Financial Therapy, Gourmet Therapy, Beastman Therapy (2)
After finishing my shower, I picked up the clothes I'd laid out in advance. "Today calls for a change of mood~" To wash away the stale scent of blood and monster brine, something fresh and citrusy was exactly what I needed. The outfit I'd chosen was a light, flowing lemon-yellow dress.
"Clothes like this demand a pure and innocent look." When wearing something this delicate, innocence was everything. That meant even my underwear had to match the dress's color palette perfectly. Only when every detail was flawless—even the parts no one could see—could I truly feel like a beauty, and only then would my mood get the proper healing it deserved.
I slipped into the dress, letting the hem sway gently as I stepped out of the bathroom.
"..."
As expected, the room was empty. Our little chick must have bolted the moment I turned my back. A quick glance revealed his combat uniform stuffed haphazardly into the old locker I'd once used, and a trail of water droplets stretched from the bathroom entrance all the way to the door. He'd dashed out without even drying his hair properly.
"How careless." I clicked my tongue, but what could I do? This was just how we were getting used to each other. Besides, once someone crossed the threshold of our private rooms, they were free to step out of my care for a while. I wasn't some overbearing mother-in-law, and I certainly wasn't the kind of senior who nitpicked every little move her junior made.
"Mm-hmm~ Senior isn't that uptight and awful, after all~" I nodded to myself, finished the self-praise, and began humming a little tune. Yes, giving juniors their freedom after work was the true mark of a good senior. Feeling cheerful, I swayed my way over to the vanity and sat down. Time to paint a face worthy of this innocent dress.
"Alright~ Today's masterpiece is... the simple, pure Myungmin~" I winked at my reflection in the mirror and opened my makeup pouch. Normally I went for bold red lipstick and sharp eyeliner to emphasize my dazzling white skin and project an aloof beauty, but today was different. Today's concept was purity. The key was a forest-fresh, dewdrop kind of innocence, so I had to keep everything light and effortless.
"First, the base has to be super thin... My skin's already perfect, so there's no need to cake it on." I dabbed the tiniest amount of foundation onto a puff and patted it gently across my face. The goal was to enhance that flawless texture while making it look like my natural glow—just more luminous. Next came the eyes. Instead of my usual sharp wing, I curled my lashes to create round, gentle eyes and added a soft peach-toned shadow. The result? 'Oh my, she looks like a tragic heroine about to shed a single tear.'
Finally, instead of red lipstick, I applied a soft pink tint to my lips. The finish was so natural that anyone would think, "She didn't even wear makeup today~" This was the high-level technique—looking effortlessly put-together.
"Hehe~ All done." I set the brush down and turned my head this way and that. The mirror no longer showed the fierce big-mama who'd blown a monster's head off with a shotgun. In her place sat a delicate, innocent beauty who practically screamed "protect me."
"As expected, when the base is this good, anything looks pretty." Satisfied, I turned toward the wall where various hats hung and picked out one with a wide brim. A lemon-yellow dress paired with a wide-brimmed hat was practically cheating. I settled the hat gently on my head, adjusted the brim, and the look was complete—purer than ever.
"Perfect." At this level, even a passing monster would stare in a daze and get shot without any regrets.
"And for the finishing touch..." I slung a small shoulder bag over my shoulder. Its design complemented the lemon dress without being flashy, yet it added just the right accent. In the mirror, I looked like a sheltered young lady who'd never known hardship.
Smiling with satisfaction, I opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
"Oh my~ Just back from the field?" I ran into other team members trudging down the opposite corridor, shoulders slumped. At the sound of my voice they looked up, and their appearances were downright pitiful.
"Haha... Well, it's just another day. Are you heading home, Charon?" They answered with weary smiles. Their combat uniforms were streaked with dried, dark bloodstains, and a faint metallic scent wafted over. 'Ugh... that smell.' My brows nearly furrowed on instinct, but I was a professional. Frowning would make me the unpleasant big-mama; smiling would turn me into the kind senior who offered encouragement. I forced my eyebrow muscles to relax and offered the most benevolent smile I could manage.
"Good work~ Go rest properly. If you're really exhausted, want this noona to give you a heal?"
"...?!"
The moment the words left my mouth, the tired faces that had been dragging just seconds ago turned deathly pale.
"N-no, we're fine! Really! We're totally okay!"
"That's right! Just seeing you has already cured all our fatigue!"
They reacted as if they'd just met the grim reaper, gave a half-hearted salute, and bolted down the hallway toward the far end. Their retreating backs moved so fast it was hard to believe these were the same people who'd looked half-dead moments ago.
