Ch.655Chapter 25. Let it Unfold (5)

The yacht carrying 17 S-class heroes (plus one—Thunder Empress Kim Yoon-ji) departed toward the East Sea.

Everyone changed clothes with subtle expressions on their faces and entered the designated area inside the yacht.

“I thought there would be beds laid out, but suddenly it’s like a seminar room…?”

“This is where a passionate night with the patriotic master will take place.”

I stood at the podium and adjusted my clothes.

Wearing a Hawaiian shirt, rather loose shorts, and sunglasses, I waited for the 17 power users to take their seats.

“Looking at everyone’s attire, I should teach this before the orientation.”

I pointed at my collaborators’ outfits.

“You’re all wearing the provided clothing. Wearing what you’re told to wear—as a hero’s mindset, that’s quite commendable.”

Everyone was wearing only the top part of a hanbok jacket without the bottom.

Some kept pulling down the upper part of their hanbok, some were constantly conscious of the bikinis they wore underneath, and others were using the headbands they were given as an option to cover parts of their bodies.

“The attire was the first test, and no one passed. How disappointing.”

“A-a test…?”

“A demonstration from an experienced assistant will follow. Thunder Empress, step forward.”

I gestured to Thunder Empress to stand beside me.

Like the others, her hanbok jacket barely covered the center of her chest, and she was wearing a black sling shot with even less coverage than the others.

On her abdomen, her characteristic jade-colored awakening crest was shimmering, but that would come after they prepared for the “master’s education.”

“Clothing has its time, place, and occasion. And this is Korea. Thunder Empress, show proper etiquette.”

“Understood.”

Thunder Empress raised one hand.

Green electricity sparkled in her hand, and she placed that electricity-filled hand over her chest.

“Manaskin, equip.”

Deliberately voicing the technique, she willingly demonstrated the skill she had learned from me in front of everyone.

*Fssss.*

The mana that sparkled with electricity attached to Thunder Empress’s body.

The magical power, clinging like a spider web, formed a framework like clothing seams, and very slowly began to sparkle as it covered her entire body.

“Ah, ahhh…?!”

“Let me introduce you to ‘Manaskin,’ a technique that all S-class members of The Syndicate basically possess.”

*Snap.*

When I snapped my fingers, Thunder Empress immediately completed her outfit.

As if the slow-motion display of electrical mana enveloping her body had been deliberate, the lower part of her hanbok instantly transformed into a jade-colored latex suit.

“You mean, clothing made of mana…?”

“It’s like wearing a protective barrier of mana. Very few people know about this. Even among those who do, not many can actually do it.”

Moreover.

“And none as proficient as this.”

“Ahhh?!”

“W-when did that happen?!”

I, who had been wearing a Hawaiian shirt and swimming shorts, had somehow changed into a black hanbok like a scholar walking in a folk village.

“I’ve been wearing mana-made clothes since you first saw me. With this method, I can change my appearance in all sorts of ways.”

“T-then….”

“That’s right. The Goblin’s mask was also made of mana, and all the appearance changes were done through mana power.”

“Are you naked?”

“……”

For a moment, these numerous power users before me felt like high school girls.

No, let me correct that.

They had the look of boys in an all-male high school waiting for a pretty young female college student to arrive for teaching practice, anticipating her first class.

“I am naked.”

“Wooow…!”

There’s nothing particularly to hide.

Rather, it’s more convenient to inform them in advance that I’m naked.

“Being naked allows me to release mana from my body more quickly and transform it into clothing. This is what you need to learn first: ‘mana clothing.'”

While the term is Manaskin but I’m calling it mana clothing, that slight discrepancy isn’t particularly important.

“There are several reasons why I’m teaching this to you, but it’s mainly to prepare for the ‘perverts’ who will appear at the World Cup.”

“Perverts…?”

“Partial fetishists.”

“Ah!”

Among the collaborators, some were surprised, while others openly frowned.

“No matter how strong a hero’s costume is, whether it’s clothing or a steel suit, no matter how much mana you put into it, it will eventually be destroyed. Those guys will pretend it’s accidental and target your vital areas specifically. They’ll try to make you feel shame and defeat you.”

There are guys who shamelessly exploit women’s sense of modesty to win.

“Why such people are in the World Cup—as a Korean, I apologize. It’s our mistake for not dealing with Haeguneul Group sooner.”

“That’s not really the fault of Goblin or The Syndicate. There are heroes who aim for that kind of thing too.”

“Thank you for understanding, Nadeshiko.”

