The VIP Treatment
"Haven't had lunch yet, have you?"
"No... not yet."
"Then let's have something light to tide us over first."
By the time we arrived at the Trinity Gangnam branch, she had made a phone call somewhere, announcing our imminent arrival. I was curious who she was talking to, but my attention was quickly stolen by the sleek red luxury foreign car that pulled up to the main entrance, drawing every eye in the vicinity. A valet was already waiting. Without even parking properly, she simply turned off the engine, stepped out, and handed the smart key to the staff member. I followed her out in a daze and stood beside her.
She looked at me and said, "Your reactions are quite entertaining, Ung-ssi."
Well, of course. "This whole situation is... honestly a little unfamiliar to me."
"That's fine. I'm not criticizing you or anything. By the way, didn't you receive a bonus this time? Since Harpy was a Level 2 entity, you probably... got quite a bit."
She didn't name the exact amount, but held up two fingers and asked. It wasn't "probably"—that exact sum really had been deposited into my account.
"I did receive it, but... is that really the right amount?"
"Hm? Was it too little?"
Her counter-question completely exceeded my expectations.
"No! It was so much that I was shocked."
Too little? Absolutely not. Yet she calmly dismissed my doubt as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Everyone risks their lives doing this job. That much is only fair. The real money is in the bonuses, not the base salary. Other employees probably received similar performance-based payouts, don't you think?"
"Then what about the Field Team Leader—no, what about Yerin-ssi..."
"Don't you think directly asking how much someone earns is a little rude? Especially when you've only just learned my name."
"...Ah, I'm sorry."
My sense of money seemed to be breaking down.
"Well... I earn enough to spend comfortably. Let's head up. I want to change my shoes first."
"Huh? Oh, right."
She tapped the soles of her high-heeled ankle boots against the floor, as if they were uncomfortable, then walked inside with the ease of someone who had been here many times before. Once inside, she looked around as though searching for something—
Tap tap tap tap tap!
The sound of hurried footsteps striking the polished department store floor echoed through the space and reached my ears. Soon, a middle-aged man in a crisp suit with a staff name tag on his chest came rushing over. He wore the friendliest smile he could manage, though his hurried movements didn't quite match it.
"...My sincerest apologies for the late greeting. I am Jeong Gyeong-yeong, head of the VIP Customer Response Team at Trinity. Thank you for visiting our Trinity Gangnam branch, Ms. Seo Yerin."
Even after sprinting here in a single breath, he managed to deliver that long sentence smoothly without a single pause. It was clear he was a veteran.
"It's all right. We only just arrived ourselves. We'd like to stop by upstairs first..."
"Of course. I'll escort you directly to the members-only elevator. Is this gentleman accompanying you?"
"This is my first time bringing a companion, so I'm not sure if that's allowed. Is it okay?"
"Naturally, ma'am. As a Trinity-grade member, Ms. Seo Yerin is permitted to bring up to three additional guests into the VIP lounge, for a total of four people including yourself."
People were walking past us, so this should have been the department store I knew... yet I couldn't follow their conversation at all. What lounge? Were there special entry conditions? I hadn't even known such a place existed inside a department store.
"Follow me, Ung-ssi."
"...Yes."
Guided by the ever-polite team leader, we were led to a completely separate members-only elevator. I tried to act nonchalant, but I was genuinely flustered. Even though luxury brand sections were lined up throughout the store, I had thought their image had already seeped deep into ordinary citizens' daily lives. Yet here, in the same space, the difference was stark.
"We've prepared the Royal Seat for you. Shall I bring the shoes you've stored here first, and take your coat as well? I'll have it kept in the styler."
"Yes, please do."
She removed her leather jacket and settled comfortably into her seat. The area beside her was made entirely of glass, offering a panoramic view of the city below. Soft classical music played in the background, and the refined scent of high-end hotel perfume hung in the air, making me self-conscious about even breathing too loudly.
"..."
Since standing around would have been awkward, I carefully lowered myself onto the plush sofa across from her. Before long, another staff member appeared, as if swapping shifts with the one who had taken her coat.
"I'll prepare some refreshments for you."
