Chapter 190. Lucy X Lumi (3)
Saturday afternoon.
- Surin noona: I'll come visit you at the hospital this afternoon. Can you tell me the room number?
After Baek A-Young left around lunchtime, I got a message from Moon Surin saying she'd come for a visit.
Judging by the timing, it seemed her investigation had finally wrapped up.
"Maybe I should've sent one more message."
She hadn't replied to my last message, so I hadn't reached out again either. Thinking back, maybe she felt a little hurt.
I stared at my smartwatch, waiting for Moon Surin to arrive.
"What the hell is this."
But then, EveryDay was going crazy.
Shinyoung Guild, Shin Dongmin.
Those unpleasant names were trending at the top.
Tons of related articles were popping up.
"... Demons?"
This wasn't in the original story.
In the original, Shin Dongmin simply used Shinyoung Guild's influence to stalk Moon Surin.
But now he was involved with demons and got caught red-handed.
Checking forums and articles, even the Academy and several major guilds had issued official statements.
Thanks to my knowledge of the original story, I could tell.
"... This is the Academy's doing."
Victoria Academy had moved.
Most of the guilds making statements were those close with the Academy.
'Could it be the Chairman?'
No, unlikely.
I had asked the Chairman to publish a defense article for me, but I didn't think that grumpy old man would go this far.
Honestly, I was pretty rude back then too.
'Just a coincidence?'
Maybe it was.
Perhaps during their investigation of the social party attack, the Academy traced it to Shin Dongmin and cut ties quickly since he was the student council VP.
"This is really good… or maybe not?"
It was convenient, but Shin Dongmin was the culprit in the Moon Surin stalker incident.
Our entanglement had delayed the incident, but he was still key to clearing that route.
If he got arrested like this... that could be bad.
Knock knock.
Just then, I heard a familiar knock.
I'd had so many visitors I could tell by the sound it was my assigned nurse.
"Yes, who is it?"
"Patient Lee Hoyeon. A visitor named Moon Surin is here. Shall I let her in?"
"Yes, please send her up."
So it was that time already.
I closed my smartwatch, preparing to greet Moon Surin.
'... Wait. Moon Surin?'
I remembered she'd said she was conducting a personal investigation.
"Even for her, moving something this big would be tough."
In the game setting, she had authority as the Chairman's granddaughter, but not this much.
Knock knock.
Another knock followed.
"Can I come in?"
"Yes. Please do."
The door opened, revealing long platinum hair.
With neat features and porcelain skin, it was Victoria Academy's student council president, Moon Surin.
Even in uniform, her curves stood out in a way that seemed unrealistic—our lovely Surin noona.
She smiled gently as she approached and sat in the chair.
"Hoyeon, how are you feeling? Sorry I'm late."
"Just having you visit means a lot, Surin noona."
"Really? Then you should've left me a message."
"... Sorry. I thought you were busy."
So she was a bit upset.
No matter how many heroines I seduce, I still haven't gotten past the beginner stages of dating.
I bowed my head in apology.
"No, no. I should've messaged too. Oh, right. I brought some things for you to eat while you're recovering."
Moon Surin placed the drinks she brought on the desk.
That wasn't all.
Looking closely, I noticed floating bags and boxes following the path she'd walked.
"These are snacks, drinks, a game console so you won't be bored, a massager, vitamins..."
"Wait, noona. Hold on. I'm getting discharged soon. Your thoughts alone are enough."
I waved my hands frantically in protest.
Who uses telekinesis to bring gifts like this?
"Gasp, really? When are you getting discharged?"
"Probably next week. My body's getting better."
"That's a relief... Then let's go eat to celebrate."
"Of course. This time, it's my treat."
It might feel odd to treat her for my discharge, but she's treated me so much before—it's fine.
Now that I've got Elise as my sugar mama, I should splurge sometimes.
"Thanks. Makes all the effort worth it."
"Effort?"
"Yeah. Remember this?"
Moon Surin showed me a photo.
It was a picture of a creepy skull mask.
