A Ja-Fan, Indeed
"If they wanted to help, they could have done so much sooner! There must be some ulterior motive!"
"Are you referring to the person who traveled to roughly two hundred countries and saved people in over five hundred locations, including major cities, on that single day?"
"That might have been planned in advance too! If they were truly a savior sent to rescue us, they shouldn't have just protected Seoul—they should have saved the entire world from the very beginning!"
At those words, Taejun shook his head with a resigned expression, realizing that giving up on communicating with Secretary Trumpkin had been the wisest choice. There was no winning an argument against someone who refused to listen to reason.
"In any case, our official stance has been declared, so I believe this should suffice. Let us conclude here."
As he stepped out of the conference room,
"You went through a lot of trouble. There are far too many people with excessively rigid convictions."
Yunjae, who had been waiting for Taejun outside, offered a sympathetic smile.
"Ah! Talking to people like that for the first time in a while really drained me. No matter what we say, they won't believe us anyway."
It seemed Yunjae already knew that certain individuals, including Secretary Trumpkin, would never believe him.
"I really don't know what all the fuss is about. I never imagined people would make such a big deal out of something like this."
As he looked up at the words Slender Forearms floating above his head and let out a hollow chuckle, Taejun couldn't help but laugh along.
"Indeed. At any rate, you did a wonderful job."
It was an absurd situation, but perhaps it was inevitable given how overwhelmingly powerful he was.
"But did you have something to say to me...?"
Wondering if there was a reason Yunjae had waited instead of leaving, Taejun asked.
"I was worried that my actions might put you in a difficult position, Guild Leader..."
He had seemed like a completely different person moments ago, but he had already reverted to his usual timid self.
"Not at all. Secretary Trumpkin will be dismissed from his post before long. He was already a highly problematic individual even before this. As for the others, they will start scrambling to calculate their next moves. Unless they are complete fools, they wouldn't dream of making an enemy out of you, Mr. Lim Yunjae."
"I really wish they would just leave me alone."
"I understand. Even a cute little kitten gets annoying if it keeps pestering you. Having a bunch of tiresome old men act like that would be hard for anyone to tolerate."
Yunjae's face flushed red at the comparison.
"Ah! Please don't tell the others about that."
"And here I thought it was quite a splendid comeback."
After all, hadn't he essentially reduced those arrogant, self-important figures to mere kittens? Though, in reality, the comparison wasn't far off.
"...Anyway, I think I'd like to rest a bit today."
While his body never grew weary, it seemed he couldn't entirely escape mental exhaustion. Perhaps it was also the lingering aftereffects of meeting Danny Ahn earlier that morning, which had dragged up unpleasant memories.
"If you worry too much about everyone else, you're bound to wear yourself out. Sometimes, you have to put yourself first. A healthy amount of individualism is perfectly fine."
Was it due to Yunjae's exceptionally high charm stat? Taejun, who had somehow found himself drawn to the youth on a personal level, offered the advice with a remarkably sincere expression.
"But the power I hold is simply too immense to just shrug things off like that."
If he were to act purely on impulse, it would undoubtedly cause massive ripples. No, not ripples—it would be a cataclysmic tidal wave for everyone else. Knowing this, he chose to conform to society and refrain from acting recklessly, except during portal incidents.
"In any case, we will handle the awakened individuals lingering around you. Have you noticed anything specific?"
"There are about three black vans that keep circling around. Some people are spying from inside them, and then there's someone in the building across the street... But I think that person is just a fan of mine."
"A fan?"
It seemed he assumed Renge, the only one who had approached him openly, was simply a fan. Given how incredibly popular Yunjae was in the area right now, Taejun figured that was entirely possible.
"Yes, she's from Japan, so she's a 'Ja-fan'!"
In the midst of this, Yunjae proudly delivered a classic dad joke!
Flinch!
"..."
As Taejun stood momentarily speechless, wearing a thoroughly bewildered expression,
"Ah! I'm so sorry! I thought it would be funny!"
Just as Anton had said, it seemed not every middle-aged man appreciated a good dad joke.
"Regardless, we will take care of that side of things."
"Ah, yes! Thank you, Guild Leader! I'll go get some rest now, then!"
Having quickly regained his bright demeanor, Yunjae bowed politely and headed back toward the Support Part. Taejun watched his retreating figure in silence.
"Before demanding the rights you are entitled to, you must show basic respect for others..."
Taejun felt as though he had caught a rare glimpse of vulnerability in the youth, who had rarely shown any real emotional turbulence until now. Recalling those words, Taejun let out a soft chuckle.
"A 'Ja-fan,' indeed."
"Yunjae! She's completely cured! Ileyna!"
The one who welcomed Yunjae back was Mari, who had been the first to hear the wonderful news.
"Ah! Really?!"
Completely forgetting everything that had just transpired, Yunjae's face lit up with pure, unadulterated joy.
