“Welcome, esteemed Kim Deok-Sung!”
“I will serve you wholeheartedly!”
This is really stressing me out. What is this, a mobster greeting?
As I reached the end of the red carpet while receiving a 90-degree bow, the person I met was…
“Hello! Kim Deok-Sung! Nice to see you again! I’m Yoo Se-Ra!”
The K-idol with impressive beige hair, Yoo Se-Ra.
“What are you doing here?”
“As the president of the Kim Deok-Sung Foundation and the head of your fan club, it’s only natural for me to assist you, isn’t it?”
Yoo Se-Ra replied shamelessly with a smile.
I guess to be a celebrity, you need to have that level of composure.
I had no words.
After a brief silence, Yoo Se-Ra cautiously asked, “…Are you perhaps unhappy?”
“No.”
It’s not that I’m unhappy, but…
Isn’t she a popular idol? Doesn’t she have any schedules?
Yoo Se-Ra’s face lit up at my response.
She smiled.
“Great! Then first, let me report on the foundation’s activities. Since that day, the number of regular sponsors for the Kim Deok-Sung Foundation has increased by about 5 million in just one day.”
5 million in one day?
So that means the foundation now has 16 million regular sponsors?
The scale of a foundation’s sponsorship that high? The country must be doomed!
“And the fundraising for disaster recovery in Seoul is going very well too. Contributions from people from all walks of life and dedicated entrepreneurs have surpassed 150 billion won in just one day!”
150 billion for disaster relief?
Did I hear that wrong?
The figures are so outrageous that it feels unreal.
“What the…”
“It’s true, Kim Deok-Sung.”
Han Seo-Jin whispered in my ear.
So it seems that raising 10 billion in one day is indeed possible.
“The collected funds will be used in your name for supporting disaster victims and recovery efforts. We will ensure everything is transparent, so don’t worry!”
Yoo Se-Ra clenched her fist.
“I’ll strive to make sure the foundation never tarnishes your name, Kim Deok-Sung. Now, regarding today’s schedule.”
Today’s schedule is at a resort, you say?
In winter, we would ski, but it’s summer now, so swimming at a water park is about all we can do.
Of course, being a resort, there should be a golf course, but since I’ve never even tried mini golf or screen golf, I’ll just skip that unfamiliar sport.
If it were a seaside resort, we’d probably have a private beach like in a light novel summer episode.
Just as I was lost in thought…
“Today, we’re heading to the valley!”
An entirely unexpected statement flew out of Yoo Se-Ra’s mouth.
The valley?
“Why a valley?”
We came all the way to a resort only to go to a valley?
If that’s the case, why not just rent a cottage near the valley instead of bringing us to a resort?
Isn’t that a waste of travel and time?
As the questions piled up in my mind, I heard…
“Yes! The valley! Utilizing some of the resort grounds, we’ve mobilized the nation’s top experts to create a private valley perfectly tailored to your tastes!”
Yoo Se-Ra unleashed a statement that surpassed anything I could have imagined.
It’s so absurd that my brain can’t even process it properly.
“So, you’re saying they spent money to build a valley inside the resort? The valley we’re going to for a vacation?”
I ask again for confirmation.
“Yes! That’s right!”
Yoo Se-Ra nods and laughs at my words.
My head is spinning.
Not a private beach, but a private valley.
Why on earth would you spend money to build that?
I’ve never seen such an inefficient waste of money.
Wouldn’t it be more cost-effective to just buy a pension near the valley?
This is practically throwing money on the ground.
I’m embarrassed by my meager imagination that only thought of a water park.
“The valley construction project was conducted in collaboration with renowned domestic conglomerates, including Samjeong Group and Rothe Group, and the construction costs were covered by the corporations’ voluntary donations, so you can rest assured.”
Han Seo-Jin whispers in my ear.
It’s great that my money isn’t going into that damn waste of money, but the phrase “voluntary donations from conglomerates” carries the nuance of a corrupt politician obsessed with political connections.
Honestly, political collusion might be better. Seeing the chaebols from K-Web novels and K-dramas, who frequently appear as villains, praising me in unison makes my hands and feet curl up in embarrassment.
Why is the shame all mine?
“I can assure you that this is a spot perfectly suited to Kim Deok-Sung’s preference for valleys over the ocean as a vacation spot.”
Han Seo-Jin’s tone is confident.
I do prefer valleys over the ocean, but where the heck did she gather that intel?
“Then, we’ll take you to the valley!”
With Yoo Se-Ra’s smile, I was led like a calf to the slaughterhouse toward the mysterious ‘Private Valley.’
Totally a strong competitor.
Kim Deok-Sung Resort.
Han Seo-Jin’s personal room.
It’s not as luxurious as the high-end suite where the rest of the party is staying, but the room is quite spacious inside.
