Independence 5

How did it come to this?

Standing right in front of the changing room, Han Seoyeon’s mind went blank.

‘…Is this right?’

Han Seoyeon doesn’t exactly know what a normal sisterly relationship is like.

She just wants to be close and friendly.

Logically speaking, an older sister choosing clothes for her younger sister shouldn’t be that strange.

But is that really the case for underwear too?

‘It must be right?’

Unlike Han Seoyeon, Han Suho is what people call an “insider” in society.

Since Han Suho asked for this herself, it shouldn’t be strange for an older sister to judge her younger sister’s underwear.

Moreover, Michaela had previously chosen underwear for Han Seoyeon.

If even friends choose underwear for each other, there’s no reason an older sister can’t look at her younger sister’s underwear.

“I’m done.”

“Ah…”

Suho’s voice comes from beyond the changing room.

“Come in and look.”

There was little reason to be nervous.

Han Seoyeon and Han Suho were sisters after all.

Getting aroused by one’s sister is something only beasts would do, not humans.

No, even beasts wouldn’t do that.

“I’m opening it.”

“…Okay.”

Han Seoyeon calmly opens the changing room door.

Enters inside.

“How is it…?”

“…”

She froze stiff right there.

That’s why her voice wouldn’t come out.

It wasn’t just her voice.

Her hands and feet felt numb.

She couldn’t breathe properly.

Though she didn’t realize it, her face had probably turned red.

“Does it… suit me?”

Similarly, with her head slightly lowered, her shy twin sister.

“Uh, um, that’s…”

How should she express it?

Han Seoyeon fixed her gaze steadily on her sister in underwear.

No blemishes are visible on her fair skin.

Her waist is thin without any excess fat.

Yet the attractive parts as a girl are more than sufficient.

As sisters, their heart sizes were quite similar.

That heart was supported by a pure white bra.

And, that, below…

‘No, this is too much like a pervert’s thoughts!’

Shake shake.

Han Seoyeon shook her head vigorously.

From what she’s heard about siblings on the internet, the vast majority of normal siblings only feel as much emotion as they would for a wooden doll when seeing their sibling’s naked body.

Naturally, Han Seoyeon should be the same.

She was certainly not excited.

“…It’s my first time wearing white.”

“…”

“Is it… not good?”

Suho says dejectedly with a dispirited expression.

“Of course not!”

Han Seoyeon immediately refuted.

Her sister’s self-esteem was more important than her unnecessary pride.

“It’s very attractive! It suits you well! To the point I want to hug you right away…!”

It wasn’t a lie.

It was the unfiltered truth without anything held back.

It’s attractive.

It’s pretty.

If she wasn’t her sister, she might have reached out to touch that vast heart right away.

“That… much?”

“Of course!”

A minor fact.

According to [The Academy’s Falling Star Swordsman], the official most beautiful woman in the world was Han Suho.

A beautiful appearance and body that could charm all the pitiful heroines.

Honestly, it would be a lie to say it’s not attractive when such a beauty is blushing in her underwear.

“I’m glad…”

“─!”

Even now, like this.

Her heart trembles at the sight of Suho smiling lovingly.

‘…B-but it’s just familial love!’

Han Seoyeon doesn’t know this, but there’s a concept in the world called the Westermarck effect.

Close relatives who grow up together during childhood tend to lose sexual interest in each other.

All normal siblings are like that.

Playing together and growing up together since childhood.

Such relationships might have feelings close to friendship, but not romantic love.

However, Han Seoyeon and Han Suho are different.

The sisters didn’t spend their childhood together.

They are ignorant of each other’s bodies, and their instinctive perception isn’t much different from ordinary strangers.

Moreover, there’s a narrative of someone saving someone else, which is sufficient to be a foundation for love.

“Next, I want to try on underwear… that you recommend, sister…”

Of course, this is just a general theory.

‘Stay calm. Stay calm, stay calm! That’s not said with that kind of intention, she’s just asking for comfortable underwear recommendations…!’

Han Seoyeon wasn’t an incestuous pervert.

Isn’t the fact that Clear Mind and Still Water doesn’t even activate proof of that?

‘If you get excited by your sister, are you even human…!’

…Probably.

Before they knew it, it was the end of the afternoon as dusk was falling.

“Ah, that was fun.”

The sisters strolled side by side on the street.

Without keeping any distance between them.

