Why Only to Me (4)
Ellis's mansion. Tap-tap-tap.
The issue confronting the Iris Guild. Ellis, who had been gathering information on the centaur that had appeared in France, stretched and rose from her seat.
"Haa... What am I supposed to do?"
Since it wasn't a clearly established monster, the reliability of the information was low. Frowning from fatigue, Ellis poured wine from the bottle on her desk into a glass.
"Hmm."
Closing her eyes to savor the wine's aroma, Ellis realized that tomorrow the weekend would end. She'd spent the entire weekend working, and now it was already over. She had to go back to the academy, resume information gathering and studying.
Hmm...
Come to think of it, where had Scarlett gone off to? There were mountains of information to collect. About Lee Ho-yeon, the women around him, or even his dormitory...
Knock knock.
"Come in."
The only one who knocked on her door like this was Sebas Chan. Scarlett oddly preferred sneaking around through the windows.
Ellis set her wine glass on the desk and greeted Sebas Chan.
"Ah, miss."
"...What?"
Sebas Chan entered the room looking urgent. Lately, he got like this more often. He used to be a middle-aged man with such composure. And whenever he lost that composure, it was always about her father.
"Contact from the Korea branch head. The guild master has visited Korea."
"What on earth for? No, where is he now?"
"Well... They're deploying Korea branch personnel to search for him."
"How did they even know he entered the country?"
"He stopped by the branch head right away to ask for directions. The guild master insisted on secrecy, but he secretly told us, so absolutely don't tell the guild master..."
"...What a weird guy."
Korea branch head, Professor Kang Hyolyn. They were at the same academy, but she was incomprehensible. Ignoring the guild master's words like that. Maybe as a professor, she was being considerate to her student?
Beep-beep-beep.
At that moment, Sebas Chan's smartwatch rang noisily.
"Yeah, what's up? Where? What?!"
Sebas Chan frowned at his smartwatch. From the way he glanced at Ellis during the call, it seemed Dad had caused trouble.
After finishing the call, Sebas Chan cautiously looked at Ellis.
"...Miss. He's at the academy's shopping district."
"Haa, what is Dad doing? Did he get lost?"
He'd probably gotten lost trying to come this way. Ellis's poor sense of direction was genetic. Her father, Isaac, often got confused too.
"Doesn't seem like it... He, uh, he's with Cadet Lee Ho-yeon."
"What? Why is Ho-yeon involved?"
Ellis couldn't help but be flustered. The two had no connection whatsoever?
"I don't know the details either. They tracked him via mana... But the barrier is strong, so they don't know the exact situation..."
Haa. This guy always got like this whenever Dad was mentioned. What on earth had happened to him back in his active days?
"Enough. Sebas Chan. Guide me there quickly."
"Understood..."
I specifically told him not to come.
And he goes to see Ho-yeon without even telling me?
Obviously for a massage.
"...Saying he likes me all the time—what good does that do?"
Her crazy dad. Ellis stormed out of the mansion in a foul mood.
*
"...Passed."
"...?"
What bullshit is this?
I glanced at Isaac, then subtly at Scarlett behind him. Scarlett met my eyes and gave a slight shake of her head.
Understanding the signal, I looked away.
"Hoo..."
What the hell did "passed" mean? Was he testing my strength?
But we just met today—why?
Passed as son-in-law material?
Various thoughts crossed my mind, but I didn't voice them. No point getting involved.
Wait it out, and he'd explain himself.
"..."
"..."
But the guy wasn't normal. My previously ragged breathing had normalized, and this space—two men staring at each other—started feeling awkward.
Over ten minutes of two guys facing off. Of course it was awkward.
"...Who are you?"
In the end, I spoke first. If he'd been a mine, I'd have gone casual, but I couldn't half-ass it with Ellis's dad.
"Did you already know me?"
Isaac looked at me with intrigued eyes and spoke.
This guy's handsome too.
Maybe because he was pretty Ellis's dad—his looks and specs were top-notch. He looked exactly like a tanned blond playboy who'd aged well.
Can't act like I know him.
Isaac rarely showed his face like this. A guild master of an information guild had to stay shrouded in secrecy.
Knowing him personally implied a certain level of authority. A mere cadet just starting to gain fame knowing the Emperor of the Night? Absurd.
"No idea."
So I lied. Thanks to the Clear Mentality perk, I was confident in my calm acting.
"Hmm... Right? Makes sense."
Isaac nodded and slowly scanned me.
"...So who are you? What's 'passed' mean?"
"Passed... You surpassed my standards. Rejoice. You've become one of the top men in the world."
"..."
Why did this guy talk like that? Still got middle-school syndrome?
"And who I am? That's a secret. As long as the darkness of night watches over you..."
"Dad!"
From behind Isaac, who was lowering his voice and striking a weird pose while staring at me, came a clear, angry voice.
Seeing who it was, I couldn't help but widen my eyes.
"I'm in the middle of setting the mood—who... Huh?"
Naturally, Isaac and Scarlett turned too, spotting the approaching blonde beauty.