Clink, clink.
The staff member's meticulous movements made it obvious they were trying their best not to make any noise. Even simply carrying tableware, their restrained posture and gaze were impeccable. I didn't know the details, but they had clearly received extensive training.
Swish, swish...
Soon, the staff member placed two long champagne flutes side by side on the table and retrieved an elegant bottle from the front pocket of their apron-like uniform. With practiced ease, they draped a white cloth over one hand, opened the cork, and poured while introducing the refreshments.
"This is Coopery Fleur Grand Cru Brut, a champagne made using traditional French methods. We've also prepared brioche, a traditional French bread, to accompany it."
I had assumed "refreshments" would mean cookies and coffee at best, or perhaps some high-end Japanese sweets. But what was this... Fleur... Grand Prix?
"Just enough to settle your stomach. If you get hungry later, we can go downstairs and eat properly."
"Ah... yes."
She smiled faintly at my still-dazed expression.
His reactions are seriously cute, especially for someone so tall and awkward...
I flinched.
"By the way, do you receive any special training, Yerin-ssi?"
"Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"
"...I just remembered how cool you looked back at the hotel."
"Cool?"
At first she looked confused, but once she realized I was referring to the day we went out with Harpy, she let out a small laugh. It was the moment she had drawn a pistol and looked like she had stepped straight out of an infiltration action movie.
"Pfft... It's part of the basic employee training. Since you were scouted, you didn't have to go through that process, but everyone who joins receives some foundational training. As a team leader, I had it a bit rougher."
"You must have worked hard. By the way, how did you find me? I don't think I've done anything that would reveal my abilities..."
I had been wondering about that for a while. I didn't go out much, and my life consisted only of commuting between my part-time job and my studio apartment. Yet the letter in my mailbox had contained precise details about my ability. I had considered asking the team leader, but for some reason I was reluctant to question someone wearing a clown mask. Besides, I wasn't sure she would give me a straight answer anyway.
Instead of answering directly, she offered a name that matched my expectations.
"It was probably the Observer."
"The Observer...?"
"Didn't you meet her during the Level 4 disturbance? The one with long white hair..."
"Ah, the one who was said to be the Founder's younger sister..."
"Yes. There were various reasons behind it. It's difficult to discuss further outside, so let's stop talking about work now."
"...Understood."
She seemed willing to answer, but her tone suggested it wasn't appropriate here. I decided not to press her further and made a mental note to ask again later. What I really wanted to know most was about the Management Team Leader, but given that she always wore a mask, it probably wasn't wise to pry.
My stomach was starting to feel a bit empty too... Watching her sip the champagne with the long French name, I took a bite of the bread.
"Mm?"
...Even the bread tasted incredible. The flavor was so rich that I wondered if what I'd been eating until now could even be called bread. Or perhaps it was the deep aroma of the perfectly paired champagne that made it seem that way.
"...I've brought them. You can leave your shoes and belongings here on the seats as you like."
"Yes, thank you."
While we were talking, the team leader had returned with her coat stored and a pair of shoes carefully held in both hands. The design was similar to what she was wearing, but the heels were noticeably lower. She thanked him and gestured that he could leave, but his next professional report made her freeze.
"Since it's the weekend, we weren't able to prepare in advance... but I'll have it brought over right away."
Pfft...!
"Are you all right?"
"Cough, cough! Ah, I'm fine...! That one's fine for today too. You may go now."
That...? Prepared...? Brought over...?
"...?"
Her phrasing had already sounded suspicious, but her violent reaction only made it more puzzling. Thanks to her quick reflexes, none of the Fleur-whatever champagne splashed onto my face, but she kept coughing and patting her chest. When I handed her a napkin from the table, she thanked me... but both of her cheeks were flushed bright red.
She glanced at me, noticed my gaze, and turned even redder. Avoiding my questioning eyes, she fanned her face with her hand and tried to steer the conversation away.
"Ugh... It's about the porter. Anyway, today Ung-ssi is taking on that role."
Only now did I remember. She had asked me at the beginning to help carry things while shopping. It seemed that when she came alone, they prepared someone here for her... Was that really enough to make her this flustered?