Chapter 231: At the Academy (1)

"...A double spy?"

"Yes. It just ended up that way."

I heard a detailed explanation of the situation from Scarlet on the way back to the dormitory.

It turned out Isaac, who had taken a liking to me, ordered her to investigate me.

"Fortunately, he didn't seem to know about our relationship."

"It's because it was related to Lady Alice. Even Lord Isaac doesn't know about the things Lady Alice personally orders."

"Oho..."

That was a huge relief.

"Ah, and if we ever run into the Guild Master again, you absolutely must not pretend to know me. He's a monster who would notice even a light nod. If I had acted like I knew you back there, we would have been caught."

"Sorry. I'll be careful."

I clearly only looked at Scarlet while bowing and apologizing to Alice, yet he noticed that?

I really shouldn't let my guard down.

"But if you're a double agent, don't you have to keep giving my information to them?"

"That's true, but it's fine. I can just give them rough details."

Scarlet threw up her hands in a gesture that said it was no big deal.

"And what if you get caught doing that?"

"Then I'll just fully switch over to you, Lord Ho-yeon. I look forward to working with you."

I chuckled as I watched Scarlet give a polite bow.

"...You're quite something, too."

She said that, but Scarlet would take care of it herself.

Despite how she seemed, she was a capable woman, so she would manage to avoid getting caught.

"Ah, I'll pass on the information regarding that centaur to you as well. It probably won't be immediate, but the Guild Master should reply soon."

"Yeah. I'll leave it to you."

Liriana would be really happy if I told her.

After walking and making small talk with Scarlet, the dormitory was already in sight.

Ddiring-

Upon entering the dormitory, I saw Liriana lying on the bed.

At the table, Nam Da-eun and Nam Da-hee were nibbling on snacks.

"...It definitely is cramped."

Scarlet looked slightly fed up as she observed the packed dormitory.

There were a whopping five people here.

It was spacious for a single-occupancy dormitory, and it was a good thing we put a bed in the living room, otherwise this would be unimaginable.

It was way too hot to just sugarcoat it as the warmth of human connection.

"Right? Make sure you find us a good house."

"Huh? Scout is here?!"

"Scarlet Unnie!"

Having heard our conversation, Liriana, who was lying down looking at her smartwatch, jumped up.

The same went for Nam Da-hee, who was eating snacks.

Both of them ran over in a hurry, as if greeting a family member they hadn't seen in a long time.

"What have you been doing all this time?"

"I apologize. I was busy with work."

"Unnie, why did you only come now? I want to eat a delicious meal now..."

"...Pardon?"

Smack.

They really must be glad that Scarlet came after a while.

The owner of the room arrived, yet they didn't even spare me a glance.

I was taking off my jacket with a bitter feeling when someone approached me too.

"Did you get a good look at some houses?"

At that moment, someone approached my side.

"As expected, you're the only one for me, Da-eun."

"Fufu, it's just because it's been a long time for them. You're glad to see her too, aren't you?"

Nam Da-eun smiled and took my jacket.

"Something came up today... so I couldn't look at houses. Scarlet is going to look later, so tell her if there's anything you want."

Hearing my words, Liriana lit up and grabbed Scarlet's arm.

"Scout. I want a place with a spacious room."

"Unnie, I need to have a lot of toys."

Hmm, I should give the best room to Da-eun-i when we move.

"Da-hee. You need to say hello to your older brother, too."

"Huh? You're here too, Ho-yeon?"

"...Yeah. I'm here too."

"Scout. Look at this. I made it while you were gone."

"It's cool, Lady Liriana."

Still, it was nice to see everyone gathered together after such a long time.

It felt like the atmosphere was livening up a bit, too.

"Scarlet. You definitely have to go look at houses later. And Liriana? Come here for a second."

"Huh? Why?"

I called Liriana into the room, who was so glad to see Scarlet that she was clinging to her arm without paying me any mind.

Since it wasn't something for others to hear, I closed the door, and Liriana immediately started twisting her body as if she had been waiting for this.

