Isn't This Going Too Well?
Wasn't this supposed to be a problem? The Queens' first task was to wander around the event venue in their cosplay outfits, greeting people until the performance.
A few security guards in soldier costumes walked alongside them for safety, but I was still worried, so I followed behind.
"Ohayou gozaimasu~"
Soye was the best at this job among the three. She kept a bright smile on her face the whole time, waving enthusiastically—it was the textbook picture of idol behavior at an event. Her princess outfit matched her actions perfectly.
"......"
Next to her, Im Haeun was handling it a bit stiffly. Her face flushed now and then, probably from embarrassment about her outfit, and whenever the crowd cheered enthusiastically, she actually scowled.
It couldn't be the sexy costume bothering her—she was used to high exposure already.... Is cosplaying as an otaku really that embarrassing, Haeun?
If I'd known, I should've given her a command....
If I'd said something beforehand, she could've handled greetings as smoothly as in the promo video. What a shame all around.
But compared to Minji, Haeun wasn't much to worry about.
"......"
Minji wasn't even greeting properly. Instead, she was gawking around everywhere. Her eyes darted nonstop from one merch stall or event booth to the next.
I told you to work, not sightsee, Minji....
It was great that her favorite thing had motivated her, but if that just turned into fanning out, it was putting the cart before the horse. No—this was work time. Sightseeing later....
If they got labeled as slackers right from their first gig, it'd mess up their Japan debut from the start....
I followed along, praying desperately inside, when a mascot costume from the game company sidled up to me.
"(Japanese) Ahem, they're all so incredibly pretty."
"Who... oh, Nakamura-san?"
"(Japanese) Hello, Mr. Lee. Sorry for the casual cosplay look."
He must've been in disguise since he was somewhat recognizable.
"(Japanese) Man, asking the three of them to cosplay was the right call! I didn't expect this kind of response. Their looks and figures are just perfect...."
"Uh, yeah, hi, hi."
My Japanese was still pretty rough, so I couldn't catch everything, but from the tone and the words I did get, it sounded like praise. I just nodded along.
"(Japanese) That tsundere vibe from Freyja, blushing and all—it's perfect method acting. The promo wasn't a fluke."
"Hmm, tsun-tsun... Sorry, she's a bit too tsundere, huh? I'll tell her to smile more when she's relaxed. Uh, I will make smile, smile."
"(Japanese) And Baku-san! Nailing Oriana too—quiet but constantly observing her surroundings. That's Oriana herself! I noticed yesterday, but she knows so much. Capturing the character's essence perfectly. Great job."
"Baku, uh, that's Minji? Whatever it is, if it's great, then great. Hi hi."
"(Japanese) Astraia's doing the kind princess role flawlessly too... They're the best. Keep it up. I'll head out now."
The mascot—er, Nakamura—rattled off like a machine gun and bounced. Was that praise mixed with instructions? I felt bad for not understanding.
He wasn't mad, so keeping things as-is shouldn't be a big issue... right?
I'd give proper instructions when the timing felt right. Hopefully soon.
I trailed the girls nonstop, but I couldn't give them any orders before stage prep time hit.
After The Queens diligently greeted passersby while circulating, their next task was the stage performance.
They'd rehearsed it plenty, so even in cosplay, they nailed it. The crowd reacted with wild enthusiasm.
"They're using glow sticks? At a performance? While dancing?"
"It's just their unique cheering culture."
"Really...? This is my first time seeing it, so I was shocked."
Yu Ga-hye seemed surprised by the reaction, but I was thrilled. Fans, caught up in the vibe, waved glow sticks not just for the game opening but for The Queens' original stages too. Totally entranced, mouths agape....
This stage is a success. They were so awkward wandering around earlier—I was worried....
After smoothly wrapping the performance, the final event was the talk show.
Seeing The Queens seated quietly in a corner while the director and voice actors dominated center stage, I nodded.
"Mm, figureheads for their faces, as expected."
As the director and voice actors chattered away, The Queens sat demurely beside them. Questions rarely came their way.
I was satisfied. Yeah, that's how it should be.
Better to avoid chit-chat that might give anyone here ammo to nitpick. Just pretty faces, stay quiet till the end—that's best.
Getting one more eye-imprint in a talk show like this was plenty impressive.
"Alright, next up: quiz time!"
