Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The Girls Earning Their Keep (3)
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Women like women too.
...The phrasing sounds a bit off, but it's not meant in a weird way.
To be precise, there needs to be a subject like "pretty" women up front. It's talking about feelings of admiration, respect, pure affection, and the like.
You know how there's that term "girl crush"—women who are so cool even other women find them awesome?
It's something like that.
"I-I saw all the photos you took of Pink Cat! Y-You just used a smartphone for those, right? No professional equipment?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"I knew it! That's why they couldn't capture her real beauty!"
"Heh, you're exaggerating."
"No exaggeration! Those photos didn't even capture half of Pink Cat's stunning looks!"
"I-Is that so...?"
'She figured out it was Mirni just from that? This girl's sharp.'
Mirni usually took photos with her face covered.
And yet, this woman had zeroed in on her identity from just the rough outline of her pink hair and figure...
'Not your average person.'
As expected of a young entrepreneur who'd built a successful shopping mall.
He was impressed, but that didn't mean he approved.
Thud.
"Don't you think it's about time we wrapped this up?"
"......Ah."
The woman, lost in her fangirl frenzy, finally remembered Yuseong's presence and went pale.
What the hell had she just done...!
"I-I... um...!?"
"It's fine. We're not gonna see each other again anyway. A little rudeness? No big deal. Haha!"
"......"
Did she have a razor blade for a tongue or something?
She scraped away without mercy!
Sure, Mirni had barged in first, but that was a simple mistake—nothing more. Jang Hana's attitude, on the other hand, had been way out of line.
She'd ignored Yuseong and left him hanging for over an hour, so she had nothing to say even if she grew twelve mouths.
'Thanks to her, I've got the perfect excuse now.'
He'd been dying to bail on this arranged meeting anyway, and she'd handed him the justification on a silver platter. It would be rude not to use it.
'Once Dad hears about this, his friend won't be able to show his face around him for a while. Perfect.'
When the arranged match shits the bed, the matchmaker takes the blame—that's just common sense. His dad would be able to strut around with his shoulders back, and Yuseong smiled inwardly.
Of course, only inwardly.
"Well then, I'll be going."
"W-Wait, Yuseong! Just a moment to talk...!"
And so Jang Hana spent a good while apologizing profusely, staying low and humble.
'What the hell is going on here?'
Mirni watched the whole theatrical scene unfold, utterly baffled.
It was the reaction of a total newbie to modern life, unfamiliar with Korea's subtle games of face and justification.
"You did well."
"Huh?"
"I said you did well."
"......?"
In the car on the way home.
Mirni wondered if her ears were playing tricks and even scratched at them, but they were still working fine.
'Does that mean...!'
"A-Are you praising me?"
"Who else is here besides you?"
"...I'm here too, you know."
"See? Just you."
"......"
Looked like she was getting ignored for sure.
Mirni, still struggling to believe the praise, blinked vacantly, so Yuseong added an explanation.
"Thanks to you, I parted ways smoothly with her. The pointless arranged date's over, so my parents won't bring up marriage for a while. And I secured the justification on my side perfectly—couldn't ask for better."
"Ah..."
"Of course, the process itself wasn't great."
"......"
That could be interpreted as: if the outcome had sucked, you'd be dead meat...!
Mirni thanked her luck and swallowed dryly.
"B-But what if she makes a fuss about me? Like, suddenly claiming some girl barged in or whatever..."
"I'll just say you're one of the foreigners boarding at my building. Say it's a cultural thing from abroad, and the elders will buy it easy."
"That's all it takes?"
"Keep this in mind for when you enter society later. Simple works best, and mix 50% truth into any lie. Do that, and society will love you."
"......"
Another life lesson here?
Mirni was exasperated but also pleased that he was tackling the goddess's quest so diligently.
Unaware that his "family candidate" score was rising, Yuseong asked again.
"By the way, that girl was prying for your number—what was that about?"
"Oh, that? Well, she seemed so desperate, I gave it to her... but no clue why."
After spilling everything to Yuseong, she'd looked like a pitiful whimpering puppy, so Mirni had taken pity and shared her contact.
