Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Girls Earning Their Keep (5)
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Originally, the plan had been to send Kang Gamchan alone, but with Alicia tagging along, Yuseong had no choice but to go with him.
Though her human hatred had lessened somewhat over the past ten years, Alicia still showed clear signs of it.
There was no telling what kind of trouble she might stir up, so she needed supervision. And if she showed any signs of starting something, someone had to punish her on the spot—making Yuseong the perfect choice.
And sure enough, the moment they arrived, she bared her killing intent. Yuseong suppressed her without hesitation.
"As always, that habit of earning a beating hasn't changed a bit."
"I-I admit I let my killing intent slip, but I still think this punishment is unfair."
"Quit whining."
"I'm not whining! My skull nearly cracked!"
"Want me to really crack it?"
"……."
Alicia snapped her mouth shut.
That bastard was the type to do exactly what he threatened. Terrified that her fragile skull might actually shatter under that brute's hand, she chose to seal her lips.
'Ugh! Humiliating!'
"Humiliating my ass!"
"!!?"
"I can read it all over your face even when you keep your mouth shut, you bitch."
"……."
Her natural predator wasn't far away at all.
Jang Hana watched Yuseong with unease.
"Um, Yuseong... isn't that a bit too harsh? I mean, she's still a woman..."
"You've seen her yourself, Hana. She's got some serious racist tendencies. If you go easy on her just because she's a woman, it'll only make her worse."
"……."
She couldn't argue with that.
Even so, she was still a woman... But saying that would sound sexist, leaving Jang Hana at a loss for words as she sank into silence. Meanwhile, Yuseong turned to Kang Gamchan, who had just finished parking.
"Huff huff! P-President! Shooting hasn't started yet, right?"
"...Not yet."
"Phew, good! Oh, and I parked the car nice and neat."
"Yeah, lucky..."
Yuseong let out a wry smile at the sight of this guy—who wasn't even a real manager—acting like one.
He'd followed them without a care for salary or anything else.
Yuseong shook his head, muttering about how scary unrequited love could be. Kang Gamchan, meanwhile, stared dazedly at Mirni, grinning like an idiot.
He looked ready to die happy, tears even welling up in his eyes.
'She's so pretty! Insanely pretty—!'
She evoked the image of a spring fairy, but to Kang Gamchan, she was a celestial nymph or angel descended from heaven.
It wasn't beauty a human could possess. He could've worked for passion pay alone if it meant seeing Mirni every day.
And Kang Gamchan wasn't the only one with such idiotic thoughts.
Men and women alike gasped and shivered in awe at Mirni, now made up and dressed in her prepared outfit.
'Th-this is gonna kill it! No doubt!'
'I-I'd love to just hold her hand once...'
'Unnie...! You're too beautiful!!'
Flowers seemed to bloom in her path as she walked, and a radiant glow swirled whenever she smiled or turned around.
Every gesture, every smile made hearts flutter and pound!
"A fairy delivering first love... How about that concept?"
"Perfect!"
A cat spreading excitement might fit better, but these people wouldn't know. Yuseong just scowled deeper, muttering about how repulsive it was.
"Repulsive bitch..."
"……."
It especially irked him that the snobby bitch agreed.
Why her, of all people, next to me...?
"Luke, is this world truly so lacking in talent? I can't fathom why they're fawning over that wench."
"If you're unhappy, why don't you give it a shot?"
"You want me to act cute in front of humans!?"
"...Why the sudden overdrive? On your period?"
"Wh-what...!?"
"If not, shut up already."
Alicia would normally clamp her mouth shut at that.
"...Elves don't have periods."
"Convenient body."
"……."
"What?"
"I have a question."
"...Did you eat something bad?"
"Serious questions deserve serious answers, don't you think?"
"Good grief..."
Yuseong, who had lived a bizarre and dogged life, thought he'd seen it all.
'Never thought this bitch would actually ask me something.'
Wondering if he should drag her to a hospital, Yuseong waited as Alicia posed her question.
"Luke, I want to ask if I truly have any aptitude."
"...?"
"Mirni... that wench has found something she can do. She's adapting to this world. Sylvia's the same. That zealot's acquiring education."
"……."
As he realized this was a genuine, serious question, Yuseong's expression twisted into something grotesquely odd.
This bitch right now...?
'Is she coming to me for life advice?'
"Luxy, that witch, will survive on her own anyway. It's ridiculous for a dullard like me to worry about a genius."
"Leon might be a bit clumsy, but once he sets a goal, he'll push forward steadily. Valian, that idiot, learns slowly but knows how to take steps forward."
"But I'm different."
She had no drive to learn at all.
Not laziness or arrogance—just a complete lack of motivation.
"Nothing interests me. No drive sparks. I know you could curse me for it. But what can I do? It just doesn't rise."
"Making excuses."
