Queen Bee's Invitation
A familiar cute voice called out from the academy grounds. I turned around to see Lucy charging toward me, with Lumi following close behind.
"Lee Ho-yeon! Let's go together~."
"Hello, Ho-yeon."
Seeing the twins made a smile creep onto my face automatically.
"It's been a while since we've seen each other at the academy."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
I couldn't even remember the last time we'd walked to school together like this. It felt a bit awkward after so long, but strolling with the three of us eased that tension nicely.
Lucy and Lumi walked on either side of me.
"You okay? Can you walk alright?"
"Of course I'm fine."
"Can you use all your magic now?"
"Yeah. Actually, it's even better than before, I bet."
As we chatted idly, I noticed the awkward way Lucy and Lumi were holding their arms at their sides. They used to keep a little distance from me, but now they were right up against me, fidgeting—lifting their arms and dropping them repeatedly. They looked uncomfortable.
They're agonizing over it, huh.
One wants to link arms, the other to hold hands—different specifics, but both clearly itching to show off that we're lovers now. Well, we are dating, after all. So cute.
Though with all these people around, it's a bit much... Eh, I can just say we were excited to see friends later.
I looked at the two fretting girls and spoke up.
"Wanna link arms?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"Wha—uh...."
True to form as twins, Lucy and Lumi reacted with identical fluster.
"You've been fidgeting with your arms this whole time. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"...Lumi. Wanna do it?"
"I-I couldn't.... Not with so many people around."
"...Then I won't either."
Lumi averted her flushed cheeks from my gaze, stealing little glances at me, while Lucy picked up her pace to walk ahead. Hmm, give 'em an opening and they freeze up. Classic type.
I knew it. I closed my slightly extended arms.
*
"Now, let's think about how to calculate the next part. First, you need to grasp mana sensitivity."
"Hm...."
Back to theory class after so long, but the work hadn't changed. I pretended to take notes while pondering my next moves.
Now that I was back at the academy, it was time to resume conquering the heroines.
For now, Lucy and Lumi are basically done.
Both at 99 affection. Just need one big event... and I had a pretty good guess what that was. Dating twins means it'd happen eventually.
Next up: Ellis and Sulin noona. And Professor Im Sol.
Ellis would start massages soon, so that was fine. The issues were Sulin noona and Professor Im Sol.
The key to conquering Moon Sulin—the stalker incident—is gone.
Originally, VP Shin Dong-min becomes her stalker, driving her mentally to the brink, and you save her. But he blew up before that. There was even a news article about him going missing recently. No idea if he's really dead or just fled.
If he's alive, there'd be some reaction by now.
Im Sol wasn't technically a heroine, but her score was heroine-level. Had to conquer her no matter what. But our relationship had turned kinda business-like. We'd gone all the way to fellatio, so crossing that line might lead to quick progress, but it felt tough for both of us. That thick professor-student barrier.
Of course, plenty left with Im Sol too. The magic expo, and her paper was nearly done. But Sulin was the real problem....
Gotta visit her today.
Not just Sulin—all the other heroines too.
Next, my combat power. Not a precise number, but raw fighting strength around S-rank hunter level. For reference, in the original mid-to-late game, the protagonist hits S-rank. Sure, power creep brings stronger foes by the end... but for now, no real threats.
Thinking about combat led to another issue.
The status window.
--------- ??? : ??? ---------
At some point, my status window stopped opening. Just this weird ??? marker.
Not as crucial as the heroine windows, so whatever. But not knowing my own stats was annoying—no precise mana readout.
"Ah... screw it."
Who cares about stats? Women are what matter. Staring at ??? won't change that. This world's full of incomprehensible crap since I got isekai'd here. Best to brush off minor unsolved mysteries quick.
Class ended, and I started mulling what to chat about with Lucy and Lumi.
*
Scribble-scribble.
Ellis was jotting notes on dungeon mana density calculations. Even with prep, Victoria Academy classes were tough to keep up with. To maintain grades at the world's top academy, she had to focus.
Common sense.
But why's he doing that...?
It was absurd seeing the #1 student ignore class with a bored expression, twirling his pen. Lee Ho-yeon. Full marks in every theory subject despite this routine.
