Confidence (2)
There were plenty of information guilds around the world, but if you asked anyone which one was the best, a hundred out of a hundred would say France's Iris Guild. This held true whether it was guilds run by individuals or families, or even those operated by governments. Other information guilds called the Iris Guild "the insurmountable wall." There were many reasons why the Iris Guild had risen to the top. The vast depth of information accumulated over long years of operation and the trust it commanded. Its unwavering solidity, never crumbling for decades despite claiming to be an information guild. Its ability to handle even the toughest requests as long as the price was right. But if you asked what the single biggest factor was that made the Iris Guild the best, everyone would agree on one thing.
The guild master, Isaac.
The man who earned the moniker "Emperor of the Night" on his own and dominated the world's shadows. The Emperor of the Night, Isaac. He was the guild master of the Iris Guild and Ellis's father.
During the time Ellis had collapsed after receiving a massage from Lee Ho-yeon.
A man entered the guild master's office at the Iris Guild headquarters in France, running a hand through his hair.
"Where the hell did that crazy horse bastard run off to?"
Tsk. Isaac naturally lit a cigar and exhaled smoke.
They had been relentlessly tracking the centaur that appeared in France, but it always vanished just before they could catch it. He'd staked the honor of the Iris Guild on personally leading a pursuit team, yet the results were this disastrous. It was utterly intolerable. He wanted to chase it for days more, but he couldn't neglect the guild.
Contacts were piling up.
Due to his trait of growing stronger at night, Isaac slept during the day and worked at night, where a moment's lapse in the dark could mean life or death. That's why he ignored all contacts during work hours, focusing solely on his tasks—and that focus kept him at the top. Of course, there were exceptions. If his daughter or wife were in danger, he'd drop everything and rush to them. That was why Isaac, a notorious playboy, could still maintain his family.
Puff, puff.
Isaac exhaled smoke as he checked the stack of documents on his desk. Most matters were handled below, but he had to drop by the guild every few days for these that required his personal touch.
"Still in the black... tsk. It's dropped filthy low."
He clicked his tongue, swallowing a groan as he sifted through the piled-up papers from his absence. The centaur's appearance in France had soured the guild's overall mood.
"Thought this year luck was on our side... then this damn monster shows up."
Why had such an intelligent boss monster appeared in France of all places? It emitted mana similar to that of a mine, but with a slightly more sinister darkness. The research team said it was a type never seen before, and they suspected its impossible escapes were due to that strange mana.
Leaning back in his chair, Isaac flipped through documents and scrawled signatures roughly. He was tired, and anyway, his subordinates would have managed well. His wife, the vice guild master and a capable woman, was the biggest reason he kept going.
"Ah, here it is."
Isaac's second reason for living: his daughter, Ellis.
The academies in France weren't up to par, so she was studying abroad at the world's top Victoria Academy. Despite her congenital mana disorder, she was hailed as a promising talent among her peers. Seeing her give her all even in tough times naturally swelled his paternal love. Sure, she was going through puberty lately and a bit difficult, but she'd get over it soon.
In any case, worried about his daughter so far away, Isaac received weekly reports on Ellis.
'Right before the mission report, she said she'd found a treatment from Saintess Baek Ayoung. And she stopped the mana massage midway.'
Mana massage. Isaac didn't usually believe in such things, but for Ellis's treatment, he'd invest in any sliver of hope. She was his daughter, after all.
"The cost for the masseuse... hm. Fair enough."
The recruitment fee itself wasn't much. But keeping Ellis's secret had cost a fortune. A huge expense with no results... but it was fine. She was his daughter Ellis.
"Hmm, second in exams... and hiring a new mana masseuse... name's Lee Ho-yeon?"
Lee Ho-yeon. A name that rang a bell...
"This is the guy who took the commission voucher."
A commission voucher granting direct access to the guild master. An item money alone couldn't buy. He'd given it to Ellis on a whim after her rare show of affection. Fine up to there. She was his daughter. A good friend might do that much. And luckily, it ended at the Korean branch chief without reaching him.
