Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Serpent Monster
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"Ugh... my head."
When I opened my eyes, a slight headache from the hangover hit me.
At least it wasn't too bad, probably thanks to becoming a monster.
"Ah, you're awake, bro?"
"Yeah..."
I half-closed my eyes as I answered Ji-yeon.
She must have seen how rough I looked, because she quickly handed me a glass of water.
Her hand, taking care of me like this, looked especially beautiful today.
Maybe because she was helping me when I felt like crap, but her hand looked just like that of an ordinary human woman...
"Huh?"
I blinked in surprise, my eyes going wide.
Wait, it wasn't just that it looked human—it was a real human woman's hand?
And the voice I heard was definitely Ji-yeon's?
Full of questions, I turned my head like a rusty machine creaking into motion.
"Feeling better now?"
"...Who are you?"
Black hair like ebony.
Beneath it, a soft eye shape visible from one side.
A woman with celebrity-level beauty stood before me.
Her right eye was covered by long bangs, but even that added to her charm thanks to her stunning looks.
"Bro?"
Wait... this was Ji-yeon?
I barely stopped myself from making a face like a monkey whose brain just booted up.
"...Ji-yeon?"
"Yeah, Si-woo oppa."
Okay, it was definitely Ji-yeon.
The voice coming from the woman in front of me was hers.
"Did you... somehow turn human?"
"Who knows... Maybe I wanted to look pretty for someone?"
"You wanted to look pretty...?"
Yeah, makes sense. At her age, she'd want to look cute.
A girl who should have spent her youth blooming like a flower had been stuck with a gun on her head—who knows how tough that must've been.
The reaction I should show right now isn't surprise.
"Good for you, Ji-yeon. You're beautiful."
"!! Really?!"
Ji-yeon lit up visibly.
Right now, more than my shock, what mattered was praising and congratulating her—she must've been through hell before getting her human form.
"Hee hee, bro says I'm pretty..."
Look at her, she's thrilled.
Of course a girl her age wouldn't hate hearing that.
I smiled warmly at her joy as I sat up in bed.
"Up we go. Guess we should throw another celebration party today? Feels even more monumental than yesterday."
"Ehehe..."
Ji-yeon giggled foolishly, twisting her body bashfully.
The clothes... look okay in human form, but she'll need new ones.
If you transform from human form with clothes into monster form, the clothes vanish—who knows where they go—but when you switch back, they're there again.
And right now, Ji-yeon was wearing a sleek black dress that hugged her figure like something an actress would wear.
With her one-eyed beauty and a body that was... well, pretty glamorous, to put it mildly.
Especially the midsection... the biggest part.
They looked just right in monster form, but human form made them stand out more.
Anyway, with that outfit clinging to her like that, I had no idea where to look—time to get her some proper clothes.
"...Just to check, is that your original appearance?"
"Huh? No way."
"Got it."
I mean, those mids were too big for an average person—
"My bangs were always long! I'd never cover one eye like this."
"...So the rest is?"
"Everything else is exactly like my original form!"
"Got it."
Ji-yeon might be even more impressive than I thought.
With that, she could take on four magical girls easy.
Anyway, enough of that—time to plan the day with her.
First up: clothes shopping.
A pitch-black space, not a single ray of light.
-Caw! Caw!
Crows burst into existence from nowhere, and Kedi appeared.
In the total darkness where nothing was visible, she perched casually on her ornate bed as if she could see just fine.
"So? Why'd you call me?"
Kedi asked with a sharp edge, speaking into the void.
Numerous crows flanked her, standing guard.
"Serpent Monster, Serpens."
"Wow, not kicking me out right away?"
The man who emerged from the shadows approached her slowly.
Then he pulled a lighter from his pocket.
-Click!
The flame flickered to life, barely illuminating the space.
"Can't see a damn thing. Can't you keep the lights on?"
"Oh my, that's rich coming from someone barging into a lady's room so rudely."
"Tch, can't argue with that."
The man called Serpens sat on a chair, relying on the lighter's glow.
He grinned into the darkness.
"Kedi, you know about that 'Clok' monster, right?"
"Yes, our alliance keeps tabs on him. And since he has manners, I looked into him."
"Then help me out."
"Hmm?"
A crow hopped onto her shoulder and fanned its wings like a hand fan, covering her mouth.
"What do you need my help for?"
"It's no big deal, but the alliance guys have been side-eyeing me lately. Whatever I suggest, they'll shoot it down 100%. Especially that Oath prick!"
Serpens grumbled, arms crossed.
Kedi fell silent for a moment, then asked flatly,
"So, what are you planning?"
"Fine, fine, I'll tell you. You're the most human-like, that's why I came to you—but guess you're not normal either."
"Get to the point."
"Okay, okay."
Serpens cleared his throat a few times, then spoke excitedly like a kid with a fun idea.
"I wanna fight this Clok guy. Doesn't that sound fun already?"
"No. You'll lose for sure."
"Nah? I kinda figured out his power. And if my plan goes off right... it'll be a perfect win."
"What's this 'plan' you're so confident about?"
"Heh, don't freak out when you hear it. See, what I'm thinking is..."
After hearing Serpens's plan, Kedi stared at him like he was insane, but he ignored her and bolted from her space.
"Bro... isn't this too many clothes?"
"Nah, we gotta get this much."
Three hours into shopping with Ji-yeon.
The fifth paper bag was thrust into my hands.
"S-Still, this is way too many—"
"Tch, I've got plenty of money. We could fill a room with clothes and still have leftover, so just take 'em. Besides, with your looks, everything suits you—can't help buying it all."
"Ugh..."
Perfect—I'd crushed Ji-yeon's attempt to stop my shopping spree.
She blushed and turned away; yeah, she was weak to compliments.
Still, any more and it'd really be too much.
Money was no object for me, but pile on more and she'd be in real trouble.
Too many clothes make it hard to sort or pick.
"Alright, let's call it here?"
"!! Yes, please...!"
Didn't expect her to beg like that.
Guess she was genuinely overwhelmed.
"Then wanna grab food at a nearby spot? Get some takeout for Ji-hoon too."
"Yeah, sounds good."
As we checked out nearby restaurants, suddenly—
"Kyaaah! M-Monster!"
"Help! Hel—gahk!"
"Someone's dead! Run!"
Screams erupted from not far away.
Ji-yeon and I whipped our heads toward the sound.
And.
Fuck.
I cursed inwardly.
Why the hell is that guy here?
A head like a snake-designed motorcycle helmet.
A body suited in what looked like snake scales.
A red tie split at the end like a snake's tongue.
"Nice to see you, you sneaky bastards!"
The Serpent Monster, a key figure in the Monster Alliance, was hoisting a middle-aged man to make his presence known.
The guy in his grip was already dead, blood pouring from what looked like holes in his neck.
"...Ji-yeon."
"Yeah, bro."
We bolted into the nearest building.
Each dashed to a bathroom, confirmed no one was inside.
This is insane...
I seized the flow of time and stepped out.
Had to bring Ji-yeon too, so I even entered the women's room to drag her out.
She's a handful.
The Serpent Monster Serpens's power was betrayal, sneaky like a snake.
Still, worth a shot—I approached him in stopped time.
Serpens didn't twitch.
I clenched my fist and swung.
Then—
-Shaaak!
A snake form materialized, forcing my other hand open.
Time resumed futilely.
Serpens's head snapped toward me.
"Found you."
His fist flew at my face.
-Boom!!