The Ambiguous Hairdresser's First Customer
* This entity is fully conquered.
* You can summon this entity at any time.
* You have bound this entity by giving it a name.
* Through your bond with the entity, you can borrow its power and draw out its potential.
You can request the 'Ambiguous Hairdresser' to install a one-time door leading to the salon at your desired location once per day.
Peace had settled over the office.
"Sis, friend fee!"
Nao, who had come over to play again today, beamed at me and held out four 50,000-won bills.
I'd gotten somewhat used to it by now, but I still couldn't help making a dumbfounded face.
"Nao... you don't have to keep giving me money like this, you know?"
"It's fine, it's fine~. I'm making money, after all."
"But your place is on a jeonse lease, right? You should save up to buy a house someday, and prepare for retirement later..."
"Retirement? I'm a vampire."
Nao tilted her head like she had no idea what I was talking about.
Come to think of it, yeah. She was immortal, so no need for retirement...
Even after turning into a human beauty, she still retained a lot of her vampire traits. Just the other day, she'd gotten a paper cut, and it healed right on the spot.
...Still, taking allowance from someone younger feels kinda off.
If it were from Ari or Lisa, I'd be purely thrilled.
After all, I was the one supporting them day-to-day. If Ari brought in money after I fed and housed her, I'd probably burst into tears on the spot.
But getting cash from Nao felt like I was extorting her... it made me uncomfortable.
"...Nao, help me out with some work later."
I settled on saying that.
There were quite a few anomalies like the 'Carnival Chef' that could rake in serious cash. High-paying ones, at that.
The catch was their difficulty matched the payout, but now my allies had multiplied big time.
Having to leave the office empty for about two weeks was a minor issue, but it felt like time to tackle one.
More than anything, Nao kept handing over tribute money, and it was weighing on me... I needed to let her earn some properly.
'Ambiguous Hairdresser' has exterminated a Muksi Saengmyeongche.
'Virgin Ghost' has been added to the compendium!
"...Huh?"
What was this? Some weird alert popped up, and I found myself standing without thinking.
"Sis?"
"I'll pop into the salon for a sec. Something weird must've happened..."
I excused myself from Nao and headed over.
The door still had the "Salon" sign hanging on it. When I opened it...
...Miyeong was there, covered in blood.
"Eek...!"
"Welcome, miss. Here for a haircut?"
Of course, she meant hair. I shook my head at her added clarification and stepped inside.
Miyeong held a severed head in her hand, blood gushing from the neck and soaking the floor.
"W-what is that...?"
"A customer. She said she wanted a haircut, so I gave her one."
Miyeong said that casually as she cleared away the woman's body.
...Not a human corpse, though. A ghost's.
...Ghosts having corpses was pretty wild, but whatever.
Miyeong went into the back of the salon, changed into clean clothes, and came out.
"What brings you here, miss?"
"...Just call me by name, okay?"
The maid outfit made "miss" fit perfectly, but...
...it was kinda embarrassing to hear.
But Miyeong showed zero intention of changing it. She had this weird stubborn streak.
"That was a ghost, right...? Why was a ghost in the salon...?"
"As I said, a customer. Our commemorative first patron since reopening the shop."
Miyeong explained.
It had been a few days since the salon appeared in our office.
I'd considered shoving her in the inventory at first, but decided to keep an eye on her for a bit.
It had its benefits for me, after all.
Though we did need some negotiations.
-"I want to keep running the salon."
-"How could I say no?"
The 'Ambiguous Hairdresser''s salon seemed to have entrances popping up all over the world.
Meaning people in Seoul, Busan, or even New York could walk in.
-"...No."
-"You can't harm people..."
I'd opposed her running the salon.
No more humans dying by her hands.
Not out of overflowing humanity on my part.
...If she kept killing people, the fallout would hit me too.
The Special Task Force and Foundation didn't seem to know about the 'Ambiguous Hairdresser' yet.
But the cult definitely did.
And they might be tracking her right now.
Plus, she'd changed a ton—now a total beauty.
...If the cult saw her like this, I could end up their target.
So I'd ordered her: "Never serve humans."
-"Understood."
-"I'll only serve Muksi Saengmyeongche from now on."
And boom, Virgin Ghost customer.
"...Didn't expect ghosts to come to the salon."
"Muksi Saengmyeongche have dropped by as customers now and then. Not often, though."
Apparently.
...Huh, neat.
And bonus: monsters defeated by the girls got added to my compendium, even if I wasn't there.
...Not quite auto-farming, but close.
Didn't know the base had a monster auto-hunt feature.
This a horror game?
Still, growing the compendium wasn't bad.
Auto-hunt efficiency looked meh, though.
Monsters only came occasionally, per Miyeong.
Maybe once or twice every three months? If I spread bases everywhere, could the compendium explode?
"Anyway, glad it's nothing serious... I'm heading back."
"Since you're here, how about an eyebrow tidy-up? Though the 'kim' I mean isn't steam."
As I turned to leave, Miyeong said that.
I nodded and sat down.
She pulled out makeup tools and neatened my brows.
Even applied lip balm to my dry lips.
Felt like having a personal coordinator.
That's why I couldn't inventory her.
She lacked flexibility, but her skills were top-notch...
"Then, miss, I'll await your next visit."
Of course, she meant salon visit, not door-visit.
She politely opened the door for me.
I returned to the office with an unreadable expression.
Interactions with Miyeong were like this.
Ari and Lisa felt like family, living together.
Miyeong was like the neighbor next door.
Ignore her most days, no issues.
Crave a facial? Swing by the salon.
She didn't seem eager to leave anyway, so no real upkeep needed.
...But what about her when I return to my original world?
Leave the office to Ari and Lisa.
Nao lived fine alone before.
Taemi... Lisa might handle her?
Then what for Miyeong?
Leave her be? She's a skilled stylist as long as she doesn't decapitate people—maybe train her and get her a salon job...?
...Dunno.
Cross that bridge when I get there.
No way I'm stuck playing maid to these girls forever.
A few more days passed like that.
Ongoing peace.
I glanced up and saw Nao teaching Ari how to stream.
"So, press this, and the broadcast screen changes. Easy, right?"
"Yeah."
"Wanna try?"
Ari was taking it seriously now, ears perked on Nao's lesson. Maybe planning pro mukbangs.
Good to see her picking up a skill. I was touched.
Her recent mukbang vids were getting decent reactions.
Though her zero-reaction style felt a bit stale. Prone to mannerisms—might need a revamp later.
Leave it to Nao; she'd handle it.
We were getting side income from Ari's mukbangs and Nao's allowance, but...
"...Time to take a commission."
Nao's job hadn't paid much. Minor stuff to begin with.
Plus, buying her blood packs afterward ate into profits.
Not much left.
And 'Ambiguous Hairdresser' brought zero income.
We hadn't told anyone we solved it.
...No need to advertise that Liriri Detective Agency cleared a cult-tracked anomaly.
Wondering where to find a client.
-♪♬
Then my phone buzzed.
Text? I closed my mobile game and checked.
"...Hmm."
"What's up, Mayuri? A commission?"
Lisa, cleaning the windowsill, must've heard my mutter.
"Nah... not a commission."
I shook my head.
You saved my life during the 'Moon's Fall' and 'Fox Possession' incidents, and I mentioned wanting to repay you. Sorry for the delay—I've been tied up with checkups and work. Now on vacation, so finally reaching out.
I've booked a restaurant to repay that debt. Let's discuss details; please call when you see this. Thank you.
"AI, register this number as 'Sardine'."
"...Sardine's too harsh. Make it Ryu Harin (Sardine)."