Chapter 189. Lucy X Lumi (2)
Talented and young women often attract envy and jealousy.
Especially in the strange world of wizards, where the elderly dominate.
If the most outstanding one is a young woman, it goes without saying.
Naturally, Im Sol found it difficult to make friends.
Of course, Baek A-Young, the top healer, and Min Yeji, the best among her age group in the hunter community, weren't much different.
That's why the three of them became close and often met up.
"A-Young looks really good these days. Doesn't she?"
"She's the same as usual."
"Come on, it's because she's been stuck to Cadet Lee Hoyeon for all that 1-on-1 treatment stuff."
"... It's not like that."
Today's meetup was at Im Sol's research lab.
Since Im Sol was nearing the end of her research and didn't have time, the two had come to her lab to visit.
"Really? If not, forget it~. But Sol, are you still researching? Isn't it rare to stay on a topic this long?"
Im Sol, the former genius mage before Lee Hoyeon came along.
There are many reasons she earned that title.
She could use all elemental magic—an unbelievable talent.
And she solved complex problems that other mages couldn't crack in an instant.
Combining both, she could complete any research within a month—thus the title, genius mage.
"This thesis is the most complex one I've ever done. I'm working on it with Hoyeon."
"Huh? Even with two genius mages, it's taking this long? Must be amazing."
"You can look forward to it. It's incredible."
Im Sol was confident about this research.
She was sure it would turn the entire magical academia upside down.
The concept of embedding will into magical formulas had never existed before. Most existing mage research would be rendered worthless.
'Just what kind of monster is Hoyeon to have discovered this...'
Every time she continued the research, Im Sol shivered at the thought that Lee Hoyeon had found such a concept alone.
And she felt joy too.
She thought she'd be lonely all her life.
"There won't be another monster like you born again."
"A once-in-a-millennium genius."
"No mage like Im Sol will appear for at least several generations."
She heard crap like this all her life.
But with someone like Lee Hoyeon appearing in her generation, she was genuinely grateful.
Curious about how amazing this research was, Min Yeji watched Im Sol.
But Baek A-Young had other thoughts as she sipped her tea.
'Researching with Hoyeon...?'
In that moment, Im Sol became a potential rival in Baek A-Young's mind.
She swallowed and studied Im Sol's expression.
But her expression didn't give anything away.
'No way a professor would touch a cadet, right?'
It was fine for her—she wasn't a professor. But Im Sol was.
A-Young knew Im Sol was a decent educator, which eased her worries for a moment, but she quickly snapped back to reality.
She had to be suspicious of everything.
Her husband was just that dangerous.
"Ahem. Um, since Hoyeon's still hospitalized, isn't it hard to research together? I check on him every day—he still needs time to recover."
With her acting skills honed as a healer, A-Young prodded Im Sol subtly.
"... Right?"
Im Sol tilted her head slightly.
A strange feeling crept up as she listened to A-Young's words.
Though the words were ordinary, they made her feel weirdly uncomfortable.
Looking into A-Young's innocent eyes, she could tell it was sincere concern—but still.
"... Even so, once he's discharged, we have a lot of plans. It's fine."
"Plans...?"
She'd never heard Im Sol mention plans with her husband.
"Yeah. We've got more research, a convention to attend... and we have to present our thesis once it's done."
"Aha..."
"... What are you two doing? Let's just go to a cafe."
Min Yeji jumped in to cut the strange tension between them.
"No. I've got a lot of research left. I want to make as much progress as I can before Hoyeon is discharged."
"I need to go see Hoyeon too."
Im Sol lowered her head and looked at her papers. A-Young also began packing up.
"Ahaha... okay, let's go. A-Young. Let's go, let's go. Sol, we'll head out first! See you next time!"
In the end, Min Yeji dragged A-Young out, cutting off the rising tension between them.
*
Saturday morning.
After spending Friday burning things up in the dorm, I told Liliana and Nam Dahee to figure out where they wanted to go over the weekend and returned to the hospital.
"Come to think of it, we can't go out just yet."
The info guilds were probably looking into Nam Daeun and Nam Dahee. We couldn't just show our faces.
My mana hadn't fully recovered, so I couldn't use rune barriers. Honestly, that worked in my favor.
Once I recovered next week, we could go.
I'd told Scarlet to hold off until I gave the signal.
I wanted to move only after my body was ready.
Still, saying it in advance helped us prepare.
Knock knock.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
"Yeah. Come in."
The one who entered was Lumi.
I'd told them to let in visitors who had already been here once, and I guess they really did.
I'd been worried about bothering the nurses every time someone visited, so this was nice.
But Lumi looked odd as she walked in.
Her face was red, and she was wearing a cute pink mask over her chin.
"Lumi, what's wrong?"
"Hoyeon... Hello... I think I caught Lucy's cold. Haaa..."
Achoo!
Lumi let out an odd, adorable sneeze and sniffled.
"Hey, then why'd you come visit? You should be resting at home."