"...."
Fine, whatever. Truth was, Ellis's reasons for studying were simple: personal satisfaction, expectations as Iris Guild heiress back home, sister's approval.
But topping all that: curing her congenital mana disorder. Without it, no low self-esteem, no obsessions. She'd rage at losing #1 before, but now she'd loosened up on grades.
Because she'd found a cure. That #1 guy, though—that was the issue.
"Aah, that's it for today's class."
The gray-haired old professor left, and Ellis set down her pen. Lunchtime soon—time to eat. She thought of Sebas Chan waiting outside and rose, but nearby cadets' chatter seeped into her ears.
—Lee Ho-yeon's even hotter after so long.
—Never gets old looking at him.
—Were he and the twins always that close?
—They're famous for hanging out together.
—Really...? Feels closer than that.
—Yeah, kinda clingy.
Lee Ho-yeon's name kept catching her ear despite filtering. Ellis glanced at his seat. He was talking with the Lucy-Lumi twins.
"Lee Ho-yeon. What're you up to after class?"
"Hm, gotta see the professor. And swing by student council maybe."
"Aha... Good. We have stuff too, right Lumi?"
"...Yeah. Lucky."
"What? Planning something without me?"
Definitely closer now. Not physically, but... the vibe between them had shifted.
She knew about his physical thing with Lumi, but publicly they were just friends—not this close. Some change of heart?
"...."
Lumi's face from that secretly obtained video flashed like it was in the classroom. A face meant for private moments. Seeing it here felt like glimpsing something forbidden.
"Gonna hit the bathroom real quick."
Ho-yeon stepped out. Watching his back, Ellis quietly rose.
Chance.
Time to tell him to come home. She could message via smartwatch, but after watching him banter with the twins, she wanted to say it in person.
Outside, she spotted his back and hurried to catch up. No one around, perfect.
"Lee Ho-yeon."
"Yeah?"
Seeing his face up close after so long felt odd.
"...Come to my house today."
"Today?"
"Yeah."
His slight fluster eased her. No matter how many women around him, he couldn't ignore her words. That was key.
A relationship where I lead.
'Even if he cheats, one main wife is enough.'
That mindset ingrained since childhood, from her mother overlooking her playboy father's flings.
—His heart's mine anyway, so a little blowing off steam is fine.
Absurdly tolerant education led to that view. So Ellis wouldn't admit her own affection—felt like defeat.
Bees swarming a flower called Lee Ho-yeon. She didn't want to be just one of the swarm.
"Mm. Got it. I'll head over today."
"I'll be waiting."
Done, she turned and headed back. Feeling in control, just as she wanted. A faint smile crossed her lips.
*
"...."
I tilted my head watching Ellis walk away. Her status window floated before me.
Definitely prickly. 68 affection, same as our 1v1 duel, but the vibe was way different.
It's a woman thing.
If men are flowers and women bees, Ellis is the queen bee.
[Bees flock to capable men—natural. I can allow it. But don't forget: I'm the queen bee.]
Ellis's line to the protagonist in the original. She's harem-tolerant, but only if she's the queen.
Not about roles—worker bees work, soldiers fight, queen breeds. It's about being the queen among bees.
Able man as flower? She must be the top bee claiming it. Ellis's mindset.
Should've targeted Ellis first, maybe.
Would've been easier. No regrets, though—Baek A-young, Nam Da-eun, Lucy, Lumi all precious. Plus, uncontrollable events derailed things.
"Gotta make it work somehow this time too."
Massage was my in—only thing to lean on. Mana and fingers my only weapons.
Back in class, Lucy and Lumi waited.
"Lumi, tteokbokki for lunch? What the... Oh, you're back?"
"Ho-yeon, where for lunch?"
"I want burgers, but Lumi wants tteokbokki. You pick, Ho-yeon."
Their sparkling eyes fixed on me as I grabbed my bag.
"Let's do gukbap."
"Ehh?"
"I'll go wherever you pick, Ho-yeon."
"Hey, Lumi! Not fair! You fought my burger hard!"
Familiar vibe. Nothing beat bantering with the twins for peace of mind.
We bickered all the way to lunch.