My Kin Is Incredibly Capable

"...Hoju-nim, have you truly been living like this all this time...?"

"Uh, well..."

Our conversation had just about wound down when a ferocious rumble tore through my stomach. Declaring that she would prepare a meal at once, Seolhwa stood staring at my desk.

Resting upon that desk was a cup of instant ramen, so long past its prime that the noodles had bloated into a soggy, congealed mass, alongside a processed fish sausage that I had dropped on the floor after a single bite.

The contents of my refrigerator and shelves told a remarkably similar tale.

Every corner was crammed with prepackaged instant foods and lunchboxes brought home from the convenience store. The freezer held only ice cream, while the cupboards were stocked with cheap snacks.

Seolhwa opened cabinets, peeked into drawers, and sniffled as if she were on the verge of bursting into tears. Then, with absolute solemnity, she dropped to her knees.

"The disloyalty of failing to realize sooner how terribly Hoju-nim was suffering... I will dedicate my entire existence to atoning for it with body and soul!"

Hold on, please don't phrase it like that! Someone's going to get the completely wrong idea...!

"For now, as you must be famished, please take a light refreshment before accompanying me outside."

"Huh? Where are we going?"

"To the department store."

"Ah."

The moment the word left her lips, Seolhwa rolled up the sleeves of her tailored suit.

"I shall borrow your kitchen for a moment."

Right then, inside my cramped, suffocating studio apartment, an utterly unbelievable spectacle unfolded.

A few flashes of light flickered across Seolhwa's fingertips. The bloated noodles from the cup ramen were hoisted through the air and deposited neatly onto a frying pan. Next, the little sausages and stir-fried kimchi from a convenience store lunchbox were shredded into fine, precise bits midair, raining down over the noodles.

Wait, what did she just mince them with? I didn't even own a kitchen knife or a cutting board in this place. Leaning closer, I noticed she was slicing through ingredients using gossamer-thin threads—or were they wires?

She hadn't even turned on the gas burner. A delicate, ethereal blue flame surged from her fingertips, wrapping around the frying pan and infusing the ingredients with a heavenly, smoky aroma.

Ssssszzzzz—

A mere three minutes passed.

"Whoa..."

What she set down before me in the blink of an eye could no longer be recognized as a haphazard mishmash of cheap, low-grade convenience store junk.

"Forgive me, Hoju-nim. The poverty of ingredients prevented me from demonstrating my true culinary ability. Please partake of this meager snack for now; we shall dine properly at a fine restaurant for lunch."

"N-No, this is already magnificent..."

Arranged atop the plate on my modest desk was a glistening risotto worthy of a high-end gourmet restaurant, radiating the exquisite fragrance of truffles—a scent I had never actually smelled in my entire life.

Entranced, I picked up my spoon and shoved a generous mouthful past my lips.

Oh... Oh, wow. This flavor...!

"Sublime!"

An overwhelming explosion of rich, savory umami enveloped my tongue. Casting aside whatever scraps of dignity I had left, I buried my nose in the dish and began vacuuming it down.

"Nom, nom, nom!"

"Please, eat slowly, Hoju-nim."

Watching me devour the food with unbridled joy, Seolhwa turned away and began conducting a thorough inspection of my living conditions. She browsed through my wardrobe, examined the drawers, checked the shoe rack, and jotted down notes on her smartphone.

Meanwhile, my cheeks bulged like a hamster's as I shoved down another massive spoonful of risotto and pulled up my status window.

Oh! My rank actually went up!

From an F-Class bottom-feeder, I had advanced to E-Class!

I had heard rumors that hunters occasionally experienced rank increases on rare occasions, but to think it would happen to me!

My race had transformed into a Two-Tailed Fox, and an entire section dedicated to my kin had appeared. Yet above all else, the most exhilarating part was...

"A new skill!"

"...Pardon? Hoju-nim?"

"Ah, it's nothing! Nothing at all!"

Whoops... In the middle of eating, I had yelled aloud at empty air. Since Seolhwa wasn't an Awakened, she apparently couldn't see my status window.

When I glanced behind me, Seolhwa had taken one of my ragged old shirts and was busily sewing it.

...Where on earth did you get a needle and thread? Ah, wait, that's what she used for cooking earlier. That thread really does everything, doesn't it?

"Seolhwa... what are you doing?"

"Ah, I am tailoring Hoju-nim's former garments. They no longer fit your current physique, so I intend to dispose of them all. However, as you require an ensemble for our outing today, I have resized one top and one bottom for your immediate use."

"Whoa... you can do tailoring too?"

"Naturally. Overseeing my lord's private quarters and daily living is my bounden duty. I shall attend to your every need by your side for the rest of my days, so you need not worry about a thing."

"Then... are we going to live together now?"

"Indeed. Would it not be prudent to arrange a moving date in the near future and relocate your residence?"

"Ah, well... my lease still has time left, so that's a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bit..."

