Personal Maintenance Day
It was late morning on the weekend.
With his disheveled hair, slightly parted lips, slipping earplugs, and through the crooked eye mask, Lee Shin’s eyelids slowly lifted with effort.
He tried to shake off the fatigue and stretch as usual, but—
“Ugh… Huh?”
What was this? Something felt strange.
Why did he feel… so refreshed? Normally, after sleeping curled up on the sofa, his spine and joints should have been screaming in protest. Today, there was none of that.
Strange. This shouldn’t be happening.
Frowning, Lee Shin gave his thoughts a brief moment to boot up.
Then, realization struck.
“Ah… This is home.”
Sleeping in the representative office had become such a daily routine that he had forgotten the simple scientific truth that beds were a marvel.
Savoring the cozy comfort only a proper bed could provide, Lee Shin blankly replayed the events of yesterday.
Whether in the past or now, the person who did the most work in Mir Guild was Lee Shin, and the one who had guarded the guild the longest was also Lee Shin.
Especially during the season, the representative office was practically his home.
So yesterday, it had been perfectly natural for him to try ordering late-night snacks from his regular restaurant. The menu had been tangy chewy noodles and tuna rice rolls loaded with mayonnaise.
“Slurp… Now I’m craving it…”
That had been the exact moment he reached for his phone to place the order.
The man who did the second-most work in Mir Guild after Lee Shin—Chae Dong-ha—had finally exploded.
He had practically wailed.
The accumulated resentment of a man who had not seen his own front door, let alone his home, for ten full days was so heavy that even Lee Shin had lowered his phone.
Looking back, the season was in full swing, the essay rental was ongoing, Saudi consulting was underway, and the new international airport construction had just begun. Adding all the minor tasks on top, Lee Shin realized he had spent several nights without sleep.
What else could he do? He had gone home just as Chae Dong-ha demanded.
And so, for the first time in a long while, he was enjoying a cozy morning in an actual bed.
“Yongyong, open the curtains.”
The voice-activated system drew the curtains back at once, and brilliant sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Rather than smiling at the clear weather, Lee Shin flinched and checked the time first.
It couldn’t already be noon, could it?
Sure enough, the intensity of the light had been a warning; the clock had already passed noon.
No matter how much caffeine, potions, or doping he relied on, it seemed he really had been exhausted.
Lee Shin gave a small chuckle, rose from the bed, and opened his phone.
As expected, the very first thing he saw was a message from Chae Dong-ha.
“Wow. That’s firm.”
A vice-leader restricting the guild master’s attendance—what was this, the mutiny he had only ever heard about? Or so he thought, until he saw the follow-up message right below it.
“Well, he’s not wrong.”
Because Lee Shin practically lived in the representative office, the entire front office staff had been watching their behavior. The strategic planning team that shared the same building had been especially conscious of him.
Of course, Lee Shin—who understood the sorrow of salaried workers—always shouted with as much sincerity as he could muster, “Go home when you have the time!”
But as evidenced by the current situation, it had clearly been ineffective.
“Then I can just go to the guild and play—!”
A brutally packed schedule followed, full of instructions: wash up, brush your teeth, wear a white t-shirt and jeans, choose sandals instead of slippers, don’t eat anything too spicy in the morning, don’t get too absorbed in fan service, don’t be late for the salon appointment, and on and on.
It was worse than his grandmother’s nagging.
The text was filled with Chae Dong-ha’s iron will to keep Lee Shin from setting one foot inside the guild. Lee Shin could only smile stupidly at that warm consideration.
What else could the powerless guild master do but obey?
Therefore—
“Today is personal maintenance time!”
Lee Shin sprang out of bed with energy!
First item on the schedule: eat.
“Ma’am, one order of chewy noodles and tuna rice rolls, please!”
“Yes, Representative. Just a moment. I’ll make it delicious for you.”
“Take your time. No rush.”
Lee Shin hummed a tune as he looked around the restaurant interior. The walls were covered with Mir raid team uniforms, photographs, and autographs.
