Chapter Text
‘Strangely… Everything feels so peaceful today.’
Both the weather and the blowing wind was cool, and my surroundings were quiet and peaceful. If I looked out the balcony, I'd no doubt see the guild members training as always. Maybe Hyunsung would also be training there.
‘Eh, who am I kidding? Of course he'd be there. Maybe Hyejin too.’
I thought as I sip my tea. I've been quite surprised that I finished my guild work so soon. I even asked Manager Kim Miyoung if that is all there is, and when she confirmed it for me twice, I was in disbelief. Because of that, I turned my attention to managing the continent. Fortunately, there weren't any abnormalities, and everything was peaceful.
I did feel that my hands were itching to do something. Is this what Noona was talking about when she said I was being a workaholic? Maybe. My hands were always full, and now that I have tons of spare time, it feels a bit empty.
‘Ugh.. what to do.. I'm so bored.’
I was wondering if I could play chess with Hyejin but… I'm not in the mood for it. Then I remembered my alchemy lab. I do have my alchemy kit right here, but it's been a while since I've last done an experiment there.
‘Yeah, let's go visit.’
With that in mind, I stood up and stretched my limbs before making my way out of the office. I greeted the other guild members with a polite smile as they passed by me. Soon, I reached my lab and took a look around.
‘Ah.. Everything is just as I left it.’
I began to prepare the glasses and tubes, as well as the ingredients. Since I wasn't really aiming to create a specific potion, I just threw whatever ingredients into the bowl and see if something happens.
[Congratulations! You've created a new potion!
[Please enter a name.]
[Intelligence has increased by 1 point.]
‘Oh? It seems like something happened.’
I held up the glass filled with a purple liquid. It had a nice scent when I smelled it.
I didn't know what came upon me, but with sheer curiosity as an alchemist, I decided to drink the unknown potion. It didn't taste that bad, and actually tasted like plain vanilla. It didn't seem to have any immediate status effects after I drank it. I was about to sigh when a huge puff of purple smoke enveloped the entire lab.
‘What the hell?! What's happening?! Am I getting attacked? No wait, that's impossible. Is it from the potion I drank?’
Nothing seemed to happen while the smoke was there, so I decided to just idle around and wait for the smoke to clear. Eventually, when my vision was cleared, nothing seemed to change. I looked around and none of the surroundings were damaged or moved whatsoever.
The problem was when I looked at my own body.
‘Shit..’
I've become a woman.
[You've transformed to your opposite sex!]
[Time limit: 72 hours]
‘Shit, shit, shit, shit..! Damn! Damn it Lee Kiyoung! Why the hell would you drink an unknown potion?! You stupid idiot!’
I cursed myself for making such a stupid decision.
‘It's interesting that my clothes adjusted to my body too though… No, damn it! It's not the time to be thinking about that!’
The smoke must've leaked out of the room, and if a guild member sees it, they might have reported it to either, Manager Kim Miyoung, Hyejin, or Hyunsung.
‘Ah shit.. if it's Hyunsung….’
He'll find out that Lee Kiyoung and Lee Kiyeon are one and the same. What would he think of his brother who crossed dressed as his crush all this time?
‘It'd be horrible. Absolutely horrible. Hyunsung must never find out about this.’
But I couldn't hide it forever. At most, I'd be lucky if I manage to hide it for an hour. If the purple smoke had been reported directly to Hyunsung, then that guy would drop everything and come here at the speed of light..
‘Wait… I could just make something up.’
Yeah, that's right. Lee Kiyoung had just been experimenting when something had gone wrong and turned to a woman. It was by coincidence that female Lee Kiyoung happened to look like Lee Kiyeon. If one were to look at their personality and mannerisms, Lee Kiyouna and Lee Kiyeon are two completely different people!
‘Of course, of course! Lee Kiyouna, you genius girl! Hahaha!’
I smiled to myself as I calmed down. With an explanation ready at hand, my worries faded away. I picked up the vial that contained the purple liquid and decided on a name for it.
