There are too many non-believers in cyberpunk – Chapter 16

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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Blue Moon Resort.

A four-star hotel located a full seven hours away from the orphanage where Amon and Sonia lived.

As its name suggested, Blue Moon was a resort primarily targeting couples.

It was especially popular among couples for proposals, honeymoons, and affairs.

Amon and Sonia were headed to this very sanctuary of love.

One might wonder how mere orphans could afford such a place, but it was all thanks to:

“Thank you, Father.”

The boundless generosity of the narrow-eyed priest.

Their original plan was to break open their piggy banks and visit a moderately priced resort, but the priest’s support changed their destination.

The priest not only drove them there but also generously offered the protection of Vatican paladins during their stay at the resort.

Sonia was wary of the priest’s almost burdensome generosity, but Amon gratefully accepted it.

From Amon’s perspective, there was a good reason for the priest’s generosity.

‘Was it that obvious?’

When Amon expressed his unease about the Higzen Group under the guise of confession, the priest immediately requested the dispatch of paladins from the Vatican.

Even before Amon mentioned his intention to join the Vatican, the priest had discerned their future allegiance based solely on the keyword “fear.”

It might have been different for outsiders, but the priest’s unreserved support as soon as he realized they were going to join the Vatican showed a certain pragmatism.

‘I can’t let my guard down around him.’

Despite his amiable facade, the priest’s occasional sharp demeanor suggested he was no ordinary priest.

But that pragmatism was something they could rely on for now.

Being pragmatic meant being consistent.

If securing two Divine Power wielders at once was the goal, then booking a four-star hotel and providing paladin escorts was a worthwhile investment.

Thanks to this, Amon could trust the priest.

Or rather, he could trust the Vatican’s calculations and the current situation.

Unlike Amon, Sonia seemed quite dissatisfied.

She sent him a text message, careful not to let the priest, who was driving, overhear.

[Do we really have to go with him? You said it would be just the two of us? And what’s with the paladins accompanying us there?]

Amon could only smile wryly at her complaints.

He understood her disappointment.

To her, a cheap resort with just the two of them would be much more fun than a four-star hotel paid for by the priest.

Amon completely understood.

But if they went to the resort alone, it wouldn’t be surprising if mercenaries from the Higzen Group kidnapped them.

So, Amon silently endured her complaints and tried to soothe her.

[Still, when else would we get to go to a place like this before graduation? It’s a four-star hotel. The nuns recommended it too.]

After smoothly handling Sonia’s complaints, which arrived every 10 minutes, Amon recalled his objectives.

‘Primary objective: Prevent Sonia from even getting near the corporation.’

Whether it was employment, a trial run, or an internship, she had to avoid the Higzen Group at all costs.

And this trip was meant to keep her away from the corporation until graduation.

‘Secondary objective: Increase her favorability towards the Vatican.’

Amon also disliked the Vatican, but it was the lesser of two evils.

At least they didn’t sacrifice people and they definitely protected their own.

However, they couldn’t receive the Vatican’s protection if Sonia continued to reject them.

That was the reason for this trip.

He calculated that after a pleasant experience at the hotel, Sonia’s favorability towards the Vatican, who sponsored the trip, might increase slightly.

Lost in thought, Amon felt Sonia’s fingers tickle the back of his hand from an angle hidden from the priest’s rearview mirror.

Amon responded to her playful gesture by intertwining their fingers.

Their playful interaction continued for a while, then, when they got bored, Sonia’s complaints resumed via text message.

When Sonia finally fell asleep from exhaustion, Amon closed his eyes as well.

Watching the two sleeping peacefully in the quiet car, the priest’s gaze softened.

And when they opened their eyes, they had arrived at the resort.

Blue Moon Resort offered two main courses:

The Summer Season Course and the Winter Season Course.

This was possible because Colorado, where Blue Moon Resort was located, had scorching summers and winters with unbearable amounts of snow.

The Summer Course offered swimming in the pool located in front of the resort and fishing in the artificial lake.

The Winter Course allowed for skiing on the mountain behind the resort.

The prices for these two courses varied depending on the season.

You could choose the Winter Course even in summer, but you had to bear the cost of producing artificial snow in the middle of summer.

You could also choose the Summer Course in winter, but you had to pay for heating the pool and keeping the snow out.

Surprisingly, the off-season packages had kept this resort afloat for decades, thanks to nouveau riche and influencers who lacked the courage to visit truly luxurious hotels.

However, Amon never dreamed they would experience this package.

“Wow… a swimming pool in winter…”

The power of money was truly impressive.

Impressive enough to ‘specifically’ create a greenhouse that replicated summer temperatures and use the refractive index of a barrier to create artificial sunlight.

On the other side of the barrier separating the Summer and Winter Courses, people bundled in thick clothing, carrying skis, were visible.

If he let his guard down even slightly, he would be intoxicated by the envious gazes directed at them.

