"How can this be!"
Loraine lamented beside Osian. If it were the usual Osian, he would have snapped at her for being noisy. But he couldn't do that now. Her anger was clearly due to his own mistake.
"I had such high expectations!"
"......There was a terrorist attack at the time, so it couldn't be helped."
Osian made excuses with just a slight sense of injustice. Thinking about the situation at that time, there wasn't enough leisure to ask for an autograph.
"Lies! You actually just forgot, didn't you!"
Loraine saw through Osian's lie with remarkable insight. Though it was closer to just throwing a tantrum, since it was the truth, Osian kept his mouth tightly shut. In reality, Osian had had a chance to get an autograph.
When had he ever carefully chosen his words considering the atmosphere? Even if the world was collapsing, if he needed something, he would have immediately asked for an autograph.
The reason he didn't was purely because he forgot. The reason Osian was listening to Loraine's whining was also for that reason. He was the one who made the mistake, and he was sorry about it.
Of course, Loraine was also ghostly quick-witted in this regard, so she didn't make any remarks or actions that crossed the line. She had ghost-like survival instincts and knew well that if she wrongly touched Osian's mood, there would be backlash.
"Anyway! I'm letting this slide for today!"
"......I'm so grateful I could almost cry."
In the end, unable to bear it, sarcasm slipped out. Of course, considering what he had received so far, it was merely a minor rebellion.
Still, it wasn't a bad feeling. There are such small daily pleasures in life.
But pleasure is ultimately momentary. Like a momentarily flickering light, it disappears with just slight traces. What replaced it was bleak reality.
"Sir Osian! Please help us!"
"Please give us strength to drive out those wicked pigs!"
"You're a hero, aren't you! Why won't you step forward!"
The protesters' shouts could be heard from beyond the glass windows. Osian shook his head as if he had a headache.
"Here they go again."
"I know, right. Don't those guys ever get tired of it?"
Loraine also frowned as if annoyed. As if the complaints she had been making to Osian were just jokes, undisguised displeasure clearly showed on her face.
It was understandable that Loraine was angry. Who would smile and let it pass when they're causing such noisy pollution outside? Only someone like Ronan, who always has a smiling face, could do that.
"These bastards, where do they think they are!"
"Get lost!"
Fortunately, the disturbance didn't last long. The fixers who followed Osian stepped forward and chased away the protesters.
Their fierce faces frightened ordinary citizens just by their expressions. Rather, it was a problem that there were too many of them. The small number of frightened protesters retreated.
"Don't those guys get tired either?"
Loraine muttered, glancing at the window. The protesters were one thing, but it seemed she was concerned about the fixers constantly stationed around Violet Fox.
"When they volunteer to help, it's hard to stop them."
"That's true too. Since the Broker Union officially recognized their activities, they seem to have become more active."
If the industry's evaluation of Osian had been split in half before, now most had turned favorable. This was because the Broker Union had officially come forward to support Osian.
"Honestly, it's good that the annoying protesters retreat quickly, but with them standing there like that, requests have decreased tremendously."
That was also true. With fierce-looking thugs standing menacingly from the entrance of the fixer office, where would people come to make requests?
"Besides, usually important requests all come from rich people, but given the current situation, that's not possible either."
The hero image was good. But in the current situation where the wealthy and the lower classes were in conflict, it was rather poison. Fixers, especially someone like Osian, mainly performed high-difficulty, well-paying requests.
The clients were mostly wealthy people. The very type of people that the protesters outside hated most. From their perspective, Osian was treated like a wealthy class killer, so it couldn't help but be awkward. What if they came to make a request and got their throat slit?
'It's an absurd thing, but such minor anxieties make people hesitate.'
And if this atmosphere continues, the image becomes fixed. It wasn't just Osian but all Violet Fox members as well. Even Basilio's requests completely stopped. It goes without saying how tremendous Osian's influence was.
"In the first place, who would come to make requests in such chaotic times? Most wealthy people want escorts, but they're scared of being stabbed in the back and won't even come."
The reason Loraine was hanging around Violet Fox was also for that reason. Since no requests were coming in, she was practically half-unemployed. Originally, when freelancers couldn't make money, they were basically unemployed.
"Sigh. I don't know how long this will continue either. At this rate, I wonder if we'll never make money. In the current situation, who would come to make requests to us?"
Ding-a-ling.
"Excuse me. This is Violet Fox, right? I came to make a request."
"......There is someone?!"
Loraine looked at the newly entered customer with surprise. Her eyes quickly scanned the customer.
Dark brown bob cut. She wore sunglasses on her face and a wide-brimmed hat on her head. The dress that looked simple yet glamorous was the modern girl fashion called Flapper that was popular among women recently.
Bing. Bing-ring.
A calculator instantly started working in Loraine's head.
"Welcome! What brings you here!"
Loraine's voice instantly brightened. As soon as Osian heard that voice, he thought:
'She immediately recognized that this is a profitable client.'
Loraine's eye for such things was trustworthy. Rather, it was scary how accurate she was. Osian also calmly examined the woman. The moment he saw the client staring intently at him, Osian felt déjà vu.
"Ah. You were here. I had a hard time finding you."
The client woman saw Osian, smiled brightly, and approached. Loraine asked Osian.
"What? Did you know each other?"
"Know each other......"
