An Irregular Stigmata (1)

I had emphasized it multiple times.

That the fact I was clearing gates in their place must remain an absolute secret, and only a very small number of Cheonghwa Guild members should know about it.

So it was only natural that Hyeon-seo, the next-generation strongest of Cheonghwa, would come personally.

...But that outfit was anything but natural.

What the hell is that?

A face radiating noble elegance.

Light makeup.

And finally, the chest proudly asserting itself through her clothes.

If the sword-obsessed guy I met on the fourth floor turned into a woman, she'd look exactly like this.

Don't tell me it's Hyeon-seo's little sister?

Had Hyeon-seo sent her sister as a substitute?

I even had that reasonable suspicion, but—

"......"

Yep. It really was her.

The same person who had been wolfing down kimchi stew in a place that reeked of shit. The one whose chest had zero fat on it.

That guy was a man... wait, was he even a man?

I might be a bit slow on the uptake, but I'm not so blind that I can't tell men and women apart.

Why had she suddenly shown up in a woman's body?

Did she get breast implants in the meantime?

She had been vague about anything military-related. Don't tell me she went to Thailand and came back like this?

...No way?

While all sorts of wild thoughts raced through my head, one possibility suddenly flashed across my mind.

I immediately scanned Hyeon-seo with Dragon Eyes.

"......"

So it really was because of Baekri-hyang.

Possessing the body must have made her start resembling its original owner.

If I had used it myself, that would've been a disaster... No, if that were the case, Baekri-hyang wouldn't have stayed quiet about it.

Only one question remained.

Why hadn't Hyeon-seo and Baekri-hyang told me about this?

Yesterday, I would have accepted it with the simple five-letter answer: "because she's a hostage."

But after running into Hyeon-seo again, I was thinking a little differently.

Was I mistaken?

...Honestly, seeing her in the safe zone, it would've been impossible to tell she was a woman.

She looked like the sword-obsessed guy, had a flat chest, and reeked of shit instead of perfume.

But looking at her now, she was like a fairy.

She was still androgynous, sure.

But now she looked like an androgynous woman.

To confirm...

Well, was there any point in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠overthinking it?

I could just ask her directly.

-Abruptly.

"It's been a while, Lady Hyeon-seo."

I spoke in a nasal voice.

The answer came only after I slightly reduced the mana output from the Concealment Necklace.

"Lady Hyeon-seo~."

"Huh? N-no way... Hup!"

Finally registering my words, Hyeon-seo clapped a hand over her mouth in shock.

Then the person—who might indeed be a she—quickly scanned her surroundings.

She seemed to be checking if anyone was watching.

-Whispering.

"Please follow me. I'll guide you."

Hyeon-seo rose from the bench and began walking.

Even while speaking to me, she held her phone to her ear to avoid suspicion, pretending to be on a call.

Thanks to that, I could speak comfortably too.

"This might be rude to ask right after meeting, but... you were a woman?"

"...Yes."

"Ah."

I had been half in doubt until the very end.

So it really had been my misunderstanding.

"My eyes must've been playing tricks on me. I'm sorry. I was pretty exhausted from clearing that gate."

I offered a light apology first.

Being called "fellow man" by an actual man must have been absurd, but that was all it was.

I hadn't caused any real harm, so I figured she'd forgive me quickly.

And indeed, Hyeon-seo didn't blame me.

"No, it's... well... the situation really didn't make me look like a woman...."

"......"

She seemed incredibly bothered by it, though.

Even as a man, I would've found it embarrassing. For a woman, it must have been ten times worse.

I should never bring this up again.

"How's Baekri-hyang's Soul? It looks like you're assimilating with her body. If you dislike it, I can try to find a solution."

I changed the subject immediately.

Since it was a hidden piece I had sold, I could at least provide after-service. My conscience had pricked me enough to offer that much.

"It's fine... It's still better than a body that absolutely refuses to look female...."

"Ah."

Why do you keep stepping on every landmine I try to avoid?

Please stop.

"......"

"......"

An awkward silence settled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠between us.

Hyeon-seo walked with her head bowed low.

I kept my mouth shut and simply followed.

Except for the occasional times she asked if I was still behind her, the silence continued.

That silence finally broke once we reached the gate.

"You've arrived, young lady."

"...Oh."

Hwang Hee-chan is here too?

Hwang Hee-chan had been sitting on the barricade surrounding the gate.

His eyes turned toward Hyeon-seo.

He stubbed out the cigarette he was smoking in a portable ashtray.

On the face of South Korea's top Awakener, unmistakable bewilderment was visible.

"I didn't expect you to arrive so... without any presence whatsoever."

"......"

It was because of me, obviously.

Hyeon-seo was supposed to bring me along, but he wouldn't have felt my presence at all.

Sorry about that.

