Chapter 48: Help, My Eyes

    Help, My Eyes

    "We''re not officially dating yet."

    "Oh. you''re not??"

    "I had a feeling you might be curious about the nature of our relationship."

    Manager Kim Minju wondered if the woman before her possessed the ability to read minds. Seeing a man and a woman heading to Wonderland, she initially assumed they were a couple. However, it turned out she had misunderstood.

    "I apologize. If my gaze made you uncomfortable, I sincerely apologize once again."

    "It''s okay, but do we genuinely give off a couple vibe?"

    "Oh, absolutely. You two look like a perfectly matched, handsome, and beautiful couple."

    "Really? Thanks."

    The woman, with a cat-like demeanor, stood out from the beginning. The way she clung to Baek Taeyang''s arm clearly indicated they were a couple. Even when choosing clothes, she naturally sought the man''s opinion to achieve the perfect girlfriend look.

    The occasional kisses and overt hugs made it apparent that they were a couple. The manager thought, ‘At that level, is it really not the case? Kids these days are so different...''

    Manager Kim Minju couldn''t help but compare it to her own dating days with her husband, where even holding hands made her blush and uncertain. Seeing the couple in front of her, openly living together and still not officially dating, struck her as almost laughable.

    "You sure have a nice collection of casual home attire."

    "Thank you for the compliment."

    "This one, that one, and... the one I just wore, maybe? Kindly arrange them."

    "Yes, understood. I will prepare them right away." The manager picked up the mentioned clothes and arranged them in an easy-to-wear manner. Fortunately, there was no need to worry about Baek Taeyang''s side, as four designers were already attending to him.

    The woman snatched the clothes and strolled over to Baek Taeyang.

    "Taeyang~ I''ve chosen all my clothes. Could you be a darling and help me put them on?"

    "We''re running out of time. I''ll definitely do it next time."

    "Hmph...!" She looked disappointed as she approached Kim Minju again.

    Even though the clothes seemed easy to put on, her gesture indicated a willingness to accept assistance. As a manager, Kim Minju had developed the ability to deeply analyze every action of VIPs. Even in this simple act, she interpreted the woman''s situation differently from a regular person.

    These are casual attire she said...

    One''s dignity and grace don''t spring up overnight. Since their first encounter, Kim Minju had sensed an air of upper-class familiarity from the woman. However, the woman''s nonchalant treatment of a top domestic company as just another store momentarily caught her off guard.

    "Miss, are you, by any chance..."

    "Yes, the Magic Tower. I''m the daughter."

    "Oh, my apologies..."

    But isn''t she supposedly in a relationship with Kim Minsoo?

    Given the articles that came out, it was only natural to assume Kim Minsoo would be accompanying So Yoomin. Even though the parties involved denied it, the early photoshoot together had been far from ordinary. So naturally, the assumption was that they were dating.

    I nearly made a huge mistake, almost offending the royal family without recognizing her. Thankfully, there had been no slip of the tongue, and she seemed to be in good spirits.

    "Then, I''ll gladly escort you to Wonderland right away."

    She observed that both of them had a wealth of experience, making the process of choosing clothes surprisingly brief. They possessed a clear preference, decisiveness, and a keen awareness of their personal style. Describing them as a handsome and beautiful couple wasn''t merely an empty compliment. The glimpses in the rearview mirror portrayed them as the epitome of luxury.

    Effortlessly merging a casual theme park atmosphere with an upscale touch, Baek Taeyang, in jeans, a white T-shirt, and a black cardigan, appeared as a fashion statement, courtesy of his well-built physique. So Yoomin, on the other hand, radiated youthful yet sophisticated charm in a white tennis skirt, apricot-colored stockings, and a red long-sleeved V-neck shirt.

    Weren''t they expecting one more person to join?

    There''s a saying about birds of a feather flocking together. Naturally, someone meeting the standards of this couple would likely possess a similarly outgoing personality and a sense of fashion. Kim Minju had never witnessed a case otherwise.

    Even the family that had come to Wonderland early in the morning was shocked by his appearance. Right now, the only one blissfully ignorant of the situation was Kim Minsoo himself.

    "Why''s everyone reacting like that? Did they stay up late because they were excited? They''re not kids."

    Today, Kim Minsoo had clearly come prepared with a game-changing move to reverse his precarious relationship.

    "Minsoo, I''m genuinely giving you advice. People will laugh at you."

    "Isn''t it about getting attention?"

    "Of course, because people don''t ignore a clown on the street. Anyway... let''s just go inside."

    From a brief search yesterday, Wonderland had numerous clothing stores, ranging from casual wear to cosplay outfits. If he refused to change, I''d have to force him to listen, even if I had to resort to drastic measures.

    "I... I can''t handle this. Taeyang, I''ll hold onto our clothes and walk ahead..."

    "Sure, take it easy."

    Yoomin hadn''t even greeted Minsoo and was in no mood for it. It was a testament to how dreadful Kim Minsoo''s fashion sense was.

    "Minsoo, walk a bit away from me."

    "But Yoomin, I want to be—"

    "I told you to stay back. Do you want me to make it clearer?"

    "S-Sorry..."

    Changing the exterior doesn''t mean the interior has changed. Thankfully, a slightly intimidating stance was enough to make him cower instantly. If he had truly reached a boiling point, resorting to violence might have been the only option.

    "Welcome to Wonderland! ...Hm? Pfft.. Ahem... Welcome to Wonderland!" The receptionist couldn''t resist a chuckle at the sight of Kim Minsoo.

    "Mom, I think that guy peed in his pants."

    "Shh, don''t say that. Don''t make eye contact and let''s go."

    "Dad! I want a toy like that eagle on his belt too."

    "Oh, Minwoo! You shouldn''t say such things loudly."

    Maybe being awakened makes even whispers echo in my ears. My supposedly blessed body is now the worst curse imaginable.

    "Wow, they''re really something else, parading around like that."

    "They look like a bunch of otakus gathering."

    It was utterly unfair. I wanted to scream that it wasn''t true.

    I''d rather do an emergency quest at this point...

    Kim Minsoo continued to mutter behind me. It was evident he had no intention of changing his clothes, but I needed something urgent to shift the narrative. Frowning and telling him to be quiet could only do so much.

    Hey, Mr. Double Chin, lend a hand and solve this mess will you...

    There was no way that rotund author could stand idly by as the situation deviated from his intention. Even if he was probably scheming my demise at this very moment, he couldn''t just ignore this situation. It didn''t add up.

    As if in response to my silent plea, when Yoomin attempted to hold my hand, a quest window materialized before my eyes.

    ———————————Emergency Quest Activated!

    [Hallucination Dungeon: Succubus Night] is starting!———————————

    Suddenly, the surroundings filled with white mist. The once lively Wonderland morphed into a dark, red-lit district of the night. The vibrant streets were replaced by a crimson glow, resembling a curtain descending.

    "I survived..."

    Perhaps this is better after all.