But the problem was elsewhere.
"This guy's a man."
Hiring a male masseuse...? Sebas Chan had clearly said Ellis wanted only female masseuses. The report said Ellis felt effects herself.
"...Not a scam, is it?"
Isaac searched for Lee Ho-yeon's photo on his smartwatch. Articles and interviews popped up. As he played one, his expression hardened.
That young punk reeked of his kind. Sly personality, smooth talk. The natural smirk in conversation. The playboy's eye smile that enchanted women. And that infuriatingly handsome face. Plus, exceptional talent—the future of mages worldwide. It was like looking at his younger self.
Isaac's instincts screamed. This guy wasn't ordinary. He wouldn't make your daughter happy.
"Maybe I should take a short vacation."
It was time to give the pursuit team a break from the centaur anyway. A few days off would be fine.
Isaac set down the Ellis report and left the office.
In the room nearby, a blonde beauty was working. Isaac approached her casually.
"Honey? I've got somewhere to go for a bit."
"Not meeting another woman, right?"
"As if. You're the only one for me. I'm going to see Ellis."
"Hm. You're not the type to sell out Ellis... Fine. Muah."
Isaac immediately prepared to head to Korea.
And due to that hasty decision, he missed the sentence on the back of the paper.
P.S. If the guild master shows up in person, it seems like Miss Ellis will be quite angry. Please leave things here to me and focus on guild matters.
— Sebas Chan
*
"Ow..."
I woke to sunlight piercing my eyelids. Blinking, I saw the blackout curtains I'd installed to block morning light were wide open.
"...Guess I left them open last night."
I hadn't, but Liliana might have. Weekend meant no academy—nice. Hospital life blurred weekdays and weekends, but just one day back made weekends feel special. Humans were weird.
"Mmm..."
Liliana buried her face in my chest to dodge the sun, sleeping soundly. She'd been so down yesterday, yet here she was. Better than moping, at least. I pinched her breast playfully, covered her with the blanket, and got up.
It was 6 a.m. Early enough that no one should be—
Clatter clatter. Kitchen noises.
Only two dorm residents used the kitchen. Scarlett wasn't here, so...
One left. In pajamas, I entered the kitchen. "Good morning."
"You're up. You and Liliana were sleeping so soundly."
"...Ahem."
Embarrassed, I gave an awkward smile, but Nam Da-eun ignored it, hands busy. Up close: kimbap, rolled omelets—simple stuff. With cute octopus sausages and character fish cakes as bonuses.
"Whatcha doing?"
"Going out with Da-hee today."
"Ooh, jealous. Take me too."
Perfect—I had nothing planned.
"No. Today’s just us sisters."
They spent every day together—how much more time? Still, watching her smile happily while rolling kimbap warmed me. Wanting to tease, I placed a hand on her breast and groped.
"Feed me a sausage."
"I bought the same for Da-hee and me... Omelet instead?"
She looked troubled. That face made me want to tease more. I groped harder. "We're dating, right? You said it yourself."
The day after ending Park Min-gyu. At dinner with Da-hee, Nam Da-eun's words. Mentioning it flushed her red, as expected.
"...Eat mine."
"Kidding. I'd never steal yours."
"Mean."
"Heh, what about Da-hee?"
"Waking soon. Meant to together, but you two were naked... couldn't."
"...Sorry."
Caught off guard, I released her breast.
"You open the curtains?"
"Yeah. Couldn't shake you awake."
"...Oh."
Not touching her sleeping boyfriend—best wife material ever. Moved, I went to hug her—creak. Door opened. I pulled away fast.
"Sis... why didn't you wake me?"
"Sorry, Da-hee. You're up?"
Nam Da-eun pushed me aside and ran to her sister.
Tsk. I felt like the jerk. I flopped on the living room sofa, checking my smartwatch.
"Gotta ask Lucy and Lumi... Ayoung's busy. Oh, lunch with Sulin noona too."
Messaged the twins and Sulin noona—what're you up to?
Ding—
"O. Fast."
Early bird gets the worm. Time to meet Sulin noona today.