Reincarnated as a Housekeeper in a 19+ Gangster Romance Novel - Chapter 1

Reincarnated as a Housekeeper in a 19+ Gangster Romance Novel

Chapter 1

SYNOPSIS AND CHARACTER INFO - READ HERE

3 Gongs x 1 Shou | Omegaverse | Transmigration 

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"Boss!"

"Hmm?"

"Boss, you have to read this book!"

Over six feet tall with a muscular build and a menacing face, the man's hazy, unfocused gaze was incongruously gentle. Kim Hanyul, the man called "Boss," stared blankly at his subordinate, who was rushing toward him with a book.

"What's the fuss, Hanseo-ya?"

The man was Park Hanseo, Kim Hanyul's most cherished subordinate in the organization.

Park Hanseo was slightly taller than Kim Hanyul. Despite his imposing stature, he was the youngest member of the group, a vibrant 23 year old who often played the role of the group's beloved "baby."

"Boss, look at this!"

"...What is it?"

"Boss! This book is exactly what you need! You're already 38, aren't you?"

"That's right."

38 years old. Had it really been that long?

All I've done is fight, work, fight, work, over and over. I didn't even realize I'd gotten this old.

I guess I'm past my prime now.

It's strange. My body used to recover so quickly after waking up, but lately it feels as heavy as lead. That must be proof of my age. The passage of time feels particularly cruel today.

"But never even been in love... sigh, this can't go on, Boss! At least once before I die, I want to see you in love!"

Park Hanseo, veins bulging in his neck, was being his usual meddlesome self.

The youngest one talking about dying...

Absurd as it was, he decided to hear him out.

"Now that you've successfully unified all the gangs nationwide, there's nothing left to conquer, right? So why not take this opportunity to try love before it's too late?"

"...Romance... That's true."

Kim Hanyul nodded awkwardly, glancing at the book Park Hanseo held out.

But what's so special about this book that he keeps pushing it on me?

It must have something to do with the romance he just mentioned...

Hanyul felt a bit awkward, having never seen Park Hanseo reading before.

"This book will awaken the Boss's romantic instincts! It's the hottest book right now, so rare I had to stay up all night to get it!"

...A book like that exists?

"It's called A Secret Romance with the Housekeeper! Just like the Boss, the story is set in a gangster family, making it perfect for emotional connection!"

"Hmm..."

It looked boring at first glance. Hanyul doubted it would be helpful, and he didn't particularly enjoy reading anyway.

Just as he was about to refuse, Park Hanseo, despite his hulking frame, acted all cute and said, "Boss, please read it just once for me. It's all for you, I swear! You won't regret it, absolutely not!"

"...Really?"

"Yes! Just trust me this once!"

"If you insist... Fine. Give it here."

With Park Hanseo pleading so earnestly, he couldn't bring himself to refuse and reluctantly took the book.

The book was thicker than he'd expected.

When will he ever read this? He knew Park Hanseo would pester him about the contents until he finished it. Did I say I'd read it for nothing? Regret washed over him, but it was too late now.

...Ugh, this is such a hassle. I'll just skim it and pretend I read it. Whatever. I was bored anyway.

"Then have a good time, Boss!"

With those words, Park Hanseo left the room.

Left alone, Kim Hanyul glanced down at the book. A "19+" sticker was plastered on the cover.

The title, A Secret Romance with the Housekeeper, made the plot obvious at a glance. Kim Hanyul let out a hollow laugh. Does Park Hanseo think I'm still in middle school?

Does he really think I've never read a 19+ novel at my age?

With a dazed look, Kim Hanyul scanned the cover before opening the book. He figured he should at least read a few pages to acknowledge Park Hanseo's gesture.

As the title suggested, the protagonist was a housemaid.

A very busty, mature housemaid.

The story began in earnest when she entered the household of a gangster family.

This is really....

Explicit. No wonder it's rated 19+.

Every adult novel he had ever read felt fake, each page filled with content designed to cater to a man's fantasy. The story featured four brothers from a gangster family having affairs with their housekeeper—absurd scenarios that could never happen in real life.

But the author's writing was so compelling that the initial repulsion he felt before reading vanished as he turned the pages. By the time he realized it, he had finished the entire book, just as Park Hanseo wanted.

"...Ah."

He should give Park Hanseo an award.

He was right. He felt no regret whatsoever.

It had been ages since he read a book, and he'd never found one so easy to breeze through. Still, he doubted it would improve his love life. Glancing down at his newly revitalized lower body, he sighed deeply and stood up, intending to go to the bathroom to take care of things. But the moment he moved, he staggered, his legs giving way beneath him.

"...Huh? What's happening?"

