Family (2)
Family (2)
When I didn't say anything, Rina asked.
"You can understand, can't you, Family Head?"
"... Eh? What did you say..."
"......"
No way in hell could I admit that I'd blacked out for a second because of my grandniece's cleavage.
'I'm the same as ever. If Seo-yoon saw me like this after I finally woke up, she'd sigh.'
Fortunately, Rina repeated herself.
"What I just said is a greeting not as a man, but as the Head of the Family-nim, our distant ancestor. You're one of the people who carried on the Eden Genesis family line. So, that said, I'm sorry, but from now on, you can't expect this kind of treatment in front of others. The Head of the Family-nim is a man, so we can't ignore society's gaze. You need to understand that beforehand if our relationship is going to be comfortable."
Rina put emphasis on the word 'man.'
I definitely got that it was a derogatory term.
Wasn't it just talk of a Female-Dominant Era—this felt like noble versus commoner levels?
In short, Rina had done her best to show me proper respect in her own way.
In front of researchers who shared the common sense of the Female-Dominant Era, she'd use informal speech.
This ultimate cleavage-reveal greeting—no, ultra-polite greeting...
It properly conveyed her intentions.
"Thanks... guh."
"......"
"No, really, thanks..."
Rina tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Less like smiling, more like 'making' a smile—that felt like the right description.
Still, I could understand Rina's position.
She looked exhausted and sensitive.
Seemed like she had a lot on her mind.
Her half-lidded eyes and unsmiling lips were probably all because of that.
'Well, yeah. For the leader of a corporation, it's a heavy burden for such a young... young woman to handle alone.'
In fact, Kang Rina would occasionally press her forehead or swallow pills, like stress-related habits.
Even in this short moment, watching from the side, she was a total workaholic, her mind all on business.
Her business-optimized speech was probably an occupational hazard.
She looked familiar for some reason—yep, she took after my little sister.
If she was Seo-yoon's descendant, she probably had that perfectionist personality too.
Originally, Seo-yoon wasn't destined to inherit the family business.
I was the eldest son, slacking off through heir training, after all.
Seo-yoon was more the scholar type.
Not great with people, either.
Even if she talked nonsense a lot, I was better suited for business with my people-pleasing nature.
'Did she end up in a role that didn't suit her...?'
If Rina really was Seo-yoon's descendant, their personalities would look similar at a glance.
Rina's stress right now wouldn't be strange in this hyper-advanced future city—it was at extreme levels.
Suddenly, I wanted to apologize to her, so I said.
"... Getting serious all of a sudden feels weird, but sorry."
"If it was just stealing a peek at my cleavage, that's fine. But don't look at other women."
"Ah, you knew?"
"Impossible not to notice. The Head of the Family-nim wouldn't know since you're from the old days, but women have radar for that."
"Eh, you even know I'm younger. I mean..."
"I'm definitely older."
Rina nodded with an expressionless face and said.
"More importantly, if it wasn't about staring at my chest, then what's there to be sorry for?"
"Well... because of me, Seo-yoon ended up inheriting the family business. To me, it doesn't seem like this job suits your temperament. Even if it does, it's not easy, so in the end, I'm the one who made you suffer."
"... I have no idea what you're talking about. I love my job."
"Then that's a relief."
"......"
But watching her facial muscles subtly relax from the side, I could tell she'd gotten some real comfort from my words just now.
That part was like Seo-yoon too.
"Now we're heading to the Penthouse. That's where we'll house the Head of the Family-nim."
Rina glanced at me cautiously and explained.
"Eh... You don't have to go that far...?"
"It's consideration for the Head of the Family-nim, but you don't have the freedom to refuse."
"... It was an order?"
"To be honest, this is confinement. Get used to being confined."
"Guh, that's scarier than an order. Confinement, really."
"......"
"Haha, like a confinement neglect play or something... Plus, getting that from my grandniece would be, haang..."
I'd thrown it out as a joke, but all I got back was expressionless dignity.
Who knew even this would be exactly like Seo-yoon.
No, normally people don't react like that.
Would this kid only cry when I'm on my deathbed?
Rina gave a long, business-like answer listing only the essentials.
"Tomorrow, we'll proceed with the examination. S-X Virus check. It's dormant now, but as your physical activity ramps up, it might awaken naturally. We need to prepare. We also need to research how the ancient S-X differs from modern variants. Proper medication is necessary too. So until then, we'll house the Head of the Family-nim in the safest, most controllable place... I won't hide the intent."
Whoa, scary, so scary.
Kang Rina, preemptively blocking every question I could ask.
Man, my ancestor status might leave her cold.
She stood in a rigidly stiff posture, seeking my permission.