Baek Yeon-woo, Park Su-bin, Yu Ri-ra, Kim Jong-pil, Kim Yu-shin—every member of Team 1 and Team 2 had visited without exception. There was even a photo of Lee Shin himself with his arm around the owner’s shoulder.
That wasn’t all. One entire wall was occupied by a massive screen playing the ongoing strategy battle at triple speed. The owner seemed more devoted to Mir Guild than to running her own business.
And that guess turned out to be completely accurate.
To the owner, business was business, but watching her son’s friends and colleagues shine was far more important. The golden child wearing an apron in those photos was her top priority.
That’s right.
This place was the most popular restaurant in Mir City and the holy land of the Yongbungs. It was Yeon-woo Tteokbokki, run by Baek Yeon-woo’s mother.
“Here you are—tuna rice rolls and chewy noodles.”
“Whoa, thank you!”
He popped the tail end of a tuna roll into his mouth and chewed vigorously. The soft tuna gently wrapped around his tongue.
The creamy mayonnaise mixed with the tuna slid between his teeth. Then, just as it started to feel slightly heavy, he spread his chopsticks wide, grabbed a huge mouthful of the sweet-and-sour chewy noodles, and the lingering richness melted away, delivering a taste of heaven.
“Aaaah—!”
“Is it good?”
“It’s the besht!”
As expected of Mom. The best! The absolute best!
When Lee Shin threw up two enthusiastic thumbs, Yeon-woo’s mother clapped her hands and laughed with genuine delight.
Of course she was happy. To her, Lee Shin was her son’s savior and the angel who had brought happiness to their entire family.
He had rescued her dying son and turned him into a world-class hunter. He had given their hopeless family a safe home and a way to make a living.
Even more touching was that despite bestowing such overwhelming favor, Lee Shin continued to treat her and Baek Yeon-woo with the exact same warmth as always.
“How’s business, ma’am? Are customers coming in?”
“Of course. Thanks to you promoting us on air whenever you remember, fans visit all the time. These days they call it a ‘holy site’ or something and take proof photos like crazy.”
“That’s good to hear. And about that cough from before—Yeon-woo was really worried. Did you go to the hospital?”
“Oh, it’s just a cough.”
“Ah, you’re making me upset again. A cough isn’t something to brush off. No, this won’t do. You need a full check-up. Come on, let’s go.”
In the end, Lee Shin not only filled his stomach but also made a hospital appointment for her before heading to his next schedule.
Next on the main agenda: fixing his messy hair.
“Welco—”
When Lee Shin tried to enter the large hair salon he often visited, the atmosphere inside was chaotic.
“…How could you handle work like this… Do you even know how important that guest is… How are you going to take responsibility!”
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
Between the murmuring and the occasional scolding, the gathered staff made it look like a major accident had occurred.
Lee Shin used the commotion as cover, quietly slipped inside, and asked the nearest employee at the back.
“What’s going on? Why is it so loud?”
“The new hire apparently booked a reservation without realizing the lighting in the VVIP room is broken.”
“There are plenty of seats. Can’t they just sit anywhere?”
“No, it’s the real VVIP. The super famous one. For safety reasons…”
The stylist who had turned her head finally noticed the crouched Lee Shin.
Eye contact.
A brief silence.
And then—
“Kyaaaa!! It’s Lee Shiiin!!”
The moment she screamed and fell backward, the crowd parted like the Red Sea, and every gaze in the shop locked onto Lee Shin.
“Haha, boss, if that VVIP you’re talking about is me, you can stop now. It’s my fault for making a last-minute reservation. Could someone show me to a seat?”
When Lee Shin took the lead and started walking, the boss snapped out of it and personally rushed over to escort him. Lee Shin gave the repeatedly apologizing owner a gentle smile instead.
“Do I come here for the facilities? I come for your skill, boss.”
“Oh my, look at how kind our representative is.”
“And just between us, sometimes you have to use your face like this. See? Everyone’s staring. It’s kind of thrilling, isn’t it?”
“Hehe! You really are something, Representative.”
