Strolling while scanning around, I reached the dorm.
Ding—
I entered to the familiar door sound.
"Welcome back."
"Shit, you scared me."
Scarlett stood demurely at the entrance, greeting me.
Why's she suddenly like this?
"Scarlett. What's up?"
"Ho-yeon. I need to focus on my work for a bit."
"Work?"
"Yes. The Iris Guild Korea branch chief I met while handling Park Min-gyu seems to have noticed my deviation."
"You mean lounging and eating here?"
"Exactly."
Doesn't even deny the lounging part.
Grateful to me, but from Iris Guild's view, it's freeloading.
"Korea branch chief… Kang Hyolyn, right? Makes sense for her. She's capable."
"Not someone who'd spread rumors, but just in case."
"Mm… Yeah. No work for a while anyway."
Scarlett was bound by an unfair contract, but she'd helped plenty already. Conquering Ellis would bring us together naturally.
"Thank you."
"Told Liliana and the others?"
Nam Da-eun might not care, but Nam Da-hee and Liliana had grown attached.
"Already said goodbyes."
"Thorough as ever. See you later."
"Won't be long."
Swish—
Scarlett vanished up the ceiling like a spider.
"…Feels weird."
Actually, seeing her daily until now was the weird part. Back to occasional visits.
In the living room, Nam Da-eun sat blankly.
I entered and called out.
"Da-hee?"
"At school. Looking into the academy's affiliated middle school."
"Ah…."
Yeah, she can go now. Buyer Guild's done.
"You heading to academy too?"
"Yeah. Went today."
Everything's back to normal. Headache thinking about going tomorrow, but unavoidable.
"Thanks."
"Hm?"
Nam Da-eun, staring blankly at the sky, spoke.
"It's thanks to you. Da-hee, me…."
"What'd I do. It's you two and everyone around."
Scarlett especially. Would've been a huge hassle without her.
"Yeah. Thanked the others too. Scarlett, Liliana. Ellis."
"Good job… Wait, Ellis?"
"Nothing."
"…?"
Why's Ellis's name from Nam Da-eun's mouth?
Nam Da-eun looked away, staring into the distance.
"…."
If she doesn't wanna say, no need to pry. I'm a sweet guy.
"…Let's do it."
Nam Da-eun said out of nowhere.
"Huh?"
"What we couldn't yesterday. Now."
"Ah…."
Yesterday, good mood, tried slipping away with her… But Nam Da-hee clung, foiled it.
Shouldn't have brought her then.
—You bastards! I'll kill you all! Aaaah!
Liliana's broadcast blared from her room, and Nam Da-hee was out.
"…Perfect timing."
"Yeah."
Current Status: Wants to do it properly today.
Can I push affection to 100 this time?
Nam Da-eun was at 99 affection but still her stoic self. Today, wanna crack that a bit.
Thinking sweet-guy thoughts, I slowly placed my hand on her face.