The Uninvited Guest
"Can I call you Oppa?"
"Wait... what are you talking about?"
"You know. Ever since I met you, everything I’ve built has fallen apart. And it happened in just one day. Doesn't that seem strange to you?"
"..."
"It’s like I’ve been cursed. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life."
"A curse, huh..."
Line muttered to herself, her voice barely audible.
Seeing her like that, my anger flared to the breaking point.
I snapped at her.
"When was your private interview with the owner of Melon? As the manager, there's no way I wouldn't have known about that."
"..."
"Are you not going to answer!? You keep acting like a child, keeping your mouth shut────"
"That kind of thing."
"What?"
"That kind of thing, you don't need to know."
Her aura felt different somehow.
Her voice was in a much lower register than usual.
I was slightly taken aback, but I didn't stop.
"Line...?"
"Yes, Manager?"
She offered an awkward smile as she replied.
That smile didn't seem natural at all.
I opened my mouth, almost as if I were defending myself.
"Who... are you? What is your true identity!?"
"I'm Line! Have you already forgotten~? Even though we only met yesterday... hehe."
She was the same old Line.
I must have been so shocked that I started hallucinating.
"Th-that's right, isn't it? We only met yesterday, so I just didn't know you that well, right?"
"Yes, that's right! I'm the Line that the Manager likes~ I'm the person you'll be living with from now on!!"
She answered affectionately, but I felt an inexplicable sense of dread.
She was being kind, offering me her favor.
"Manager~ shall I wash you? You collapsed last night without being able to wash up~"
"Oh, I suppose I did... I appreciate the thought, but I'll wash myself."
"Then I'll go do some cleaning...?"
"Yeah, do whatever makes you comfortable."
I finished undressing and practically fled into the bathroom.
The vanity mirror stared back at me.
And inside it, my own haggard reflection looked back.
"Is this the face I used to talk to Yuna? My dark circles are going to reach my chin at this rate..."
To clear my head, I turned on the shower.
"Ah, hot!"
I’d turned it on without thinking, and the lever was pushed all the way to the left.
I cranked it to the right and started a cold shower.
Whoosh.
"Taking a cold shower... it feels like I'm finally calming down."
Seeing the blood rush to my skin gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.
I finished my shower, wrapped a towel around my head, and walked out without a second thought.
Creak.
"Manager, it's lunchtime now~ Do you want to do it already? I'm ready, though...♡"
"Huh?"
Ah, right. Line was here.
But I didn't really have any thoughts on it, so I walked out confidently.
"I'm in the mood, but let's do it in the evening. In the evening."
"Okay...♡"
It looks like I won't have to worry about relieving my sexual urges every night.
Since she's volunteering to give it up...
That's fine by me.
"Line, aren't you hungry?"
"I'm fine... what about you, Manager?"
"I was thinking of going out to grab a bite."
"Then I'll go too!"
In truth, I wasn't hungry.
I just made up an excuse to buy her a meal.
"Is there anything you want to eat?"
"I haven't been in this neighborhood long, so... whatever you want to eat!"
"Alright, let's go get something good. There's a great spot near the house."
"Yes, I'd love that!"
"And you don't have to call me 'Manager.' I'm not the manager anymore."
"Then what should I call you? Oppa? Mister? Or... Honey?"
"Pfft!"
Her joke, which didn't sound like a joke at all, caught me off guard, and I couldn't hold back my laughter.
"Forget it, just call me Leon."
"I don't want to."
"Huh?"
"Leon is just a stage name. I want to know your real name!"
"In this place, that is my real name."
I told her the truth, but she just gave me a confused look.
"It's a name I ended up with, but anyway."
"Okay, Leon Oppa!"
"By the way, what's your real name? I told you mine."
"..."
She hesitated for a moment.
"Is Line your real name, too?"
"Yes..."
"Hmm."
I wasn't particularly thrilled, but since the other girls hadn't told me theirs either, I didn't press her further.
I was about to take her out, but her trench coat outfit was bothering me.
"By the way... don't you have any other clothes?"
"No..."
"Wait a second..."
I pulled a pair of gray sweatpants out of the closet.
"I'm not sure if they'll fit, but wear these for now."
She stripped off her clothes right in front of me and changed.
Watching her breasts bounce was cute.
It was a turn-on.
Fuck, it was incredibly hot.
My pants were bulging, but I spoke as calmly as I could.
"Hmm, they look a bit loose, but it's fine. Let's go."
"Yes!"
We left the house and got into the apartment elevator.
Silence filled the cramped space between us.