‘Get a grip, Amon. You’re not here because you’re special.’

Amon admonished himself, suppressing the burgeoning sense of elitism.

Still, experiencing this feeling made him understand why the nouveau riche and influencers visited this place.

The pleasure derived from this sense of superiority was a rare feeling in a city where everyone died equally.

It was more than just vanity; it was an addictive feeling, even giving a sense of fulfillment.

But Amon shouldn’t be feeling this way.

To him, everyone in this world was a child of the same Mother, his siblings.

Feeling superior to others was an insult to the Mother’s will.

Waiting for Sonia, who was still in the changing room, he bowed his head and repeatedly made the sign of the cross over the cardigan he wore over his bare skin.

Other guests passing by gave him strange looks.

Among them, some gossipy female guests whispered behind his back.

“Is that some new fashion? Wearing a shirt and a hat at the pool?”

“Isn’t it a religious belief? He’s been doing those weird movements since earlier.”

“Then, is that hat… like that head covering they wear in the Middle East? That kind of thing?”

“A hijab? But he’s a man?”

“Maybe he’s not a man.”

In the cyberpunk world, gender transitions and being intersex weren’t that uncommon.

Even the women having this conversation might not actually be “women.”

Therefore, their conversation wasn’t gossip or backbiting, just ordinary American small talk, nothing more, nothing less.

However, Amon’s internal software was that of a 21st-century Korean Confucian scholar.

He wore the cardigan and hat because of lingering Korean habits.

Habits, unlike appearances, were hard to break.

This was also why he stubbornly maintained his fashion even in front of the priest, who found his attire strange in the changing room.

‘Geez, what am I supposed to do if I’m embarrassed?’

Not knowing his circumstances (?), they whispered behind his back, and it didn’t sit well with him.

Even though he rationally understood American culture, he was emotionally irritated.

…To be honest, the fashion critique didn’t bother him much; he was mostly irritated by their speculation that he might not be male.

Amon, wanting to correct their misunderstanding, turned around with a stern expression.

And the moment he met their eyes to rebuke them,

“Gasp…!”

He couldn’t help but close his mouth at the sight of them gasping.

‘What’s going on?’

Amon, wondering if he had unconsciously made a frightening expression, quickly composed himself.

Then, the women reacted with exaggerated excitement, squealing and approaching him with their phones raised.

“Oh my, were you a FaceTalk star? We had no idea.”

“No? I don’t use social media.”

Amon didn’t even use social media, let alone being a star.

Amon responded curtly, feeling awkward.

But for some reason, they found his response amusing and continued their enthusiastic greetings.

“Then are you here for a modeling shoot?”

“No.”

It seemed like a far-fetched conclusion based on Amon’s attire.

But looking at Amon’s face, the assumption gained a semblance of plausibility.

However, Amon was neither accustomed to nor comfortable with such flattery.

‘A model? I’m just an orphan.’

He briefly considered responding with that, but decided against crossing the line.

The women’s relentless barrage of questions continued.

Every one of Amon’s replies seemed to trigger their laughter, eliciting positive reactions.

Eventually, the topic shifted to whether he had a girlfriend.

‘What should I do…’

Amon didn’t have a girlfriend.

But he knew he couldn’t answer truthfully in front of these women.

If he said he was single, the inevitable follow-up question about their own availability would put him in the uncomfortable position of having to reject them.

For the shy Korean Amon, it was a high-stakes situation.

Rejecting someone might not seem like a big deal, but surprisingly, this was Amon’s first experience being hit on.

He was always either with Sonia or surrounded by people who knew about her.

‘Come to think of it, there’s Sonia.’

Amon finally remembered Sonia’s existence.

The option of falsely claiming her as his girlfriend came to mind.

But there was a problem.

‘Would she go along with this?’

This situation was unprecedented.

Even between close friends, asking someone to pretend to be their significant other could be considered rude, so Amon hesitated.

His dilemma was soon resolved by the person in question.

“Honey, what’s going on?”

Amon’s face brightened at the familiar voice, and he turned towards the direction it came from, searching for the right words to play along.

However, the words forming in his mind were instantly wiped out the moment he saw Sonia.

She wore a white one-piece swimsuit, similar in color to her silver hair.

True to Sonia’s usual aversion to revealing her navel, the swimsuit covered it.

But whichever fashion designer… no, whichever pervert designed the swimsuit had made sure to outline her navel.

Her healthy thighs were visible below the swimsuit, which accentuated her beautiful hip line.

But all of this paled in comparison to:

‘Boo…Boobs…’

The overwhelming symbol of motherhood and the source of divinity.

What else could it be but the wellspring of Divine Power?

The swimsuit, which exposed what Amon had underestimated due to her usual loose clothing, provided a powerful stimulus.

‘That designer… whoever they are, I acknowledge you.’

Amon finally understood the concept of the beauty of concealment he’d heard somewhere.

