Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Vacation
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After stirring up a storm using Black Monday, I spent my days quietly, as if nothing had happened.
Going to school as usual, then playing some games after getting home….
Just that ordinarily.
"So, have you given it any thought?"
With nothing on my plate, my secretary Lee Si-hyeon would have some free time too.
It was perfect timing for a vacation.
"…Um. I'm not sure."
She still seemed to be mulling it over. People who were used to scraping by often couldn't even relax properly when they had the chance… Si-hyeon seemed to be one of those cases.
"How about going to the beach? You've never been, right?"
"I saw the sea when we went to Japan. If we're being technical, hasn't it been you who hasn't seen it, Miss? At least since I started working here…, unless you went when you were little or something…."
Lee Si-hyeon trailed off, realizing her slip. I chuckled and nodded.
"Well, I haven't either. I was locked up inside the house when I was little too."
Back then, it really felt like I was suffocating to death. Even now, being in enclosed spaces makes my heart race. The doctor called it claustrophobia.
'…Is that why I ended up liking mirrors?'
I tilted my head, thinking of the full-length mirrors placed all over my mansion. I'd gotten into the habit of checking them constantly, so I just stocked up on a bunch.
…Hmm, this is probably just narcissism.
Anyway, claustrophobia doesn't kick in when I'm working, so I just let it be.
"Then how about we go during your winter break, Miss? Summer's ideal, but… winter beaches have their own charm, don't you think?"
I let out a hollow laugh.
"No, then it wouldn't be your vacation. It'd just be you attending to me on mine."
My secretary seemed a bit too devoted to me. It was nice, but it defeated the purpose.
"Miss, I've been thinking…."
Lee Si-hyeon hesitated for a moment, scratched her head, and replied.
"Do I even need a vacation?"
"…."
It was a somewhat absurd answer. Was this the '80s mindset…?
Having grown accustomed to 21st-century work-life balance (even if I didn't follow it myself), this sentiment was hard for me to swallow.
"Why do you live, then?"
"Then why do you live, Miss? You're way busier than I am."
"Me…? I like wielding power. Take you—you could pin me down with one finger, but you always end up fawning over me like this."
I lightly ran my hand over Lee Si-hyeon's abs, visible under her tank top. The feel was pretty nice.
"This damn brat who knows no fear…."
-Thwack.
Lee Si-hyeon smacked my head and stared at me intently. Her eyes looked a bit scary.
"…."
What? Was she mad?
I got a little scared. Truth be told, if Si-hyeon wanted to, killing me would be effortless. Not aging doesn't mean super strength.
"Uh, are you… mad?"
"No."
She said that and flashed a bright smile. The heavy atmosphere vanished in an instant, and the cheerful beauty was back.
"See? Who's the one fawning now?"
She stuck out her tongue playfully, looking even more sly than before.
"Hah, you tricked me."
As I pouted, Lee Si-hyeon chuckled lightly.
"In my opinion, Miss, you're going to be someone huge. I don't know much history, but I know you're an extraordinary genius."
"…So?"
Lee Si-hyeon pointed to herself with a grin.
"I think I've hitched my wagon to the right star… something like that."
"Locking in the number two spot?"
"Exactly. Even when I act a bit rude, you don't punish me, right? If someone else hit you on the head, they'd be swimming in the Han River by now."
…True enough.
It was like WWE. Teasing and taking it in stride, that kind of relationship.
"Still…, that's not an answer to my question. You're in your mid-20s now—shouldn't you have some hobby?"
Lee Si-hyeon tilted her head as if I'd said something weird.
"Hobby? I work out. You knew that, didn't you?"
"…Working out is your hobby? Isn't that more like self-improvement or survival training? Or maybe to show off to me."
If it's a hobby, then games or… watching movies or anime, uh….
Games or….
What else? Getting drunk and beating daughters?
Oh, right, some people say travel is a hobby.
"There's this weird person right in front of me whose life goal is making money and toying with people… working out seems pretty normal by comparison."
"…Is that so?"
"Yeah."
