Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Her Back View is Insanely Pretty
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Her back view is insanely pretty.
Just like always, Min-ji's worries weren't all that deep.
This girl was the type who wouldn't agonize over even the most life-changing dilemma—something that could shape her entire future—for any longer than it took her to pick tonight's dinner menu.
That was Min-ji. Her life's primal goal was fun, and she saw everything else as worthless add-ons—a true hedonist.
At least she maintained a baseline of morality in her pursuit of pleasure, so that was something. (Community users might disagree.)
In any case, after some deliberation, Min-ji solidified her decision to attend the showcase—
[My face? Just wear a mask, duh.]
[Still... isn't there something more foolproof?]
To keep her identity hidden, Min-ji racked her brain with Suha, debating every possible method in heated discussions.
Would Pastor Kim, who had raised her like his own son—no, now daughter—really not recognize her just because of a mask?
For Min-ji, who wanted to eliminate any chance of her identity leaking, a mask felt way too flimsy.
[How about a full mask? Some streamers who avoid showing their faces wear those to private events.]
[Hmm... a mask?]
Suha usually tuned out Min-ji's nonsense, but this time, she listened to her concerns seriously.
She knew that, rare as it was, when Min-ji got serious, she was really serious.
And she vaguely sensed that if they couldn't solve this identity issue, Min-ji might bail on the showcase entirely.
Blow the chance to hang out with her one and only friend?
No way. Absolutely not.
That was something Suha could never allow.
[Alright, I've decided.]
[Decided what?]
[How to hide my face.]
And so, Min-ji finally committed to the showcase. Suha was over the moon when she heard—practically jumping for joy.
Going to her favorite game's festival with a friend.
Not family or a coworker, but a real friend—
A friend...! A real friend...!
Suppressing her pounding heart, Suha fired off a DM to Min-ji.
[Send me your address then. I'll pick you up on the day.]
[Huh? Pick me up? Can't we just meet halfway and go together?]
[Nope, send it now.]
Do we really need to leave from my place? It's convenient for me, sure.
It's not hard to share the address, and Suha's trustworthy enough that it's no big deal.
Maybe she just wants to even things out since I know her place but she doesn't know mine... Yeah, that makes sense.
[### ### #####...]
[Wait, hold up—don't say it, text it!]
[You're so picky.]
And just like that, amid prepping for the tournament finals and streaming on the side, the days flew by—
Until the showcase day arrived before they knew it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚔ Ias Gallery 📰 Title: Ias's Survival Hangs on Today's Showcase Author: Anonymous
For real. — Anonymous I went and checked it out. Total disaster. Just shut it down. — OP ㅠㅠ — Anonymous But seriously, what are they even announcing? Why the hype buildup? — OP New boss! New region! New content! Waku waku pa! — Anonymous (Expectations lead to betrayal con) 📰 Title: Open the damn door alreadyyyyy Author: Anonymous
Stop dragging it out and start alreadyyy — Anonymous Can't. Chicken hasn't arrived yet. — OP You're ordering chicken for this? — Anonymous Is this a festival? — OP It's a funeral. — Anonymous Still 5 hours left and it's already legendary lololol — Anonymous Time is crawling so slow. — OP For real. 📰 Title: Kids, Don't Get Too Hyped Already Author: Anonymous
They'll hype it up, then start coffin dancing at the showcase saying "our game's dead, GTFO" and JOAT would be spot on. — Anonymous When did they coffin dance? — Anonymous But looking at these assholes, it could happen. — Anonymous Not expecting much tbh. — Anonymous I'm the opposite—super hyped. One year of blue balls ㄷㄷ — Anonymous They might have nothing prepared if you peel back the curtain. — Anonymous Nah, no way lol — Anonymous The venue rental says otherwise. — OP Venue confirmed. — Anonymous ## Hall Layer Gymnasium 💬 Saintess Gallery 📰 Title: Galju's Going to the Showcase??? Author: Anonymous
If you Saintess bros spot Galju at the showcase, please give her a belly punch for me pls — Anonymous Bro. — OP Awkward lol... — Anonymous Me too pls — Anonymous Me three — Anonymous ?? Galju's going to the showcase? — Anonymous I'm going too, would love to see her face. — OP She'll probably wear a mask. — Anonymous Still wanna meet her tho. — OP Streamers have separate seats, so unless you bump into her by chance, no dice. — Anonymous Hiiing ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ By some stroke of miraculous luck, Min-ji and Suha didn't live too far apart.
Last time they hung out, they'd met at the park by foot, no public transport needed.
But this time, it was all the way to the showcase hall—not a movie theater or a casual meal—so it was a decent trek.
Which meant getting up relatively early... or so she thought—
"Ugh..."
Ding-a-ling♪ Ding-a-ling♪— Ding-a-ling♪ Ding-a-ling♪
"Ughmm..."
Ding-a-ling♪ Ding-a-ling♪— Ding-a-ling♪ Ding-a-ling♪
"Snore..."
Even on a day like this, she was sleeping in.
Ignoring the alarm wailing beside her like "Get up, you lunatic!", snoring away in peaceful bliss.
Of course, Min-ji was conscious. She was just drunk on sleep, dragging her feet about getting up.
She flailed around until the rational part of her brain finally overpowered the sleepy haze—
"Ah!"
'Oh shit!' And she bolted upright.
Still half-asleep, she lurched too fast and thud—right onto the floor.