She didn't buy the naive idea that it was just about making friends.
Mirni was convinced people only gave pleading looks like that for a reason.
"Well... I can guess roughly."
"Really? What is it?"
"In, like, one or two... no, just wait till tomorrow. You'll get a call then."
"Aw, come on, Luke~ Tell me~."
"Too bothersome."
"......Tch!"
Mirni clicked her tongue and puffed out her cheeks, while Luke's lips curved up ever so slightly.
"Poke that cheek and let the air out right now, or I'll toss you."
"......"
"Pop!"
"......"
Mirni's ears drooped like a rain-soaked cat.
The next morning brought the familiar sight of Sylvia teary-eyed with a bump on her head, getting reamed out while tied to a rope by Io.
"......"
Just as Yuseong predicted, the call came.
Word was she was getting endlessly chewed out over the arranged meeting, but she still had time to call?
...The scolding was still in progress, apparently.
Mirni listened to Jang Hana's story for now.
Yuseong had gestured that it was okay, so she trusted there was a reason.
And sure enough.
"Fitting model?"
"...Hmm."
That's why he told her to hear her out.
"...Could I get more details?"
The thief who smelled money didn't let go of her prey.
Sylvia clutched her bumped head and pleaded.
"L-Luke! Please show mercy to Lady Io...!"
"...Sigh."
What was this? This scene so familiar it felt like she saw it every day?
If it were déjà vu, fine—but experiencing this crap daily in reality just gave her a headache.
"Can't you go one day without causing trouble? Does a thorn really sprout from your mouth or what...?"
"S-Sorry! I was just worried about you, Luke..."
"Since when do you worry about me?"
"......"
"Forget it. Just shut up already."
If they delved into the past, a ton of ugly stories would come up, spiking his blood pressure for nothing.
Yuseong brushed it off with a wave.
As he signaled and happily freed the goddess, the second headache approached.
"Luke, requesting query."
"...I'm tired, so buzz off."
"Luke slept nine hours today. Normal humans need eight-plus, but given your stamina and mana, fatigue should converge to zero. Thus, that statement is false."
"Logical, huh?"
"I've always been logical."
"Wanna test that logic then?"
"......Anti-violence."
Once Luxy sank away and peace returned, Mirni approached this time.
'Why do they all come to me?'
Unable to tell her to scram since you don't spit in a smiling face, she chattered on.
"Talk's over."
"......What'd she say?"
"Needs a model. Conditions are decent."
"Figured."
"You knew?"
"Roughly. Model sourcing's been rough lately."
The DM scandal's fallout—plus butterfly effects—had entertainment industry scandals bursting left and right.
All agencies nationwide were in self-reflection mode, and model agencies were playing it safe too.
From Jang Hana's chit-chat, even securing fitting models was tricky; finding in-demand ones was like reaching for stars.
In this mess, encountering a new SNS fashion icon like Mirni was a lifeline—an S-rank supermodel dropping from the heavens for a small mall owner.
"No wonder... Lately, my SNS posts get tons of collab offers. Makes sense now."
"Seize the chance and make it big. Might even be the fastest to save up for independence."
"......"
"What? Not happy?"
"N-No, of course I am..."
"...?"
Sensing her sudden mood drop, Yuseong felt awkward but didn't pry.
'That time of the month?'
Women got massive mood swings then—worse than a ziplock drop.
'Better not touch it.'
If it was annoying, he'd leave it alone. A wise choice, in his book.
...Though others might call it heartless.
Luxy sulked, dissatisfied.
'When does Luke ever have free time?'
Seeing him constantly busy, her frustrations piled up.
Luxy craved inspiration for magic.
A complete grasp of this utterly novel magic system.
The living knowledge Luke shared.
But Luke ignored and mocked her wishes.
It even made emotion-faint Luxy bristle.
'This won't do...!'
Luxy racked her brain.
How to get Luke to heed her?
"...Maybe if I act cute."
"......"
"Why stare like that?"
"...One piece of advice. Never do that. Might end up with blood—not just yours, mine too."
"??"
"...Just don't if I say don't."
Alicia—the moment she first saved a human life.