I Became the Cute One in the Problem-Solving Team

The ugly girl you ignored turns out to be a breathtaking beauty.

This is a cliché reminiscent of a folktale passed down since the Bronze Age when houses were built from wood and straw.

It’s so stale it’s almost boring, and I can’t even be shocked by such a predictable situation anymore!

However, everyone who laid eyes on Aisha’s bare face couldn’t shake off the shock even after some time had passed.

Surely, they must have expected her face to differ somewhat from her makeup, but why was that?

The reason was simple: Aisha’s before-and-after was too extreme to comprehend.

“Uh… why are you looking at me like that? Oh, it’s your first time seeing my bare face, huh? It’s me, Aisha.”

“Yeah, I get that, but…”

Her face without makeup was a pure shock.

First of all, rather than being freakishly white like someone smeared flour or chalk on their skin, her complexion radiated a liveliness akin to peaches drenched in milk.

Her eyes sparkled like stars beneath impossibly long eyelashes, and her rosy lips asserted their presence under a perfectly shaped nose.

The faint droplets trailing down her chin lent an unexpected charm to her overall innocent aura, capturing anyone who gazed upon her.

It truly wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she looked sculpted with overwhelming beauty.

I felt a surge of anger thinking such a gem had been hidden behind terrible makeup.

“This is… completely beyond my imagination.”

“Wow, sister. You’re so beautiful!”

“…!”

“Th-thank you.”

I subtly gave a thumbs-up next to David and Alice, who were showering her with compliments.

Having seen the original work, I knew she was quite pretty, but I never expected her to be this stunning.

If I hadn’t gotten used to my own reflection, I might have also become spellbound by her terrifying beauty.

As I nodded along with this newfound sense of ease, Raven, who seemed to finally recover from the shock, looked at her and asked,

“Um… so, you mentioned wanting to request something new? Do you have the money?”

“Jin…”

“Hey, why are you looking at me like that? If this were a case of needing A/S due to a failed request, that’s one thing. But since it’s technically a success, if you have something to ask, you’ll need to pay again. We’re not volunteers here.”

“Well, you’re not wrong.”

It seemed he wasn’t strictly adhering to regular working hours.

In his usual laid-back manner, he directed his question at Aisha.

At the point when the identity of the Stalker was clearly revealed, the relationship between the fixer and the client should have ended.

However, if she intended to place another request, she could still be considered a client for now.

Of course, I felt it was overly harsh for Alice to push back against someone already going through a tough time… but it couldn’t be helped.

Once Bold’s identity was revealed as the Stalker, there was no way Idol activities could continue at that office. It turned out that there really was no mild solution available.

I wondered if Aisha thought similarly about that.

Seemingly unconcerned, she answered energetically,

“Yes, I think Raven’s opinion and method are correct! Honestly, I feel relieved in many ways! I’m glad I quit that company!”

“That’s right. Client satisfaction is what’s important. So, what request do you have this time? Maybe we could even get revenge on that manager or the bald guy? We can make them suffer as much as possible without crossing any legal lines.”

“Wow… Jin, saying that with such an evil look, you totally seem like a villain.”

“Fixers have the authority to pardon public property damage, minor violence, and some kidnapping acts within the scope of the request. If utilized properly, we can really make them shed tears.”

“Even you, David! Wait, are you really going to make them suffer? Are you for real?”

Raven, who pushed aside his empty glass, looked at Aisha, who had transformed into a much more pleasing sight, with a wicked grin.

Maybe it was because he resembled a slightly sinister handsome guy—it gave off the vibe of a really bad third-rate villain.

With David, who seemed super invested in Idol-related matters, on fire with enthusiasm, Alice showed a nervous expression.

Given that she was a former police candidate, it must have been quite distressing to plan to utterly bury someone.

Well, Aisha wasn’t intending to request anything so extreme, so she probably didn’t need to worry.

As I thought this and kept a chill demeanor while observing the situation, suddenly, Alice hugged me tightly.

“…?”

“Yuria shouldn’t become an adult like that, okay?”

“…!”

Honestly, I thought the guy Bold should get a reality check…

But if I said no here, it would surely shock Alice. So, I nodded vigorously as if to affirm her.

I wondered if our appearance together was quite pleasant.

Aisha chuckled while covering her mouth and then cleared her throat to speak with a serious look.

Well, she was about to say something serious. But then, the door to the café swung open forcefully, and someone dashed in here in a hurry.

“Whoooa!”

Crash!

Having seemingly lost control of their speed, the intruder tripped over their own feet and rolled near where we were sitting.

If things continued like this, they might collide with our table, potentially causing a scene!

Raven, who had risen slightly, stomped down on the intruder like handling a soccer ball, stopping him in his tracks.

That’s when the identity of the ruckus-maker became clear.

“Oh my, is that you, manager?”

“What? Isn’t that the stalking manager who was collaborating with that bald guy earlier?”

“Ugh…”

The red-haired man was none other than Aisha’s manager.

An accomplice who contributed to Aisha’s stalking under the guidance of Bold, the head honcho.

Naturally, he was someone who shouldn’t appear here, and Alice and David glared at him fiercely.

“What’s this guy doing here…?!”

“How thick-skinned can you be to show up after doing that?!”

What kind of face did he have to waltz in here, anyway?

Especially David, who seemed one misstep away from throwing a punch.

In an instant, it felt like the manager would get pummeled into a rag.

Just then, Aisha stood up quickly and restrained the visibly heated duo.

“Wait, hold on a sec. Please calm down. The manager is here at my request.”

“Aisha asked him to come?”