[You've named the potion ‘Poly Juice’]
I placed down the vial and began recounting the ingredients I used to make the Poly Juice and write it down on a paper. Halfway through recounting, the door bursted open, revealing the ever so handsome regressor.
“Kiyoung! Kiyoung, are you alright?! I—”
Hyunsung stopped mid-sentence upon seeing my appearance on a second glance.
“.... Miss Kiyeon?”
I heard him mutter under his breath. I felt my eyebrow twitch for a moment before replying to him.
“Kiyeon? Who's Kiyeon, Hyunsung?”
“What.. uh.. huh? O-Oh.. it's just.. you reminded me of someone..”
“Huh? Who? Kiyeon? Someone who looks like me? Although I have a sibling, I don't recall ever having a twin sister, so who is this Kiyeon?”
I asked as if I was a wife accusing her husband of cheating with another woman. Of course, Hyunsung immediately assumed a defensive stance and began to defend himself.
“A-Ah.. it's just this girl that I met in the Rift Museum.. I was thinking of recruiting her to the guild, but she's already happy with another man.”
‘No Hyunsung. Don't look so gloomy. Bitch Kiyeon already has a man, so why not focus on Hyejin instead? Come on, can't you see that old elf taking our Hyejin away? Show some semblance of jealousy damn it.’
I still held on to the Hyunsung-Hyejin coin. Even if Noona has told me countless times to give up on it, I refused to. I won't let that old elf take her away, not over my dead body!
“Oh, is that so?” I said. “Why are you here anyway, Hyunsung?” I asked him, pretending not to notice that my gender has been swapped.
“Well.. I've received a report that a mysterious purple smoke has been leaking out of your alchemy lab. I thought something m-might have happened to you, so I quickly rushed over and.. well.. y-you've..”
“I've what?” I cocked my head to the side.
“You've uhm.. Kiyoung, had you noticed something strange happening in your body?”
“My body? What do you— oh!”
I pretended to gasp as I looked down and saw my feminine body. I widened my eyes and let a surprised and shocked expression cross my face.
“Ah… It seems one of the vials I've been experimenting on have been knocked down and caused me to transform as a woman.”
“I-It seems so…”
“Is Hyunsung uncomfortable with my current appearance?” I said in a somewhat teasing tone.
“No!! Not at all! On the contrary, Kiyoung looks very beautiful as a woman!”
“?”
“?”
Huh? Even Hyunsung looks confused by what he said.
“Is… Is Hyunsung attracted to my female form?”
“No?!”
“Hyunsung seems really unsure.. I didn't think you thought of me this way…”
“That's not it, Kiyoung! You've got it all wrong! Kiyoung is beautiful in both forms, not just in the female form!”
“...?”
Hyunsung's face immediately reddened after he said that, and averted his eyes from mine, suddenly finding the floor very interesting. Huh. I'm quite flattered at the compliment. Of course, my looks could never hold a candle to the lovely regressor, but I think I had a decent face. I don't know why he looks like that though. Is he perhaps embarrassed?
“Hahaha. I'm very flattered by that compliment, Hyunsung. I also think you're very good-looking.”
“A-Ah.. Is that so? T-Thank you.”
‘Look at this cute bastard.’
Hyunsung scratched his cheek and was acting all shy. Aww, is he feeling shy after receiving a compliment from his hyung? Well it's the truth anyway.
“Well, it seems that there's no danger after all. Hyunsung doesn't need to worry. I think this is just a potion effect that will end after some time. You should go back to training Hyunsung.”
After I assured Hyunsung and tried to dismiss him, he shook his head.
“No.. I think it's better if I stay here with you Kiyoung. Just in case something happens.” Hyunsung said with a determined and concerned expression.
“Sigh, you worry too much Hyunsung. It's perfectly harmless. Trust me.” I insisted.
“No. I'll stay beside Kiyoung. I don't have anything to do anyway.”
‘You bastard.. you're the guildmaster. What do you mean you have nothing to do?’
