Chapter 206. Ellis
"Haa... Old folks are really hard to convince."
Scarlett was breaking a sweat trying to persuade Sebas Chan, who insisted on waiting outside the door while Ellis got her massage. There was no way to explain the moans that would inevitably leak out. Even if she put up a Rune Barrier for soundproofing, someone of Sebas Chan's caliber would sense its presence. So she needed another excuse... but nothing came to mind.
Of course, there was one excuse that always worked: selling out Ellis. Still, she wanted to save "Lady Ellis doesn't want Sebas Chan nearby" as a last resort. It might raise suspicions about Ellis and Lee Ho-yeon. But with Sebas Chan's unyielding stance, Scarlett had no choice but to deploy her secret weapon.
"Actually... Lady Ellis doesn't want you nearby, Sebas Chan."
"Ah, Lady...? Then there's no helping it... Scarlett, you keep watch..."
"...Yes. Understood."
Sebas Chan's retreating figure, trudging away, looked just like a father who'd been told "I hate Daddy!" by his favorite daughter.
'He's already switched sides to Ho-yeon anyway. No helping it.'
Given Sebas Chan's personality, he wouldn't show it to Ellis. But he'd still feel a bit hurt. Scarlett felt a twinge of guilt, but she was already bound to Ho-yeon by contract... and the treatment she got from him was better than from Iris Guild. No salary, but the "company welfare" was top-notch.
'Gotta prepare to switch sides early.'
Anyway, having successfully persuaded Sebas Chan, Scarlett slipped out of the mansion.
'She should be around here... Ah, there she is.'
A strikingly handsome man who stood out even from afar. And a subtle perception-lowering barrier clinging to him. An expert like Scarlett could pierce it, but to ordinary people, he'd just look like an average guy.
Scarlett approached Lee Ho-yeon. Even if she left Iris Guild, it wasn't because she disliked Ellis—it was because Ho-yeon was better.
'Gotta help our lady with her love life a bit.'
In Scarlett's eyes, Ellis had a serious issue. She'd grown up watching her mother suffer because of a playboy guild master, and now she'd fallen for a playboy herself. Still, Scarlett rooted for Ellis. It'd be ideal if Ho-yeon and Ellis got together—it'd let her have both Iris Guild and Ho-yeon if luck was on her side.
Crunch crunch—
Scarlett snuck up to Ho-yeon, hiding behind a wall.
"Scarlett?"
But Ho-yeon spotted her efforts instantly.
"Ho-yeon-nim. Hello."
"Long time no see."
Ho-yeon didn't flinch at Scarlett's sudden voice, keeping his pace. He'd sensed her mana approaching, so he greeted her calmly.
"It's only been a day since discharge, but your mana sensing is already back in top form."
"Gotta be at this level to get around. I've got too many enemies."
"True. With all the sins you've committed."
"..."
*
"It shouldn't be too late."
It's almost 8 PM already. After leaving Professor Im Sol's lab, I cleaned up with a cleansing spell and headed to Ellis's place.
The neighborhood where Ellis lived was lined with massive houses.
"Maybe I should move somewhere like this. Dorms are too cramped."
Staring at one of them, I seriously considered relocating. Four people living in a dorm room? Luckily, I'd set up a bed in the living room for Liliana's streams, so it wasn't impossible, but it was still tight. Gotta expand someday.
As I walked toward Ellis's house, I sensed a familiar mana flow. Blonde double agent's signature.
"Scarlett?"
"Ho-yeon-nim. Hello."
"Long time no see."
Scarlett's mana slipped cautiously into my shadow. Probably didn't want to show herself yet. Still wary of prying eyes. Ordinary folks wouldn't notice, but experts like Professor Kang Hyo-lyn could pop up anytime.
"It's only been a day since discharge, but your mana sensing is already back in top form."
"Gotta be at this level to get around. I've got too many enemies."
"True. With all the sins you've committed."
"..."
'Annoying, but can't argue.'
We fell into easy conversation despite not seeing each other for days—built-up rapport helped.
"Lady Ellis is waiting anxiously. Why so late?"
"Really? She told me you were tied up with work."
"No way. I've been watching her pace around the bed for the last two hours. You have no idea."
"You have it rough."
Scarlett trailed in my shadow. Even unseen, I could picture her trademark lazy expression.
'We've gotten really close, huh.'
She was ice-cold at first. Ancient history now.
"So why're you here? I'm heading to Ellis's anyway."
"Just saying hi... and good luck."
"Good luck?"
"You're coming from fooling around with another girl, right? Treat our lady right. She's totally smitten."
"..."
Was Ellis that into me? I knew the massages were intense, but I figured it wasn't that deep yet.
