Chapter 232. In the Club Room (4)
Elise's mansion.
Tap— tap— tap—
The issue facing the Iris Guild.
Elise, who had been gathering intel about the centaur that appeared in France, stretched and got up from her seat.
"Haa... What do they expect me to do."
Since it wasn't a clearly defined monster, the information wasn't reliable.
Frowning from fatigue, Elise poured wine into a glass on her desk.
"Hmm."
Closing her eyes, she enjoyed the aroma of the wine and realized the weekend would end tomorrow.
She had worked all weekend, and yet the weekend was already over.
She'd have to go to the academy and resume gathering intel and studying.
'Hmm....'
Come to think of it, where did Scarlett disappear to this time?
There was a mountain of information to collect.
Things like intel on Lee Hoyeon, or the girls around him, or even his dormitory...
Knock knock.
"Come in."
The only one who knocks on her door like that is Sebastian.
Scarlett had a weird habit of going through windows.
Elise set down her wine glass and greeted Sebastian.
"Ah, Miss."
"... What is it?"
Sebastian rushed into the room, flustered.
He had been like this a lot lately.
He was usually a composed middle-aged man.
And every time he lost his composure like this, it was always about her father.
"We received a message from the Korean branch head. The Guildmaster has arrived in Korea."
"Why on earth? No, where is he now?"
"Well... the Korean branch is mobilizing people to locate him."
"How did you even know he entered the country?"
"He dropped by the branch office right after arrival to ask for directions. He told them to keep it secret, but they slipped and told me, so please don't tell the Guildmaster...."
"... What a weird man."
Korean branch head, Dr. Kang Hyorin.
They attend the same academy, but Elise still couldn't understand her.
To defy the Guildmaster's orders like that.
Was it consideration for a student, as a professor?
Beep-beep-beep-beep—
Sebastian's smartwatch suddenly rang loudly.
"Yes, hello. Where is he? What?!"
Sebastian narrowed his eyes at the smartwatch.
Judging by the way he glanced at Elise mid-call, it seemed her father had caused some trouble.
After the call, Sebastian carefully looked at Elise.
"... Miss. He's at the academy's shopping district."
"Haa, what is Dad doing? Did he get lost or something?"
He probably got lost trying to come find her.
Elise's poor sense of direction was genetic.
Her father Isaac often got confused with directions too.
"That doesn't seem to be it... He's apparently with Cadet Lee Hoyeon."
"What? Why is Hoyeon involved."
Elise was caught off guard.
They shouldn't have any connection.
"I'm not sure either. They said it was based on mana tracking… but the barrier was too strong to know the details."
Sigh.
Sebastian always got like this when it came to her dad.
Just what did he go through back in his active days?
"Enough. Sebastian, lead the way."
"Understood...."
I told him specifically not to come.
And now he's meeting Lee Hoyeon without even telling me?
He's probably there for a massage again.
"... Every time I say I like you, what's the point."
Crazy old man.
Elise stormed out of the mansion in a foul mood.
*
"... Passed."
"...?"
'What the hell is this guy saying.'
I looked at Isaac, then glanced at Scarlett standing behind him.
Scarlett briefly met my eyes, then subtly shook her head.
Understanding her signal, I quickly looked away.
"Huu...."
What does he mean, 'passed'?
Was he testing my strength?
'Why would someone I just met do that?'
'Is he saying I passed as a future son-in-law?'
A lot of thoughts crossed my mind, but I didn't voice any of them.
I didn't want to step into anything unnecessarily.
If I waited, he'd probably say it himself.
"...."
"...."
But of course, he wasn't normal.
My heavy breathing had already returned to normal, and it was getting awkward just standing here with another guy in silence.
We'd been staring at each other for over ten minutes. How is that not awkward?
"... Who are you?"
I finally broke the silence.
If he'd been a demon, I would've spoken casually, but I couldn't talk like that to Elise's father.
"Did you know who I was from the start?"
Isaac looked at me with interest and spoke.
'Damn, he's handsome too.'