"It's not even night yet... Master, already? Just how much did you hold it in outside..."

"It's not like that. I have something to tell you, so sit down."

"Aw, what."

Looking at Liriana, who was giggling, I slowly opened my mouth.

"You remember, right? That centaur from Hell."

"Yeah. Of course. That horse-man."

As the topic of the centaur, who was also from Hell, came up, Liriana focused on my words.

"I think we'll be able to meet him soon, so if you have anything to say to him, think about it in advance."

"Gasp... Really?"

"Yeah. Don't stutter when he's in front of you and prepare well."

"...Got it. Thank you."

Making eye contact with me, Liriana nodded as if grateful, then sat at the desk and started writing something down.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Liriana]

- [ Favorability : 97 ] ( +1.9 )

- [ Libido : 78 ]

- [ Appetite : 42 ]

- [ Fatigue : 30 ]

Current Status : Would the horse-man know about my mom too? He wouldn't, right...?

She seemed to be thinking hard.

Hmm. That's how it should be.

Considering how hard I worked to create this opportunity.

I wanted to brag and tell her to be more grateful, but seeing how serious she was, I quietly slipped out of the room.

*

Monday morning.

I got ready to leave the dormitory.

Because academy life was starting again from now on.

'Wait, is it?'

Actually, to meet the centaur, I would have to go to France myself.

I wonder if I'll even have the time.

"I'll be back."

"I will be going now, Ms. Liriana."

"Unnie, watch the house while we're gone!"

"Bye-bye. I'm going to hang out with Scout."

After saying goodbye to Liriana, I left the dormitory with the Nam sisters.

If we get a house, we wouldn't have to go to school at the same time every day.

I really need to get a house quickly.

'Is this not it either?'

If I have to go to the academy anyway, it's better to commute with a beautiful woman.

No, wait.

The risk is actually way too high.

I hadn't been caught so far out of pure luck... but right now, I was living a life where I could be exposed by a single small mistake.

"Unnie! Ho-yeon! See you later!"

"Don't fight at school, study hard, and if anyone bullies you, make sure to tell Ho-yeon. Got it?"

Before Nam Da-hee entered the affiliated school, Nam Da-eun fixed her clothes once more.

But why should she tell me if she gets bullied?

"Yeah! Got it! I'm going now!"

"Hey, why should she tell me?"

"You won't help if Da-hee gets bullied?"

"No, of course I'll help."

I couldn't forgive anyone who bullied our Da-hee.

"Right? Fufu."

Nam Da-eun chuckled as if my answer pleased her greatly and walked ahead of me.

- I hate Mondays~.

- Still, we have Professor Im Sol's class today.

- Oh, really?

A-Class was still overflowing with energy.

Nam Da-eun separated from me before entering the building and went into A-Class first, while I entered a little later.

"Hello, Lee Ho-yeon."

"Yeah. Hi."

Sometimes cadets I didn't know would greet me like that, and I just returned their greetings lightly.

I didn't want to get involved with guys, and getting involved with girls would lead to big trouble.

It was hard enough just dealing with the heroines.

"Hello, Mr. Ho-yeon."

"Good morning, Rumi."

"..."

Rumi welcomed me with a slight smile as always.

But strangely, Lucy was avoiding my eyes.

"Lucy. Are you sick?"

"N-No. Just..."

What's wrong with her now.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Lucy]

- [ Favorability : 99 ] (+ 0.1)

- [ Libido : 85 ]

- [ Appetite : 35 ]

- [ Fatigue : 35 ]

Current Status : Are we really, really doing it? No way, no way.

"..."

I frowned slightly upon seeing Lucy's status when suddenly.

Rumi, who was sitting next to her, pulled my clothes.

"Mr. Ho-yeon."

"Yeah?"

"Let's stop by the club after class today. It's been a while."

"Oh, the club?"

Not a bad idea?

Since I had made it early on but hadn't been using it.

Actually, there wasn't much to do even if we hung out there... but if she wanted to, I should oblige.

"Alright. Let's hang out later."

