Ch.125Chapter 5. Do Ji-hwan’s Ambitious Project (2)

Typically, when the word “sudden acceleration” appears in any content, it’s usually received negatively.

When someone says, “I’m an ultra-large rider, and that person is an armored rider,” without any prior setup, how should the protagonist and readers react?

If sufficient groundwork had been laid beforehand, one might think, “Wow, they’re revealing this here?” But without any setup, one would think, “Is the author deliberately trying to ruin their own work?”

That’s how it feels right now.

“P-Platinum Sun?”

“Yes, that’s right. Magical Girl Golden Magistrate Platinum Sun. The entity who appeared as Solar Platina. I am Platinum Sun.”

Ymir revealed her identity.

Even though she never directly revealed her identity when talking with me, she just exposed herself in front of Baek Seol-hee.

It’s confusing, truly confusing.

Baek Seol-hee is now in great confusion, both as a woman and as a hero.

Her crush is in a state of severe mental shock and is falling for a strange wife.

The woman her crush brought along was thought to be an E-rank ability user, but actually possesses EX-rank abilities, making her one-of-a-kind in the world—

“Ah.”

I realized it.

I understood why Ymir suddenly revealed her identity.

“Pride.”

A woman’s pride.

She made a declaration of war by revealing her identity to Baek Seol-hee, determined not to lose to her.

—How dare an E-rank nobody act superior in front of an S-rank?

—How dare an S-rank nobody play games in front of an EX-rank?

I thought about it.

If I were in Ymir’s position, what aspects would I feel inferior to Baek Seol-hee in?

Looks? Pretty women always think they’re prettier than others. Qiongqi said so.

Figure? Women with S-line curves and excellent body balance think their bodies are much better than others’. Taotie said so.

Personality? Women think that being gentle and lively with men, and showing a sunny disposition—whether genuine or not—improves relationships with men. Hundun said so.

Relationship? Women emphasize that they established a relationship faster than other women, believing they got a head start. Taowu said so.

If nothing else, Ymir must have confirmed that in terms of face, figure, and personality, she doesn’t fall behind.

Women size each other up and estimate each other’s worth immediately upon meeting.

So what does Ymir lack compared to Baek Seol-hee?

If there’s one area where she falls behind, it’s “background.”

“People think I’m an E-rank ability user. But that’s not true. The S-rank, or rather S+-rank that the whole world is looking for—the Golden Magistrate—that’s me.”

As expected.

While revealing her identity, Ymir is emphasizing that she holds a superior position to Baek Seol-hee.

“Of course, I needed my own bamboo forest, and I happened to connect with Teacher Do Ji-hwan and consulted with him. Teacher Do Ji-hwan has helped me greatly without telling anyone about this.”

“T-That’s…”

That’s right.

I never told Baek Seol-hee about this.

“I didn’t know…”

Baek Seol-hee must be thinking:

How much have you kept from me?

And why are you telling this woman, Ymir, everything you didn’t tell me?

Very naturally, Ymir has made Baek Seol-hee into a “latecomer.”

Even though she herself started later.

“Is that true, Ji-hwan?”

“…Since Ymir has spoken, I have no reason to hide it. It’s true. Ymir is the Golden Magistrate. I’ve been listening to Ymir’s concerns and discussing solutions with her.”

I’m just a counselor.

“And in the process, I ended up sharing my own concerns, and Ymir… seriously listened to my problems.”

“Not just listened—I’ve been actively helping him!”

I feel a heavy touch on my arm.

Ymir moved right next to me, linked her arm with mine, and made a V-sign with her hand.

Hmm, this seems familiar.

Like a scene where a busty blonde female character launches a physical attack on the protagonist in front of a tsundere female character.

And naturally, what follows is…

“W-What are you doing?!”

“What do you mean? You know exactly what I’m doing.”

Ymir rubbed against me even more boldly in response to Baek Seol-hee’s anger.

“Don’t you know Teacher Do’s situation? During consultations, don’t you receive something like a consultation fee? At least 200 million won per session.”

“N-No…!”

