Women's Ranks (1)
Women's Ranks (1)
"Head of the Family... How's the research on Kang Do-yoon-ssi? Does he seem valuable?"
Uriel's visit had been scheduled, but Rina asked without lifting her head from the documents.
It was deliberate, to emphasize that she had no interest in Kang Do-yoon.
If she showed any fascination with him, it could turn into a scandal in itself.
Of course, Uriel was sharp enough that she might have already picked up on Rina's true feelings.
But even in that case, Rina didn't let her guard down.
Just because Uriel was close to Rina didn't mean she wouldn't make an issue of it—that would be far too naive.
Rina trusted no one.
It was a lesson learned from attending board meetings since her teens.
As the chair of a massive corporation with close ties to the government, she had to remain neutral on Kang Do-yoon.
"Uh... well... hehe..."
Uriel flashed a meaningful smile as she closed the door behind her.
"...Well? Does that mean he's got no research value after all?"
Rina muttered casually without taking her eyes off the documents.
Of course, deep down, Uriel's attitude was getting to her.
'Did it fail?'
To hide her unease, Rina deliberately lowered her voice.
"If there's no research value... and you're not interested, then we'll have to wait for the government's disposal order."
It was a kind of bluff.
Rina had noticed Uriel's interest in Kang Do-yoon, the Primitive Male.
So she figured Uriel would come see him soon enough, 'for some reason or another.'
And according to Kang Do-yoon himself, they'd actually made contact yesterday.
"......"
Given her usual behavior, it was obvious she'd sexually harass him under the guise of an experiment.
The same teasing she'd inflicted on countless other men.
That's why Rina had warned Kang Do-yoon in advance.
If that "well" meant Uriel was disappointed, then Kang Do-yoon couldn't stay in the Penthouse any longer.
Rina couldn't guarantee a situation where she personally looked after him.
But she couldn't show any weakness here, either.
After all, Kang Do-yoon had told her to leave him to it.
He'd make Uriel fall for him somehow.
She had no choice but to trust him.
Or was he just another weak man who couldn't forge his own fate, like all the others?
If so, there was nothing more Rina could do for him.
"If you're not interested, I'll send an official letter to the government. That's it, you can go..."
"Nooooo-!"
"...?"
"...Chairperson-nim, your judgment is too quick as always, heh... He definitely has enough value."
"...Really?"
"That's what I'm saying, heh... I haven't settled on a research topic yet, though...?"
"......"
"I'll give you a paper soon. Heh... So don't hand Doyun-ssi over to the government... heehee..."
"......"
"Got it, right?"
"...For now, I get it."
"And that guy? I'll keep him under close watch soon enough. You know that, right?"
"Do that. As long as you give him enough rest time."
Kang Rina tilted her head after Uriel left.
What was with that face of hers, somehow flushed red?
Plus, her reaction felt oddly off somehow.
What the hell had happened?
But she couldn't show more interest, so it'd be better to ask Kang Do-yoon directly.
"...Did she just call the Head of the Family 'Doyun-ssi'?"
Rina tilted her head again.
When they were alone, Uriel always called Kang Do-yoon 'Monster-ssi' like usual.
Or titles like 'Primitive Male,' 'Primitive Stud.'
"Anyway, if she's decided to treat him like a human, that's a relief, I guess."
Kang Rina neatly stacked the documents related to the Kang Do-yoon matter, which she was negotiating with government officials over.
She'd do the actual approvals via pad, but paper was more convenient for organizing her thoughts.
It was one of her refined hobbies.
Scribbling with a pencil, drawing little animal doodles on the side.
"......"
It was subtly great for stress relief.
*
'For the time being, keep following what Uriel tells you to do.'
Uriel had stopped by Rina's office, she said.
I planned to keep doing as Rina instructed.
So when Uriel came looking for me mid-squat in the Penthouse room, I even got a little excited.
Honestly, lifting weights every day was getting old after a day or two.
And Uriel? Now, whenever I wanted, she'd be ready anytime.
As long as we secured a space just for the two of us.
[hello~]
I racked the squat bar—50kg on each side—and opened the door.
"Eek... There's some disgusting something-I-can't-quite-place smell in here."
Uriel lifted onto her tiptoes and glanced around the room the moment she saw me.
