Chapter 52
Chapter 52
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Fairy Traits and Mexican Mutants
-----------------------------------------------------------------
If there's one typical trait of fairies as depicted in the media, it would have to be their mischievousness.
However, Ha-rin showed no trace of such playfulness.
"But don't fairies usually cause trouble for people with all sorts of pranks?"
"In the end, that's just a power born from human imagination. Think about it—surprisingly, it does match people's imaginations in some ways, but it's subtly different."
"......Come to think of it, you're right. When you get down to it, I'm a Western-style dragon, yet I can summon rain and control lightning."
"Exactly. This makes me think that the accumulated human imagination over the ages is pretty accurate. It's not entirely wrong. Unnie Yeon-hwa is the same way."
When you considered it, Ha Yeon-hwa's abilities didn't stray far from the vampire powers humans had imagined, so somehow...... it felt like something.
"Maybe the mutation phenomenon itself stems from human imagination."
I muttered absentmindedly, and Ha-rin nodded.
She agreed with that opinion. Well, there were differences in the details...... but on the broad strokes, it seemed similar enough.
"I think so too. Oh, by the way, Unnie. If you're free today, want to come with me to see Unnie Jin-ha?"
"Huh? You know Jin-ha too?"
"Of course. The clothes I'm wearing were made by Unnie Jin-ha."
Right. She'd said she made clothes for mutants for free. Since Ha-rin had been active before me, it was only natural she'd be acquainted with Jin-ha.
"Did you have some kind of appointment?"
"Not exactly an appointment, but I wanted to see her face after so long. But if I go alone, I'll end up as Unnie Jin-ha's doll again."
Judging by Ha-rin's tired expression, even the cool Jin-ha had succumbed to Ha-rin's charm.
She probably rubbed her cheeks against Ha-rin's without realizing it, sitting her on her lap.
Ha-rin nodded at my words.
"Spot on. Being popular is exhausting."
"......Yeah, I can imagine. But what did you do before joining the bureau? You dropped out of college, right?"
"I was just unemployed. Then I helped a bit with psychological treatment for mutants at the hospital where I awoke."
"Doesn't that require certification?"
"It does, but...... the doctor said it was fine since it was effective. As long as a quack treatment works, that's what matters, right?"
When you thought about it, that made sense.
Of course...... the problem was that plenty of quack therapists tricked and scammed people.
"You could've scammed people all you wanted."
"Oh, I couldn't do that. The National Intelligence Service agents were watching me anyway."
I'd forgotten about that. Under surveillance, they must have deemed it okay. That made some sense.
Plus, for psychological treatment targeted at mutants rather than humans, Ha-rin was probably the only suitable person.
"So that's how you ended up at the bureau?"
"Agent Choi Jeong-ho...... I mean, the Deputy Director, suggested it. He said instead of playing quack therapist, why not work here. I was tempted, so I came."
"But it's kinda different from what the Deputy Director told me about you?"
"What do you mean?"
I recalled what the Deputy Director had said about Ha-rin before.
That she'd pester people with her excessive interest, and she had a really rowdy personality.
When I relayed that exactly, Ha-rin laughed.
"Ahaha! That could be. I asked him a ton of questions about everything. He's in charge of mutants in general, and I was really interested in other mutants."
"For someone like that, you seem awfully calm......"
"Oh, that's because the Deputy Director kept stressing it. He told me to act a bit more reserved in front of strangers......"
So, she was wearing a mask? Suppressing her true temperament, that seemed right. But didn't that contradict what she'd said earlier?
"But then doesn't that contradict what you just said? A rowdy personality implies you like pranks, right?"
"Hey, Unnie, that's separate. Not all rowdy people love pranks. I'm just very interested in others. That's why I came straight to see you, right?"
"Ah."
"......But Unnie Jin-ha is kind of my natural predator. I can't act like my true self around her."
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's like...... psychologically getting pinned down? Like my instincts are screaming that I have to behave. Unnie Seo-hyun is similar, but with Jin-ha Unnie, it's on an instinctual level......"
Ah, I understood instantly.
I couldn't help but recall how Sia had acted in front of me before.
