The entertainment agency Codria’s idol, Aisha.
She held a certain significance for me.
After all, she was the first person I sought out in Night Haven, even before the protagonist, Raven.
Looking back, it wasn’t for any grand reason.
When I first landed in this fixer world, she served as a benchmark to determine the timeline.
In truth, Aisha wasn’t a particularly prominent figure in the original work.
Still, thanks to her, I was able to confirm that this was before the story’s official beginning.
That alone made her presence invaluable, even if this was my first time meeting her in person.
‘That being said... Her makeup really hides her good features. No wonder she’s not popular. Honestly, it’s nightmare fuel.’
Wasn’t this a bit much?
I found myself sweating nervously as I stared at Aisha hesitating in front of the door.
My thoughts weren’t out of malice.
It was just that her makeup went beyond bold and into outright disastrous territory.
Her hair was styled in a two-tone bob, dark on the outside and light on the inside, and her lips were a deep, dyed blue.
Her distinct style might have caught attention if she were just passing by, but it wasn’t necessarily appealing.
Her skin was so pale it looked like she had powdered it with flour.
Her eyes were surrounded by heavy black smoky makeup, reminiscent of a panda.
To top it off, purple contouring shadowed her cheeks and jawline, ostensibly to enhance her bone structure.
Even in Night Haven, where the mingling of races had shattered most conventional beauty standards, Aisha’s look was enough to turn heads for all the wrong reasons.
"U-um..."
"...!"
Ah, this wasn’t the time to be dwelling on appearances. I had a job to do.
Snapping back to reality, I calmly invited Aisha inside.
Despite her intimidating exterior, I already knew that the real Aisha underneath was much more approachable.
That knowledge made it easier to acclimate to her apocalyptic makeup—though liking it was still out of the question.
"Ugh..."
"Oh my."
"...Ahem?"
When Aisha stepped into the office behind me, the three others inside were momentarily struck speechless.
Raven reflexively reached for his gun as if on autopilot, Alice clasped her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide, and David repeatedly adjusted his glasses, seemingly unsure if he was seeing things correctly.
It wasn’t exactly the kind of reaction you’d expect from people meeting an idol.
But perhaps because they were professionals being paid, they quickly masked their surprise and began interacting with Aisha with their usual calm demeanor.
"Ah, hello... This is the fixer office, right?"
"Yes, it is. Are you here to request a job?"
"Y-yes. It’s something I just can’t handle on my own..."
"Please, have a seat first. Yuria, coffee, please."
"...!"
After guiding Aisha to a seat, I hurried to prepare coffee and snacks as instructed by Raven.
At first, my efforts were clumsy, but after over three weeks of repetition, I’d gotten the hang of it. Making coffee had become oddly satisfying.
Returning with a tray of coffee and snacks, I saw that Aisha and Raven had already begun discussing the details of her case.
"You’ve been receiving threatening texts from unknown numbers, and photos of restaurants you’ve visited have been left in your mailbox?"
"Yes. It’s been stressing me out so much that I can’t even sleep properly. It’s starting to affect my work..."
"Hmm, that’s understandable. Dealing with a stalker is a serious issue."
The reason Aisha had come to the office at this time was clear.
Barely three months into her debut, she was already being tormented by a stalker, making it impossible for her to focus on her work.
The stalker followed her after events, and at their worst, had taken photos of her from behind inside her studio.
Convinced that she couldn’t resolve this on her own, Aisha consulted with her manager and agency before deciding to hire a fixer.
And the fixer they decided on was none other than Raven.
Watching them talk, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of amusement.
As someone who had read the original story, I already knew how this case would unfold and conclude.
‘I want to butt in and mess things up... But I shouldn’t, right?’
Even if I couldn’t speak, I exercised restraint.
This job was important not just for Aisha but also for the office.
It was the episode where David, still adjusting to the office, would finally find his place.
It marked the point where David stopped viewing Raven as just a benefactor and started seeing him as a reliable colleague.
For any other case, I might have considered stepping in, but here? No way. If a butterfly effect caused David to remain an outsider in the office, I’d never forgive myself.
I had to hold back. No matter what.
While I was lost in thought, staring blankly at the wall, their conversation seemed to wrap up.
Nodding in understanding, Raven turned to Aisha.
"Hmm, so you want us to catch this stalker and ensure they face proper punishment?"
"Y-yes!"
"Understood. Please leave your terminal number here, and take my business card. If you receive any new threats, contact this number immediately, and we’ll resolve the issue swiftly."
