Chapter 61: It's Not a Technology Leak, It's Advice! (2)
Chapter 61: It's Not a Technology Leak, It's Advice! (2)
The transformation of the Goblin essentially started with the release of my internal magical power.
In a word, ‘Metamorphosis.’
Breaking the ‘Boundary of Cognitive Dissonance,’ which was worn as if one were non-powered.
I momentarily release the magical power flowing in my body to scatter the surrounding view.
The series of processes that transformed the magical power that flowed above the body into the Goblin’s mask and clothes took place in less than 0.1 seconds.
The word ‘Metamorphosis’ itself meant changing in a completely different direction, but since the term ‘Metamorphosis’ was not commonly used as it was an archaic word, I used the term transformation comfortably.
The truth was that it was just the reconfiguration of magical power.
It was just a method to change the suit to a suit and the mask to a helmet.
To clarify the terminology for convenience.
If transformation meant changing the form of magical power.
Let’s define Metamorphosis as releasing the internal magical power outside the skin and changing it to a different look at the same time.
Then, have there been any beings so far that created their costumes with their magical power?
Did anyone in this world go through Metamorphosis at this point in time?
There wasn’t.
Even if there was, it hadn’t been publicly revealed.
‘A secret technique that is known only to a few people.’
Just like how I never exposed myself naked to others, like Yumir, who was only caught changing naked after transforming only to me, it was a high-tech technique that’s not even known in the dark web.
So when I explained to Baek Seol-hee to make clothes based on the principle of the Goblin’s transformation, I intentionally omitted the intermediate process of ‘explosively releasing magic power.’
Like stacking snow to make a snowman, I subtly advised that it might work to stack magic power and create the shape of clothes.
But Baek Seol-hee did it anyway.
It was as if I taught her how to make fried chicken by preparing the chicken, chopping it, dipping it in the dough, frying it in oil, and ending it, but she added a process like ‘put curry powder in the dough’ or ‘fry it in oil twice’.
Of course, because I didn’t tell her things like oil temperature or mixing ratio of dough or brining of chicken, a disaster occurred where the dough was all stripped off, but the attempt was good even though the result was sloppy.
“Ugh….”
After destroying one gown, Baek Seol-hee collected the scattered icy energy around the room with a gloomy face.
Fortunately, the room was restored to its original state, and I handed another gown to Baek Seol-hee to wear.
“Are you alright, Miss Seol-hee?”
“I’m okay. If you have to compensate for this incident, I’ll handle it.”
“No need; it doesn’t seem like there’s anything damaged. And the truly fortunate thing is… that this incident occurred here in this room.”
“Yes….”
Baek Seol-hee covered her face with both hands.
What if such a disaster had happened in front of people?
She wouldn’t be able to face the world for the rest of her life.
What if, during a battle against a formidable foe as a hero, she had a ‘massive explosion’ while all the citizens of the world were watching?
It wouldn’t be surprising if she turned into a demon on the spot.
Because I was a man and had managed to maintain my body to some extent, it was okay.
However, if the woman I loved felt humiliated and enraged in front of people all over the world, I might want to erase that incident from the memory of everyone in the world.
Therefore, the most important thing was to prevent such incidents from happening.
“How did this incident happen?”
“After making the clothes, I just thought it would be okay to create the clothes directly on my body and then triggered the magic…”
“Like trying to slowly pour water from a jug but accidentally spilling everything?”
“That’s right!”
“Like trying to slowly open the plastic for the pickled radishes that come with fried chicken, but putting too much force and having the pickled radish juice splatter out?”
“Exactly!”
Baek Seol-hee clapped her hands in response to my words.
“That’s exactly how it felt!”
“Then the answer is simple. Try it once without wearing clothes?”
“…Huh?”
“I mean, just cover the parts of your skin that are exposed with magic. What about… releasing the magic like you’re applying moisturizing cream on your body?”
I, assuming the perspective of a non-powered individual, was beating around the bush as much as I could.
If she could understand this in her own way, Baek Seol-hee was indeed remarkable.
“Like this…?”
“Wait! I’ll be outside. In case your clothes get torn again…”
“Ah, it worked.”
Baek Seol-hee extended her right hand forward.
A white glove appeared on her hand, which seemed to be made of a smooth and shiny latex-like material.
“Do you want to touch it once?”
“I won’t get frostbite, will I?”
“It’s fine. It’s only about the temperature of touching ice.”
“Well then….”
I extended my finger toward Baek Seol-hee’s hand, lightly brushing her fingers with my hand.
“It really does feel like ice.”
