Gimme Leave 'Cause I Have to Get Married

Right after learning that my parting with Luna was approaching, I barged into the guild master's office with, "Approve my vacation right now, or I'll shit right here on the spot."

"······."

I woke up that morning and stormed straight into Han Do-jin's office to secure a long-term vacation approval. The moment Do-jin caught on that I'd come to work just to ask for leave, he scowled and said, "You handed in your resignation during the 24-hour lockdown, and now what crazy stunt are you pulling this time?"

"Uncle, why do you always make that face whenever you see me? It's seriously unpleasant, hmph!"

"······Because every time you come to me, you make some ridiculous demand. I can't help but frown. So, what is it this time?"

He sat down, arms crossed, willing to at least hear me out.

Stay calm. Gotta persuade this blue-eyed polar bear somehow.

I took a deep breath inwardly, then sauntered casually over to his side.

"Heh heh heh... Master—no, Uncle. Just raise one hand like this! Then slam the stamp on the paperwork! And boom, it's all done. Come on~ Don't make it hard on yourself, just stamp it already."

"······."

I grabbed Do-jin uncle's arm to force the stamp onto the paper, but—grip.

Ow, damn, check out these thick arms. Not budging an inch. Is this a person or a utility pole?

I strained with all my might, grunting away, but his arm didn't move even 1mm. He stared at me clinging to his side like a fool, then let out a sigh.

"Haa, cut it out already. You couldn't budge it with your strength anyway. I know you've been working out a bit lately, but it's nothing against me. Unless you picked up a sword or something."

"So if I threaten you with a sword, you'll stamp it?"

"······That's not what I meant, you idiot. And isn't 30 days of leave a bit too shameless, even for you? You're a newbie who hasn't even worked a full year yet."

"Vacation is a right equally granted to all! And I didn't just apply randomly! I'll explain each one step by step, so pay attention."

I connected the presentation I'd prepped at dawn to the beam projector and kicked off the briefing.

"Ahem. Commencing the [Yoon Si-hyeon 30-Day Vacation Approval Operation] PT. Everyone, eyes on the screen."

"Calling it an 'approval operation' from the get-go already smells like a flop," he snarked.

I ignored his jab and brought up the first slide.

"······What the hell is all this?"

Do-jin uncle furrowed his brow at the slide and shot me a look. Irritation was leaking out, but it didn't faze me.

Heh heh heh. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I've survived Catastrophe-grade, even Mengmang-grade killing intent. Uncle's vibe is just cute!

I flashed him a cheeky grin like it was nothing.

"Relax. I'll explain it step by step."

I pointed to each item from the top with the laser pointer and dove in.

"First, office worker annual leave—15 days. You know what that is, right? I'm using every last one."

"You forgetting you haven't even worked a full year? You do know the vacation rules, don't you?"

"Where else am I gonna work if not here? Let that slide nice and easy~~ Hehe."

Hm? Sounded like a vein popping on uncle's forehead. Nah, must be my imagination. Haha lol.

Do-jin uncle let out a deep sigh and muttered under his breath.

"That cheeky bastard... No matter how I think about it, I can't figure out why Ga-eun likes this guy. Must be the face, huh...?"

"Uncle, I wasn't done explaining—what're you saying?"

"······Nothing, kid. Keep going. I'm actually kinda curious now what wild reason you'll pull out next."

He cupped his chin with interlaced fingers and gestured for me to continue.

I steadied my breath and pressed on.

"Sick leave—7 days... You can see for yourself, right? Look at my neck and all these wounds. From the Collector."

"······True, tons of people died in the Collector's Netherworld. I was honestly shocked you survived with just those scars. Usually it's total annihilation or nothing."

Of course. Strictly speaking, these aren't from the 'Collector'—they're from saving Luna.

I just told him I got lucky and moved to the next.

"Violation compensation—3 days is kinda wordplay, but basically, gimme 'master's discretion leave.' You locked me in the guild for 24 hours last time! I signed a no-overtime contract, so compensate me!"

"So you're asking for 3 days as penalty for breaching the contract...?"

The air around uncle started warping—he was getting pissed. But I had the perfect counter.

If you think I came here with no ace up my sleeve, you're dead wrong, Master!

I pulled up a specific number on my phone and shoved it in his face.

—Flinch!

Uncle broke into a cold sweat at the number and stared at me. I grinned.

"If you don't give it, I'll call your wife and tattle that you're bullying me."

"Y-you, you... you little devil...!"

His hands trembled, sweat pouring, the second ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I mentioned his wife.

Heh heh heh, right on plan.

Ga-eun's mom adores me. Like, almost treats me like her own son.

— "Son~ It's fine to call me Mom, so when are you gonna do it? Oh, and you got a job at my hubby's guild? If anyone bullies you, tell this mom! Hehe."

Ga-eun's mom... no, Mom! Lemme borrow your name for a sec!

"Y-you're not seriously gonna call her, are you...?"

"Hmm~ Who knows? What to do?"

