Harem Quest: Love or Escape?

Chapter 11: I Hate Become Your Fans!

Kai muttered to himself just before returning to the checkpoint.

Suddenly, a familiar notification popped up:

[Hyo-Rin hates you. Mission failed!][Penalty applied! You have died!][Skill activated: Returning to Checkpoint!]

"Ahem, what's wrong, Bakachin? Answer me—what did you think of my performance?" Hyo-Rin was standing right in front of him again, looking at him expectantly.

Kai sighed internally. Alright, back at square one. This time, I'll be prepared.

He straightened up, forced a confident smile, and strolled toward Hyo-Rin with exaggerated casualness. "Oh hey, Hyo-Rin! Your performance tonight was absolutely amazing. I feel like I'm your number one fan now."

Hyo-Rin tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Really? Hehe, what did you like most about it?"

Kai froze for a second. He hadn't thought that far ahead. "Um... everything. Especially... um... your figure! Yeah, your figure! It was... inspiring!"

Before Hyo-Rin could react, Kai lunged at her like a man possessed.

"Wha—what are you doing?!" Hyo-Rin shrieked, reaching for her pistol. But Kai anticipated it this time and grabbed her wrist before she could aim.

With lightning speed, Kai knocked the pistol from her hand. It clattered across the floor. He wrapped his arms around her in what could only be described as a chaotic bear hug.

"KYAA! STOP IT!" Hyo-Rin flailed wildly as Kai's hands moved in frantic directions—chest, stomach, hips. His eyes were wild with panic and desperation.

Meanwhile, Kitty, Hyo-Rin's ever-loyal bodyguard, charged in like a rhino, but Kai ducked just in time. She missed him by inches.

"I'M ALMOST DONE!" Kai howled, running his hands over Hyo-Rin's hips like a madman. "THERE. DONE." He abruptly let her go, leaving her sprawled on the floor, breathless.

"W-what... was THAT?!" Hyo-Rin gasped, her face red.

Before anyone could process what just happened—

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Kitty had grabbed Hyo-Rin's pistol and shot Kai three times in the chest.

"I'm disappointed in you, Bakachin," Kitty said, looking at him with a mix of sadness and rage. "I thought you were different. But you're just like all those perverts trying to get close to my master."

Kai crumpled to the ground, a weird, blissful grin on his face as the darkness swallowed him.

[Hyo-Rin hates you. Mission failed!][Penalty applied! You have died!][Skill activated: Returning to Checkpoint!]

Once again, Kai heard Hyo-Rin's familiar, high-pitched voice.

"What's wrong, Bakachin? Answer me—what did you think of my performance?"

Okay, okay. Third time's the charm, Kai thought, steeling himself. This time, he was determined to play it cool.

"I thought you were incredible, Hyo-Rin. Your performance was so full of energy and passion," Kai said smoothly. "I've never been more impressed. I'm officially your biggest fan."

Hyo-Rin blushed. "Heh, you're sweet. Okay, if you're really my fan, here's a question: What's my bra size?" She gave him a mischievous smile.

Kai's eye twitched. "Rin-chan... that's a ridiculous question. Of course, I know the answer. You're a D-cup. Bust: 92 cm. Waist: 60 cm. Hips: 88 cm. I've memorized it all."

Hyo-Rin's jaw dropped. "How did you—?!"

Kitty's eyes widened. "Impressive... but creepy."

Kai grinned smugly. "Oh, and there's more. You're not really a D-cup."

"W-what are you talking about?!" Hyo-Rin's face turned pale.

"Your actual size is C-cup—88 cm! You wear padding on stage because you're self-conscious about your size compared to the other idols," Kai declared, pointing at her dramatically. "You've been wearing less padding tonight, so it's obvious!"

Kai pointed at Hyo-Rin, exposing her secret. Hyo-Rin's eyes widened in disbelief.

"How... how do you know that?" Her hands trembled as she reached for her pistol, her face flushed with embarrassment and fury. She aimed it straight at Kai's forehead.

