Chapter 230: Why are you doing this to me? (5)

"Scarlet. You were in Korea because of Alice, right?"

"Yes, sir. For a personal investigation..."

"Hmm, I remember. Sebastian specifically took you, who specializes in stealth, to investigate Lee Ho-yeon. And now that the job is done, you're helping Alice's secretary. Right?"

"That is correct."

Isaac nodded, dropped his cigarette, and stepped on it firmly.

"Leave that to Sebastian and go back to monitoring Lee Ho-yeon. That is an order as the Guild Master. I'll tell Sebastian myself, so don't worry about it."

"...Understood."

Scarlet managed her expression and nodded her head.

"You can use a honey trap if you want... Ah, you weren't that kind of agent, were you? Anyway."

For reference, most female infiltration agents used honey traps.

Because there was no reason not to use the abilities they possessed.

And most honey trap agents made seducing Isaac their goal.

"The way he kept looking at you, it means he's interested. I have a good eye for people."

"...Yes, sir."

"Even if you can't seduce him, try coaxing him well and scout him for the Iris Guild. Ah, while you're at it, it would be great if you completely separated him from Alice."

"I will try my best."

Isaac was making a very huge misunderstanding.

The truth was that even if Scarlet succeeded in seducing Lee Ho-yeon, he wouldn't be separated from Alice.

Because Lee Ho-yeon was crazy about women.

"However, I won't burden you too much. Extracting information is fine, and just building up an acquaintance is good too. He's a bastard who will definitely become big no matter what."

"Understood."

Isaac smiled cheerfully.

Honestly, his pride was hurt at first when he ended up in a scuffle instead of subduing the cadet immediately.

However, he was flustered when he lasted for 5 minutes past his initial goal of 1 minute, and by the time it reached 10 minutes, he was rather full of admiration.

Naturally, it wasn't his full power.

Fitting his title as the Emperor of the Night, Isaac's stats would double when the moon rose.

However, even in his daytime state, it was enough for him to rise to the ranks of the strong.

It was just that when night came, his caliber changed to match the title of 'Emperor'.

'10 years...? No, 5 years. Maybe even less than that.'

There were hardly any people who passed Isaac's standards, because those standards made no sense.

They had to be younger than him while being stronger than Isaac was at that same age in the past.

Most received Isaac's recognition because they excelled in a specific field compared to him, but Lee Ho-yeon was different.

Compared to the 20-year-old Isaac, he was incredibly strong.

An immeasurable talent he had encountered for the first time in his life.

'If he just maintains that growth curve...'

He would be too good to entrust the Iris Guild to.

It seemed he still didn't know magic related to stealth or infiltration, but that fraudulent barrier alone was enough.

His attack ability was sufficient, and the creativity or flexibility of his magic was good too.

Because even though it was probably his first time facing an opponent like Isaac, he immediately poured out useful magic spells.

'Still, I can't give him my daughter just yet.'

There was a rule Isaac had set for himself.

The standard for the man who could take his daughter.

First, he had to be a man that Alice truly loved.

As long as Alice existed as his daughter, she had to be happier than anyone else in the world.

However, one couldn't live on love alone.

Even if he died, the man had to be able to protect Alice.

Therefore, it had to be a man who could defeat him in his perfect condition.

"..."

Until now, he hadn't even seen a possibility.

He thought he could live with her by his side for his entire life.

But he ended up seeing that possibility today.

'You are an adult now too. Alice.'

Thinking of his daughter who had grown up in an instant, Isaac became slightly gloomy.

Since she had taken that bastard Lee Ho-yeon with her even now.

'...'

And Scarlet, who was next to him, just wanted to go back home quickly.

*

"...Come in."

Saying she would personally apologize to me, Alice invited me to her house.

Honestly, it didn't really matter since I got a direct apology from Isaac... but I followed Alice for now.

It had only been a few days since I came here to give a massage, but entering a heroine's house was still nerve-wracking.

Alice's room was neat, but her desk was a mess.

Perhaps she rushed out in the middle of work, as documents were scattered about, and she was in the middle of typing something on her laptop.

Alice picked up her half-drunk wine glass, swirled it a few times, and sat down.

"I'm sorry. My dad isn't normal... You suffered because of me."

"No, it's fine. It was a good experience in its own way."

Fighting against the strong is always a good experience.