"That's too much. Did you forget me in the meantime? This is a bit hurtful to my pride. I thought I wasn't someone you'd fail to recognize anywhere."
When Osian still couldn't get his bearings, the client woman slightly lowered the sunglasses around her eyes.
"Now you'll recognize me, right?"
"......Rose Melody."
He could realize it the moment their eyes properly met. It was Loraine who was surprised by Osian's muttering.
"Eh, huh? Wa, wait a minute. Rose Melody, you say. What do you mean......"
"Fufu. You got it right as soon as I gave you a hint. How boring. If I had known this would happen, I should have made you more anxious."
Rose completely removed her sunglasses. Her beauty was fully revealed. It's a bit clichéd expression, but she had a radiant appearance.
"Your image has changed a lot."
The reason he didn't recognize her, whom he had just met recently, wasn't for any other reason. She had really changed beyond recognition. From her atmosphere to the length and color of her hair.
"Ah, this? I can't help it. If I go outside without any preparation, I attract too much attention."
Rose took off the hat she was wearing on her head. Then her bob-cut hair poured down like a waterfall and became long. The dark brown hair color also changed to the blonde that symbolized her. Silver light sparkled like stars in the brilliant golden color.
"You're carrying expensive items."
"I can't be hidden without doing this much. Ah, just so you know, I'm not bragging. It's really something I can't help."
"I know."
Unless some considerable magical treatment was applied, it would be impossible to hide her atmosphere. Looking at it now, the sunglasses were also an artifact imbued with magic.
"More than that, it's surprising. What reason brought you all the way here?"
"Of course I came for a request."
"To me? Since you're a customer, I won't treat you poorly, but you can't expect much."
Osian rang the bell placed on the bar table with a ting. Ena walked out of the kitchen holding a plate.
"What's the matter? Did a customer come?"
Ena looked at Rose and her pupils dilated.
-Crash!
The plate broke because she lost strength in her hands. But Ena couldn't even think of cleaning it up, her gaze fixed on Rose. Loraine was the same. She was so surprised she couldn't even speak properly.
"Please bring the customer a cup of tea."
Osian's words brought Ena back to reality. Ena nodded and hurriedly headed to the kitchen. She glanced at Rose who was already sitting in an empty chair without being told.
Osian sat across from her.
"So. You came to request something from me."
"Yes, that's right."
"You know how the situation is flowing, right?"
Osian didn't ask what kind of request it was. He brought up a more fundamental problem.
"My current situation is, honestly speaking, not very good. People are using my name and image in ways I don't want, as they please."
"Is that so? I've experienced that too, so it doesn't feel like someone else's problem."
Of course. There must have been many ups and downs before she climbed to the position of top diva. There must have been those who recognized her talent and tried to use it selfishly. Probably tremendously many. Even so, she stood proudly at the pinnacle.
Just looking at the boldness of casually coming to a place like this, you could tell she had an extraordinary character.
"Do you need an escort?"
"I haven't said anything yet, you know?"
"You said so in Celestia. That you would end your long break. Since you said you would make a comeback, you'll hold a grand concert, and if so, you'll need security personnel to prepare for any possible chaos."
Rose's eyes widened. She seemed not to have expected that Osian would think that far. But she soon curved her eyes and smiled broadly. She probably just purely expressed joy, but it was a devastatingly charming smile.
"Amazing. To deduce that far."
"You're requesting escort from me, I understand. I'm a fixer with outstanding skills. If I had to say, I'm at the top of the industry."
"You're honest."
"Because it's the truth as it is. But my current situation can't be said to be good. The moment you hire me, there will be aftershocks that follow."
"Are you worried about me?"
"At least I don't want to cause harm to others due to problems caused by me."
"You know, you're really strange."
Rose leaned her head forward slightly. Just that brought a sweet fragrance wafting over. It wasn't perfume. Her very existence had the power to captivate people. It was talent honed through extreme effort.
"Usually when I say this, everyone says it would be an honor and they'd gladly do it."
"I'm different from those guys."
"Right. You are different. Most people don't care about harming others, but you're actually worried about me. The reason I came looking for you is exactly because of that attitude."
If Osian had said sweet words like other people, or moved for his own desires and interests, Rose wouldn't have visited here.
Even if she had visited, once confirmation was over, she would have left without hesitation. But Rose was certain that her choice to come here was not wrong.
"My thoughts remain unchanged. Sir Osian, I want to hire you."
"As a security guard for the concert."
"Yes. Specifically, a bodyguard who will protect me from the closest place."
For a celebrity of Rose's caliber, security guards were essential. And not just one or two.
'Especially if she's holding a performance to commemorate her comeback, that number will increase tremendously.'
Naturally, she couldn't just fill the numbers with riffraff. She needed skilled people who could definitely protect her in preparation for any unexpected situations.
Osian pondered.
'Honestly speaking, there's no particular reason to refuse.'
Rather, he had gained another connection with her, who was the [Priest] class he had been looking for so much. Moreover, if Rose came looking for him directly, he would be escorting her from the closest place. There would surely be opportunities to have the conversations he couldn't have in Celestia.
'However, there are some anxious parts too.'
In this chaotic time, the massive bomb called Rose Melody was dropping. He couldn't predict at all what kind of results that would lead to.
Would it get better? Or would it go in the worst direction?
After much consideration, Osian gave his answer.
"How much is the compensation?"
Rose smiled brightly.