Chapter 164. Social Party
Step, step, step.
A man walked into the mansion's parlor.
Two men were already seated in the luxurious room.
"Everyone's here."
"...Why'd you call us together?"
"I'll explain. Just wait."
The one who summoned them slowly took the seat of honor.
It was Shin Dongmin, the student council vice president.
"You've heard, right? Lee Hoyeon is attending tomorrow's social party."
"Of course we've heard."
"...Yes. I have."
Shin Dongmin glanced at the faces of the seated men.
Kim Hyundo, heir to a major mage guild.
He served as the head of the Academy's Magic Research Division.
He and Shin Dongmin usually helped each other out.
And then there was Do Jinhyuk from Class A.
Not as powerful as Shin Dongmin, but still from a notable guild family.
The common trait among these three was that they all came from good families—and held a grudge against Lee Hoyeon.
"As you know... I really hate Lee Hoyeon. I'll get revenge no matter what, drag him down to ruin. I'll need your help for that. Since you're all attending tomorrow's party."
"What does the party have to do with Lee Hoyeon? You're not planning to play politics at the party, are you?"
Kim Hyundo voiced his doubts.
Lee Hoyeon had both strength and reputation on his side.
The three of them together might have more connections, but would those connections really turn against Lee Hoyeon?
Considering his current rise, it wasn't easy to believe.
"No, the target isn't Lee Hoyeon. It's his partner."
"His partner... you mean Baek A-Young?"
Do Jinhyuk, who had been listening, joined the conversation.
"Yeah. Lee Hoyeon can probably protect himself. But Baek A-Young is known to have zero combat ability. If he's not around, she's an easy target."
"...Going after his lover, huh? Sure, that would hurt. Might even damage his image. But how exactly are you going to do it? How do you plan to attack Baek A-Young during the party?"
Kim Hyundo was frustrated with Shin Dongmin.
All this vague talk made him wonder why he was even invited.
"I've acquired some top-secret intel."
"Top-secret intel?"
"There will be a Pandemic terrorist attack at tomorrow's party."
The two flinched at the name 'Pandemic'.
"...!"
"Pandemic? How do you know that?"
"I have my sources. Don't worry about that."
"...This isn't right. I'm out. If it's a Pandemic attack, it won't just be Baek A-Young getting hurt. Others could get caught in it too. We should report it and look for another chance..."
Knowing the threat of Pandemic, Kim Hyundo tried to back out—but Shin Dongmin's bloodshot eyes were those of a madman.
"Too late. The moment you came here, it was over."
Shin Dongmin stared him down.
"All the perks you've gotten running the Magic Research Division, the illegal pressure you applied to other clubs—I have the proof."
"...Blackmail? I know about all the shady stuff you did through the student council too."
"You really want to die together? I've already hit rock bottom, but you still have a decent image. You sure you want to throw that away?"
"...."
Kim Hyundo did have a grudge against Lee Hoyeon—but it was personal. He had only lost Professor Im Sol to him.
Unlike Shin Dongmin, he hadn't been humiliated in public.
"Just stay quiet. I'm not asking you to kill anyone. Just keep track of Baek A-Young's location during the attack. That's it. Got it?"
Kim Hyundo turned his head away without replying.
But silence meant agreement.
Shin Dongmin turned to Do Jinhyuk.
"What about you, junior? Are you going to say no too?"
"No. I'm in."
Do Jinhyuk still dreamed of Lee Hoyeon every night.
Moments of shame and others praising Lee Hoyeon while insulting him replayed daily.
Those feelings left him no choice but to hate Lee Hoyeon.
"...Good. Then let me explain the details."
Shin Dongmin began laying out the party route with his bloodshot eyes.
*
"When will she wake up?"
"Not sure..."
"Probably soon. Her movements are getting more active."
Liliana, Scarlett—who had reappeared—and I watched over Nam Dahee as she lay on the living room bed.
We'd already explained she was Nam Daeun's little sister who had been imprisoned.
After describing Nam Daeun's suffering and the Buyer Guild's cruelty, even Liliana empathized.
"Such a pitiful girl... Living locked up at this age."
Scarlett had returned right after Kang Hyorin disappeared and heard the explanation too.
"But she doesn't know she was imprisoned. So she might think she was kidnapped."
That was the issue. Without knowing she'd been rescued, she might mistake us for villains.
