Chapter 57: When Philosophies Align
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57: When Philosophies Align
South Korea was blissfully happy, all thanks to Hwan’s Torch.
However, that happiness was short-lived; the real chaos was only just beginning.
— "We need to make Season 2 based on Branch 1! Rescue the Baby Elf trapped in the sword!"
— "No, base it on Branch 2! I want to see the happy epilogue of the Baby Elf who became human!"
— "You bastard! Are you planning to keep the Baby Elf trapped in that sword forever? You monster!"
— "Look, we can just treat that world-line as a 'what if' scenario and move on. I want to see a Season 2 full of the Baby Elf doing mukbangs!"
— "...Wait, that actually sounds kind of tempting—no, no! We have to save Yeon Si-ho from the sword!"
[Title: The Baby Elf getting out of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan]
(Photo.jpg of a chauffeur opening the door and Lee Yu-jin stepping out calmly.)
(Photo.jpg of her waving lightly to fans at the photo zone.)
└ That Cullinan must cost at least a billion won. Wow...
└ She hasn't even shot any CFs yet, where did she get that kind of money? Is it a sponsor? <This message has been deleted>
└└ Captured and sent to her agency's email. Bye-bye.
└└ There are still idiots who haven't learned their lesson after seeing Kim Ho-jin hit rock bottom.
└└ That's because they're fans of the disgraced Kim Ho-jin. No doubt about it. The 'simp' fandom is truly persistent.
[Title: I’ve opened a debate thread for Branch 1 VS Branch 2, get in here]
(High-resolution photo.jpg of Lee Yu-jin focused on signing autographs at the Hwan’s Torch event.)
- Everyone, take a look at our lovely Baby Elf~
└ Hnghh, she’s just so damn pretty.
└ I wonder how happy her younger brother must be, seeing that face every day. I’m so jealous.
└ No matter how pretty she is, she’s still his older sister. Do you not have siblings?
└ But the brother really doesn't look like her. If I didn't know better, I'd think the babies were swapped at the hospital.
[Title: You fools, this isn't the time to fight over Season 2!]
- T_T We shouldn't be letting the writer and director manipulate us with this Branch 1 vs. Branch 2 divide.
We need to start making offerings so the Baby Elf can get into her next project ASAP T_T
└ T_T
└ The dark ages are already beginning. I wonder how long we'll have to wait...
└ Sign the petition for a re-screening of Hwan’s Torch Branch 2 (35,351 / 1,000,000)
*
"Yu-jin, Yu-jin, why do you always wear period panties even when it's not that time of the month? And they're not even cute."
"These are men's drawers."
Jang Ji-hye, who had asked while watching my brother organize my underwear, covered her mouth with a look of pure shock.
To mistake men's drawers for period panties... my friend is quite cute.
"Why... why do you wear men's drawers?"
"They're just comfortable."
"And they're all black..."
"It's consistent. I like it."
"And your bras are all compression sports bras. If the fans found out the drawer of the 'Gumiho Baby Elf' who charmed the world looked like this, they'd faint from the shock."
"If word gets out, the culprit will be you, Jang Ji-hye."
When Mom isn't around, the housework mostly falls to my brother. Jang Ji-hye helps out too.
Me? I’m busy protecting the peace of the Rift today.
Ah, I want a VIP ticket to the LoL World Championship finals. Ideally, when Shin makes it there.
"Yu-jin, Yu-jin, you need to get ready. You have a meeting with the Curator today."
"Ah, right. I forgot. Should I desert?"
"Does a Challenger really desert games?"
"I'm joking. I'll finish up soon. Wait for me."
After cranking my concentration up to the max, I managed to force a quick surrender from the enemy.
The enemy jungler—and my idol—Shin, bestowed high praise upon me in the chat.
[Shin]: You still play like the 'Mint Chocolate' of gaming.
Hehe... Shin whispered his praise to me.
Feeling proud, I closed the solo ranked match and got ready to go out.
Jang Ji-hye applied disposable black coating to my silver roots and insisted on trimming my eyelashes even though I told her it was fine.
"Just one go with the curling iron! Please?"
"No, I said I'm fine."
"Th-then at least some nail polish... or tint... or even just a bit of blush..."
"It's a pain to wash off. Stage makeup is enough for filming. I'd rather live with a bare face normally."
"Ugh, it's such a waste, my heart is breaking! If you just put on a little makeup, you could go from Baby Elf to the Goddess of Elves!"
"I don't want to. I'm not doing it."
"Then at least wear something pretty. Stop it with the slacks and cotton tees. At least try some low-rise skinny jeans, okay?"
"I don't want to. I'm not wearing them."
Today, I firmly brushed off Jang Ji-hye's tearful pleas and picked out my clothes.
