After parting ways with Sehwa.
Sia walked toward a nearby underground parking garage.
Descending in the elevator to the basement, Sia strode purposefully toward her destination.
Her steps, which had felt light just moments ago, now seemed weighed down as if shackled with lead.
In a parking lot where even the pillars were painted green, she approached a luxurious foreign car that stood out with its commanding presence.
A high-end sedan that seemed too extravagant for someone as young as Sia to drive.
Yet, without a hint of excitement, Sia pulled out her key and pressed a button. The car's headlights flashed briefly, welcoming its owner.
*Clunk.*
As she sank into the plush driver's seat, Sia's face gradually crumpled.
This comfort, which she had once relished, now felt excessive, even burdensome.
It was as if it had become a shackle, chaining her ankle.
Burying her face in the steering wheel, Sia reluctantly pulled out her phone with a hesitant gesture.
Sighing, she toggled the power button on and off before finally dialing a number and holding the phone to her ear.
"Sia?"
"Yes, boss. I'm calling to report something. Is now a good time to talk?"
Sia's stiff tone felt as heavy as stone, but the person on the other end merely laughed, unperturbed.
"Hahaha! Sia, why so formal with a friend? Relax, relax."
*Friend.*
The word made her stomach churn with disgust.
When had they ever treated her like a friend? They'd put a leash around her neck like she was some beast, and now they dared to use such an undeserved term for their hunting dog.
"This is comfortable for me. By the way, about what we discussed last time…"
"Sia, why do you think I entrusted the club to you? You should handle things like hiring staff on your own."
The playful tone vanished instantly, replaced by a voice that finally felt like it belonged.
"You're right. That's why I'm calling. I've decided to hire a new employee, but since they're a minor, I wanted to check with you first."
"Oh, really? No problem, as long as you have the guardian's consent. I thought it was something serious… So, it's a guy, huh? You were so desperate to find one, and you managed to pull it off."
"Yes."
"Alright, handle it. Oh, and my mother was asking how you've been lately."
The voice, which had been cold moments ago, now brightened again. The tone of Yujin grated on her nerves.
"Just… tell her I'm doing fine, living without a care. I'd appreciate it."
"Of course, I know you're doing well under me."
"Thank you. May I go now?"
Even without facing him, the conversation drained her. Sia wanted to end the call, but a "notice" from the other side forced her to grit her teeth.
"Alright! Oh, and I'll drop by to check out the new hire sometime. That's okay, right, Sia?"
"…Of course. It's your club, isn't it?"
"As long as you don't cause any trouble, you're welcome."
She couldn't bring herself to tell Sehwa.
The reason the club was short on male guards.
The reason Sia, the head of the guards, had to go as far as hiring a minor.
When she first met Sehwa, she thought he was just decent enough to use. His tattoos had a vibe similar to those of the other guys, so despite being male, she briefly wondered if he came from a shady background. She even wished he was someone who'd already seen the worst of the world.
But as they talked, she realized something.
Sehwa was like her.
Even the way he casually laughed while admitting he had no parents was the same.
Was that why she felt a sense of kinship?
But she couldn't tell him not to take the job. His eyes were filled with anticipation about landing it, so she played the role of a cheerful person until the end.
That fact turned into a chain of guilt, slowly tightening around Sia.
After hanging up, she tossed her phone onto the passenger seat, closed her eyes, and sank deeper into the chair.
Into the plush seat of the foreign car, a result of her "efforts."
"I'll try my best to protect you, at least while you're working."
The head of the Valkyrie guards, Sia, muttered something cryptic before adding one last thing.
"…Maybe I should start looking for another one."
______
_________
He was relieved to hear he didn't need a suit for work.
"Damn… I really don't have any clothes. This is ridiculous no matter how I look at it."
Looking at the ransacked wardrobe, irritation welled up, and a curse slipped out.
he'd noticed it before, but neither he nor that jerk Shasha seemed to care much about buying clothes.
Otherwise, there wouldn't be just this hanging in the closet.
"What the hell is this? Wow, this is insane. Why is something that belongs in a clothing donation bin here?"
A pair of black slacks, torn as if scratched by something sharp.
he couldn't find them when he was getting ready for his date with Hayul, so where had they come from? Women here might find this kind of thing appealing, but the pants had already lost their function and value.
After picking through his clothes, he was left with just a few items.
"They said dark colors, so jeans are out. That leaves only sweatpants… Damn."
This sucked.
Even though they said to dress casually, wouldn't Sia get mad if he showed up in sweatpants?
Suppressing his unease, he decided to pick out a top as well.
But the results were just as disastrous.
One of Sia's conditions was dark colors.