But she was the one to break the silence.
"Manager... no, Leon Oppa."
"What."
"Can I hold your hand?"
"Sure."
"Then can I link arms with you?"
"... Sure."
As soon as I gave her permission, Line linked her arm with mine.
The fact that she smelled like the same shampoo as me gave me a strange feeling.
[First floor.]
The doors slid open.
And I saw a girl standing there.
"Manager from Melon, did you have a girlfriend!?"
"She's not exactly a girlfriend───"
"We're living together!"
That's technically true, but... I wasn't asking you.
"Wow! I never knew! I thought you were single."
"... But who are you again? Your face looks familiar, but..."
"I'm 'Gaeul' from Candy!"
"Oh, oh... Gaeul? How's it going lately? Busy?"
Honestly, I couldn't care less, but I asked to get a read on the industry.
"We seem to be getting busier, but what about Melon? You guys are always doing so well!"
"Melon? I don't know about that..."
"Huh?"
She looked confused by my cold reaction.
"Is there a problem at Melon? You worked so hard there."
"Hmm... if you want to call it a problem, sure."
I paused for a moment before continuing.
"I got fired yesterday."
"What!?"
"I have some savings for now... but I need to look for a job. Do you know anywhere hiring?"
I tried asking for a favor, even though it was a bit much.
"Hmm... nothing right now, but I'll let you know if something comes up!"
"Yeah, sure. Let me know!"
Fucking bitch.
She doesn't even have my phone number.
I finished the conversation and tried to leave the apartment building.
But then I heard Gaeul calling out from behind.
"Oh, hey!"
"What?"
"Isn't it a bit hot?"
"It's almost summer, so of course it's hot."
"That's not it..."
"What."
"It's nothing!"
Then Line, who was next to me, urged me on.
"Oppa, let's go eat something good! Hurry!"
"I was planning to, don't rush me."
I headed straight for a sushi place near the house.
[Manhae Feast]
"This is it. The place I told you about. Sushi is fine for a first meal, right?"
"Of course! I love sushi, hehe..."
"The interesting thing about this place is that they don't just have seafood sushi~ You're in for a treat!"
I opened the door and walked in.
"Welcome~ The detailed menu is at your seat~"
"Boss, hello! Are there any special menus today?"
"Unfortunately, we're out of ingredients for today..."
"Already? It's only lunchtime."
At my question, the owner gestured for me to come closer and whispered in my ear.
"Instead, just for you, I'll give you some special sushi made with dry-aged Iron-Horn Beef. You have to impress your girlfriend, right~?"
Iron-Horn Beef, huh...
It's common meat, but it should be expensive if it's aged.
"You're not going to charge me for this, right...?"
"Oh, of course not! I don't think about the money when I run this business~"
People like this are usually the most money-hungry...
It's an occupational hazard, but I can't help but be suspicious.
"Then give us two assorted sets."
"Yes, yes~ Sit wherever you'd like~ I'll have it ready in a jiffy!"
Line and I sat at the far end of the sushi bar.
Line asked out of curiosity.
"What were you talking about?"
"Nothing important. Just small talk."
"Really? Hehe. Oppa, let me pour your water!"
She smiled brightly and poured water into my cup.
It felt good to be treated like a customer at an establishment.
Thud. Thud.
Just then, a heavy sound came from the door.
I looked over and saw a man wearing white armor.
"Oh my! Sir Guardsman, you've arrived!"
"Skip the pleasantries. What's your best seller?"
"The assorted set is our best seller~ It's highly rated by our customers~"
"Then give me three of those."
"Three? That might be too much for one person..."
"Three. Three it is."
"Yes! Please wait a moment, I'll have it ready shortly!"
What an arrogant prick.
I'd run into the guardsmen as customers a few times before, and they were known in the industry as absolute nightmares.
"To think that trash is protecting the country. Unbelievable. Living in luxury on taxpayer money."
I muttered to myself, but it seemed my voice had clearly reached his ears.
"What did you just say?"
"I didn't say anyth───"
"Insulting a guardsman is a crime. Doing it to his face is an even greater one."
"Leon Oppa didn't say anything!"
Line stepped in to shield me.
"Hmm... I'll let it slide this time. However..."
He forgave me, but he didn't stop talking.
"What race is the girl over there? She doesn't look like a pure-blooded human, like you."
I hadn't thought deeply about Line, so I was curious myself.
But...
"Line, why are you wearing cosplay horns? You're going to make people misunderstand~"
"..."
Line kept her mouth shut tight.
"If that isn't the truth, you'd better be prepared."