A Slightly Late Summer Vacation (4)
As Sung Taekyung walked through the international warp gate terminal alongside Do Sihee, something felt off in the direction they were heading.
“……”
“Mr. Sungcheol?”
Do Sihee, who had been strolling arm-in-arm with him, immediately turned her gaze toward him when he stopped in his tracks, as if wondering what was wrong.
“What's up? Did you forget something?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“Then what?”
He answered her honestly as she tilted her head in confusion, describing exactly what he had seen and sensed.
“Miss Sihee, just to be sure— this is the international warp gate terminal, right?”
“Yes, it is. Why?”
“……”
Do Sihee gave him a look that said so what? and asked the question right back. In that moment, he realized why she was reacting this way.
Come to think of it, for someone like Do Sihee, there wasn't much difference in distance between domestic and overseas. Every time a gap like this popped up in their perspectives, it left him with a strange feeling—a reminder of their inescapable difference in status.
Of course, he'd half-expected an overseas trip when she suggested heading to a terminal full of long-distance warp gates. The real issue wasn't the destination abroad, though.
“Miss Sihee, you might be disappointed by this, but…”
“…Are you not a fan of going overseas?”
“I didn't think we'd be going international, so I haven't gotten a passport. What do we do now?”
She'd contacted him just the day before—on a weekend, no less—so there hadn't been any time to apply for one. In his previous life, maybe, but in this one, he'd lived a pure 100% Korean life without ever stepping foot abroad. Naturally, he hadn't bothered with a passport.
And some countries required visas on top of that. He couldn't help but wonder what she was basing her confidence on, dragging him overseas like this.
“It's fine.”
“Pardon?”
“As an A-rank hunter from the Do Kyung Group, I qualify for an international H-1 visa. You and Eunbyeol can enter on H-2 visas as my escorts. No passports needed.”
“H-1 visa?”
“It's an international visa granted to skilled hunters affiliated with trusted global corporations or organizations. The Do Kyung Group is on that trusted list, as is my Ariel Foundation. And since I've just become an A-rank hunter myself, I more than qualify. If you think about it, this is another gift from you.”
It wasn't strange that he'd never heard of it. Without Do Sihee, he'd probably have gone his whole life oblivious to its existence.
“In that case, we're good.”
“I figured you'd at least ask which country. Not curious?”
“Anywhere you take me won't feel cold, even if it's the South Pole.”
“…Y-you… That's exactly how you should feel!”
Do Sihee beamed, practically vibrating with joy as she clung to his arm. If she had a tail, it would've been wagging furiously. Maybe next time we play with an actual tail attachment.
A fleeting lewd thought crossed his mind as they resumed walking, but then he felt a peculiar gaze from behind. Turning around, his eyes met Eunbyeol's—she was carrying their luggage and following dutifully.
“Is something the matter, Mr. Kim Sungcheol?”
“…No, nothing at all.”
Her eyes remained as inscrutable as ever, giving no hint of her thoughts.
After passing through the long-distance warp gate with Sihee and Eunbyeol, they arrived somewhere in a pleasantly warm southern country.
He'd half-prepared to pull out his ID from his pocket just in case, but his worries proved unfounded. Do Sihee simply showed something to the gate attendant, and the three of them breezed through the international warp gate.
The entry inspection at their destination went just as smoothly. In his previous life, international travel meant hours on a plane plus a hassle of paperwork. But with warp gates and Do Sihee's international visa, they were in another country in the blink of an eye.
Feeling like it was safe to ask now, he broached the topic of their location.
“Judging by the weather and the people, it looks like somewhere in Southeast Asia.”
“Right. It's an island nation in Southeast Asia, after all.”
“An island nation in Southeast Asia… Philippines or Indonesia?”
“Yes, exactly. Indonesia.”
Do Sihee nodded as if he'd nailed it. At least it was closer than France. Wait—hadn't she said they were going to the Do Kyung Group's private beach?
“Didn't you say we were heading to the Do Kyung Group's private beach?”
“Of course. That's why we're in Indonesia.”
“Huh?”
“Indonesia has so many islands, big and small. It's not weird for the Do Kyung Group to own a couple, right?”
“……”
His imagination had pictured some fenced-off villa on a domestic beach like the East Sea. How pitifully limited. Then again, they wouldn't have taken an international warp gate for something like that.
“I've already arranged transport to the island. This way, Mr. Sungcheol.”
Following her hand, they arrived at a helicopter landing pad on one side of the Indonesian warp gate terminal. While he and Do Sihee dawdled, Eunbyeol—who'd arrived first—had already settled into the front passenger seat, prepping for takeoff.
“Takeoff preparations complete, Miss Do Sihee, Mr. Kim Sungcheol.”
The maid, sporting UV-blocking sunglasses, looked back at them.
“Don't tell me the 'guide' for the private beach is…”
“Eunbyeol here also has her rotary-wing pilot certification.”
So that was the baseline for a maid serving the Do Kyung Group's heiress. Calming his bewildered heart, he boarded the helicopter with Do Sihee. Once they were buckled in with headphones on, Eunbyeol glanced back from the front.
“Lifting off.”
First time riding in a helicopter piloted by an active maid.
“Nngh~~!!!”
Stepping off the helicopter, Do Sihee stretched languidly, letting out a satisfied groan.
“Long flights are still tough. You must be worn out too, right, Mr. Sungcheol?”
“I'm fine. This much is nothing.”
The flight had lasted barely over an hour, and the headphones had blocked most of the noise, making it surprisingly comfortable. In the old world, even nearby countries meant bracing for two or three hours. This was a breeze by comparison.
The one who'd actually done the work—the helicopter pilot Eunbyeol—didn't seem fatigued at all.
“Thank you for enduring the long flight, Miss Do Sihee, Mr. Kim Sungcheol.”
She greeted them casually, as if it were nothing, then matter-of-factly began unloading and carrying luggage to the villa—her expression as unreadable as ever.
Watching her retreating figure, his gaze shifted to the villa itself, and a gasp escaped his lips.
“Whoa…”
When she'd first mentioned an uninhabited island villa, he'd vaguely imagined a modest cabin. Instead, a grand three-story wooden house—larger than he'd dreamed—greeted them. Spotting the helicopter pad and dock on this tiny island drove home the Do Kyung Group's true power.
“What are you staring at like that?”
“Just… I didn't expect a villa this massive.”
“This one's on the small side. Material transport to an island has its limits, they said. Aside from the foundation, it's mostly local timber processed on-site.”
“……”
“There are nicer, bigger beach villas with estates, but sadly, my sister beat me to it.”
“Is your sister with the foundation too?”
“As the Do Kyung Group heir, of course she's— wait, why are you so curious?”
“No need to answer if it's uncomfortable.”
Her reaction soured the moment he probed deeper about her sister, so he quickly changed tack. She didn't seem to mind him seeing other women much, but she got oddly wary if it involved another foundation hunter—even her own blood relative.
Well, meeting Do Sihee herself was already a miracle of coincidences stacked atop one another. No way it'd extend to her sister.
“Plenty of day left, so how about lunch first, then the beach?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Eunbyeol, prepare lunch.”
As suspected, their sole servant for the three-day, two-night stay was just Eunbyeol. Fresh off piloting, Do Sihee tasked her with cooking too. He wondered if that was okay, but then a familiar maid's voice echoed from inside the villa.
“Already on it. Please wait 25 minutes.”
Sure enough, the women of this world were made of tough stuff.