Hold Back, My Inner Cute Girl

"Excuse me. Mind if we chat for a bit?"

I'd gotten on the wrong bus, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and now some guy kept asking for my number. I should just take a taxi from now on. That was my thought—until yet another person struck up a conversation. With me. Not Lisa.

"Me?"

"Yes. I was hoping to talk with you."

Ugh, this is exactly why being cute is a problem. They just won't leave a bishoujo alone. Sure, it felt nice that he recognized my cuteness, but? I wasn't even interested in dating? I had no time or energy for romance? So there was no need to spread my adorableness far and wide.

Public transport was gonna be tough from here on out. Dealing with chatty strangers every ride sounded exhausting. Once I saved up, I'd buy a car.

"We're looking for a child model. Any interest?"

……Huh?

"…Children's clothes?"

"Yes. Oh, excuse me—are you her guardian?" he asked, glancing at Lisa.

……Should I blast him away? Unleash a "bishoujo punch"? Turn this jerk into a bishoujo???

Hold back, my inner cute girl.

"You sure this place is okay?"

The real estate agent eyed me skeptically. I nodded.

"Yeah, I want to sign the lease as is."

"Well, it's got plenty of rooms and cheap rent. If you ignore the rumors, it's a steal."

And just like that, we signed the contract. I even hired contractors for remodeling. Lisa and I had to check on progress at the Mukheon Building several times.

"One Americano and honey bread. And your amangju with mango bingsu."

Right now, we were at a café. The day we'd first visited the agent, we'd stopped by on the way back. To indulge Lisa's wish to scope out couple hotspots… we'd been hitting cafés every outing since.

Finding actual couples was harder than expected, though. More students and middle-aged folks around…

Musing on that, I took a sip of my Americano.

"Ack, bitter…"

I grimaced. I'd forgotten—I couldn't handle Americanos anymore…

"Not to your taste? Want to swap with mine?"

"You sure…?"

"I've had Americano before. It was pretty good."

"Then I'll take it," Lisa said, smoothly swiping my half-drunk cup. In its place came her amangju.

Sighing, I sipped through the straw. Sweet. The tangy iced tea flavor mixed with mango sweetness on my tongue.

…Tasty.

I dug into the honey bread too. It'd been over a month since I'd become the universe's cutest girl. I'd noticed changes—like my taste buds shifting big time. Bitter flavors hit way harder now, so Americanos were off-limits. Used to chug them daily.

But Instagram-pretty desserts? Delicious. Yogurt ice cream, parfaits, crepes, you name it… That's why I'd ordered the honey bread, which wasn't my usual.

Tastes good, so whatever.

Probably my looks' fault. I didn't exactly scream "barley rice and radish kimchi." Even I thought cute, aesthetic sweets suited my appearance better. Tteokbokki cravings hit sometimes too. But gukbap, pork cutlets, spicy pork stir-fry? Still hit the spot. Pork soup and bishoujo go together great, right? Tonight's dinner: pork gukbap it is.

"Mayuri, that room didn't feel ordinary."

Lisa took a sip of Americano and spoke up.

"Could a Muksi Saengmyeongche be inhabiting it?"

"…Too many ears around. Don't use that word."

I set down my amangju. Muksi Saengmyeongche—the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠game's term for monsters. Industry slang, best avoided in public.

"Like Lisa said, yeah… it's got a monster. The office is the monster."

"A monster that wrecks human bodies. Not a good one."

"…You believe me?"

"Huh? It's you who said it, Mayuri."

Lisa blinked, like what kind of question is that?

Normally, people'd ask how do you know that? first, right? This info was game-only knowledge—me as a player. Not even the Foundation, Special Task Force, or church knew.

Ari and Lisa never questioned the "why"…

Because they're not human? Is that a monster thing…?

Fast on the uptake was nice, but…

"So how do we fix it?"

"Not fixing it…"

"Huh?"

"Just gotta be careful… it's that kind of monster."

Punishes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slacking off at work. Penalties can be harsh, but once you know what it is, not scary. Super controllable too.

Set work rules your way, problem solved. And the funniest part?

…Gotta get sick sometimes.

Some game monsters require you to be ill to resolve. "Work Negligence Prohibition" was perfect—easy to catch something deliberately, easy to control.

"Got it. But don't push yourself too hard."

Lisa said.

"…Can't summon, store, or get Bond Effects, huh."

Unless I bishoujo-fied it, totally useless… No wonder it's the Cute Girl Mod.

Anyway, despite everything, remodeling finished smoothly.

"Finally employed—as a self-employed boss!"

King of the Unemployed, done! Self-employment arc, start!

My tiny Ari? Employee starting today!

Swordmaster Lisa? Employee starting today!

Thrilled at boosting youth employment rates. Business registration… later!

"…Gotta apply soon."

I muttered. Why delay? Needed to report the business location too…

Mostly, I wanted Lee Kang-un's help. Why'd I dive into the One Person Factory mess? To save him.

In-game, he was a stand-up NPC. Rescue him, and he'd hook you up big time. Special Task Force vet with pull.

His help would smooth registration. But he was still hospitalized…

Should be recovering by now. Time to visit.

"Ari, Lisa. Let's head out quick."

I called them. Ari even emerged from her blanket. Felt better after three days, came out on her own.

…Way too easygoing. Kinda worrying. Bribe with food, and she'd follow strangers…?

Even so, having her around was reassuring. Monster-popping world. If push came to shove, Ari and Lisa'd protect me.

With that, I stepped outside toward his ward.

"Hell yeah! Congrats on opening shop!"

…Nope. Ran into a monster en route.

A mannequin doll monster.

"Need help? Registered your business? I can assist!"

……That's what it said. Never expected a monster encounter right outside the office…