Ch.130Chapter 5. Do Ji-hwan’s Ambitious Project (7)

After finishing our meal.

Now, there’s no turning back.

I had already resolved to do this from the beginning, but now that it’s actually happening, I feel a bit awkward and embarrassed, yet also satisfied with my decision.

“Wow, I’ve never been to a place like this before.”

We were soaking in an open-air bath.

Since we were outdoors, there were screen-like structures spread above us so that people couldn’t see in from outside.

‘One person alone might be fine, but three people of both sexes completely naked in an outdoor bath is a bit much.’

In Korean culture, the idea of soaking naked in an outdoor hot spring is still unimaginable.

If the hot spring were indoors, it might be different, but to be safe, we came in wearing something resembling swimwear.

There was one peculiar thing, though.

“Is that really a swimsuit?”

“Well, the important thing is covering up, isn’t it?”

Baek Seol-hee pointed at what she was wearing.

“It was too difficult time-wise to bring actual swimsuits, so I improvised like this. I developed this after getting advice from Ji-hwan.”

When Baek Seol-hee stretched her hand forward and used ice magic, a white glove immediately formed on her hand.

“Wow, how did you do that?”

“I just think about covering my hand with magical energy and let it flow and solidify.”

“Doesn’t the magic burst out from your skin and cause problems?”

“Well, that did happen sometimes, but that’s why you need to manipulate the magic delicately.”

“Everything has its pros and cons.”

When transforming at super-high speed, clothes tear and explode.

But if you transform very slowly, thinking of covering your body with magical energy, there’s no problem.

“Wow, so could I just wear clothes while transformed all the time…? What do you think, teacher?”

“If you have enough mana like Seol-hee, it should be fine, right? After all, maintaining the mana covering your body continuously consumes mana. If it were me…”

I took out my smartphone.

“Wow, are you going to take pictures of us with that?”

“No. If someone hacked the cloud and got those pictures, it would be a disaster. I keep automatic uploads turned off, but you never know what might happen.”

“Then maybe we should get a digital camera or something later…?”

“I don’t think we need to photograph every moment. Anyway, look at this.”

Since it was waterproof, there was no problem taking it out in the hot spring, and I showed them a scene.

“What’s this?”

“It’s Goblin’s transformation. You know, when that fake rider with the patent scam appeared.”

At that time, I created a rectangular mana barrier in front of me to block ranged attacks.

Then I walked through it, and as the mana passed through me, I transformed into Goblin [Qiongqi form].

“Goblin transformed like this.”

“Yes, and you told me about it too.”

“Right. What if we take this one step further and add a new gimmick?”

“A gimmick?”

“Yeah. For example… imagine this barrier contains magical information for a new transformation. You’re covering your body with magical energy.”

I lifted some water from the hot spring and splashed it on my body.

“Like having water on your body like this. What do you think of this method?”

“But to release magical energy, don’t you still need to draw it out from your body?”

“Think about extending your hand forward and releasing magic from your hand first. Then, think about covering your body with it. Wouldn’t that work?”

“Hmm…”

Ymir tilted her head toward me.

This conversation might be helpful for them, but it’s not helpful for Goblin at all.

Will she think it’s advice?

Will she think it’s backseat driving?

Or will she think it’s meddling or teabagging?

The truth is “this is a method Goblin can’t normally use,” but Ymir just tilts her head.

‘She must be confused. Goblin doesn’t transform like this.’

Goblin lives with the side effects of transformation and doesn’t transform this way?

She must find it strange.

But there’s no need to tell her that Goblin’s original magical power is weaker than others, and that he draws power from elsewhere to compensate.

“Ymir, you can definitely do it. And Seol-hee, you could do it right away with just a little adaptation.”

“What’s with that tone? As if you could do it yourself.”

“If even a powerless person like me can come up with this method, I don’t think it would be impossible for two ability users like you.”

“Hmph.”

If she’s going to misunderstand before reaching the truth, let her think I’m teabagging.

“Fine. I’ll try it right here.”

Ymir stepped out.

Like Baek Seol-hee, she was covered in magical energy shaped like a bikini.

If that magical covering were removed, she’d be naked, and that would immediately be deemed inappropriate for broadcast.

But that won’t happen.

Ymir is thoroughly covered, and her magic bikini is as dark and opaque as a black t-shirt.

“Well… first, the primary transformation.”

Fwooosh!