“Yes. As long as no one touches it, and it stays in contact with my skin, it seems to maintain this state. Hmm…is it that it consumes mana when being created, and after it’s created, it doesn’t consume much mana? I feel like my condition is better than yesterday.”
While she mumbled to herself and tilted her head, the truth was that Baek Seol-hee was also regaining mana from the hot springs here, which rapidly refilled her mana.
“Did you eat something good or what?”
“Seol-hee.”
“What? Did I say something wrong?”
“If you casually say that anywhere, it could lead to great embarrassment.”
“I got it. So I won’t say it anywhere else, only in front of Ji-hwan, right?”
“…If it helps you, Seol-hee.”
Since I decided to help, I had to help Baek Seol-hee as much as possible.
[Huh? The Goblin is Ji-hwan…?]
[No! For now, I have to hide!]
[Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t hide you. I just caught you because I was curious.]
[Why did you help me? You approached me deliberately, didn’t you? What is the reason? Why have you been so nice to me…?]
[… Don’t ever show up in front of me again. If we meet again, you’re my enemy.]
Even in such situations, marking a debt on Baek Seol-hee’s heart was necessary.
“Anyway, Seol-hee, try making clothes. I’ll go to the convenience store and buy clothes for you.”
“How long does it take to get to the convenience store?”
“By car, about 30 minutes? Round trip.”
“Rather than that, it would be better to do it this way.”
Baek Seol-hee got up from her seat, spreading her body wide.
“……Freeze.”
With a faint voice, Baek Seol-hee began to emit mana from her hands.
For fear that she might ‘shed her skin’ again, I turned my head anxiously, but fortunately, it didn’t seem like she would explode this time.
Sigh.
Rather, to the naked eye, Baek Seol-hee controlled her mana delicately enough that a stable energy flow could be seen.
In an unexpected direction, even.
“Wow.”
White smoke, like dry ice, began to leak from Baek Seol-hee’s wrists and ankles outside of her robe. And then, that white smoke, Baek Seol-hee’s mana, began to stick slowly to the robe she was wearing, covering it.
Crisp, crackle.
Ice crystals began to stick to the robe, and the previously flapping robe soon took a stiff shape.
“…Huh.”
What was there to say? Given the material of the hotel gown, if you changed its appearance a little, it would take the shape of a V-neck dress.
Moreover, covering it with ice made of mana, before my eyes now, Snow White was wearing a white coat made of snowflakes and stood with her arms spread out.
“Beautiful.”
It was a sincere admiration.
And at the same time, I felt my eyes widen.
‘I need to learn this.’
Whenever I transformed, it was always basic to emit mana from my body, but if I used that, I might not be naked…!
“Seol-hee. You really look fantastic. You could go out like this.”
“Doesn’t it feel a bit strange?”
“It does feel like an armor of ice, not fluttering, but it’s much better than just wearing a white gown.”
“Is it? Then at least, I can fool people’s eyes.”
Baek Seol-hee reached out to me.
“Thank you, Ji-hwan. Thanks to this, even if I sneak into Sejong Island and get caught, I won’t be busted.”
“Please be careful from escaping Ulleung Island to entering the dormitory in Sejong Island.”
“Yes. It’s a pity. I was finally able to talk with you alone. …Should I come to Ulleung Island next time in sync with you?”
“We can talk as much as we want on Sejong Island, can’t we?”
“But there are more eyes to see than here.”
“You said you would take care of me if a scandal broke out earlier?”
“Haha, it would be a bit strange if a scandal broke out now.”
Baek Seol-hee whispered with a smile.
“If a scandal breaks out, you can’t really buy me, and then you won’t be able to read the books you want to read, Ji-hwan?”
“…For now?”
“Then I have to consider it as much as possible. So that you can read the books you want in the library. I can’t steal your daily life because of my circumstances.”
Baek Seol-hee held my hand again.
“Please take good care of me in the future, teacher?”
“Am I your teacher?”
“Of course. You’re my psychological counselor. Specifically….”
Eek.
“I’ll contact you occasionally when I need comfort. Maybe, often.”
After returning from Ulleung Island.
[Baek Seol-hee, East Sea patrol! Developing a new costume!]
Baek Seol-hee succeeded in returning safely (?) to Sejong Island.
Fortunately, the excuse, well not an excuse, that she went to feel the regularity of the East Sea while leaving her Taeguk Watch aside for the purpose of testing this ability worked better than expected, and Baek Seol-hee returned to the academy without any particular scandal.
And during the week.
“Teacher, hello!”
“…Hello?”
“Do you want to have a meal with the super-duper beautiful girl?”
Yumir came looking for me.