This Guy, Lee Si-hoo...? # 1
This Guy, Lee Si-hoo...? # 1
I'd finished eating and bought all my gear, so now it was time to head back. Grinning ear to ear, I got into the instructor's car.
And off we went.
"Today was really fun, Instructor. Just browsing the store was entertaining. When I'm older and earn money, I'll have to go shopping like that."
"Right. Guys who pay attention to their gear tend to fight longer without getting hurt. Safety first and second. Make sure you take care of it."
"Heh heh, yes, ma'am."
Sitting in the passenger seat, I sipped coffee and chatted with the instructor about how the world was turning.
"Oh, and by the way, Kim Geun-cheol. I hear dungeon appearances are on the rise lately. Just in case, if you run into a dungeon gate, don't even think about going in. Report it first. Got it?"
"What, do I look like some weirdo to you? Why would I go into one after seeing it?"
A dungeon, huh.
I've already been inside the dungeon Kitty made for me once. But I am a little curious about what a normal dungeon is like.
I've got gear now, so going in once wouldn't be bad.
"Up until now, we've had so many incidents... and apart from that, the number of gates appearing suddenly without warning signs has increased. Be extra careful. It seems like everything, from defense systems and all, is about to change."
"True. All the existing defense operations and plans and stuff."
"They were set up based on gates appearing with warning signs."
"Yes."
"Now it'll change."
"It'll have to."
What can you do?
The world's changing now.
Maybe the instructor had me pegged, because after that, she kept telling me to choose escape over combat if I encountered any strange phenomenon.
"When all I hear from you is things I shouldn't do, it feels like I'm a delinquent student and my mentality is about to explode. Please cut me some slack."
"Then let's move on to some good news. Kim Geun-cheol, your grades have been improving drastically lately, and I couldn't be happier. You're really working hard. It's not easy to grow like that."
"Didn't I say I'm an honor student? Heh heh."
"You're doing well. Keep it up."
"Understood!"
While we were talking, we soon reached my neighborhood. I said goodbye to the instructor, got out, and headed to the dorms.
* * *
A brief break.
"Phew."
Having finished a training set, Woo Yu-ri headed up to the rooftop, let the wind hit her, and pulled out her phone. She figured she'd rest a bit before going back down. She scrolled through the screen, checking if anything had happened during training.
"Huh? What the hell's this?"
Her mouth dropped open.
[Idol Lee So-ra. Shocking Underage Dating Scandal. Is This Forbidden Love? And If So, What Is Forbidden for a Superhuman?]
The instructor isn't some idol, but she's a hero that popular. But what kind of insane nonsense was this? She clicked through to the news article right away, and there, unashamedly exposed, was a photo of the instructor and Kim Geun-cheol together in a two-shot.
"Crazy. What nonsense. A relationship? Kim Geun-cheol and the instructor?"
As if the instructor would do that. And that bastard Kim Geun-cheol never showed any signs like that either.
"Anyway, these article-writing bastards..."
Even as she thought that, Woo Yu-ri quickly called Kim Geun-cheol to confirm the truth.
—Brrring.
A brief dial tone.
"Yo. Hello? Yu-ri? What's up?"
His voice was utterly carefree. Yu-ri, who'd been about to speak, noticed the edge in her own voice, cleared her throat once, and said.
"Hey. Where did you go with the instructor today?"
"Ah, I went to that shop today. Just got out of the car and I'm heading inside."
"Shop?"
"You know that thing the other day? Ham Woong-cheol. I said I'd get compensated with gear for that. When I mentioned it, the instructor next to me said she'd help me pick stuff. So I went today. Bought a bunch of things. Wanna see?"
Well, she had to see this.
"What the hell did you buy to make you sound so damn proud? Anyway, got it. But Kim Geun-cheol, did you see what's online?"
"What?"
"Forbidden love, man. They're calling it forbidden love."
"Heh heh, that. Ah, seriously. I did get my picture taken like crazy earlier. When I went to the store with the instructor, damn. People swarmed around us like bees."
From his voice, he clearly didn't care at all. Figures. As if the instructor would be dating him.
"Is that so?"
But...
Why did this bastard go without saying a word? If he was going, he could've at least mentioned it. Woo Yu-ri thought, scratching her head.
* * *
"Kim Geun-cheol, what the hell is this?!"
Leona had been training when she checked her phone and was shocked. Instructor Lee So-ra and Kim Geun-cheol. A scandal had erupted between them.
"Of course, it's nothing like that! But what is this!"
She thought it was obviously not true, but...
"Eek!"
Leona felt uncomfortable.
"I need to hear directly from him...!"
What kind of country is Korea to produce articles like this?
* * *
—Thump, thump, thump!
The moment I got back, I went into my room, took off my outerwear, and pounded on Si-hoo's door.
"Si-hoo! Si-hoo! Come out!"
I needed to show off to this bastard, so why won't she open the door!
"Uh, uh-huh...? Geun-cheol? You're back?"
"Hey, Si-hoo! Can you see this!"
"Ack!"
—Whoosh!
The instant Si-hoo cracked open the door, I yanked it open violently and charged inside.
So there I was, in my underarmor and shorts, wearing only my gloves and combat boots, doing a dribbling motion like some thuggish basketball player as I rushed in.
"Y-you crazy bastard! Don't come in with your shoes on!!!"
