002. This is Shithole ~Despair Arc~ (Complete)
Spring. The green leaves were pale in color. The delicate tips of life, like thin jewels, shimmered in pale yellow under the bright sunlight. Branches swaying gently in the breeze, couples holding hands and savoring sweet moments, elderly spouses resting on a bench. The spring scenery sparkled like that.
Han Yu-ra and Im Seong-u sat at an outdoor café table, gazing at each other. The two of them were dreaming entirely different dreams.
Han Yu-ra looked at Im Seong-u and smiled to herself. 'Sorry, Seong-u. I don't love you.' And she added a footnote. 'Sex isn't bad... but it doesn't feel like it'll lead to love. It won't go the way you want, probably?'
There was hope in her heart. But it wasn't about love. It was about business.
'Finishing development in a month is impossible.' Even Han Yu-ra knew that. With the server files inexplicably deleted, she wasn't so heartless as to demand they fill the gap in just a month.
'Still, thanks for accepting the offer.'
She thought about her own feelings. And like a true merchant, she weighed the pros and cons.
'Am I taking a loss here?'
-1 year as a slave
-VS-
1 year as a shithole company programmer
Which was the bigger loss? Han Yu-ra pondered it briefly, then forgot about it. The decision was already mostly made. No need to dwell on it anymore. As long as the company did well, that was enough. If Im Seong-u worked hard, she'd have nothing more to ask for.
'You know that, right, Im Seong-u?'
She thought his black hair went well with the clear blue sky. She also figured he wouldn't forgive her, or even believe her. It wasn't something a few romps in bed could fix.
'I'll show you.'
Han Yu-ra intended to treat him well. Now she understood. How much attachment he had to the game Sepiros Online.
'I'll give you a reason. A reason to stay in this company.'
And maybe soothe your heart a bit in the process.
'So, we'll probably need to negotiate terms?'
The environment he wanted. Salary. Authority. She'd accommodate as much as she could. Otherwise, Im Seong-u would surely leave.
That was why now was the real start, and she was curious about his cards.
...
I've been obsessed with calculations since I was a kid. Between a year as a submissive or a year slaving away at a shithole company, which was the bigger loss?
'I'd rather be the submissive.'
If the master abused me, it'd suck, but if they left scars, I could sue for assault. At least they wouldn't pull all-nighters, right? Anyone who's been a human lightbulb coding in Pangyo would get it.
'Better to get fucked quick and move on. Wash up and done.'
Even if it was with a guy. I stopped that shitty imagining.
Anyway, my conclusion after thinking all morning was one thing. I had to dominate Railroad Software.
'Kim A-ram... Im Su-yeon. I won't let you two look happy.'
Even if the company tanked, Kim A-ram and Im Su-yeon wouldn't take any responsibility. They'd just say management issues killed the project and jump to a mid-sized firm. Then, after grinding there a bit, they'd realize.
'Oh, programming is this tough? Maybe I was a little wrong to Im Seong-u? Teehee~★!'
I desperately erased that image. If Kim A-ram pulled a "Teehee~★!", I might actually swing a knife (physical) in real life.
And what about Han Yu-ra? She wasn't an idiot. No idea why she acted so stupidly. Everyone makes mistakes. With some debt and hardship, she could succeed. Her IQ was at least 70 points higher than Kim A-ram's.
If Han Yu-ra succeeded? She'd be at some "20 Korean Female Entrepreneurs Invited Lecture" or whatever.
'There were really tough times. I wanted to die. Our programmer quit, so we had to take on debt. But we succeeded like this. ...(vague self-improvement talk and storytelling)... Business is about persistence. With persistence, you can pay off debt and become Korea's top mid-sized CEO. Like me. I had a big clash with a programmer back then, but now I don't even think about it...(etc.)'
Just thinking about it was horrifying. It pissed me off.
I'd end up as scattered dust from past fragments. Even if I bolted from Railroad and started my own indie game company and hit it big, it'd still annoy me. Jealousy requires a certain level of intelligence, after all.
Would Kim A-ram and Im Su-yeon regret looking at me, or just rationalize it away? 100% the latter.
'Fucking hell.'
Han Yu-ra obsessing over me was a baseline necessity, but I wanted to dominate this company even more.
I watched Han Yu-ra slurping her strawberry milkshake. Pink juice slipped between her small, plump lips. Her oddly confident vibe rubbed me the wrong way.
'You wouldn't get it.'
Han Yu-ra stirred the strongest emotions in me. Even more than anger. More resentful than Kim A-ram, who clashed with me directly, or Im Su-yeon, who acted all bitchy beside her.
Han Yu-ra's IQ was at least 70 points higher than Kim A-ram or Im Su-yeon's. You could tell from her speech alone. It pissed me off that someone that smart fell for Kim A-ram's crap, and didn't even try to understand me.
In summary... I hated her strong image as the betrayer. We'd been so close in our senior year of college, and now this change hit hard.
My heart was a mess.
'I... you...'
The primary culprits were Kim A-ram and the Im Su-yeon crew. But the one I wanted to ■■ was always Han Yu-ra.
So, if I was going to work at Railroad, there was one condition I absolutely had to set.
