The Rookie's First After
Melon, the top-rated escort office in the neighborhood.
“Leon~ You got some time today?”
“I’m busy today, too. I don’t get to just take a break whenever I feel like it, unlike you lot.”
“Yuna, why do you always come hanging around the office?”
“Well, it’s not like I have anything else to do...”
“If that’s the case, go do some work. We’re always short on girls, and it’s driving me crazy.”
“Ugh, I don’t know~ I drank way too much last night.”
“You’re a heavy drinker, so stop acting like you’re constantly hungover. You foxy little thing.”
“Leon, you’re a good drinker too, aren’t you? Want me to help you build up your tolerance?”
“No thanks, I’ll pass... How many liters did we drink last time? Was it 5,000 liters?”
“That’s not even that much~ Who actually keeps track of how much they drink while they’re at it?”
“Aren’t you the abnormal one? Normal people at least remember a rough estimate. Are you trying to scam me with this act!?”
“I am not!! I wouldn’t scam you! That’s never happening.”
She denies it vehemently.
“Why not?”
“...Just because.”
“Haha! Even the waiters at the bar are terrified when they see you scamming customers. I’m scared too, seriously.”
“Really? I’m just working hard to help them clear their tabs, you know?”
Yuna suddenly starts acting cute.
“Here we go again. Stop with the aegyo. That’s not going to get your maiking debt reduced.”
“I’m going to pay it back!! I’ll take care of it without you nagging me, so don’t bring it up!!”
“Alright, alright. I’ll be waiting.”
Just then, the call phone rang.
Ring-a-ling!
“Usually they text the customer’s preferences... Must be an After.”
I don’t want to send our girls out as mere playthings.
But...
Business is business.
If they volunteer, they’re always welcome.
A voice comes through the phone.
“Looking for one person for an After. It’s a Dwarf customer, so it’ll be over quickly. Someone in their 20s would be great. The customer is very much a gentleman.”
“Hold on, let me ask the girls!”
I cover the microphone with my hand and start announcing it to the girls, who were looking at me with wide, sparkling eyes.
“Hey everyone! I’ve got an After opening, anyone want to go?”
“...”
The eyes that were sparkling just a moment ago suddenly lost their luster.
“Come on, really? Not even one person? You’ll definitely get the maid choice. It’s a Dwarf customer, so it’ll end early!”
“...”
Damn it.
What do I do?
Nobody?
If that’s the case, I have no choice but to───
“...Me.”
Someone answered.
The voice was so young and innocent that it made my heart ache a little.
“Who? Who said they’d go?”
“Me! I’ll go!”
“Hmm... who was that? I don’t recognize that face.”
“I’m ‘Line.’ I had my interview with the boss, and I haven’t been here long.”
Haven’t been here long, huh.
I don’t care about the old-timers selling their bodies, but whenever I see kids like this, it just tears me apart.
Still, I have to do my job.
“Oh! Right, our Line. Line, you go. You’re cute! Maid is a must! I’ll talk to the floor manager at the shop so you can get some tips, so just relax! Don’t be nervous, just do your thing. Got it?”
“Yes! Understood!”
This kid, I don’t think she’s ever done an After before...
Will she be okay?
To wash away my guilt, I light a cigarette and take a deep drag.
Sssss... Huff...
I put the phone back to my mouth and speak.
“Ah, sorry for the wait! One of them was in the bathroom, so it took a moment to confirm!”
“...So, are you coming?”
“Ah, yes! Of course! I’m sending one over now. Should take about five minutes!”
“Yes, thank you! See you soon!”
Click.
“Line, it’s all set, so just wait a moment.”
“Okay...”
I decided to check the texts first. The screen was filled with long messages looking for girls.
“Two Lizardfolk... those guys who only liked shirts are doing Public now?”
“Five people total... I guess there aren’t many customers today.”
In my experience, After services don’t have concepts like rejections or re-choices. Right now, the Public calls come first.
“Hey everyone! They’re looking for two and three people! It’s Public. Answer quickly, we don’t have time!”
They start murmuring. Then, they all speak up at once, sounding like a choir.
“Me!”
“I’ll go!”
“Oppa, you promised me earlier, right? That you’d give me the easy ones?”
A few of them are being demanding, but right now, the headcount is more important. Then, I hear a familiar voice.
“Me too!”
Yuna answered at the end.
“Didn’t you say you were taking the day off?”
“I need to make money~”
“Alright, alright, I get it. Let me organize this. Gain, Angel, Yuna, Jihye, Bomi, Lucy, Yurin. That’s seven in total, right?”