It’s funny how Ymir mentions 200 million, but it’s equally amusing how Baek Seol-hee immediately catches on, blushes, and becomes flustered.

Of course, I’m the same.

Ymir never actually said 200 million won.

“You have no idea how much comfort Teacher Do’s consultations bring me, both physically and mentally. How many have you received? 10? 20?”

“Y-You’ve received that many?”

“Yes. Thanks to my disguise as an E-rank ability user student, I can freely visit the teacher’s home every day without any hesitation.”

“Every day?!”

“Not every day.”

I calmly pushed Ymir away, patting her shoulder.

“About three times a week.”

“Three times… a week…!”

“That’s because you keep going somewhere else on weekends, Teacher.”

“I’m a person with my own personal schedule. Ymir, it’s problematic if you think I’m always that stressed.”

“What if I’m the one who’s stressed?”

“Then… I should help you relieve it, of course. You listen to my concerns too.”

“Hehe.”

Ymir shrugged lightly toward Baek Seol-hee.

“Ms. Baek Seol-hee. As an ability user and hero, you must know that the hero life comes with a lot of stress, right? I’m the same. When I move around in my own way, I get angry and irritated.”

If there were an ability to raise one’s nose in the air, her nose would probably be touching the ceiling by now.

“After meeting Teacher Do, I learned how to control my emotions, resolve complaints, and release my desires. It’s all thanks to Teacher Do. Thank you, Teacher.”

“I should be thanking you. Thanks to you, I’ve been able to somewhat resolve my wife issues.”

“…Have you received any more messages today?”

Ymir took my left hand in both of hers and stroked it soothingly.

That action looked like an angel comforting a wound, and Baek Seol-hee’s eyes began to roll left and right as if she had received a great shock.

“So, Ymir student, no, Ms. Ymir, exactly how much do you know about Ji-hwan?”

“Every—thing.”

Ymir deliberately used a meaningful voice to pressure Baek Seol-hee.

“When a woman enters a man’s apartment every day, isn’t the story already over?”

“……!”

“I don’t think there’s anything more to explain. Right, Teacher?”

“Don’t exaggerate. It’s not every day.”

“Yes, yes. Three or four days a week.”

She’s been had.

Baek Seol-hee has been completely had.

With confusion upon confusion and the situation becoming a mess, Baek Seol-hee, who has lived by common sense and reason, couldn’t understand this situation.

The current situation is a kind of free-for-all.

Amidst the complex exchange, it’s like a stand-up comedy where everything must be decided through improvisation and immediate situational judgment.

A historical drama actor who has only performed on stage with scripts and rehearsals would naturally be flustered if suddenly asked to perform in front of unpredictable children.

“Sigh. Fine. Whether Ms. Ymir is the Golden Magistrate or the Silver Magistrate, I understand. That’s not particularly important to me anyway.”

“…Not important?”

“It’s not unusual for ability users to hide their identities, and I assume Ms. Ymir has her reasons for operating as the Golden Magistrate. I’m a state-certified S-rank hero who receives important information promptly.”

Yet adapting quickly to the stage probably comes down to talent and class.

“Even A-rank ability users try to hide their identities, so I can’t force someone estimated to be S-rank to become a hero if they don’t want to.”

“Is that okay?”

“Didn’t you come to Sejong Island to become a hero? No one can force ability users to do anything if it doesn’t violate the law. That would be illegal—it would affect the mental state of ability users.”

As Baek Seol-hee countered the confusion with logic and reason, I started to feel anxious.

I became worried as Baek Seol-hee seemed to gradually regain her composure and collect herself.

If this continues—

“What concerns me now is the issue regarding Ji-hwan and his wife.”

“…….”

Ymir fell silent.

Since she didn’t know what conversations Baek Seol-hee and I had shared on this topic, Ymir turned to me with a look that said, “This is for you to handle.”

“Seol-hee, that’s—”

“I’ve decided. I thought about what would be most helpful for Ji-hwan, and I came up with the best solution. If your wife permits.”

As if there was no need to ask Ymir for permission.

“Could you ask how she feels about an S-rank ability user becoming a surrogate mother?”