Chapter 47: I Can't Believe My Eyes.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 47: I Can't Believe My Eyes.
"We aren't dating yet."
"Pardon?"
"I thought you might be curious about our relationship."
Department Manager Kim Min-ju wondered if the woman before her had a skill that allowed her to read minds.
Since they were a man and a woman heading to Wonderland together, she had naturally assumed they were a couple and had been stealing glances. It seemed she had guessed wrong.
"I apologize. If my staring made you uncomfortable, please accept my sincerest apologies once more."
"It’s fine. But I guess we really do look like one?"
"Yes, you look like a truly stunning couple."
"Really? Thank you."
The cat-eyed woman had been extraordinary from the moment she appeared.
The way she clung to Baek Tae-yang’s arm, as if refusing to be separated for even a second, was a gesture anyone would recognize as belonging to a lover.
Even while picking out clothes, she naturally sought Baek Tae-yang’s opinion to find the perfect 'girlfriend look.'
Furthermore, seeing them occasionally kiss or openly hug, Min-ju had taken it for granted that they were a couple.
But they aren't? They’re like this even though they aren't dating?
Kids these days were truly on another level.
Manager Kim Min-ju couldn't help but compare this to her own dating days with her husband.
Back then, just holding hands would make her face turn beet red, and she wouldn't know what to do with herself.
Now, they were practically living together openly but 'weren't dating yet.' A hollow laugh almost escaped her lips.
"Bogeumjari certainly has a lot of nice clothes."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"This one, that one, and... the one I just tried on? I'll take those."
"Yes, understood. I will prepare them immediately."
Min-ju picked up the clothes the woman pointed out one by one and hung them up so they would be easy to put on.
Fortunately, she didn't need to worry about Baek Tae-yang, as four designers were already attending to him.
The woman grabbed the bundle of clothes and walked straight over to Baek Tae-yang.
"Tae-yaaaaang~ I’m done picking out my clothes. Can’t you help me put them on?"
"We’re short on time, so I’ll definitely help you next time."
"Hmph..."
With a disappointed pout, she walked back toward Kim Min-ju.
Her gestures indicated that even if the clothes looked easy to put on, she would accept whatever help was offered.
At Kim Min-ju’s level of experience, she analyzed every word and action of a VIP in depth.
What was just a casual remark to the woman was interpreted differently by Kim Min-ju.
'Bogeumjari too?'
A person’s class and elegance aren't built in a moment.
From the first time she saw her, Min-ju felt the woman was well-acquainted with high society.
But hearing her treat the nation’s top corporation like a common corner store made Min-ju snap to attention.
"By any chance..."
"Yes, that's right. The daughter of the Magic Tower."
"...Thank you."
But hadn't it been reported that the Magic Tower’s daughter was in a relationship with Kim Min-su?
The news articles had been so certain that she had expected Kim Min-su to be by So Yu-min’s side.
Though the parties involved had denied it, the photos of the two of them in the early articles had been quite suggestive.
So she had naturally assumed they were dating.
She had almost committed a grave rudeness by failing to recognize a member of the royal family.
Fortunately, she hadn't made any slips of the tongue yet, and the woman seemed to be in a good mood.
"Then, I will escort you to Wonderland immediately."
Perhaps because they were both used to such experiences, the process of choosing clothes was very brief.
They were decisive, knew exactly what they liked and disliked, and had a clear sense of their own style.
Calling them a stunning couple hadn't been empty flattery.
The glimpses of the two in the rearview mirror were the definition of luxury.
They managed to maintain a sophisticated aura while fitting perfectly into the casual atmosphere of an amusement park.
In Baek Tae-yang’s case, he was just wearing jeans, a white T-shirt, and a black cardigan, but his muscular physique made it look like high fashion.
So Yu-min boasted a look that was both fresh and mature, wearing a white tennis skirt, apricot-colored stockings, and a red long-sleeved V-neck shirt.
I think they said one more person was joining them, not just the two of them?
There was a saying that birds of a feather flock together.
Naturally, the person such a stunning couple was meeting was bound to have a similar appearance.
She had never seen a case where that wasn't true.
However, a moment later, Kim Min-ju’s assumptions were shattered into pieces.
"Oh, it's Min-su."
"Is that gentleman your companion?"
"Yes, that's him. Please pull over here. Thank you."
"...Yes... It was an honor to serve you."
She couldn't believe it.
How could a person dress like that?
He’s hanging out with VIPs looking like that?
Should she stop them now?
After serious deliberation, Kim Min-ju turned the steering wheel.
She didn't want to lay eyes on that sight for a second longer.
++++++++++++++++
The first thing that caught the eye was the lemon-colored cotton pants.
They were reflecting the warm sunlight, asserting their presence with a vengeance.
"You're a bit late. About five minutes."
Wink!
Kim Min-su’s attempt at a witty joke and a wink felt more like a desperate plea for attention.
The pants—the pants were lemon-colored? It would have been better if only the pants were lemon-colored.
If the problem was just in one place, I could have told him to change, or just bought him something else.
"Min-su... why are your shoes... purple?"
Even as she spoke, Yu-min’s pupils were shaking uncontrollably.
