〈 Chapter 619: Part 2, Chapter 2, Episode 14 〉
“So, if dopplegangers exist, are they really 100% identical?”
This was the first thing I said upon returning to the office after escaping interrogation by the association. My teammates all looked at me with strange expressions, but I was dead serious.
“Why? They say there are three people in this world who look exactly like you.”
“It’s possible for faces to be similar.”
“What about the body? For example, if we compare Gaon and Nuri…”
As soon as I finished speaking, the answer became clear to me. They’re different.
“Gaon has more fluidity, while Nuri is deeper inside.”
“Boss, I hope this isn’t turning into a sex talk. Right? I’m water-type, and Nuri is S-rank Yuhwa.”
“You just dropped a sexual innuendo pretending it wasn’t one. Hmmph, I might have some depth after all… possessing the vast heart of the sun and sea…”
“It wasn’t about sex; it was about the body, right?”
SMACK. I got hit simultaneously by both sisters. Though violence is Su Ri’s specialty, their punches were soft enough that I just took them.
‘Two superhumans beating up an ordinary person would technically count as attempted murder.’
They shook me around like a cat playfully punching with tiny paws, knowing full well that if they used their real strength, I’d be dead.
“Gaon, Nuri, you shouldn’t torment the boss like this.”
Yuna gently interjected with her soft voice.
“To pleasure a penis, one must stroke and scratch the glans to bring clarity.”
“…Yuna, thanks for the drink.”
“Not at all.”
Yuna raised her coffee cup with a gentle smile. I quietly sipped my strawberry latte and returned to the topic.
“What I’m trying to say is this—twins are different in some way too, so could there really be someone in the world who’s completely identical?”
“If it’s an Xroid, wouldn’t it be different?”
Raon lifted her hot chocolate and replied.
“Celebrities, famous people, or heroes—illegal modified Xroids mimicking specific individuals are said to have identical appearances.”
“That’s true. But even if they’re 99% the same, there’s still that 1% difference. The most private place.”
“You mean THAT part?”
“Yes, THAT part.”
The two of us exchanged glances. It seemed like a competition to see who would bring it up first, but I knew I’d win. Yuna made the first move.
“Penis.”
“Nope. Heart.”
“Are you teasing me on purpose?”
“Nope. Every person has a unique magical pattern for no reason, right? I’m talking about the core inside the heart. Yuna, you’re such a lewd person.”
Yuna nearly choked on her coffee and dropped her head. Her trembling fists suggested she had plenty to say but was trying hard to suppress her anger.
“In the case of Xroids, it’s impossible to perfectly replicate that part. But for me, the heart is the most accurate. No matter how identical someone may appear, touching their chest will immediately reveal who they are.”
“So, you touched Winter?”
“Don’t make me laugh. I just wanted to touch some boobs. That’s why I left early today. Do we need to hire a new office worker?”
“It’s already a miracle we haven’t been sued.”
“It’s not about being sued. If Sun Icheol finds out about this, he’ll try to arrest you immediately. And our office will be searched and seized.”
There were still about two hours until quitting time, but after the commotion at the Yu-Sung store, Sun Gyeoul left early. I didn’t stop her either. After touching her chest, she lost my interest entirely.
“…Can you guys stop making assumptions? There’s nothing to worry about. Winter will come tomorrow.”
“Boss, it seems your feelings towards Winter have become more professional…”
“She wasn’t someone I knew.”
By touching Sun Gyeoul’s chest, I identified her through the system. Specifically, I managed to confirm some information about her core via the system.
Sun Gyeoul, D-rank Special Ability User, Illusion Magic Max Level 30.
She wasn’t someone I knew. Her core wasn’t familiar. Neither was her magical talent.
“Cheon Gaeul has A+ Illusion Magic, but Sun Gyeoul only has D-level at 30.”
She wasn’t particularly blessed as a special ability user. Of course, I could bestow blessings, but there was no reason to make Sun Gyeoul mine when I already had Cheon Gaeul.