“I wish I could spend weekends like this with my sister again…”

Almost like lovers.

No, in some ways, even closer than lovers.

“…Ah. Was this meddling too much?”

If possible, Han Seoyeon wanted to spend another day like this with her sister.

But it probably won’t be easy.

Don’t adolescents usually want their own personal time?

An older sister’s excessive sentimentality and meddling would be a nuisance.

“N-not at all! If you’re okay with it, I always welcome it!”

She just uttered a single complaint.

But even that complaint, her pushover sister tries to comfort.

“Thank you. You’re so kind, our Suho.”

“…No, sister.”

Even if it was just words, it was good.

Even if it was just words, she was happy.

“The truly kind one isn’t someone like me…”

They headed towards the studio apartment like that.

Just as they were about to.

“Huh? What’s this…?”

Their steps halt.

Something was blocking the way right in front of the studio apartment.

“A limousine?”

“This is…”

It was a familiar-looking limousine.

Where had she seen it before?

“So you were here.”

Han Seoyeon soon got her answer to that.

“Seoyeon.”

“…Han Joon-hyuk.”

Han Joon-hyuk.

A middle-aged man in a suit looked at the sisters.

“Suho.”

“Ah…”

She was trembling.

Her sister was shaking with fear.

“…Ah, ah.”

“It’s okay.”

So she held her hand.

To reassure her.

“I’m by your side.”

“…Okay.”

Han Seoyeon held Han Suho’s hand.

So they would never be separated again.

So her crybaby, timid sister wouldn’t cry.

“What do you want?”

Then, she glared.

She glared at the middle-aged man with clear killing intent.

“Are you thinking of breaking the contract now?”

“Of course not. I’m not a con artist.”

“Then what business do you have here?”

“My precious daughter is living alone, so I came to check on her out of worry.”

How can a person be so brazen, so shamelessly glib?

To the point where she wanted to cut his throat right away.

“As you can see, Suho is doing well. Her sister is with her.”

“…I see.”

“If you understand, then leave now. Quickly. Right now.”

It’s not time yet.

Because the middle-aged man’s public image was that of a gentleman.

Someday an opportunity will come.

An opportunity to bring down this man.

She’ll endure for now.

For that time.

“Of course, seeing Suho was one of the purposes of coming here. But I also wanted to meet you, Seoyeon, and have something to talk about.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

There’s no value in paying attention to this man’s words.

Even if he rambles on as he pleases, she’ll let it in one ear and out the other.

“The slums.”

“…!”

The slums.

However, that one word the man uttered was something she absolutely couldn’t ignore.

“It seems you have several younger siblings there.”

“You…!”

“Calm down. I didn’t come here to argue with you, Seoyeon.”

Han Joon-hyuk showed a friendly smile.

It was a mask of deception that made her want to vomit.

“If you’re thinking of doing anything to my siblings…!”

“An orphanage.”

“…What?”

“I’m planning to build an orphanage. For the children in the slums.”

Wearing his mask.

Han Joon-hyuk proposed.

“An orphanage, you say…?”

A proposal Han Seoyeon couldn’t refuse.

“I’ve been doing a lot of reflection since that day. In the meantime, I became curious. I wondered what kind of environment my lovely daughter grew up in.”

It was more of a notification than a proposal.

“So, I investigated the slums. It was a terrible environment. It was far too unsuitable for children to grow up in. So on this occasion, I plan to establish an orphanage for such children under the name of the Firefly Group.”

From the start, the one providing the funds was Han Joon-hyuk and.

Above all.

“Of course, I intend to respect individual opinions. I’ll make the proposal, but I won’t force anyone to come to the orphanage.”

It was both the goal of the original protagonist and Han Seoyeon’s goal as well.

“And on this occasion, I want to have your younger siblings adopted into the orphanage as well.”

Because it was the way for her siblings to be the happiest.

“What do you think?”

“…”

What does she think?

The answer was already decided.

It was a devilish notification.

Of course, there’s no way Han Joon-hyuk had a change of heart, and there’s no guarantee he won’t harm the children.

But even if Han Seoyeon refuses, she has no means to stop Han Joon-hyuk financially.

“…What do you want?”

Pretending to agree.

For now, go along with this.

“Nothing much.”

Try to divert attention away from the children as much as possible.

That was the best Han Seoyeon could do.

