Chapter 323. Irene & Ellis (2)
"Right. First Team Leader. Report on the project progress by tomorrow morning, and let them know the tracking team might need to prepare as soon as the centaur's mana analysis is done."
"…Understood."
The daily afternoon briefing with the First Team Leader. Even Isaac, the ultimate doting dad, made an effort to use her official title during work hours. Neither Irene nor Isaac were the type to get upset over something like that, so it had never been an issue.
"…Why does my eldest daughter look so down?"
But Isaac had set aside his guild master persona and voiced his concern—Irene's expression during the report was that grim.
"It's nothing."
"Nothing my foot. It's written all over your face. …You're not having guy troubles too, are you?"
"Sigh, it's Ellis I'm worried about."
Knowing silence would only make things more annoying, Irene answered her father's question.
"Ellis… Yeah. But what can you do? She got through her first real battle properly, at least. It'll be good experience."
"Good experience? Didn't you see her back then?"
"Running into a disaster-class right off the bat is enough to scare anyone. Even you clung to me the first time you saw a basilisk…"
"That's not the point!"
Bam! Irene slammed the desk, her face flushing red.
"…Why are you getting mad?"
"Ellis was such a sweet girl… She's been weird ever since Lee Ho-yeon showed up. Don't you think so, Father?"
"Don't worry too much. Ellis is an adult now."
"…You've changed too, Father. She's seeing a guy, you know."
It was an uncharacteristically lax response from the man who'd always been hyper-vigilant about his daughters' dating lives. Sure, he'd been acting strange lately, but to let her actually date someone?
"They're not officially dating yet."
"…It's only a matter of time. You can tell just by looking at her face."
"Well, don't stress. If he's a bad guy, I'll step in for sure."
"……."
Irene didn't like her father's attitude one bit. As if any man eyeing Ellis could be good. A truly decent guy wouldn't even approach her, sensing the gap in their levels. The only one worthy of Ellis was herself.
"Anyway, don't overthink it. Focus on managing your condition. If the First Team Leader falls apart, nothing gets done."
"…Understood."
Irene bowed her head and left the guild master's office.
"What now."
If her father was saying that much, Ellis's virginity was probably still safe—for now. The problem was how long that would last. Lee Ho-yeon's skills exceeded her expectations. When he'd pierced her stealth, his expression had been utterly calm. Any hunter's mana use gives them away, but he'd pinpointed her like picking up pocket change on the street. With that level of prowess, he could pull off something big in France without Isaac noticing.
'Should I go to Korea?'
Even if nothing happened in France, it was only a matter of time. For Irene, whose life's goal was Ellis, this was a disaster.
Back in her office, Irene sat and stared at Ellis's photo, deep in thought.
"Ellis…."
Irene gently stroked a childhood photo of Ellis with her fingers. Socially speaking, it wasn't exactly proper. Loving her sister like this. But she and Ellis had long transcended societal norms. From an aesthetic perspective, she and Ellis had to surpass legal boundaries. It was just Irene's personal philosophy, but she believed it fervently. The goddess of beauty Aphrodite was forgiven her whims and moods because of her beauty. That was why she and Ellis could be absolved of taboo acts too.
Irene scrolled through her collection of Ellis photos. Ever since realizing Ellis's beauty, she'd curated her growth to her tastes—these were her treasures. Like a flawless white canvas, Ellis embodied beauty itself. Sure, she'd been a bit stained by one man lately, but she'd return to pristine white soon enough. And only Irene could paint that canvas red. No matter what it took.
Riiiing~
"…He came already?"
At that moment, the alarm magic circle she'd set around Ellis's residence activated.
*
"Finaaaally dooone…."
Thud. Liliana flopped backward the instant the magic circle was complete. Rebecca yawned tiredly, while Scarlett, who'd been waiting, clapped.
"Great work, Ms. Rebecca. You too, Liliana."
"Yup yup. Baby daddy worked hard just watching."
"I feel like I'm dying… Used too much brainpower…."
"I've prepared coffee."
I took a sip of the coffee Scarlett handed out and placed a hand on Liliana's forehead.
"You're burning up. What now? Overload?"
"Gimme something sweet. Bread, soda, semen…."
"Wasn't the last one weird? Huh?"
I blinked at Rebecca's reaction to the succubus's nonsense and checked the magic circle. Designed under Rebecca's lead to track the centaur no matter where he fled. Seeing the finished product, I understood the intent from the blueprint—but how the hell did she make this solo? Even I got a headache looking at it.