"You promised. You heard him too, right, Lucy?"

"...Yeah."

Lucy was still avoiding my eyes, her cheeks slightly flushed.

*

- Fireball...!

The morning class was taught by Professor Im Sol.

It was a practical class, and as expected, the content consisted of the mage cadets using magic while Professor Im Sol walked around giving feedback.

Opportunities to receive advice from a high-level mage like Im Sol were rare, so it was a class that all the cadets enjoyed.

I was positioned at the very back of the firing range where the cadets were standing in a line.

Everyone wanted to get feedback first, so this spot wasn't popular.

It was nice to use alone since there were no people around.

"But why did you come here?"

When I looked at Lucy, who was standing blankly next to me, she stuck her lips out slightly and looked up at me.

"...Because I wanted to be with you. Is that not allowed?"

"Sorry. It was just a joke."

Lucy was also a mage, so she took this class with me.

I smiled and continued speaking.

"Normally you'd be fighting over there too, wouldn't you."

The cadets lining up at the front to receive feedback.

Usually, Lucy would be in that group too.

"It's not like there's a big difference anyway... I just wanted to talk with you."

"So to put it simply, between magic and me, you chose me?"

"Please don't say weird things!"

Smack, smack!

Lucy relentlessly hit my arm with a red face.

Even while getting hit, I felt good for some reason.

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry."

"Phew. If you say something weird again, I'm seriously leaving."

It was cute how she got embarrassed from being teased when she was the one who came over here.

I snuck a glance to check how far Im Sol had come, but it would be a while before it was our turn anyway.

"It's going to take a while for the professor to get here, so I'll take a look. Try using some magic."

"...You will?"

"I'm Lee Ho-yeon. Don't you know the genius mage, Lee Ho-yeon?"

"Hmm. I suppose that's true. Then watch closely!"

Whoosh-

As Lucy drew a magic circle, dozens of sharp fire arrows, which were her specialty, floated into the empty air.

Swoosh- Crack!

I carefully observed until the magic struck the target paper, then nodded my head.

Because I could roughly tell what the problem was.

"How was it?"

"Everything is good, but the finishing execution of the magic is lacking. When you draw the magic circle...."

As my level had gone up, I could point out the flaws just by roughly looking at it.

I might probably be better at it than most magic professors, right?

Because even those people wouldn't be able to figure out the problem the moment they saw the magic.

Lucy redrew the magic circle, conscious of the problems I had pointed out.

Naturally, fire arrows that were much hotter and more threatening than the previous ones were created.

"Wow, wow. You really are a genius."

"Of course I am."

Getting praised by a beautiful woman put me in a good mood again.

"At this rate, I think you teach better than Professor Im Sol...."

"Hey, if you say something like that...!"

I was startled by Lucy's words.

"Then you wouldn't need to take my class. Cadet Lucy."

"Huh? What? Gasp. Professor Im Sol...."

Because Professor Im Sol had been standing behind Lucy for a while, listening to my feedback.

It seemed Lucy hadn't noticed because she was focusing on her magic.

Im Sol, who had been sending me a heartwarming look as if to say, 'As expected, my student can do anything,' stiffened her expression at Lucy's words.

"That's not it. I wasn't belittling you, Professor, I was just trying to praise Lee Ho-yeon...."

Lucy's voice gradually trailed off.

Because Im Sol's expression hadn't softened.

"Haa, Cadet Lucy should go over there and practice on her own."

"Yes! Understood!"

In the end, Im Sol sighed first and shook her head, and Lucy didn't miss the opportunity to quickly leave the spot.

Her escape speed was quite extraordinary, wasn't it?

Im Sol watched Lucy run far away, then eventually looked at me and smiled slightly.

"Are you trying to steal away my students now too?"

"I just have too much talent. It wasn't my intention, but it ended up that way. I'm sorry."

"Haa, you're trying to act like equals with a professor now?"

Im Sol approached me in disbelief and flicked my forehead.

Of course, a pleasant smile was hanging on her lips.