Si-hyeon said that and lightly caressed her own body. She was a vibrant woman in her mid-20s, still a virgin, and her well-maintained figure through exercise and steady skincare exuded alluring beauty.
"Truth is, I didn't like exercising much at first. I did it to survive. After I turned ten…, I didn't want to end up as some back-alley whore."
Lee Si-hyeon came from an ordinary, very ordinary lower-class family in Seoul. And the '70s of her childhood… were pretty harsh for pretty, poor girls.
"So you grew to like it along the way."
"Doesn't everyone? Life's not that special. You do it and start liking it, do it more and get greedy…, and then I picked up another hobby."
"What?"
"Serving a bratty young miss who thinks the world is hers? I'd like to do it until I die, if possible."
I tilted my head. Lee Si-hyeon was being pretty upfront about her ambitions right now. I thought she was more ascetic….
"I didn't think you had any thirst for power. Color me surprised."
"No one hates power, Miss. They just don't have the environment to chase it, or it's impossible… or they're too lazy. For me…, sticking by your side means power falls into my lap. Why would I hate that?"
"…."
True. Just like how I once tried to give up power, only to crave it again when the opportunity returned….
Anyone would desire it.
"There's that saying, right? Men rule the world, but women rule men. Something like that. In our country, maybe not you, but your Nanny will be the real power… that's what I think."
Lee Si-hyeon grinned cheekily. It stung my pride a bit.
Wasn't she always this clever?
"…Hmph, you're misunderstanding one thing. I don't really need you. Once your looks fade, you're out. Distance breeds indifference, you know."
It's true. After the IMF crisis, Si-hyeon would start aging too, so she'd be less useful as eye candy. By then, her tenure would be right for Secretary General anyway—I'd slot her in and let her roll.
In that sense, the role of desk-under-beauty-secretary… sigh, if only I weren't a girl.
Tsk.
'Where did my harem dreams go….'
Whether she sensed my complicated feelings or not, Lee Si-hyeon just chuckled lightly and fixed her ponytail.
"Haha, then I'll have to live hard so you can't ditch me, Miss. I'll save my vacation for later."
"…Fine."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Eek…. Uh…, Nanny. Can't you just let this one go?"
I flailed my arms with a pitiful expression. The Nanny ignored my plea with a firm look.
In her hand… dangled women's underwear.
"No, Miss. It's about time you started wearing a bra. Your breasts are starting to develop…."
"No need! Not yet, it's still fine…!"
This is so unfair. If I'd known, I'd have picked male even if it cost me points!
"Don't refuse, Miss. Wearing a dress shirt without a bra looks even weirder, you know that?"
Either way, I couldn't refuse the Nanny. As Si-hyeon said, I was weak to her.
'When does the full-body-swap SF worldline come?'
Trembling with humiliation, I put on the underwear the Nanny dressed me in.
It felt weird.
I could feel Lee Si-hyeon holding back laughter beside me.
"You know, I just thought of a place for that vacation. How about our department store? We can buy you some clothes, Miss."
"Oh, if Si-hyeon suggests it, that sounds great. Please do."
The two women exchanged ha-ha-ho-ho chit-chat right in front of me. Burning with betrayal, I thrashed and yelled at the vile secretary.
"Si-hyeon! Lee Si-hyeon! Come back!"
But the strength gap was insurmountable, and my body stayed pinned by the Nanny. She sighed and subdued my flailing effortlessly.
"Aigoo, this one's a bit tight. Try a few more. For now, let's just check the size…."
Lee Si-hyeon looked at me with that infuriating smile.
"I'll head to the department store. You stay put, Miss."
Ugh, just you wait…!
"Oh, which department store were you thinking?"
"Hmm, any place in particular you recommend?"
"Not really…."
The Nanny and Si-hyeon chatted away amiably. Being around the same age, they got along great.
Then….
"Oh, that one from the commercials lately. You know, the department store from Sampoong. That seems like a good spot."
Sampoong Department Store.
The moment those words came out, my hair stood on end.