Patriot Lee Ho-yeon

"Ughhh... My head hurts so much."

I watched Liliana clutching her head and asked, "Is it that complicated?"

"Yeah. Even with Rebecca helping, it's tough."

"Want me to lend a hand?"

I wasn't sure if I'd be much help, but it had to be better than nothing.

"No need. I've got a secret weapon."

"What's that?"

"Pulling an all-nighter and working our asses off."

"...That's just called the straightforward approach. People don't usually call it a 'secret weapon.'"

"Really?"

Scarlett, who had insisted she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could handle it herself, suddenly headed out of the dorm.

If she was going to solve it, where the hell was she off to?

"Baby daddy, you rest. Liliana and I will take care of it."

"Aw, come on. I might still be useful."

Rebecca told me to rest, but wouldn't I be of some help? I could read hell's mana pretty well myself.

"Liliana, show me what you've got so far."

"Ho-yeon."

Just then, Scarlett's voice rang out confidently from where she'd vanished.

"What the—? Scarlett? Back already?"

"Yeah. All solved?"

"The Guild Master is summoning you."

"The Guild Master?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Isaac was calling for me? ...She hadn't said anything weird, had she?

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No. It's good news."

"...I can't trust you when you're smiling like that."

Scarlett's grin had fooled me once or twice before. I watched Liliana and Rebecca's research for a bit longer, then headed outside.

It was already dark out. Feeling the ambient mana that seemed even stronger than before, I made my way to the main building.

Isaac was waiting in the Guild Master's office, so I had to go see him in person. Normally, if he had business with me, he'd come himself... but this was better than him dropping by and catching sight of Liliana and Rebecca.

Most of the Iris Guild building was dark. It didn't feel like an information guild at all, but they said the real operations were underground, so whatever.

Knock knock.

"It's Lee Ho-yeon. May I come in?"

The Guild Master's office where I'd come with Ellis last time. The door opened in response to my knock, revealing Isaac poring over documents.

Was staring at paperwork a trait of busy people? Sulin noona and Professor Im Sol were always buried in work too.

"Guild Master."

"Mm. Give me a moment—have a seat and wait."

I sat on the sofa where I'd been with Ellis and waited for Isaac. A short while later, he roughly gathered his papers and sat across from me.

"Sorry about that. Had some things to handle."

"No problem. You said you needed to see me?"

"Right. First off, walk me through the situation. I haven't heard the details."

I reported to Isaac about the research. To track the centaur, we needed to analyze the mana, which would take one to two days. But starting tomorrow, academy finals meant I'd have to head back. I explained it as politely and thoroughly as possible, and Isaac nodded before speaking.

"In simple terms, you need more time. Taking it back to Korea would make coordinating a pain."

"Uh... yeah, the schedules don't line up."

"Don't worry. I'll handle it."

"...?"

Was this something that could even be solved? It was the academy's finals.

"Go rest. It'll be sorted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by tomorrow."

"That's it?"

"Yeah. Off you go. Oh, and that guy who jumped you the other day? Kicked him out of the guild on the spot. Heard you protected Ellis—thanks again."

"...No big deal."

Isaac sipped his coffee from the table, signaling the conversation was over. Time to leave, but one question popped into my head.

"Ah... Guild Master, one last thing I wanted to ask."

"What is it?"

I asked about the curiosity that had been nagging at me for days.

Sunday morning.

"Ugh..."

I dragged my exhausted body out of bed. Helping with Rebecca and Liliana's research all night had my body screaming in protest. I pinched Liliana's cheek as she slept beside me, then checked my smartwatch.

Not knowing when the original story's events might kick off, checking the news every morning had become routine.

But today's headlines were weird.

"What the fuck."

Seeing my name plastered on the portal site's front page snapped me awake. I checked Victoria Academy's community site, Everyday, too.

"...It's blowing up."

Just the top post was like this, and my name was everywhere else too. They could've given me a heads-up on something this big. Why was everyone around me so bad at sharing info?

And what was this about agreeing to a special exam? I hadn't even heard about it.

"Hold up. Not the time."

I quickly messaged the heroines: French government's sudden cooperation means I can't make finals.

"Ughhh, whassup?"

"...Nothing. Go back to sleep."

"Mmm..."

Liliana woke to my voice, yawned sleepily, and flopped back down. She'd pulled an all-nighter on research—bound to be wiped.

Wide awake now, I got out of bed. Rebecca was crashed on the living room sofa. She looked pretty cute asleep, total opposite of her usual sharp features.

"Good morning, Ho-yeon."

"Morning, Scarlett. Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"

Scarlett sat at the table sipping morning coffee. A steaming cup waited opposite her, practically inviting me, so I took the seat.

"You've become a celebrity, at least."

"...Don't need it."

I shook my head and took a sip. What could I do now? Might as well roll with it. Public attention was old hat. This was celebrity life.

Slurp.

'Bitter as hell.'

Whatever. I'd bought us a few days. Helping all night had advanced the mana analysis a ton. I'd done all I could; now it was up to Liliana and Rebecca.

'What to do today?'

Sudden free time. Sure, magic practice and stuff, but after yesterday's grind, I wanted a break.

I turned to Scarlett slurping her coffee. "Scarlett, wanna go out just us?"

"...Me?"

"Yeah. You've worked hard—lunch on me."

"Hmm, I'm not that easy to sway with food."

I grinned back at her playful smile. "What then? Something naughty?"

"Money and fame."

"You've finally lost it."

Scarlett rubbed her thumb and forefinger by her eye, smirking. Ace of Iris Guild or not, her salary had to be huge. What'd she want from me?

"Fine, lunch sounds good."

"Cool. Know any good spots?"

"Of course. You ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have no idea how popular I was."

"No way more than me."

"...Sudden thought—mind if I share?"

"Don't."

"Without that face, you'd be public enemy number one for women."

"Scarlett. I said don't."

Scarlett walked ahead silently. Had she forgotten our contract? It was basically a slave deal.

"Though that's its own charm."

"...What?"

"I'll get ready."

Pat pat pat. Scarlett darted into her room after saying her piece.

...Jeez. Flirting now?

Staring at the closed door, I recalled last night's chat with the Guild Master.

I stifled a rising laugh. Mutual attraction, one step from official? Maybe tease her over lunch.