Heh heh heh. I can dominate the emotions of my stylist friend. I can control her.
I think I'm starting to understand why Jang Hyun-soo and Jung Yoon-ah enjoy toyng with the viewers so much... Oops, I shouldn't stare too long into the abyss.
*
Feeling the incredible ride and 'flex' of the Cullinan once again, I met Han Ji-woo at the Hermès store in the lobby of the Baekhyun Hotel.
My brother followed behind us as an errand boy and bodyguard.
"Hey, little brother. You might be a weakling who can't use his strength, but at least your size gives off an intimidating vibe."
"It's just that you're abnormally strong, Noona. If I were born in the Joseon Dynasty, they would've called me a legendary strongman."
Han Ji-woo, who had been slowly browsing the items, sensed our approach and turned around with a smile.
"You're here, my precious?"
"..."
"When you make that face, it just makes me want to tease you more. I think I finally understand why people say Lee Yu-jin is always 'leaving a trail' wherever she goes."
"Curator, isn't that one over there cool? The design is really well-executed."
"Should I buy it for you?"
"I was saying it would look good on you, Curator."
"I think it would look great on you too, Yu-jin."
Han Ji-woo called a staff member and bought it immediately. I'm probably going to get 'pocket-slipped' into the Cullinan again...
Sigh. I don't even wear or carry these things, but she keeps buying me nothing but Hermès every time I see her.
My house is filled with all sorts of Hermès products.
Without much exaggeration, I could practically open a small boutique.
"Should I buy something for Ji-hye too?"
"I-I'm fine! If someone like me gets used to things like this, it'll be a real, real problem."
"An accessory or two is fine, isn't it? Pick a few. I'll buy them for you."
Despite her adamant refusal, Jang Ji-hye eventually gave in and carefully selected a few accessories.
"I sponsored the production of Branch 2 out of pure fandom, but our Baekhyun Group actually saw a huge promotional effect from it. I'm worried my 'purity' is being tainted."
"You are already pure enough. I know that better than anyone."
"I heard Baekhyun Phone sent another CF proposal with revised terms. How many times has it been now?"
My brother chimed in energetically.
"It's the sixth proposal, Curator."
"Ah, right. Anyway, I rejected the sixth one too. How dare they try to use my precious and beautiful artist as a promotional model for such pocket change."
"Um, Curator, wasn't your husband the president of the Mobile Division?"
"That makes it even more spiteful. Does he think I'll give him a discount just because I'm his wife? It's because a chaebol has that kind of mindset that they can only make phones like that."
"..."
Is this really the same person who was so pleased to see me using a Baekhyun Phone at the dermatology clinic?
"What about other CFs besides phones? Is there anything you want to do?"
"I'm not sure. Nothing in particular. Not yet."
I want to rake in money by filming CFs too.
But, but...
Every single CF concept is about acting pretty! How am I supposed to film that!
I was horrified after hearing concept proposals that required me to act all sorts of 'pretty' in front of the camera, so I didn't even touch them.
They say even a scholar will steal if he starves for three days, but I haven't been pushed that far yet.
Grandfather is paying the villa's maintenance fees, after all. I assume he'll pay the property tax in December too?
I'm earning enough from my appearance fees to steadily deposit into Envidium, so I don't want to film humiliating CFs.
"Alright. Just tell me whenever you feel like doing one. I'll find something that matches your status."
"Thank you."
The good thing about Curator Han Ji-woo is that she doesn't ask for reasons.
If I give her a YES or NO, she simply accepts it.
"The furniture setup is all done, so you'll be moving in soon."
"Thank you so much."
"Ji-hye, would you like to go to the top-floor restaurant with Yu-seok and have a meal first? I've made a reservation, so just give the staff my name."
"Oh, thank you!"
That was the signal that she had something to discuss with me privately.
Jang Ji-hye and my brother understood and quickly left the Hermès store.
Before I knew it, not a single staff member was in sight, and a rope had been placed across the entrance.
"I heard through Yu-seok that you've received a wide variety of Ambassador offers."
"Yes, the terms were quite extraordinary. I could buy a small building just by doing it for a few years."
But since the role involves being obligated to wear those bizarre designs, I have no desire to be an ambassador.
I like money, but I don't want to scrape it together by selling my dignity.
"There's someone I'd like to introduce to you, Yu-jin."
"Pardon? Here?"
"It had to be here."
I heard the faint sound of men's dress shoes stepping on the sound-absorbing carpet behind me.
Turning around, I saw a well-built man who clearly looked mixed-race.
The moment he saw me, he covered his mouth with one hand as if he were about to burst into silent tears, which actually made me flustered.
P-Please don't. Please don't do it! Stop!