'Nah.'
It was called a massage, but anyone watching would swear it was lovers' intimacy. Dumb of me to think affinity was lacking after that much skinship.
'Game heroines are hard to read.'
Ellis especially. She acted like she was policing my harem, prickly despite high affinity. Jerking off to my sex tapes behind my back, tsundere in front—impossible to gauge.
"Maybe just go for it..."
A little slip-up might be fine. Affinity's pretty high.
"...Even so, shoving your dick in right away seems too soon, no?"
"Don't say weird shit."
"Yes, sir."
I stomped my shadow to punish the nonsense—no reaction, as expected.
"Sheesh... Right, Liliana and Da-hee miss you, so swing by the dorm later."
"Maybe not for a bit... And I miss Liliana-nim too."
"Yeah, yeah."
I knew Scarlett liked Liliana. Heard those happy moans every time she visited.
Chatting away, we reached Ellis's house.
"Here we are. Time to go."
"Yes. I'll be hiding in the room anyway. Take good care of our lady."
"What's with you? Playing Cupid today?"
"Something like that. I'd benefit if you two dated."
"I'll try."
After Scarlett vanished, I rang the bell.
Ding-dong—
Ding-dong—
Even a huge place has a normal doorbell.
Click—
Moments later, the gate cracked open.
*
"Ahem. Hoo..."
Ellis spritzed perfume on herself repeatedly while waiting for Ho-yeon. Not her first time hosting him, but the long gap amped up her nerves.
'Why am I so tense over this...'
Clutching her pounding heart, she took deep breaths. Hoo. Haa. Hoo.
What had her so excited? The hope of curing her innate mana disorder? Being alone with Ho-yeon after so long? Finally getting that massage?
She couldn't tell.
Ding-dong—
Ding-dong—
The gate alarm chimed. Ellis checked the CCTV. Ho-yeon stood outside.
"...He's here."
Activating the gate, she watched him enter and hurried downstairs. Heart thumping extra hard.
She timed the front door perfectly as he crossed the yard.
"Hey. Sorry I'm late. Wait long?"
"...No. I just finished work too. Come in."
Ho-yeon at home felt different from class. Handsome aside, just seeing his face made her lower belly tingle. Clutching her racing heart, Ellis led him to her room.
Ho-yeon followed, eyeing the place.
'Damn, it's huge.'
Wonder what it's like living here.
"You can drop the perception-lowering barrier in the room, right?"
"Nah, it's fine. Already told my secretary you're coming."
"...You sure?"
That's risky. Everyone knows your dad's a daughter fanatic.
"Yeah. Been a while since I mentioned it. Can't hide forever."
"True, but..."
Damn. Guess hiding till the end was impossible. She seemed chill, though.
'Nah. No way she'd let it slide.'
Hope no drama.
In Ellis's room, Ho-yeon settled into a chair like before.
'No setup last time... She's fully prepped now.'
A massage bed sat center-stage in the pink room. Sturdy, luxurious—pricey.
"...You okay?"
Ellis eyed him, speaking up. Her gut churned; she wanted to dive straight in, but that'd seem too eager. Good thing she'd dragged out replies.
Really, if it was "therapy," no shame. Feeling this way proved otherwise, but she didn't realize.
Ho-yeon, seeing her perched on the bed, replied.
"Yeah. As you see. Fit as ever."
'Thought she'd jump right in. Warms up with chit-chat, huh.'
Perfect. Lots to ask.
"Glad to hear. Um..."
"Oh yeah, stopped by student council earlier. Seniors mentioned you."
"Student council? We haven't done promo duties in ages."
"They get our likeness in exchange for the spot, so... whatever."
"Same here. Less work, the better."
Student council thawed the mood. Time for real talk—but Ellis looked off. Frustrated.
Ho-yeon cut to chase.
"Uh... France has been chaotic lately. You guys okay?"
"...No. Iris Guild took a hit too."
"Anything I can do? Wanna help however."
Maybe hop to France via Ellis. Simplify things.
"We're good. We can handle it."
"Still..."
"Iris Guild handles its own. Rules. Sorry."
"Got it. Sorry."
Ellis shut it down firm. Info guild thing—strict protocols. And I wouldn't help much anyway.
Whatever. No hard feelings.
'Sucks, though. Wanted in on that.'
Needed centaur-hell-Liliana links. Government ties meant connections. How to approach?
As Ho-yeon pondered, Ellis clenched her unseen fist.
'...Can't we just start the massage?'
Didn't expect this much talk. Should've jumped in... Why ask about wellbeing?
Too awkward to say "Enough chat, massage time."
Impatience burned her mouth dry.