“If you insist..” I trailed off. “Then please, make yourself comfortable here. There's a chair over there. I'll just be experimenting anyway, so I suggest you find something to entertain yourself with, Hyunsung. You might get bored.” I suggested.
“No, it's okay. If it's with Kiyoung, I won't get bored. I might learn something if I watch you experiment.” Hyunsung spoke with a smile.
I just sighed and set aside the Poly Juice potion. I began to prepare a new set of ingredients and began my experiments.
It's been a while since a comfortable silence had settled between me and Hyunsung. I kept mixing ingredients to see if something would come out, and while nothing had been working so far, I wasn't really that displeased. It's just experiments anyway. When I looked over to Hyunsung, he looked like he was in a daze. I wasn't sure if he was staring at my work or me. Either way, when I turned my head to him, he gave a small smile.
Soon, I grew bored with experimenting and tried thinking of doing something else. While I was swishing the liquid inside the glass of a failed experiment, Hyunsung noticed that I was in a daze and spoke up.
“K-Kiyoung..?”
I turned my attention towards him. He looked a bit pale and anxious, before I realized what was happening to him.
‘Is his PTSD activating again? Man, I thought I had already cleared up that my memory loss has long since vanished.’
Ever since my resurrection, I've said to everyone that my status abnormalities, naming the supposed memory loss and my soul corruption, had been erased from my body when I came back to life. Everyone seemed to accept it, but it looks like the trauma hadn't faded away.
“What is it, Hyunsung?” I answered him. The moment I did, his pale face regained its colour as he relaxed.
“Ah, you were in a daze.. is something wrong?” He asked in a converning voice. It was appreciated, really.
“No, nothing's wrong. I just got bored with experimenting and was thinking of something to do. Do you have any suggestions, Hyunsung?”
At my question, Hyunsung's face fell into contemplation before lighting up.
“I know. How about Kiyoung and I go out and eat?” He suggests with a beaming smile. “I-It's been quite a while since we went out to eat together, right?”
I hummed. It has been a while since we last went out. I suppose the idea wouldn't be so bad.
“You're right. Let's go out and eat, Hyunsung. Though, I do have to change first, is that alright?”
“Of course! I'll go change as well!” Hyunsung stood up, his expression a tad bit too bright. If he had a tail it would've been wagging so excitedly.
“Then let's meet at the main hall.”
Hyunsung was already there before me. He was in his casual clothes, and looked quite nervous but visibly happy. He immediately noticed me when I arrived at the main hall.
“Kiyoung!”
He shouted my name with a smile, but his face dazed for a moment.
‘Is it because I've turned to a woman?’
I also received strange looks from the other guild members, but it was only momentary, as I've already announced that one of my experiments had gone wrong and I turned to a woman.
“Hello. Sorry if I took too long.” I offered a sheepish smile as I apologized, but when I looked at Hyunsung, his cheeks were tinted pink, and his ears were red. He seemed at loss for words.
‘Right, right. He must be still adapting to Kiyouna.’
I nodded my head inwardly when Hyunsung spoke up.
“Y-You look very p-pretty, Kiyoung.” He stuttered, doing that same shy demeanour from earlier again.
“Thank you Hyunsung. Shall we go then?”
“G-Guild Master! Guild Master!”
I was training with my sword when a guild member called me out. I stopped swinging my sword and gestured for the member to resume speaking.
“T-The alchemy lab! Vice Guild Master! Leaking purple smoke!” The guild member huffed in exhaustion, perhaps from running all the way here and only said the necessary words.
I immediately dropped my Durendal and left the training grounds immediately. I started to panic as my mind raced at the possible danger Kiyoung might have placed in.
‘I can't lose him! I can't lose Kiyoung again!’
He's always been there for me, yet I can't even be there for him. What kind of worthless soulmate am I? To think I even dared to have feelings for him when he already has someone else. Kiyoung is too kind to reach his hand out to me, a sinful man. Yet I can't stop my heart from beating like this.
Soon, I saw the door to the lab, with faint purple smoke leaking through it. I hurriedly busted the door open in panic and called out to Kiyoung. But then I caught sight to a woman waving off the remaining smoke in the air, and for a moment, I was reminded of someone.