"Yes! Anton was practically sobbing on the phone, making a huge scene!"
"That's such a relief, truly!"
Seeing him look so relieved, Mari also smiled warmly.
"You did a wonderful thing, seriously!"
"Yes! I think it's the best thing I've done all day!"
Watching him rejoice so genuinely, she couldn't help but think how typical it was of his kind nature. However...
"...How was the meeting?"
Mari understood Yunjae better than anyone else now. Because of that, she could sense that he was carrying a bit of a heavy heart. Feeling guilty that he had to go through all that trouble because of an issue that had started with her, she asked gently. In response, he shook his head with a bright smile.
"Ah! No, not at all! It was perfectly fine!"
Ironically, she got the feeling that he was trying to comfort her instead, which only made him look all the more endearing.
"...I don't think so."
Feeling uneasy and apologetic for causing him worry, Mari rested her chin on her desk and stared intently at Yunjae.
"I know I shouldn't just jump to conclusions based on a hunch, but still. You looked down today, and I was worried about you all day."
Perhaps because she felt partly responsible, or because she wasn't used to expressing her concern so openly, Mari's cheeks flushed slightly.
Though she was clearly embarrassed, hearing that she had been worried about him brought a silly grin to Yunjae's face as he pulled up his chair and sat down.
"It was just a bit frustrating. I kept telling them it wasn't like that, but they had already decided on their own answer and kept insisting on it."
Mari let out a dry laugh at his words.
"How incredibly frustrating. What is wrong with those idiots anyway?"
"Well, I don't entirely blame them. To them, my existence simply doesn't make sense. That's probably why."
At that, Mari dragged her chair over and stopped right in front of him.
"If they can't accept it, then they don't have to. Why should you be the one trying to understand them? It's not like they're doing the same for you."
She was getting angry on his behalf as if it were her own problem. Warmed by her affectionate gaze, Yunjae chuckled softly and nodded.
"Yes! That's why I finally let loose and gave them a piece of my mind for the first time in a while!"
"Really? Did you actually tell them off properly?"
"Ah! I really did! I called them little kittens!"
Hearing that, Mari burst into laughter.
"You dummy! How is that an insult? That's way too cute! If anything, it should have been the other way around!"
"Ah! But the atmosphere in the room was actually quite intense!"
Although the actual nuance of the situation had been chillingly tense, hearing him explain it made it sound utterly adorable. Deciding that this was just so typical of Yunjae, Mari let out a soft sigh.
"Anyway, don't let it get to you. Life is too hard if you try to care about every idiot in the world. You don't need to waste your energy understanding their stupidity."
"Ah, I know. That's why I'm going to cheer up and focus on picking out the furniture and uniforms!"
Seemingly having recovered his spirits, Yunjae smiled brightly, then suddenly locked eyes with Mari.
"..."
He was usually far too shy to make eye contact, yet...
"...W-What is it?"
Why was he staring so calmly into her eyes today? Moreover, his gaze carried a strange, unreadable depth. He wasn't teasing her; rather, there was a faint trace of melancholy mixed in.
"Why are you looking at me like that all of a sudden?"
Flustered, Mari blushed and was the first to look away.
"I was just thinking that you are a truly kind person, Mari."
"K-Kind? Me? I'm a tough, ruthless woman!"
Pouting slightly, Mari protested his words, which always seemed to soften her edges. In truth, she had been feeling lately that much of her old bitterness had melted away. Whenever she looked in the mirror, she sometimes wondered if the person staring back was really her.
"Yes! Please stay tough and hang in there, Mari!"
"You don't need to worry about that, I can take care of myself! You dummy!"
"Okay! Then I'll get back to browsing furniture!"
Chuckling softly, Yunjae turned back to the computer screen. Relieved that he seemed to have regained his energy, Mari smiled and returned to her desk.
She watched him immerse himself in furniture shopping once more, a smile playing on her lips, when...
...Mari?
She tilted her head, suddenly realizing something odd about his phrasing.
Did he mean there was someone else who couldn't hang in there?
Nuances in speech could carry entirely different meanings. Wondering if something else had happened to him before his b-boy days, Mari stared at Yunjae with a serious expression. She knew all too well that people who appeared endlessly bright on the outside often harbored deep darkness within.
"Hey..."
Just as she was about to call out to him again—
Flash!
"Ta-da!"
"Mister!"
Materializing in a flash of teleportation were Lupinus, Rozamy, Akemi, and Taerin, who had supposedly gone to sign the lease for the new house!
"W-What on earth are you wearing?! You idiots...!"
"Ah! Oh my goodness!"
No wonder they had taken so long just to sign a lease!
"What does it look like? It's the maid outfits our little cutie wanted to see so badly!"
"Maids, assemble!"
"I still don't understand why I had to be dragged into this."
