NOVEL NEXT Chapter 171: Hospitalization (2)
Hospitalization (2)
“…And so, that’s how he ended up rescuing Nam Dahee.”
Scarlett somehow managed to squeeze out an explanation, weaving together stories from her experiences with the Iris Guild to fabricate Lee Hoyeon’s nonexistent influence.
Not knowing why Lee Hoyeon decided to save Nam Daeun, Scarlett felt compelled to prepare a narrative just in case Hoyeon wanted to explain himself.
“Ah, so even you don’t know the exact reason, Miss Scarlett.”
While munching on her chicken, Nam Daeun listened intently to Scarlett’s freshly concocted tale.
“Yes, I only followed his orders… Oh, why are you tearing up?” Scarlett, in mid-sentence, couldn’t hide her surprise as Daeun’s eyes became moist.
“I’m sorry. It’s my first time eating chicken…”
Observing Nam Daeun sniffle while eating, Scarlett wondered why all the women around Lee Hoyeon were so peculiar.
“Sis… you couldn’t even eat chicken because of me…”“It’s okay, Dahee. I love you.”
The sisters hugged, while Liliana sat beside them, tearing into the chicken as if to prevent anyone from taking it away.
Scarlett regained her composure and asked Nam Daeun, “Where is Hoyeon? If you were both caught in the attack, it would have been easier for him to explain himself…”
Waiting for Nam Daeun at the academy’s central fountain, Scarlett was unaware of the exact situation. She hadn’t had time to investigate, as Nam Daeun had arrived right after the terror ended.
“He’s probably at the hospital. I don’t know the details, but the hunters praised his sacrifice highly.”
Nam Daeun had not left the barrier during the entire terror event. She had snuck out of the party after dealing with all the demons inside the barrier.
“…!”
“S-Scout! Quickly find out what’s happening.”
Even Liliana, who had been uninterested and eating, couldn’t ignore Lee Hoyeon’s name.
“Yes, understood.” Scarlett immediately contacted her personal informants.
News about the attack at the social gathering was just beginning to circulate. Scarlett wasn’t sure where to gather more information, but she suspected that those interested in that circle might already know.
Soon, messages began pouring in.
“How’s he? He’s alive?” Liliana grabbed Scarlett’s arm and shook it.
“He’s in critical condition, in the hospital. The Saint and healers are attending to him, so it’s not public, and visits are prohibited.”
“Please…” Nam Daeun clasped her hands together as if praying, closing her eyes tightly.
There were still so many questions she wanted to ask. Why had he saved her and Dahee? What should she do next?
“Ah, what a relief.” Liliana sighed in relief at the news that Hoyeon was alive.
As long as he’s alive, that’s all that matters.
Convinced that his strong will wouldn’t let him die easily, Liliana returned her attention to the chicken.
***
“Hmm…”
After Baek Ahyeong left, I’ve been racking my brains but can’t seem to find a decent solution.
Suggesting contraception outright feels too forward. Sure, it’s the most logical move. But what if my painstakingly-built affection level of 100 takes a nosedive because of it? That’s a risk.
First-time achievement of an affection level of 100 leaves me second-guessing every step. Anyway, I’ll have another chance to see her during my treatment. Maybe then I’ll get a sneak peek.
Still a long list of women to woo… And a surprise pregnancy will complicate things.
While chasing after Ahyeong, I’ve contemplated how to minimize my scumbag status. If my aim is to win over multiple heroines, I should expect these ethical dilemmas to be a recurring theme.
Initially, I toyed with the idea of brutal honesty: “This is a game world and I need to win you all over for a harem ending.” Laughably absurd, of course.
If I were in their shoes, I’d steer clear of anyone spouting such nonsense. They probably wouldn’t buy it anyway. Of course, there’s a way to verify: the heroine status window.
I can instantly read their thoughts to verify, but doing so will deeply unsettle them. It’ll just put a damper on my conquest. Toss in the unsettling notion that their world is a mere fiction, and I’ve got a situation best avoided.
After settling that internal debate, I flipped open my smartwatch to gauge public opinion. It’s the day after the terror; the media circus should be in full swing.
