The Burden of Beauty (1)
Even glaring at the guys through my fingers didn't stop the laughter, so I ended up climbing aboard the helicopter back to headquarters. The moment it took off, Thetys flashed a sly grin and called out to me.
"Noona, so did you at least try applying to a two-year college?"
"Shut it."
"Aha~ So you did try. Then how did the results turn out..."
"Just... shut up!"
I narrowed my eyes and glared at him, but Thetys paid no attention. Even Heracles, sitting beside him, decided to join in.
"I'm curious too. Did you fail the written exam, Mama, or were you stopped at the application stage?"
"Hey, what did you just say?"
"Ah, nothing. I didn't say anything."
Heracles quickly ducked his head, but the corners of his mouth kept twitching. I let out a long sigh and leaned back in my seat when a brilliant idea struck me. My lips curled upward.
"Go on~ Go on~ Laugh all you want~ Next time you guys get hurt, I'll make sure to heal you with everything I've got~"
The helicopter fell silent in an instant. The laughter vanished from Thetys's face, and Heracles pulled his helmet down to cover his own. The rest of the team suddenly found the view outside the window fascinating and turned away.
"What's wrong~? Why so quiet all of a sudden~?"
"....I'm sorry."
"I'll be careful, Noona."
Watching them wilt and hang their heads, I couldn't help but laugh. One by one, the others started chuckling along with me. The heavy atmosphere from earlier lifted, replaced by something much lighter as laughter filled the cabin again.
We joked and chatted until the headquarters building came into view outside the window. After landing, we returned our weapons to storage and finished a quick briefing in the operations room. The team dispersed, and I headed toward my private quarters.
Though we're part of the rescue division, the Mobile Strike Team handles both suppression and rescue when beasts appear, so I'd expected a mountain of paperwork. To my relief, the report wrapped up quickly.
When I opened the door to my room, rows of cosmetics neatly arranged on the cabinet and several dresses hanging on the rack caught my eye. While the others share communal spaces, my quarters had received special attention from the higher-ups—practically a small walk-in closet.
The moment the door closed, I unzipped my black combat uniform. Cool air brushed against my bare skin as the sweat-soaked fabric peeled away. Standing in front of the full-length mirror in just my underwear, flawless pale skin without a single scar or muscle imperfection reflected back at me.
"Mmm~ Perfect self-care as always~"
It's been years—maybe months—since my body transformed into a woman's after awakening, but that first moment remains crystal clear. 'Since I've become such a pretty woman anyway, I might as well take good care of myself out of spite.'
The early days after awakening had been pure chaos. Waking up one morning to find my entire body changed... It took a long time to panic, deny it, and finally accept it. But now... well, this body isn't so bad. Honestly, I quite like it.
'Before awakening, I was truly nothing special~'
Under 170 cm, narrow shoulders, no exercise history, stick-thin limbs, and a face so ordinary it never drew a second glance. Now I had the kind of looks that made people turn their heads on the street. Of course I'd want to maintain and cherish this appearance for as long as possible.
'That's right~ That's right~ Taking care of myself is the right thing to do~'
Admiring my reflection, I picked out a soft cream blouse and beige long skirt from the rack beside the vanity. 'This really suits me.'
Once dressed, the gentle fabric against my skin made the wrist that had been aching from shotgun recoil feel perfectly fine again. Standing before the mirror in civilian clothes, the image of Big Mama—the one who shoved monsters aside with her shield and gunned them down with shotguns and pistols, the infamous "hidden torturer from the National Intelligence Service" known for her agonizing healing—disappeared. In her place stood a delicate, protectable woman.
"You're the best, Myungmin."
Yes. Even if everyone calls me the ferryman of hell, I am still Baek Myungmin—a fragile, beautiful Korean awakener.
After changing, I applied light makeup in front of the cabinet mirror. It wasn't as striking as my combat uniform, but makeup had become a new kind of armor... or perhaps just a light coat over my clothes. Either way, once I finished this simple social defense layer, a fresh wave of confidence welled up inside me.
"Now~ Can't forget this either~"
I gently lifted the corners of my mouth with both hands. The mirror showed me wearing a slightly awkward yet beautiful smile.
"Everyone says I look better being aloof, but you look prettier when you smile like this."
After completing my self-hypnosis, I slung the shoulder bag I'd tossed aside before deployment over my shoulder and stepped out. Other team members and staff I passed in the hallway greeted me with bright smiles.
"Charon... You're always so put-together."
"Mama, want to grab a drink after work?"