The moment Lee Shin stepped inside, every single person—those getting their hair done and those waiting in the lobby—turned their eyes toward him as if by magic.
Lee Shin made eye contact with them, gave a soft smile, and waved.
Yes. It’s me. Lee Shin, representative of the great Mir Guild.
Soon Lee Shin was seated, and the owner herself took hold of his hair.
“The vice-leader requested the usual style. How would you like it today? Any style in mind?”
“Just do whatever Dong-ha told you.”
“Hehe, got it.”
The scissors moved with dazzling speed, trimming Lee Shin’s hair. Before long, a perm machine was humming above his head.
Enjoying the warm, relaxing heat, Lee Shin checked the strategy battle on his phone when a timid voice spoke up.
It was the staff member who had been scolded earlier.
“Would you like something to drink…?”
“Coffee, please.”
“Which brand?”
“Who cares about brands? Just give me regular instant coffee.”
“But still…”
“By the way, are you okay? Did you get in a lot of trouble because of me?”
“Ah, no! It wasn’t because of you, Representative! It was all my mistake.”
She looked no older than her early twenties. When he asked, she said she had graduated from beauty school and started as an intern right away.
At that moment, his phone was showing Yu Ri-ra during the strategy battle. Perhaps because they were around the same age, Lee Shin felt a soft spot for the girl.
“Do you like our guild?”
“O-of course! I’m from Busan too. There isn’t a single person from Busan who isn’t a fan of your guild, Representative.”
“Really? Who’s your favorite?”
“I like them all…!”
“Very satisfying. A perfect hundred-point answer as the guild master. Still, there must be someone you like especially. Tell me, just between us.”
“Ri-ra unnie… I’m part of the Ri-ra squad.”
“What? You’re a member of the Ri-ra squad?”
Surprisingly, Yu Ri-ra was popular among female fans. It seemed this girl was one of them. Lee Shin smiled and sent a text to Yun Cho-a asking her to deliver this season’s new uniform set to the salon. The phone vibrated almost instantly with a reply.
When he added that he wanted them sent generously, the reply said they would arrive within two hours. Lee Shin showed the message to the staff member.
“The uniforms will arrive today. You know this season’s new gold-and-black edition, right?”
“Yes, I do!! The gold-and-black edition!!”
“Good. I’ll send plenty, so share them with your seniors and get some compliments. Okay?”
“Th-thank you, Representative!”
“Sure, sure. Go on now.”
Thank you. Thank you.
The girl bowed a million times before scurrying away. Lee Shin watched her with a warm smile.
He wasn’t the only one watching.
“I’m jealous.”
“Ugh.”
“I want one too.”
“I’d be satisfied with just an autograph.”
As the earlier staff member had said, ninety-nine percent of Busan residents were Mir Guild fans. The remaining one percent didn’t cheer for another guild—they simply didn’t watch the league at all.
In that atmosphere, not only had they encountered Lee Shin—the face and spiritual pillar of the great Mir Guild—inside the salon, they had also witnessed him giving a gift to a staff member. Anyone who wasn’t jealous would have been the strange one.
Lee Shin had already noticed the situation long ago.
It would have been funnier if he hadn’t, considering every eye in the shop was glued to him.
And Lee Shin was the kind of man who became infinitely weak to the sparkling eyes of fans.
In the end, he chuckled and spoke to the staff member who had brought the instant coffee.
“Sorry, but could you clear this table? Like this.”
“Yes! Right away!”
“And here—use my card to buy coffee for everyone here.”
At that moment—
“Waaaah—!!”
“——!!”
The salon flipped upside down.
A small autograph session was hastily organized. Lee Shin sat beneath the perm machine and grinned like a mischievous kid.
“Alright, we can’t get too loud. One signature and one handshake each, right?”
Right!!
And so, the surprise fan meeting that took place in the salon brought Lee Shin’s cheerful day to a close.
Of course, he never could have dreamed what would happen the very next day.
1. Taeyang Guild
2. Mir Guild
3. Kirin Guild
4. Shinseong Guild
……
…
.