Confidence (3)
"...So, Dad just up and left?"
"Yes. He departed from the guild just a moment ago."
Ellis checked her smartwatch after hearing Sebas Chan's report. It wasn't too late, even though night had fallen.
"This is usually when he starts working. What's the rush?"
Unlike others, her father considered this his prime working hours. So why the urgent report?
"Before leaving the guild... he told the vice-guild master he was going to see you, Miss Ellis."
"...Me?"
Ellis furrowed her brow slightly.
"Yes. But I'm worried his visit might have something to do with Cadet Lee Ho-yeon."
"Hm..."
Her daughter getting a massage—and from a male masseur, no less.
—Who the hell is this guy rubbing my daughter? Let me see his face.
Her dad could absolutely say something like that. He fooled around with plenty of women himself but drew the line at his daughter dating anyone, the ultimate hypocrite.
"Did you tell him I said I'd never see him again if he came to Korea?"
"Yes, I relayed the message, but..."
'The guild master is so lax with work... whether he actually read the documents properly...'
Sebas Chan swallowed the rest. He couldn't badmouth her father in front of her.
"Hm. Then it's fine. He's probably using me as an excuse to go meet some woman."
"Is that so...?"
Sebas Chan tilted his head, knowing full well how much the guild master adored his vice-guild master and Ellis.
"Yeah. If he listened to me, he won't come."
Ellis knew her dad doted on her endlessly, but he also heeded her words just as much. That's why she trusted Isaac.
Completely unaware that he was already preparing to head to Korea.
*
With the Nam sisters out on some picnic, Liliana had started her stream from her room.
Honestly, she didn't need to stream anymore. Things were pretty relaxed for me now.
But if she had nothing to do at home, she'd lose her spark for life, so I just told her to keep going. She seemed to enjoy chatting with her viewers anyway.
—Hey, long time no see, everyone~
What? Stop pretending to be nice? Then get lost.
"Hmmm..."
How does a stream like that even do well? Amazing.
I used Liliana's voice as background noise while getting ready to meet Moon Sulin. Prep was simple—just a quick wash and running a hand through my hair...
But that was plenty. Good skin and hair made everything look perfect.
Ding-
I stepped out of the dorm. Our usual spot was the Korean restaurant Pungmi-dang.
On the walk there, I pondered what to talk about with Moon Sulin.
'A bit about the PR department... and the stalking thing.'
Last time I brought up the stalking, her reaction was off. It was a key to conquering her, but now it was blocked, which was frustrating. Still, I'd figure it out.
"Conquest..."
Conquering Ellis had taught me the power of affection levels. She was cold to everyone else but couldn't be that way with me.
My looks helped, sure, but affection was huge.
So maybe Moon Sulin's naturally rising affection would make it easy. In relationships, the one who loves more loses, after all.
Of course, with multiple lovers, that was my problem.
'That was a pretty scummy thought.'
My scumbag meter was rising. Needed to watch that.
Lost in thought, I arrived at Pungmi-dang. The familiar entrance and the usual server greeted me.
"Welcome."
"Reservation under Moon Sulin."
"This way, please."
We passed several rooms on the second floor, stopping at the deepest one. The server bowed.
"Just go inside."
"Thanks."
Slide-
Moon Sulin looked up from her smartwatch as I entered.
"Noona. I'm here."
"Yeah, yeah. You made it."
It'd been a while since I'd seen her here. Last time was before her hospitalization.
I sat across from her as she pocketed her watch.
Nothing unusual. Affection still high, no red flags. The reliable Moon Sulin as always.
Her face bloomed with a smile—delighted but trying to play it cool. Adorable noona.
"Hungry? Let's talk over lunch."
"Sure. Sounds good."
She rang the bell, and food arrived promptly. We dug in.
Nom nom.
Staring openly as she savored her appetizer, she noticed.
"W-Why? Something on my face?"
She widened her eyes, dabbing her lips with a napkin.
"Nah. Just reminiscing about our first meeting."
"First meeting...?"