"Mister, do you actually like this kind of stuff?"
It seemed all four of them had stopped by Akemi's favorite boutique to get fully changed.
"What in the world..."
Mari's jaw dropped at the sight of the quartet invading the office—which was still a workplace, after all—dressed in full maid attire.
"We handpicked these to help narrow down our cutie's options! Well? What do you think?"
It was clear they had chosen outfits according to their own tastes. Lupinus wore a maid uniform that put an extreme emphasis on her bust, while—
"Ah! You look wonderful, Lady Lupinus!"
"How about me, Oppa?"
Akemi's outfit used heavy frills to draw attention away from her chest and maximize her cuteness.
"O-Oppa? Akemi, did you just call Yunjae 'Oppa'?"
As Mari flinched at the sudden change in address, Akemi giggled.
"Yep! I've decided to call him Oppa from now on! Right?"
"Ah, yes!"
"Mister! Don't let her trick you with that 'Oppa' nonsense! It's all a trap!"
When Taerin, dressed as a pint-sized maid, immediately flared up in jealousy, Yunjae burst into laughter.
"But it's a word I thought I'd never hear again in my life, so it's actually quite heartwarming!"
"No! That girl just completely changed her strategy! Since she doesn't have the body for it, she's trying to appeal with cuteness instead!"
At the frantic five-year-old's brutally objective assessment, Akemi let out a playful laugh.
"That's right! I've accepted my flat-chested destiny! I'm all about cuteness now!"
Since sexiness was out of the question anyway, Akemi's proud declaration that she would conquer with pure cuteness made even Mari burst into laughter.
"This outfit...!"
Meanwhile, Yunjae's eyes widened as he caught sight of Rozamy. She wore a classic frilled blouse with a small black ribbon and a black flare skirt—the most standard design, yet one that exuded an incredibly charming maid aesthetic.
"W-What is it..."
Blushing under his gaze, Rozamy looked away. Thanks to Akemi, her hair had been styled into twin tails, making her look even younger and fresher than before—almost like an idol.
"This is exactly the look I was searching for!"
Yunjae rejoiced, thrilled to have found the perfect uniform, not to mention how stunning the model looked in it. Rozamy blinked in surprise and looked at him. He had seemed so downcast earlier that morning, but now he looked as if he had conquered the world.
"..."
She had been skeptical when Lupinus insisted he would love it, but seeing his genuine delight gave her a strange sensation. While she couldn't help but wonder if his tastes were a bit unusual, more than anything...
I'm so happy!
Feeling her own spirits lift in response, a soft smile spread across her face.
"Rozamy is totally cheating! At least the idiot Goddess is a fool, which gives me some comfort!"
Akemi whined with a pout, frustrated by the insurmountable visual wall that was Rozamy.
"Who are you calling an idiot?! I'm just a pervert!"
"She really is a brainless Goddess."
Regardless of the Goddess's proud defense,
"I-I didn't even want to wear something like this..."
Rozamy grumbled under her breath out of sheer embarrassment. Given that she was just as easily flustered as Yunjae, it was a perfectly natural reaction.
"Actually, that one looks pretty good. It wouldn't look out of place at all for a cafe part-timer."
Deciding that Lupinus's outfit was far too revealing and Akemi's was something she could never pull off, Mari offered her approval of Rozamy's attire. At her praise, Rozamy's face flushed an even deeper shade of crimson.
"W-Why would you..."
As Mari smiled to herself, thinking how similar Rozamy was to Yunjae in some ways, the youth spoke up.
"We're going with this one! Finally, my biggest worry is gone!"
Seeing him look so genuinely ecstatic,
"You brat! Don't tell me this was your biggest worry?!"
"Ah! We can take our time with the furniture, but Ariel gave us the choice for the uniforms, and I didn't want to keep her waiting too long!"
Had he really been feeling down all day just because of that?
"And here I was, worrying about you!"
"Ah! I was incredibly worried too, you know!"
"Yeah, worried about the uniforms!"
As Mari grumbled about worrying over nothing, Yunjae let out a sheepish chuckle.
"Anyway, thank you all for caring so much."
Seeing him look so pleased now that their biggest dilemma had been resolved with Rozamy's outfit, Lupinus chuckled.
"Of course! As your Goddess, it is only natural that I look after you!"
"Lady Lupinus...!"
"Because you've been working so hard all on your own."
No matter how foolish and perverted she could be, it seemed she understood the state of her sword, Yunjae, better than anyone else.
"I truly don't know how to thank you..."
Even so, there was no way the soft-hearted Yunjae would let it slide without showing his gratitude. Seeing him look so eager to repay her, Lupinus gave a bright, mischievous grin.
"Then now it's our little cutie's turn!"
"Huh?"
Before his touching moment could even finish—
"Ta-da!"
Lupinus unleashed her divine power!