"Ms. Rebecca, how'd you make this alone?"
"It's based on a Rune Barrier, so it wasn't too bad."
"Whoa."
Genius. Total genius. I gave Rebecca a thumbs-up.
Then Scarlett spoke up.
"Ho-yeon, shall I report to the guild master that the analysis is complete?"
"Yeah. Oh, and say we can't deploy tonight."
"Got it. She'll want a quick strike, but tomorrow's okay?"
"As long as we don't argue past midnight, tomorrow morning's fine."
I wanted a chat with that guy too. Just how arrogant was he to cause this much trouble?
After Scarlett left to report, I stretched and stood.
"So tiiiired…."
"No kidding. Liliana, wanna rest a bit?"
"Sleep if you're that sleepy. You too, Liliana—get more rest."
She'd analyzed the circle right up to bedtime last night, then jumped back in first thing. No wonder she was wiped. Especially rare to see Liliana this diligent.
"Mmm… Just a little nap."
"I'll sleep with Liliana."
"Uh, huh? I'm fine, though."
"Liliana, aren't we close now?"
Rebecca pulled Liliana into a hug and collapsed onto the bed. Liliana tried to wriggle free lazily but succumbed to exhaustion and closed her eyes.
"Looks like they'll sleep cozy together."
I checked my smartwatch on the pair sprawled on the bed. Lunch was long past; it was nearing dinner. We'd probably raid the centaur's hideout tomorrow, so I needed to manage my condition….
'Wait, tomorrow's Monday.'
Finals week at Victoria Academy. The other heroines were in Korea, so texts would have to do—but leaving Ellis like this felt like a waste.
"Gotta at least see Ellis."
Time to finish that massage properly.
"Okay."
Better wrap up quick. I checked myself in the mirror, then headed to Ellis's place.
*
"You got here fast."
"Came right away."
I entered Ellis's place like it was routine. Still couldn't wrap my head around her living alone in such a huge house, but she seemed comfy, so whatever. Wasn't it creepy, that big?
"Come in. I prepped inside."
"Yeah. Oh, this the only entrance?"
"…Yeah, but why?"
"No reason. Just curious."
"Hmmm. Okay."
The second Ellis led the way inside, I slapped down a quick magic circle at the door.
'Just in case.'
Life's too risky without insurance.
The room layout was the same as last time.
"Gonna head back to the academy tomorrow, so let's finish everything today."
Too bad no time for the main event.
"I'm not going tomorrow."
"…Why?"
"Decided not to."
I was loosening my fingers casually when Ellis dropped the bomb.
"Why not? You have exams."
"Who'd care? They'll just think Iris Guild stuff came up."
"…."
Not wrong, technically. Could probably sneak her into a special exam slot. Absurd, sure, but the world's full of absurdities. Bundle her with me, easy.
"Still wild. How'd you pull it off?"
"Secret. Talked to Dad."
"Ooh, no aegyo involved, right?"
I vaguely recalled it from the original story. Tongue-twirling stuff even I'd find embarrassing—was that canon?
"…Aegyo?"
"Kidding."
Sheesh, why the death glare if not? Picking up big sis traits?
I kept it natural. "Anyway, if you're not going tomorrow, I should've taken it slow. Capture the centaur, then massage—neater."
"…What'd you say?"
"Huh? Oh, I rushed thinking today was it. Not complaining, but massages work better with full mana."
"Not that. The next part. Capturing the centaur alive? For real?"
"…Did I? Don't think so."
Slipped my wishful thinking. Per Rebecca, the centaur was brainwashed too. He'd been anti-human attacks before, so credible. Break the brainwashing, and he might flip sides. Or not.
"Capture… Yeah, whatever. We can try."
Luckily, Ellis just shook her head, seemingly over it.
"Ahem. Body feeling okay? Not off today?"
I pivoted smoothly. Her pallor helped ease into it.
"…What would make it off? I did nothing."
"C'mon, we did the centaur tracking exercise together."
She'd faced the real deal, so her first combat had to be brutal. Mental and physical fatigue galore.
"No. I did jack. Couldn't track, couldn't fight. Just… sigh."
Ellis shook her head and opened up.
"Forget I said that. Sorry. Wanna call it today? Like you said, time after the centaur, but…."
Maybe she felt bad venting at me. Or embarrassed by the lame excuse. She closed her eyes, hand to forehead—exhausted. Sometimes best to leave 'em be.
'…But I can make today work.'
My instincts said seize the chance.