So stiff she looked rigid.
Not much flexibility.
Occasional head tilts or fidgeting with her hair bun—her muscles seemed knotted too.
"Hey, I'm pretty talented at massages. If I offered, would you refuse?"
"Massage...?"
At my out-of-left-field comment, Rina furrowed her brow.
Very subtle, but to me, it stood out crystal clear, like peering through a magnifying glass.
"I'm really good at it. Sent a bunch of—"
"Sent them where?"
"Ah, I mean it feels good."
"... I'll pass. Not sure why, but it feels like something I shouldn't do."
"R-Right. Whatever. Request anytime. The Head of the Family-nim has nothing but time."
Rina turned her back to me again.
I quietly mulled over her words.
But is my virus such a big deal just because it's 'ancient'?
400 years is definitely a long time.
Still, that word choice...
Am I just being sensitive?
'Ancient S-X Virus,' seriously.
Felt like waking up as an Australopithecus or Neanderthal to distant descendants.
Even though the actual age gap isn't that big.
If anything, she's the older one.
How much could humans evolve in 400 years?
"To the Penthouse."
In the golden elevator, Kang Rina said.
I nearly channeled a country bumpkin and replied.
Wasn't talking to me, probably.
The elevator recognized her voice and started ascending.
I stared at Kang Rina's back and her slender fingers.
Her slightly long but clean nails gleamed peach-colored.
From inside the Cryogenic Device, they'd seemed oddly huge somehow, but actual Kang Rina was much smaller than me—maybe 173cm.
Tall for a woman, sure, but who knows about the future.
She wore suit pants, but her hips looked firm and wide.
"......"
With all the talk of Female-Dominant Era, gene manipulation, etc.
I'd imagined women as overwhelmingly giant compared to men.
But this part didn't seem much different.
I averted my eyes from Rina's smooth, contoured hip line.
The fabric looked thinner than expected.
'Even so, looking at my grandniece like this...'
A twinge of guilt.
Descendant or not, by blood relation, she's basically a stranger.
"......"
Height aside, future women's development seemed subtly different.
Nutrition excuse wouldn't fly— that was already good 400 years ago.
Can't take Rina as average, but those female researchers in lab coats earlier—their hips, chests... figures too, were quite different from the Korean women I remembered.
Even different from Seo-yoon.
Seo-yoon was pretty up there, but even without sibling penalty, objectively, she was the confessed-to school beauty... but not to this extent.
Not porcelain skin or vase-like figure like Rina.
Love handles in spots that stuck out, making her back view brain-melting.
Her slim waist and leg lines couldn't be hidden by shirt or pants.
Maybe gene manipulation results.
Honestly, in a world where men were neutered, why evolve that sexually?
No matter how I looked, it didn't add up...
"Anyway... please rest comfortably."
The elevator opened, and I, who'd been staring at Kang Rina's cleavage shadowing between her two undone buttons from behind, heard her greeting and hurriedly looked away.
Luckily, she didn't seem to notice anything off.
'No way she didn't notice. Worst case.'
I felt like banging my forehead against the wall.
'Caught peeking at cleavage during the greeting, and now this. Smooth, Doyun.'
Fortunately, Rina didn't call out my weird reaction and moved on.
"It's your ID. Wear this around your neck. Bio-implant in the neck or hand would be more convenient, but..."
Rina held out a card on a lanyard with her clean, smooth hand.
Sounds good, but the follow-up was bewildering.
Implant?
She doesn't know insertion is a man's worst fear. My innocent Rina.
"Nah, this is fine."
I quickly waved it off.
By now, implanting ID or info substances into the body was super common, smartphone-level normalized, but I'm an ancient.
... Yeah, an Australopithecus awakened from the 'ancient' era.
So for now, carrying a card ID was less burdensome.
"After tomorrow's exam, we'll provide a Black Card issued by our company."
"Eh~ Black Card desu ka?"
"... Pardon?"
"Kidding... was imitating a Japanese person. Oh, by the way! Black Card means unlimited limit, right?"
Gag failed.
I quickly changed the subject.
"... Not truly unlimited, but effectively yes."
"Got it, I'll use it sparingly."
"No need. You won't go out much anyway. And everything pings notifications."
"......"
"For the time being, we need government consultation. The Head of the Family-nim wouldn't know, but your existence is truly alien. You'll see when you go out later—literally a Third Gender."
Rina slowly eyed my rolled-up sleeve arm, thigh, shoulders.
Didn't seem like ulterior motives.
But with my grandniece seeing right through me, I felt like the crazy one.
"Veins bulging all over... Muscles are huge too."
Rina approached, her voice thick with breathy undertones.
What the—?
Honestly, I was flustered.