Chapter 174. Hospitalized (5)
"...."
Why?
I mean, what the hell do they think I am, setting up a hidden camera in my hospital room?
Do they think I'd be having sex here or something?
...How'd they know?
'Well, they've got a good eye for people. Must be because of the Iris Guild.'
"Hmm... Scarlett."
"Yes."
"I'll just give you a sex video. You pass it to Elise. That should work."
"Honestly, I was thinking the same thing."
"I'll let you know when the time is right. Try to get a stealth shot."
Scarlett would earn more trust if she delivered results. So, it's not a bad idea once in a while.
Last video was Liliana. Maybe this time, I should feature someone else to wow the audience.
Poke poke.
"You're too weak to resist right now, huh? It's the perfect chance. Wanna join, Scout?"
"I'll pass."
Liliana was giggling as she poked my side.
Isn't that a bit much for a patient?
"Fine. If it makes you happy, go ahead."
I exposed my side to her, letting Liliana play around—it was her way of showing concern.
I could tolerate that much.
"Boring. I'm out."
Liliana pouted and started fiddling with my smartwatch.
'...What's her deal now?'
★ Heroine Status Window
[Liliana]
- [ Affection: 97 ] (+1.3)
- [ Lust: 85 ]
- [ Appetite: 55 ]
- [ Fatigue: 45 ]
Current Status: I was worried, but he doesn't even care. Hmph.
'Didn't you say you weren't worried...?'
Sigh.
I raised my energy and spread my arms toward Liliana.
"Liliana~. You don't know how much I missed you."
"There you go again. Lies just fall out of your mouth."
"No lies. I thought about you the whole time I was hospitalized."
"...Really?"
"Of course. Come here."
I patted the hospital bed.
Being a fancy hospital, the bed was nice and wide.
Liliana climbed in beside me with a skeptical look. I stroked her hair to comfort her.
"Seeing you the most must be why I thought of you the most."
Wiggle wiggle.
Liliana touched me and looked into my eyes.
"Really? Really really?"
That look... those are succubus eyes.
Liliana was clearly asking for sex.
"Should we start filming now?"
Scarlett was already filming the bed with a small camera from who-knows-where.
"...Sure. Just keep watch too."
The more footage, the better...
I reached for Liliana's body, pretending not to notice the camera.
*
At the academy's internal lab.
A man and a woman were talking.
"What did the analysis show?"
"It's an S-Class demon."
Moon Surin was speaking with an academy researcher.
They were discussing the skull-mask demon that Lee Hoyeon took down.
"S-Class... Was it affiliated with Pandemic?"
"That's our assessment. Also, here's the mask it was wearing."
The researcher handed Moon Surin the skull mask.
"It's not a special artifact with effects... But it seems like a mark of identification. Possibly indicating a subgroup within Pandemic."
"Aha... Thank you. I'll be going now."
"Yes. Take care."
Moon Surin slowly exited the lab.
She held the skull mask in her hand.
"An S-Class demon..."
An S-Class demon had attacked Lee Hoyeon.
And he handled it alone. That was an unbelievable feat.
Once the news aired tomorrow, the media would go wild again.
But that wasn't what mattered most to Moon Surin.
Because of it, Lee Hoyeon had fallen into a coma.
Thankfully, he wasn't badly hurt. Visitations would resume tomorrow.
Still, she couldn't help but feel angry.
"Hoyeon..."
Her grandfather's sudden support for Lee Hoyeon eased her mind a bit, but new worries crept in.
What if something like this happens again?
Then she'd have to be the one to protect him.
- Surin-noona. I love you.
Moon Surin listened to an edited clip of Lee Hoyeon's voice, deep in thought.
'How can I help Hoyeon?'
First, she had to go see him.
Things like this need to be said face to face.
Mmm. Moon Surin nodded and focused on her earphones.
The next morning.
Last night, Liliana and Scarlett left right after filming.
Scarlett said she installed a camera in my room, but wouldn't say where so I wouldn't be conscious of it.
