Legend of the Legendary Librarian (5)
If I wanted to lead Yumir down the path of a villain, I probably would have recommended a Western-style costume design instead of hanbok.
"Walk your own path! Believe in the maple syrup flowing through your veins!"
Yumir was a foreigner. Just looking at her—blonde hair, blue eyes, the quintessential foreign look. Even if she threw on some foreign-inspired suit or an outfit reminiscent of Doji Rider and caught flak for it, back in her home country they'd cheer, "Kuh, clothes that radiate our maple syrup spirit, even in Korea!"
"Dropped out of the academy after all, huh."
"Teacher..."
"Follow me. I'll help you get revenge on the Korea that tormented you... and on those who drove you to despair."
That way, I could probably pull Yumir to Imae Mangnyang's side much more easily.
But I believed. I believed in the potential of every selfish bastard on this Sejong Island, in this country, on this land.
'Humans are trash.'
Whether Yumir wore hanbok or a wedding dress, the people of this island would see her as nothing but a "foreigner." A traditionalist might say something like:
"How can we discriminate against someone who speaks our language on this land of ours, just because their nose is big or their hair's a different color?"
Who was it? Some village head from Joseon days talking about the shipwrecked Hamel, right? I didn't remember the exact origin, but the idea was: if you live in Korea, speak Korean, and live for Korea, you're Korean.
"That's ancient history! Things are different now! You gonna call those foreigners who come over from abroad, suck up the mana buffs flowing through Korean soil, and then head back home 'Koreans'?! "
No, you couldn't. Foreign ability users were all viewed as "temporary visitors who'd eventually return home," so they faced inevitable rejection. Even if they married a Korean, unless they showed years of deep immersion in Korean culture, people whispered, "Marriage fraud—they'll bolt someday!" Could a foreigner really thrive here long-term?
'I don't even need to lift a finger. She'll get disillusioned with this country on her own.'
I'd felt it after just half a year here—how could Yumir not feel the same watching these people?
I didn't think so.
"So, Yumir. Are these books enough?"
"Yes. Thank you for finding them for me even though you're busy."
"No big deal. It's nothing. I'm the librarian, after all."
I brought over the five books on hanbok I'd selected for her and checked them out.
"If you hit any snags, come find me. Or anyone nearby—doesn't have to be me. Everyone'll help if you're basing your costume on hanbok."
"Thank you, teacher! Oh, teacher. Um."
Yumir carefully slipped the books into her bag and asked,
"Are you free this weekend?"
"Weekend?"
"Yeah. To repay you for treating me to that meal last time, I was thinking I'd buy this time."
"...No sudden incidents breaking out again, right?"
The moment we'd gone to that restaurant, disaster struck. I half-expected the same this time.
"No way. It's not like maniacs rampage every weekend. And it's not like someone would target the exact restaurant we're eating at."
"Who knows. People have a sixth sense for this stuff. Sorry, but I've got prior plans this weekend."
"Prior plans?"
"Yes."
This wasn't an excuse. I genuinely had commitments—Sunday meant heading somewhere unavoidable.
"Hmm... Then next time you're free, let's grab a meal. I'll show you the hanbok costume I've come up with. Promise? You better."
"Got it, Miss Yumir. Looking forward to it. Your hanbok costume."
"Yes!"
Yumir left beaming brightly.
'Full of energy.'
She was such a bright kid. How long that cheer would last amid Sejong Island life was another question.
But Yumir wasn't just about her personal life. I had to watch the entity she transformed into: Platinum Sun.
Click.
I pulled out my smartphone and checked another community. Not the polite, civil one where people used honorifics—this was the underbelly, where casual speech was default, and asking about each other's moms was par for the course.
Talk about Yumir flowed freely, zero regard for privacy or portrait rights.
Chatter about Platinum Knight Solar Platinum was rampant everywhere.
'Gotta take heat from both sides.'