Upon entering EveryDay, I found that all trending posts centered on the social gathering.
“It’s complete chaos.”
Even I was taken aback by the unexpected terror; I can only imagine the impact on everyone else. Responding was tough, especially since this scenario wasn’t part of the original storyline.
I clicked on what seemed like a summary post to delve into the details.
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[Summary of the Association’s Social Gathering and Terror News.]
Today, there was an attack by demons at the social gathering.
A barrier that covered the entire venue suddenly appeared, trapping everyone inside.
Though I’m not a direct witness, interviews revealed that dozens of barriers were erected inside the venue.
There were also simultaneous attacks by hundreds of demons; it must have been total chaos. Yet, despite the desperate situation, the death toll remained in single digits.
And the reason was Lee Hoyeon.
He single-handedly broke through a barrier that would take three or four A-rank hunters over 10 minutes to dismantle, saving most of the hunters inside.
Even as hunters offered to assist him, he declined, urging them to band together to survive…
After rescuing most of the hunters and saving the saint, he fell into a coma.
Among the demons he defeated, one was exceptionally powerful. The combat power of the strong demon Lee Hoyeon defeated ranged from at least A-rank to potentially S-rank. Absolutely insane.
There are people calling it a hoax, saying it’s a the academy and Lee Hoyeon stunt, but check the interviews with the terror survivors.
Not a lineup of liars. There’s no need for these people to lie and discredit the academy.
[Videos]
[Videos]
[Videos]
These are the interviews I referenced.
Likes: 1530, Dislikes: 89
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[Is this even plausible? Can the term ‘genius mage’ explain these feats?]
[But looking at interviews and survivors’ social media, it seems genuine? They’re almost praising Lee Hoyeon.]
[He must be this good to date the saint…]
[Our Hoyeon Oppa is the best ㅠ.ㅠ Love you!]
“Indeed, that’s probably how it looked.”
I was originally searching for Baek Ahyeong, but since she was a no-show, I unintentionally ended up saving some hunters. I advised them to head to crowded areas to assist others instead of following me.
The whole situation was a mix-up between reporters and hunters, but it does feel good to see the comments praising me. After all, enhancing one’s image is always advantageous.
I also looked at other posts and noticed a significant uptick in interviews and reactions over the past few hours.
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[Major Guild Leaders Are Talking About Lee Hoyeon, Wow]
Looks like Lee Hoyeon really made a big impact…
The accolades aren’t mere flattery; they’re genuinely impressive.
Is Lee Hoyeon a gold mine in human form?
————————-
Public sentiment has definitely changed since the terror incident.
Prominent individuals saved by me at the Academy’s Celestial Festival are now mentioning me, and those I saved during the social gathering have also spoken up.
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[Breaking News!! Team Leader of the Bright Mountain Guild Exposes Truth About Victoria Academy’s Celestial Festival]
[Video]
If this is accurate, shouldn’t the association step in?
Is our country this corrupt?
How can even a Bright Mountain Guild team leader not speak freely?
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“What’s this?”
While scrolling through various posts, I clicked on a video. In it, a man was lowering his head with a somber expression.
[Hello, I’m Jeon Youngsu, team leader of the Bright Mountain Guild. I was at the Victoria Academy’s Celestial Festival but couldn’t speak due to pressure from a certain guild.]
“Wow…”
He must’ve faced serious threats to come forward like this.
[Now that I’ve been given a second chance at life, I can’t stay silent. I was threatened by the Shin Young Guild, and I believe many others were too.]
He looks familiar; probably one of those good but naive supporting characters.
This will surely give the Shin Young Guild a tough time. They’ll likely go quiet during the investigation. Dr. Kang Hyorin will eventually provide more information, so I’ll handle it then.
Besides this video, many hunters offered to protect me voluntarily, all within a span of 10 minutes. While gauging public opinion, everything was unfolding in real-time. Then, I came across another compelling video with an unusually high number of likes.
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[Video Released After Partial CCTV Footage of Party Venue Is Restored. Lee Hoyeon Is Incredible…]
[Video]
Honestly… no wonder the saint is captivated.
So incredibly cool.
Just leaves you speechless.
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