I had paid a full lump-sum annual rent in advance, a rental arrangement that had grown uncommon these days, and I desperately wanted to stick it out for the remaining three months. If I broke the lease early, I wouldn't get a single penny back.

"Though every fiber of my being yearns to remove you instantly from a dwelling so unworthy of your stature... I shall abide by your wishes, Hoju-nim."

"Thank you, Seolhwa."

"Think nothing of it."

I returned to shoveling food into my mouth. Do I finally have a family of my own now? Hehe.

And more importantly... Foxfire!

It had to be the very same flame Seolhwa used to cook just moments ago.

For someone who possessed only a single utility skill, this was a precious, long-awaited offensive ability.

Goblins didn't scare me anymore. Resisting my Charm? Let's see you resist fire, then.

If Charm worked, great—it cost less. And if it didn't?

'The second they flinch, I'll just burn them to cinders!'

"Heheheh..."

A silly grin crept across my face as I happily wiped the plate clean.

A short while later.

"...That concludes today's itinerary."

"Uh, so in other words..."

"Yes. To put it simply, after purchasing suitable attire at the department store, we shall visit the community center to rectify Hoju-nim's identity and family registry. Following that, we shall stop by the Hunter Association to obtain your Hunter Registration Card."

"Guh."

The schedule was packed to the brim. But beyond that...

Was that even possible in the first place? Granted, I had become an entirely new person—no, an entirely new yokai. But legally speaking, my family registry still listed me as twenty-one-year-old human male Kim Han-seol. She intended to overhaul that without a hitch? Don't tell me...

"Indeed. We need only cast Charm upon the district office clerk and issue the appropriate instructions."

...That is shockingly practical. I found myself nodding along before I could stop myself. But wait. Hold on a second.

Brainwashing a civil servant to forge official government documents? Isn't that a massive felony that would land us on the front page of every newspaper in the country?

Why did I just consider that completely natural and rational? Am I genuinely assimilating into a yokai mindset...? No! My upstanding, law-abiding commoner conscience...!

While internal panic briefly rattled my brain, harsh reality struck me like a cold splash of water.

Opening a bank account, signing a housing lease, getting a smartphone, insurance, hospital visits, utility bills, hunter activities...

None of those were possible without a verifiable, legitimate identity.

'I don't have existing legal paperwork or a guardian, so there's no normal way for me to fabricate a clean identity anyway. And frankly, it's not like I'm hurting anyone, right? I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just creating my own ID, so who cares?'

Having emptied my moral dilemma straight into the recycling bin within five seconds flat, I flashed a brilliant, innocent smile at Seolhwa.

"All right! Let's do it!"

Seeing how quickly I agreed, Seolhwa offered a proud, warm nod. But before that...

"Um, but before that, there's a place I want to visit first."

"Where might that be?"

"A Gate!"

I had some payback to deliver first.

The clothes Seolhwa altered fit my body with astonishing precision. She hadn't even measured me, merely eyeing my figure for a brief moment, yet how could the sizing be so flawless?

There was a slight stiffness and scratchiness to the fabric, but that was a trivial grievance. In my eyes, they looked so good you could pass them off as off-the-rack brand clothing from a retail boutique.

...Just how extraordinarily capable is this woman?

"Is there any discomfort, Hoju-nim?"

"Nope. It feels fine."

"What a relief. Even so, these are mere makeshift garments. They are hardly fitting for your noble stature. For now, we shall adorn you with the most expensive items the department store has to offer, and in the days to come, I shall scour the entire globe to assemble the finest tailors alive."

Her sudden escalation caught me entirely off guard. The sheer weight of her devotion was overwhelming; I couldn't even fathom how lavishly she wanted to treat me.

"N-No, really! Regular clothes from a store are more than enough...!"

Wait... was I actually a decadent, luxury-obsessed tyrant in my past life instead of a heroic savior?

"...A pity. Hoju-nim was ever devoid of material greed, even in the distant past."

Phew. Guess that wasn't it. Seolhwa was just an extreme overachiever.

At any rate, my current outfit consisted of a thick white long-sleeved t-shirt paired with black fleece-lined sweatpants.

A custom-fitted ensemble made just for me. To be honest, if Seolhwa could keep altering my old clothes like this, I didn't even see the point in buying new ones. Buying clothes cost money, after all.

Ah! Money! I don't have any money!!

"U-Um, Seolhwa... I actually don't have any money..."

At that, Seolhwa replied in an utterly matter-of-fact tone.

"Fret not, Hoju-nim. I have accumulated ample funds through my endeavors in the human world. As everything I possess belongs to Hoju-nim, once your identity is sorted and your accounts are opened, I shall deposit every last cent into your bank account."

Wait, what? Just like that?!

"N-No! I'm terrible with money management... I think it's much better if you handle it, Seolhwa."

Without the slightest hesitation, Seolhwa complied with my request.

