School Trip (4)
‘How the hell am I supposed to hide this……?’
In that split second, several ideas flashed through Yoo Hae-bin’s mind. And just as quickly, they were all discarded.
The white patient gown was so thin it was no exaggeration to say her skin showed through faintly. And she had to wear only that, with gauze taped to her chest and back. Lee Dojin had explained it all in a very kind, gentle tone, with perfectly reasonable justification that even Yoo Hae-bin couldn’t argue against.
“We got permission to share a room by saying it’s for a mana sensitivity experiment, right?”
“Uh, yeah…… I guess……?”
It was a ridiculous excuse she herself had made up, but he’d gone along with it and even prepared a solution. She was grateful, and the school trip had been something to look forward to. But that was as far as it went.
She hadn’t actually expected him to do the experiment. And yet, here they were, doing it for real.
“So, we’re looking at the natural branching of mana attributes that appear unconsciously when ambient mana converts into your body’s mana…… If it were your usual mana usage, normal clothes would be fine, but for sensitivity measurement, the experimental outfit is way better than sleeping in regular clothes. It’s practically the same as sleeping naked. Tomorrow morning, we just remove the gauze and check the color and residual mana reaction. That’s all we need.”
“Professor…… do we really have to……? It’s kind of a hassle……”
Yoo Hae-bin decided to play the pitiful card first. Of course, she didn’t expect him to buy something as flimsy as “hassle,” and sure enough, Lee Dojin’s voice turned firm.
“If we don’t get results from this, we’ll hear, ‘You didn’t do the experiment, but you insisted on sharing a room—what the hell are you up to?’”
“Ah…… then can I tape the gauze on and sleep, but wear more clothes because it’s cold……?”
“I run hot anyway, so I’ll crank the heat. Do you know how expensive this is? It’s not just thin—it’s mana-processed. You have to sleep in just this top and bottom, no exceptions. If it feels too weird, you can keep your panties on. Hold on. I’ve got experimental underwear prepared too……”
Muttering to himself, Lee Dojin rummaged through his carry-on and pulled out a scrap of thin black fabric that clung to the body. Like the experimental outfit, it was embarrassingly sheer.
Handing the underwear to the speechless Yoo Hae-bin, he explained again.
“Gauze, experimental underwear, experimental top and bottoms. Nothing else. Sorry, no blankets either. But I’ll keep the heat on full blast.”
“Uh…… I just thought of something. What if you wear it and—”
“God, you’re so damn nitpicky. This is to secure experiment data, and our mana wavelengths are totally different. If I do it, we’ll still get, ‘Hae-bin didn’t participate in the experiment, but insisted on sharing a room—what the hell?’”
“Ah, uh……”
“So shut up and strip.”
“……W-why?”
His declarative tone made Yoo Hae-bin’s heart drop. When she stammered back, Lee Dojin looked equally unenthused as he replied.
“Why? So I can tape it on. It has to be precise on your chest and back, front and back. You sure you can do it right?”
“N-no, of course I can. H-ha, what do you take me for? I’ll go to the bathroom, use the mirror, and do it.”
Desperate to escape the crisis, Yoo Hae-bin rushed into the bathroom. But avoidance was just avoidance. Lee Dojin’s voice from the door crack cut through the harsh reality.
“After you tape it, you have to let me check if it’s on straight.”
“……”
Yoo Hae-bin didn’t respond. She just weakly pulled off her hoodie, loose T-shirt, and pajama pants. Now only her innermost undergarments remained against her skin.
She repeated to herself endlessly. Oh god, this is insane. Totally insane. This can’t happen…… No, he’d lose his mind. Save me……
The dragon living as Yoo Hae-bin had constantly altered her appearance since fleeing through the rift. A dragon’s mana wavelength was distinctly different from a human’s, so she hid it. And altering the mana wavelength required changing her external appearance too.
Not a drastic change, though—just enough to blur her features and body lines into an androgynous haze for the mana camouflage. That was sufficient to live as “Yoo Hae-bin.” But……
If I strip completely, how could he not notice……?
Yoo Hae-bin stripped off the fabrics touching her skin. Her reflection in the mirror. Worlds apart from how Lee Dojin perceived her clothed.
Her hair was fairly long, but he’d describe her now as “Yoo Hae-bin with noticeably short hair.” Her slender frame would become “Yoo Hae-bin with a lean, healthy build full of subtle charm.”
Depending on whether Lee Dojin saw Yoo Hae-bin as male or female, that’s how it would shift.
Ah…… this timing…… it’s too weak an impact……
She had no intention of hiding forever. The resistance leaders urged her to maintain this form as long as possible. Once she reverted even once, she couldn’t fake the mana wavelength anymore, and her appearance would revert too. Until her body and mana fully matured to wield her power as the dragon clan leader’s blood heir, she had to stay like this.