I'd heard similar lines countless times, but my rule was to never give the same answer twice. I met each person's eyes and responded warmly.
"Hehe... Team 4 is always ready, after all."
"Drinks~? I can't, since I'm not off duty~"
After exchanging greetings with everyone I passed, I stepped outside the building. The sky was an impossibly clear blue, making it hard to believe we'd just dealt with an incident. Warm sunlight gently caressed my face.
"Hehe~ The weather's nice, so spending the afternoon on myself sounds perfect~"
Since I'd been wrestling monsters all morning, I wanted the afternoon to myself. I turned off my phone notifications and plunged into the bustling streets.
The place I headed to was a Pilates studio in a building not far from headquarters. 'Nothing beats this for loosening up muscles shocked by combat~'
The various movements helped release tension while also aiding with dieting and... well, benefiting both daily life and operations in many ways!
As I entered the building, several women in workout clothes stood in the lobby. 'I should hurry up and change too.'
I slipped in among the other students. The women gave slight nods in greeting, and I returned the smiles. 'Even without words, women just... understand each other.'
It's like... intuition? A vibe? Something just clicks~
While I was enjoying the fresh flower garden, swaying with the breeze, uninvited pests sometimes came looking for nectar too. As I waited for the elevator, I sensed someone approaching from behind. 'Pests like... that guy trailing behind right now...'
A man who clearly didn't belong in this building sidled closer, and I felt like a bug had crawled into my little flower patch. The moment we stepped into the elevator together, the atmosphere shifted. Most studios here offered Pilates, yoga, or dance, yet this guy wore a worn hoodie and jeans instead of workout clothes. With his hood pulled up, half his face hidden, he looked suspicious.
'Oh my... An awakener? And a pitiful one at that...'
Some awakeners had mediocre abilities but enhanced physical stats like my teammates. If we ranked them, they'd be around E-class. 'The type whose greatest feat is sparking a lighter flame from their fingertip.'
I wouldn't normally judge so harshly, but the reason was simple: even now, the pest's hand was slowly creeping toward my leg.
With each floor the elevator climbed, his hand inched closer. Goosebumps rose along my spine, sending an unpleasant shiver through me. 'Right~ Right~ Since he's an awakener and not a regular person, he thinks he can get away with this?'
Too bad~ I'm C-class~
The moment his fingertips brushed my thigh, I snatched his wrist, pressed my thumb into the back of his hand, and twisted his joint backward. A wretched scream echoed through the small elevator.
"W-What the hell are you?! Why are you doing this?!"
"Hmm...? Did you ever stop to think what would happen if you hit on someone from the Mobile Strike Team?"
"What? The Mobile Strike Team?"
He'd clearly mistaken me for an ordinary pretty face. Wrong address, buddy.
"Want me to show you my ID? If I do, this won't end well for you..."
"Okay...! Okay, I get it! Let go!"
"Good~ Behave until we reach the emergency exit~"
Still gripping the pest's arm, we arrived at the Pilates floor. The doors opened, and the other students' stares poured over us. Dragging someone I'd subdued didn't exactly match the delicate, feminine image of Baek Myungmin I wanted to project, but exceptions existed.
"Everyone~ Just a little commotion, that's all~"
Putting on my best "everything's fine" face, I hauled the pest to the emergency exit and released him. He swung his twisted arm wildly while glaring at me.
"What? You want healing from Charon or something?"
"W-What... Charon?"
"Hehe~ That's right~ Fly away, pain~"
I placed my hand on his shoulder. A warm sensation flowed through my palm as his tightly knotted muscles loosened. His face scrunched up, and he gradually lowered his head until he was bowing deeply in an extremely polite manner.
"Treatment complete. You should be grateful~ It's way better than a massage, right?"
"It hurts like hell, what are you... Huh?"
As expected, the pest rolled his shoulders like he'd just received an amazing massage. Then his flushed face turned deathly pale. He flung open the emergency exit and bolted down the stairs, footsteps echoing loudly.
"That takes care of it~"
"Unnie, you're amazing~"
"As expected of Mobile Team 4!"
Cheers and admiring gazes rained down on me from every direction. I scratched my cheek awkwardly, said nothing, and fled straight into the changing room inside the Pilates studio.
"Haha... At this rate, I'm going to end up with a ton of numbers again..."
What I wanted was a man's escort and a romantic dinner at a fancy restaurant... Being treated like the big sister of the class was absolutely not on my list. 'And definitely not finding notes with phone numbers stuffed in my locker...'
I sighed and began removing my coat to change into workout clothes.