"Understood. From this day forward, I shall personally oversee the treasury."

"O-Okay..."

I walked over toward the entryway to put on my footwear, only to pause.

"Huh? Seolhwa, did you modify ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my shoes too?"

"Yes, Hoju-nim. Reconstructing sneakers proved unfeasible on short notice, so I adjusted a pair of rubber slides to roughly match your foot size. If they prove uncomfortable, shall I carry you in my arms until we purchase new footwear?"

"N-No, it's fine! They fit perfectly."

Her shoulders slumped in visible disappointment as she pushed the front door open.

Just as I took my first step forward, my reflection caught in the small, dusty mirror hanging beside the shoe rack.

"Ah, wait! Seolhwa!"

"Yes, Hoju-nim? Have you left something behind?"

"Not that... this!"

I jabbed a finger toward the top of my head, pointing at the silver fox ears poking proudly through my hair.

"I-If I walk outside like this, people are going to stare and freak out! Come to think of it, how come your ears aren't showing, Seolhwa?"

I could hide my tails, but the ears stubbornly refused to vanish.

At my frantic outburst, Seolhwa gently reached out and stroked my hair and ears. Her touch was tender and soothing, leaving me feeling strangely comforted.

"...It is quite all right, Hoju-nim. They are so remarkably dainty and ador—ahem. To human eyes, it will merely appear as a high-quality fox cosplay headband. It is entirely natural for young maidens to wear such embellishments."

...Is that true? I don't think I've ever seen anyone walking around like that...

"S-Still, though..."

"Furthermore, in order to operate within human society, I maintain a Perception Alteration Illusion upon myself. To anyone other than you, I appear to possess ordinary human ears rather than those of a fox."

"Oh! Then please cast that on me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too!"

"Forgive me. My spiritual standing is far beneath that of Hoju-nim; it is impossible for my illusions to affect your person."

"Huh? Really?"

Her standing was beneath mine? Seolhwa's? But her yokai power earlier was monstrous! Even that kind of strength was considered low compared to me?

"Yes. Weakened though you may be at present, Hoju-nim remains the Great Yokai Fox. You possess an immense inherent resistance to crude illusions and mental interference."

"I see... Well, okay."

Resigned to my fate, I hung my head low and stepped out of the apartment building.

Having my ears exposed to the open air made me intensely self-conscious. It was mortifying. I had thought working convenience store shifts had hardened my skin into solid steel, but this was on another level of embarrassment.

Silver hair, plus actual fox ears. Ugh... I feel like I'm drawing the aggro of the entire universe.

Descending the narrow stairwell and stepping out of the alley, I stopped dead in my tracks. Parked in our grubby backstreet was a sleek black sedan radiating absurd levels of luxury, entirely out of place in this neighborhood. Don't tell me...

Beep-boop—

"Would you care to take the front seat, Hoju-nim?"

It was Seolhwa's car. Of course it was.

"Y-Yes!"

Whoa, I've never ridden in a car this expensive in my life! Look at how plush the leather seats are...!

As I scrambled into the passenger seat, Seolhwa leaned over my lap to fasten my seatbelt. A faint, elegant floral fragrance brushed past my nose, gentle and pleasant.

Sliding into the driver's seat, Seolhwa started the engine and smoothly depressed the accelerator, steering us toward the Gate where I had tasted bitter humiliation yesterday.

"Come to think of it, Seolhwa, you mentioned you aren't an Awakened, right?"

"Yes, Hoju-nim. None of our kin have undergone an Awakening. For that reason, we were unable to set foot inside these places known as Gates."

"Then what have you been doing all this time? You mentioned having money saved up from the human world..."

At my hesitant question, Seolhwa offered a serene smile.

"I have been serving as the Chief of the Secretariat at Osung Group, acting as Chairman Lee Kwon-hee's direct personal secretary. Have you perhaps heard of it?"

"Of course I have!"

Osung Group!

The undisputed Number One conglomerate in South Korea!

A legendary megacorporation renowned across the globe. Top-tier welfare, staggering salaries, and golden work-life balance—the holy trinity of employment!

No wonder she was dressed in a suit that reeked of astronomical wealth and drove a luxury sedan...

"Until yesterday, I attended to those duties personally. However, starting today, my sole purpose is to serve Hoju-nim."

"D-Does that mean you quit your job?"

"Certainly not. Long ago, I acquired a humanoid golem from a golemancer. I placed an illusion upon it and infused it with my yokai power. In the eyes of others, it appears identical to me. Considering the volume of yokai power I charged into it... it should comfortably handle my corporate duties for roughly sixty years."

"Guh."

Holy crap.

The ultimate dream of every unemployed person on the planet: creating a clone to work your job while your real body lounges around in luxury.

Seolhwa had casually brought that pure fantasy into reality without breaking a sweat.

Damn it! Just how competent are you, Seolhwa?!