The Legendary Librarian Legend (2)
New costume troubles, huh. The fact that she's confiding this dilemma in me might mean Yumir suspects something right now.
She's testing if the ordinary-looking librarian Do Jihwan—who vanished from the scene right when the Golden Heroine evaporated—and the Yumir who never showed up afterward are the same person.
But even while suspecting me, because I always played the "I'm on the students' side" card, she still trusts me as a reliable adult and follows my lead.
In that case...
'Playing dumb is the right move.'
I know, but I'll pretend I don't. Unless Yumir reveals her identity first, I'll act like I'm keeping my distance while still offering solid help. That's the play.
The Golden Heroine concept is something to ditch on this island, in this country. It's basically announcing, "I'm a European foreigner," even if that's not true at all.
"Books, right? There are definitely some on fashion design over here, but before picking a book, shouldn't we settle on a concept first?"
"A concept?"
"Yeah. The concept for the hero suit you'll wear as a superpower user. The hero costume for practical training later."
"Ah, practicals."
She seemed to misunderstand for a second, then nodded at my words.
"R-right. We'll need hero costumes for the Spring-Summer Tournament in May... Yeah, I get what you mean. Haha, almost misunderstood there."
"No idea what the misunderstanding was, but I'm talking about student Yumir's costume."
"...Right. My costume. Yeah."
From the way she glanced at me, she'd first thought I was suggesting something other than the Golden Heroine concept, then realized I just meant her regular Yumir costume.
"......"
Of course, that didn't completely erase her suspicions about me.
"How about asking the community first? Come sit here for a sec?"
"Huh? Is that okay?"
"Sure. If anyone asks, just say you came to volunteer at the library."
"Ah."
Yumir scooted right up beside me and sat in the chair. When I pulled my chair slightly aside, she mirrored me, dragging hers closer.
We sat side by side in front of the computer monitor.
"We'll hop into the hero community and ask like this."
I posted that on the largest hero community site in the country.
"Teacher?"
"In young folks' communities, you gotta talk their language to fit in."
"Feels like an old guy's forcing it to hang with the kids."
"......But it works, right?"
Ding.
A reply popped up right away.
"Says high-leg?"
"Pervert. Hero costume length regulations are super strict these days."
Yumir grimaced immediately.
"How could anyone make a high-leg hero costume?"
"Guess this guy's not talking hero costumes—probably Imae Mangnyang executive outfits."
I pulled up an image.
"One of the organization's executives and Four Heavenly Kings, Gung-gi. Also known as the Black Flame Demon Phoenix."
"...How does she walk around in that?"
"That's why she's a villain. An S-grade one."
Her fiery, flame-like red hair was striking, but the skin-tight latex-like suit cut high on the hips, flaunting exposure shamelessly—it was bold no matter who saw it.
"Classic evil organization female exec style."
"Scary. You want me to copy that...?"
"High-leg types are pretty common in practice. Not full high-leg, but something like this."
"Like wearing that on top of bloomers."
"Guys would love it."
"Some ability users actually make a living that way."
"Ah, yeah. Heroes who go sexy concept to rack up male fans, like celebrities."
"Close enough. What about you, Yumir?"
"Hmm... not really my vibe."
Yumir shook her head vigorously, repulsed.
"I don't wanna show skin."
I get it. If she wanted exposure, she wouldn't have gone Golden Heroine.
Ding.
Another alert.
"Oho."
Logical and right on point.
"Speaking of, what about your face? Showing it as-is? Or just a mask?"
"Ideally, cover everything. Hair too."
"That... really limits costume designs."
I attached a few replies to my post.
"Teacher...?"
"This is how it vibes, Yumir. These folks are smart and talented. Saw that comment earlier? Check this—one just came in."
"...What's this?"
Great Witch? First I'd heard of it.
"Ah, teacher! Stop!"
Yumir's face flushed red in an instant as she grabbed my wrist.
"D-don't search that!"
"What's a Great Witch?"
"It's... super lewd."
"...How do you know that, Yumir?"
"I'm an adult too? I reference it while studying heroes. Minor ability users' costumes. Not something to search here."
"I see."
No clue what it was, but probably less raunchy than our organization's Four Heavenly Kings outfits.
Ding.
Another comment.
"Bunny girl?"
"Feels like it'd clash with some other world's character concept. And it's exposing skin too."
"Bunny mask on the face with bunny girl exposure could be fun."
"...Tabled for now."
Bunny girl regretfully tabled.
"Ugh, my head."
"What's wrong?"
"Feels like I glimpsed an abyss I shouldn't touch. Whatever it is, skip. Next..."
Maybe because I offered to draw one, comments started flooding in.
"Blunt. Full-body latex suit style, Yumir? Minimizes skin exposure."
"No skin doesn't mean no body lines shown."
"With your figure, you'd have confidence to spare—ahem. Sorry. Sexual harassment?"
"No report, don't worry. Heh."
Yumir straightened her back and grinned.
"Confident in my body, but don't love showing it off."
"Why not?"
"Female heroes can get ID'd by their figures!"
"Ah."
Got it.
"Dangerous sometimes. Female heroes in skin-tight suits—if a physical trait stands out, netizens compare to photos online."
Men aside, for women: bust size, hip lines—match to real body, boom, "This hero is that girl!" Identities exposed for real.
Overzealous ability user fandom gone wrong.
"Full-coverage body suit then..."
"Whoa."
Yumir's eyes sparkled as she pointed to one.
"Glow-in-the-dark dinosaur?"
"...What?"
"Glow-in-the-dark dinosaur."
"Great idea. But material matters for a real costume. Plush suit or pajamas style? Pajamas in wind..."
"Shows every line. Hmm. Ah."
Time to tease a bit.
"Speaking of, remember that hero from our restaurant raid? The one facing off Dokkaebi."
"......Huh?"
Overly tense. Obvious it's her.
"Got me thinking of the knight's design—it matches your dinosaur vibe. This one."
I opened a search and showed her.
"Legendary Golden Dragon Warrior El Gold or something."
"......."
"Has transformation combo gimmick, but just transform to the final form."
"You like this stuff?"
Yumir pointed stiffly at a GIF of a car merging with a dinosaur, and I shook my head firmly.
"My taste runs to this design."
I pulled up a Vtube video.
"...Don't tell anyone."
"This is."
"Imae Mangnyang's Total Leader."
In the darkness.
A figure in a solemn dark dress spreads her arms, exuding overwhelming presence—the organization's leader.
"......."
The world doesn't know. That's her "transformation" mode.
"The organization's Total Leader... you into that?"
Yumir glanced between the video and below.
"...Tch."
She openly clicked her tongue. For some reason, Yumir seemed to feel inferior to the Total Leader.