episode_0007

It was fine to decide to become a problem solver, but before long, I had no choice but to face a big problem.

“No work is coming in…!”

Of course.

I’m not even famous as a problem solver in this field, and people don’t even know that I am a problem solver.

Of course not. I only made up my mind to become a problem solver a few days ago!

If people don’t know that I’m a problem solver and therefore can’t give me requests, I needed to let everyone know that I am a problem solver.

“For that reason, we will start the meeting now.”

“Four!”

“Yes!”

“Oh….”

The kids who had started to stick around more after the incident with Grandpa Mangtaegi sat listening, sitting with their backs straight.

Yes. Good. Everyone seems to be sitting properly.

“The topic of the meeting is how to widely spread awareness of what my job is.”

“Question!”

Jaemin raised his hand quickly.

“Go ahead.”

“Aren’t you going to publish that today?”

“…Not in front of the kids.”

“Please do!”

Since I was asked, I couldn’t help it. Just because I’m holding back doesn’t mean I’ll do it right away.

I took out a magic cigarette from the inner pocket of my military jacket.

Just in case there’s someone who doesn’t know, a magic cigarette is definitely different from regular cigarettes.

It doesn’t contain any harmful substances and has the effect of purifying the body’s magic.

Although it has the drawback of having a minimal effect and being expensive…

For people like me with ‘side effects,’ it also serves as a suppressant, so practically speaking, it’s better to smoke it.

Still, since the kids don’t know the difference between a magic cigarette and a regular one, I refrained from smoking it in front of them… but since I got permission, why not!

I lit the end of the magic cigarette with my fingertip, and the kids’ eyes sparkled with “Wow!”

To young children, it seemed that magic was still fascinating.

It’s the most basic of basics for a superhuman, but for some reason, receiving such admiring looks made me feel awkward…

“Oh my goodness! What are you doing in front of the kids? Put out the fire right now!”

“Oh, sorry…”

I sprinkled magic powder on the nagging of a passing middle-aged woman. My precious magic powder…

The perception of magic powder is not good. After all, it’s inevitable because you can’t distinguish between magic powder and cigarettes.

Feeling depressed about wasting expensive magic powder, I sat down and stared at the ground. Chaeyeon asked quietly.

“But…”

“Yeah.”

“What do you do?”

“Yeah, I’m a problem solver.”

“What’s a problem solver?”

“Yeah… A problem solver is just that.”

What is a problem solver?

It was truly a difficult question.

Listening to the stories of people with concerns, resolving worries with a little compensation.

After everything is done, gazing at the setting sun and getting lost in contemplation… Isn’t it a romantic occupation like that?

“A problem solver is just that…”

“I saw it in a comic. A problem solver is someone who fights for money.”

“Fights? Can you fight well too, Unni?”

“Extremely well.”

“Awesome….”

…Maybe it’s because she’s receiving a look that says she’s amazing! Jemini, who interrupted me and answered on her own, was a bit annoying, but what she said wasn’t entirely wrong.

Chaeyeon looked at me with sparkling eyes and asked.

“Can I become like you too?”

“Yeah…?”

“I want to fight well too….”

Why is this child already filled with thoughts of fighting?

“Why do you want to fight well?”

“My mom said there are a lot of bad people in the world. She wants to punish those people.”

“…Then Chaeyeon doesn’t need to fight well.”

“Why?”

I paused for a moment, then patted Chaeyeon’s head.

“Because we’ll make a world where even kids like you don’t need to fight.”

“Who will?”

“Me. And the adults.”

A world where children can live without worry.

A world where children don’t have to lose their smiles.

A world where the repeated and chained jaws of hatred don’t reach the children.

Isn’t it the role of adults to create that world?

Wasn’t that the reason we’ve been fighting tirelessly for the past 9 years?

I gently stroked Chaeyeon’s cheek as she made a face of not understanding English.

“But to create that kind of world, we need your help.”

“Our help?”

“Okay. Many people need to know what I do so that if they find a bad guy, they can let me know.”

“So, are you going to scold the bad people?”

“Yes.”

“Okay then…”

With a serious expression, Chaeyeon nodded vigorously.

