Chapter 66

### Chapter 65, Part 3: It's Not Just Riders Who Transform! (1)

* * *

After Yumir visited my room,

I had a conversation with her about the transformation gimmicks.

It wasn't just Yumir.

I also talked with Baek Seulhee.

[This time, I tried making it like this. How does it look?]

[Teacher, what do you think of this outfit?]

They both sent me photos of themselves in front of a full-length mirror.

While I was always amazed by the typical photo compositions I often saw in bluebirds, I responded to their photos with all my heart.

[The outfit doesn't seem to match Seulhee.]

[It's hard to tell from just a photo, but it's incredibly beautiful. You won't need any designer brands.]

I spent my weekdays responding to their photos.

[I wish we could meet soon, but it's a bit difficult within Sejong Island, right?]

[I can go to Ulleung Island every week, but then you'd have to dive into the East Sea every time, right? And there are already so many fishing boats gathering there because of Seulhee's ability development.]

[That's a bit disappointing. If I had known, I would have brought the Taeguk watch to move around with.]

Baek Seulhee had her own set of troubles.

[People have named the form I transformed into 'Baekun (白？).']

[The name is quite impressive. It feels more heartfelt than the English name 'Snow White'?]

[It's better than 'Snow White.']

[You seem more like a queen than a princess.]

[Who's the queen... huh?]

We exchanged some silly jokes, and Baek Seulhee gradually opened up to me.

[I'm talking about the Snow Queen.]

[The fairy tale you recommended last time? Are you thinking of me as a queen who creates an ice castle?]

[High-heeled shoes made of ice would suit you better than loafers. You have more of a Seulhee Antoinette vibe.]

[What are you saying? Are you crazy? Don't say that anywhere. You'll be called a national traitor.]

[Do you want to wear a wig on your head?]

[I'd rather die.]

I also recommended that she read the classic fairy tale that inspired the story I had in mind about her ability, 'Ice Magic.'

[Have you seen the movie I mentioned last time?]

[I watched it that evening. What was that? The female protagonist is a complete psychopath, locking men in basements and raising them.]

[What did you think of it?]

[I can understand the depth of her love, but locking someone in a place without sunlight seems a bit too much. Still, one needs sunlight to live.]

[Is sunlight enough?]

[If possible, I'd also want a tablet with access to all the world's libraries, a state-of-the-art Blu-ray player, and a projector that can project on the entire wall. And blackout curtains would be nice too.]

[You don't seem to mind being confined?]

[I'm an indoor person.]

We also discussed the movie she recommended and shared our thoughts on it.

[Anyway, thanks to you, I'm having a lot of fun developing my ability. The technique of overlaying mana on clothes to create an external armor is currently being patented by the government.]

[Congratulations. So, are you going to become rich from licensing fees?]

[Unfortunately, no. When I tried to do that, some men in suits came and said...]

[This technology should be used for all the ability users in our country, so don't register a license and release the technology for free?]

[How did you know? Did you install a bug?]

[It's obvious what the high-ups in this country would say.]

We also talked about the technology Baek Seulhee had created.

[Be careful. Since the transformation takes some time, you might be attacked during that period.]

[Don't worry. I can defend myself even during transformation.]

[How?]

[I borrowed a bit from the Doji Rider's transformation gimmick. It's a surprise for that moment! I'll show you when I transform. Hehe.]

[I look forward to it.]

Although her technology became a common skill used by everyone in the country, it would probably be difficult for anyone other than S-rank users to use it easily.

[Have you decided on a name for the technology?]

[We decided to call it 'Gwangganghwa (金剛化).']

[Is it named after the diamond or the mountain?]

[The diamond. It's also a play on words, meaning to become as hard as a diamond. Did you imagine something else?]

[Are you crazy?]

[It was just a joke. Hehe.]

Thus, the technique of overlaying a mana shield on clothing was officially named 'Gwangganghwa.'

[Seulhee, why don't you also Gwangganghwa the inside of your clothes, just in case?]

[Pervert.]

[What did I say to deserve that?]

[Are you worried I might 'explode'? Got it. How about this?]

[What? Why are you sending me this selfie?]

[I tried overlaying ice crystals on my skin to make it like underwear. If I wear clothes over this and Gwangganghwa them, it would provide double protection, right?]

[So why are you sending me this photo?]

[For your visual pleasure?]

I did enjoy it.

[It seems like the lecture is about to start. When the official government materials on Gwangganghwa are released, I'll let you know.]

[Good luck, Seulhee. I look forward to the next movie you send.]

[Not just movies, but photos or videos are also fine, right?]

[......]

Since Baek Seulhee came to the academy as a lecturer, there was no direct time to talk to her.

So, we mostly exchanged messages during her breaks or after work.

The problem was...

[Teacher, do you do other things while talking to me?]

"Uh, no. Why would I?"

[You seem distracted. Should I come over and make pasta for you again?]

During the day, it was fine, but in the evening, it overlapped with Yumir's time, so I had to text or call her while talking.

"Yumir, have you decided who you'll transform into?"

[I haven't decided yet. I've decided on the post-transformation appearance and the transformation pose, but not the pre-transformation form... sniff.]

"Yumir, you're not transforming, right? You said someone you know would transform."

[Anyway, it's someone you know. Teacher, this is all for your benefit.]

"I see."

Yumir had no intention of hiding that she was Solar Platinum.

[Just wait a bit. I'll show you something really big.]

"Something big is coming?"

[It's already big, but it could get even bigger!]

"I have no idea what you mean."

[It will be big enough for you to handle, I promise.]

"What are you talking about?"

[It's a big event! Hehe, wait for it. I'll show you something special. No, it's not me. Got it?]

"Ha. I don't understand, really."

The only reason she didn't outright say, "I'm Solar Platinum," was, as she said, out of consideration for me.

­You know Solar Platinum's identity! Speak up!

­I don't know.

­Can't you speak up?!

­I don't know who Solar Platinum is, or who the magical girl 'Platinum Sun' is.

­You! I know you're her accomplice! If you don't speak, you're a traitor!

­I don't know anything!!

...I imagined something like that.

She was probably worried that if she got involved with me, I might suffer.

But she still asked for my help with her transformation into a magical girl, which would likely be under a completely different appearance and name, because my advice was desperately needed.

[Thank you, Teacher. Thanks to you, I really feel alive. All the foreigners stick together, and the Koreans don't include me.]

Or, it might be because she felt isolated after coming here.

[Without you, I might have been alone all the time. Thank you so much, Teacher.]

"I'm the one who should be grateful. If you need any help, just let me know. I'll make time when I can."

[Is there something more important than making time for a pretty girl?]

"I need to work to make a living."

[Ah.]

"You're a student, and I'm a working adult."

[...If you quit your job?]

"Then I'd have to leave Sejong Island and move back to Seoul."

[Do you live in Seoul? That dangerous place?]

"Hey, is Seoul some kind of hell? Anyway, how about next week's field practice?"

[Ah.]

Yumir was very flustered.

[Well, that.]

"It's a group project, with two people per team."

[So, that!]

"Do you have a friend to team up with?"

Yumir couldn't say anything.

Mid-March.

The first big event in the original story, the 'group project,' was approaching.

­The concept this time is 'treasure hunt.'

A group project covering the entire Sejong Island, and the beginning of the event where the protagonist and the 'first heroine' start to develop a relationship.

The attack by the festival demon, 'Jokadiel