‘...Miss Kiyeon?’
It seemed I voiced that thought aloud, because Kiyoung asked me who that woman was. I explained to him that she was someone I met in the Rift Museum and that I was originally planning to recruit her but she refused and had her happy ending with another man. After that, he asked me if I was into his female form, to which I vehemently denied. I didn't want Kiyoung to think of me as that kind of guy, and told him that both his original, male form and female form are beautiful.
It felt extremely embarrassing though. I hope Kiyoung didn't realize my feelings.. and luckily he didn't. Even though he tried to dismiss me, I refused and watched him (her?) continue his experiments. Although really, I just wanted an excuse to be in his presence.
I watched Kiyoung experiment, and found myself entranced by him… er.. her? Even as a woman he looked very beautiful. I don't think Kiyoung realizes just how beautiful he is. Everything about him is perfect. His hazel-brown eyes, his lips, his slender neck, and pale skin…. I quickly shook off those sinful thoughts when Kiyoung looked at me. I feel like he could see what I think through my eyes, and I don't want Kiyoung to find out what I thought of just now, so I offered him a small smile.
I hadn't known when I harboured feelings for Kiyoung, but when I'd realised it, I never felt so happy and nervous at the same time. I started paying attention to my looks more than usual, perhaps hoping to impress Kiyoung and make him attracted to me. I don't really know much about dressing up, so I tried to look as neat as possible, even buying a perfume to smell nice. I also tried other things, but it didn't take long before I realized that it would all be in vain.
Kiyoung is engaged.
My bubble of happiness was popped by that fact. I felt heartbroken when I remembered that Kiyoung was already taken. I felt depressed for a few days, but eventually.. Instead of moping around, I decided to resign myself and be Kiyoung's protector.
Still, it didn't stop me from indulging in his warmth every once in a while.
When Kiyoung told me that he was bored and asked if I had any suggestions, I immediately suggested that we go out and eat together. Truthfully, I just wanted to be alone with Kiyoung, and thankfully, Kiyoung liked my idea and told me he'll go and change.
As I was changing in my room, an explicable feeling of excitement rose to my chest, as well as giddiness. Isn't this… basically a date? I chose clothes that I think Kiyoung would like, applied perfume on myself, before fixing my hair in front of the mirror. Once I looked presentable enough, I smiled and made my way to the main hall.
When I saw Kiyoung, all dressed up, I felt my face heat up. She(He) looked so beautiful despite wearing a simple white dress with floral designs on it. I couldn't resist giving out a compliment, and when Kiyoung also praised my look, I felt happy.
‘I'm starting to feel like this is a bad idea.’
Many people kept giving us strange looks ever since we went out. I wasn't that bothered since I know Manager Kim Miyoung would provide an explanation over on the official Blue Guild account, though for the time being that no context has been provided, people might think that Hyunsung is blatantly revealing that he had a secret lover all along.
In fact, my suspicions were confirmed when my Hand Mirror vibrated, and when I sneaked a look on it, I saw messages from Hyejin, asking me to quickly dispel the fast accumulating rumours on Benignore Net.
— Vice Guild Master, a rumour has been spreading that the Guild Master has a secret lover. Please quickly dismiss the rumours. It might tarnish the Guild Master's image.
‘Goodness Hyejin, you worry too much.’
— Yes, yes, don't worry too much Hyejin. I've already sent a message to Manager Kim Miyoung to provide an explanation through the official account.
— Okay.
After sending a quick message to Hyejin, I turned off my Hand Mirror and stole a glance at Hyunsung. Despite Hyejin's worries, Hyunsung didn't even seem to notice the people around us.
‘Or he just doesn't care.’
I let out a small sigh. To my surprise, his face changed from happy to nervous.
“Kiyoung, is everything okay?” He asked, a small frown displayed on his handsome face.
“Yes, everything's fine. I just felt a bit bothered since people kept staring at us more than usual today.. I think it's because I turned into a woman…” I muttered with a small smile.