Han Seo-Jin was seriously checking off a checklist with a pen in her notebook.
“This should be enough swimsuits, and today’s schedule is······.”
Plain swimsuits were sprawled over the bed.
Han Seo-Jin didn’t seem particularly interested in the swimsuits.
Just like her childhood friend Yoo Se-Ra, she had little interest in dressing up.
The only place she focused her attention was solely on Hero Kim Deok-Sung, nothing else.
That doesn’t mean she harbored the excessive desire to become his wife.
Han Seo-Jin knows her place well.
She could never stand beside him.
Destined to forever be in the shadows.
So, Han Seo-Jin didn’t bother much about her appearance.
In front of a full-length mirror, she checked the schedule with a serious expression.
At that moment.
Creeeak.
The door opens.
“What’s our Seo-Jin doing?”
Suddenly, someone grabs her shoulders with both hands, and a familiar voice reaches her ears.
“Yoo Se-Ra?”
Han Seo-Jin turns her head.
There was Yoo Se-Ra, as expected.
Wearing a revealing bikini and a beach cardigan on top, Yoo Se-Ra’s reflection appears in the full-length mirror.
“I’m all set! So I came to see what our Seo-Jin is up to. You’re not seriously picking that swimsuit for yourself, are you?”
Yoo Se-Ra’s gaze shifts to the swimsuits on the bed.
“Yeah. What’s wrong with it?”
Han Seo-Jin’s eyes pierce toward Yoo Se-Ra.
“Did you really plan to wear something like this? Our Seo-Jin shouldn’t be doing that.”
Yoo Se-Ra giggles, pushing the swimsuit aside.
“What do you mean I shouldn’t?”
Han Seo-Jin furrows her brows in confusion.
Being indifferent to the swimsuit, she couldn’t understand the current situation.
Seeing Han Seo-Jin’s face, Yoo Se-Ra’s eyebrows furrow.
“Seo-Jin, everything else is great, but you need to work on that obliviousness a bit.”
Han Seo-Jin’s puzzlement deepens at Yoo Se-Ra’s words.
“I still can’t understand what’s so oblivious about it······.”
She truly couldn’t grasp it.
Even during her days as an active hunter, she had no interest in fashion.
Even during my active hunter days, I never cared about fashion.
Seeing that, Yoo Se-Ra clicked her tongue inwardly.
With that swimsuit, she wouldn’t catch Kim Deok-Sung’s heart.
Just then, she had obtained the information that he liked women with large breasts.
Han Seo-Jin’s chest isn’t small by any means; it’s quite large, about a C-cup. But compared to the women around him, who are usually D-cups or bigger, she seemed relatively small.
So, to catch his eye and eventually win his heart, she needed a bolder swimsuit fashion.
In that process, it would be a bonus if she could also become a member of his harem.
Yoo Se-Ra felt frustrated that her friend didn’t understand her deeper intentions to connect Kim Deok-Sung and herself.
“You know that’s the problem, Seo-Jin. How can you wear a swimsuit like that without feeling embarrassed? It’s such a waste of clothes. This won’t do. Follow me.”
With that, she grabbed Han Seo-Jin’s wrist and headed to the dressing room.
Bang!
The dressing room door closed.
“Oh, I think this suits you well.”
“No, this feels way too embarrassing…”
“Hey now, I’m Yoo Se-Ra. I’m a pro when it comes to fashion. Enough talk, just wear it.”
Their voices flowed out from beyond the closed door.
This all happened before Kim Deok-Sung and his group arrived at the valley.
*
Changed into my swimsuit in the assigned personal room, I finally arrived at the Private Valley with Yuji and Ishihara.
My outfit was pretty ordinary.
Square-cut swim trunks paired with a white beach hoodie.
It was no different from what I wore during summer school.
“This is your brother’s Private Valley…”
With sunglasses on and a flamboyant floral Hawaiian shirt, Ishihara placed a hand on his forehead as he gasped in awe.
“Impressive, Kim.”
“I’ve been to many private beaches, but I’ve never seen a place like this.”
I noticed Yuji and Ishihara sparkling their eyes with excitement beside me.
Now that I think about it, Ishihara was supposed to be the son of a conglomerate chairman.
His presence was so minimal that I had forgotten that fact.
“…I’m seeing this for the first time too.”
As I sighed in response to Ishihara and Yuji’s astonishment, I looked around.
The valley’s scenery was so perfect it was hard to believe it was inside a resort.
Clear, almost transparent water flowed through a valley that was adequately wide and deep enough for swimming.
True to the nature of a valley, there were rocks, lush trees, and even a large pavilion with an octagonal roof.
In what looked like a camping area, there were grills and pork belly, as well as a lavish large tent fit for glamping.
I wasn’t quite sure what the point was in camping again after coming all the way to a resort.
‘This is an unnecessary overkill.’
