Chapter 157. Grade Announcement (4).
Inside a dark room at the headquarters of the Bayer Guild.
A man lounged on a sofa with his legs crossed, while a woman knelt on the floor, head bowed.
"How did this happen...?"
"..."
"Didn't you say our Da-eun would be first place? Isn't that why we met with Dahee again?"
"T-That was..."
Nam Daeun looked up at Park Mingyu, the guild master of the Bayer Guild, while kneeling.
"Hmm... Daeun. Do you have any excuses?"
"...I'm sorry, Uncle. Please, just give me one more chance..."
Park Mingyu watched the trembling girl plead with a shaky voice.
By contract, he could force her to drop out.
He could even turn her into his slave. That was the level of the shady contract between Nam Daeun and Park Mingyu.
But forcing her out now wouldn't be efficient.
Nam Daeun's name had grown too big.
Graduating from the academy would be ideal. At the very least, she needed to finish her first year.
That way, her value would rise further, and so would the prestige of the Bayer Guild.
Though currently a clean-up crew for major guilds, Park Mingyu firmly believed he would one day surpass them.
"Hmm... What should I do? Since Daeun is still useful, maybe I should send Dahee to the brothel instead?"
"If you touch Dahee... I really won't forgive you."
"Then you better work hard, okay?"
"...Yes."
"There's a party with top Korean guilds and hunters coming up. Be my partner. I even prepared a dress for you."
"..."
Nam Daeun trembled as she remained kneeling.
But better for her to suffer than put her sister at risk.
"Why? You don't want to? Think of Dahee. As long as you behave, I won't touch her."
"...Yes. I understand."
Park Mingyu grinned.
'This is how you slowly train them.'
He smiled, imagining the day Nam Daeun would willingly spread her legs for him.
Just having her kneeling like this, a girl he raised since childhood, was thrilling. How much more exciting would it be when she clung to him naked?
That hope was what kept him from laying hands on her yet.
The thought of her offering herself sent shivers down his spine.
He didn't even realize his last words were the only thing saving her life.
"Welcome to the Bayer Guild."
"Hi. I'd like to request a job."
"May I see your ID, please?"
"Ah, one sec. I left it in my car. Be right back."
"A smartwatch would be fine too, sir. Sir?"
I slipped out of the Bayer Guild lobby and rushed into a nearby cafe.
After ordering an Americano, I sat down and sighed.
"Yeah. Of course this wouldn't work."
I had to try something, but as expected, it didn't pan out.
I stared out at the Bayer Guild building from the cafe.
A bland, unremarkable little building.
But the chance Nam Daeun was inside was high.
I ran out of the dorm to wait less helplessly than just staying put, but there was truly nothing I could do.
I considered infiltrating with rune barriers, but if that were easy, I wouldn't have needed the request token.
I stared at the building for nearly an hour.
I even considered smashing my way in.
That's when someone sat beside me.
"Mr. Hoyeon."
"...Scarlett?"
It wasn't the familiar blonde, but a black-haired woman in glasses.
"Yes. Being seen together outside would be bad."
"Good thinking. What did you find?"
"Insane security for a mid-tier guild. I took my time investigating carefully, but I found traces of Nam Daeun."
"...Really?"
At least my wait hadn't been for nothing.
"Yes. I saw her leaving the guild master's office. The inner area is too heavily protected to check. Her eyes were red, but her clothes were tidy, and there were no signs of violence."
"Thank god. Alright, let's head back to the dorm."
I figured they wouldn't hurt her immediately, but I hadn't been sure. That was a relief.
Without Scarlett, I might have recklessly stormed the place.
If I can't win Nam Daeun over, I'm dead anyway.
Without inside info, I had to act first and think later.
Even a low chance was better than a guaranteed bad ending.
As we left the cafe, I spotted Nam Daeun walking slowly out of the Bayer Guild building.
Her usual sharp eyes were lifeless, and her sculpted features looked drained.
"Scarlett. Go on ahead."
"Yes. I'll wait with Liliana."
"Tell her to order chicken."
I dismissed Scarlett and followed Nam Daeun from a distance.
Luckily, she was heading toward the academy.
I took a roundabout route to meet her "by chance" near the front.
"Oh? Nam Daeun?"
A moment later, our paths crossed. Her eyes, which had been on the ground, looked up at my voice.
"..."
"Where are you coming from?"
She looked slightly livelier seeing me, but she still wasn't okay.
"...Sorry. I'm not feeling well today. Let's talk later."
She gave me a quick nod and trudged on.
