The Pun-Loving Demon King
Entity Name:Ambiguous Hairdresser
Estimated Management Rank:Massacre (Citrinitas) (Threat Level 4)
Affinity:Neutral
Current Status:Unknown
Upon confirming the existence of this new anomaly, our church deemed it a sign toward fulfilling our sacred mission. Accordingly, we identified it as the "Ambiguous Hairdresser," previously recorded on the deep web, and initiated a capture operation.
The anomaly's entrance was reported to have opened in the ruins near ■■ District, and our church immediately deployed 20 members as the advance team. We attempted to send follow-up personnel, but the entrance soon closed on its own.
All contact with the advance team was lost, and their survival status remains unconfirmed. Though their whereabouts are unknown, the church believes they made a noble sacrifice for our mission.
The operation manual being drafted inside was not recovered, leading us to conclude this operation as a failure.
"Welcome back."
As I stepped out of the salon, it was already night outside. I'd definitely gone in while the sun was still up. Since I was the last customer, quite a bit of time must have passed.
On my way back to the office, there was Lisa.
"Lisa? What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't sense your presence anymore, so I tried to follow you in."
But the salon door was locked. I thought it might open if I waited, so I stayed here, she added.
I'd told her I'd call her if things got dangerous... I shrugged.
Come to think of it, 'Entering an anomaly makes it so you can't sense my presence, huh.' It wasn't anything too strange. Anomalies varied, but the salon I'd just been in wasn't anywhere on Earth. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was in another dimension entirely. Just like how it's hard for someone on Earth to observe a person on Jupiter.
"Did everything go well?"
Lisa asked. Well...
"...Yeah, I think it did."
I know the Cute Girl Mod is only just getting started. It takes quite a while to fully apply. And since girlified monsters can sense my location, the hairdresser might come looking for me soon...?
...How long has it been since she turned Nao into a plump vampire cutie? And now another girl's been born.
......
"Lisa, I'm gonna make a quick call. Can you bring Ari and Taemi downstairs? Lock up the office too."
After asking her that, I called Nao.
"Hello, Yuri-unnie?"
"Sorry for the late call... You still putting off the stream?"
"I decided to take today off anyway! Need any help? Should I come over?"
"No need..., the anomaly's wrapped up for now. But can I crash at your place?"
I said. The office and my house are pretty far apart. Nao's place is closer. But that wasn't the only reason, of course. I have no idea how the hairdresser might show up... She could come looking while I'm asleep. So wouldn't it be reassuring to have a strong vampire like Nao by my side at night?
That's what I was thinking.
"Of course you can come! But how long? A year? Three?"
"...Huh?"
"The lease is up next year. If you're staying, unnie, should I renew it?"
"No, just a day or two..."
"Huh? Why so short?"
"......"
What the hell is she on about...? I unwittingly took a step back.
"It's your place... I can't stay long......?"
"It's between you and me, unnie? This is basically your house! No need to feel awkward!"
"......"
Is this the bond effect too? Maybe since her place got registered as my base, she sees it as my vacation home. And thinks of herself as the caretaker...
Scary... The Cute Girl Mod is seriously terrifying if you think about it.
"I'll just crash for one night for now..."
"Got it! I'll get things ready!"
After that, I spent the night at Nao's with Ari, Lisa, and Taemi. Nothing happened. Relieved, we headed to work as soon as it got light.
"Huh...?"
That's when the anomaly hit.
Our office is big with lots of rooms. Way too spacious for just three staff. It was probably meant for a big firm. No one else wanted to rent it cheap, so I did. A detective agency doesn't need multiple rooms anyway. Aside from the lobby, file room, storage, break room, and streaming room, most were empty.
But now, one empty room had a sign I didn't remember.
【SALON】
"......"
I grabbed passing Ari and pointed at the sign. She followed my finger.
"Ari, was this here?"
"Nope."
"...Right?"
Letting her go, Ari plopped on the sofa and turned on the TV. Flipping to a cooking channel to ogle tasty food.
No matter how I thought about it.
"...Must be the Ambiguous Hairdresser's doing."
I figured she'd show up somehow, but not like this. Sighing, I grabbed Ari's shoulder as she sat.
"Ari, come with me for a sec...?"
"......Okay."
Ari looked like she wanted to keep watching TV, but she stood anyway. Good girl, my Ari.
Since the hairdresser was all about answering questions right, Ari—who was good at that—might help more than Lisa.
With Ari beside me, I knocked on the salon door.
-Knock knock
...No response.
I thought there'd be some reaction...
'...Gotta go in again?'
Ugh, no way... Can't I just pretend I didn't see it?
Of course not. The Cute Girl Mod should've kicked in, so no reporting to the Foundation or Special Task Force. But leaving it like this felt off...
Guess I have no choice but to go in again. Sighing, I called Lisa, pocketed Taemi, and opened the door.
-Creeeak
The door opened with a hinge squeak, revealing the familiar salon interior in the room.
"We're not open for business right now."
A voice flew out the moment I opened it. A familiar voice. But the appearance was new. A maid.
A long straight-haired maid in a frilly long skirt, lace choker around the neck, headband on. Bangs a bit long. Not expressionless—more professionally detached as she looked at me. Scissors in hand.
"A familiar face. Thanks for coming again. Haircut?"
"No thanks..."
"I see. Then what brings you?"
"That's what I wanna ask you..."
I ducked slightly behind Ari, wary of the maid—or hairdresser?
From the voice, this maid seemed to be the Ambiguous Hairdresser. No idea why the maid outfit, though. The mod creator's taste...?
She didn't seem hostile. The Ambiguous Hairdresser isn't hostile to humans anyway. She just asks questions and acts on the answers. Her questions are kinda bullshit... ahem. Problematic questioning aside, she doesn't attack first, so safe for now.
"Why are you in our office...? No, why is there even a salon here......?"
Still, just in case she lunged, I asked cautiously from behind Ari.
"It seems you've become my owner. You've bound me somehow—is that right?"
"S-so...? A-any complaints......?"
"None. As long as I can cut hair, the rest doesn't matter."
The hairdresser replied. She really seemed indifferent. Emboldened by her vibe, I stepped out from behind Ari.
"...You don't hate me or anything? I turned you human...?"
"Humans need haircuts too. No reason to hate you over something so trivial."
"Trivial...?"
"But I'd like your permission."
"Permission...?"
"You're the owner of me and this shop. And for some reason, I feel like you should be my 'last customer.' So I've closed up for now. But to reopen, it seems I need your help."
And I want to keep operating, she added.
Ari's bond effect must still be active. I'd tricked the hairdresser into thinking I was the last customer for that day. But she seems to have taken it as "Mayuri is the salon’s final customer ever." An unbreakable truth to her...
'Hmm... She really only cares about haircuts.'
From talking, I got her personality. Zero interest in me. As long as she cuts hair, she's good.
Should chat more, but for now, fully bind her. And store her if needed.
"...I'm naming you now. You'll be completely mine."
"Fine. Do as you like."
"Ambiguous Hairdresser... Ambiguous Hair... Joomiyeong...? Joo Miyoung. Yeah, Joo Miyoung."
I named her. Miyoung tilted her head.
"I thought you'd name me Demon King."
"Huh? Demon King...? Outta nowhere."
"I'm a hairdresser. Mi () yong-sa."
She said it deadpan.
......
...What?
"Not funny? I thought it was."
"......"
"Since you're here, no haircut? Though the 'kim' here isn't steam."
"No."
"What a shame."
Miyoung said. We've got a weirdo in the office now. Maybe shove her in storage...