As Elise's father, I guess good looks run in the family.
He looked like a well-aged, golden-haired punk.
'Better not act like I know him.'
Isaac rarely reveals his face like this.
A guildmaster of an information guild must remain shrouded in mystery.
Just knowing him in person means you're someone important.
There's no way a mere cadet like me, who only recently gained some fame, would know the Emperor of the Night.
"I don't know you."
That's why I lied.
The perk called [Steadfast Willpower].
Thanks to that, I could act calm.
"Hmm... Really? I guess that makes sense."
Nodding, Isaac slowly looked me up and down.
"... So who are you? And what do you mean by 'passed'?"
"Passed… means you exceeded my standards. Rejoice. You've become one of the top men in the world."
"...."
What the hell is with this guy's tone.
Has he not grown out of his chunibyo phase?
"And who I am... that's a secret. While the darkness of night watches over you...."
"Dad!"
Just as Isaac lowered his voice and posed strangely, a sharp voice rang out from behind him.
I opened my eyes wide when I saw who it was.
"Who the hell— Oh?"
Of course, Isaac and Scarlett also turned around and saw the approaching blonde beauty.
"I told you not to come!"
"E-Elise. How did you...."
Elise marched over, locked eyes with me for a moment, then sighed deeply.
She walked up to Isaac and stomped on his shin with the heel of her shoe.
"Agh, ack!"
Isaac didn't even think to block her with mana, and fell to the ground clutching his shin.
Oof.
Even I could tell that hurt. Must've been brutal.
"Does it hurt? Huh? I told you not to come. I told Sebastian if you came, I'd never speak to you again, so why did you do it?"
"S-Sorry... I didn't read the whole report...."
"That's your problem, Dad. You never take what I do seriously...."
How long did we stand there watching?
Scarlett and I just watched the terrifying Isaac get scolded by Elise.
"Do you not trust me that much? Do you think I'd fall for some guy so easily?"
"That's not it, I just...."
It was both absurd and kind of funny.
By the way, Scarlett was watching it all very seriously from behind Isaac.
I wanted to exchange a glance with her, but she wouldn't even look at me.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry...."
"Whatever. I'm mad now. I'm not talking to you anymore."
"E-Elise. I'm sorry. What should I do...."
"Don't apologize to me. Apologize sincerely to Hoyeon. He's the one treating my illness. You shouldn't have acted like that."
"Elise. I'm the Guildmaster of Iris. I can't just bow my head so freely."
Isaac straightened his back and spoke confidently.
Was it a matter of pride?
"Then don't talk to me anymore. If you don't apologize, I won't talk to you again."
"Elise...."
Isaac, having just spoken with pride, now hunched over and bowed awkwardly.
Nice! Well done!
Boyfriend beats dad. Mmhmm.
Isaac, who had puffed himself up with pride, stared blankly at Elise turning her head with arms crossed, then turned around and trudged away.
He looked like a man who had lost everything.
Did her words, 'If you don't apologize, I won't talk to you anymore,' really hurt that much?
With a crushed expression, Isaac bowed his head to me.
"S-Sorry... I'm Elise's father and the Guildmaster of Iris. I was just curious about the man close to my daughter. But I didn't know how to approach... I'm really sorry...."
"... It's okay. Don't worry about it."
It's just... hmm. Feels weird.
Being apologized to by Isaac in this situation.
As a father—no, not yet a father.
As a man.
I could kind of relate to that humiliating situation.
Isaac looked at me, then turned his head toward Elise.
Zing—
But Elise's sharp glare made him bow again.
"... If there's something you want, say it. As long as it's within my power… not that I can do everything...."
"It's fi—"
I was about to say it was fine but stopped.
I couldn't waste a chance like this.
"... Then, there is something I'd like to ask."
Isaac swallowed nervously, waiting for my request.
"I'd like to investigate the centaur that appeared in France together."
"... That much, I can do."
Isaac trembled as he smiled.
It was a little scary, but I couldn't let this opportunity slip.
I kept my composure and smiled as pleasantly as I could.