"I told you not to come!"
"Eh, Ellis. How did you..."
Ellis approached angrily, met my eyes briefly, and sighed deeply. Then she went straight to Isaac and stomped on his shin with her heel.
"Agh, ow!"
Isaac didn't even think to block with mana—he just clutched his shin and rolled on the ground.
Oof. Even I winced. How much did that hurt?
"Does it hurt? Huh? I told you not to come. I even told Sebas Chan I'd never speak to you again if you did. Why do you do this, Dad?"
"S-sorry... I didn't read the documents to the end..."
"That's your problem, Dad. Always with my work..."
How many minutes passed? Scarlett and I watched as the fearsome Isaac got scolded by Ellis.
"You don't trust me that much? Like my eyes would roll for some guy?"
"It's not that, Dad just..."
Ridiculous and a bit funny. For the record, Scarlett stood behind Isaac, seriously watching the scene.
I wanted to at least nod at her, but she didn't look my way at all.
"Sorry. I'm sorry..."
"Fine. I'm mad now. Not talking to you anymore."
"Eh, Ellis. Sorry. What should Dad do..."
"Apologize sincerely to Ho-yeon, bow your head. He's the one treating my illness. You can't act like that."
"Ellis. Dad's the Iris Guild master. I can't just bow my head whenever."
Isaac straightened his hunched back and spoke confidently. Some pride he couldn't bend?
"Then pretend you don't know me. No apology, no talking to you."
"Ellis..."
Isaac hunched over again, looking pathetic like he'd never cared about pride.
Good job! That's right! Boyfriend over dad. Yup yup.
Isaac stared blankly at Ellis, who had her arms crossed and head turned, then shuffled around dejectedly. A face like the world had ended.
'No apology, no talking to Dad.' Hurt that much?
With his pride shredded, Isaac bowed to me.
"S-sorry... I'm Ellis's father and the Iris Guild master. I was just curious about the guy close to my daughter. But I didn't know how to approach... Really sorry..."
"...No, it's fine."
A bit... yeah. The situation felt off. Receiving an apology from Isaac, and as a father—no, not yet a father-in-law, but as a man. I could empathize with the pride-shattering moment.
Isaac looked at me, then glanced at Ellis.
Glare.
But under Ellis's piercing stare from the side, he bowed his head again.
"...If you want something, say it. Within what I can do... Well, not everything..."
"It's fi..."
I stopped before saying it was fine. A chance like this—couldn't pass it up.
"...Then I have a favor to ask."
Isaac swallowed, waiting for my next words.
"I want to investigate the centaur in France together."
"...That much? I can do it."
Isaac's lips trembled as he forced a smile. A bit scary, but I couldn't miss this.
I kept calm and flashed my friendliest smile.
*
Not enough, she said—he needs a personal apology. Ellis dragged Lee Ho-yeon away.
"Eh, Ellis..."
Isaac watched Ellis disappear beyond the alley, face crumbling.
"..."
Tired.
Scarlett thought. I want to ditch this crazy human fast.
Once Ellis was completely gone, Isaac's expression reset. He grinned cheerfully like nothing happened.
"...Tch. Too bad. Couldn't show off any cool side after all. First 'pass' in ages."
"A shame."
Did he really think that was cool? Scarlett sometimes couldn't understand men.
"He was lying."
Isaac suddenly spoke. His mouth still curved in amusement.
"..."
Scarlett waited, not grasping what he meant.
"Scarlett."
"Yes."
"Any chance info on me leaked to Lee Ho-yeon?"
"None."
She could say that for sure. She didn't know how much he'd deduced. Maybe from the massage talk, he guessed the Emperor of the Night might attack, so he tested her. But no way he knew personal details.
"Hmm... Judged from the situation alone, then. Not bad. His skills are top-notch anyway."
Isaac muttered meaningfully in front of Scarlett, then looked at her again.
"Scarlett."
"Yes."
Scarlett bowed, awaiting his words. His good expression suggested no anger.
"You monitor him directly."
"...Pardon?"
"Lee Ho-yeon. Him."
As if it were nothing, Isaac pulled out a cigarette, stuck it in his mouth, and lit it with a flick of mana at his fingertip.
"Even while talking to Ellis and me, he kept glancing at you. Seems interested. Or just likes blondes?"
Scarlett's eyes widened at Isaac's sudden words. Reading her reaction, Isaac smirked slightly.
"What, don't like it?"
"No, sir. I'll carry it out."
Good.
Scarlett inwardly sighed in relief. Just in case, she hadn't responded to Ho-yeon's eye-greeting.
She knew best that the man before her was a monster. No lapses around Isaac.
'Gotta tell Master Ho-yeon later.'
If she'd acknowledged the greeting, it might've raised suspicion.
"Yeah. He's a monster. Even with your stealth skills, you could get caught anytime—be careful."
"...Yes. I will."
Too late, guild master. No matter how careful, he catches you. And he's already caught me—remade body and soul.
Scarlett recalled her ridiculous situation and bowed her head. Also to hide her slightly upturned lips.