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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Drum Washing Machine
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If one were to describe Shin Se-hee's personality in a few words, 'cunning,' 'sly,' and 'calculating' would suffice.
She enjoyed using others like chess pieces, discarding them if necessary.
Her personality could turn infinitely cruel if she so desired.
But with only such negative character traits, how could she establish herself as a top-tier beauty in the game?
Therefore, Shin Se-hee underwent a total of three stages of 'laundering.'
First.
Her personality would change 180 degrees whenever she drank.
The girl who always showed a calculating side would become an honest, cute dork who'd say, 'Calculations? What are those?' once alcohol touched her lips, lowering psychological barriers.
Second.
Trust when on the same side.
There was a saying in the Velvestra community.
[ Damgeumju is a 'Superstar.' ]
This saying came about because evaluations of Shin Se-hee were polar opposites between users who had pulled her and those who hadn't.
Those who had pulled her in the character gacha would defend her, saying, 'Huh? Cunning? Sly? Calculating? How could you say such harsh things about such a charming, pure, angelic girl!?'
While those who hadn't pulled her would react with, 'Ugh, get rid of that snake-headed bitch!!!'
She skillfully performed the role of creating discord not only among characters but also among users.
This was because, due to her characteristic 'Dichotomy,' her blade would never turn against anyone she perceived as being on her side.
Instead, she was devoted to her allies and tended to look out for them even more.
That gave users who had pulled her a sense of psychological superiority.
And it made those who hadn't pulled her wonder why on earth others were so obsessed with that snake-like bitch, making them want to pull her too.
It could truly be called the quality of a superstar who drove both fans and haters insane.
'Of course, I pulled her at the very end of the story, so her 'laundering' wasn't quite complete for me.'
And finally.
The washing machine.
This provided the reason Shin Se-hee had no choice but to possess such a personality.
Her personal story revealed just how harsh her upbringing had been,
creating understanding and empathy that she had no choice but to develop such a personality to survive in that den of iniquity, thus completing the three stages of 'laundering.'
I stared intently at the woman before me.
'Ha, of all the 'washing machines,' I'm encountering a drum washing machine here.'
* * *
'Why is this woman here...?!'
Shin Se-hee gasped, her expression bewildered.
Had she been following me from the start?
Had she been investigating me?
Since when, exactly?
I thought I'd cut off all the tails.
Why, of all people, did *this* woman have to come here?
Her mind became a tangled mess.
It was an utterly unexpected encounter.
Her own flesh and blood, the eldest daughter who had, in name and deed, inherited the Shin (申) family name most strongly.
The S-rank Hunter,
Shin Su-yeon.
'When did she return...? Wasn't she supposed to be abroad for a few more years?'
She was not someone who should have been here.
Shin Su-yeon was always busy traveling for family matters.
Shin Se-hee's ability to come to the academy, escaping her family's interference, was largely due to Shin Su-yeon's prolonged absence.
The moment she faced Shin Su-yeon, a long-learned fear spontaneously began to choke her.
Her body began to tremble, and no sound escaped her lips.
Hallucinations echoed in her mind.
— Se-hee, Se-hee. Just because people praise you and elevate you as a hero, do you really think you've become something special?
— That's all thanks to the family, isn't it? If you hadn't been born into this family, do you really think you could have achieved this much on your own strength?
— So, our Se-hee. You need to listen, right? You know perfectly well what will happen if you keep acting like this, yet you persist?
— I love you, Se-hee. You're my sister, after all.
No matter how much she tried to shake it off, the sticky unpleasantness climbing up her ankles simply refused to let go.
She had been complacent.
Velvet Hunter Academy was a strong fence, formidable enough that even the prestigious Shin family had to concede a step.
She had thought that as a student, they wouldn't dare lay a hand on her.
And she had calculated that she could somehow deal with anyone else.
However, on this unscheduled outing.
She had never, in her wildest dreams, imagined that Shin Su-yeon herself would come looking for her,
as if she had been waiting for this very day.
"It's been years, hasn't it, Se-hee? Have you been well?"
Shin Su-yeon abruptly pulled Shin Se-hee into an embrace.
Then, she whispered into her ear in a viscous, low voice.
"Our Se-hee… she's grown quite wayward while I was away, hasn't she? Truly, you can't take your eyes off her for a moment."
Hehe.
Shin Su-yeon's hand gently stroked her hair, but Shin Se-hee had to repeatedly suppress the urge to vomit.
"Sister thought you might have forgotten our family, you know."
Shin Su-yeon, who had been embracing Shin Se-hee, slowly pulled away.
Then, she extended a hand towards her.
Flinch.
Shin Se-hee trembled slightly.
"You wouldn't do that, would you?"
As she spoke, her eyes met Shin Se-hee's.
Even after years, there was still that chilling emptiness.
Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes weren't smiling at all.
And those eyes were saying this:
'Did you really think you could escape the family?'
