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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Ichika and Sophia (2)
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In truth, Sophia was the type to keep a lot hidden, contrary to her outward appearance.
On the surface, she was everyone's lively, open, and kind friend.
Beneath that facade, a completely different side to her existed.
And she was perfectly aware of that fact herself.
'Rather, I'm more... murky and obsessive, aren't I?'
A prime example that clearly demonstrated this was...
Her activities in Jin Yu-ha's fan cafe.
[Flower on the Cliff], a massive fan cafe that now boasted over a million members.
It was a place where photos and daily updates of Jin Yu-ha were shared.
Within it, there was a legendary named user who had started as a regular member, progressed to an enthusiastic one, and even claimed the administrator position.
「Rock Climbing Yu-ha's Nose」
This user consistently uploaded candid photos of Jin Yu-ha, who rarely appeared in media, along with glimpses of his daily life and even fanfiction, earning the adoration of countless other members.
Because of this, it was somewhat taken for granted that the user's true identity was one of the Velvet Hunter Academy students.
However, no one ever imagined that 'Rock Climbing Yu-ha's Nose' was actually Sophia, Utopia's [Saintess].
Who could ever have imagined?
That Utopia's healer, who was part of his very own party, would be an obsessive stalker fan, meticulously observing his every move.
The reason she had been able to consistently engage in fan cafe activities without being caught by anyone until now was simple.
She had been in front of cameras since she was a very young child.
Presenting the facade people wanted to see while carefully concealing her true self.
It had become as natural as breathing to her.
'But... both are me.'
The outward appearance wasn't fake.
Nor was the hidden self the only true one.
However, revealing this to others required far more courage than she had anticipated.
The only reason she was contemplating revealing her true self now was simple.
Ichika's current state mirrored Sophia's own from long ago.
'It's similar to how I was, suffering from Jin Yu-ha deficiency syndrome...'
The day Sophia first saw Jin Yu-ha in a news article, she was instantly captivated by him at first sight.
But even after inquiring in every direction, there was no information about him.
And directly seeking him out, as he was only ever within the Velvet Hunter Academy, was virtually impossible.
Because of this, she was practically bedridden for a month.
It was so severe that it even affected her regular modeling schedule.
Just as the world around her seemed to be crumbling.
By chance, she was summoned to the Velvet Hunter Academy for a midterm evaluation.
And there, she encountered Jin Yu-ha, who was bathing in a cave.
— Wow.
*
Even now, recalling that day felt like a dream.
'Since then, I've been managing my desires through close-range fangirling...'
Since she herself had been enduring in that way, she figured the same method would probably work for Ichika.
It was just then, as she was staring intently down at Ichika.
A twitch—
Ichika's brow twitched.
"An unfamiliar ceiling,"
She opened her eyes, muttering the nonsensical phrase with her usual expressionless face.
"...Ichika, how are you feeling?"
"Hm, my body? Ah. My Benefactor visited, didn't he?"
Ichika slowly sat up and nodded.
Then, as if she didn't want to lose even a trace of the lingering warmth, she closed her eyes and caressed her own body.
Sophia's eyes darkened as she watched.
'...Indeed, I can't tolerate this woman receiving such undeserved rewards without any effort.'
Ahem. Ahem.
Sophia cleared her throat, composed her expression, and spoke.
"Um, unintentionally, I... I happened to overhear your situation, Ichika."
"Oh, really?"
Ichika replied as if it were of no consequence whatsoever.
A twitch.
At that nonchalant attitude, Sophia's fist unconsciously tightened.
"Hoo... So, Ichika, I understand that you... you need p-physical contact with Jin Yu-ha to maintain your mental state."
"Yes, that's right. I'm a body that can't do without my Benefactor now."
How could she be like this,
Every single word was grating on her nerves.
Veins throbbed in her forehead, but she suppressed her irritation with superhuman patience and continued speaking.
"Um, I am the party's healer, after all, aren't I? So, I've thought of a method..."
Sophia picked up her phone, opened her gallery, and handed it to Ichika.
Her hand trembled as she offered the phone.
"What's this?"
Ichika asked, but Sophia remained silent.
Tens of thousands of files saved in the photo album.
Every single one of them was Jin Yu-ha.
Photos of Jin Yu-ha.
Videos of Jin Yu-ha.
Recordings of Jin Yu-ha's voice.
And every single one of Jin Yu-ha's movements, captured in their entirety.
'This is practically handing over my greatest weakness...'
