Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: The Secret Hobby of the Rich
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Once again, I felt profound gratitude for Reflecting Myriad Stars' grace in creating a nun's habit with just a single snap.
Finding comfortable clothes that actually fit my body had been way harder than I'd imagined.
I had no idea how many times I'd changed outfits in that dressing room.
The one silver lining was that all the effort had paid off.
Every single piece the staff recommended was incredibly comfortable to wear.
Just as the saleswoman had said.
For someone like me with a large chest, clothes that hug the bust line snugly are actually far more comfortable—and they make the fit look better too.
For example, if I put on a loose boxy T-shirt.
Those two fat lumps asserting their presence make my abdomen float awkwardly in midair.
...Ugh, it's indescribably uncomfortable.
If I had to sum up the feeling of the breeze whistling through that gaping space in one phrase.
It feels like wearing a skirt over my top.
And if I try tucking the top into my bottoms to fix it, that's uncomfortable in its own way.
Forcing the top into my pants just presses on my chest and makes it worse.
In that sense.
I bought every single outfit the saleswoman recommended.
When else am I going to go shopping if not today?
It'll be at least a year or two before I feel like doing it again.
The outfit I was wearing now was a simple one-piece dress in a subdued style.
I'd had preconceptions about dresses.
To borrow Yoo Euisul's words.
They seemed too girly for my taste, triggering a visceral aversion.
But surprisingly, it was really comfortable.
No need to mix and match tops and bottoms—just throw on the dress and you're good to go out.
And as the staff had said, with the bust line properly supported, there was no floating fabric or breeze sneaking in.
The only downside? No pockets...
I could finally understand why women carry bags everywhere.
Among the clothes I bought, there were a few that made me think, "Can I really pull this off?"
Whatever.
Buy now, try later.
The sales staff's expression—though it might've just been my imagination—looked blissfully happy.
Like they'd landed a prime sucker.
After finishing checkout and leaving the store, Yoo Euisul nodded approvingly at my dress.
"Now you look presentable. Dress like that from now on. No one will recognize you unless they get a really good look."
But would changing one outfit really make people not recognize me?
Anyone who watches my streams religiously would spot my face and yell, "Hey, it's Lee Jia!"
...All I can do is pray I don't run into any devotees out here.
Alright.
Shopping's done.
What's next on the agenda?
I watched from the passenger seat as Yoo Euisul punched in a destination on the navigator.
Our next stop was...
"...A mountain?"
"Yeah, a mountain."
"We're... climbing a mountain...?"
"Nice weather for it."
What is this, some middle-aged department head dragging a subordinate out on a day off because the weather's good?
This is straight-up absurd.
"Can't we just go home?"
"..."
"I have a stream to do soon. Honestly, skipping today's would be fine, but... a mountain? Really?"
Yoo Euisul glanced at me after my offhand comment.
Then she replied in her usual icy tone.
"Fine, go home then. I'll drop you off."
"Huh."
"What."
Someone who doesn't know Yoo Euisul well might think, "She's being rude as always."
But I'd gotten close enough to pick up on the subtle shift in her emotions right away.
This woman.
She got sulky because I said I wanted to go home.
She wasn't pouting outright with her actions or words.
But that curt reply felt unusually snappish, so yeah, definitely sulky.
"I was kidding. Let's go to the mountain."
"Not forcing you. We're going to your place."
"N-no, I really want to go."
"Heading to your house."
"R-Reflecting Myriad Stars has issued a divine revelation! If we don't head to the mountain right now, we'll be purged!"
"...Aren't you gonna get divine retribution for invoking Their name like that?"
"It really came down! I swear on Reflecting Myriad Stars' name, for real... Ah."
Ah.
Looks like I slipped up after ages.
She might've overlooked the first invocation.
But not the second.
Thankfully, Reflecting Myriad Stars didn't smite me for blasphemy right then.
"I'll step out for a sec."
I opened the passenger door and got out.
Glancing around.
Phew.
Good, no one's here.
Ready.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
"Guh, ack, urk...!"
Whoosh.
Asphalt grit stuck all over my forehead.
...Sorry, public works folks.
Yoo Euisul stared at me like I was a lunatic.