Looking at Sonia, Amon didn’t bother calming his racing heart.

He was 18 now, old enough to pack his bags and leave the orphanage this year, so this reaction wasn’t a problem.

‘My childhood friend was this… much…’

Amon couldn’t help but feel grateful for the connection the Goddess had (apparently) forged.

Amon was a devout believer, but also a man.

And no doctrine forbade a man from being attracted to a woman; this was something the Goddess herself had acknowledged.

Why do you think I created men and women separately?

Therefore, Amon’s racing heart wasn’t a doctrinal transgression.

‘Right, what was I about to say?’

Amon suddenly remembered his situation.

He’d forgotten what he was about to say because the sight of her one-piece had made his mind go blank, like the color of her swimsuit.

Even when he tried to recall, his mind was filled with the word “Boobs.”

He was only barely managing to prevent the word from escaping his lips with superhuman willpower, but it threatened to burst forth any second.

Sonia reveled in Amon’s gaze.

The stares she had endured from others until she reached Amon had been incredibly unpleasant, but his gaze brought her boundless happiness and satisfaction.

She felt that if he wanted, she would even show him privately in their room.

Amon’s gaze shifted to her tied-up hair.

She wore the hairpin he had given her.

Amon, his voice slightly strained, acknowledged the pin.

“Oh, darling. You brought that hairpin?”

Darling.

What a beautiful word!

A sense of pride filled Sonia’s chest!

She felt her resolve strengthen!

This newfound resolve emboldened her to do something she wouldn’t normally do.

Swaying her hips, she approached Amon.

She wrapped her arms around him, pressing the very things he couldn’t take his eyes off of against his arm.

Her ample breasts were squished against Amon’s arm.

Amon’s arm stiffened.

She’d heard on NewTube that men flex their biceps when a woman they like touches their arm, and Amon seemed no different.

‘Should I tell him to flex?’

They said that telling a man to flex in this situation was taboo.

The man would try to flex no matter what, even if it meant tearing a muscle.

However, her playfulness ended there.

She wanted to get rid of the uninvited guests and enjoy her time with Amon.

Sonia pretended to just notice the women Amon had been talking to.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. Did I interrupt your conversation?”

Amon is mine.

She glared at them, conveying that message.

But the women’s reactions were completely different from what Sonia expected.

Instead of jealousy or hostility, she was met with looks of admiration.

“Oh, not at all! You have a girlfriend. We didn’t know.”

“We’ll leave you two alone!”

“Have a beautiful romance!”

And with that, they quickly disappeared.

Jealousy usually only arises between equals.

When one side was this overwhelmingly superior, the natural reaction wasn’t jealousy, but admiration and envy.

Sonia, seemingly not offended by the women’s well-wishes, smiled faintly.

Then, putting on a seductive smile she’d read about somewhere, she looked up at Amon.

“Shall we go?”

She didn’t specify where.

But Amon, despite his size, was led away unresistingly by Sonia’s hand and replied:

“Sure.”

Amon’s mind was filled with the national anthem, desperately trying to control his increasingly enthusiastic junior.

Opportunity only becomes opportunity when seized.

Sonia knew this better than anyone.

Right now, when Amon was showing romantic interest in her for the first time, was her chance.

So, she could act in ways she normally wouldn’t.

On the way to the pool, she intentionally brushed her chest against his arm, bumped her hips against his, and whispered in his ear when speaking.

Her strategy was very effective.

She could feel his body stiffen through his arm.

She had another plan.

‘Once we get in the pool…’

She planned to splash around in the pool, then pretend her hairpin had come loose and retie her hair.

In the process, she would expose her armpits to Amon, delivering a direct hit to his heart.

But her plan crumbled the moment Amon entered the pool.

Splash!

Amon, pushed into the water by Sonia’s back.

Unable to scold her, he resurfaced with a chuckle, his hat gone.

His appearance, fully revealed with the hat gone.

The way he brushed his wet hair back was right up Sonia’s alley.

‘Was this my type?’

His glistening wet hair.

His sculpted muscles, faintly visible beneath his wet cardigan.

His jawline and eyes, usually obscured by his hair, were now clearly visible.

‘That’s… a lethal weapon…’

Piercing the hearts of women and making even men applaud involuntarily.

Its destructive power was so immense that the pool fell silent the moment Amon emerged from the water.

The impact on Sonia, who was looking directly at him, was overwhelming.

Her brain short-circuited.

All her mental capacity was devoted to etching Amon’s jawline and abs into her memory, erasing any strategic thoughts.

The remaining space was allocated to maintaining her usual composure, the Sonia that Amon liked.

Therefore, she had no capacity left to execute her planned maneuver.

While Sonia was in this dazed state, Amon wasn’t much different.

He, too, was experiencing unfamiliar flutters at the sight of Sonia, a side of her he hadn’t seen in their everyday life.

Along with the intuition that things could never go back to the way they were.

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