The Idol of Carpe Diem

If I was going to buy a tie for Carpe Diem's idol, it only made sense to get an expensive one. With that thought, I stepped into a luxury boutique. The place was called "Louis-Goodi" or something like that—probably a mashup of two real luxury brands. The author's naming sense was something else.

"Damn, this stuff is expensive."

The moment I walked in, classical music that felt completely out of place in a noir setting started playing. I didn't know much about classical music, so I couldn't name the piece, but it was oddly calming. The price tags, however, were anything but calming. Who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the hell charges three million won for a single tie?

"I bust my ass fighting every day just to make money, but even so, this is ridiculous..."

Maybe I should just leave. It's not like the tie itself matters, right?

"No. If I'm going to surprise her, it has to be something like this."

I'd show her the price tag without removing it. That way she'd get properly shocked. Eris, who thought five-thousand-five-hundred-won pork soup was expensive, would definitely have a reaction worth seeing.

"Oh my, are you looking for something in particular?"

While I was browsing the tie section, a woman approached and spoke to me. For a second, I thought I was dreaming—she was that beautiful. How could someone like this even exist?

She had voluminous, wavy golden hair. The right side was swept back, but the left fell over one eye, giving her a seductive air. The exposed right eye looked like a sapphire had been set into it. The combination of her bright, rounded eye shape and sparkling blue irises somehow felt cute as well. Her swept-back hair was tied with a butterfly-shaped red ribbon, adding another layer of cuteness. She wore a pristine white sailor uniform with a pink necktie, which gave her a youthful look, yet around her neck hung a red choker with a golden cross that contrasted with her smooth collarbones and lent her an alluring charm. In one hand she held a large folding fan, waving it with an air of elegance.

A woman who possessed cuteness, seductiveness, and elegance all at once—how unreal could one person be?

And usually, when someone was unrealistically beautiful like this, the world's rules meant...

...I almost screamed out loud.

Carpe Diem was Carpe Diem, but what did "idol" mean inside the organization? I carefully examined the details.

—Wait, so this woman is Carpe Diem's boss? Something felt off. As far as I knew, Carpe Diem's boss was named Luzfail Psychorman, and she didn't look like this. Luzfail had a more boss-like image, with gray hair and eyes. Plus, she was called Big Mother—fitting the name, she was mature and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠voluptuous despite her beauty. At the very least, she was a completely different person from the woman in front of me.

Just who the hell was this?

I couldn't tell, but she was dangerous, so I'd play it natural. Acting like I noticed something would only make things worse.

"Ah, yes. I'm just looking at ties."

"Is it for your own use?"

"No, it's for a child."

"Oh! Is it for your daughter? Or perhaps a niece?"

I'm seventeen. Having a daughter would be a disaster.

"My niece. She's very cute."

Half-truth, half-lie. That should do.

"My, a kind uncle buying a tie for his niece. How sweet."

"Haha, it's nothing. By the way, are you an employee here?"

"No? Do I look like an employee while wearing a school uniform?"

Of course I knew she wasn't. I was just hoping she'd get the hint and leave before I died of fear.

"If you're not an employee, why did you suddenly speak to me...?"

"I love luxury goods and buy a lot from this store. I thought I might be able to help."

I see. She seemed surprisingly normal. The Carpe Diem guys who kept trying to take over our PC bang all looked like total lunatics. This person actually gave off a sense of class.

I didn't know the details, but she was definitely a man who had killed a girl and stolen her body. Yet she didn't feel like that at all. Instead, she radiated dignity.

Namgung Cho-pung's untouchable aura as the Murim Alliance leader? Han Se-hee's stiff, cold image as an Esper Hunter? Even men could pull those off. Those two were just women on the outside but basically men inside.

But this woman was different. Every gesture and word made her feel like a true noble young lady. Could she really just be an "idol" in the literal sense? The description said it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠didn't mean a popular singer, though...

"Ah, I may be wearing a uniform, but I'm twenty. I couldn't attend school for a year due to circumstances."

Come to think of it, Siz had mentioned that the bosses of the major organizations all possessed overwhelming combat power.

"My name is Irina. Please call me Irina."

Then I just needed to check the combat power of the woman in front of me—the one who called herself Irina. One of the three major syndicate bosses. How strong would she be?

I checked with bated breath.

Fifty? Was she joking?

Fifty wasn't low by any means. Average combat power for ordinary women who didn't exercise at all was around five, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and Eris had scored two. But for the boss of a major syndicate, it was absurdly low.