"Ooh, quiz time!"
Clap clap clap clap.
"We'll test the voice actors' and developers' knowledge and love for the game, so everyone here, give it your all?"
"Yes~"
So when the quiz started, from the girls' sightline, I covered my mouth with my hand and mouthed:
Go easy, go easy.
Participating actively to stamp their faces was good, but getting too hyped and creating a bad image? Gotta watch that.
It was my standard, safe thinking.
But....
"The prize is a limited edition 1/7 scale Freyja figure!"
That's not out for another month...!
To Minji, whose eyes snapped to the prize, it sounded different.
Do your best? Got it, yeah, I will, oppa...!
Her usual self flipped—tension skyrocketing.
"With so many participants, we'll pick reps per team. For the XEX troubleshooters voice team, Yumi-san, and for the Grand Ragnarok cosplay team, The Queens...."
"Freyja figure means Freyja reps, right?"
"Haha, exactly! Our Freyja!"
"Huh? Me?"
Haeun, clueless on the Japanese, panicked only after a whisper from the interpreter beside her.
"Unnie, I'll tell you the answer—just repeat it!"
"Okay, okay, I'll do what you say."
"First question: Freyja's iconic line and pattern...."
*Ding!*
The buzzer rang before the question finished—for The Queens.
"Whoa, cosplay team! Answering before hearing it all? Impressive."
"'Kut, korose!'"
"'Uh... kut, korose.'"
"Correct! As expected from her own line—nailed it."
"Amazing!"
"Whoa, so cool—"
The warm vibe had everyone clapping.
"Second question: XEX's new character Luna's ultimate has self-knockback, and the max distance she can fly...."
*Ding!*
The Queens' buzzer again.
"10 meters, uh, so... 'Ju-meteru'."
"Uh... 'Ju-meteru'?"
"Correct! Ooh, you play XEX too?"
"Uh, y-yeah, hi, hi hi."
"Incredible~!"
"Figures—she's cosplaying, so she must love games."
Still warm vibes.
But after nailing five in a row, things started feeling off.
Wait, isn't the flow going wrong?
We need to spread it out more... this feels weird....
The MCs glanced at the director and crowd for cues, wondering if this was okay.
But if game devs miss even one, we'd look lame.
At least I gotta nail my character's question.
Devs and voice actors felt their pride cracking.
The watching fans were in awe of the cosplay team—no, Freyja herself, Im Haeun.
...Is this okay?
I panicked at first over Minji's rampage, but seeing the reactions, I changed my mind.
MC wasn't complaining, and cheers grew with each correct answer from Haeun (feat. Minji).
Duh—if an idol seems genuinely into your fave game, reactions have to be positive.
Fine, since she's gone wild, sweep the board, Minji.
Good was good. I watched the quiz quietly from there.
But in the center of it all, something odd stirred in Im Haeun's heart.
What is it? The stares feel... weirdly twisted....
"Unnie, 'Ano hana no hate de'."
"Uh, uh... 'Ano hana no hate de'."
"Correct again—! Incredible! That was a one-day reveal title from five years ago that got changed quick! Knowing that—Freyja's a true otaku!"
"Uh, wha... hi hi hi...."
Thus, unbeknownst to her, Im Haeun got branded a hardcore otaku—but she'd learn that later.
Minji's insane rampage led to a total quiz domination for our girls.
Freyja winning Freyja's figure looked perfect too—staff and fans loved it.
I even whispered midway to make her do the "Kut, kill me" line, and the crowd went nuts.
Then one more greeting lap till closing—the fans mobbed us, really driving home how smashingly we'd ended the event.
Eye-imprint was enough, but this popularity? I can milk it.
One more Japan entry strategy unlocked.
Job well done, evening hit. Warm farewells with the director, cosplay outfits as souvenirs, back to the hotel room.
"Phew, wiped."
Just day one, but exhausting. Unfamiliar work abroad meant extra nerves. Or maybe that Yu Ga-hye woman.
Couldn't pry a single ulterior motive out of her.
Even probing chit-chat stayed strictly business. No personal talk, just work questions: controlling the girls okay? Solo managing tough?
Maybe probe another angle.
Worst case, straight-up ask why she wiped the CCTV. Last resort.
*Ding!*
The message alert cut my thoughts short.
A slight pause before that last message—and it felt loaded with more than just words.