"Don't worry. When she wakes up, I'll calm her down."
Liliana puffed out her chest and grinned.
"You think you can do it?"
"Yeah! I played a crying baby simulator once and got praised for being amazing."
One sentence crushed all my expectations.
Impressive skill, honestly.
"I'm also skilled with children, Hoyeon-nim."
Thankfully, we had Scarlett—who's good at literally everything.
"Oh... I'll count on you, Scarlett."
"Hey, I said I'm confident too!"
"Mmmng..."
Maybe we were too loud—Nam Dahee began to stir.
"Hey, quiet."
Too late.
She stretched and opened her eyes.
"Yawn... Huh?"
And began panicking at the unfamiliar room.
Her eyes met ours, and she scanned the area.
"Dahee. You must be surprised, but please calm down and listen. We brought you here at Nam Daeun's request."
Scarlett spoke gently, meeting her gaze.
"Jingle jingle~ Look over here~"
Liliana tried to catch her attention with a baby rattle from who knows where.
Was she playing a newborn simulator or something?
She looked like a middle schooler—what's with the rattle?
I left things to Scarlett and watched from behind—but Nam Dahee's gaze turned to me.
"Handsome oppa... You're my sister's friend, right?"
"Huh?"
How does she know me?
"My sister told me a lot about you. About the cafe, meals, movies, sparring..."
Okay, her talking about me is one thing—but I've never heard of all that except the sparring.
What kind of stories was she telling?
"...I didn't consider that. With your face, convincing girls is too easy."
"Hey, it's not because of my face."
"Jingle jingle... why isn't she looking?"
"Liliana. Give it a rest."
She tossed the rattle aside, pouting.
Right now, Dahee was the priority.
"Uh... Dahee. That's right. Daeun asked me to get you out, so I did."
"Why would she do that? I saw her not long ago."
"I'll explain slowly."
Nam Daeun was still inside the Buyer Guild.
We rescued Nam Dahee, but had no way to reach Daeun. I'd have to talk to her at the party tomorrow.
I began explaining everything to Nam Dahee.
The social party was only a few hours away.
"U-um... Uncle Mingyu...?"
"Yeah. And that's not all. Ever since you were hospitalized, Daeun has been..."
She was too young to be told all the vile details.
But unless I told her something like "Park Mingyu used you to demand Daeun's body," she'd never understand why we took her.
If I didn't explain properly, it'd just look like we stole a hospitalized kid.
She didn't believe it at first, but Scarlett presented some evidence of the guildmaster's threats—and that convinced her.
Eventually, Dahee covered her mouth and began to sob.
"Unnie... sniff I trusted Uncle Mingyu... hic."
"...Scarlett."
Comforting crying girls isn't my thing.
I called in the child-care expert.
"It's okay, Dahee."
Pat, pat.
"Wanna eat some chicken?"
Liliana handed her a drumstick.
Chomp.
"...It's good."
Her expression brightened a bit.
"Right? It's the new and improved chicken."
Looks like the pretty big sisters helped ease her fear.
While Dahee calmed down, Liliana looked at me.
"So what are you going to do with her?"
"She'll stay here for now."
The Buyer Guild would soon realize she was missing.
Before that, I needed to get Nam Daeun out and release the evidence Hyorin found.
After that... honestly, I haven't thought that far.
Maybe she could live with Daeun? Keeping her here is safest, but...
Liliana and Scarlett might not be good for her mental health.
'Feels like more and more people are living in my dorm.'
Maybe I should find a new place.
That's a problem for later. For now, the biggest worry was solved—so I prepped for the party.
A custom-made suit just for the occasion.
Since I'm going with Baek A-Young, I didn't want to look cheap—so I ordered something pricey.
Moon Surin said she's coming too, so I need to look my best.
- Me: A-Young, where should we meet tomorrow?
Prep was done. Just needed to fix the meeting spot.
I messaged Baek A-Young.
- Baek A-Young: Let's meet in front of the venue. It'll be crazy tomorrow.
- Me: Got it. See you tomorrow.
Hmm.
With that settled, I just had to wait for the party.
But I still felt uneasy.
Better be prepared just in case.
"Scarlett. Come here."
"Yes?"
I called Scarlett over from where she was playing with Dahee.
I had a plan—but just in case, I needed some insurance.