Perhaps because we had become acquainted before, Nadeshiko had become like a representative or class president of these collaborators, actively helping me like a model student.

“So, to defy their lewd expectations, you should either reinforce your underwear or strengthen the costume itself. In that sense, this is the minimum task you need to accomplish tonight.”

*Snap.*

When I snapped my fingers toward Thunder Empress, her clothing changed again.

*Swoosh.*

“A competitive swimsuit. In Japan, they call this a ‘school mizugi,’ I believe?”

“Um, why is it high-leg?”

“To show off Thunder Empress’s pelvis. If you’re not confident, you can add wings on the sides, tights like hot pants, or a skirt-like layer. I’m talking about the ‘minimum’ area.”

I turned Thunder Empress around and pointed to her back.

“Not only the front but also the back—by protecting the back area like this, you guard the three most important parts as a woman. This is the first item I’m sharing with The Syndicate’s collaborators.”

If I can’t provide this much to those collaborating with The Syndicate, what would be the point of their collaboration?

“If you can’t make it, I can create a sample for you, but that would be just a one-time use. However, if you make it yourself? You can use it continuously.”

“……”

“Having an idea doesn’t mean you can actually use it. You’ll find out how difficult it is when you try it yourself.”

The collaborators looked at each other and stood up.

Being all S-class, they seemed eager to try out this new ability they had learned.

“Here’s some audiovisual material to help you visualize it more easily.”

I played a video on the screen in the seminar room.

Someone crossing their hands in an X shape and immediately transforming into their own costume when the camera view changes.

Someone else first enveloping their entire body in rainbow light before creating a costume over it.

Yet another creating a whirlwind around them, or forming a spherical protective barrier like an evolutionary cocoon, completing their transformation inside before emerging.

“Wow, footage from before I was even born….”

“All of this is helpful.”

In my case, I’m the “cast-off” type who rapidly releases magical power from under my clothes to create a costume, but I can’t expect all collaborators to cast off.

“How do you transform, Goblin?”

“It’s a trade secret, but in my case, when the transformation ends, all my clothes are torn.”

“Ah.”

“It’s better not to copy me. Unless you want to be in a state equivalent to having your parts destroyed when you run out of mana or become Zenros.”

“I understand….”

I didn’t mention that my clothes get completely torn, leaving me naked.

“Well, before the official orientation, about 30 minutes… I guess there’s no need to wait.”

By the time I took a moment to wet my throat, all the collaborators had already created their own costumes.

Some were wearing full-body stockings, while others wore clothes similar to their actual costumes.

Some, like Nadeshiko, wore their country’s traditional clothes—a kimono in her case—though the design and color were quite simple.

“You can practice in your rooms before the World Cup. Now, let’s move on to the next agenda.”

*Snap.*

With a snap of my fingers, Thunder Empress immediately returned to her original state.

“Do you see this?”

I placed my hand on Thunder Empress’s smooth abdomen.

Some collaborators blushed, but Thunder Empress, like a skilled assistant, maintained a rigid posture and stood still.

“Thunder Empress. Use your magical power.”

“Understood.”

*Rumble.*

As soon as she used her magic, the awakening crest embedded in her lower abdomen began to shine with Thunder Empress’s color.

“Ohhh….”

“The world knows this as a special crest engraved on those who have awakened, but the truth is this.”

I stood behind Thunder Empress, reached around from both sides, and pulled on the external core attached to her abdomen.

*Crackle.*

With a slight tremor, I was holding the awakening crest that had been attached to Thunder Empress’s abdomen.

Like showing everyone a thinly made sugar craft, I looked at the awakening crest and then pointed behind me.

“And this is what The Syndicate has prepared for you to pray for victory at the World Cup.”

*Click.*

A device on one wall of the seminar room activated, and objects popped out from inside the wall.

“Attach it wherever you want. Of course, the best place is the lower abdomen, which can protect the cradle.”

The awakening crests made for each collaborator…

“Someone said, ‘To prove that you awakened thanks to Patriotic Master Do Ji-hwan, does the design really need to be uniform?'”

In the center, the character “Do” was inscribed in what looked like cursive calligraphy, with wings of various shapes spreading around it.

Some…

“Um, is that ‘Do’ instead of ‘Q’ because…?”

“…Don’t blame me—it was designed by the most Korean designer.”

The awakening crest reflected someone’s strong preference, but its effectiveness was clear.

“Though this crest looks thin, it contains enough output to match at least an A-class.”

That’s just how it looks.