"Of course. You probably guessed, but starting Monday comes with conditions."
"...Yeah. I figured."
"I can't work like before."
"Seong-u. I'll do better."
How many girlfriends had said that to me? It sounded good. But words are easy. I had no reason to trust her.
'I hate empty promises.'
I told Han Yu-ra what I wanted.
"Give me a director position."
A director role meant responsibility, but in reality, it was different. Especially in a tiny company like this. Even if it tanked, they rarely pinned direct blame. Unless it was an extreme fuckup entirely my fault, the risk was basically zero.
"Hmm..."
Han Yu-ra touched her lips. It was probably a tough ask for her. Recommending a new executive naturally required "approval" from the investors.
Even with her holding about 89% of the shares. She was the weak one without money; Angel Ventures was the strong one.
Plus, rehiring and promoting a fired employee to executive? That could give them an excuse for management interference.
'But without this, I'm out.'
Working under Han Yu-ra? Pass. Back to taking Kim A-ram's planning docs? I'd sooner reenlist. Private life was way better for mental health, honestly.
"And I need authority to interfere in other departments too."
"Got it. I'll try my best..."
She sighed weakly. She seemed much sharper than yesterday, but still burdened.
Han Yu-ra pleaded earnestly.
"In return... I, I know I have no right to say this to you, but work hard too... please."
I furrowed my brow a bit.
'The CEO... talking back?'
Still. Her lowering her gaze and admitting her own shamelessness was appealing. But it didn't change what pissed me off.
'A CEO talking back to a developer!'
Tonight, I'd instill some obedience. Why? Because a CEO submitting to a developer is just "common sense," right?
"And Kim A-ram and Im Su-yeon don't deserve any shares. You think so too, right?"
"Yeah."
Han Yu-ra's response had no hesitation. A strange disgust lingered in her eyes. She probably felt betrayed. Her clubmates turning rotten like that.
"Give those shares to me, plus extra."
"...I'll discuss it."
"Yu-ra. You're not in a position to negotiate."
She bit her lip. But it wasn't an unacceptable condition, so she nodded.
"Okay..."
Han Yu-ra said. Her voice trailed off, but you could tell she was already brainstorming solutions.
I emphasized one last time.
"And remember, Han Yu-ra."
"...What?"
"Pretend we're boyfriend-girlfriend in public, but I won't see you as my girlfriend for real."
"...Okay."
That sad expression was probably part of her push-pull game. I added a few more words.
"So from now on, you pay for dates."
Han Yu-ra's face soured. Her eyebrows twitched, sending a twisted pleasure through me.
'A woman paying for dates?'
By my standards, that was pure love.
...
And so the next week arrived. Before heading in, Han Yu-ra announced it to the Railroad Software employees.
"Seong-u."
"What."
"Wait out front. I need to brief the team first."
No prior notice? Infuriatingly shithole, but whatever. Not many shitholes dealt with this exact scenario.
Han Yu-ra arrived, exchanged brief greetings, then spoke authoritatively.
"...Attention."
"..."
"..."
"...Yeees~."
Who the fuck said "Yeees~" at the end? The others at least looked a bit guilty about deleting the server files. But the last one sounded like they'd lost all memory over the weekend.
'Obviously Kim A-ram.'
Hearing her voice again made me feel cancerous. I wanted a health checkup.
Han Yu-ra continued.
"You guys are employees, so you probably know."
"..."
"The server wipe was a massive fuckup. No backups either... From my view, it's a total shitshow. Anything to say?"
"Um, President, that..."
'Ah, fucking hell.'
Kim A-ram interrupting. That alone made me want to die. If I had a gun, I'd shoot myself before her.
"Quiet."
Thankfully, Han Yu-ra cut her off authoritatively.
"So, I brought Im Seong-u back."
"..."
"..."
"W-what?!"
Jackpot, Kim A-ram! Fighting! Always boldly speaking up—so cool! I'm falling for you!
'Fucking bitch...'
"And... after discussions, Im Seong-u is now a director. Think of him as roughly the CTO. Makes it easier."
"Wait, President... this doesn't make sense..."
"Kim A-ram. You, right?"
"...Huh?"
Han Yu-ra dropped all formality. Like she wasn't worth it.
"The one who wiped the server."
Kim A-ram stammered.
"Uh, th-that... n-no, wh-who, wh-who has proof?!"
'Definitely that bitch.'
No one but that beast would delete the server. I'm certain. Or my hand on it.
"Anyway... starting today, Im Seong-u will work here as a 'director.' His practical role is CTO, but given our company size, he has authority to give you orders too."
"No way..."
"Im Seong-u! Come in!"
Of course, Kim A-ram's words weren't worth hearing.
I opened the door and entered the office. Kim A-ram stared in terror. Han Yu-ra was oddly flushed. Im Su-yeon was rolling her eyes wildly, scouting which side to switch to. Yoon Se-hee was... her usual nerdy self. She shrugged her shoulders and nodded awkwardly at me.
An awkward, uncomfortable atmosphere. But my mood was at its peak.
"Hello."
Hello, you fucking laws. Now I'll make you all my bitches—
"This is Director Im Seong-u. Nice to meet you."