Chapter 32. Contract (2)

Chapter 32. Contract (2)

The day after the PR department activities ended.

Elise, who had gone out, got into a luxury sedan to return to the academy.

“Haah, I’m exhausted.”

“You worked hard, my lady.”

“Mmh.”

She casually set down her clutch bag and poured herself a glass of magically preserved wine, savoring its aroma.

This sweet noble wine, Chateau d’Yquem, was one of Elise’s favorites.

“Victoria Academy sure works fast. The article is already up.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re the promotional model for Victoria Academy, aren’t you?”

“We just did the shoot yesterday, and it’s already up?”

“Yes. It’s already published.”

Elise accessed Everyday on her smartwatch.

A prominently featured post titled [Victoria Academy PR Department Model Photos.jpg] was trending at the top.

“It’s real...”

“Would I lie to you, my lady? Haha.”

Elise had no problem with the article being posted, as it was planned to be used for advertisements across multiple platforms.

But even if they were fast, how could they have finished the ad overnight? They just completed the shoot yesterday.

With suspicion, she clicked on [Victoria Academy PR Department Model Photos.jpg].

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[Victoria Academy PR Department Model Advertisement Photos Released.jpg]

[Photo]

If someone asks about the future of Victoria Academy, tell them it’s the PR department.

Likes: 1300 Dislikes: 34

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“What the.”

There was only one photo—the student council picture.

If they were just going to post the first picture, why did we spend so long shooting?

Annoyed, Elise scrolled through the comments.

[Are this year’s freshmen for real?]

[I feel bad for the freshman guys who have to compete with that face. LOL]

[Seriously, would anyone want to date an average guy when someone like that exists at the academy?]

[Damn it, guys. I’m a freshman, too. Cut me some slack.]

[Honestly, same. LOL.]

[Wow, Elise unnie is so pretty. Anyone prettier than me is unnie.]

[Noona, please take me. Just take me.]

[Someone’s illegally dumping trash here.]

Even after seeing all the comments praising her looks, she felt nothing.

She had heard it her whole life.

[Photo]

[New pictures are being released! The announcement says they’ll upload each one gradually since they’re all legendary shots.]

[Wow, even reading a book looks handsome on them.]

“Phew.”

At least the photos weren’t wasted.

[Elise is gorgeous, but Lee Hoyeon is ridiculously good-looking. If Elise is top-tier even among celebrities, Lee Hoyeon’s face is beyond classification. It feels wrong to even judge.]

“Come on. Did that bastard write this himself?”

He was good-looking, sure, but not that good.

Seeing the over-the-top praise for Lee Hoyeon annoyed her for no reason.

“If you didn’t know the way, you should’ve just said so.”

“...That happens. No one’s perfect all the time.”

“Well, seeing your human side was nice. But I really didn’t expect to end up at the outer academy walls instead of the central fountain.”

“...”

“Heh.”

The conversation she had with Lee Hoyeon flashed through her mind.

It had been a long time since she’d felt such an odd sense of irritation.

Even as a child, when her sister took her toys or stole her best friend in kindergarten, it wasn’t quite the same.

Elise had never truly been teased before.

The so-called teasing she had endured growing up was...

“That damn bitch. Acting like she’s better than everyone just because she’s talented.”

“She probably sleeps around behind the scenes.”

“Her dad’s a thief, so why would the daughter be any different?”

She had never experienced playful banter.

From childhood, she had only been exposed to jealousy and resentment.

That was why Lee Hoyeon’s teasing triggered such an unusual irritation.

She had long since learned how to brush off baseless hatred.

It didn’t anger her when the untalented criticized her.

If anything, she pitied them.

But Lee Hoyeon had no flaws compared to her.

So she couldn’t dismiss his teasing with mere pity. Instead, she felt an inexplicable irritation.

In the end, her evaluation of Lee Hoyeon was...

A strange guy.

He weirdly made her feel insulted, but he wasn’t exactly wrong.

Talking to him irritated her, but she didn’t want to stop.

Of course, she wouldn’t deny that his ridiculously handsome face played a role.

But these unfamiliar emotions...

Those strange feelings made Elise more honest with herself.

“There’s a limit to how much I can tolerate your arrogance just because you’re good-looking.”

“What the hell... Why did I say that?”

The words had slipped out before she even realized.

Just remembering it made her face heat up.

At the time, she had turned red and fled immediately.

“Ugh... This is so annoying.”

Elise still couldn’t understand why she had blurted out such an embarrassing line.

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[Hell’s Delinquent Summoning Contract]

Are you the one who summoned the delinquents of hell?

Choose one of the four delinquents.

1. Lucifer, the Butcher Demon Obsessed with Flesh

2. Golden Sun Incubus, Hell Academy’s Bombardier

3. Kentaurus, the 20-Year F-Rank Mercenary Veteran

4. The 50-Year-Old Spinster Web-Weaving Succubus

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“...What the fuck is this.”

She had a bad feeling about this Hell’s Delinquent Summoning Contract, but...

The actual options were even worse than she had imagined.

There was no way she’d pick option 1. A butcher demon obsessed with human flesh? No thanks.

Summoning that thing would probably turn her into the meat.

The second option was even worse.

A male incubus? That was already bad enough, but Golden Sun Bombardier?

She briefly considered if he might be useful, but he seemed like the type to betray her at the worst moment. Pass.

The third option: a 20-year F-rank mercenary.