A fatal weakness, one that would instantly kill her if poked.
If Jin Yu-ha ever found out about this side of her, what would happen?
He would be disgusted, wouldn't he?
Originally, she had never intended to reveal this to anyone, ever.
Just a slightly peculiar and lively woman, a former model who enjoyed taking pictures of people.
That's the only impression she wanted to leave.
Yet, she was now taking a gamble, handing over her weakness.
Because she had to protect Utopia.
Because she didn't want to break their community.
Because she didn't want to make Jin Yu-ha sad.
Swipe— Swipe—
As she swiped through the photo album on the phone she'd received, Ichika's eyes sparkled, as if her interest had been piqued.
"...If there's anything you like among what I have, I'll share it with you."
"Oh."
"And I'll give it to you whenever you ask..."
"Ooh."
Sophia spoke in a stiff, rigid voice, a stark contrast to Ichika, who let out a bright exclamation.
"Okay. Then I like this video."
What Ichika specifically chose from that sea of Jin Yu-ha content was none other than...
The video of Jin Yu-ha raising his rank after catching a demon.
Something she didn't want to share with anyone.
Something she'd rather die than hand over.
It was Sophia's number one treasure.
Because she had been there herself.
'I really, really don't want to hand that over...!'
But.
"Yes, I understand..."
She nodded, feeling as if it were tearing her very bones.
Then, she uttered the words she had to say.
"...So, please be satisfied with that, Ichika. Please stop approaching Jin Yu-ha."
"Hm?"
"After all, as long as you can satisfy your feelings for Jin Yu-ha in some way, isn't that enou—"
"I don't want that."
A sharp, immediate refusal.
A suffocating silence fell between them.
*
'W-what was I thinking, giving that up...!'
A surge of emotion.
Sophia bit her lip hard.
"W-what did you just say...?"
"You said not to approach him. I don't like that."
Sophia asked again, her voice bewildered, but Ichika, on the contrary, calmly reiterated her refusal.
"Ichika—! Y-you really—!"
At this point, fury surged within her.
Her head grew hotter and hotter.
She genuinely wanted to tear the woman in front of her to pieces.
Her voice grew steadily louder.
"Ichika. No, *you*. Are you serious about Jin Yu-ha?"
"Serious?"
"Yes! Honestly, you haven't even known him for long, you didn't even know who Jin Yu-ha was until recently! But now you suddenly butt in, shamelessly—!!!"
"Is timing important? Then, if Lee Yu-ri tries to claim Jin Yu-ha, would you just smile and let her have him?"
"...Th-that's—!"
Her words caught in her throat at the question.
Thud.
It felt as if a massive stone had dropped into her heart.
'What do you, what do you even know...!'
Her mask had shattered long ago.
Jin Yu-ha wasn't someone who could be so casually,
Or carelessly, spoken of.
No, he was someone who shouldn't be mentioned at all.
A single woman, who had suddenly butted in, was trying to shatter the unspoken rule they had implicitly upheld until now.
"Ah, so that's your real way of speaking, and your real face, isn't it?"
For the first time, a flicker of interest appeared in Ichika's eyes as she looked at Sophia.
"Now you're interesting too."
* * *
"Hmm, we certainly gained a lot from this American monster subjugation request."
Shin Se-hee was working alone in Utopia's hideout, buried under a pile of pristine white papers.
She was handling the post-mission paperwork for the American monster subjugation request.
It was always best to strike while the iron was hot.
"First, we need to upload Ichika's introduction video this time... Hmm, come to think of it, Kang Do-hee, Lee Yu-ri, and I still don't have separate introduction videos, do we?"
The timing was perfect.
Already, the entire party had increased their strength through Baek Seol-hee's recent test.
And with the public's attention now focused on the American monster subjugation request,
Showing the party members' changed appearance would attract even more attention.
"Then, we should prioritize producing and uploading those. And should we update the videos for those who already have them uploaded? Hmm, then regarding the videos, I should consult with Sophia separately..."
It was then.
Suddenly—
A pitch-black shadow shot out from beneath her feet.
"Hm? Ichika?"
And the shadow abruptly picked up a pen from the desk.
Scratch— Scratch— Scratch—
It began to write on the white paper.
And as Shin Se-hee's eyes followed the words being written on the paper, they trembled.
"Oh? Huh?"
Shin Se-hee let out a hollow laugh at the unexpected content.
"Oh my goodness... Sophia being the very first. This is truly fascinating, isn't it...?"