Chapter 199. A Girl's Revenge (7)
Hospital room in Ironblood Hospital.
"An interview the very next day—he moves fast."
"The source is reliable enough. He won't suspect a thing."
I was watching Park Mingyu's interview with Scarlett in the hospital room.
As soon as my interview went public, Scarlett leaked the info.
The info that I was with Nam Daeun.
- I recently saw Cadet Lee Hoyeon online. He's amazing. I'd love to meet him if I get the chance.
On screen, Park Mingyu continued the interview with a stiff expression.
The questions were all conveniently favorable to him.
"Isn't that interview a little too obvious?"
"Surprisingly, people don't question things like that. Especially with his current image boost."
Ding—
While watching the boring interview, my smartwatch rang.
- Park Mingyu: Hello, Cadet Lee Hoyeon. I'd like to continue the conversation we had last time.
The contact I gave the reporter had reached Park Mingyu.
The conversation from last time must mean recruitment.
- Me: Sure. Where should I meet you?
- Park Mingyu: I'll send you the address.
"Guess I better head out."
I left the hospital and went to the address Park Mingyu sent.
Naturally, it was a district filled with entertainment venues.
This bastard really hasn't changed, even with his fame.
"Are we all set, camera girl?"
"Yes. Don't worry."
Scarlett followed me hidden in my shadow, with a recording artifact in her ear.
Time to start with something light.
Here's a lunatic calling hostesses for a cadet! Everyone, gather round!
2nd floor of the Magic Tower. Im Sol's research lab.
Im Sol's core technique research was nearing completion.
Needing a perfect finish, she was more focused than ever.
But it felt like something was blocked—progress stalled.
Just a little more. It was so close.
The incomplete research frustrated her.
"If only Hoyeon were here..."
Since the base concept came from Lee Hoyeon, the research would've ended quickly with his help.
But things kept coming up, and he couldn't assist properly.
"I'm doing all the research, but I'm still putting his name on the paper. What a generous teacher I am."
Praising her own generosity, Im Sol stepped out of the lab.
Her smartwatch, left aside to focus on the paper, was filled with messages.
She deleted the unimportant ones and checked those from close contacts.
- Lee Hoyeon: Professor, I'm being discharged soon. You cleared your schedule for the Magic Expo, right?
- Min Yeji: Omg omg. Did you see Hoyeon's interview? You've got a great student~.
"Interview?"
Lee Hoyeon's interview.
She hadn't seen it yet, but Min Yeji's message made her curious.
But first, she replied to Hoyeon.
- Me: Yep. Just show up after discharge. I'll check the schedule.
Magic Expo.
Even if it's a pain, she had to make an effort.
A date with her student—well, not bad.
After texting Hoyeon, she checked the interview video Yeji sent.
The reporter on screen was the famous 'Hayoung noona.'
- Victoria Academy has many professors who taught genius mage Lee Hoyeon. Who stands out the most?
- All professors were capable and kind, but the one I remember most is Professor Im Sol. She helped with my personal research and taught me so much.
- Wow, do genius mages just connect like that?
- The real genius is Professor Im Sol. I only grew thanks to her help—she did it all on her own.
- What a wonderful student-teacher bond....
Im Sol smiled faintly as she watched.
"Help... I'm the one who was helped, really."
Their meeting had started from her own mistake.
Then she discovered his dazzling magical talent.
She was drawn to that talent and wanted to work with him no matter what.
Had her mistake not dragged Lee Hoyeon into an incident, she wouldn't have allowed such indecent things.
Their relationship was partly driven by guilt.
But now, she was thankful.
That relationship had brought her many benefits.
Meeting Lee Hoyeon was a turning point in her life.
She researched new mana techniques and wrote papers based on his discoveries.
She even found something sweeter than chocolate to relieve her magic research stress—his rising fame now shadowed hers.
Im Sol never had anyone to discuss magic with.
She was far ahead of her peers, and old magicians rejected her due to her youth.
In that sense, Lee Hoyeon was a blessing.
Someone younger, but with whom she could talk about magic.
Even becoming close to Baek A-Young and Min Yeji didn't ease her magical hunger.
That's why he was such a precious student.
"...Guess I better look up the Magic Expo."
Magic Expo.
She didn't know how fun it would be for someone obsessed with magic, but if her student wanted it...
Im Sol set her research aside and began browsing for expo details.
*
"It's dark..."