“Why the hell do they have to phrase ‘useless idiot’ in such a long-winded way?”

Pass on that one, too.

That left only option four... It seemed like the best choice.

A succubus.

A word that stirs a man’s heart.

But a 50-year-old spinster, web-weaving master succubus?

What if, instead of a sultry succubus, a worn-out middle-aged woman appears?

“Well, it’s my only choice.”

Since I was going to pick anyway, I might as well do it quickly.

I moved my index finger to select [50-year-old spinster, web-weaving master succubus] from the floating system window.

Boom!

The system window disappeared, and a complex magic circle formed in the mist where the summoning contract had been.

“Oh...”

The magic was so advanced that I couldn’t fully understand it, but thanks to [Mana Sensitivity], I grasped the basics.

‘This part here is for summoning, and the left side indicates coordinates. I have no idea about the rest.’

My current level was too low to fully comprehend it.

“Ugh...”

Eventually, the mist cleared, and a woman’s groan echoed through the room.

Just from her voice, I could tell she was beautiful, but it was too early to be relieved.

As the mist completely dissipated, a woman in what looked like a tracksuit was slumped on the ground.

“Uh, hey. Are you... okay?”

Her black hair was messy, but her skin was flawless, her waist slender, and her hips wide.

Her chest was around an F-cup.

Her features were so attractive that she didn’t look anywhere near fifty.

Maybe it’s like how elves at 250 look like 25 in human years?

“Excuse me? Are you alright?”

She looked no older than twenty, but since she was fifty, I used polite speech.

“Ah, fuck. I had a raid to run. Where the hell am I? Annoying.”

Oh no. This might be a disaster.

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“Ah, fuck. These idiots are completely useless.”

Taptaptap! I furiously typed on my keyboard.

- What the hell, morons? Are you even trying?

- You dragged the mobs, what are you saying??

- I was tanking, but you guys weren’t dealing damage. Are you brain-dead?

- I’m blocking you.

- You motherf—

[Defeat]

“Damn it. This is so frustrating.”

And these fools are supposed to be the future of Hell? Hell is doomed.

I didn’t feel like gaming anymore. Besides, I was hungry.

Gulp gulp.

“Phew.”

I took a sip from the drink next to my monitor and stepped out of my room.

Mom was in the living room.

She looked exhausted, probably after returning from an outing.

Her face was covered in wrinkles. Maybe it was time for her to leave her fortune behind and join the Demon King.

“Mom~, if you’re free, can you make me some food? I’m hungry.”

“Liliana! I heard you rejected another match!”

“Ugh, just hurry. I played too much and I’m dizzy.”

“I just got home from a night shift, and you’ve been holed up gaming all day!”

“Didn’t you say you were bringing meat? Where’s the food?”

Bang!

“This isn’t about food! Do you realize how important that match was?!”

Damn, that was loud. Why did she slam the table?

Here we go, another lecture.

I let her words wash over me and returned to my room.

I was still hungry, but listening to her nagging was worse than starving.

Life is so exhausting.

Closing the door muffled the noise.

I logged back into the game.

My team was so useless that I gave up on team play and decided to go on a solo raid.

Bang!

But before I could start, Mom burst into my room.

“You! I won’t let this slide today!”

Her reaction was way stronger than usual. Why did she even follow me in here?

“Listen to me! Why did you do that?! This was your last chance! You’re already 50! Do you know any other succubus in Hell who’s still unmarried at 50?!”

“Ugh, leave me alone! Why should I marry some broke, ugly orc?! Are you insane?”

“You crazy girl. If you didn’t want that, you should’ve gotten married earlier. You’ve wasted 15 years gaming since your coming-of-age ceremony!”

“Mom, we live for a thousand years. Fifty years means I still have 950 left. Now get out, I have a game to play.”

“I’m a succubus too! A succubus! This time, I really believed in you!”

“Yeah, yeah. Let me just grab some potions and I’ll be right there~.”

I made it clear I had no intention of stopping and turned back to my monitor.

Damn merchants hoarded all the potions, so they were stupidly expensive. I should report them.

“For hell’s sake, Liliana. You’re fifty! What’s wrong with you?!”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be out soon.”

My raid party was waiting for me. I had to get back.

Flicker—

[Your internet connection is unstable. Please check your connection...]

I was just about to enter the raid when the internet cut out.

“Huh? What the hell.”

“If this is how you want to live, then get out!”

Mom was holding the internet cable in her hand. Just when I was about to start.

“Mom, wait. Just one more hour. I’m playing with my team.”

“When will you change? I’m exhausted too.”

“Fine, I’ll listen. Just let go of that first.”

“Liliana, please... just stop. I’m so tired...”

“Do you think I play for fun? I have friends in the game!”

“Sob...”

Damn it.

Mom started crying while holding the internet cable.

If her tears got into the cable, would it short-circuit?

Boom!

What the hell? Strange text appeared before my eyes.

[Congratulations. You have been selected as one of Hell’s Four Delinquents.]

[Hell’s Welfare Department will now provide automatic employment services.]

Four Delinquents? What the hell does that mean?

It doesn’t sound good.

Boom!

[Congratulations! The owner of Hell’s Delinquent Summoning Contract wishes to form a contract with you. Automatic employment services will be provided.]

Huh? Automatic employment services?

Boom!

“Liliana! Where did you run off to this time?!”

Chapter end