"They're fine~ Totally fine~ If they were really hurting, they'd come find me first, right?" I chuckled as I watched their backs disappear. No matter how much my healing hurt—like having bones scraped—it was still better than dying. The old saying was true: even rolling in a dung heap was better than the afterlife. A little pain from Charon was a hundred, a thousand times better than not breathing at all.
"And now~ We've got our future with us, so anesthesia is possible too." Mm-hmm. This mission had been so rushed we hadn't brought proper medic gear, which was why things went wrong, but from the next mission onward everything would change. Our dedicated equipment would arrive, along with anesthetics and painkillers. Then our little chick would shine even brighter, healing people without any pain.
'Alright~ That's enough thinking about work and the future. Time to think about me.' I shook my head to clear the stray thoughts. Worrying about missions and juniors even after clocking out was a direct route to premature aging. From now on, every second belonged solely to me.
I elegantly swept my long hair back. My feet naturally carried me not toward the hunter-only elevator that reeked of sweat and blood, but toward the staff elevator that smelled of pleasant diffuser fragrance.
Ding-dong. The doors opened, and fresh air greeted me. Inside were office workers with briefcases and neckties, plus employees wearing ID badges. Everyone looked exhausted and was staring at their phones, so I greeted them in a bright voice.
"Good morning~"
"Huh? Oh, yes... Good morning."
"Good morning."
Startled by my bright dress, they nodded awkwardly. Their reactions were amusing, so I smiled sweetly with crinkled eyes and pressed the button for the lobby floor. A single lemon-yellow flower blooming among the drab suits. They could consider this their lucky encounter on the morning commute.
Leaving the suited crowd behind, I stepped out of the association building. Brilliant morning sunlight poured down.
"Wow..." The streets were already bustling. While we'd spent the entire night rolling around with monsters, the city was filled with nothing but black suits and deep navy uniforms. Not a single person dressed as casually as I was could be seen, no matter how hard I looked. The thrill of enjoying leisure alone among all these busy people was surprisingly exhilarating.
"Hmm~ Maybe I should've taken a quick nap on the way." I pulled out my smartphone from the shoulder bag and checked the time—9:30 a.m.
"What, I've still got plenty of time?" This was more than enough to enjoy the whole day, have a relaxed dinner, and head home to rest.
'See~ Being an Awakener really is the best~' An ordinary person could never manage this schedule. Even special forces members with iron stamina would be collapsing from exhaustion after a night operation that crossed the line between life and death. But an Awakener's body was wonderfully convenient. Last night's intense battle felt to me like nothing more than a single high-intensity Pilates session. Staying up one night wouldn't leave my skin dull or give me dark circles.
"In that case~ Let's enjoy it with a light heart~" I stretched both arms overhead. Instead of cracking joints, a refreshing sensation spread through my body as stiff muscles loosened.
"Hoo, nice!" I walked toward the taxi stand with light, dainty steps, like an innocent girl who knew nothing of the world. The click of my heels sounded cheerful. Luckily, an empty taxi was waiting right at the front. I opened the door and slid into the back seat. In the rearview mirror I saw a kind-looking female driver wearing crisp white cotton gloves that I found quite pleasing.
"Welcome, miss. Where would you like to go?"
"Hello~" I replied sweetly and leaned back against the seat. "Central Department Store, please~"
"Oh my, miss. That's quite a distance from here. Are you sure? The fare will be rather high."
The driver glanced at me through the mirror, sounding concerned. It wasn't common to see a young woman taking a long taxi ride alone on a weekday morning, after all.
"Yes, yes~ I just felt like treating myself a little today. Please take me there."
"Understood. I'll make sure you're comfortable."
The driver turned the wheel smoothly, and the taxi merged onto the road like it was gliding. Taking the subway or bus wouldn't have been a problem—my Awakener physique could handle a packed train without a single scratch. But today's concept was purity, wasn't it? Riding public transport in this delicate dress would go against my aesthetic.
'Today I want to rest comfortably without enjoying any heated stares~' A little luxury like this was exactly what I deserved to indulge in. The taxi wove leisurely through the traffic. Inside, soft radio music played—probably the driver's preference. I pressed my lips together to keep from humming and rummaged through my bag for a large pair of sunglasses. Click. Once they covered half my face, the sunlight streaming through the window felt gentler. I didn't need a mirror to know it. Right now, I looked exactly like a wealthy young lady heading to the department store for a shopping spree.
"Perfect."