Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

Chapter 212 : The Suit Shop That Brings Storm (1)

The Suit Shop That Brings Storm (1)

Shin Ah-yeon knew that Lee Soo-ah had feelings for Park Jung-woo.

And surely, so did Lee Soo-ah.

If it had been before, she might have thought nothing of it, but now that she had partially inherited Estella's memories, Shin Ah-yeon would not permit Lee Soo-ah to quietly approach Park Jung-woo.

'Where do you think you're going?'

Shin Ah-yeon and Lee Soo-ah were not particularly on bad terms.

In fact, they actually got along quite well.

But anything related to Park Jung-woo was a completely different matter.

'She was called Saintess Estella, wasn't she?'

Meeting Shin Ah-yeon's eyes, Lee Soo-ah fell into deep thought.

During the incident in the United States, at the rift that opened in the Grand Canyon, Shin Ah-yeon had performed a miracle by merging them into one.

It was only after returning to Korea that it became clear this was the power of Saintess Estella.

The Saintess of Wishes, and probably Shin Ah-yeon's previous life.

It was something everyone expected, even though nobody said it aloud.

'She's someone who's known the manager since the distant past...'

Shin Ah-yeon, who used to approach a bit awkwardly, was different now.

Even Lee Soo-ah could tell. These days, Shin Ah-yeon was blatantly showing her affection for Park Jung-woo.

'You're saying you'll go?'

'I said no, didn't I?'

This was not some form of jealousy.

It was like a proper duel between gladiators.

That quiet, intense gaze made it seem like this could go on forever.

So, the two of them reached a compromise.

'Alencia is off-limits.'

'Of course.'

It was decided that Hwang Yeon-ji, who seemingly had no interest in Park Jung-woo, would help him pick out clothes.

They hadn't left Park Jung-woo to Hwang Yeon-ji for any special reason.

It simply seemed the safest choice.

Both Shin Ah-yeon and Lee Soo-ah agreed on that point.

Or so they thought.

"What's this, a motorcycle?"

"How is it? Pretty cool, right?"

Hwang Yeon-ji said, tossing a motorcycle helmet to Park Jung-woo.

"Aren't you still nineteen by your resident registration? Can you even ride?"

"Motorcycle licenses are allowed from sixteen. I can't drive a car yet, though."

If you went by international age, it was actually legal, but Hwang Yeon-ji simply found motorcycles much more convenient.

"But there's only one helmet. What about you?"

"If you're an A-rank Awakener or higher, you don't really need it. But you're still a civilian, aren't you?"

With a snort, Hwang Yeon-ji leaned against the motorcycle, and it was clear she had grown remarkably.

If before she looked mid-teenage, she now appeared anywhere from her late teens to late twenties.

She finally looked her registered age.

"Come on, get on. Have you ever ridden a motorcycle before?"

"Nope. Horses, yes."

"Horses? Hm, is it similar? Either way, hold onto my waist so you don't fall off."

"I think I could just hold on with my legs."

"If you use too much leg strength, you'll break my motorcycle, okay? Just grab on."

Faced with Hwang Yeon-ji's words, Park Jung-woo sat awkwardly on the rear seat and held her waist.

'Oh, my god.'

Watching the scene, Shin Ah-yeon realized she had made a huge mistake.

So did Lee Soo-ah. Who would've thought Hwang Yeon-ji would use a prop like that?

Shocked beyond words, the two exchanged glances simultaneously.

'Doesn't the mood feel a bit off?'

'Doesn't Hwang Yeon-ji's ear look a little red?'

Her actions and words were the same as always.

But from the moment she showed up with the motorcycle, things felt odd, and when Park Jung-woo got on the back seat, the edge of Hwang Yeon-ji's ear turned the faintest red.

If she'd worn a helmet, they would've missed it.

"Like leaving the fish with the cat."

Shin Ah-yeon sighed deeply.

This is why there's no one you can trust in the world.

Who could've guessed the person she asked for dating advice would turn her fangs so soon?

"Unni! This isn't the time to be saying that."

"Huh?"

"Aren't you going to follow them?"

Wait, are we supposed to be chasing after them?

This whole situation was embarrassing, but Shin Ah-yeon had no intention of tailing or following.

The deep-seated morality of the Saintess within her said that was wrong.

"Aren't we going?"

But when she saw the blue flames burning in Lee Soo-ah's eyes, it somehow felt necessary.

'Is this right?'

Something felt off, but leaving Hwang Yeon-ji and Park Jung-woo alone definitely felt unsettling.

"But I don't have a driver's license."

"Me neither. Should we just run after them?"

"Wouldn't that make us too conspicuous?"

They didn't even have to say it; their gazes naturally turned toward Alencia, who was playing with the cat.

It was a stroke of luck.

Right now, there was someone here who could follow Hwang Yeon-ji faster than anyone, without being spotted.

***

The department store was a place quite unfamiliar to me.

Luxury items always seemed like extravagances, so I never felt the urge to buy any.

But, after suddenly being told to attend an awards ceremony, I'd found myself needing to buy a luxury suit that didn't suit me at all.

"But doesn't someone usually get sponsored for those award ceremonies?"

"A sponsor?"

"The Hunter Association President didn't say anything?"

Rather than not telling me, I just hadn't felt a need to discuss it.

If I'd asked about it over the phone, maybe the Association really would have arranged something, just like Hwang Yeon-ji suggested.

"Hm, well, I don't mind. It's been a while since we went shopping just the two of us, right?"

Come to think of it, that did feel true.

"Hey, Yeon-ji."

"Oh my, what was I supposed to call you when it was just the two of us?"