"Hahaha! Dribbling! Fucking dribbling!"
I can just clean the floor later! Right now, showing off is more important!
"Si-hoo, look! All the stuff I bought today! Just what I'm wearing is tens of millions of won!"
"Bullshit! Cut the crap!"
—Whoosh!
As I strutted around the room, Si-hoo doled out punishment. I tried to block it, but it wasn't easy—even using the power of my gear.
"Urk!"
Si-hoo grabbed me, lifted me like a barbell, and spun me around in the air!
"Hey! Hey! Let me go!"
"You need some punishment!"
"Ack!"
All because of a little joke!
"Gwahk!"
Only after spinning for a good while did my back finally hit the floor. Anyway, Si-hoo looked down at me, sprawled out like a starfish, and said.
"Seriously, Geun-cheol. What are you doing with that big body of yours?"
"It's for showing off. To brag. See?"
I beckoned with my eyes for her to look at my outfit.
"The underarmor is Maximum Kraken, the shoes are Footman Greave, and the gloves are from Justice 3M."
"All expensive stuff. And they have defensive abilities."
"Right. With this, huh? What'll my combat power be? It'll skyrocket, obviously."
I'm so proud.
"But Geun-cheol, if you rely on gear like that, your actual skill will..."
"Bzzt! Lee Si-hoo, boomer! Lee Si-hoo, you're a boomer!"
"Wha, what?! What did you say!"
"Hey, do you know what the instructor said?"
I passed on the instructor's words verbatim to Si-hoo.
She said older heroes believe that relying on gear stops your real skill from improving. But young people don't really think that way.
"Geun-cheoll!! I give you proper advice and you call me a boomer?! You monster, Kim Geun-cheol!"
Si-hoo, who freaked out at the word 'boomer.'
"Uh-oh. Better take off my shoes."
Anyway, I took off my shoes and gloves, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
"Phew... Still, you look excited. Geun-cheol, are you happy because you got good gear?"
"Heh heh, of course I'm damn happy. The instructor picked it all out for me today."
I feel like I could fly.
"..."
When I said that, Si-hoo stared at me.
"So, Geun-cheol."
"Hm?"
"Are you feeling better?"
Better?
"You were down because that agent messed you up."
"Nah, just because one bad thing happened doesn't mean I'll stay down."
It's nothing.
"I just buried it. Consider it squared away with the gear. I'll probably feel like shit when I see his face later, but I'll think about that then. If I get stronger later, I'll beat him up then. That's how I decided to deal with it."
"Then that's fine."
Si-hoo nodded.
"That's like a hero."
A cool, superhuman-like way of thinking.
"But Si-hoo. Shouldn't you...? If a friend gets wronged, couldn't you go to, like, Sovereign Commander, and say, 'My friend has been treated unjustly, so, please save him'? Something like that?"
I joked on purpose because it seemed like Si-hoo was worrying for no reason.
"No, Geun-cheol. Even if we are family, there's no way that could happen."
"Heh heh, is that so?"
"Anyway, I'm glad you're back in good spirits."
I got my spirits back ages ago.
"But it's a shame the water play got busted. The beach was fun."
"Same for me. I really regret it too."
Si-hoo echoed my feeling.
"I wanted to play more. But that incident happened suddenly."
"We can go again next time. Let's go again next year."
"Yeah. Let's do that."
She answered with a smile, but seeing Si-hoo's face, it seemed she felt a lot of regret. The timing was bad, after all.
"Why, Si-hoo? Is it that big a regret?"
"Honestly, yes."
Should I suggest going somewhere?
"How much lingering regret are we talking about?"
"Well... about the, uh, swimsuit."
"What about the swimsuit?"
"At the beach, I only wore a men's swimsuit, right?"
Suddenly, Si-hoo started fidgeting as if embarrassed and avoided my gaze.
What was this guy trying to say?
"Yeah, you did. You were in full gear."
"That's why I have more regret."
"Why?"
"A-actually..."
Actually?
"Well... I kinda wanted to wear a bikini and play, to be honest... So, yeah. Ha, ha ha... that's why."
What?
"You wanted to wear a bikini and play?"
"Uh-huh... is that weird?"
"You bastard!!!!"
"Geh?! Why!"
Lee Si-hoo in a bikini!
"You, you! You had a desire like that!"
"Hey, why are you talking like it's something weird?! I'm a girl too!"
I know that!
"I have that kind of desire! Because I was born a woman!"
"So you're saying just because you were born a woman, you want to wear a bikini and play?"
"Leona and Yu-ri did it too!"
"Ah."
Right.
Actually, when you think about it, it's not weird at all. No. I can understand. If you're a woman, it's possible.
But.
"..."
Si-hoo's huge... tits. They popped back into my mind. With something that massive, does she get the urge to flaunt them or something?
The moment I thought that.
"S-so... Geun-cheol...?"
"Uh... why?"
Si-hoo said something cautiously, but I couldn't meet her eyes because that huge pair of breasts kept coming to mind.
—Swish.
In front of my eyes.
Something strange was thrust forward.
"This."
"What's this?"
A bikini.
No matter how you looked at it, it was a bikini.
—Swish.
When I looked at Si-hoo's face.
"I... bought this today."
Si-hoo held the bikini out to me, averted her gaze to the side, blushing and scratching her cheek.
"Should I try it on...?"
What the hell!!!
