Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Beach Day
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The day we headed to the beach.
Yeon-hwa unnie and Ha-rin were pretty excited, flooding the group chat with messages.
Where to go, what to eat once we got there, and so on.
Yeon-hwa unnie in particular seemed like she was planning to do an outdoor stream.
Just as I finished getting ready to head out, my little sister barged in and showed me something.
"Tada~"
"...What's this now?"
It was a swimsuit. Not a super revealing bikini, but still a swimsuit, so it had its share of exposure.
It had some kind of shawl-like thing dangling that looked pretty stylish aesthetically, but I clocked it right away.
This was the swimsuit she made for me to wear.
"What else? It's a swimsuit. You kept refusing, unnie, so I made one with minimal skin showing."
Called it.
"Not wearing it."
I shot back immediately. I had a feeling she'd pull something like this.
Honestly, it's not like I couldn't wear it. If it weren't for that idol performance, I'd have just thrown it on.
As she said, if I can wear underwear, what's a swimsuit?
My sense of identity as a guy vanished ages ago.
These days, gender doesn't even feel that defined anymore.
More like I've become some asexual being.
Anyway, after showing my embarrassing side to the whole world, did I really need to put this on and give people more fodder to talk about?
All this attention can get exhausting sometimes.
I improved mutants' image to make it easier to get around, right...?
But somehow, it's gotten harder to move freely for entirely different reasons.
Everyone swarms me like crazy—how am I supposed to relax?
Feels like we've gone too far.
For those reasons, swimsuit rejected.
I can keep my clothes bone-dry even in the water anyway, so why bother?
"You can ogle Yeon-hwa unnie and Ha-rin's swimsuits and call it a day. I'm not wearing it, period."
"Aw, come on, at least wear it once for the effort I put in~"
"No way. If it was before my idol stage, maybe, but now it's too embarrassing. It's only been how long since my face got plastered everywhere? I don't wanna headline the news again."
She pouted as I held firm.
Ugh.
* * *
"Oh, Seo-hyun's here?"
"Hi, Seo-hyun unnie."
When I arrived at the meeting spot, Yeon-hwa unnie and Ha-rin were there.
Dressed casually light for the occasion, they kept smiling, clearly thrilled about the day off.
Ha-rin especially—it was kinda surprising.
She's usually so stone-faced... Well, ever since the Third Mutation, she hasn't had a moment's rest, so it's about time.
She's basically the biggest reason Korea's been so safe lately, so no wonder she's the most overworked among us.
Thanks to the Elixir I made from my blood, she doesn't seem too physically drained, but mental fatigue must've piled up.
No surprise she's happy for a worry-free break.
Stuck at base on five-minute standby, never knowing when you'll deploy... As someone who's done military service, I get the pain better than anyone.
No proper setup for downtime either, so mentally taxing all around.
And unlike Yeon-hwa unnie, she's not the type to vent by chatting with people, so best to let Ha-rin call the shots today.
"Hi, hi."
"Hello~"
I waved at the two greeting us warmly, my sister in tow.
"Seo-ah's here too?"
"Yeah. She kept nagging to come along."
We'd been flip-flopping between half-casual and awkward formal speech, but we agreed to drop it entirely.
Way better than forced politeness.
"When did I nag? You just asked if I wanted to come, that's it."
"Right? Oh, so where we headed today?"
"Haeundae."
"...Isn't it super crowded there?"
"Ha-rin wanted to see the crowds."
"Oh."
Ha-rin's call, then. Fine by me.
"Team leader, doesn't a crowd make it chaotic and overwhelming?"
"Just wanna chill for once, watch people having mindless fun without a care."
"Hmm. Got it."
Seo-ah nodded at Ha-rin's words.
"I'll open a door—just step through."
"Whoa, this is convenient..."
Seo-ah marveled. No matter how many times, Ha-rin's powers never cease to amaze.
"That's why I said we could leave a bit late. With my ability, anywhere in the country is a snap."
"Ooh, all hail the great Ha-rin."
"Seo-hyun unnie, is she like this at home too?"
"Nah. She's perked up big time since mutating."
"Oh yeah? Have I changed?"
Seo-ah tilted her head at my comment.
"A bit. Your emotions show more now, I guess?"
"Hmm... Well, good changes are good, right?"
She had a point. Nothing wrong with it.
Seo-ah thought for a sec, then asked me.
"Was I kinda quiet before?"
"More than kinda. Not as bad as me, but you hated going out and mingling."
"Yeah, that's still the same. But now, I feel a little less distant with people I like or feel comfy around."
"So your inner thoughts are just showing in your actions now."
"Yeah, exactly. I express myself more vividly."
Seo-ah nodded along with Ha-rin's explanation.
"Hey, can I go live later?"
"Sure. Our faces are already all over anyway."
"Aw, bummer. Could've shown your viewers unnie in a swimsuit."
"Nope~ Not happening. Just gonna wear a shirt."
"What if you do swimsuit bottoms and shirt on top?"
"No."
While bickering with Seo-ah, Yeon-hwa unnie and Ha-rin perked up at "swimsuit."
"Oh, really? You've got a swimsuit, Seo-hyun? I'm curious."
"No, I'm not wearing it. I've been plastered everywhere lately—what more do you want? I hate getting immortalized again... Internet news has me too much as is."
Yeon-hwa unnie's eyes sparkled. Gotta stay vigilant.
She's dead set on getting me in that thing.
Wish she'd channel that unbreakable will toward rift erosion entities instead.
As I brainstormed excuses, Ha-rin spoke up.
"Ooh... Now I'm curious too."
...A chill ran down my spine.
We'd basically agreed to go with Ha-rin's wishes today. If she wants it, I'm toast.
"Could you wear it just once? I'm dying to see."
Eyes sparkling as bright as Yeon-hwa unnie's.
I tried to wave it off, but...
"I've been working my butt off lately—can't you grant me this one request?"
She played the cheat code.
Not fair, Yoo Ha-rin!
"Any other request?"
"Nope."
That's when I caught it—Seo-ah and Yeon-hwa unnie subtly clenching fists.
...Yep, the three of them totally plotted this.
Hard to say no in this setup. Especially since Ha-rin hasn't had a proper day off since the erosion crisis.
Felt like I was getting played knowingly, which stung, but what could I do?
Gotta honor requests from those who've covered for me.
Even if Greece was for the greater good, Ha-rin picked up my slack—that's fact.
I sighed.
Better this than dying inside.
Yoon Seo-ah, you're dead when we get home.
I tamped down the rising urge to throttle someone.
Time for some sisterly discipline. Rotten kid.
* * *
We hit Haeundae in a blink. Ha-rin slipped through the door she opened, and boom.
The vast beach vista unfolded.
Peak vacation season—crowds everywhere at a glance.
I quickly cast Perception Inhibition Magic on the group.
No thanks to getting swept up before prepping.
Better to reveal ourselves after stream setup or whatever.
We came to hang with just us, not rub elbows.
Yeon-hwa unnie and Ha-rin beelined for the changing rooms, emerging in swimsuits.
"Our turn. No backing out now, right?"
My smirking sister prodded, and my hand moved on instinct.
Smack!
"Kyaa!"
"You little psycho... When did you conspire?"
"Hehe, who knows? Fact is, unnie's wearing the swimsuit."
"You're so dead when we get home."
"Yup~ Straight to the CEO's shop~"
She's gotten more childish since mutating, somehow.
Like the immature side she showed before growing up.
Don't mental growth usually make you more serious?
Why'd she go the opposite way?
Anyway, my vow to die before wearing it crumbled inevitably...
In the end, I sighed and changed in the dressing room.
Damn it.