"Well... I sneezed and dropped my smart watch. It broke. I couldn't get it fixed since it's the weekend..."
"... Tsk. So you came in person?"
"Y-Yeah..."
She had made a promise to visit every day.
Technically more of a declaration than a promise... but close enough.
"Sigh, don't do that. I appreciate it, but since I saw your face, go rest now."
"You're worried about me? Hehe... thank you."
Lumi gave me a soft smile despite sniffling.
"... Just go rest already."
I don't know why she's so nice to me. Tch.
It just makes me feel guilty.
"I'll be fine. I'll get better soon. Ugh, my head's spinning."
"This won't do. Want to get checked out here at the hospital?"
If I asked Baek A-Young, she could probably heal her instantly.
Though I'd feel bad asking her to treat another girl... oh well.
"No, it's okay. I'll just rest at home."
Lumi got up and staggered out.
Worried, I got out of bed to support her.
"Don't come too close... You'll catch it..."
"Yeah, yeah. Take a taxi, okay? I'll call one for you."
"Thank you..."
Only after calling a taxi for Lumi and watching her get in did I feel relieved.
I returned to my hospital room and rested a bit before Baek A-Young's routine checkup.
She didn't try to take my clothes off today—maybe she wasn't feeling well—and just checked my condition.
"You'll recover soon... probably within a few days."
Warm light flowed from Baek A-Young's hands and wrapped around my body.
A magic that boosts natural healing.
Mana circuits have to heal naturally to avoid side effects, so it takes time.
"Thanks. As always."
"... Mm."
'Why does she seem in a bad mood today?'
★ Heroine Status Window
[Baek A-Young]
- [ Affection: 100 ] (+1.3)
- [ Lust: 90 ]
- [ Appetite: 45 ]
- [ Fatigue: 30 ]
Current Status: So many rivals... too many women aiming for my husband...
"..."
Just looking at her makes me anxious.
"Honey."
I had no choice but to use the magic word as I reached for her.
"... Haa."
Baek A-Young sighed and embraced me.
Surrounded by her warm white glow, it felt like an angel was hugging me.
"You're like an angel."
I praised her, but Baek A-Young didn't respond and just met my gaze.
Her stare was a bit intense.
"Honey... I'm always your number one, right?"
"Of course."
I answered instantly and hugged her tightly.
I couldn't afford to hesitate here.
"I love you, honey..."
Thankfully, Baek A-Young snuggled even deeper into my chest.
'...'
Watching her in my arms, I wondered how long the magic word "honey" would keep working.
"Guildmaster! This time it's Ironblood Guild and Azure Dragon Guild! More interviews are coming out!"
"Shut it down! Use all our connections—block them however you can!"
Shin Youngman, guildmaster of the Shinyoung Guild.
He now had to deal with the sudden attacks aimed at his guild.
Rumors had spread that his son, Shin Dongmin, was involved with demons.
[The Ugly Truth Behind the Association's Social Party. Was Shinyoung Guild Involved?]
[Shin Dongmin, Successor of Shinyoung Guild. Evidence of Contact with Demons.]
[Shin Dongmin Spotted at Demon Group Hideout.]
Just as interest in the party terror was fading, reporters found new fuel to reignite it.
Even releasing counter articles wasn't enough—major guilds had begun issuing statements.
[Victoria Academy Investigation Team Demands Association Investigate Shinyoung Guild.]
[Coincidence? People Absent During the Party and the Terror.]
[Ironblood Guild Interview: Someone's Behind the Association Terror.]
Like a rigged game, articles from Victoria Academy and friendly guilds began flooding in.
Even the media that used to be friendly with Shinyoung Guild had begun turning.
While the guild members worked on responses, Shin Youngman was on the phone.
"Yes, sir. This is Shin Youngman of the Shinyoung Guild. You can't just flip on us like this. We've built a relationship...!"
- Sorry, Guildmaster. But the pressure is enormous. Unimaginably so.
"That's what you're there for...!!!"
- The Association won't be able to ignore it anymore. Be careful. I think your son has drawn the Academy's ire... this is beyond our help.
Hearing his son's name, Shin Youngman clenched his teeth.
He thought of his son, who hadn't left his room since the terror incident.
- Sorry, Guildmaster.
Click—
"Wait! Sir! You bastards took our money and now this!"
Slam!
Throwing the phone, Shin Youngman turned to a guild member beside him.
"What's Dongmin doing?"
"Still holed up in his room."
"Sigh... You guys keep handling things. I'll go check on him."
Shin Youngman headed to Dongmin's room.
Honestly, Dongmin's condition had been off for a while.
Ever since losing to Lee Hoyeon at Heavenly Supreme Festival.
Still, to get involved with demons...
Hoping it was all lies, Shin Youngman arrived at his son's door.
Knock knock.
"I'm coming in."
Without waiting for a reply, he opened the door.
But no one was inside.
The room was pitch dark, the lights off, with an eerie atmosphere.
"... What's that?"
In the center of the room, on the desk, sat a single ominous skull mask.