Chapter 228. In the Infirmary
"I-is this really okay, Lumi?"
"Yeah. Hurry, hurry."
Lumi pushed Lucy's back as they entered the clubroom.
Inside the clubroom was the bed they had set up yesterday.
Getting the school's permission by claiming it was for rest had been really hard, but they managed it.
Thanks to Lumi's persistence.
Lucy found it so strange to see Lumi being this passionate.
When it came to Lee Hoyeon, she became a completely different person.
"Lucy. This should be enough, right?"
"Yeah. It's big and nice, but...."
The bed was spacious.
Big enough for three people to roll around on comfortably.
Just looking at it made Lucy nervous.
Because the reason it was there was obvious, even if unspoken.
Seeing her tense up, Lumi grabbed Lucy's hand.
"Lucy. Do you not want to do it with Hoyeon?"
"... It's not that. I do."
Of course, Lucy liked being with Lee Hoyeon and Lumi.
If it were just hanging out normally, she wouldn't just like it—she'd be over the moon.
But sharing a bed with Lumi... Lucy still needed to mentally prepare for that.
"Lucy. You know, we need to brace ourselves."
"Brace ourselves?"
"... You know, right? Hoyeon's surrounded by pretty girls like Nam Daeun and Elise."
"He's close with Miss Baek A-Young too."
"And Professor Im Sol."
"Now that I think about it, he's a real bastard. Seriously."
"It's okay. Because we have each other."
Lumi smiled slightly and held Lucy's hand.
"You think so too, right, Lucy?"
"Haa, yeah. Got it. Let's take down Lee Hoyeon."
Lucy couldn't refuse Lumi's words.
No, honestly, she was thankful for Lumi's passionate support.
She had only done it once before, so honestly, she was nervous about that stuff.
So even if she wanted Lee Hoyeon, she didn't really know how to go about it.
But thanks to Lumi, they were making progress.
"I'll do my best too, Lumi."
"Yeah... I love you, Lucy."
"I love you more."
The twins hugged each other and lay down on the bed.
"It's nice lying down together."
"Yeah. Kinda reminds me of the old days. Whenever I had a hard time, you'd always hug me like this."
Since they were young, Lucy had always looked after the more delicate Lumi.
It was only natural as the older sister—she never expected anything in return, but this time she decided to say something.
"Lumi. This time, you help me."
"Don't worry. We're definitely getting Lee Hoyeon between us on this bed."
"Kuh, that's great. I love it."
The twins giggled and spent time together in the clubroom.
*
"Try this. A drumstick."
"Yeah, thanks a lot, Liliana."
Nam Daeun, Nam Dahee, Liliana, and I.
The four of us had ordered three whole chickens.
Three chickens meant six drumsticks.
When Liliana tried to grab a fourth after eating three, I glared at her. She noticed and handed the drumstick to me.
"Drumsticks are the best though..."
"What kind of behavior is that in front of kids, seriously."
"Liliana unnie is so funny. Pfft."
"Dahee, don't spill. Eat properly."
Swoosh—
Nam Dahee smiled while watching Liliana, unfazed, and Nam Daeun also calmly wiped her mouth.
Tsk.
The kids are too nice.
I could just imagine how much Liliana must've stolen from them when I wasn't around.
"You're not stealing all their drumsticks when I'm not here, right? I mean, you guys eat chicken every day anyway."
"... I'm not."
Watching her avoid my gaze and grab some dry meat, I chuckled bitterly.
Are all kids from Hell like this?
No, maybe that's just living youthfully?
"By the way, are you guys really okay physically?"
It was shameless to ask now, but honestly, I only just remembered.
They looked so fine that I hadn't worried.
"Yeah. We're fine."
"Of course. Hiyah!"
Judging by their energy, they weren't hurt.
"Still, it was an S-rank demon... You guys took it down so easily? Daeun, you've gotten that strong?"
"Mm, Liliana helped a lot."
"Liliana?"
I looked at Liliana munching on chicken.
She's actually useful?
"Why are you looking at me like that? I've gotten super strong too, you know? Maybe a god from Hell blessed me. Hehe."
"...."
What the hell is she talking about.
Still, from what Nam Daeun said, it looks like she really did get stronger....
Ah.
Since I got stronger learning rune barriers from Rebecca, maybe she got stronger too?
Thinking about it, I'd been rapidly growing ever since summoning Liliana.
Maybe the mana Liliana can use increased as well.
It had been a while since a proper fight, so it made sense she felt it.
"Right. You're the best. I always believed in you."
"Hehe. Then offer up a drumstick."
"Hoyeon oppa, when's Scarlett unnie coming?"
While Liliana and I were joking around, Nam Dahee chimed in.
"Uh... Scarlett's busy with work. But she'll be here soon."
"I want to see Scout too. My tail's all tingly since I haven't used it."
"Liliana, what does Scarlett have to do with your tail?"
Scarlett, huh.
I thought of Scarlett next to Elise.
Honestly, things have been quiet lately—maybe it's okay?
That unease I felt before seemed unfounded. I've gotten stronger, and so have the girls.
Of course, it's still a trash game, and power creep will probably make this nothing later... but I'll just keep working harder.
"I'll ask. Maybe she can at least show her face."
"Yay! Thanks, oppa!"
Dahee was visibly delighted.
She must've gotten close with Scarlett too.
Seeing my girls get along always made me happy.
'Oh, right. Scarlett's not a heroine.'
I got confused since I see her so often.
"Hoyeon. I want to ask something too. How did you meet that Rebecca woman?"
"Yeah. That witch is scary. Talking about her clan and all—no clue what that's about."
"Rebecca, huh... It's a long story, but I'll explain."
We kept chatting away.
Spending everyday life with the heroines really was healing and comforting.
Second only to sex, of course.
*
The day after Lee Hoyeon was attacked by the skull mask. Sunday.
Scarlett was reporting to Elise.
"An attack...?"
"Yes. I obtained data the academy is handling."
The documents Scarlett handed over contained details of the attack on Lee Hoyeon.
It included stolen academy data and personally gathered information—very thorough.
"Hmm... Okay. I'll try contacting him. You can rest now."
"Yes. I'll be off."
After bidding Elise goodbye, Scarlett left the mansion and headed home.
Unlike Sebas Chan, Scarlett didn't need to stay with Elise all the time.
'What should I do once I get home.'
How strange.
She'd never felt like this before in her life.
- Scout~. Look at this. Doesn't it look tasty?
- Hey, I told you it's Scarlett, not Scout. When are you going to stop?
- Thank you, Miss Scarlett.
- Unnie~ Do this for me.
"Hah."
She was known for intelligence gathering and assassinations.
Who would've thought she'd grow so attached.
Scary people.
Even as she thought that, a smile spread across Scarlett's lips.
'Maybe it's time to visit.'
With that warm thought, Scarlett opened the door to her home.
But the moment she stepped in and shut the door, her entire body screamed a survival warning.
Get out. Now.
Turn and run.
Instinctively, Scarlett reopened the door she had just closed.
But—
"Scarlett."
A deep voice rang out, freezing her in place.
Like a herbivore before a predator—it was instinctual.
A man lounged on her sofa like it was his own house.
He looked completely at ease, as if he belonged there.
"Guildmaster... sir."
"Long time no see. Looks like you've been living well here."
The Guildmaster of Iris.
Isaac.
He was in her home.