★ Heroine Status Window
[Nam Daeun]
- [ Affection: 57 ]
- [ Lust: 12 ]
- [ Appetite: 42 ]
- [ Fatigue: 89 ]
Current Status: If it weren't for Hoyeon... No, this is my fault. I can still endure. I'm okay. Dahee must never find out. I just have to survive Saturday. It'll be fine...
Her mental state was completely shattered.
'Saturday...?'
That word stuck out to me.
Was something happening then?
But nothing came to mind.
"..."
Watching her stumble away filled me with rage.
'I'm sorry, sorry... Dahee. I'm really sorry... I should've done better.'
A scene from Nam Daeun's bad ending flashed through my mind.
She massacres her guildmates, then commits suicide with her sister.
I wanted to rip that scumbag guild master to pieces.
But if I fought now without a plan, I'd only get killed too.
And Dahee's life would be in danger.
The Bayer Guild isn't strong.
Daeun could crush them herself.
But their backers matter.
If I trample their pawn, those monsters won't sit still.
Even if Im Sol, Baek A-Young, and Moon Surin help me survive, I can't involve other heroines in Daeun's route.
That would block the harem ending.
If I expose the guild's crimes now, they'll cut ties and escape, but Dahee will be in danger.
That bastard might do something crazy.
So I have to rescue Dahee first, then blow the lid off their secrets.
That way, the big guilds will back off. And Daeun won't need to hold back anymore.
'Just one more day.'
If I meet with the Iris Guild tomorrow, I might find a way to save Dahee.
"...Nam Daeun!"
She paused at my voice.
I ran in front of her and met her eyes.
"Whatever it is, I'll help. Just hang in there."
She looked at me with a sadness I'd never seen before.
"You..."
Her bottled-up emotions burst, and tears welled in her eyes.
"You... hng."
She didn't finish her sentence, but her eyes were asking: Do you even understand what I'm going through?
"I know everything. Just trust me. I'll fix this."
All I could offer was trust.
Talking about the Bayer Guild now wouldn't help.
She was more likely to doubt me.
I just had to give her the tiniest sliver of hope.
Everything would be ready soon.
*
"Where did he go?"
Elise lay on her bed with the smartwatch resting on her hand.
She had planned to return it after checking the exam results, but Lee Hoyeon had vanished before she could.
"Just missed one question... and I'm still second."
Question 30 from Professor Im Sol's written magic exam.
She'd gotten every question right except for that one.
She really wanted to win and gave it her all, but Lee Hoyeon turned out to be an even bigger monster.
Only the rankings were revealed, not the actual scores, but Elise was sure.
Except for question 30, she had answered everything correctly.
And since she was second and Lee Hoyeon was first, that meant he got that one right too.
"...Fucking bastard. Nonsense freak. Awful man."
According to the answer sheet Professor Im Sol revealed, there was a hidden magic circle inside the spell.
The absurd difficulty made her sigh, but it was even more shocking that Lee Hoyeon had solved it.
Knock knock—
"Miss Elise."
"Yeah. Come in."
At Elise's permission, Sebas Chan opened the door and entered.
"Cadet Lee Hoyeon opened the commission orb around lunchtime."
"...At that timing?"
If he used the orb right after the grades were posted and rushed out of the academy, it was probably related.
"He's scheduled to meet with the head of the Korean branch tomorrow. Would you like to hear the details of the request?"
"Of course I would."
She promised to give him the orb, but never said she wouldn't listen in.
The more information, the better.
"Also, Scarlet mentioned she'll be bringing good news soon. If we secure the footage, shall the guild apply pressure?"
"No, no, no need for that."
Elise only wanted something to get her excited. She honestly had no intention of using the video to blackmail him.
"But wouldn't it be more efficient for the guild to put pressure on him overall?"
"It's okay. I want to try handling it myself this time. I need the experience."
"Ah, my apologies. That was short-sighted of me."
Sebas Chan gave a slight bow.
'Phew.'
Elise felt relieved.
She hadn't intended to blackmail Lee Hoyeon, but Sebas Chan's sudden eagerness to take initiative caught her off guard.
He didn't have to work that hard.
It would actually be better if he slacked off a little. That way, she'd have more room to maneuver.
'Still... why hasn't Scarlet brought me the video yet? She's being way too slow for the money I'm paying her.'
Elise grumbled internally about how scarce Scarlet had been lately.
Of course, it was just a playful complaint. She knew better than anyone how hard Scarlet worked, being one of Iris' elite guild members.
And at that moment, Scarlet was at Lee Hoyeon's house, licking Liliana's tits.