"Ow ow ow..."
After her solo performance on an empty stage, Min-ji snatched her phone from the bedhead mess and checked the time.
And—
"Sh, shit! It's morning!"
Only 10 minutes until their meetup. Reality hit her like a truck.
As a guy, she could've showered and prepped in 5. But as a woman now? No chance.
Just taming her bedhead would take over 10 minutes,
And women's prep ate up way more time than you'd think, hair aside.
Grabbing a towel, Min-ji dashed to the shower, channeling old army boot camp vibes for a combat rinse.
'Thanks, squad leader. You were useful after all.' With gratitude, she scrubbed her head under ice-cold blasts.
Her long hair meant it took time no matter how rushed, and when she finally stumbled out, dripping—
Time left: 2 minutes.
"Uwaaa... I'm late, late...!"
She cranked the hairdryer to max heat and blast, drying as fast as possible.
Damaged ends? She'd deal. But she couldn't be late.
'Hmm, what should I call you... original owner of this body? Lee Min-ji? Whatever, just cooperate today.'
If you're pissed, get reborn with sensitive sleep genes.
She'd stayed up till 1 a.m. on her phone and slept in—now blaming the body. Classic Min-ji.
Ding-dong, ding-a-ding-dong♪ Ding-dong, ding-a-ding♪♪
After blow-drying frantically, she glanced at her phone—missed calls galore.
The dryer's roar had drowned them out.
"H, hello?!"
She picked up in a panic, and Suha's voice burst through, brimming with excitement.
["Hello~ I'm at your place now!"]
"Y-yeah, I'm just throwing on clothes and heading out... wait a sec...!"
Luckily, not too late.
Right on time, actually. No real delay.
Though her hair smelled faintly singed, but hey, acceptable losses.
Original Min-ji would've clutched her chest in horror.
["We don't need to rush that bad. Can't I come in and see your place?"]
"Huh?"
She'd padded the schedule just in case, so plenty of time before the showcase.
Still...
"Yeah... probably not."
Her cramped one-room was a symphony of pajamas, blankets, pillows, and used towels strewn about.
In her haste, stuff was everywhere.
Even for a friend, showing this mess felt off.
["Whaaat? I even let you sleep over... That's cold."]
"Next time, I'll invite you properly."
["Promise?"]
An unexpected housewarming loomed, but with Suha, it was fine.
She flung open the closet, grabbing the comfiest outfit.
...Wait, isn't this what I wore last time? Or not?
It'd look too similar to their last meetup.
"Anyway, heading out now. Which floor?"
No time to change, so this it was.
Black-and-white striped tracksuit, like last time.
Difference: long pants instead of shorts.
Cropped puffer for chilly morning air, then she kicked the door open.
Place still a wreck... but she'd clean later.
As always, dumping chores on future-self Min-ji.
["Huh? Basement level 1."]
"...Basement?"
Too cold outside, so hiding there?
She rode the elevator down, scanning for Suha.
Gasp!
"Dude."
What was that in her sights? Hallucination? Fantasy?
A stance no passing guy could ignore, hypnotic curves.
Suha, Suha...
"You..."
"Whaddya think?"
What caught Min-ji's eye—
A gleaming blue sports car, shine and all.
"Ta-da~ My baby number one."
"...Fucking sick."
And there was Suha, waving nonchalantly from the driver's seat.
"Whoa, seriously... Suha, you're loaded...? Whoa... her back view is insanely pretty..."
"Pfft, you into cars too?"
"Suha, as the saying goes, a man is—oh, not me anymore. Ahem... yeah, I like 'em. Porsche, right?"
"Yep."
Porsche was 'entry-level' among supercars, but hardly cheap.
Not something a mid-20s Suha would pick lightly—even as a big-corp streamer, it took guts.
Free supercar ride? Win for Min-ji.
Vroooom...!
"Hear that exhaust note... Sniff..."
"You're coming off creepy. Like it that much? Good thing I brought her."
"Thanks, sis."
"Pfft, if you love it so much, wanna drive?"
"Uh, well... I don't have a license."
Goddamn, why didn't Lee Min-ji ever get her license?
If she had, she'd beg on her knees for a spin. Useless as always.
"Oh? Guess no choice then."
With an exhaust growl that tugged at her heart, the Boxster eased out of the garage.
Min-ji watched wide-eyed as the supercar rolled forward—blinding sunlight!
"Want?"
Suha, sole shades-wearer, offered a spare. Min-ji shook her head.
"Nah, I'll adjust."
"Suit yourself."
Min-ji bounced her butt on the seat, peering everywhere like a kid in a playpen.
Her curiosity didn't settle until 30 minutes post-departure.
"Oh yeah. Been wondering—what's with the shopping bag?"
Suha eyed the oversized bag clutched to Min-ji's chest.
Shed been curious since the start, but Min-ji's nonstop "Whoa... whoaaa... whoa!!" gawking delayed the question.
"Oh, this? For hiding my face."
"...? Like a mask?"
"Heh, just wait."
Min-ji shrugged with a sly grin, plunging her hand into the bag and pulling out something bulky.
Without hesitation, she jammed it right onto her head.
Suha's jaw dropped.
"...You psycho?"
What Min-ji had pulled out—
"—How's it look? Not bad, right?" A full-face racing helmet, opaque inside, the kind F1 drivers wore on track.