Sun Gyeoul is merely a different entity from Cheon Gaeul. She probably exists as an add-on DLC character who resembles Cheon Gaeul.
“Treat Winter well when she comes. Since the office has been attacked by monsters, we’ll have plenty to worry about moving forward.”
“Boss, since Winter isn’t a recruitment target, you won’t be supplying magic power, right?”
“That’s correct. No need to.”
CLAP CLAP CLAP. The four women cheered with high-fives. Especially Nuri and Gaon reacted intensely.
“Yay, no Boob-Monster threat!”
“Oh, thank goodness! I was worried about how we’d fight against those weapons.”
“…What are you saying about someone else’s chest, you guys?”
Of course, Sun Gyeoul and Cheon Gaeul might have similarly sized chests, but Chest-Monsters aren’t limited to Cheon Gaeul. Someday, two real Breast-Monsters—a snake from the ground and a crazy B-Che—will show up as enemies.
“Who’s talking about someone else’s chest? Nuri, when have I ever talked about yours?”
“If you can talk about someone else’s privates, why can’t we talk about chests?”
“I’m sorry.”
I took another sip of my strawberry latte and quickly changed the subject.
“Has information about the monsters not spread yet?”
“Yes. It was just reported as simple chaos at the Yu-Sung store. The public thinks it was a villain causing trouble.”
“That’s good. Then I should go repay the 2 trillion to Yu-Sung now. We need to compensate for the financial damages caused by this incident.”
I explained everything that happened in the interrogation room.
Yu-Sung plans to demand 2 trillion in damages from me. The association offered to cover some costs, but I refused. Meanwhile, the monster countermeasures department tried to avoid responsibility.
“Yu-Sung is trash, as always.”
“Raon-ssi, when it’s appropriate, blaming the country is the right move.”
“Hell Joseon, right? The ‘Monster’ Countermeasures Department isn’t the ‘Hero’ Countermeasures Department, so they claimed it wasn’t their jurisdiction and tried to dodge responsibility. This is why heroes keep packing up and immigrating abroad.”
“It makes me feel a little sad. Everything I mentioned at the airport is becoming reality.”
“It’s okay. We knew what kind of place this was when we came. And it’s not completely ruined yet. That 2 trillion is a kind of hint, right? Originally, the losses would’ve been in the trillions?”
“……”
I calmly drank my beverage, but my teammates’ faces twisted grimly.
“…Seok Harang’s chance!”
“Does Seok Harang even have trillions? He doesn’t seem like the type to collect cores recklessly. He’s probably holed up somewhere watching his Hero Wiki updates and giggling happily.”
“Boss, you’ve always been harsh about Princess Setwha’s leisure time.”
“Shouldn’t someone at Princess Setwha’s level be enjoying an elegant life in a high-end penthouse?”
I remained silent. To preserve the fantasy surrounding S-rank heroes, I refrained from repeating the truth. I’d already said it once.
“Anyway, Seok Harang’s chance doesn’t work. Neither does Oracle’s. This means the chairman of Yu-Sung is summoning me. It’s a signal that they want to talk.”
“A rich guy sure knows how to send spectacular signals, huh?”
“They’re asking for something more valuable than 2 trillion. Since the chairman likely knows my identity to some extent, one night of sex might do the trick.”
“Ah.”
All four team members’ eyes widened. They grabbed me and started shaking my body.
“No male prostitution!!!”
“……”
I couldn’t say the chairman of the Yu-Sung family is a complete idiot. Saying that would definitely make Yuhwa an enemy.
“…Maybe they want us to turn someone from the Yu-Sung family into a superhuman?”
Despite hearing countless complaints about the Yu-Sung family, I casually ignored them while waiting for the actual summoner.
“Let’s eat first. For the next few days, they’ll likely monitor us, so everyone be careful. Starting tomorrow, we’ll resume our activities.”
