Ch.31Chapter 2. The Legendary Librarian Legend (5)

If I wanted to lead Ymir down the path of villainy, I would have recommended a Western-style costume rather than hanbok.

“Walk your own path! Believe in the maple syrup flowing through your body!”

Ymir is a foreigner.

Just by looking at her, she has blonde hair and blue eyes, and her appearance is typically foreign.

If she wore a foreign-designed suit or something similar to a Doji Rider outfit and received criticism, people from her country would cheer, “Wow, even in Korea there’s clothing that reflects the spirit of our maple syrup!”

“So you finally dropped out of the academy.”

“Teacher…”

“Follow me. I’ll help you get revenge on Korea that tormented you and those who made you despair.”

That way, I could more easily draw Ymir to the Syndicate’s side.

But.

I believe.

I believe in the potential of all the selfish people on this Sejong Island, in this country, on this land.

“Because humans are trash.”

Whether Ymir wears hanbok or a wedding dress, people on this island will unconditionally see her as a “foreigner.”

Those who value tradition might say something like:

“She speaks our language in our land, so how can we discriminate against her just because she has a big nose and different hair color?”

Who was it?

What did some village magistrate say about Hamel who drifted to Joseon?

I don’t remember the exact origin, but something about how if someone lives in Korea, speaks Korean, and lives for Korea, then that person is Korean—

“That’s an old story! It’s different now! Can we call foreigners who come from abroad, suck up the mana buff flowing through Korean land, and then return to their countries our countrymen?!”

We can’t.

Foreign ability users are all viewed as “outsiders who will eventually return to their countries,” which is why foreigners inevitably face rejection.

Even if they marry a Korean, unless they live here for many years and show deep immersion in Korean culture, people will say, “They’ll eventually run away through marriage fraud!” In such a place, can a foreigner really live here healthily for long?

‘Even without my interference, she’ll become disillusioned with this country on her own.’

Even I, who’ve only been here for half a year, feel disillusioned, so how could Ymir not feel the same when seeing the people of this land?

I don’t think she can.

“So, Ymir. Are these books enough?”

“Yes. Thank you for finding these books for me despite being busy.”

“It’s nothing. I’m a librarian after all.”

I brought five books about hanbok that I had selected for Ymir and checked them out to her.

“If you get stuck on anything, come find me. You can ask anyone around for help, not just me. If you tell them you’re making a costume based on hanbok, everyone will help you.”

“Thank you, teacher! Oh, teacher. Um.”

Ymir carefully asked while putting the books in her bag.

“Are you free this weekend?”

“This weekend?”

“Yes. I want to treat you to a meal as thanks for the meal you bought me last time.”

“…I hope there won’t be another incident like before?”

Since an accident happened as soon as we went to the restaurant last time, I wonder if we might get caught up in something similar again.

“I don’t think so. There’s no way someone would go on a rampage every weekend. Especially not attacking the exact restaurant where we’re eating.”

“I’m not so sure. It’s just a feeling I have. And I’m sorry, but I already have plans this weekend.”

“Plans?”

“Yes.”

This isn’t an excuse.

I really do have plans, and I have to go somewhere on Sunday.

“Well… then maybe next time when you’re free. I’ll show you the hanbok costume I’ve designed then. Promise, okay?”

“Alright, student Ymir. I look forward to it. Your hanbok costume.”

“Yes!”

Ymir left with a bright smile.

‘She’s so energetic.’

Such a bright child.

I wonder how long that brightness will last while living on Sejong Island.

It’s not just about Ymir herself.

I also need to pay attention to the entity she transforms into, “Solar Platina.”

Click.

I took out my smartphone and checked another community.

Unlike the places where people use formal speech and have healthy conversations, this was an underground community where informal speech was the default and asking about each other’s parents was commonplace.

-Ymir? She looks pretty good. First year in college.

-I saw her passing by, she’s the top beauty among the freshmen.

-Bust of the Year…. BOAT….

-But I’ve noticed she eats lunch alone these days.

ㄴOppa could feed her something delicious( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Stories about Ymir circulate in places like this, completely disregarding her portrait rights.

-How can her name be Solar Platina lol

-Seeing how Goblin is keeping an eye on her, she seems really strong, but just the fact that she’s using a knight concept on Sejong Island shows her character

-She should be arrested for disrespecting the national flag. If she’s going to wear armor, shouldn’t it be traditional Korean armor? I’d accept bikini armor though lol

-Why can’t we see her face? Why? Why?

Stories about the platinum female knight, Solar Platina, are openly discussed everywhere.

‘She has to deal with stress from both sides.’