I cleared my throat awkwardly, wiped my forehead with a wet wipe, and said,
"Let's go to the mountain."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the end, we really did climb the mountain.
World's first, universe's first: someone scaling a peak in a one-piece dress.
Luckily, it was a well-maintained trail, so the dress didn't get too dirty.
Just toss it in the wash at home and it'd be good as new.
It wasn't a high peak like Gwanak or Bukhansan either—just about twenty minutes to the summit, apparently.
Yeah.
But there was a tiny problem.
"There's a fence here."
"Climb over."
"Climb it? Th-this is illegal! Private property trespassing!"
"Private property, yes. Trespassing, no."
"...Pardon?"
Ignoring me, Yoo Euisul hopped lightly over the fence.
Didn't even grab it with her hands.
She leaped high into the air like she was flying and cleared the two-meter fence effortlessly.
...Awakeners' physical abilities really are on another level from normals.
But come on, you can't just go over and leave me behind.
"How am I supposed to get over this?!"
"You're an Awakener too."
"Technically, I'm a Fervent Devotee, not an Awakener."
"Ugh, shut up already! Just climb. I'll catch you."
There were footholds.
So I grunted and started climbing the fence.
"Jiaaaaaah!"
I guess I didn't have the knack—lost my balance right as I went over and tumbled forward.
Thankfully, no skull-shattering faceplant into the dirt.
Yoo Euisul snatched me out of the air.
Even if I'd hit the ground face-first, I wouldn't have gotten hurt.
But my new clothes would've gotten filthy.
"Ooh."
Suddenly, I was in her arms like a five-year-old toddler cradled by Mom.
Though for a kid, my body's suspiciously well-developed, but anyway.
This is pretty comfy...
Since we're already like this, I wish she'd carry me all the way to the top.
...That fantasy ended in one second flat.
She dumped me unceremoniously on the ground.
Anyway, for such a small mountain.
"This is Unnie's private property?"
"Yeah."
Private property but not trespassing means it's hers, right?
"Why didn't you say so from the start... But why no proper entrance?"
"Just hop over. Why bother making an entrance?"
"It's inconvenient for people you bring along."
"First time bringing anyone."
"...Oh."
Shouldn't have brought it up.
I'm one thing, but Yoo Euisul's something else.
She keeps everyone at arm's length, so why is she so good to me?
I don't know the details.
But I didn't dislike her either, so all's well that ends well.
She probably has her own complicated reasons.
To lighten the slightly awkward mood, I raised my voice unnecessarily and pointed somewhere.
"Hey, what's that place? Looks super fancy. Your personal training ground? Napping spot?"
"Parents' gravesite."
"Oh."
Damn.
They say jokes can summon funerals, and here one was.
"...Sorry."
"For what."
"F-for being clueless..."
"So what're you sorry for."
"Uh..."
"What."
"...Good question?"
Thinking about it, I hadn't really done anything wrong to warrant an apology.
Still, the norm is to say sorry if you unintentionally dredge up painful memories, right?
...Can't you just let it slide for once?
Yoo Euisul's private plot was a modest neighborhood hillsides, so we reached the summit in no time.
Seeing the view from the top, I blurted,
"What is this?"
A chuckle escaped me from sheer disbelief.
I'd expected a majestic panorama of Seoul at a glance, filling me with awe.
Half right, half wrong.
The summit view was beautiful, of course.
Wide open surroundings gave a sweeping vista of the city.
I could tell it'd be stunning at night.
But.
Before the sprawling Seoul skyline caught my eye.
It was that outdoor lounge area that totally clashed with the mountaintop.
A long wooden deck held what was obviously an expensive sofa and table at a glance.
Next to it, a liquor cabinet for storing booze.
A compact kitchen for cooking.
Even a bathroom.
Yoo Euisul's house was a mansion, her car a sports car.
In short.
Yoo Euisul was loaded.
Is this what they mean by the secret hobbies of the rich?
I'd never dreamed she'd set up a full lounge like this on a mountaintop.
Ignoring my stunned self, Yoo Euisul headed to the liquor cabinet.
Pulled out a whiskey and said,
"You drink?"