Tap. Tap.
Shin Su-yeon tapped her shoulder.
"Se-hee. What will Mother and Father say if this reaches their ears? They were so upset you ran away on your own…"
Then she furrowed her brows as if worried, but it was an unnatural expression that felt out of place.
"Since you're already out, let's go home for a bit now."
At her words, Shin Se-hee's eyes wavered.
Home...?
Absolutely not.
Even the house without Shin Su-yeon was like hell; going back to a house *with* her...?
However, there seemed to be no way to refuse.
Even if she refused, Shin Su-yeon would forcibly drag her away.
Shin Su-yeon stood with her arms crossed, waiting for her answer.
As if daring her to refuse.
Her tightly sealed lips slowly parted.
"...I understa—"
Just as she was about to nod.
Squeeze—
Shin Se-hee felt a firm, heavy grip on her hand.
'...Huh?'
Her head turned.
"Shin Se-hee."
There stood Jin Yu-ha, glaring at her sister, Shin Su-yeon, with an annoyed expression.
"Who's this woman? From the looks of it, her eyes are messed up; doesn't seem like she's here with good intentions."
"...!?"
Words that came out of his mouth without any filtering.
Shin Se-hee's face immediately turned deathly pale.
"J-Jin Yu-ha-ssi!"
Shin Se-hee tried to protect Jin Yu-ha, but it was already too late.
Shin Su-yeon's head slowly turned towards Jin Yu-ha.
"...Eyes? Messed up? Child, are you perhaps talking about me?"
Then she tilted her head and asked back with an expression as if she'd never heard such words before.
"Then who else is here besides you, ma'am?"
"By the way, who are you?"
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first when asking someone who they are?"
Jin Yu-ha retorted to Shin Su-yeon's words, not yielding a single inch.
Each time, Shin Se-hee's face darkened to an ashen hue.
Shin Su-yeon's lips curled upwards, as if she had heard something amusing.
"Hmmmm..."
Her indifferent eyes scanned him up and down, as if appraising an object.
"Well, his appearance passes. And his spirit isn't bad for a man? He's a bit defiant, but if he's fixed, he might be useful..."
She nodded, as if she had chosen a not-so-bad item.
"May I ask your relationship with our Se-hee?"
"S-sister, I'll explai—!"
Grab.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Shin Su-yeon grabbed Shin Se-hee's mouth.
Muffled sounds escaped her tightly covered mouth.
At the same time, Jin Yu-ha's brow twitched into a frown.
"You're acting so brazenly, you must have some backing. What family are you from?"
"None of your business. Let go."
Jin Yu-ha said to her, his face clearly filled with displeasure.
'Jin Yu-ha-ssi, n-no! If you talk to this woman like that...!'
She tried to step forward and protect Jin Yu-ha, but the hand gripping her face didn't budge.
Regardless, Shin Su-yeon continued to direct questions at Jin Yu-ha.
"What do your parents do?"
"None of your business. I said let go."
"This is truly an interesting item, isn't it...?"
"I'm not interested, so let go. That's three times I've told you."
A 'just look at this' kind of smile settled on Shin Su-yeon's lips.
"...Hah?"
It was undeniable interest.
Shin Su-yeon released her hand from Shin Se-hee's face.
"Cough!"
Jin Yu-ha immediately pulled Shin Se-hee's hand, hiding her behind him.
Shin Su-yeon, as if no longer interested in Shin Se-hee, looked at Jin Yu-ha and spoke.
"Child, do you not know who I am?"
"No. But I can give you a rating instead."
Hmmmm...
"Since you rated me, I'll rate you then..."
Jin Yu-ha scanned her up and down with cold eyes, just as Shin Su-yeon had done moments ago.
"Wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot pole."
Instantly,
Thrummmm—
A wave of ki spread from her body, making the entire area tremble.
The heavy killing intent of an S-rank Hunter pressed down on the entire space.
"Kyaaaah—!!"
The luxury boutique staff ducked their heads and hid.
Clatter—
Displayed items clattered to the floor, and a powerful presence began to engulf the air.
"...Gasp!"
Shin Se-hee couldn't endure the pressure and let out a groan.
Trembling—
'Jin Yu-ha-ssi! I have to get Jin Yu-ha-ssi out of here somehow, right now...!'
Shin Se-hee desperately tried to pull Jin Yu-ha away from this spot.
And she could just go home and explain everything herself.
She grabbed Jin Yu-ha's arm and tried to pull him away, but.
His body was rooted to the floor, unmoving.
Jin Yu-ha simply held her hand and stared intently at Shin Su-yeon.
"Seriously, an S-rank Hunter, huh..."
Then he let out a sneering laugh—
"You're pathetic. Oh, wait, you're a woman, so you wouldn't have *that* anyway, would you?"
Stop.
The vibration ceased.
"...You, who exactly are you?"
Shin Su-yeon asked him back, her face dumbfounded.