His vision blurred. Having always been healthy, this sudden dizziness was alarming.

Stumbling forward a few steps through the swirling haze, Kim Hanyul collapsed onto the cold floor. His consciousness began to fade.

"...I can't... I can't pass out like this. If I collapse now..."

Despite his desperate attempts to stay awake, his vision gradually dimmed. He fought to hold on, but in the end, Kim Hanyul couldn't resist any longer and lost consciousness.

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"My head hurts."

He slowly opened his eyes, wincing at the throbbing headache that felt like his skull was about to shatter. An unfamiliar ceiling greeted him.

"...Where am I? Why am I here?"

Confused, he looked around. Everything in the room, not just the ceiling, was completely foreign to him.

Where on earth am I?

He couldn't hide his panic. His own room was spacious and grand, at least five times larger than this cramped space. How could he have lost consciousness and woken up in such a tiny room?

He slowly got to his feet. Thankfully, the splitting headache had vanished.

As he slowly surveyed the room, he found only a thin, worn-out blanket on the floor, a wardrobe, and an old mirror in the corner. Drawn as if by a spell, he approached the mirror.

"...Who are you?"

The question slipped out unconsciously. He was startled by the unfamiliar voice and clutched his throat in a panic. The strange man in the mirror mimicked his every move.

Though his eyes were vacant, he stood at least 170 centimeters tall, the average height for a man. His round face and eyes gave him an overall soft, rounded impression.

This punk looks as bright-eyed as a squirrel.

Yet the blankness in his gaze suggested something was off, as if several screws were loose.

Just like my usual self...

He raised his hand and pinched his own cheek.

"Ouch."

It hurt.

...It really hurt?

The slight furrow between his brows confirmed the pain. This wasn't a dream. It was reality.

The moment he realized this wasn't a dream, his mind began racing.

Why am I here? Who is this person? Where am I?

He needed information, and fast. In the past, he could have simply ordered his subordinates to investigate, but unfortunately, he had no subordinates here. Even if they were here, they wouldn't recognize him anyway, so he had to take matters into his own hands.

Forcing himself to overcome his usual aversion to effort, he quickly began searching the room.

There's nothing here...

After thoroughly searching the room, all he found was a wallet containing an ID card and an old phone. The ID card identified him as Park Gyumin, a fresh-faced 20 year old.

He didn't have much money in his wallet, and the contacts in his phone were barely one or two. Giving up on finding any information, he stared at the tightly shut door. It seems like he has no choice but to go outside. He approached the door.

"Hey!"

The doorknob twisted, and a voice as loud as a steam locomotive's whistle nearly shattered his eardrums. What's this? he thought, turning to see an uninvited guest standing boldly at the door.

He was a young man in his twenties, incredibly tall. Even for someone of average height like him, he had to crane his neck to look up at him.

A muscular build, bronze skin, bleached blond hair, and a flashy earring dangling from his ear. He looked like a thug, with fiercely glaring eyes. His first thought was, what a repulsive face.

Is he a gangster in training?

"What time is it? Why are you still sprawled out asleep? Aren't you supposed to be making breakfast?"

The man pointed a finger at him, and he glanced around. He was the only person in sight. Could he possibly be talking to me?

"You've barely been here a day and you're already slacking off. I've told you a hundred times. After morning workout, get breakfast ready immediately! Do my words mean nothing to you?"

"...Hmph, this little brat sounds like he swallowed a steam whistle."

"What did you say?"

Ah, I didn't realize I said that out loud.

Having been the Boss for so long, he had grown accustomed to speaking his mind without considering his subordinates' reactions. This slip-up was a result of that habit. For some reason, his energetic demeanor reminded him so much of his own men that he instinctively...

"Ah, my mistake," he said quickly, waving his hand dismissively. It was a gesture meant to brush it off. But the man clearly had no intention of letting it slide, his already fierce expression darkening further. He might have looked decent if he didn't scowl so much. Why did he have to make such a face all the time?

If he keeps that up, he'll be covered in wrinkles when he's old...

"...Relax your face a little. What's a young guy like you scowling like that for? Did a hungry ghost attach itself to you? Just give it some food, it's not a big deal."

The nagging came out naturally as if he was one of his subordinates. A hint of confusion flickered in the man's eyes.

Realizing that any further conversation would only hurt his ears, he brushed past him. Since that brat was whining for food, he figured he would just make him something to shut him up.

Though hard to believe, cooking was indeed his second-best skill after fighting. He often cooked for his subordinates, so making food for someone wasn't anything new. He left the room with the intention of quickly feeding him and shutting him up, but he froze in his tracks.

"...Where am I?"

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