“Yes… Actually, while I was quickly off to take my makeup off, I received a message from my manager. He said he regrets what he did and truly wants to apologize…”

Um, is that really true?

Aisha took out a terminal from her pocket and showed us the messages exchanged with the manager.

Indeed, there was a conversation displaying the manager sincerely recognizing his mistakes and wanting to make amends.

But he was an accomplice. What could we believe about this guy…

David and Alice reluctantly sat back down, expressions suggesting they wanted to say something along those lines.

Once trust was lost, recovering it is nearly impossible.

Unlike Raven, who remained composed even in this situation, the two merely glared at the manager with visible anger.

But the manager, appearing sincerely regretful, plopped down on the clearly hard floor, smacked his forehead, and shouted,

“I’m truly… truly sorry! This was all my fault! No matter how desperate I was for money, I shouldn’t have accepted Bold’s offer! You can blame me, and I’ll take all of that! You don’t have to forgive this trashy me! But could you grant me just one chance to atone for my mistakes?”

“A chance? What do you mean by that?”

“I can explain why Bold did that to you… I can tell everything!”

The manager looked up at Aisha with his forehead red and swollen.

It’s okay if you don’t forgive me, but don’t refuse my desire to repent.

He shouted in a heartfelt voice.

Ugh, but if that’s the case, why bother harassing her in the first place?

I looked at Aisha, who appeared to be deep in thought, and discreetly used my telekinesis to smudge the cameras of those who had been drawn in by the commotion.

Such things can just cause trouble if left on camera. This was a preemptive measure to do it discreetly.

From their perspective, suddenly seeing the screen go blurry must have been quite disturbing.

While I darted my eyes around to interfere with the filming, it seemed Aisha and Raven exchanged a glance. She spoke calmly,

“Then, let’s move to another place. I don’t think this is a fitting place for such a conversation…”

“Sure. Let’s head to our office. There, it should be quiet enough to hear without any eavesdropping.”

Let’s continue the discussion at the office next. We said that and got up quickly.

This was certainly not the kind of talk meant to spill outside.

Perhaps due to Aisha’s looks, people were glancing our way. What are they looking at?

Anyway, upon returning to the Fixer Office, we all gathered in the reception room.

My seat was right next to Alice’s. Was this how a cherished doll feels?

As the atmosphere shifted back to discussing matters, the manager opened his mouth with a serious expression devoid of any humor.

“Where should I start… Well, I’ll begin with the Stalker case.”

First, he explained why Bold had aimed to drive Aisha out with a malicious stalker.

The reason was simple. There was a perception that the Maximized Idol was for the marginalized, and it would be troublesome if rumors spread that they were cast aside because they weren’t profitable.

Therefore, it was beneficial for the company to claim she’d voluntarily left due to a malicious stalker.

“Because of that… for only such a reason!”

“It’s not just a mere reason. Kodeoria is one of the leading agencies in the revitalized idol industry. Every single image can be a stepping stone to either advancement or decline. Of course, Bold, who had to terminate the contract with Aisha due to the company’s fault, must be in quite a pickle.”

The manager answered Alice, who was enraged while I pressed an ice pack to my forehead.

That’s how corporate image works. To build a good image, billions can be poured into donations, whereas a single bad image can cost billions in losses.

Having created a positive image by producing an idol for non-human races once, it’s no wonder they wouldn’t want to risk losing it even if it meant money was tight.

One mystery was resolved. However, the remaining questions piled up.

David, who had been lost in thought, raised his hand and asked,

“I have one more question. Why did Kodeoria make Aisha a Maximized Idol? With her looks, she could have significantly boosted the company’s sales.”

“That’s actually a combination of several unfortunate circumstances. Around the time Aisha just joined Kodeoria as a trainee, a group was scheduled to launch that included the children of investors. Naturally, they would have their eyes on that too. While they knew Aisha had the potential to generate income, if interest shifted to her, they’d lose an important investment option. In the end, Kodeoria chose one side.”

Ironically enough, that group was still struggling in the mid-to-low-range in results.

The manager lamented this folly, shaking his head.

Aisha was pitiful indeed, having been tossed into the muck without any support.

But no matter how many times I contemplated it, I couldn’t understand it.

Raven scratched his head and remarked, looking as if he thought they were completely foolish.

“Well, couldn’t they just leave her for a bit and then debut her later? That would benefit both sides.”

“Probably they were worried she might move to another company in the meantime. Given Aisha’s potential, she could definitely shine with proper training. But the limit for keeping her as a trainee existed… so they decided to debut her as a Maximized Idol, completely stripping her of individuality. It’s quite a cruel move, really.”

“I thought working as a Maximized Idol was also fun in its own way.”

Aisha said this while wearing a somewhat bittersweet smile.

She hadn’t dreamed of becoming the world’s best idol, but simply becoming an idol was her dream.

It seemed her thoughts became tangled upon realizing she had to quit after just three months, tossed here and there.

Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up as if having gained clarity.

She regarded Raven as if delivering the words she couldn’t finish earlier in the café, sitting up straight to convey her earnest request.

“Raven, I still want to be an idol! I’m willing to give you all the money I’ve earned so far. Can you make me into an idol again?”

Aisha danced with the exuberance of someone who had completely erased her previously timid demeanor, radiating the essence of a star.

In response, Raven leaned back on the sofa, casually throwing her a light reply.

“That sounds fun. Let’s give it a shot.”

“Yesss!”

“Whoa, David! Calm down, okay?”

Once again, shine bright like a sparkling idol!

Everyone in the office felt pumped up with excitement.