Contrary to my expectations, his expression turned cold as he glared at the said people I just mentioned. I expected him to comfort me instead of staring down at the customers, who all turned their heads away.
‘No Hyunsung.. that's not it..’
“H-Hyunsung, no need to glare at them so harshly. In the first place, I turned to a woman because of my own mistake.” I said, trying to pacify him.
“... Hmph. It's not your fault Kiyoung, it was an accident.” He said to me, as if trying to justify my mistake. “If Kiyoung is too bothered by the stares, shall we move to a quieter place?” he suggests.
I thought about it for a moment, and nodded. I saw on my phone that Manager Kim Miyoung had already provided an explanation regarding ‘Hyunsung's Secret Lover’ rumours. Though, even when an explanation has been provided, the gazes were beginning to become bothersome, so I readily agreed with Hyunsung.
“Let's do that. After we eat of course.”
After we ate, Hyunsung led me to many picturesque places, both in and out of Lindel while we engaged in a bunch of different topics. Most of it is mainly about griffons and Blue Guild. When we're not talking, we would stroll and enjoy the scenery. Before we returned, Hyunsung took me to Heren, back to that small house on top of a small hill.
“Here you go Kiyoung.”
Hyunsung handed me a cup of coffee.
“Thank you Hyunsung.”
I warmly accepted the cup of coffee. I took a sip, and it tasted really good. It was brewed the way I liked it. Then, Hyunsung dragged a chair and sat beside me, he himself also holding a cup of coffee. The two of us were just outside the house, watching the sunset together. It felt peaceful. I smiled a little. I could see Hyunsung smiling too.
“It tastes really good.” I said, drinking the coffee again.
“Really? I'm glad..” Hyunsung replied, staring in front. I could be mistaken because of the sunset, but his ears looked a little red.
The next few hours were spent with just him and I enjoying the sunset with our coffee. I swung my feet a little. Though I wore flat shoes, the back of my ankle started to ache when we were traveling, causing discomfort. Hyunsung had noticed it and bought me a comfortable pair of shoes. He even helped me equip the shoes, making me sit down and him putting the newly bought shoes on my feet.
‘This pair sure is costly. Not only was it an expensive brand, but it was also a legendary grade.’
Hyunsung paid for it himself. I was a bit anxious.. no, I was very anxious. That bastard had no sense of money saving, and his bank account had long been in the negatives. I mean, he's improving… he's been avoiding embezzling the guild funds ever since I said I would start investigating to who's been stealing the funds. I've also taken it upon myself to start teaching him everything about how to handle money…. So I tried to calm down a little.
‘Get it together Kiyouna, let's just be grateful.’
After the sun had disappeared below the horizon, the two of us returned back to the guild. I breathed in and out and smiled. It was a good feeling to be back in the guild after spending the day outside.
“I enjoyed everything, Hyunsung. Thank you for taking me out. It was a nice change of pace after being cooped up inside the office for a long time.” I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
Hyunsung lit up and smiled. “Your welcome Kiyoung! I'm so glad you enjoyed everything today. M-Maybe we can go out again some time…” He uttered the last one a bit more timidly.
“That doesn't sound so bad. Well then, it's been a long day for both of us. I'll go and rest now. Hyunsung should go and rest too.” I sent him a smile only reserved for him.
“Y-Yes I will. Then.. good night Kiyoung.”
“Yes, good night.”
We both parted ways. I let out a small yawn and stretched my arms. When I entered my room, I saw Hayan. She immediately noticed me and jumped up from the edge of the bed.
“O-Oppa! W-Where have you been? Ah no.. is it Unnie now? Hehehe.” Hayan giggled as she looked up at me while hugging me. I chuckled and patted her head.
“I pent some time outside with Hyunsung, nothing much. And, just address me as usual. Then.. I'll go change first. Wait for me okay?” I told her as I kissed her forehead.
“O-Okay, I'll wait for you, Unnie!” Hayan giggled again after that. I just laughed.
After I changed into my pajamas, I closed my eyes and slept, with Hayan beside me.