A hoodie, a black T-shirt, a tank top.
Those three fit Sia's criteria.
he laid them out neatly on the floor and tried them on one by one.
"The hoodie… doesn't feel right. It hides the tattoos."
Next.
"The black T-shirt… It's too plain. Kind of meh."
Finally.
"…Alright, you're the best of the bunch. Ugh, but wearing this feels like it's asking for trouble."
Sia had advised him to show off his tattoos.
Honestly, he didn't see the point, but he had no choice but to follow.
Sweatpants and a pitch-black tank top.
Somehow, he'd ended up with the same outfit he wore on the first day, but it was the best option he had.
In his original world, he would've felt confident going to work like this.
Except in this crazy world, wearing just a tank top made women's eyes light up.
Had picking out clothes ever been this hard?
It felt like he was facing the greatest obstacle of his life, and he kept brushing his bangs back in frustration.
"Sitting here won't solve anything. Maybe I should just ask."
he grabbed his phone and made a call.
"Hello?"
The voice on the other end sounded weak and listless.
(Her voice sounds off. She was so confident earlier.)
"This is Sehwa, Sia. Oh, should I call you boss now?"
"No, just… call me Team Leader. Why are you calling?"
It hadn't been long since they parted.
Had something upset her in the meantime?
Sia's tone was sharp, but she continued in a resolute voice.
"If you're calling to say you've changed your mind, it's fine—"
"No, it's not that. You told me how to dress, right?"
"…Right."
Sia's voice sounded relieved yet somehow disappointed, which confused Sehwa, but he pressed on.
"So, I checked, and all I have is a tank top and sweatpants. Both are black."
"That's fine, but… it's a bit revealing. Don't you have something to layer over it? Something loose, so you can show your tattoos if needed."
The way she said that last part felt odd. The words made sense for work, but her tone carried a hint of warning.
It was hard to ask what she meant, so Sehwa just thought about loose clothing.
Then he remembered the sukajan jacket Hayul had picked out for her.
"How about a sukajan, Team Leader?"
"Sounds good. Go with that."
Relief washed over him. He'd been worried he'd have to buy a suit.
he was about to thank her and hang up when Sia spoke again.
"Sehwa, just a heads-up, you might see some ugly stuff. Being a guard isn't just about standing at the door."
Her words sounded like a challenge, as if asking if Sehwa would back out.
But there was a faint desperation in her tone, so Sehwa replied casually.
"No problem. As long as the pay's good."
It was true. At this rate, he'd go broke while still in school.
he couldn't let go of a job that had fallen into his lap, so he spoke nonchalantly. Sia's response came.
"…You sound like those foreigners who show up sometimes. Alright, got it."
Foreigners? Was she teasing him for being mixed-race?
But Sia didn't seem like the type, so Sehwa gave a simple farewell.
"See you next time, then."
he pocketed his phone and looked around for the sukajan he'd bought earlier.
A shopping bag under the bed caught his eye.
(Didn't even bother putting it in the closet.)
he pulled out the sukajan and shook off any dust.
Trying it on and looking in the mirror, it didn't look half bad.
The tattoos peeking through the tank top paired with the dragon-embroidered sukajan.
With his exotic appearance, he looked like someone who meant business.
Especially considering the vibe of his "company."
*It's not like I'm filming a gangster drama.*
Not that he felt like a lowlife thug.
he struck a few poses in front of the mirror, then carefully folded the sukajan.
After tidying up the house and turning off the lights to sleep, he froze.
"Come to think of it, I don't even know where Valkyrie is."
There was an idiot who didn't know where her own workplace was.
And that idiot was him.
Cursing himself, he searched for Club Valkyrie on his phone.
…It was pretty far from hus place.
(It's still Gangnam, so why's it so far? Must be closer to the main strip.)
His lips pouted in dissatisfaction.
he'd have to take public transport every day.
Feeling oddly dejected, he grumbled but decided to look into it more since he was at it.
In the reviews section:
(dasd12) — ★★★★ Good.
(hfd222) — ★★★★ Decent.
…
Nothing too special.
Scrolling down, it was more of the same.
Just as he thought he'd wasted his time and was about to exit, something caught his eye.
(Qwade) — ★★★ Everything's good, but the guys change too often. I got close to one, and now he's gone. Sad.
(Talking about club regulars? Of course they'd change often
Who leaves a review like that?)
Tsking, he turned off hus phone, lay on hus bed, and stared at the white ceiling.
If it weren't for school, he'd work full-time and make some real money.
Suddenly, he felt a pang of resentment toward Shasha.
_________________________________________
Translated by Reversalmanhwa.web.id
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