Contract (2)

The day after the PR department's activities. Alice, who had been out, got into a luxury sedan to return to the academy.

"Ah, I'm really exhausted."

"You've worked hard, miss."

"Yeah."

She casually put down her clutch bag and poured herself a glass of preserved magic wine to savor the aroma. The sweet and rich wine, Château Décime, was Alice's favorite.

"Victoria Academy sure moves fast. The article about the shoot is already out."

"What are you talking about?"

"Aren't you a promo model for Victoria Academy?"

"They already posted it? We just finished shooting yesterday."

"Yes."

Alice checked her smartwatch and saw the post titled [Victoria Academy PR Department Models' Photos.jpg] trending at the top.

"It's true…"

"Would I lie? Hehe…"

'They mentioned publishing the photos all over Victoria Academy's official website and other platforms. I guess it doesn't make much of a difference whether the article shows up fast or not.'

'But they actually began promoting it today, right after the shoot yesterday?'

With doubt, she clicked on [Victoria Academy PR Department Models' Photos.jpg].

——————————

[Victoria Academy PR Department Models' Ad Photos Revealed.jpg]

[Photo]

When asked about Victoria Academy's future, the answer lies with the PR department.

Likes: 1300 Dislikes: 34

—————————–

"What's the meaning of this?"

There was only one photo. They only posted the picture taken at the student council.

"Why did the shoot take so long if they were going to post only the first one anyway…?!"

Alice trembled with anger but held it in and glanced at the comments.

[Wait, are these new faces of this year's freshmen for real?]

[Poor new freshmen, having to compete with them, lol.]

[Haha, seriously, who'd wanna date squids when they're at the academy with these two?]

[Hey, bastard. I'm a freshman. Cut it out.]

[To be honest, I'm a freshman too, lololol.]

[Alice is so pretty. She's prettier than me, so she's gotta be my big sis.]

[Big sis Alice, pick me. Please pick me.]

[These trash can dwellers…]

Despite all the compliments flooding in, Alice felt unfazed. She had heard it all her life.

[New photos released! They say each one's gonna be legendary. They're releasing them one pic at a time.]

[Wow, good-looking guys sure still look good-looking even when reading books.]

"Sigh… I'm relieved that the photos we worked so hard on didn't go to waste."

[But Alice is really beautiful too, and Hoyeon is unbelievably handsome. If Alice is top-tier among celebrities, then evaluating Hoyeon's face becomes difficult. It feels impolite just saying this.]

"Ugh, is this person serious?"

'He may be good-looking, but not to that extent!'

Seeing comments that not only praised Hoyeon's looks but almost worshipped him, Alice felt annoyed for no apparent reason.

"Alice, if you didn't know the way, you should have said something."

"…I guess that's true. But people can't always be perfect."

"Oh, I actually find your imperfections kinda amusing. Who would've thought we'd end up wandering around the outer walls of the academy while trying to reach the central fountain, haha…"

"…."

"Oops."

The conversation with Hoyeon replayed in her mind. It had been a long time since Alice felt this strange irritation.

When she was little and her older sister took away her toys, or her closest friend from kindergarten became closer to her sister, she got annoyed, but it wasn't like this.

Alice had never experienced being mocked.

If she were to count the times she faced "ridicule" since she was young, there were many already…

"That slut. Ignoring everyone just because she's a bit talented."

"She's probably treating everyone like lapdogs."

"Her father is a thief from the start, so what's so different about his daughter?"

She had only received "criticism" out of jealousy and envy. That's why she felt the strange irritation towards Hoyeon's "mockery."

She learned how to let go of "unfounded criticism" when she was young.

Those without talent didn't make her angry when they insulted or criticized her. Instead, she felt sympathy for them. But Hoyeon, he lacked nothing compared to Alice. So, she couldn't sympathize with his "mockery." Instead, she felt this strange irritation.

Ultimately, Alice's evaluation of Hoyeon was: a weirdo.

'It's strangely insulting, but he's not entirely wrong.'

As their conversation continued, the irritation grew, but she didn't want to end the conversation.

Alice wouldn't deny that his looks played a role. But the emotions she was experiencing for the first time in her life, they sincerely shaped Alice.

"You, there's a limit to putting up with you acting all cocky just because you've become a bit handsome."

'Ugh… Why did I say that?!'

Honest words unintentionally slipped out. Just thinking about it made her face flush. She didn't understand why she said that and ran away as if to escape the situation.

"So annoying…"

Alice still couldn't comprehend why she said such an embarrassing thing.

***

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[Hell's Rascals Summoning Contract]

Are you the one who called forth the hell's rascals?

Choose one of the four rascals:

1. Lucifer, the demon butcher shop owner gone insane.

2. Incubus, the hell academy's bombshell.

3. Centaurus, the F-rank mercenary for 20 years. Undefeated by anyone and a veteran in countless battles.

4. Succubus, the 50-year-old virgin spinster.

—————————

"What in the world is this crap?!"

When I checked the description of the contract, I had a hunch it would allow me to summon some sort of an unhinged misfit. But it turned out to be even worse than I imagined.

Number 1 is an automatic no.

Who in their right mind would want Lucifer, the butcher shop nutjob?! If I summon him, I'll probably end up as the prime cut in his shop.

Next, I don't even want to talk about the second one.

An incubus? The hell's academy bombshell? Even if there's a slim chance he might be useful for my strategy, he's an incubus. He'd probably cuck me while pretending to help. Fuck that.

Number 3 is Centaurus, the F-rank mercenary for 20 years. Undefeated by anyone and a veteran in countless battles.

"Such a long-winded way to say they're a loser."

Crossed them off the list.