If she revealed her face like Snow White, the hero and the individual would be identified as the same, but by hiding her identity like this, she receives separate evaluations for both sides.

‘She shouldn’t do any ego-searching.’

I hope she doesn’t suffer internal damage from researching information about herself on internet communities.

‘At least not yet.’

‘Eventually, she’ll have to stand out.’

The saying “a dagger in a sack will eventually poke through” exists for a reason.

No matter how much she pretends to be E-rank, as long as her power is close to S-rank, she can’t hide it forever.

Especially if she wants to walk the path of a “hero,” someone will eventually discover her identity.

Even that alien with the transformation spoon couldn’t completely hide his identity, so how could Ymir?

But if she could hide her identity and achieve what she wants.

I don’t know what Ymir wants, but if she could live her entire life as a “hero” without revealing her identity.

‘The distinction between oneself as a hero and as an individual. Achieving that perfectly is indeed the ‘ideal’ for ability users.’

No one knows your identity in everyday life, but as a hero, you can help people.

If Ymir has such thoughts,

“…I didn’t plan to help, but I keep finding myself doing so.”

First Baek Seol-hee.

Now Ymir.

It feels more like I’m helping them as Do Ji-hwan the librarian rather than as an executive of an evil organization.

‘I hope this help benefits me later.’

If.

If Ymir becomes an incredibly strong hero, and I, as Goblin, am defeated and captured by her.

-Hehe, Teacher Do. You can’t go outside anymore. I’ll take care of everything for you. Food, sleep, I’ll help you with everything…? I have to repay your kindness. Huaaa….

“…What was that?”

Some kind of thought flashed through my mind.

Why.

Why am I imagining myself being confined by Ymir?

“……”

Perhaps.

Working continuously in the rarely visited second basement floor, not getting enough sunlight is affecting me.

‘It’s because of the poor working environment.’

Maybe it’s because I’m underground.

I feel like my mind is becoming scattered.

“…Nah.”

It can’t be.

Ymir is such a kind student.

* * *

Evening.

Ymir returned to the dormitory.

For some reason, her room was meant for two people, but there was no one living with her.

-I’m uncomfortable living with others, so I’ll get my own place.

-Don’t take it too personally. As someone from abroad, you should understand that foreigners gathering together doesn’t make a good impression on the people of Sejong Island.

-I’ve already spoken with the dorm supervisor. Don’t worry. Since we’re both adults, let’s maintain proper etiquette. Let’s avoid any unfortunate incidents in the room I’m supposed to stay in. You understand without me having to explain, right?

Her supposed roommate had moved out to get her own place.

She didn’t particularly mind.

Thanks to that, she could freely come and go from her room without her identity being discovered, and do things like this.

“Hmm….”

Using something like a black durumagi as a blanket, she rolled around on the bed, examining the books she had borrowed from the library.

“Hanbok design….”

A concept like a “daughter-in-law.”

Just hearing the name made her heart flutter a bit, and at the same time, one concept was decided.

“Mine is…this.”

Ymir opened one of the books.

“‘Pyebaek.’ Hmm, this is interesting.”

Even though Korea had begun to emphasize traditional culture, one thing remained unchanged even 25 years into the new century.

-Weddings should still be held in wedding halls with wedding dresses, right?

The announcement of a man and woman becoming husband and wife still maintains the modern wedding style.

Of course, changing into hanbok and performing the pyebaek ceremony after the wedding has become essentially established, but at least having a wedding with traditional makeup and table settings is “rare.”

“Using pyebaek attire as a concept…huh? Oh, that might be a bit much.”

Ymir raised her legs while lying down.

“…Hiding this wouldn’t be respectful to the teacher.”

With a confident face, Ymir moved her bare legs as if synchronizing.

“Let’s say the skirt will be short….”

Ymir picked up the durumagi.

“…The most important thing is, of course, that.”

In the mirror she turned to.

The shimmering platinum female knight disappeared, and gradually a woman wearing a new form of clothing was shimmering like mist.

Like.

A passing scholar, that kind of appearance.

“Ah, maybe this isn’t right either.”

Ymir waved her hand toward the mirror.

“…This is really difficult.”

Grrrr.

“What should I do, partner?”

In the mirror, a golden dragon with gleaming golden eyes was shining brilliantly.

“Do as I wish? Hmm…. Something Korean…ah!”

Ymir clapped her hands and sat up.

“That’s it! Heheh, yes, that’s what I had.”

Ymir put her hands together and smiled slightly.

“…Since it’s Sejong Island, I should create a design that suits Sejong Island, right?”

Grrrr.

“Yongbieocheonga.”

Grrrr?!

The golden dragon in the mirror shook its head vigorously in surprise.