I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

Chapter 629

Here is the continuation of the translation:

"Yujin, it feels like just yesterday we were watching Shark and the polar bear sisters play around, and now we’re here with tails attached. Really brings back memories..."

"...I’m feeling a bit tight in the chest, though. With this kind of muscle mass, bone density, and weight, shouldn’t I sink right when I get in the water? How is this possible?"

"That's a unique trait of Manifestors. After all, in this world, materialism doesn’t even work."

As I murmured, my voice echoed slightly along the walls.

We were currently in a large swimming pool located in the penthouse basement, a space restricted to residents or authorized personnel. The surrounding holographic walls projected such a beautiful outdoor view that it didn’t even feel like we were underground.

Anyway, getting back to it, I had told Iris to buy a rash guard, but instead, she insisted on buying a monokini, and now, embarrassed, she wouldn’t even look at me. I simply responded to her comment.

In a world where it’s not uncommon for a man to suddenly become a woman overnight, what’s the harm in violating a couple of physical laws now, right?

Thinking about that, I suddenly remembered a comic I had read in the past. What was it? Something about a cyberpunk dystopia with heavy metal rain, where people suddenly awaken as ninjas...

"…Jin, Yujin! Pay attention!"

"Hmm, I was just lost in thought for a second. Anyway, stretching is essential before entering. You’ve become a snake who swims well, but if you get a cramp and fall into the water, I’ll be sure to laugh at you all on the broadcast. Got it?"

"Ugh, I’ll become the laughing stock, not just nationally, but worldwide... Huff."

"Ugh, it hurts! My bones are breaking!"

"Be careful. Your physical abilities could hurt even other Manifestors."

At the same time, Iris, who had her chest covered with one arm and her private parts with the other hand, wrapped her tail around her waist and swiftly pulled me toward her.

As expected, she was whiter than I was, so the contrast was striking... was she a human or a red carrot? As a white snake, she looked particularly red. I sighed and added:

"Next time, just get a rash guard."

"...Okay."

"Alright, let’s do some stretching, editor. You know swimming works your whole body, so while you don’t need to do splits like those guys, we should at least loosen up your neck, shoulders, waist, calves, thighs, wrists, and forearms. Ready?"

"Oh, I think I can handle that myself—whoa!"

"Come here quietly."

Creeeek!

It wasn’t right for a Manifestor to just stay at home, doing nothing and working all the time. That’s what I thought as I swiftly spun Iris around, locking our arms and pressing our bodies together, then bent at the waist.

A few moments later, Iris’ flailing gaze found the ceiling.

I had been careful with my strength, so there was no way her muscles or joints were harmed or startled... after all, this kind of stretching wouldn’t surprise a muscle.

Around 10 minutes later, Iris, who was now completely relaxed, collapsed onto a sunbed, looking like a soft lump.

"Ugh..."

"Feeling good?"

"I thought I was going to die, but now I feel great."

"Well then, let’s get ready to go in. It seems like there are a lot of people waiting for us."

I lifted Iris from the sunbed, which was made of steel to support Manifestor weight, and signaled to the other three, signaling that we were ready to go.

Of course, we didn’t immediately dive into the pool, but started by dipping our toes. From that moment, Harmony and Dice would realize exactly what animals they had turned into.

It was like being sucked into the water. I had only submerged my limbs at first to get used to the temperature, but it only took 1 second before I had pushed my whole body into the pool.

Surprise turned to joy, and joy turned to astonishment. The sensation of the water was completely different from what I would’ve felt before becoming a Manifestor.

How long did it take?

"Wow..."

"Iris disappeared! Something's under my feet—ahh!"

"Harmonyyy—!"

It felt like I was watching a scene where something was yanked backward in slow motion.

Seeing Iris disappear into the water in an instant was truly enjoyable. Of course, perhaps in case of unforeseen danger, Shark held a small oxygen canister in one hand.

How much time had passed? Eventually, Shark came back to the surface, laughing with Harmony and Iris.

Now, it was my turn to dive in quietly.

After what felt like an eternity, 20 seconds passed.

"Did you get a big scare, our little newbies—glub!"

"…Ah, Shark got kidnapped."

"This time it’s the teacher’s turn… Agh, run—!"

Of course, it was too late.

The five Biyams and one shark had all gathered in the water.

"When I was little, the pool I went to had a dining terrace inside the pool. I didn’t expect to feel that same vibe here. It’s great. Swimming, then eating, makes me hungry again."

"...The delivery drones keep coming and going, though. It’s a bit distracting."

"What can we do? We eat so much."

The scariest Manifestors are the hungry ones.

I never experienced this much back when I was in New York, but seeing it unfold in the basement of my building in real-time was... not exactly nostalgic.

Anyway, as the massive poolside meal was being devoured, there was a separate trash sorting station set up for us. The food was so devoured that all that was left were plastic containers covered in grease, easily wiped down with a paper towel before being returned.

Everyone was patting their full stomachs, and the atmosphere was calm.

After a while, we all gathered by a small terrace next to the pool, and it was time to wrap up. We had been in the pool for a while and decided to leave after about an hour of chatting.

"Right, I remember I went to Stella Universe last time. Do you recall that?"

"Of course, I remember. It was quite fun. But why bring it up now?"

"Well, I got an email asking if I wanted to join Stella Universe again. Of course, the revenue split is much better than other hologram idols."

"Oooh."

"…But isn’t Iris technically not a hologram idol?"

"Ah."

At that moment, everyone exchanged glances, realizing something.

"…Actually, I guess it makes sense. If we just add a simple schedule manager for Iris, isn’t that basically what they offered?"

"…Huh?"

"With my name value, there’ll be much more advertising, and the MCN name will be ‘Yujin Squadron’. Since it’s already an official company, no problem, right? And I’d only have one hologram idol under my belt. We can probably just wrap it up like that."

"Woah."

"Wow, so you’re saying Iris would be the only hologram idol in Yujin Squadron? I’m so jealous!"

"That would be so fun! Are we going to see Iris’ ads on YourSpace? Something like 'Hologram Idol debuts under Yujin’s MCN!'?"

"Ugh, nooo—!"

At that moment, Iris realized it. The entire setup was carefully designed to tease her—and the same expression she was making was exactly what our editor had.

At the end of the day, no, there won’t be any grand advertisements. I wouldn’t make a broadcast saying "Iris is officially my hologram idol."

But, Iris would get all the support of a hologram idol without actually being one, and maybe that's the point.

"Well, if Harmony or Dice want to invest their own money and run ads on my channel, sure, but I don’t need that kind of publicity. Besides, if we get a lot of publicity, it might just cause a headache. I'm not going to take on the responsibility of managing hologram idols myself."

"…Yeah, I guess you’re right. I don’t have any expertise in that area, and to handle it, we’d need to recruit outside help..."

"Iris, don’t take me seriously. If I wanted, I could consume the hologram idol market with just the cash I have, but I don’t really want to do that."

The conclusion may seem a bit odd, but that’s the reality. At least I helped resolve the editor’s concerns, and I’m fine with that.

It was all fine, really.

'...So holograms exist in Korea, huh. Strange.'

Of course, for someone as practical as Lorentina, it was just a story from another world.

Everyday life.