Still…… that annoying Dojin who’s been side-eyeing me for being too close to Sea…… if he keeps helping like this……
Even if growth wasn’t complete, a situation might force her true form. She wouldn’t hesitate then.
Like, whoa? You took such a huge loss for me, and I’m all ‘I love it~’ vibes, helping you out big time, and then—bam—you see the real me? Whoa, Hae-bin’s visuals are insane! That reaction…… perfect.
If the plan worked, Yoo Hae-bin figured she could rise to rival even the boss. Not that she had concrete desires to challenge anyone yet……
But that’d be way more fun.
Getting exposed like this—in this half-assed, awkward situation—wasn’t ideal at all.
Still…… ha…… no choice, huh?
Yoo Hae-bin admitted she couldn’t dodge this. So the breakthrough…… at least start building a meaningful atmosphere now.
Go out naked, talk first, he freaks, then stack episodes from there.
It differed from her grand vision, but not bad in its own way.
Resolved, Yoo Hae-bin redressed. After deep breaths, she pondered her opener and headed out—
Just then, Lee Dojin’s voice conversing with someone outside.
“Ah, yes. Hmm…… really? If the results are off, there’s some risk, but no, of course I trust you. But why bother? We could do it here. Eh, hmm…… yeah, if we’re set on that from the start, it’ll be easier to adjust. Yes, yes. I’ll bring Hae-bin. You changed yet?”
The last part was for her. Sensing a spark of hope, Yoo Hae-bin replied.
“Ah, this is tricky to tape, so a bit longer.”
“Then just rip off the gauze and come out in your regular clothes.”
Yoo Hae-bin sighed in relief and stepped out. As expected, a mana hologram floated, showing Phantom’s boss disguised as someone resembling Lee Sea, smiling brightly.
“Yes? Oh, yeah. It’s been fun.”
“Yes……?”
“Put the gauze close to the hologram.”
At Lee Dojin’s words, Yoo Hae-bin raised her hand curiously. Whiiirrr—
Mana flowed from beyond the hologram, dyeing the gauze in vibrant colors. The boss continued.
“Hmm…… yeah, looks like it. If it matches what I see, I’ll believe it’s Hae-bin’s mana.”
Lee Dojin examined the gauze closely before affirming. Yoo Hae-bin knew his analytical skills were unmatched. With the boss and him vouching, it had to be legit.
“But there’s a slight gap—intentional, right?”
“……Thanks.”
This conversation was beyond Yoo Hae-bin. The boss indulging Lee Dojin. Him trusting her with his deepest secrets. How to describe it—an insurmountable……
Gap in standing……?
As she mulled that, the hologram spoke.
“Ah…… yes, Boss. Thank you……”
“Goodnight, sis.”
Her pleased tone ended as the hologram vanished.
Handing over the gauze and experimental clothes to Lee Dojin, Yoo Hae-bin silently lay on the bed. The boss’s words and expression lingered vividly.
She said she helped because I was being tormented into not sleeping comfortably, and to sleep well……
On the surface, concern for Yoo Hae-bin. But really……
‘Don’t scheme any events—just come back quietly.’
The boss helped, but not out of kindness. She just didn’t like potential incidents without her involvement. So she nipped it in the bud, casually.
She’s…… too much……
A miraculous save, but not by her wits. If this were track, these sentences fit perfectly.
Chewing on today’s defeat, Yoo Hae-bin lectured herself inwardly.
‘Yoo Hae-bin is preparing for the race…… Jin Yu-ri’s started running lately…… Fiancée hasn’t entered the stadium…… Lee Sea’s watching pitifully from the stands……’
And the last one. Phantom’s boss—the final boss.
‘The boss…… is smiling at the finish line.’
Not despair, just fact. Recognizing it clearly, Yoo Hae-bin drifted to sleep.
May 6th, Thursday morning. Day two of the school trip was packed from the start.
Unlike yesterday’s general ruins, today focused on sites tied to mana’s emergence. With so much to see, the bus left early and zipped around Gyeongju, students more excited than before.
“Let’s see, next is…… oh, Silver Demon Mountain? I’ve wanted to go there.”
Yoo Hae-bin chattered from the next seat, her smiling face leaning toward me. Feeling a bit burdened, I subtly widened the gap without showing it.
“Not much to see there. The summit view’s nice, but that’s it.”
“Ah…… really? It looked so pretty on TV.”
“Pretty, yeah, but calling it a ruin is a stretch.”
“Good enough. We’re going for the scenery.”
Satisfied, Yoo Hae-bin nodded exaggeratedly and gazed outside. While covertly scanning him…… I thought.
A vague hunch before sleep last night. Bluntly: this kid might not be a guy.
Ridiculous, I know. But piecing it together, the puzzle fits.
