Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: 41. I'm Home.
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I'm a deputy manager in HR.
Just two days ago, I was wearing a suit and managing the staff.
Now I'm in a floral shirt, doing some ridiculous cosplay.
Time is dragging on forever.
The promise was clearly just two hours a day,
but it's driving me insane.
"Seonghyeon! This person wants a photo with you!"
Now, whenever a camera shows up, I automatically smile and throw up a heart sign.
From male prostitute to clown, all because I got tangled up with that evil lord—I've done it all.
Yesterday I could just stand there, but today photo requests wouldn't stop.
No way... I'm not getting roasted online, am I?
Just one more minute to endure.
I gave the signal, and the staff cut off the endlessly stretching line.
With the last fan photo...
Click!
Cosplay over!
As I cheered in victory, Manager Kwak dashed straight into the photo zone.
He's clapping now, his face beaming with smiles.
Remembering how pale he was on the first day of G-Fex...
Eh.
This is nothing.
It was rewarding, so no complaints from me.
"Done! Done! Wow, you really worked hard! Dahye, great job! Our deputy Kwon worked sooo hard too! Thank you!"
"The end comes eventually."
"Come on~ You did it perfectly, why act like it was tough? You know you've gotten pretty popular subtly, right?"
"My photos? They'll just be memes on humor sites."
"That's popularity too. How was it for you, Dahye? Not too hard?"
Dahye rubbed the back of her neck shyly, her face flushing red.
She'd thrown such a fit about it,
but she endured three days.
Tough girl.
"It was fun. Being around people feels a bit easier now. All thanks to you, Manager."
"Nah~ We got the help. Seriously, thank you. It's hot—go change quickly."
"Yes! Thanks for your hard work!"
Dahye gave Manager Kwak a perfect 90-degree bow, then turned to me.
She placed a hand on her stomach and bowed deeply.
"You worked hard too, Seonghyeon~."
In that case... a navel bow from me too.
Over the past two days, Dahye had done way better than I'd expected.
She didn't collapse, and she filled every two-hour session without breaks.
Yesterday she kept grabbing my lapel when she got tired, but today only about three times.
Guess she's gotten used to being around people.
I wanted to pat her head proudly, but settled for a navel bow.
There were eyes watching, and today's MVP wasn't Park Dahye.
Who was it? Me, obviously.
Good job, Kwon Seonghyeon... Never set foot in Busan again.
"Great job, author Park Dahye. Hurry and change."
"Yes!"
Dahye disappeared with the costume staff.
I need to change too, but
even as a cosplay model,
I don't get staff assigned.
Clowns change in some bathroom corner by themselves.
"Manager, I'll go change."
"Ah, Deputy! Just head home today."
"I should see the staff off. I'll handle that and help tidy the booth."
"Come on~ Just hand over the list and go home. I told Manager Park too. Don't worry."
Tempting, but I shook my head.
One day of slacking is enough.
Plan is to get Dahye in a taxi to the hotel, head home slowly, meet Dahye for dinner, then up to Seoul.
But Manager Kwak wouldn't back down. He came close and whispered with a grin.
No one around to hear.
"Dahye came to play, right? Couldn't even on one day because of us—why don't you two enjoy G-Fex together? Only three hours left!"
Come to think of it...
At night, hotel amenities and Busan sights galore, but no G-Fex touring.
Dahye has no hobbies but games.
Sending her back from a gaming event without seeing it felt wrong.
Can't tell a social anxiety girl to go alone.
Normally I'd decline to the end, but...
I bowed to Manager Kwak in thanks.
Per Dahye's theory, suck the honey while you can.
"Thank you, Manager. Appreciate the consideration."
Hey, I helped save the marketing team from the swamp.
I deserve this.
I changed quickly and waited for Dahye outside the staff lounge.
Door opened, two staff bowed and left.
Then Dahye appeared.
Wearing the clothes we bought together yesterday.
White shorts, baggy white tee, topped with a loose-fit denim jacket—cool and comfy.
The sharp, intense Rosanne makeup was now soft sis-makeup, like squeezing her cheeks would drip tangerine juice.
Pretty.
Way prettier than Rosanne.