The address Park Mingyu sent was deep in an alley.
The farther I went, the more red lights and scantily clad women I saw.
While watching a group of women getting out of a van and entering a building, a voice came from my shadow.
"Indeed."
"Shh."
"Only you can hear my voice, Hoyeon-nim."
"..."
Yeah, there was mana in the voice.
I nodded slightly and walked deeper in.
Among the many buildings, the biggest one matched the address.
'He's really doing this in a place like this?'
It was so brazen, it was almost shocking.
Still, with perception-reducing magic active, I walked in confidently.
At a fancy-looking counter, a man who seemed to be the manager approached.
"Welcome, sir. Do you have a reservation?"
"I'm with Park Mingyu. Is he inside?"
"Ah, I see. Hey, take him to Mr. Mingyu."
The manager smiled and gave an order to the guy behind him.
"Yes, sir. This way, please."
Following the large man, I entered a room and saw a familiar, kind-looking man sitting.
It was Park Mingyu, Guild Master of Buyer Guild.
"Cadet Lee Hoyeon. Long time no see."
"First time since the party."
First time in a place like this.
I wasn't nervous, but I acted tense and took my seat.
Even though he was trying to recruit me, he sat like a king.
No point in looking kind if your attitude sucks.
Knock knock—
As we exchanged greetings, the manager peeked in.
"Hello, sir."
"Ah, Manager Kim. This guy's like a little brother to me, so bring in the best girls."
"Huh? What's going on?"
I started acting, aware that Scarlett was filming.
"Now, now, Cadet Hoyeon. Relax."
"We'll go with the usual full course."
"Yes, do that."
After the manager bowed and left, I glanced at my shadow, feigning surprise.
I couldn't see her, but I felt Scarlett's mana.
She'd handle it well.
I kept up the act.
"M-Mr. Park Mingyu, what's going on here?"
"Huh? First time in a place like this, Hoyeon?"
"I came to talk about the contract..."
I trembled like a scared rookie.
'Am I overdoing it?'
Even I thought I looked like a total dork—but that wasn't bad.
People love innocent types.
Especially if they're good-looking.
They'll go, "Wow, he's pure!"
Knock knock.
"Everyone's like that at first. Funny thing is, the shy ones end up enjoying it most. Manager Kim, the girls?"
"They're here. Let them sit by the boss."
Women in lounge outfits and men in waiter uniforms entered.
"Hi there, oppa~"
"Boss, I brought some bokbunja wine."
"Huh? What are you all doing?"
Crazy bastards.
The women clung to me, and the men started calling me boss while pouring drinks.
These waiters live off tips, no salary.
So they suck up even to someone younger than them.
Of course, I played dumb.
"Um, you look older than me...?"
"Not at all, boss. I'm..."
"Oppa, what do you do?"
The waiters wanted tips, and the women couldn't recognize me thanks to my concealment spell.
I kept up my flustered act.
"Uh, uh..."
I made sure never to touch the women—to avoid any scandals.
"Alright, let's pour some drinks."
Park Mingyu thought alcohol would break the ice and told them to serve me.
'This should be enough, right?'
Any more and I might look suspicious myself.
The girls beside me poured drinks and touched my thigh.
'Disgusting.'
Girls who'd sell their bodies for cash touching me made my skin crawl.
Then.
Tap tap.
Fingers from the shadow touched my ankle.
Scarlett's signal.
"E-Excuse me. I need to use the restroom."
At her signal, I rushed outside.
The manager called after me, but I ignored him.
After using acceleration to get far from the red-light area, I spoke to the shadow.
"How was it? Did it turn out well?"
"Yes. You looked like a total newbie."
"...Thanks."
"As expected, Hoyeon-nim is good at acting."
"Yeah. It was all acting."
Honestly, I wasn't that nervous.
Just felt lame playing the innocent guy.
The girls were decent, but I was so used to hot girls that average ones didn't even register.
"Should I edit and release the footage now?"
"Hmm... No. Start with something small. Let them try to cut off the tail."
They'd try to cover it up at first, but it won't work.
Bigger things will drop soon.
"Understood. I'll handle it right away."
"Yeah. Do it fast."
Scarlett vanished back into the shadows.
'If she could move through shadows, she should've done that from the start.'
Then I wouldn't have had to see her crawling on ceilings.
Once Scarlett blows it up, I need to prep the next step.
On my way back to the hospital, I wondered how to act innocent enough to make people believe me.