"Yeah. I was shocked—I had no idea you were student council president and spilled coffee everywhere."
Looking back, that approach was hilarious. I was still adjusting to this world then... pretty good improv, I think.
Maybe.
"I was shocked too. But I was so stressed from work, it was refreshing. Got a friendly junior out of it."
"I got a cute noona."
"Hey, 'cute' for your noona?"
Sipping her drink with a sly smile, she leaned in.
"C'mon, it's a compliment. Speaking of, any more PR work? You haven't done anything in ages."
"...Budget hasn't come through. We haven't even used all the photos from you and Ellis's first event."
"..."
Top models caused these issues.
"Noona, what exactly happened with the VP?"
"...Shin Dong-min, huh?"
"Yeah."
The gloomy vibe and dead eyes from my last student council visit lingered.
Moon Sulin leaned back, sighed, and spoke.
"Sigh. Nothing special. He just stopped showing up one day and vanished."
"His cronies too, eventually."
"Yeah. We're handling everything. Need to recruit, but expulsion procedures are a hassle."
"Victoria Academy student council perks."
Being an officer was huge resume fodder. Entry and exit were a nightmare.
Where the hell did that bastard Shin Dong-min go? He was tenacious in the original story—wouldn't quit this easily...
Then Moon Sulin tapped the table.
"Hoyeon, how about you take his spot? VP position's yours. No one would complain."
"Uh, I'm kinda busy..."
"Great for job hunting later. Or I could get you hired at the academy... or work under me...?"
"..."
I racked my brain for excuses.
*
I finished the dessert ice cream and leaned back.
"Always delicious here."
"Glad you enjoyed it."
Sipping her Claires Rose Latte, she beamed.
"Noona, everything okay?"
"Huh? Yeah. Why keep asking if I'm stressed?"
"...Just. Don't wanna see you sad. Haha..."
Tch. Leading questions were a bad habit.
Scraping the empty bowl, I felt her gaze. She had something to say.
"Noona, spill it."
"Hm. Hoyeon... if the paparazzi get too bad, tell me. I'll handle it."
"...Paparazzi?"
"You said it was rough last time."
The random keyword jogged my memory. I'd complained about "paparazzi" as an excuse before.
'What an absurd situation.'
I was supposed to seduce her, yet here she was seducing me.
Couldn't waste energy on nonsense, though. Honestly, the attention wasn't bad—for a guy.
"It's fine. Was just stressed then. Not anymore."
"R-Really...?"
Her lips twitched upward as I spoke.
"Yeah. Weird having strangers save my pics, but celebrities deal. Gotta adapt."
Plenty set celeb photos as wallpapers without permission. Same vibe.
"W-What if it's someone you know?"
She leaned closer.
"Huh?"
"Knowing someone saving them... still weird?"
"?"
I squinted, confused. She panicked, waving her hands.
"N-No, sorry. Wrong topic. Ahem! Ahem!"
Coughing awkwardly.
'What was that?'
"Ahem! Food's done—let's go?"
...Hold up. My instincts screamed: don't let this slide.
Heroines' words had burned me before. One begged for "rape," I got jumped after a week away, a professor ovulated for "research help." Twins tag-teamed, rich girl was a voyeur, damsel with hostage sister clung for life.
Assuming Moon Sulin was normal was naive. Stupid, even.
Her reaction confirmed it. Collecting my photos?
"..."
"...Hoyeon? Getting up?"
'But honestly, that's fine, right?'
Mild compared to others. Not nudes or anything. Fan club level—acceptable.
I pretended to ponder, then spoke slowly.
"Well... if it's someone I know, maybe it's okay?"
"...Really?"
"Yeah. They'd know my face anyway. I could just give them pics."
"...Then, ah, no."
She started to say something, then shook her head.
I could guess, but didn't push. Would seem intentional.
"Noona, ready to go?"
"Y-Yeah?!"
She grabbed her twitching lips and led the way, clearly holding back laughter.
"...Whatever. That's fairy-level cute."
Collecting photos? Sure, why not. Hardly weird.