I didn't release my transparency.

In fact, I kept my mouth completely shut.

Since we'd met face-to-face during the artifact sale, I had no intention of showing him either my face or my voice.

-Rustle.

Good thing I came prepared.

I pulled a sticky note from my inventory.

One that read 'The goods?' in crooked handwriting because I'd written it with my left hand.

Then I flicked it toward Hwang Hee-chan.

-Smack.

"...Hm?"

Nice catch.

As expected of Korea's number one Awakener.

Even if Hyeon-seo had surpassed him and even she was considered "below Cheol-gang-min," it was still impressive.

Communication was roughly established.

"Please head inside first. The relay device has been installed, so you shouldn't experience any discomfort even if you stay for several days."

Hwang Hee-chan picked up the large ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠suitcase from the ground and headed for the gate portal.

"The item is inside. Once we're in, I'll show you—"

Large, huh. Perfect.

While Hyeon-seo muttered quietly, I followed behind, whistling inwardly.

Up to this point, it looked like a scene straight out of a noir film.

But the reality?

It revealed itself the moment we crossed the gate.

-Whoosh!

"Lord Cheol-gang-min! It is an honor to meet you!"

Bow.

The instant we moved through the portal with Hyeon-seo, Hee-chan bent at the waist toward me.

South Korea's number one Awakener and living legend bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.

The name Cheol-gang-min carried enough weight to bend even that proud back.

And then—

Clack!

Hee-chan knelt on one knee and opened the suitcase he'd been carrying.

"I have prepared all ninety-two limited platinum editions of the TiniPing cards you requested."

"......"

Still... was it really appropriate to use Hwang Hee-chan as an errand boy for children's animation cards?

I had asked for utmost secrecy, so it made sense that a high-ranking guild executive like him would come personally, but still.

Watching a battle-hardened veteran take this so seriously made me feel, as a citizen of the Land of Courtesy, that this was somehow wrong.

Of course, I'm still taking them.

I quickly approached using footwork and reached into the suitcase.

I grabbed the card binder and slipped it into my inventory.

-Swipe.

I handed over an additional sticky note.

Serin liked Awakeners, so I figured I'd get his handwritten signature while I was at it.

But when Hee-chan heard that, his reaction was—

"An... autograph, my lord? From someone as insignificant as me... to Lord Cheol-gang-min?"

"......"

I get it. I really do.

Cheol-gang-min was the unofficial world's strongest.

It would be absurd for someone like that to ask for an autograph.

-Swipe.

Upon seeing the second note, Hee-chan's straight back bent like a reed.

"I don't have any proper autograph paper with me at the moment. I will prepare some for next time."

"Is there ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anything else you require? If it's something I can obtain, I will acquire it no matter what."

Hyeon-seo chimed in as well.

The legend of Korea's strongest guild and his successor were practically desperate to offer me gifts.

Seeing them like this, I thought, Ah, so this is what power feels like.

But honestly?

Not at all.

Ugh, it was just burdensome.

Having someone I'd only seen in textbooks and a third-generation chaebol acting this way made me feel both honored and like this was somehow wrong.

If my identity gets revealed, I'll have to deal with this kind of treatment every single day?

As expected, the fact that Cheol-gang-min was actually Ryu Hwimin must never be discovered.

I made that resolution firmly in my heart.

After handing over the final sticky note, I began walking.

I felt bad for keeping them too long, so I planned to clear the gate quickly and head back.

Should be done within ten minutes....

* * *

But a short while later.

"Oh God. Since this young girl has also removed the cumbersome breast covering, I shall now attend to you with my full power."

"......"

Baekri-hyang, what the hell are you doing?

She had suddenly possessed the body, thrown a tantrum about attending to me so I should take her along,

and now she was stripping off a perfectly innocent person's underwear.

"I can handle the trash myself... Hm? What do you mean, what am I doing?"

Of course, the body's original owner—Hyeon-seo—seemed to be rampaging in protest,

but Baekri-hyang simply brushed it off.

"How foolish. This is a divine opportunity you could not obtain even with billions of gold. What does a mere piece of cloth over the chest matter?"

I silently turned my head away.

If she'd just taken it off, I could tell her to put it back on. But cutting the straps because it was uncomfortable? That's on another level....

I'd have to give her a proper lecture later.

Unless it was my direct order, she wasn't to do anything Hyeon-seo disliked.

"...Sigh."

As expected, this is the only way.

I completely cut off the mana I had been supplying to the sword.

Then, with a soft swish—

the Moonlight Sword's transparency dissipated, revealing its sharp blade.

"To see My Lord's sword once more... What an honor...."

Baekri-hyang swallowed hard at the sight, but...

sorry to her, I had no intention of granting her wish today.

Whoosh—!!!

The pattern on my forearm blazed with brilliant light.