Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 72: Miu Harmonia

"Normal Mystic?" Aren tilted his head. "What does that have to do with—"

Miu’s eyes widened as she realized what she did and backed off for a second before continuing.

"Well, I did research...And that was the only conclusion."

Her eyes drifted downward, onto her stomach.

"It’s probably because of my Bloodline somehow, I just know it..."

Aren didn’t respond immediately.

"What type did you awaken?" he asked instead.

Miu blinked.

"...Type?"

"Your classification. Animal, Humanoid, Spirit—something."

She hesitated.

"I don’t know."

Aren’s brows knit together. "You don’t know?"

Miu shifted awkwardly, folding her arms loosely.

"I didn’t awaken at some big government center or anything," she muttered. "I’m from Star City..."

That caught his attention immediately. In Aren’s past life, this exact time period was when he was studying at some third-rate university in Star City.

The place was...poor to say the least. He managed to work hard and be in one of the better districts, but Aren knew some of the poorer districts...had a hard time.

"There was this shop," she continued, eyes drifting somewhere past him. "Small place. They said they could do it cheap. My mom saved up for months."

Aren’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

Cheap awakenings were almost always illegal, with a high chance of turning the Bloodline demonic.

But looking at how she’s survived for this long, maybe she got lucky with it. Aren brushed the fact aside for now and asked calmly.

"Did they give you paperwork?"

"Yeah," Miu said quickly. "But once I got the chance of being an idol...I lost it somewhere."

She winced slightly.

"I didn’t really care back then. I just wanted it over with."

Aren did consider the possibility of a Bloodline ’misfire’, it wasn’t exactly uncommon in civilians. However, enough to rupture someone’s eardrum?

Still, without proper information or paperwork, all this talk was just guesswork at this point.

Miu could see from his narrowed eyebrows that he didn’t really believe her. Suddenly, she stepped forward from behind the counter and grabbed his wrist.

"Come with me."

Aren looked down at her hand around his wrist before lifting his gaze back to her face.

"Where?"

"My recording booth. Downtown," she said quickly, already moving as if the decision had been made long before he arrived. "I’m not good at explaining Mystic stuff. So I’ll just show you."

Without much decision of his own, he followed her slowly.

By the time he reached her bedroom doorway, she was already layering herself in what looked like half her closet. Hoodie over shirt, oversized jacket over that, along with the classic hat, sunglasses and face mask to round out the combo.

She paused only long enough to tug her pink hair into something less recognizable.

"...Planning to survive a blizzard?" Aren asked mildly.

"You don’t get it," she shot back, adjusting the brim of her cap. "If anyone recognizes me outside without security, it’ll be on every social media in ten minutes."

She reached for another jacket.

"Just...dress in something comfortable," Aren cut in.

Miu froze.

"What?" she blinked at him. "How exactly do you suggest I not get mobbed?"

Aren stepped closer, lifting one hand.

"Stand still."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she did.

A faint ripple of water-like distortion shimmered at his fingertips as he activated [Aqua Veil]. A thin, almost invisible film wrapped her around her body and settled.

Miu looked down at herself.

For a second, nothing seemed different.

Then she glanced toward the mirror.

Her reflection was gone.

"What—" She spun toward him, but even the motion made only the faintest blur in the air.

"To the naked eye, you’re invisible," Aren said evenly. "It’ll distort light just enough. Cameras might still catch outlines if they’re advanced, so don’t do anything stupid."

She lifted her hands in front of her face.

"...You’re kidding."

"I’m not."

Miu turned slowly in a circle, the distortion warping slightly with the movement.

"Woah! Mystics really do have it easy."

"That’s not what this is for," Aren replied flatly.

But Miu wasn’t listening anymore.

Faint rustles echoed throughout the room before a thud noise was heard on the floor. The distortion shimmered as fabric dropped.

"...What are you doing?"

"You said comfortable," her voice floated casually from somewhere in front of him. "I was sweating under all that."

Another rustle, a zipper this time with a lighter thump. The water-like veil rippled each time fabric left her body.

"Don’t you have any common sense," Aren frowned as he turned around to face the other side.

That was when she tapped him playfully on the shoulder.

"You can’t even see me," she giggled. "Why are you acting like this?"

"Were you perhaps...imagining something?"

Aren knew better than to walk into an obvious trap, so he stayed silent. Another faint step echoed across the wood floors before stopping right in front of him.

"Relax," Miu said lightly. "I’m decent."

"Good," Aren replied flatly. "Then we’re leaving."

"Stay within arm’s reach."

"Yes, sir."

"...Don’t."

She giggled under her breath, but this time she didn’t push it further.

Aren stepped toward the door, feeling the subtle ripple of [Aqua Veil] shift as she moved beside him.

The penthouse door clicked shut behind them. In the hallway mirror, only one figure walked toward the elevator.

Aren stepped into the lobby alone. Two security personnel stood near the reception desk, one of them straightening the moment he saw Aren.

"You’re heading out?" the man asked, brows slightly furrowed. "Miss Miu requested private protection tonight."

Aren didn’t break stride.

"She’s sleeping."

The guard blinked.

"...Sleeping?"

"Yes," Aren replied evenly. "What am I supposed to do, watch her sleep?"

The second guard shifted uncomfortably, glancing toward the elevator behind him.

"That’s not what I meant—" the first began slowly, but Aren cut in.

"Well, she’s got you all for protection. Call me when something actually happens."

The guard’s gaze drifted past Aren’s shoulder.

For just a second...his eyes focused on something. He frowned.

"Isn’t there—"

Aren didn’t let him finish. He pushed the door open smoothly and stepped outside.

A breath of laughter brushed against his ear.

"You sure you haven’t considered showbiz?" Miu giggled softly. "You’d probably become an award-winning actor with that cocky attitude."

"Spare me," Aren sighed as they stepped toward the street.

The crosswalk flickered green as they stepped onto it.

"Recording booth’s three blocks down," Miu whispered.

Before Aren could respond, the distortion beside him suddenly sprinted forward.

"Miu—"

"Catch me if you can!"

Aren sighed under his breath.

"I really shouldn’t have accepted this commission..."

And chased right after her.