"What is she, a movie director?"
She said she'd bring Nam Daeun this morning. I should wait.
The director made the academy's official statement last night.
They presented clear evidence: the artifact I exploded during the Heavenly Festival, the magic circle used in the terror attack, estimated damages, and more.
They had all this and still didn't help me earlier?
Damn old man.
Anyway, the bastards who slandered me were mostly gone now.
'Lee Hoyeon's Hidden Truth.'
That dogshit group, 'Leehidtru' for short, was getting flamed.
"The world's finally working properly."
This weird world that treated a gem like me like dirt was finally ending.
-------------------------------
[Ironblood Guild Master Interview - Summary]
- Meeting him in person, I could tell he's truly remarkable. Felt like a glimpse into our nation's future.
- I believe he'll be a key figure in Korea's hunter society.
That level of praise? Gotta accept it, lol.
-------------------------------
[Looking back, it didn't make sense. Even if the academy wanted a hero narrative, it should at least be believable, lol.]
[The academy is still deceiving the public. All that evidence is fake, and the interviews are staged.]
[Shut the hell up, you Shinyoung Guild roaches, lol.]
"Yeah, yeah."
Gotta filter out pests like that.
Shinyoung Guild hadn't made a public statement yet, but the flood of exposés couldn't be stopped.
Starting with that kind-looking dude, the reveals just kept rolling.
Of course, a massive guild like Shinyoung wouldn't go down from just this.
But they'd take a serious hit... maybe stay quiet for a while.
'Just need Dr. Kang Hyorin to bring in the Buyer Guild evidence.'
The Buyer Guild would soon realize Nam Dahee was missing—if they hadn't already.
Even if Kang Hyorin set up a magic circle, it's been days.
As I was thinking that and browsing forums...
Knock knock.
"Cadet Lee Hoyeon, you have visitors."
The knock interrupted my thoughts.
It was my nurse's voice.
"Who is it?"
"Someone named Scout and two others."
"Ah... okay. Let them in."
Scout.
Probably used that alias so Elise wouldn't catch on.
The other two must be Nam Daeun and Nam Dahee.
I sat up in bed to greet them.
*
Scarlett, Nam Daeun, and Nam Dahee were walking toward my hospital room.
"...."
"Feeling nervous?"
Scarlett spoke up as they silently rode the elevator.
"A little."
Nam Daeun was lost in thought.
Why did he help me? Why?
There was too much to ask.
"It's fine, unni. He's your super close friend, right?"
"...Yeah. But remember, we need to stay quiet in the hospital."
Nam Daeun's smartwatch buzzed.
Ding—
Click.
The Buyer Guild kept trying to contact her, but she ignored it.
Because Nam Dahee was beside her.
Lee Hoyeon told her to ignore them, and she was following that advice.
Vrrrr—
Something trembled inside Scarlett's chest.
It was the necklace that Liliana transformed into.
Ever since leaving the dorm, it had been twitching in frustration.
Slide—
Scarlett gently stroked the necklace.
"We're almost there. Hang in just a bit longer."
Moments later, they arrived at the hospital room.
"Visits must be kept short. Enjoy your time!"
The nurse escorted them, then disappeared.
Knock knock.
"Sir Hoyeon. It's me."
Scarlett knocked on behalf of the group.
- Come in.
They opened the door and stepped into the room.
Leaning against the wall, Lee Hoyeon looked up at them.
"You're here early. Make yourselves comfortable. No food, but there's drinks in the fridge. Help yourselves."
He spoke while glancing between Nam Dahee and Nam Daeun.
"Hello, handsome oppa. I came with unni."
"Hey there."
Nam Dahee greeted shyly. Lee Hoyeon turned to Nam Daeun.
She stared at him with her usual blank face.
'...What does that look mean?'
He had seen Liliana so often he could read her expressions, but Nam Daeun was still a mystery.
By the way, Liliana had already turned back into a succubus and was raiding the fridge, deciding which drink to steal.