Since the opponent was Isaac, he wouldn't have had any thoughts of killing me anyway, making it even better.

"..."

However, as if dissatisfied with my words, Alice slightly puffed out her cheeks.

"You shouldn't do that."

"Huh?"

"If you go through something worthy of an apology, you should receive an apology. You shouldn't just let it slide like such a pushover."

"..."

"Isn't it true? Why did you say it was fine when I dug into your background? And this time, my dad, whom you've never even met, came and threatened your life, yet you say it's fine. Are you pretending to be nice? Or are you just a pushover?"

What's with her all of a sudden.

Alice suddenly started lecturing me out of nowhere.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Alice]

- [ Favorability : 79 ]

- [ Libido : 88 ]

- [ Appetite : 30 ]

- [ Fatigue : 59 ]

Current Status : A soft man like that won't do. He lacks firmness.

"Hmm..."

I was confident in my firmness in my own way.

Come to think of it, that's true.

Since I'm in a position where I have to capture the heroines, there are inevitably many times when I have to just give in.

And... honestly, I don't really get angry.

I'm not sure if my personality became strange as I changed into the protagonist.

But what am I supposed to do when I'm just not mad?

"What do you want me to do when I'm not angry?"

"...Why? Even when the Student Council said harsh words to you, and when you fought with the Vice Chairman. You do get angry when it's time to."

Alice simply couldn't seem to understand me.

Was this a process to confirm if I was a man she could have favorability towards?

"Hmm..."

There definitely were times like that.

It's not that I can't get angry.

'Ah.'

I finally realized the difference between then and now.

I had realized the fact that a beautiful woman is beautiful no matter what she does.

As a result, no matter how much Liriana acted up, I didn't get angry.

She's just cute, really.

It was the same when Isaac attacked me.

Once I found out it was related to Alice, I stopped being angry.

"Should I say those guys lack charm? They just provoke my anger."

"What on earth are you... Haa, sure. You definitely have some traits similar to my dad."

What is she talking about.

Alice brought her palm to her slightly reddened cheek, then opened her mouth again.

"So why are you so interested in that centaur? I was planning to give you an even bigger reward, you know."

She seemed curious about my obsession with the centaur too.

It probably looked funny from another person's perspective.

Since it looked like I was volunteering to help out of nowhere.

Fortunately, I had an excuse prepared for this.

"The centaur is just... a personal curiosity. It's related to my magic research."

"The genius mage is certainly different."

Alice smiled slightly and reached for the wine.

It seemed she was planning to pour some into the glass in front of me.

As I blankly watched Alice pour the wine, I noticed her complexion on her hands and face was incredibly good.

Was the massage she received last time that good?

"Oh right. How were the effects of the mana massage? I worked quite hard on it last time."

I really put effort into the foreplay.

It was a shame I couldn't get to sex, but thinking about it, if we had gone all the way to sex back then, would Alice have come to save me today?

She might have come to save me, but there was also a possibility she wouldn't have.

Listening to my words, Alice paused her hand pouring the wine for a moment, then lowered her hand after finishing pouring.

"...It was good. The effects were definitely incredible. Ahem, right. While you're here, do you want to give me a massage before you go? I didn't plan on it, but since you're already here, it would be convenient."

"..."

I wondered why she called me to her house, was it perhaps because of the massage?

Alice stole glances at me.

Now that I looked, there was even a massage bed spread out behind the bed.

She had even finished the preparations.

But doing it now feels a bit off.

"I don't mind... Did the effects of the massage we did last time wear off already?"

"Huh?"

Alice stopped speaking as if slightly flustered by my words.

"No. That's not it... The mana is still circulating well."

Of course.

Considering how hard I worked on the additional service back then.

There's no way it would wear off already.

"It's not good to do it too frequently. Call me when your body calms down a bit."

"Yeah... okay."

Seeing Alice feeling disappointed, I wanted to jump her right now, but...

It's way too scary to do that when I just met Isaac.

What if he happens to see us somehow?

I don't want to die early.

It wouldn't be too late to do it when it's a bit safer.

We drank wine and, instead of talking about massages, shared proper small talk for the first time in a while.

Since I had figured out Alice's preferences, it was enough for us to have an enjoyable conversation.

*

After finishing our conversation, I slipped out of Alice's mansion and headed towards the dormitory.