I proposed dispersing. With Sun Gyeoul entering the office, my residence shifted to Gaon Nuri Room 301, but I needed to move separately for personal reasons.
“See you tomorrow. Dismissed for today.”
“Boss, where are you going?”
“Yeah, I think I’ll sleep outside tonight.”
After 6 PM, late at night.
“I’ll go hunting again tonight.”
I still haven’t gathered all seven squad members.
* * *
<At that moment, in the official residence of the government complex.>
“Is it really true that nothing happened between that blond rascal and our daughter?”
“Absolutely. I’ve confirmed this multiple times. He actually injured his back trying to save her.”
Munsinsa decided to defend Baek Cheonghwa as much as possible at Winter’s request. Although he disapproved of her somewhat promiscuous relationships, since she herself said it was fine, there was nothing he could do.
“Is everything truly alright? He didn’t touch our Winter in any way, did he? If even a hair on her body was touched, there’ll be immediate arrest.”
“…Isn’t the reason she keeps distancing herself because of this?”
Factually, she’s a different person hiding her identity, but Munsinsa calmed Sun Icheol’s outburst. It was amusing to see Sun Icheol, who usually doesn’t fit the image of ‘propriety,’ pretending to be such a caring father.
“She’s reaching adulthood. Consider it like going through puberty again. Tsk. She doesn’t understand her father’s feelings.”
“…”
Does Sun Icheol really know?
‘Does he realize that his beloved daughter is actually a superhuman found in Seoul’s ruins, transformed into him to operate in New Seoul?’
And that he himself is unaware that his daughter occasionally switches identities? Munsinsa felt a bittersweet camaraderie with this fellow who shares the same obstacles despite having different goals.
“Mr. President, do you intend to block Sun Gyeoul from working?”
“I emotionally want to, but doing so would make her leave the country. What would my face be then? Absolutely not. Instead, we need to increase surveillance at that studio. Deploy some Patriotic Youth Corps members. Have we failed to infiltrate it yet?”
“Yes. Female operatives were used, but all attempts failed.”
“Tsk, understandable. Anyway, these young ones are so carefree. Thanks for letting me know.”
Sun Icheol waved Munsinsa away with his hand. Munsinsa slowly disappeared into the shadows.
“Ahh, wait a moment. Let me ask one more thing. Is it true that Yu-Sung hasn’t requested compensation from our side?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, they should. We should host the Night of Entrepreneurs soon. Will that scoundrel Yoo Jae-min attend again?”
“He probably won’t be able to come since the chairman can’t make it.”
“Haha, I see. Understood.”
Munsinsa vanished into the shadows. Sun Icheol closed his eyes, enveloped in classical music.
* * *
“Damn Rasputin!”
In the deepest part of the Yu-Sung family mansion, a room even the servants weren’t allowed to enter, a blond woman threw documents everywhere and tore at her hair.
“Damn Sun Icheol!”
With no one around to hear, she could freely curse. The woman seethed with anger at the red numbers filling the documents, unable to calm down.
“Damn Commander pervert bastard!”
She cursed both the perpetrator, the bystander who refused responsibility, and the victim who indirectly caused the whole mess, before gulping down a mouthful of coffee.
“Ah, why does this happen when I’m at my store…”
The real president of Yu-Sung, Yoo Hwa, clutched her head and sobbed. While the damage could be repaired quickly, the amount of goods required in the process was astronomical. Even a rough calculation showed the compensation demanded—2 trillion—was far less than the actual losses.
“Shit, I’ll treat this as an investment and squeeze every last drop of profit.”
Yoo Hwa flicked her finger at the grinning commander’s face.
“Commander… Commander… Commander…”
Yoo Hwa rested her chin on her hand and muttered to herself.
“Could machinery also receive magic power supply?”
Yoo Hwa stared at the doll in the corner of the wall that looked exactly like her, lost in thought.