That left only the last option… She seemed to be the least appalling among the bunch, but…

Succubus.

A word that stirs a man's desire. But wait, a 50-year-old virgin spinster? What if it's not a succubus but a middle-aged woman?

"There's not much else to choose from. Might as well make a quick decision."

I hovered my finger over option 4 on the system window, Succubus, the 50-year-old virgin spinster.

Poof!

The system window disappeared, and in its place, an intricate magic circle started appearing along with mist.

"Oh…"

I might not fully understand the high-level magic circle, but thanks to Mana Sensitivity, I had a rough idea.

"The circle drawn from here to there is the summoning, and the left side is the coordinates. The rest, I have no clue."

My knowledge was still too low for complete comprehension.

"Uh, uh, ah…."

As the mist gradually dissipated, a woman's moan reached my ears. Just from the voice, she sounded like a pretty woman, but it's too early to let my guard down.

As the mist cleared completely, a woman dressed in some kind of tracksuit-like clothes was sitting on the floor.

"Um, are you… okay?"

Her black hair was messy, but her skin was flawless, not a single blemish. Her waist was slender, and her hips had a pleasing curve.

Her breasts seemed to be about an F-cup.

With her good looks, she didn't strike me as a woman in her 50s. If elves age 250 years, then in human terms, she'd be about 25. Is that how it works?

"Excuse me? Are you okay?"

Her appearance definitely looks like she's in her 20s. It said she's 50, so I tried to be polite.

"Ah, screw this! Where the hell am I? I have a raid to run, damn it! This is so annoying!"

It appears something has gone horribly wrong.

***

"Ah, fuck! These useless bastards!"

Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!

I pounded the keyboard at lightning speed.

[Hey, what's the deal with you losers? Can't you even keep up?]

[You ditched us and ran away!]

[Are you braindead? I was drawing aggro, but they're not taking the bait.]

[I'm blocking you.]

[Hey, you fuckers!]

—-Defeat—-

"Ugh, I can't take this anymore!"

'These clowns are supposed to lead the future of Hell? Hell's future looks grim with them!'

'I don't even feel like playing the game now. I'm hungry too.'

Glug, glug.

"Phew."

I downed the drink next to the monitor and left my room. Coincidentally, my mom was in the living room. She looked like she had returned from some exhausting outing.

With those wrinkles getting deeper, she's almost ready to leave this world and join the Great Demon King.

"Mom~ If you're not busy, can you whip up something yummy? I'm starving…"

"Liliana! You ruined another matchmaking meeting!"

"Ah, come on, I got dizzy from playing the game for too long."

"I worked overtime and came home, and you've been holed up in your room all day doing what?!"

"Mom, didn't you say you were going to buy some meat today? Why did you come back empty-handed?"

Bam!

"Forget the meat! That matchmaking was such a golden opportunity, you know!"

'Oh, what a surprise. Why did she have to slam the desk? Oh, here comes the nagging parade once again.'

Ignoring the sounds coming from behind me, I returned to my room.

'I'm hungry, but I'd rather endure the nagging and then play some games.'

Life is tough. Really tough.

As I closed the door, the sounds got a bit quieter. I logged back into the game.

'My party members are pissing me off, so there's no way I'm teaming up with them.'

"I guess I'll go for a raid or something."

Bam!

However, just when I was about to enter the raid, my mom barged into my room.

"You… You're unbelievable!"

Her reaction was fiercer than usual. She followed me all the way into my room.

'What's gotten into her now?'

"Listen to your mother! Why did you do that? That was your last chance! You're already 50! What's a 50-year-old succubus doing unmarried in Hell?!"

"Ah, leave me alone! Why would I marry some broke and ugly orc? I'm only 50, for hell's sake!"

"You idiot! You should've gotten married earlier! Instead, you wasted 15 years fooling around and playing games since adulthood, and now you're talking like this?"

"Mom, we live up to a thousand years, and I still have 950 years left. Anyway, I wanna play game, so leave me alone."

"Even though we're succubi—"

"Okay, okay, hold on. I'll have to get some potions and play~"

Having conveyed my intention to play the game, I turned my eyes back to the monitor.

'Those damn merchants are hoarding potions, making them insanely expensive. I should report them all!'

"Ah, I'm seriously going crazy! Liliana, how old are you… What am I supposed to do with you?!"

"Yes, yes, I'm on my way."

The guild is waiting for me. I need to join…

Click.

[No internet connection. Please check your connection…]

Just before entering the raid, the internet suddenly went out.

"Huh? What's going on?"

"If it's gonna be like this, you better get out and socialize with people."

My mom was holding the internet cable in her hand.

'No, why… I'm about to join the raid!'

"Mom, hold on. I'll really be done in an hour and we'll talk. I'm playing with people online too."

"How long are you gonna keep doing this? It's really hard for me, too…"

"No, I get it Mom! I promise I'll listen to you from now on. Just connect it back for now…"

"Liliana, please… Stop this now. Don't you care about me… I'm your mother…"

"Mom, I'm socializing right now by playing the game. There are people in the game too!"

"Sob, sob…"

'Seriously…'

My mom was sobbing while holding onto the internet cable.

'If she gets water on the cable, then…'

Bang!

'What in the world?'

Strange characters appeared in front of me.

[Congratulations. You have been selected as one of the four Hell's Rascals.]

[Hell Welfare Team provides automatic employment service.]

'Hell's Rascal? What the heck is that? I can sense that it's not something good.'

[Congratulations! The owner of the Hell's Rascals Summoning Contract is requesting a contract with you. We will provide automatic employment service.]

'Huh? What's an automatic employment service?'

Swoosh!

"Liliana! Where did you run off to again?!"

Liliana, webtoon version.