“Yes~”
They answer in harmony, like they’re playing a game of unison.
I immediately call the two shops I sent the texts to.
“Hello! I’m sending seven girls from Melon!”
“Oh my, the choice was so picky that the maid didn’t go through. As expected of the number one office in the neighborhood. When you come by, I’ll make you a cup of coffee before the choice happens.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ll visit as a customer when I’m free later. I’m just too busy right now!”
“Ah, yes, yes! Then I’ll give you plenty of service when you do! Go Melon!”
“Hahaha! Thanks!”
Click.
I hang up and immediately call the other shop. But I only hear that another box got there first and they were already chosen, and the line goes dead.
Is there somewhere they contact before Melon, the number one office in the neighborhood?
This place is a bust, tsk tsk.
I immediately take the girls, leave the office, and head to the pickup vehicle.
I start the engine, thinking about driving fast. In this other world, cars use Magic Stones instead of oil, so unlike reality, I don’t have to worry about fuel efficiency. Within the neighborhood, I can go as far as I want without any issues.
But...
I’m the manager of Melon, the number one office.
Those backwater hole-in-the-wall shops don’t even catch my eye. That’s why I intentionally only go to places with good traffic, yet there are always plenty of places looking for girls. Because our girls are young and pretty. Because they sell well.
While I’m lost in my own sense of superiority, I hear the girls whispering in the back.
“Unnie, that perfume smells great~ Where’s it from?”
“It’s a luxury brand, obviously~ A customer gave it to me as a gift, you know?”
“Is he a romantic creep?”
“No, just a pushover.”
They’re giggling and chatting among themselves, and if you listen to the content, it’s just trivial talk about how they hooked a sucker. Listening to their laughter, I arrive in front of the shop in no time.
“Everyone, get out and go for the choice! I’ll send Line off and be right back!”
“Yes~”
They get off one by one, leaving only Line and me in the car.
There was a brief silence, but I encourage her to suppress her anxiety.
“Line, this is your first After, right?”
“...Yes.”
“Nothing to worry about~ Dwarves get all fidgety even if you just play hard to get a little bit. If anything happens, I’ll be there in a flash, okay?”
“Yes, I understand.”
As I say that, I hand her a bracelet. It’s imbued with magic, allowing it to record everything within a 5-meter radius like a 360-degree camera. In reality, the boss just wants to make videos to sell, but I like to think of it as a way to keep an eye on the girls.
Maybe it’s because I’ve seen them work so much, but now, nothing really turns me on anymore. I don’t even remember the last time I jerked off. I’ve had my fill of women; I just want to make money.
“I’ll have a smoke, check if Line is doing okay, and then go pick up the others.”
Sssss... Huff...
The cigarette tastes sweet today. Is it my lucky day? It’s been a while since I’ve had one taste this good. Damn, it’s good.
I touch the display in the car.
Beep. Beep.
“Time to check on Line.”
[Inside the shop]
“Where are you from?”
“...Melon.”
“Ah, an After. It’s rare for someone this young to come.”
“Just... it was slow...”
“Melon is slow? Is business not doing well in the neighborhood?”
“Hehe... I’m a newbie, so I don’t really know.”
“A newbie!? Have you worked before?”
“No... I haven’t, but I’ll try my best...”
“Alright. The customer is in the room, so get ready for the choice. That’s the waiting room over there.”
“Okay...♡”
A moment later.
“I’ve changed my clothes...”
“Ah, yes, yes! Let’s go for the choice right away. Follow me!”
‘But what is this smell...?’
Knock knock.
“Excuse me, I’m here to show you the choice~”
“A friend this young came in? I hit the jackpot today~ Come here and sit.”
“Then I’ll report that the maid choice is complete~”
“Yes, yes~ Take this tip~ You don’t need to come in~”
“Oh my, thank you. Have a good time~!”
Click.
“My friend, how old are you?”
“I’m 24...”
“What’s your name?”
“It’s Line...”
“You look like a total rookie. Don’t be so nervous~”
“Okay...♡”
“Sniff, sniff. But what is this smell? Did they not clean this shop?”
“No... that’s my scent...”
“Eh? Line’s scent?”
“It’s been happening for a while now...”
“For a while?”
“My head feels hot... and my stomach feels heavy...”
“Did you catch a cold or something?”
“No... my body feels strange...”
“Can you work? Shouldn’t you go to a hospital?”
“No... I keep leaking water...♡”