As soon as Ymir released her magical energy, the Gold Magistrate appeared in less than a second.

“……”

Baek Seol-hee’s face stiffened as she looked at Ymir.

Having encountered an ability user who seemed to match her own skills, she felt that minimum sense of competitiveness that all ability users have, no matter how nice they are.

“Your transformation is certainly fast.”

“Right? Well, I often find myself in situations where I need to transform quickly.”

Is it just fast?

Have you ever been in a situation where such speed was necessary?

Why do I hear something completely different in her words?

Perhaps it’s because I’ve spent so much time with the executives of Yimemangryang and often heard the hidden barbs in their speech.

“Now I’ll try transforming into the next one.”

Just as Ymir extended her hand to release magical energy.

“Trans…”

Ding!

An emergency alert sounded on my smartphone.

When I quickly checked the alert, I found a very troublesome situation had occurred.

“Oh no.”

Villain appearance.

And on Ulleungdo Island, at that.

“It seems a woman presumed to be a demon is rampaging right now. Near Ulleungdo harbor. The rank is… approximately B-class.”

“Where? I’ll go right—”

Baek Seol-hee was about to rush out when she suddenly froze.

“Ah.”

“…Of all times, why now?”

Villains don’t care about heroes’ circumstances.

If Baek Seol-hee were to appear there, on Ulleungdo Island, without her Taegeuk Watch?

“Baek Seol-hee was having a romantic getaway on Ulleungdo!”

That would be the immediate headline.

Then the very problem we were worried about would unfold today—a world trying to dig up everything about a man named Do Ji-hwan.

“…Ah, ugh, this is…!”

“Seol-hee.”

Ymir tilted her head side to side, then lightly dusted off her hands.

“You stay and rest here. Or you could continue what we were doing earlier. Or you could turn on the TV over there and watch me in action.”

“You’re going, Ymir?”

“Yes. Unlike you, who would be in serious trouble appearing on Ulleungdo, it’s not a big problem for me to show up there.”

“But then…”

“They might try to connect Ymir’s appearance on Ulleungdo with Platinum Sun who appeared there? Don’t worry. I have a way.”

Ymir’s gaze momentarily turned to me.

“Teacher. You told me before, right? That it wouldn’t be easy.”

“…You don’t mean?”

“It’s possible for me. This is when having abilities is convenient and good, isn’t it?”

With a grin, Ymir moved her hands like a shaman casting a spell.

“…Teleport.”

“Wait, you’re going to teleport? How is that possible…?”

“Teacher.”

Ymir smiled broadly with a face that seemed to say “why are you asking such an obvious question,” as she pressed her Platinum Sun mask to her face.

“I’m doing it because it became possible.”

“…That’s amazing.”

“It’s thanks to you, teacher.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

A golden magic circle appeared around Ymir.

It was an oriental magic circle that looked like Western magical patterns overlaid with Eastern talisman inscriptions, and it began to spin in a circle in front of Ymir, glowing brightly.

“I created it because I wanted to be able to go to your side anytime. I’m pretty good, aren’t I?”

“…That’s truly amazing.”

Developing teleportation just to see a man.

It’s not impossible.

It’s not impossible, but…

“Well then, watch me! My performance.”

Ymir, or rather Platinum Sun, disappeared through the magic circle.

Soon the golden magic circle vanished, scattering sparks.

“My goodness.”

I searched for a live broadcast of the chaotic scene on my smartphone.

[Oh, over there!!]

Whoosh.

A circular golden magic circle appeared in mid-air, and a person jumped out from inside.

[Behold the arrival of the Gold Magistrate.]

Ymir, who had been in the hot spring just moments ago, had now appeared near Ulleung Harbor.

Impossible?

In this world, with imagination and mana, nothing is impossible.

“That’s amazing. Really. …Seol-hee?”

“……”

Baek Seol-hee approached me with a coldly composed face.

“Teleportation…”

“…Um, yeah.”

“I’ll watch Ymir fight for now, and if it looks dangerous, I’ll fly over. But.”

Baek Seol-hee pressed her body against mine and tilted her head slightly.

“Tell me what you said to Ymir. What did you say to her?”

Whoosh.

“How she’s able to teleport.”

“If I learn it… what do you plan to do?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Squeeze.

“I could teleport directly into Ji-hwan’s room like Ymir.”

Why does my thigh feel cold even though we’re in a hot spring?