Hwang Yeon-ji cupped a hand around her ear as if she couldn't hear me well.

I couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle at her antics.

"Ji Yeon-hwa."

"Okay, go ahead."

"If we can get sponsorship, there's no need for you to buy me one."

Of course, it wasn't guaranteed, but considering my recent rise in popularity, it seemed possible.

But something about my suggestion seemed to displease Hwang Yeon-ji, and she pursed her brows lightly.

"Listen, I'm not so broke I can't buy—"

"Huh? It's Hwang Yeon-ji!"

Just as Hwang Yeon-ji was about to snap at me, someone pointed at her and shouted.

Soon, more and more shoppers were stealing glances at us.

"That really is Hwang Yeon-ji!"

"Wow, amazing. She's even taller now."

"She used to be this little. Ah, she looked this way! I'm a fan!"

People waving and chatting as if a celebrity had arrived.

It made it clear just how much more famous Hwang Yeon-ji had become.

"Here, wear this."

Then, Hwang Yeon-ji put a mask and hat on my face.

'Why? I don't really care, do I?'

As I looked at her with those thoughts, Hwang Yeon-ji let out a faint sigh.

"I really dropped the ball. I'm not the only one who's gotten famous, you know? Even if it's just me, you've become a big name too. If people find out we're together, it'll be hard to shop in peace."

Thankfully, thanks to Yeon-ji hastily covering my face, nobody seemed to recognize me.

They just regarded me as some suspicious person tagging along with Hwang Yeon-ji.

"Ahem, but still—how is it? I'm famous, right?"

She seemed delighted by the attention, her nose in the air.

I always thought she really loved being in the spotlight when people applauded her.

"Yeah, yeah. Amazing."

"That compliment was so dead inside."

Chuckling, Hwang Yeon-ji scanned the surroundings.

Everyone who looked at her was full of goodwill.

The youngest ever to become S-rank, the genius girl.

The hero who defeated Sol Mayer and saved so many at the Odyssia.

"Honestly, it feels like I'm lying, a little."

"Lying?"

"I'm not a real genius like they think. And I'm hiding my real age."

She kept smiling and waving to people, but I could tell what she really thought.

"I used to want looks like that, when I was Ji Yeon-hwa."

She murmured the words just loud enough for me to hear.

No matter how much she had changed into an S-rank, there were still things that hadn't changed at all.

"Yeon-hwa."

"Yes?"

"We came here to buy a suit, didn't we?"

Conveying I didn't care about those things at all, I spoke, and Yeon-hwa stared at me for a moment, then smiled.

"That's right. There's a brand I like, let's check there first."

She hesitated for a moment, then tugged my sleeve.

'Well, this isn't so bad once in a while.'

Come to think of it, I'd hardly ever just wandered around like this together.

Not just with Yeon-ji, but even with Shin Ah-yeon, Lee Soo-ah, or Alencia.

Spending time like this together was nice for a change.

You never knew what could happen next.

***

"This is insane..."

Shin Ah-yeon couldn't help but be amazed at Hwang Yeon-ji's super play.

She had secretly eavesdropped using magic, and she felt a thrill.

From the natural skinship, to making him call her by her real name, and even stirring up his emotions.

"I never knew Hwang Yeon-ji had thoughts like that."

"She hates showing weakness, after all."

The key point was, it was those very weaknesses she showed to Park Jung-woo.

It didn't look like it was the first time, either.

"When did they start calling each other Ji Yeon-hwa when they're alone?"

"I'm not sure, but thinking about it, ever since Yeon-ji came back from the States, she's been acting weird, right?"

"Has she?"

On reflection, that did seem familiar.

She used to avoid meeting Park Jung-woo alone, and if her name came up, she'd fall strangely silent.

"Now that you mention it, she avoided my eyes too. I should've realized."

"... Seriously."

Neither Shin Ah-yeon nor Lee Soo-ah had much dating experience.

So to them, what Hwang Yeon-ji just did seemed like an amazing feat.

She really did have the skills of someone who'd given dating advice before.

Because of that, Shin Ah-yeon was deeply impressed.

'I should try that someday.'

I didn't use to lose out to anyone in the past.

'Right, if I make use of Estella's memories...'

Shin Ah-yeon tried to forcibly recall the fragmentary memories of Estella.

Of course, if things came up just by trying, she wouldn't be struggling with it.

"But unni."

"Why? I'm exploring my identity right now, so just wait a bit."

"No, it's not that. She's gone."

"Gone? Who?"

Puzzled by Lee Soo-ah's words, Shin Ah-yeon looked around.

And she realized what Lee Soo-ah meant by 'gone'.

"There really is no one you can trust."

Because Alencia, who had just been beside them playing with the cat, had disappeared.

***

Wandering the department store with Hwang Yeon-ji, I tried on various suits.

No matter what I wore, they all looked about the same to me, but Hwang Yeon-ji was endlessly serious.

"With your build, those tight cuts don't really suit you. You should go for wider styles."

"Really?"

"Yes, and there's a brand perfect for that. Let's head that way—"

As she spoke, guiding me toward another section, it happened.

Crackle!

I heard a spark like static, and in a flash, my surroundings changed completely.

The department store clerk who had been greeting me was gone; so was Hwang Yeon-ji, who had been reaching for me.

"... Alencia?"

"Yeah, it's me."

There was no need to question who had done this.

Alencia looked at me with a smile, holding the limp Mimos.

"I was just going to watch, but..."

I got a little mischievous, that's all.

Alencia added in a small voice.

"I'll buy the suit for you instead."

She glanced around furtively, as if checking for someone she should be on guard against.

Only then did I realize something weird was going on.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Damn, it's the harem route.

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