Her gaze soon landed on the various machines Rina had set up for me.
Was even her brilliant mind stumped on what they were for?
Or was she just messing with me?
She poked around, tilting her head this way and that, then muttered like she was talking to herself.
"Why are you self-flagellating like this?"
She brushed past me and tapped the squat bar I'd just been holding with her finger.
No surprise it didn't budge from that.
"It's called exercise. Or weight training."
"You can... lift this?"
"Probably?"
"......"
"Why? Anyway, why're you here?"
"...Could you lift it once for me?"
Instead of answering, I just stared at Uriel.
She blinked a few times, then slyly turned her head.
"...Can't you?"
"No reason I can't..."
I grinned and slipped behind her.
I reached under her armpits and grabbed those tiny tits of hers.
Even adult women with small boobs like these overflowed in the world.
Call it breast diversity theory.
"Wh-what are you doing..."
"More importantly... if you've got time, wanna play a fun game with your uncle?"
"Wh-what is it? No, I don't like it, nooo, what is it-!"
Uriel freaked out, flailing to escape my arms.
I wasn't actually gonna do anything, but her reaction was so funny I just chuckled.
A chief researcher like her probably had a PhD, could be a professor at some university—a total heavyweight scholar.
Guess being smart doesn't mean you're chill in every area.
I knew it for sure now.
Ever since that last sex session, Uriel's cocky attitude toward me had totally deflated.
Sure, in front of others she still called me a monster or Primitive Male.
But alone? She was visibly tense.
"As I said, you have to participate in experiments starting today—please, follow me."
"I can go casual, right?"
"Do whatever..."
I followed her in the sleeveless workout gear I'd been exercising in.
I could feel her sneaking glances at my arms even after we left the room.
'This girl's so obvious.'
Uriel's endless curiosity was zeroed in on my muscles.
I flexed my arms and chest for no reason, puffing up my frame.
Not quite satisfied yet, though.
'Even I think it's building fast.'
Right after waking from the Cryogenic Device, I was definitely scrawny (or was I?), but after a few weeks, I'd recovered about half my pre-hibernation body condition.
Thick shoulder caps, pecs—looked pretty damn good in the shower.
Back in the day, I figured this beat most models.
I checked the mirror, arms behind my head in a lock, flexing my abs.
And Uriel seemed to have noticed my changes too.
"Um... hasn't your body gotten a lot bigger? Seems pointlessly inefficient..."
Uriel muttered as we walked the empty Penthouse hallway.
"A question?"
"Not sure. Question or not."
"Seems like I bulk up pretty quick."
"Must be the S-X Virus."
"...Maybe."
"Doyun-ssi's body coexisting with the virus is definitely anomalous. It's like the viruses have formed a single integrated system with Doyun-ssi's body."
"Hmm, got it."
I shrugged.
No point denying it.
Libido, strength...
A ton of symptoms from excessive T-Hormone secretion matched S-X disease symptoms.
Conversely, S-X Virus outbreaks meant T-Hormone overproduction.
So yeah, bulking up, quick stamina recovery, random boners, that restless urge to test my strength sometimes—it was all the influence.
"But I'm not smashing stuff or anything. Thanks to your meds, maybe."
"That's instant castration."
"What...?"
"I will cut your dick. If you..."
"Terrifying. Uriel-ah."
"Does that sound like a joke?"
"I'll pretend I didn't hear it."
"So, take your medicine properly."
"Yeah, yeah."
I sidled up and rested a hand on Uriel's shoulder, walking side by side.
Acting buddy-buddy.
She flinched but pretended not to notice the skinship.
"Thanks to your prescription, I don't have to be a beast."
"...Your erection is positive, huh."
"You're sweet to even care about my boners. Kinda..."
"What're you talking about? Erection? No idea what you mean. Say 'erection.'"
"You know it went in you and came out, right?"
We stopped in front of the elevator.
"That was... no matter how I think about it, a really bad thing."
"Yeah?"
"It was embarrassing too. If other women found out, I'd be socially dead."
"You're using some fancy words there? Must've been rough, huh?"
"Couldn't walk for a while. Kept thinking about it every night, couldn't sleep."
"Couldn't sleep every night? Wonder what that means."
I grinned and gently tickled Uriel's ear.