Her instincts had screamed in fear.
"Maybe it's because she's an Arachne?"
"I think so too."
"Come to think of it, Sia did the same. She was shaking when she saw me."
"Sia Unnie? She's not the type...... It must reflect predator-prey relationships between species we don't know about."
"Maybe...... Well, shall we get going?"
"Yeah."
* * *
We left the cafe and headed toward Jin-ha's shop.
I could feel eyes on us from around, but...... I was used to it by now.
Not that many people were asking for autographs or anything.
I'd gotten fairly used to it from university, but having so many people ask me for selfies or signatures was...... a strange feeling.
"You're already a public figure, Unnie. A bit far from celebrity status, though......"
"You think so?"
"But some people might see you that way. Like an SNS influencer. That's why they're asking for signatures."
"Has that happened to you, Ha-rin?"
"Not that much for me. With my appearance, people probably think it'll be trouble if they mess with me."
True, Ha-rin looked only a year or two older than Ha-yoon from last time, so lots of people would assume she was a minor.
Of course, she might feel some stress from that, who knows.
"Don't you get stressed about it? You're twenty-two with that appearance."
"Looking young is nice, whatever. I don't really think about it anymore. At first, I was stressed thinking I'd become too young-looking...... But honestly, it's better than looking old, right?"
......Yeah, it was.
Anyway, as we chatted while walking, we arrived at Jin-ha's shop before we knew it.
As we opened the door and entered, Jin-ha looked at us with a welcoming face.
"Oh my, Seo-hyun came too?"
"It just kinda happened that way."
"It's been a while, Ha-rin?"
"Y-yeah......"
"Goodness, no need to be nervous."
Saying that while hugging Ha-rin—if I said she looked like a predator eyeing prey, that'd be rude, right?
Ha-rin stiffened slightly at the sudden embrace.
Jin-ha straight-up rubbed her cheek against Ha-rin's and went full fangirl mode.
"Euaaaah......"
"Eung~ So cute! Do you know how long Unnie has been waiting for Ha-rin? But seeing your face is so hard."
Somehow, the image I'd had of Jin-ha until recently was shattering.
Not that I didn't get it. She was that cute......
Still, it was kinda enviable.
"Oh dear, look at me. Here, Ha-rin, new clothes. That's why I called you. My masterpiece. Oh, take some too, Seo-hyun. I prepared them since you came together."
"......Thanks."
"Uh, I already have a lot of clothes......"
"Tch. The more clothes, the better. You barely have any from last time—this is a chance to fill your closet. I asked Seo-ah earlier, and she said you don't have much besides what I gave you."
"Oh, Seo-ah contacted you separately?"
"Yeah. I heard you're transferring departments. To fill credits? I'm all for it. The more talented models like you, the better. How about you transfer too while you're at it, Seo-hyun?"
"Ahaha...... I'll pass."
Jin-ha looked disappointed at my words.
"That's a shame. Well...... you're busy anyway, so I get it. So, how's life over there?"
"Well, nothing much has happened yet. Maybe because I laid down the law at the press conference—no mutant incidents."
"Hmm...... Is that so? Good thing, at least. I heard overseas has been chaotic lately."
"Overseas? Why?"
"I heard through a contact overseas...... in Mexico, a warlord made of mutants has appeared. They're crossing lines constantly, so the US is watching them."
"......Subjugation force?"
"Yeah. They're called a warlord, but it's basically just a gang...... about five mutants? But they're so strong, even army-level firepower can't stop them. Mexico's cartels were already powerful, and they took over the leadership."
"That sounds tough to handle."
"Well, it's got nothing to do with Korea...... so probably no need for us to do anything."
Ha-rin said.
When I thought about it, she was right. Korea and Mexico were unrelated...... no reason for me to go there.
"Probably."
"Mutant issues are usually handled domestically. The bureau won't step in this time."
I nodded at Ha-rin's words. She was correct.
Unless they went crazy and invaded here, the bureau wouldn't get involved.
The bureau's role was to block mutant criminals invading the country.
......That's what I'd thought.
Until the mutants who seized Mexico's cartels annihilated the subjugation force assembled by the US.