"Th-thank you! Thank you so much!"
"There’s no need to thank me. This is a business, after all. We’re just doing our job."
Even in the face of Aisha’s overwhelming gratitude, Raven maintained his calm, professional expression.
As expected of a master of the poker face.
If it were me, I’d have cracked even slightly. His focus when in work mode was truly impressive—this was the mark of a professional.
After that, nothing much happened.
Aisha signed the contract, left her retainer fee and terminal number, and departed.
Since stalkers rarely leave obvious traces, this wasn’t the kind of job that could be wrapped up in a day. It would inevitably turn into a long-term case.
Once Aisha left and the office was quiet again, Alice spoke up with a concerned expression.
"Hmm... I feel bad for Aisha. She seems like she’s really been through a lot."
"Once you deal with something like that, it’s hard to feel like you’re truly resting. But still, it’s crazy that even someone with her look gets stalkers. Some people are just weird."
"Jin! You can’t say that about Aisha!"
"Whoops, sorry. But you looked pretty surprised when you first saw her, didn’t you?"
"Ugh, w-well... I did think her look was... very unique..."
Alice, who had been scolding Raven, faltered when he pointed out her initial reaction, her eyes darting around awkwardly.
It seemed even she had unconsciously thought, Someone like her has a stalker?
Well, thoughts are private. As long as you don’t say them out loud, there’s no need to feel guilty.
David, however, seemed to have a different perspective.
Adjusting his glasses, he spoke with a peculiar excitement.
"Actually, her distinctiveness might be why she has a stalker."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Think about it. Until recently, the internet and media were dominated by races similar to humans. But over time, even races like tree spirits and merfolk, who weren’t accustomed to media consumption, have started adapting. Aisha was designed to appeal to these other races, with her exaggerated individuality as a maximized idol."
"Uh... wow..."
"Too long! So, basically, her extreme style is meant to stand out to non-human demographics?"
"That’s one way to put it."
David’s rare monologue left both Alice and Raven at a loss for words, clearly unsure how to respond.
I, on the other hand, clapped lightly with a grin.
Huh? Why was I enjoying such a convoluted explanation?
It was simple. David was... a huge idol otaku!
Seeing this side of him so vividly brought me joy as a fan of the original story.
He probably didn’t know much about Aisha as a minor idol, but his reaction when he realized she was a maximized idol? Priceless.
‘This is the most fired up I’ve ever seen David. Guess it’s his specialty.’
This being a story centered on these three as protagonists, it was only natural they each had distinct quirks.
Raven was a gambling addict obsessed with racing wyverns, Alice was a sucker for anything cute, and David? David was a die-hard idol maniac.
Apparently, he’d been converted into a full-fledged fan during his study-abroad days, attending concerts thanks to a persuasive roommate. But that’s a story for another time.
In any case, this episode was essentially David’s time to shine.
Not only would it resolve the office’s awkward atmosphere, but it would also help Aisha overcome her troubles with her agency.
‘Alright, I’ll just sit back and watch.’
With David in high spirits and Aisha came to drop off her commission safely, there wasn’t anything for me to meddle with.
This case was as good as solved.
What could possibly go wrong now?
*
The next day, we headed to Aisha's agency in the morning to prepare for catching the stalker.
Perhaps this place was specifically set up for unique talents like maximized idols.
Unlike Codria’s reputation for producing numerous top idols, this office had a smaller, more intimate feel, as though it bore the marks of personal care rather than corporate polish.
When we arrived, it seemed they were filming some kind of promotional video inside.
As we were led further in by an employee, we caught sight of Aisha, slinging a broken guitar over her shoulder and contorting her face into a fierce scowl.
"Hey! Are you listening, punks? If anything’s bothering you, just tell your big sis here! I’ll smash every one of their heads in! Got it?"
Gone was the timid, hesitant demeanor we had seen at the troubleshooter office.
Instead, she exuded the overwhelming presence of a crime syndicate boss!
From behind the filming area, Raven quietly muttered in disbelief.
"Are we sure she even has a stalker? She looks like she could beat them up herself."
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"Jin, you can’t say things like that."
"...She’s... impressive."
"Huh?"
"Excuse me?"
When David murmured that last part, his face slightly flushed, Raven and Alice turned to him in shock, visibly startled.
Ahahaha! I stifled my laughter, covering my mouth as I silently chuckled at their vivid reactions.
Ah, I’m so glad I came along. This was already shaping up to be entertaining.