Moreover, as Han Joon-hyuk said, the slums are not a good place for children to grow up.

If possible, it’s better to get out as soon as possible.

“Not to blush every time you see me from now on. That’s enough for now.”

In whatever form.

“I don’t think it’s a bad deal.”

“…Yes. That’s right.”

Han Seoyeon’s goal has always been a happy ending beyond the original work.

“Be careful on your way home at night.”

Originally, the orphanage was supposed to be built a year later.

If the children could be a little happier even a year earlier, she could do anything.

“Mr. Han Joon-hyuk.”

“Well. That’s a kind consideration.”

…Even as lip service, words like father or dad didn’t come out.

Han Joon-hyuk, having finished his business, smiled with satisfaction and got into the limousine.

“Are you okay…?”

Once the limousine carrying Han Joon-hyuk had completely disappeared from view, Han Seoyeon finally checked Han Suho’s complexion.

“…Yeah.”

Fortunately.

There was no fear on her sister’s face.

“I’m okay.”

Her expression showed some determination.

“Because you were by my side, sister.”

“…I’ll always be by your side from now on. Always!”

This time, she was able to protect her.

Her sister, from that man’s threat.

“Yeah. I want to always be together too. With you, sister.”

And she will continue to protect her.

The two sisters together.

“Can I ask one thing?”

“Ask anything.”

“Earlier, you mentioned younger siblings…”

“…Ah.”

Come to think of it, unlike in the original work, Han Suho had never met the children from the slums.

Han Seoyeon kindly explained.

“They’re kids I got to know in the slums. They’re fun, kind, and often followed me around. Thanks to them, I wasn’t lonely during my time in the slums. We’re not related by blood, but they’re all my precious younger siblings.”

“…I see.”

Han Suho thought for a moment and then.

“Then, that means they’re my younger siblings too, right?”

“…What?”

She said something unimaginable.

“They’re your younger siblings. So that means they’re my siblings too, right?”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah. Someday, I’d like to meet them once and express my gratitude. To thank them for being with you so you weren’t lonely in the slums.”

“…”

Because it was such a pushover protagonist-like line.

Han Seoyeon was at a loss for words for a moment.

“…Let’s go meet them together later.”

“Yeah. Let’s do that!”

Someday, all together.

She wanted to create a scene for a happy ending.

“How foolish.”

In a limousine crossing the night road.

Han Joon-hyuk muttered to himself.

“Even after gaining such power, to be swayed by sentiment for the weak.”

In the end, the powerless are just powerless.

She’s not cut out to be a great person after all.

Abandoning her was the right decision.

“This much should be enough for now.”

He’s taken the children hostage.

It was like putting shackles on the girl named Han Seoyeon.

“With this, that child won’t immediately fall into Lee Yeon’s hands.”

He didn’t ask for much.

For now, it was enough to prevent her from falling into Lee Yeon’s hands.

“Moreover, as this provides an opportunity to gather information for the Homunculus project, it could be called killing two birds with one stone.”

The establishment of nationwide orphanages.

The reason wasn’t just to put shackles on Han Seoyeon.

It was to collect genetic information necessary for the plan.

In that sense, orphans could be called a kind of blue ocean.

There’s no chance of being caught, and above all, it was the only option Lee Yeon hadn’t preempted.

“Suho, that child, was the biggest concern, but…”

Han Joon-hyuk raised the corner of his mouth in a sneer.

Not the benevolent one he shows to the public, but his true nature.

“…In that state, she’ll soon come back on her own feet.”

A below-average studio apartment.

An environment where she has to earn and take care of herself.

He could be certain.

That environment would be too burdensome for the young lady of a wealthy family.

“To this father’s arms.”

Poverty is excruciatingly painful.

He knows this because he experienced it himself.

So wanting to escape poverty and move towards higher places, even higher places, was neither shameful nor wrong.

Even if he had to use any means necessary,

Han Joon-hyuk believed that someday his daughters would understand the great ambition their father held.

“I’m back!”

“…You’re late again today.”

“Yeah. I had a lot to do… Ah, right! I’ve graduated from my bean sprout-only life!”

“The reason… is?”

“Suho said she’d make lunch boxes for me. Every day from now on!”

“…”

Looking at Han Seoyeon’s innocent expression.

Michaela erased the smile from her lips.

“…I see.”

That was her own resolution.

She will no longer allow any more overtaking.