What the hell was going on? This woman was incomprehensible from head to toe.

"Why are you telling me your age and name when I didn't ask?"

"Isn't it proper etiquette to introduce yourself when meeting someone for the first time? Won't you tell me as well, kind uncle?"

"Woo Hyun-woo. Seventeen years old. I don't go to school."

"Oh my, I'm the older one? I'm sorry. You looked so strong that I thought you were younger than me."

Well, she didn't seem that dangerous. I still didn't know her identity, but her combat power was only fifty. Carpe Diem had plenty of non-combat members, so it wasn't strange for someone like her to exist.

"Young lady, the banquet is about to begin."

Even if it wasn't strange, it was still terrifying. Just then, a man approached while saying something I was actually glad to hear.

Just how important was Irina that a title like "Irina's Butler" even existed? With a combat power of 550—twice mine—I definitely shouldn't act cocky. I needed to get her to leave quickly.

"A banquet, huh. You must be quite busy, Miss Irina. You can help me another time. Why don't you head out for today?"

I thought that was a pretty fitting response for a noble young lady. Or maybe not.

"Oh my, I'm not that busy. I'm the star of the banquet, so they'll forgive me even if I'm late. I have plenty of time to pick out one tie. Isn't that right, Sebastian?"

"Indeed. Still, please make it as quick as possible. There will be fantastic food and strong gentlemen gathered today as well."

With that, Sebastian went outside to prepare the car. Irina glanced at the children's ties and immediately picked one out.

Oh? This one was pretty good. The material felt nice, and at two-and-a-half million won it was cheaper than the others I'd seen. It was a short tie that would reach Eris's solar plexus if she wore it. Red in color.

"This is the tie that wealthy children these days want the most. Children can't appreciate the value even if you buy them something more expensive, so it's best to get them the most famous item."

"I see... Thank you."

"You're welcome. Well then, I'll be on my way. I hope we meet again, Mr. Woo Hyun-woo."

—I hope Eris likes the tie.

"...What?"

For a moment I thought I'd misheard. But Irina walked toward the entrance without answering.

I'd never told Irina Eris's name.

"W-wait! How do you know Eris?"

The moment I took a step forward while saying that, I couldn't move anymore. Scope lasers were covering my entire body.

"......"

Silence fell. No warning was spoken, but the countless scope lasers were a silent threat all the same.

Don't move.

The lasers only disappeared after Irina had completely left the store. I hadn't been able to move until then.

"Hoo..."

I let out a sigh of relief. As expected from an organization that prided itself on technology, Carpe Diem had no qualms about using guns. They might actually be the hardest to deal with compared to the other syndicates.

Having to take revenge on an organization like that... I wasn't sure if it was even possible. As long as I couldn't dodge bullets, I probably shouldn't mess with them. We didn't have the money or authority to buy guns anyway.

But just because we didn't strike first, did that guarantee our safety?

The doubt crept in. The fact that Irina knew Eris meant she'd approached me already knowing everything. Yet I had no idea why.

"...Was it a warning not to crawl up without knowing my place?"

At that moment, as if in affirmation, the lights flickered once. The entire store went dark for an instant before brightening again.

Carpe Diem shouldn't have much influence in the southern districts. Yet they could still pull something like this? Their technology really did let them do anything.

Terrifying. I needed to get out of here fast.

When I went to the counter to pay for the tie, the clerk's face looked terrible.

"S-sir... I'm glad you're still alive. I almost called the Murim Alliance..."

The clerk's hand was hovering over a button beneath the counter. Pressing it probably activated some Murim Alliance protection service.

"If I press that, who comes?"

"I believe high-ranking members of the Open Sect, one of the Five Great Clans, would arrive... for quite a hefty fee."

If the Open Sect's executives clashed with Carpe Diem's Idol...

"It's fortunate you didn't call them."

"Huh? Why?"

"If only the executives came instead of the Open Sect's boss, they probably wouldn't have stood a chance."

"What do you mean..."

"Knowing too much could get you hurt. Please just complete the payment."

I didn't know where they'd been hiding, but the ones who'd pointed those scope lasers at me were definitely still around. I needed to watch what I said.

"Y-yes, I understand..."

With trembling hands, the clerk took my card and processed the payment. As I received the tie and turned to leave, my phone blared with a siren sound.

It was Eris's emergency distress message.