Someone like Snow White, showing her face openly, got hero and personal life conflated. Hide your identity, though, and you weather separate judgments.
'Hope she doesn't do ego searches.'
Nothing good came from scouring online communities about yourself—self-inflicted wounds waiting to happen.
'For now.'
'She'll have to stand out eventually.'
There's a reason they say "a hawk's talons hide in plain sight." No matter how much she played E-rank, with near S-rank power, she couldn't hide forever. Especially if pursuing the "hero" path—someone would catch on eventually. Even that alien spoon-transforming superman couldn't keep his identity secret forever. What chance did Yumir have?
But if she could achieve her goals while hidden... Whatever Yumir wanted, if she could live her whole life as a "hero" without exposure...
'Separating hero-self from everyday-self perfectly—that's the ability user's "ideal," huh.'
No one knows your civilian identity, but as a hero, you help people. If that's Yumir's mindset...
"...Wasn't planning to help, but keep finding myself doing it."
Baek Seolhui too. Yumir too.
Less evil org exec, more like genuinely helping as plain old librarian Do Jihwan.
'Hope this help pays off for me later.'
What if Yumir became a powerhouse hero, I lost as Dokkaebi, and she captured me?
—Hehe, Mr. Do. You can't go outside anymore. Here, let me take care of everything. Eating, sleeping... I'll handle it all...?
Repay a favor, right? Hooaa...
"......What."
Something like a stray thought flashed through my mind. Why was I imagining myself imprisoned by Yumir?
"......."
Probably from working nonstop in this unvisited basement level 2. No sunlight—human needs it.
'Bad work environment.'
Underground vibes messing with my head.
"...Nah."
No way. Yumir was such a good kid.
Evening. Yumir returned to her dorm.
For some reason, her room was a two-person setup, but her roommate was gone.
—I'm not comfy sharing with others, so I'll get my own place and move out.
—Don't take it personally. You get it, coming from abroad too—this island doesn't like foreigners clumping together.
—Talked it over with the dorm supervisor. Don't worry. But we're adults, so mind your etiquette. Wouldn't want any awkward incidents in the room I'm staying in. You know, right?
The would-be roommate had bailed for a private place. No complaints here—it let Yumir come and go freely without identity risks, and do whatever.
"Hmmm..."
Using a black durumagi like a blanket, she rolled on the bed, flipping through the library books.
"Hanbok designs, huh..."
'Daughter-in-law' concept. The name alone made her heart flutter with excitement, locking in one idea.
"Mine... this is it."
Yumir opened a book.
"Pyebaek, huh. Hmm, this could be fun."
Even as Korea pushed traditional culture, one thing hadn't changed in the 25 years since the new millennium: weddings.
—Gotta wear a wedding dress at the venue for the ceremony, right?
Announcing man and woman becoming one stayed modern-style. Sure, post-ceremony hanbok for pyebaek was standard now, but full traditional with yeonji gonji and ancestral rites? Rare.
"Pyebaek outfit as concept... Huh? Oh, this might not work."
Lying down, Yumir lifted her legs.
"...Hiding these would be disrespectful to teacher."
With confident flair, she synced her bare legs in syncopation.
"Skirt short, then..."
She grabbed the durumagi.
"......The key's gotta be that, right?"
Turning to the mirror. Her illusory platinum knight faded, a new outfit shimmering into form like mist.
Almost like a passing scholar.
"Ah, nah, this ain't it."
Yumir waved at the mirror.
"...So tricky."
Krrrng.
"What to do, partner?"
In the mirror, a golden dragon with gleaming eyes shone brilliantly.
"Do what you want? Hmm... Korean stuff...... Ah!"
Yumir clapped, sitting up.
"That's it! Hehe, yeah, forgot about that."
Hands clasped, sly smile.
"...Sejong Island, so design to match it, right?"
Krrrng.
"Yongbi Eocheonga."
Krrk?!
The golden dragon in the mirror panicked, shaking its head wildly.