Seoul Dragon - Chapter 26

"Now, could you come over here for a moment? Let's take your measurements."

"Ah, sure."

I moved according to her gesture. For this kind of thing, it's better to simply follow the expert's opinion.

Above all, when a world-renowned craftsman is making clothes, shouldn't I naturally put in this much effort?

I'm not very interested in wearing pretty clothes, but if they guarantee functionality, that's a different story.

After all, I can't keep tearing my clothes every time I need my wings, can I?

"Your body is quite beautiful too. Your lines and such."

"Ahaha...."

Why do you keep touching my body while saying that?

"But is there really a need to touch me like this...?"

"Ah, doing this allows for more precise work. It's not just about getting approximate sizes, but creating custom clothes that you can wear without any discomfort."

Is that so?

"R-really?"

"Yes. Since you're a mutant, I need to clearly understand how you differ from humans and take appropriate measurements accordingly. For example... like this."

"Eek!"

"Like measuring the exact circumference of your tail. Precise measurements make the clothes less uncomfortable."

"I see...."

But Jin-ha was smiling strangely.

'This is more fun to tease than I expected.'

In truth, a tailor of her caliber doesn't need to touch the body this much.

She could roughly confirm measurements just by eye.

But... isn't it fun? She had seen Seohyun's interview.

Seohyun was living a more upright life than she had imagined.

'Not all mutants in the world are bad... That's true.'

And Seohyun's thoughts were similar to Jin-ha's.

In fact, aside from doctors who directly care for mutants and NIS agents, she had the most contact with other mutants.

Because of that, she could encounter mutants desperately trying to blend into everyday life.

The mindset with which they tried to return to normality, and how they lived their lives.

And making clothes for such people wasn't a bad thing. It gave her a sense of fulfillment that had been absent from her life.

Anyway, Jin-ha could tell what kind of person Seohyun was.

A diligent person living sincerely in all matters. In other words, someone fun to tease.

Setting aside fulfillment, she had no intention of missing out on this kind of fun.

'Come to think of it, didn't she say she used to be male? That's why her reactions seem somewhat awkward.'

There was a peculiar sense that she was experiencing this kind of situation for the first time.

And each such reaction further encouraged Jin-ha's playfulness.

Today might be more enjoyable than she had thought.

"Now that we've finished taking measurements, would you like to see some of the designs I've sketched for what kinds of clothes might suit you?"

"Yes."

Jin-ha showed me various designs. As she mentioned earlier, formal wear, casual clothes, pajamas, even underwear.

"...You're going to make all of these for me?"

"Of course. I can make them quickly anyway. How are the designs?"

"They're not bad, but that... the tail area is a bit..."

"Ah, when you don't have your tail out, the exposed part will automatically be filled in."

"What?"

"Like those nano suits or whatever in movies, it will self-restore."

"How is that possible?"

"If I wish for it to be that way, it becomes so. The same goes for your wings, not just your tail. When you bring out your wings, the torn part will regenerate on its own."

"That seems too unrealistic..."

"Hahaha! Is there any point in considering what's realistic? Even our transformation is sufficiently unrealistic. It's not strange for magical things to happen. Just consider the breath you released. Even that defies scientific explanation."

"Y-you're right."

"That's how it is. The spider silk I produce takes on the characteristics I want the moment I wish for it. Heat resistance, waterproofing, self-restoration... Scientifically impossible, but since our very existence is unscientific, there's no need to find it strange. Just accept it as it is."

"I will."

"However, it takes some time to repair clothes that are completely torn. Just as I can transform completely into a spider, you can probably transform completely into a dragon... but in that case, self-restoration will be much slower."

"Even when torn that badly, it can still restore itself?"

"The clothes tear, but the spider silk doesn't burn away or disappear. The spider silk will automatically gather and restore itself."

"That's really amazing."

"Hehe, I hear that a lot. Anyway... do you like the designs?"

"Yes. They look perfect as they are."

"I'm glad my hard work paid off. Well then... we've taken measurements and confirmed the designs, so today's schedule is finished. Please come by when the clothes are ready. We'll also take photos for the magazine then."