When Seo Yeon-hee checked his past, she seemed shocked. Normally, she’d enjoy watching me make him surrender…… but she couldn’t stomach it and left first.
His build and features. Plausible as male or female. Grow the hair, even more so.
Last night, he resisted the experiment fiercely. Seo Yeon-hee intervened right then. If she knew from his past he was a girl…… it explains.
And the final piece. Kill the Evil.
Even combining the prior clues, him being a girl in disguise is a stretch. But since this is a novel I wrote…… a cross-dressing girl isn’t impossible.
“What’s up?”
Yoo Hae-bin blinked at me. Pretty lashes, eyes sparkling like stars. Feeling guilty panic, I brushed it off.
“Nah, we’re almost there.”
No way. Can’t ask “Are you actually a girl?” right now……
We share a room again tonight, so sooner’s better, but…… considering how I’ve treated him, I need time to compose myself.
‘I, Yoo Hae-bin, admit my complete physical…… physical submission to Lee Dojin…… wholeheartedly……’
I made him say that after beating him silly outside the convenience store. If he’s really a girl, better plan a calm talk before returning tonight.
Could be a total miss and he laughs it off…… but I have to consider it might be spot-on.
Then the bus braked with a rumble, stopping. Descending, a mountain loomed a few hundred meters up.
Silver Demon Mountain. Over a millennium ago, a silver-shining superhuman slew evil demons and vanished, per legend. Records are scant.
Who was the silver hero? What demons? Unknown.
But not entirely mythical……
“Oh…… something’s different, huh?”
Yoo Hae-bin quipped up at the mountain. I knew why. Mana flow intensified nearing it. An inexplicable barrier around it made it tough for non-awakened beyond the entrance.
Famous site, yet empty save us. After the guide’s explanation on the name’s origin, mana-bearing leaders and students ascended.
Quick pace; despite height, summit neared fast. Purpose: sense mana flow amid views. Everyone scanned while climbing briskly.
Class 1’s lead: me. Yoo Hae-bin stuck close behind, Lee Sea and Jin Yu-ri three meters off, side by side.
Thirty minutes later.
“Nice view……”
Gyeongju sprawled below. Yoo Hae-bin, accelerating ahead, plopped center-summit.
“Professor, water?”
“Thanks.”
Taking the bottle, I looked down. Didn’t come in middle school, but high school yes. Unchanged; the talk with Se-ra up here stuck deep.
Pretty view, but how it imprints on me matters more, she’d said calmly, smiling. Hoped it’d be a good memory for me too.
More touching now…… because climbing with her made Silver Demon Mountain a good memory.
Great if I could tell her on return…… hope she’s not upset.
Sipping Yoo Hae-bin’s water, I sat beside. No inscriptions, no stele—just black bedrock.
Then, a hologram appeared.
Always-Active Trait 'Black Heart' Reacts. (Rank S)
Beyond-Grade Treasure 'Eastward Flowing Moon' Trace Encountered!
The four choices from the multiple-choice before. World Guardian’s hero Lee Si-hyeok and heroine Jeong Se-bin, Birth of the Demon God’s protagonist Lee Dojin, Kill the Evil’s Lee Sea. How all four survive?
a. Replace Kill the Evil’s protagonist
b. Fully awaken trait ‘Black Heart’
c. Destroy beyond-grade treasure ‘Eastward Flowing Moon’
d. Lose to Kill the Evil’s protagonist
Two not mentioning Kill the Evil’s protagonist…… appeared now.
The hologram continued.
Transmitting Kill the Evil Volume 2's Second Sub-Quest.
⟨ QUEST ISSUED ⟩
-Clear Condition: During National Academy 1 High School 2nd Year School Trip (May 5-7), rescue --- from crisis
-Special Note: Target selected as 'Final Boss' Lee Dojin via Kill the Evil Vol. 2 First Sub-Quest reward
-Clear Reward: To be determined based on quest details—choose now.
Kuuum! The summit ground split with a roar.
Fortunate only me and Yoo Hae-bin here. But……
The kids right behind: Jin Yu-ri and Sea. They ran over, eyes wide.
“Professor!”
“Oppa……!”
The peak fully cracked. Me and Yoo Hae-bin plummeted helplessly. Sea and Jin Yu-ri nearly in range too. I had to choose.
Kill the Evil Volume 2's Second Sub-Quest Adjusted.
⟨ QUEST UPDATED ⟩
-Clear Condition: By midnight May 6, rescue all [Silver Demon Mountain fall victims] from National Academy 1 High School 2nd Year
-Targets: Yoo Hae-bin, Lee Sea, Jin Yu-ri (Total 3)
-Clear Reward Calculated per Quest Details
-Clear Reward: Name of Confirmed Traitor Among Europe's 36 Heroes (1)