They mobilized nationwide experts and a large corporation funded the construction costs; they truly created a valley on the resort land.
It was absurdly extravagant.
“Wow, it’s refreshing.”
Yuji had already dipped his feet in the valley water.
“Look, Kurosawa! There are crayfish here too!”
On the side, Ishihara was shouting while lifting a crayfish with his hand.
Crayfish?
Did they really release aquatic creatures into this artificial valley?
At this point, it was beyond ridiculous; it was impressive.
Ignoring Yuji and Ishihara playing around, I sat down in the shade by the rocky beach of the valley.
It was a scorching midsummer day, but the shade made it bearable.
‘When will they arrive?’
Only the boys, including me, had arrived at the valley.
The girls were still nowhere to be seen.
Is getting ready in swimsuits really that time-consuming?
[Partner, ladies generally take a long time to prepare. Just relax and wait.]
Before I could finish my thought, the Black Prince chimed in as expected.
Maybe I should just stop talking.
As I sighed inwardly without responding to the Black Prince, he mumbled in my mind.
[Oh, Partner. I think the ladies are coming over there.]
I turned my gaze.
And there she was.
“Super☆Cute Sister Haru, reporting for duty! V!”
Kurosawa Haru.
She leaped into my arms wearing a red bikini with a black beach cardigan.
She jumps into my arms wearing a black beach cardigan over her red bikini.
“Deok-Sung oppa, Haru wanted to see you. You wanted to see your super cute Haru too, right? Hehe.”
Haru snuggles into my embrace, whispering with a mischievous smile.
I’ve felt it before, but her boldness is really a problem.
I don’t think she was this forward in the original source.
What’s going on?
Just as I was about to pry Haru off me, thinking I was flustered.
“Ugh! Eri-Rin. I can’t take it anymore! No matter how junior she is, I won’t forgive her! Get away from Master!”
A familiar voice chirps from the side.
Eri.
I turn my gaze and see her with her orange twin tails.
And the schoolmiz she’s wearing has “Eri-Rin” written in katakana.
Why is it schoolmiz?
“Whatever, like who cares? Hehe. Ehhhhh. Boop. The finest beautiful girl, Eri-Rin. Are you perhaps jealous of Haru? She’s a super cute gal little sister, and your proactive heroine position is about to be snatched away from you!”
Haru leans against me, squinting her eyes.
She’s flashing a playful smile.
“Hehe. So, Eri-Rin, that’s why you wore the schoolmiz? To be cute for Deok-Sung oppa. But sorry, this valley is going to be a solo stage for super cute Haru.”
Eri’s face turns even redder at Haru’s words.
She puffs her cheeks.
“Ugh! I’m so mad, Eri-Rin! And don’t call me Eri-Rin! That’s a nickname just for Master! Get away! You little devil!”
“This time I agree with Nishizawa. You, get away from Deok-Sung right now.”
Suddenly, Rin jumps in.
Rin is also wearing a swimsuit, but it’s a sporty one instead of a bikini.
Though less revealing, it clings to her body, accentuating her standout curves in a more provocative way.
“Exactly! Back off, junior’s junior!”
“Geeeeee………”
Then Kasumi and Makoto show up.
Both were in bikinis, and Makoto’s large chest was jiggling.
I seriously don’t know where to look.
“Hehe. So that’s Makopi, huh? Haru, I’m seeing a jito-mé (sound effect) for the first time. Saying it out loud is super cute and totally hilarious.”
Haru covers her mouth, laughing.
Seeing this, Makoto’s face turns red.
“U-uhm… to say it’s funny…”
Makoto’s expression darkens.
Has she finally realized how weird that is?
Ordinary people don’t make sound effects with their mouths!
“Makopi, it’s okay. It’s okay.”
Eri comforts the sulking Makoto, patting her back.
She yells at Haru while looking at her.
“Kurosawa! Don’t pick on our Makopi!”
“I didn’t intend to tease her, but I’m sorry, Makopi. Still, Haru was hilarious. Hehe.”
Haru, giggling with her mouth covered, looks at Eri and says.
“And hey, Kurosawa, calling me that feels totally off. So everyone can just call me Haru. Don’t forget to be super thankful for this special permission.”
“H-Haru… how…”
Yuuji’s voice sounds bewildered by Haru’s words.
He squats in the nearby sand, sulking and scratching the ground with a twig.
What a reaction straight out of a Japanese anime, just like in a light novel world.
“Kurosawa. Don’t be too disheartened. Saori’s like this too; all little sisters are like this.”
“The Haru I knew isn’t like this…”
Yui mutters, comforted by Ishihara beside her.
This is a complete mess.
“Hehe. Deok-Sung oppa. So the only normal ones here are you and Haru, right? You must be all fluttery inside? Hehe. Hehe.”
Haru whispers nonsense in my ear.
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