Conversing with a beauty is enjoyable even if it lasts long, but Alice had work to do, and I couldn't stay too late, so we cut it off at an appropriate time and parted ways.

"This is so damn exhausting."

The problem is that every single day lately is too packed.

I wish incidents would just stop happening.

I miss the old days when I would just normally play with Liriana and fall asleep.

Smack.

Walking slowly, I recalled the purpose of my outing today.

"Damn it. I couldn't look at houses in the end."

I came out to look for a house to move into, but as a result, I ended up drinking wine and having a chat with Alice.

Of course, the conversation with Alice was nice too, but... I still had to look at houses.

"Should I go look right now?"

Just then, a familiar voice rang out from beside me.

"What are you talking about?"

"Houses, I'm talking about houses."

"As expected, you aren't surprised."

"Of course I knew you were following me."

I only spoke out loud because I knew Scarlet was behind me, otherwise, I would have just thought it inwardly.

When I looked slightly to the side, Scarlet was standing there, looking frustrated that her stealth was figured out once again.

"Isaac, I mean, Mr. Isaac?"

"He went to meet the Korea Branch Manager. He said that's the only place he can think of no matter how much he ponders. He will probably leave the country right away. He isn't someone with a lot of time..."

"Ahem. That's a relief."

I don't know why the Korea Branch Manager is coming up, but they'll figure it out among themselves.

Since it's the guild's internal affairs.

If Isaac returns, I wonder if Scarlet will be able to join the house again too.

"I guess I can see Liriana and Da-hee often now. Still, I probably won't be able to do it like before, right?"

"No. I'll have more leeway with my work from now on, so we'll be able to stay together like before."

"Oh, that's a relief."

With Scarlet coming, there's even more reason to move.

"But before that..."

Scarlet stopped walking, looked at me, and bowed her waist 90 degrees.

"I am sorry. Lord Ho-yeon."

"Huh?"

"I should have done a bit better..."

Why is she acting like this all of a sudden.

"Is it perhaps because Mr. Isaac attacked me?"

"...Yes. The truth is, I disclosed information about Lord Ho-yeon. Even though there were circumstances, a wrong is still a wrong."

Scarlet bowed her body further as if in repentance and apologized.

"It's fine, so stand up. It didn't really matter anyway..."

Wait a minute.

I stopped talking and pondered.

I can't just let everything slide like this.

Just like Alice said, I need to get angry, even if it's just a little bit.

Should I practice this time?

"If you're sorry, just grant me one request."

"...A request?"

Scarlet slightly covered her chest and stared at my face.

"No, not something like that. Just find a new house for me. I originally planned to go around looking today, but I couldn't because of Mr. Isaac."

"Ah... That's unexpected. I can definitely do that much."

Unexpected? That's harsh.

"Even I don't always demand bodies, you know."

"No, that's not what I meant... Understood."

"...?"

Scarlet left behind strangely bothersome words and nodded her head.

What is she thinking to make an expression like that?

Didn't she say that because I'm always lusting after women?

Ding-

Right then, something appeared before my eyes.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Scarlet]

- [ Favorability : 55 ]

- [ Libido : 30 ]

- [ Appetite : 30 ]

- [ Fatigue : 40 ]

Current Status : I thought he'd accept everything if a beautiful woman apologized, but it seems I was wrong. Should I find another way?

"Oh..."

"Why are you staring at me so intently?"

A status window was created for Scarlet too.

Perhaps it's because her influence on the world increased as she became more deeply involved with me, Isaac, and Alice?

'But her thoughts are a bit impure.'

If anyone saw this, they'd think I'm a simp who pounces whenever he sees a woman.

"That's mean."

"Yes?"

Scarlet tilted her head as if she knew nothing.

"Tsk. Never mind. It's nothing."

That kind of side is charming in its own way.

She's normally calculating, but she helps me when it's important.

She was a great help when I was capturing Nam Da-eun. She also helps with various chores.

Even I didn't know the ties met through a scam contract would develop like this.

Anyway, I was already feeling sufficiently grateful to Scarlet.

"Thank you as always, Scarlet. Do a good job looking for my house too."

I expressed my gratitude and greeted Scarlet, and she smiled just like always.

"Yes. Lord Ho-yeon. I will also work joyfully."

It feels a bit sudden to realize it now, but.

It certainly seems like all the blonde women around me are beautiful.