I hovered my finger over the call button to tease him.

"Just say 'master's discretion leave—3 days approved,' and today's our little secret. Heh heh heh."

"You little... Hoo. Fine, for now. Get that phone outta my face."

"Yessir~~!"

I pocketed the phone and put on my most innocent face, like nothing happened.

"Haa... Alright, I'll buy the first three reasons. But what about the last 'miscellaneous 5 days'? That better not be weird."

"Aww~ They were all legit, weren't they? This one's the same, no worries."

"I oughta shut that mouth... Fine, what is it?"

I turned to face him, beaming, with the screen at my back.

"Uncle, I gotta get married. Gimme 5 days congratulatory leave."

—Whoooosh.

"Ow... hurts like hell. B-but I got the vacation approved, so I win...!"

I rubbed the huge lump on my head as I headed back to the office. This glorious battle scar was from Do-jin uncle smacking me one.

He'd socked me the moment he heard my last line, then stamped the paperwork while grumbling.

He lectured ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me the whole time... but approval's approval.

— "I surrender to you pulling off a vacation PT with the most absurd reasons to the end. What the hell are you even planning with this long leave... Tsk tsk. Since I owe you one, I'll approve it special this time. But... don't tell Ga-eun's mom I hit you... Ahem."

Ow! Recalling it made my head throb more.

"Ugh... Already had a headache from weird memories flooding in last night, and now this lump... Might seriously tattle to your wife."

And nothing in that PT was a lie or exaggeration. From the 15 annual leave days to sick leave 7, master's discretion 3, and even the congratulatory—all pure truth.

"Can't register the marriage, but I still gotta marry her. With the pretty princess at my house."

— "Si-hyeon... Marry me...?"

Back when Luna hadn't regained her emotions yet, her golden eyes sparkling with interest at the topic of marriage. It was pretend play, but a promise is a promise. Gotta keep it before she heads to Selenum.

That's why I scraped together every ounce of soul for this vacation.

"Notification Window said the next full moon is when Luna leaves for Selenum. Proposing under the full moon? Romantic, and a perfect farewell gift."

Days until Luna leaves: about 30. Long if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠long, short if short.

I vowed to stick to her as much as possible in that time.

"So our princess can leave with a smile."

"What princess? Elissa says you're an otaku—is it true?"

"Ow! Hot damn! You scared me!!"

"Calling a girl like me 'hot damn'! You rude jerk!!"

A familiar voice suddenly from below. Looking down, there was the blue-eyed girl, Victoria, cheeks puffed, glaring up at me.

"You sneak up on me like that! You're already short and hard to spot, but have you gotten even smaller? Anyway, why're you here?"

Back at our first meeting in the training hall, her head reached my chest. Now she seemed even tinier.

"Hmph!! I don't owe you an explanation!"

"A~ Whatever. I'm outta here. Gotta finish handover and clock out ASAP."

"Ughhh... Um, h-hey...!"

"What? No obligation to tell me, right? Why call me back?"

Victoria fidgeted, twisting her body. Looked like she had something to say.

"I-it's just... you're the only one around right now to ask, so don't, don't get the wrong idea!"

What is this? Classic tsundere heroine line?

These types aren't popular anymore, y'know.

—Pat pat.

She shuffled closer with tiny steps, arms out toward me, mumbling softly.

"H-hug... me... p-please."

"What?"

"I s-said hug me...! D-don't make me say it twice...!"

Her cheeks flushed beet red, embarrassed even saying it.

"You like me or something? Too bad, I've already got a princess in my heart."

"Eeeek!! It's not like that...! I c-can't walk anymore... legs won't work...! Been wandering everywhere and I'm beat...! Just help till we find Elissa."

"Hm, explains why you're always in Elissa's arms... You can't walk long on your own, huh?"

"Yeah... S-so help me... You're the only one I know here...!"

She started sniffling, hating her own predicament.

Normally I'd help gladly, but not now. Reason: our house princess.

Luna sniffed out other girls' scents on me from just being near them. If I hug Victoria...}

Chills.

Just imagining it gave me goosebumps all over.

Like last night, she'll bite my neck to pin me down... then actually devour me for real.

And now Luna can feel and express emotions. If she catches a strange woman's scent in that state?

...That's crossing the Jordan for sure.

I sorted my thoughts quick and looked at Victoria.

"Ah, sorry, but I've got urgent business—gotta go first. I'll grab someone else downstairs to help, so just wait a bi—"

The second she heard that, tears streamed from her blue eyes, and she burst into sobs.

"Hic...! Y-you're abandoning me too...! I'm a knight... Why does everyone...! Sniff...! I hate it... Why do I keep shrinking...! My mental age keeps regressing too... I can't help crying like a kid...! Waaahhh!!"

No, fuck, why're you suddenly bawling?!

While Si-hyeon agonized over ditching Victoria or not, "Wh-when Si-hyeon gets back later... I'll wear this and s-seduce him...!" Luna clutched a white negligee-like dress, plotting her temptation strategy.