"Master, please calm down!" Kitty tried to intervene, but Hyo-Rin was too consumed by emotion.

Kai found himself staring down the barrel of a gun. Yet, oddly enough, he didn't flinch. His gaze remained calm and steady, which only made Hyo-Rin more nervous.

Slowly, Kai reached up and gently placed his hand over hers. He pushed the pistol down with a firm but tender grip.

"Rin-chan," he said softly, "I don't care about your actual size or any of that nonsense. What I care about is you—Charlotte Hyo-Rin. The person you are, both in body and soul. That's what I admire. That's what I'll support. Because I'm your true fan."

Kai's hand found hers, holding it gently but firmly, as if to say I'm not letting go.

Hyo-Rin's face turned beet red. Her grip on the pistol weakened until it slipped from her fingers and clattered to the floor.

"Bakachin... you... I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were so sincere," Hyo-Rin whispered. She grasped his hand tightly and pressed it against her chest.

Kai's face instantly turned the color of a ripe tomato. He could feel her heartbeat—and, uh, other things—through her clothes.

"N-not a problem, Rin-chan. I'll always be here for you," Kai said, doing his best to sound gallant. I just need to finish this ridiculous harem quest, get her affection level to 1, and then I'm out of here.

Unfortunately, Kai had just made a terrible miscalculation.

"Really? You'll always be there for me?" Hyo-Rin's eyes sparkled with new determination. "Then I accept you as my assistant!"

"W-wait, what?! Assistant for what?" Kai's brain screeched to a halt.

"I'm a spy," Hyo-Rin declared. "A top-secret agent for both the U.S. and South Korean governments, assigned to take down the YBD criminal syndicate in Tokyo. They specialize in human trafficking, and I've been undercover as an idol to get close to their leaders."

Kai's jaw dropped. "Come again?"

"I've only had Kitty as my partner. But now, Bakachin, since you're my true fan... will you be my assistant spy?"

"Assistant... spy?" Kai echoed. He vaguely remembered reading something like this in the trashy harem novel by Kamiyama Ai—the one where Hyo-Rin ropes Haruto into helping her fight criminals. But that scene didn't happen until after her affection level hit 1!

"How is this happening so soon?" he muttered under his breath.

"Well? What's your answer, Bakachin?" Hyo-Rin asked. She pulled off her gloves and extended her hand toward him, waiting for a handshake.

Kitty gave a rare smile. "We're counting on you, Bakachin."

Kai groaned internally. If I say no, this quest will never end...

"Alright," he said at last. "I'll do it. I'll be your assistant spy. Please take care of me, Rin-chan. Kitty." He grasped Hyo-Rin's hand and gave it a firm shake. @@novelbin@@

A familiar notification dinged in his mind:

---

[Physical contact detected!]View heroine's status:Name: Charlotte Hyo-RinAffection Level: 1/5Thoughts: "Finally, I found my true fan. I'm so happy."

...

[You have successfully completed the Quest! Increase Charlotte Hyo-Rin's affection level to 1. (Complete!)]

[Congratulations! Hyo-Rin has opened up to become one of your heroines!][Hyo-Rin's Affection: 1/5]

---

Kai felt a huge wave of relief wash over him. Finally. It's done. I can move on to the next—

"Here's your pistol, Bakachin." Hyo-Rin suddenly handed him a Glock 17. "And here's your uniform."

Kai blinked at the skin-tight black spy suit. "W-where did you even get this? And wait—don't tell me..."

"Oh, we're going on a mission tonight!" Hyo-Rin declared cheerfully.

Kai's eyes bulged. "WHAT?!"

"Hehe, of course!" Hyo-Rin grabbed Kai's wrist and dragged him toward a sleek, black getaway car parked just outside.

Kitty hopped into the driver's seat, looking focused and battle-ready.

"Alright, let's go bust some criminals!" Hyo-Rin shouted with enthusiasm.

"Can I just take a nap first?" Kai mumbled, staring at the Glock in his hand as the car sped off into the night. This trashy harem novel was officially turning into a spy-action thriller.

I'm doomed.