The harmony of purple shoes, black socks, and lemon-colored cotton pants was enough to drive anyone insane.
She should have been immune to mental attacks thanks to the Witch's Blessing, but it wasn't working.
"Oh, I heard this is the latest trend?"
Judging by his tone, someone had definitely recommended this to him.
They probably didn't recommend the whole outfit after seeing it together; they likely picked out the most popular individual items and mashed them all together.
"Tae-yang, our shirts are the same color!"
They were indeed the same color.
The difference was that Min-su’s was a deep-plunging V-neck with the collar popped up.
I was going to let it slide if possible.
If he had dressed even remotely like a human being, I planned to just enjoy the day and tease him a bit.
This is not it.
He had crossed the line by a mile.
He had even taken his unkempt hair and forced it back with a thick layer of wax.
He expected us to walk around Wonderland with him looking like that? This was a serious problem.
If the episode had proceeded as originally planned, it would have been a 1:1 date with Yu-min.
The story's progression must have changed significantly because of my intervention.
He probably dressed up in his own way to look better.
And this was the choice he made after trying so hard not to lose his girlfriend?
"How did you get here?"
"Oh, I took the bus."
Insane.
This was exactly why only Kim Min-su could be the protagonist of this novel.
A hero who forgets all sense of shame and silently reaches his destination amidst adversity and hardship.
A knight who nods alone when everyone else says no, enduring contempt and persecution.
That was the protagonist of Academy Pure Love Diary, Kim Min-su.
"Min-su, this really isn't it."
Even if a person usually dressed like a dork, there were limits.
If we walked around with him like that, we’d be treated as part of the same group.
The protagonist might not know shame, but Yu-min and I certainly did.
"What do you mean? This is... they picked out the number one most popular items from the recommendation list for me."
"Who exactly?"
Actually, I had a hunch who it was.
I’d heard about them before.
"There’s someone. A... master of romance, you could say."
"...I see."
Belatedly, a gold necklace and a belt with a massive buckle caught my eye.
Yu-min seemed to be losing her stomach, as she was gagging behind my back.
Even families who had come to Wonderland early in the morning were looking at Kim Min-su in horror.
Right now, Kim Min-su was the only one oblivious to the situation.
"Wait, why is everyone reacting like this? Did you guys stay up late because you were so excited? You're not kids."
That tone, trying to act all mature.
"It’ll be a problem if you’re like this today... You won't be able to keep your head straight when we’re crushing soju later, will you?"
A sudden surge of alcohol-related bravado.
Kim Min-su had clearly come prepared today.
He had prepared a finishing move to overturn their precarious relationship in one go.
"Min-su, I’m giving you serious advice. If you walk around like that, everyone is going to laugh at you."
"Aren't they just noticing me?"
"How can they not look when a clown is walking down the street? Let’s just... let’s just go in for now."
According to a quick search I did yesterday, Wonderland had plenty of clothing stores.
They had everything from casual wear to cosplay outfits, so I just had to endure until then.
If he refused to change, I’d have no choice but to beat him into submission.
"I... I can't look... Tae-yang, I'm just going to hold onto your clothes and walk..."
"Yeah, just take it easy."
Yu-min hadn't even greeted Min-su yet.
Given their history, she might have at least waved, but she didn't even do that.
That was proof of how horrific Kim Min-su’s fashion was.
"Min-su, walk a bit further away."
"But I want to see Yu-min..."
"I told you to stay back. Do I have to say it again?"
"S-Sorry..."
A change in appearance didn't mean a change in personality.
Fortunately, he turned into a coward the moment I acted even slightly threatening.
If he had been truly full of false bravado to his core, I would have had to use violence.
"Welcome to... pfft... no, I mean... Welcome to Wonderland!"
We were being laughed at by the ticket booth staff just for being with Kim Min-su.
"Mom, I think that man peed his pants."
"Shh, don't say things like that. Just look away and keep walking."
"Dad! I want that eagle toy on that belt too!"
"Ahem! Min-woo, you shouldn't say things like that so loudly."
Perhaps because I was an Awakener, every word, no matter how softly spoken, reached my ears perfectly.
My blessed body was acting as the ultimate curse at this very moment.
"Wow, that's insane. He's actually walking around like that."
"Birds of a feather, I guess. Must be some kind of otaku gathering."
It was unfair.
I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs that it wasn't true.
I'd rather... I'd rather have an emergency quest...
Kim Min-su was following behind, constantly muttering to himself.
He clearly had no intention of changing his clothes, so I desperately needed something to turn the situation around.
There was a limit to how much I could shut him up by scolding him with a scowl.
Chubby Ahn, please save me.
There was no way Chubby Ahn would just watch as the situation veered so far off the rails of the episode.
He was trying so hard to kill me, so would he really just stand by and watch this? It made no sense.
And as if he knew exactly how I felt, a quest window appeared before my eyes just as I was about to grab Yu-min’s hand.
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Emergency Quest Triggered!
[Hallucination Dungeon :: Succubus Night] begins!
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In an instant, the surroundings began to fill with a white mist.
The vibrant Wonderland transformed into a red-light district on a dark night street.
A crimson light descended like a curtain over the once brightly lit street.
"...I'm saved."
This was much better.