"Yes."

"You'll probably be quite busy when you come next time. The shooting director is known to be quite strict."

"...That sounds a bit scary."

"No need to worry too much. Oh, and after the shooting next time, we'll probably have dinner with the shooting director and staff. Would you like to join? I'll cover all the expenses."

"I'll come. Oh, can I bring my sister too?"

"Your sister? Of course."

Can't resist free food.

"...So, I've arranged to have dinner with the person who's making my clothes. Would you like to come too?"

"Why would I go there?"

"It's free food, and she said it's okay for you to come."

"Sis. Don't you think you like free stuff a bit too much? You'll go bald at this rate."

"You just made an enemy of all the bald people in the world. So are you coming or not?"

"Hmm... I don't have anything scheduled that day. No tutoring either."

"Then come. You said you needed to save on food expenses."

"I guess I should then. By the way, this will be my first time seeing another mutant besides you... It's interesting. What type of mutant is she?"

"Didn't I tell you before? She's an Arachne-type mutant. A spider."

"Spider...? Isn't that creepy?"

"Not particularly? She was very pretty! If she were a man, I'd have fallen for her at first sight. And there's not much outward difference from humans. She does have spider legs on her back... but I'm guessing she covers them when going out?"

"That's interesting..."

"The clothes she makes are a collection of mysteries. The spider silk has waterproofing, heat resistance, and even self-restoration functions."

"Now that the world has become a fantasy, it's not strange for things to happen that defy conventional scientific knowledge."

"That's right."

"It's interesting and I'm a bit excited..."

"Just don't be too rude."

"That goes without saying."

"Good. Your social skills are impeccable, so I trust you."

"But why are you so keen on bringing me along? It seems like too big a scale just for saving on food expenses?"

"You've always been interested in that field. I know you're majoring in business, but I've noticed you always looking at fashion magazines."

"Oh... I didn't know you paid so much attention to your sister's interests? Did becoming a mutant change you as a person?"

"Not really... It just occurred to me since she works in fashion. Having one connection in that field could broaden your career options after you graduate."

"That's actually touching."

"Right? You should praise me."

"You're great in many ways, but I wish you wouldn't ruin the mood like that."

"Then I wouldn't be me, would I?"

"...That's true."

The promised time approached quite quickly. After some departmental activities, the day of my appointment with Jin-ha had arrived.

My sister seemed quite nervous. Probably because it was her first time seeing a mutant other than me.

"Why are you trembling?"

"No, just... I'm nervous."

"What is there to be nervous about?"

"Oh, come on. Stop trying to control my mind. Can we drop it?"

"Mind control my foot. We're here."

"...Wow."

Seoa gaped at Jin-ha's store. But something seemed off. Hadn't she been poring over fashion magazines until last year? If she had continued her interest in fashion magazines and such, there's no way she wouldn't know about Jin-ha, right?

From what Agent Jeongho told me, Jin-ha was currently the most watched person in the global fashion world.

"But come to think of it, how can you not know Jin-ha when you studied fashion magazines so closely? Isn't she the most renowned person in the fashion world right now?"

"I might not know. I haven't had time to look at fashion since you started mutating."

"Ah, I guess that makes sense..."

"And since your mutation ended, I've been busy keeping up with business school classes, so I haven't had time to look at fashion magazines."

"I heard business classes are tough, but is it that bad?"

"You can't keep up if you don't study. Between that and managing relationships and everything else, I don't have time to care about fashion or anything. It's not my major after all. The weight has to be on business. Still, I was planning to look into it again when I have more time."

"I see. Well, let's go in. She'll be waiting."

"Okay."

As soon as we entered the store, Jin-ha's eyes widened upon seeing me and my sister.

"Hello, Seohyun. Is this... your sister?"

"I'm Yoon Seoa. Seohyun's younger sister."

"Ah, nice to meet you. I'm Seo Jin-ha. By the way, Seoa?"

"Yes?"

"Would you perhaps like to participate in the photoshoot with Seohyun today?"

"...What?"

At Jin-ha's sudden question, my sister and I could only look bewildered.

A photoshoot? Her?