"...Yes, it might be an excuse, as you say."
"……."
Seeing her admit it so readily only frustrated him more.
Her awkwardly seeking counseling, her utter lack of drive—it all drained his energy in a subtle way.
If he had to put it...
'Like a punching bag that's too worn out to hit satisfyingly?'
It felt like staring at a threadbare bag, patched and refilled with sand, but devoid of any real feedback.
That sensation washed over him briefly.
Yuseong sighed, lamenting how he kept getting these life counseling sessions lately.
How did my life end up like this...?
'No wonder homeroom teachers go bald.'
Today, too, Yuseong gained another appreciation for a teacher's grace.
While this trite counseling with the snobby bitch dragged on, the shoot continued.
Mirni was an excellent model, but more than that, she never made mistakes.
She always performed her role with elegant perfection, satisfying the director in a single take.
Apart from shooting from different angles, there were no slip-ups—and the more they shot, the more inspiration she sparked. Mirni was the photographer's ideal subject.
"Where'd you even find this gem? You struck gold, Hana!"
"You think so too, right?"
"Shame to shoot her just this once. If this gig succeeds, you'll be mid-tier yourself. Float an exclusive model offer."
"Haha..."
Jang Hana desperately wanted to, and she'd already casually brought it up in yesterday's meeting with Mirni.
But her response had been:
—Thanks, but I hate being tied down. I prefer freedom if possible.
...She didn't hate money, but she was picky about 'freedom.' Catering to Mirni's whims might create a chairman above the president, so the exclusive idea was on hold.
'Sigh, what a shame...'
Jang Hana kept lamenting as she watched Mirni produce masterpieces with every shot, hoping this job might nudge her toward a more positive view, even slightly.
But contrary to Jang Hana's wishes...
'Yeah, maybe as occasional pocket money, but not something to do often.'
Dozens of staff surrounding her, demanding she match their conditions.
Intrusive stares, professional pressure, and more.
Too many things to fuss over.
'Annoying.'
Responsibility, professionalism—all things she loathed.
Modeling was just a resume builder in her mind. She just wanted the shoot to end quickly.
"Let me see!"
"Ah..."
The smoothly flowing shoot halted abruptly.
A random Chinese man had barged in, pointing rudely.
Blessed by the goddess, Mirni understood his words.
"L-Leng, Mr. Leng? What brings you here?"
"What's so weird about me dropping by? Just a legitimate visit as an investor."
"R-Right."
"Why? Does my presence bother you?"
"N-No way! Ohoho!"
"Right~? Ahaha! Just kidding!"
Judging by 'investor,' Jang Hana must've taken money from this greedy-looking guy.
Mr. Leng scanned the set casually, then froze on Mirni, unable to hide his awe.
"Th-that woman's the model?"
"Yes, she is..."
"Whoa...! A peerless beauty springs to mind! A true heavenly nymph, a heavenly nymph!"
"Haha..."
Mr. Leng kept gushing over Mirni.
Oblivious to how his antics were dragging out the shoot, his loud blabbering showed a face thicker than shameless—he had steel plating.
How could someone be so brazen and clueless?
Or did he not even care?
As everyone grew uncomfortable, Mr. Leng sidled up to Mirni and said something.
"Today, my eyes have been truly enlightened. Shame about the modest chest, but that plump rear more than makes up for it."
"...Are you sexually harassing me right now?"
"Gah!?"
Mirni's retort startled him so much he coughed violently.
He hadn't even considered she'd understand Chinese, clearly thrown off.
Mirni narrowed her eyes.
"If you don't want a harassment report, back off. Just looking at you is disgusting."
"Th-that's... S-sorry. I never imagined you'd understand..."
"Is that an excuse? It's still not okay to harass someone assuming they can't."
"...Urgh!"
Mr. Leng had no comeback to Mirni's point.
China meant shamelessness, stubbornness, and bullheadedness rolled into one.
He embodied that classic tantrum-thrower who gets mad after farting first.
"How rude!"
"...No, you were rude first."
"Hey! A woman talking back? Talking back...!!"
"...We are communicating, right?"
"Scram!!"
"...!?"
Words weren't connecting at all.
This wasn't a conversation—it was just him throwing a childish fit.
No real dialogue happening.
Mirni had felt this sensation before.
'...A noble?'
Aristocratic superiority—claiming only blue blood was noble. She'd met those types.
Incompetent and vile, yet killing dozens on authority alone... wastrels!
She saw that spoiled shadow in this Chinese man.
'What to do? ...Huh!?'
As she pondered handling this pest, she spotted Yuseong in the distance, slicing his thumb across his throat.
Their eyes met precisely, and his voice echoed in her mind.
'He's annoying. Get rid of him quick. Just don't kill him.'
"……."
Then...
'Anything but killing is fair game, right?'
Boss's permission granted.