"This... That's the mask the demon who attacked me wore during the terror attack."
Skull mask.
The one responsible for wrecking my body.
Just looking at it annoyed me.
"Actually, this is what I was investigating. The skull mask demon who attacked you."
More documents floated from Moon Surin's bag.
From the skull mask investigation, to how she searched the party hall alone and found the brooch.
And how that brooch linked Shin Dongmin to the demons.
All the data was neatly compiled before my eyes.
"Noona... You did all this? Then the media too..."
"Once I found the evidence, I had to strike. Since Shin Dongmin's the Academy's vice president, we had to cut him off fast. Oh, but I only investigated because of what happened to you. Shin Dongmin just came up after."
Wow.
Moon Surin's head looked like it was sparkling before my eyes.
"Noona. I love you."
"Then shall we get married?"
"Sorry. It's too soon for marriage."
I smiled sheepishly at her playful grin.
I was so grateful I didn't know how to express it.
★ Heroine Status Window
[Moon Surin]
- [ Affection: 86 ]
- [ Lust: 45 ]
- [ Appetite: 50 ]
- [ Fatigue: 43 ]
Current Status: If not now... then how much longer?
She's auto-progressing and even clearing out annoying enemies on her own—how can I not be thankful?
Her thoughts are a little scary, but... it should be fine.
"Noona. One meal isn't enough. If there's anything you want to do, just say it."
"Hmm, nothing right now. I'll let you know if something comes to mind."
"Sure, anytime."
I nodded, watching her cute smile.
*
Cough cough—
Contrary to her belief that rest would be enough, Lumi was suffering from a full-blown fever.
After visiting Lee Hoyeon, her dizziness got even worse.
Forcing herself to move around instead of resting definitely contributed.
"... Seriously, Lumi. Why'd you have to catch the cold for real."
"Lucky. Hehe. I'll get better soon. Achoo!"
"Sigh..."
And ironically, Lucy—now fully recovered—had come to nurse Lumi.
She was fine now, but Lumi had collapsed.
It really did feel like her little sister took the illness from her, making Lucy feel guilty.
Even if her body was fine, her chest still felt heavy.
But she couldn't neglect her sick sister, so Lucy wrung out a cold towel and placed it on Lumi's forehead.
"Lucy... are you going to visit Hoyeon tomorrow?"
"... Why?"
"Since I can't go... Won't Hoyeon be lonely?"
Lucy hesitated.
Could she really face Lee Hoyeon?
Just thinking about him made her head throb since that day.
But she couldn't keep avoiding him.
If he was going to be her sister's boyfriend, she'd have to face him eventually.
"... Did you tell Hoyeon you were sick?"
"My smartwatch broke... so I couldn't."
"Ah..."
Watching Lucy's conflicted expression, Lumi could tell.
For some reason, Lucy didn't want to see Lee Hoyeon.
And she realized she might be the reason why.
Because they were twins.
They could read each other with just the twitch of a finger.
"Lucy."
"Yeah? Do you need something?"
Lucy was worried about Lumi.
But Lumi was worried about Lucy too.
It wasn't the best timing since she was still sick, but it was something that had to be said.
"Lucy... You like Hoyeon too, don't you?"
"W-Wh—what? What are you saying all of a sudden? You're burning up. I'll change the towel, hold on. Wow, look how hot it is! Or do you want porridge?"
Caught off guard, Lucy panicked and flailed, quickly changing the towel and grabbing porridge.
But Lumi wouldn't stop.
"Lucy. I like Hoyeon. What about you?"
"..."
Lucy didn't understand why Lumi was saying this, but she wasn't trying to tease her.
So she decided to listen.
"... I think... I like him too."
It was the first time Lucy had admitted her feelings out loud.
Her face burned, and she wanted to hide under the covers.
"Let's share Hoyeon. You and I can do it, Lucy. We can."
"Share...?"
A word that shouldn't exist between lovers, but Lumi looked at her with sincere eyes.
"I mean it. Hoyeon already agreed."
Slowly, Lucy began to listen to what Lumi had to say.