“I’ll work hard then.”

“Okay. Fighting.”

After that, our meeting continued for a long time. It lasted for a good 30 minutes.

The result of the long and arduous meeting was quite satisfying, and we all went out to eat waffles together.

Normally, even if they were kids, we would have split the bill without hesitation, but today, feeling good, I treated them.

—

“Ha….”

Office worker Yang Ju-hee let out a deep sigh.

Due to getting a job at a damn black company, overtime had become routine, and she often had to go to the office even on weekends.

She wanted to quit right away, but because her rent was due and she couldn’t afford any financial gap, she gritted her teeth and endured it.

Today, as usual, she is working overtime and returning home late.

Finally, tomorrow is a day off… but she doesn’t feel particularly good about it….

“I… I want to drink… some alcohol….”

She wanted to drink and gossip about her old-fashioned boss!

There was no friend to drink with at this time. Not just today. Since working at this lousy company, it had been a long time since she met her friends.

“I don’t want to drink alone… Even if you don’t drink with me, just listen to me next to me… I wish someone would just be there for me….”

As Yang Ju-hee thought that, she saw a certain poster.

…No, it’s not really a poster. It’s like something made by elementary school kids for a group project, with that level of quality.

In the center of the poster, there is a drawing of a man with black hair and yellow eyes, and it seems like they added some character by attaching triangular ears and a tail.

Above the drawing, it is written in big letters with crayons, “We’ll solve anything for you.”

Underneath, in small letters, it says “Good at fighting!” as if it’s important, and even has stars next to it. Even this short word is misspelled as “Fighting well!”

Looking at the poster that seems to be filled with the innocence(?) of young children, laughter inexplicably spills out.

“Oh…? There’s a phone number written here too.”

I should mention beforehand, she was currently in a fragile state due to long overtime and work life.

So, without much thought, she casually dialed the phone number on the poster as a joke.

“Hello?”

“Oh, uh.”

Startled, she trembled.

Of course, she expected to hear a cute child’s voice, but for some reason, a decadent yet sexy, husky voice echoed in her ears.

As flustered Yang Ju-hee hesitated, the voice echoed again from the other end of the phone, as if to confirm that she didn’t mishear.

“Hello?”

“…Ah, yes! Yes… Hello? I saw the poster on the wall and called… Is this the right person?”

Somehow, overwhelmed by the voice, feeling somewhat like a sophisticated older sister, Ju-hee blurted out without realizing.

“Yes, it’s me. Do you have something to request?”

“Oh, um. Are you really able to solve anything…?”

“I’ll take payment, but if it’s something I can do, then yes.”

“Then, could you… It’s really absurd, but could you talk to me while I drink…?”

“It’s possible.”

“Then, I want to make a request…”

“I’ll be there soon.”

“…Yes, yes? You’re coming soon?”

“Just wait there quietly.”

Huh? Ju-hee shivered in confusion. Coming? Right now? Here? The person she was talking to on the phone?

In an instant, countless thoughts raced through Ju-hee’s mind.

Her tattooed pierced sister coming and taking her money, gangsters coming to kidnap her, or a pervert using a tampered program might show up…

On top of that, the question that suddenly came through the still connected call only added to her bewilderment.

“By any chance, do you dislike cats?”

“Alright then.”

“Yes? Um… yes?”

At the unfamiliar sound, Yang Ju-hee’s head became even more confused. Moreover, it was just a voice, but the slight laughter she felt in the tone saying “alright then” somehow made her heart beat faster.

In addition to the pressure that her voice exerted on the other person, there was also a charm that seemed to toy with people’s hearts.

As Yang Ju-hee blankly stared at the disconnected phone, trying to calm her pounding heart,

“I’m here.”

The voice that had just come through the phone was now coming from right beside her.

Startled, Yang Ju-hee gripped the phone tightly and looked in the direction of the voice.

Even as she lost herself in the surreal appearance of Ha Ye-rin, she realized the reason for asking if she didn’t like cats.

“A cat? It’s a cat. Definitely a cat.”

The one who had accepted her request was none other than a girl wearing cat ears and a tail.