Chapter 2 – The Assistant's True Job
The enormous garment factory buzzed with life as workers hurried between departments.
Kame stood quietly beside Joshen, still trying to process everything he had learned since arriving in this world.
Yesterday he had been Jake Park.
Today...
He was Kame Kousle, assistant to one of the wealthiest yet most troublesome heirs in the country.
Taking a cautious step forward, Kame cleared his throat.
"Sir... if I may ask."
Joshen didn't even bother looking at him.
"What?"
"What exactly would you like me to do today? It's my first day as your assistant."
A brief silence followed.
Then Joshen lazily waved a hand.
"I don't care."
"...Pardon?"
"Do whatever you want."
He stretched in his chair.
"I'm not interested in work."
His answer was as irresponsible as Kame had expected.
Yet...
Something felt different.
Yesterday, every word Joshen spoke dripped with irritation.
Today, his voice was still rude...
...but the hostility had faded ever so slightly.
Kame's memories described him as unbearable.
Then why doesn't he seem quite as bad?
The thought lingered only for a moment before Kame shook his head.
Forget it.
I've got enough problems already.
If Joshen wasn't going to explain anything, someone else would.
Fortunately, the employees welcomed him without hesitation.
One senior designer patiently introduced him to the workflow.
Another explained how designs were reviewed before entering production.
A third walked him through shelves filled with fabrics from every corner of the country.
By the time they finished...
Kame finally understood his role.
"So my job is to finalize selected designs before they're approved for production?"
"Exactly," the designer replied.
"It's tedious at first, but you'll get used to it."
Kame nodded.
"...That doesn't sound too bad."
He took a seat, picked up a pencil, and began examining the first sketch.
At first, he simply followed the instructions left by previous designers.
Adjust the collar.
Refine the stitching pattern.
Change the sleeve length.
Simple.
Mechanical.
Nothing more.
But after finishing several pieces...
He found himself making tiny improvements of his own.
A slightly different pattern...
A cleaner cut here...
This color would match better...
Without realizing it, he had stopped following instructions.
He had started creating.
Hours slipped by unnoticed.
The mountain of unfinished sketches beside him slowly disappeared.
"...Finished."
Kame leaned back and stretched.
Only then did he notice several employees staring at him.
"...Did I make a mistake?"
One of them smiled.
"You've been working for almost five hours."
"...Five?"
"You didn't even stand up once."
Kame blinked.
He hadn't noticed.
A quiet smile formed on his face.
So this is what creativity feels like...
Back on Earth, everything had revolved around formulas.
Experiments.
Research.
Results.
There had always been a correct answer.
Here...
There wasn't.
For the first time in his life...
He had created something simply because he wanted to.
"...I kind of like this."
As evening approached, Kame gathered the completed designs with a satisfied sigh.
First day survived.
Maybe this world wouldn't be so terrible after all.
A shadow suddenly fell across his desk.
Joshen.
He leaned down until his face was only inches away.
A disturbingly gentle smile spread across his lips.
"Oh..."
"What lovely work."
Kame instinctively straightened his posture.
"...Thank you?"
Joshen's smile widened.
"But..."
He lightly placed a hand on Kame's shoulder.
"The real work begins now, darling."
...
Silence.
Kame's heartbeat quickened.
Real work?
Was there another department?
Late-night meetings?
Security patrols?
Joshen slowly turned toward the mansion.
"Come."
Half an hour later...
They arrived home.
Kame followed Joshen through several hallways before stopping outside an enormous bedroom.
Joshen casually opened the door.
"Come inside."
Kame obeyed.
The room was strangely quiet.
No documents.
No hidden office.
No secret assignment.
Just...
A large bed.
Kame frowned.
"...Sir?"
Joshen folded his arms.
"Your final duty."
"...Yes?"
"Put me to sleep."
"..."
"..."
Kame waited.
Surely there was more.
"There isn't."
Joshen looked genuinely confused.
"Why are you still standing there?"
"...Sir..."
"...You want me to..."
"Sing."
Kame stared.
"...A lullaby?"
"Obviously."
Another long silence.
Kame's mind completely shut down.
No.
There has to be another explanation.
Maybe this is some ancient ritual.
Maybe nobles in this country all do this.
Maybe—
"My previous assistants all resigned."
Joshen sighed dramatically.
"None of them possessed true artistic talent."
He placed the back of his hand against his forehead.
"A tragedy."
Kame resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands.
This...
This is the reason they quit?
He knew exactly three lullabies.
And he couldn't remember a single lyric.
His mind raced desperately.
Then...
A memory surfaced.
His mother.
When he couldn't sleep as a child...
She never sang.
She told stories.
Stories about his father.
Stories filled with humor, mistakes, and warmth.
Kame took a slow breath.
"...Once upon a time..."
Joshen quietly closed his eyes.
"There was a man who somehow convinced two women to marry him during his lifetime..."
Minutes passed.
Kame continued speaking.
The story wasn't perfect.
Sometimes he forgot details.
Sometimes he laughed at memories halfway through.
Yet he continued.
Without realizing it...
Joshen's breathing had become slower.
Steadier.
Until finally...
Silence.
He was asleep.
Kame stared for several seconds.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
He quietly pulled the blanket over Joshen before leaving the room.
As he collapsed onto his own bed that night...
Only one thought remained.
How did my life end up like this?
The following morning...
Something impossible happened.
During breakfast...
Joshen was polite.
He greeted his parents.
He thanked the servants.
He even apologized for arriving late.
Kame nearly dropped his spoon.
Across the table, Mr. and Mrs. Gramela exchanged stunned looks.
Mrs. Gramela's eyes became watery.
Mr. Gramela slowly stood.
"Joshen..."
His voice trembled.
"My son..."
"If there's anything you want..."
"Anything at all..."
"Just ask."
For the first time...
Joshen answered without arrogance.
"I want another chance."
Silence filled the room.
"I know I've accomplished nothing."
"I know I've disappointed everyone."
"But before I inherit anything..."
"I want to discover what I truly want to do."
He lowered his head.
"...And someday..."
"I'd like to meet someone I can genuinely love."
No one spoke.
Kame looked between the three of them.
...Did I wake up in the wrong universe?
The carriage ride to the factory was unusually quiet.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Kame finally asked,
"Sir..."
Joshen glanced sideways.
"...Yes?"
"What happened to you?"
"Hm?"
"This morning."
"You were completely different."
Joshen stared at him for several seconds.
Then...
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"...Different?"
He chuckled.
"Oh..."
"So you believed it too."
Kame frowned.
"...Believed what?"
"My performance."
The grin widened.
"A little guilt."
"A little sincerity."
"A few carefully chosen words."
He shrugged.
"It's amazing how easily people believe what they want to hear."
Then he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha..."
The laughter grew louder.
"...KHAAHAHAHA!"
"You actually thought I'd changed?"
"You people are unbelievably easy to fool."
Kame sat in stunned silence.
...I almost believed him.
That night...
Kame climbed into bed earlier than usual.
He had already accepted his strange new life.
Tomorrow would surely be more normal.
...
Knock.
Kame opened his eyes.
He glanced toward the clock.
2:00 a.m.
Another knock echoed through the room.
He walked to the door and opened it.
Joshen stood outside.
His hair was slightly messy.
His expression was unreadable.
After several silent seconds...
He spoke.
"...Sing the story again."
This time...
Something was different.