The man, who looked to be in his mid-forties, approached cautiously, almost stumbling.
His eyes, staring intently at me, were shimmering with an uncomfortably sorrowful sensibility, making me flush with heat. I wanted to hide my face.
"Mon Dieu... quelle apparitio, quel miraculum... Une belle déesse, une angelica figura... Divina, magnifica, absolument sublime... C’est... impossible..."
He was saying something in French, and I only vaguely understood a few words that were similar to Latin.
It was a cringe-inducing praise that made my whole body crawl, making me want to scream for my heart to escape my chest...
Apparition, miracle, goddess, angel, form, divine, magnificent...
Aaaargh! Brain, please don't recall the meanings!
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Choi Yu-riang, the General Manager of Hermès Korea."
"I-I'm Lee Yu-jin."
"I was in awe when I saw you in your work, but seeing you in person, I realize that the beauty of actress Lee Yu-jin I had encountered was merely a single feather of a peacock. The camera is but a pitiful and incompetent lump of metal, unable to capture the Goddess of Elves in her entirety."
"..."
It was true that French men really knew how to sweet-talk.
Han Ji-woo chuckled beside me and exchanged greetings with Choi Yu-riang.
"I will escort you. This way."
"Ah, yes."
Choi Yu-riang led us to the customer lounge and brought out refreshments himself.
It seemed the other staff had left entirely; I couldn't sense anyone else. It was just the three of us.
Choi Yu-riang poured out praises and adorations without pause, and I kept drinking cold water to cool down the rising heat.
Cola. I need cola. Someone bring me a 1.5-liter bottle of original Pepsi with ice floating in it!
I only expressed my gratitude out of formality, but the praise only intensified.
At some point, I gave up and instead listened carefully to Choi Yu-riang's praise from a third-party, out-of-body perspective, observing the suffering character named Lee Yu-jin.
Since it's come to this, I'll remember these and use them when I meet Shin in the Rift. Otherwise, it's too unfair for me.
"Curator Han, thank you deeply for introducing me to actress Lee Yu-jin."
"I only showed her to Hermès. I haven't even mentioned her to other fashion brands."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. I just thought your images complemented each other."
Is Hermès trying to use me as a runway model?
I'd hate that.
"As you may know, actress Lee Yu-jin, we at Hermès do not have ambassadors."
"Pardon? Isn't that just common knowledge?"
I answered reflexively and then flinched.
Did he just say 'ambassador'? Surely...
"We avoid the popularization of our brand and are reluctant to let the masses enter our world. The elegant daily life of the super-rich—that is our fundamental philosophy. There is no reason for us to have promotional tools like ambassadors."
Choi Yu-riang's eyes blazed again.
"However, losing a masterpiece like actress Lee Yu-jin to another fashion brand would be a far greater agony than failing to uphold our philosophy."
"Um..."
"I am making a formal proposal. Please become the Ambassador for Hermès. we will provide you with the highest level of treatment, befitting our brand philosophy and your noble image."
The proposal was so unrealistic that for a moment, I wondered if it was real.
Whenever other women talked about ambassadors, they always mentioned Hermès.
They said the brand strictly avoids the public and maintains an arrogant policy toward consumers.
"If I become an ambassador... I'll have to promote the brand anyway, right?"
"That is correct. But it is fine. Although it goes against our philosophy, you alone shall be exempt from all those constraints. In the face of this dazzling beauty, what does the philosophy of a man-made brand matter?"
I desperately thought, suppressing the feeling that the skin on my face was about to peel off from the heat.
I can't possibly say something mean like, 'The clothes you guys make look so weird, how am I supposed to walk around in them?' What do I do?
Considering the face of Curator Han Ji-woo, who introduced me to this position, I racked my rusty brain as hard as I could.
"I have a timid personality, so it's hard for me to receive more attention than necessary. I think I'm already at my limit... so I think it might be difficult."
"Please, take your time to think about it. I can wait indefinitely."
"Going around and telling people, 'This brand is great, you should try wearing it!' just doesn't suit my personality. It would be comfortable and nice if I didn't have to do anything and no one even knew I was an ambassador while I just received the money, but..."
"What did you just say?"
"Pardon?"
"No one... knows that actress Lee Yu-jin is our ambassador...? Not a single soul?"
Oh boy. Choi Yu-riang's beauty-praise attack must have been powerful. To think I'd blurt out such nonsense.
But the reaction was strange.
Han Ji-woo was staring at me with a very serious expression.
Choi Yu-riang was cupping his chin, muttering something in French to himself like a man possessed, before suddenly looking me straight in the eye.
"That... is precisely the philosophy of Hermès."
Wait... an ambassador's role is promotion, so what happens if no one knows?
What's wrong with your brand philosophy?