And way more comfortable vibe.
"Kwon Seonghyeon! Wait long?"
"Nah, just got here. Suits you."
"Hehe. Super pretty, right?"
"Yeah."
Why ask if you're gonna blush like that?
Park Dahye crossed her legs awkwardly and punched my shoulder playfully.
"Eh, you're cool too~."
"Don't say it like charity. Come on. I'm off now, so G-Fex tour. Sound good?"
"For real? Already off?"
"Yeah. Manager let us go. Not much time—where first?"
Dahye's face lit up with a fully relaxed grin...
Then she jumped into the air.
Duh, should've known.
"Billion Saga, obviously!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Three hours till the event closes.
Dahye pulled her hat low and hid her face with sunglasses.
I grabbed her hand and we dashed across the venue.
Running wild.
I'm not a dev anymore—just a pathetic thirty-year-old gamer who came to Busan for a game show.
After four days of grind, my heart's soaring.
Demo new content with Dahye, buy merch.
Let's go all out.
But...
Reality is cruel.
These past days with Dahye blurred dream and reality...
Yeah, knew it.
This damn reality always shoulder-tackles at the end.
"No way... What now... Demos are over, Seonghyeon..."
The Billion Saga booth was nearly packed up.
No staff, demo PCs covered, just lonely merch racks.
Hardly any community buzz...
Total flop.
After five years, Billion Saga joined offline with a new field boss to lure users.
Demo was partying with randos to tackle it.
Dahye was hyped.
While I worked, she couldn't wander alone—watched demo vids on her phone in the hotel dozens of times.
Now what?
Her lips pouted historically.
"Eeeeeee... Wanted to do it..."
"It's fine. Updates in a month—hang in there."
"Still... disappointing. Heard no one cleared it—wanted to smash it cool with you."
"Forgot your ID's Kim Pokttal? Clearing it'd make you three times more infamous. Enough aggro."
"True... but still bummed!"
Dahye dragged me to the merch stand, stomping mad.
Merch was sparse too.
The giant monster plush and robe hood she'd shown me yesterday? Sold out.
Just scraps left.
Determined to snag something, Dahye bit her lip and rummaged.
Suddenly, her face brightened as she turned.
"Seonghyeon, this!"
Holding two small circles.
"Warp Marker? Cup holder?"
"Yeah!"
"You like that?"
Rubber cup holder shaped like a Warp Marker.
Mages in Billion Saga use them to open warp portals.
Plant one ahead, portal back instantly.
Why does non-mage Kim Pokttal like it?
For drinks at the PC?
But hearing her...
She's got her own vibe.
Worlds apart from mine.
"Let's take these and come back to Busan next time."
"Busan Warp Marker, huh..."
"Yeah! Next time, just us—beach, proper G-Fex! Cool?"
How's a cup holder a portal, dummy?
And I just swore never to Busan again.
So!
"Buy it now."
I nodded, and Dahye beamed.
Devastated seconds ago,
how's a cup holder make her that happy?
"Then... yours and mine, two... I'll buy! My turn this date."
Oh yeah, first date we promised next one's on her.
This was already our second date.
Body wrecked from work, G-Fex ending, disastrous date...
But her smile? Satisfaction overload.
Dahye, content, said:
"Let's head back then. Busan anytime."
Her flushed face full of smiles.
Experience tells me now.
This trip made me insanely happy, so she's happy stealing my mood.
Let's go home.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We got home near midnight.
Dahye's half-dead, eyes rolling back; I'm dying hauling her heavy-on-clothes suitcase.
Beep beep beep beep beep.
Door opens—relief hits.
Then Dahye's arm shoots out, she slips in first.
Starts shoving me out, grunting.
"What?"
"You come in later, Seonghyeon."
"How dizzy were you these two days... I'm fine, let's go in."
"Not that... gotta do something quick. 10 seconds, okay?"
Slam!
Door shut.
What'd she do to the room...
Cleaning tomorrow already tires me.
"10 seconds up. Can I come in?"
No reply.
Ear to door—silent.
Waited 10 more, opened it.
Inside...
Park Dahye crawling toward me on the floor.
"Nyaang! Myaang!"
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