Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: I Want to Clock Out
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The underground parking lot of the building housing Hero Hwa-young's office.
Naturally, I had no idea what kind of car she drove, so I followed her guidance to where her vehicle was parked.
True to the grandeur of the lavish building, every car in the underground lot was top-of-the-line.
Even someone like me, who couldn't care less about cars, couldn't help but stare at the flashy lineup.
"Hmm, which key did I hand over again...?"
Hero Hwa-young muttered to herself as she slowly scanned the parked vehicles.
"Um, isn't there just one car?"
"Huh? All the cars in this row are mine."
This was the wealth of a popular Hero...?
Her place wasn't the only jaw-dropper—Yoon Seol's house had been massive too. It seemed like top Heroes really raked in the cash.
'Well, no wonder she tossed around a manager's daily pay like it was pocket change.'
It all clicked—the way she'd casually edited the salary on the contract without batting an eye.
After arriving at the company, Hero Hwa-young and I stepped inside.
She'd definitely said...
"...I'm going to brag. At the company."
But what exactly was she planning to brag about? From our first meeting, she was impossible to read—this woman named Hero Hwa-young.
"Follow me. You."
She beckoned for me to come all the way inside the company.
"...Me too?"
"Of course."
Ugh. I didn't want to go.
"Oh. Hwa-young?"
The one who greeted me as she led me inside by the hand was a woman with a somewhat sharp impression.
"Ah, President. Hello."
From Hwa-young's words, she seemed to be this company's president.
She looked surprisingly young for a company head. The world was full of impressive people.
"Yeah, hey. What's up so early in the morning?"
"I came to see Princess, do you know where she is by any chance?"
The president made a slightly subtle expression at Hwa-young's words.
"...You're talking about Seol, right? She just headed out on patrol, so she'll be back in a while... Anyway, who's that with you?"
"Her day manager. I mentioned him before, I think."
"Ah, that guy..."
She eyed me up and down.
...Her expression carried a hint of discomfort.
"Sorry, but scandals are a sensitive issue for the company. I'd appreciate it if you were careful."
"Sure, sure."
Hwa-young brushed off the president's words lightly. I could roughly guess their dynamic now.
"Well, you'll handle it fine, Hwa-young."
With that, the president left.
"Too bad. No Princess. And I even brought Prince Charming."
"..."
I'd been skeptical about the "bragging," but sure enough...
Hwa-young's real goal had been to put me face-to-face with Yoon Seol.
'She thinks there's something special between me and Yoon Seol.'
She probably wanted to show Yoon Seol her new manager—me—and watch the reaction.
Putting two and two together, I decided to clear up Hwa-young's misunderstanding first.
"Um, Hwa-young."
"What? Just call me Hwa-young. Or plain Hwa-young works too."
"...Hwa-young. I have something to say. Could we move somewhere quiet?"
"Something to say...? Fine, follow me."
We relocated to a spot where no one passed by.
"This is the Heroes' lounge. Barely anyone comes here except a few. Say what you need to. You trying to spill some secret?"
'Yeah, no one will overhear us here.'
Confirming the coast was clear, I cautiously spoke to Hwa-young.
"Hwa-young, if you're still misunderstanding, I should clarify: there's nothing between me and Yoon Seol. Really."
"Hmm... Liar. After that hot embrace?"
The embrace—she must mean when I carried the "princess" all the way home.
...I'd suspected as much, but having witnessed it, she clearly wasn't buying my words easily.
If she'd just watched up close, there'd be no misunderstanding.
This was why tailing people was a bad idea.
'No choice.'
Out of respect for Yoon Seol's reputation, I'd held back, but to dispel this, I'd have to explain that day's events.
"Here's what happened..."
I slowly recounted the night Yoon Seol got wasted at my bar.
After hearing my full story, Hwa-young looked a bit deflated as she spoke.
"So, to sum up what you're saying..."
"Our Princess happened to visit your cocktail bar, got totally smashed one night and couldn't make it home, so you personally escorted her to avoid any trouble?"
Spot-on summary. Concise and to the point.
"And the princess carry?"
"She couldn't walk, so... no choice. It was pouring that day."
"Hmmm..."
Not entirely convinced, but she nodded anyway.
"So it was all my mistake. Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Hold it together, right hand. She's a woman. Can't hit her.
I gritted my teeth and replied.
"I... tried... to... Whew. Like I said, nothing between me and Yoon Seol."
"...Boring."
Doubt lingered in her eyes, but she seemed to accept it for now.
'Dodged a bullet.'
Just as I breathed a sigh of relief...
Creeeak.
The lounge door opened, and someone stepped in.
"..."
Long blonde hair down to her waist, striking blue eyes.
'Almost didn't recognize her without the hood...'
It was Yoon Seol.
"What? Patrol, huh? Back early, Princess?"
Hwa-young waved happily at the sight of her.
Yoon Seol responded with the coldest expression I'd ever seen on her.
"...Forgot something. Anyway, what brings you here... Huh?"
Her gaze landed on me mid-sentence...
"Boss? Why are you...?"
Her icy face instantly lit up with surprise.
"Ah, hello."
I gave her an awkward greeting, and she reverted to her usual demeanor.
"...Hello. So, what brings the Boss here?"
"Well, somehow I ended up as Hwa-young's day manager."
"Manager?"
Yoon Seol glanced back and forth between us, puzzled.
"..."
She suddenly fell silent, lost in thought.
"Hmmm."
Observing from the side, Hwa-young sidled up to me and...
"Hey!"
"H-Hwa-young?!"
With a "hey!" she latched onto my right arm.
At the same time, the soft sensation against my arm.
Like two water balloons... No, not the time for that.
"What are you doing?"
"Just thought our manager's so reliable."
Her nonsensical reply to my question.
Startled by the sudden contact, I tried to pull away, but her grip didn't budge.
'Right, she's a Hero...!'
As I despaired over the overwhelming strength gap...
Creeeak.
"..."
Yoon Seol silently watched our tussle, then quietly exited the lounge.
"Hehe."
Only then did Hwa-young release my arm, grinning like she'd won the lottery.
"What was that about?"
"Oh, just showing our Princess how close we are."
"...We're not that close."
Did she think Yoon Seol would get jealous or something?
'As if.'
She'd walked out without a flicker of emotion, even after Hwa-young suddenly hugged me.
"And I just told you—nothing between me and Yoon Seol."
"Hmmm... Maybe?"
She trailed off, staring into my eyes.
'...She's pretty, though.'
Would be perfect if her personality were better.
"Alright, time's up. Let's get to work. Oh right, good luck with manager duties today."
"Likewise..."
The manager gig hadn't even started, and I already wanted to clock out.
'Can I really pull this off today...?'
'Ah, forgot my phone...'
I'd returned to the company mid-patrol to grab my forgotten phone.
"Just thought our manager's so reliable."
...And ended up seeing something I wished I hadn't.
I'd felt off since yesterday when Hwa-young brought up the cocktail bar.
Never imagined the new manager would be the Boss.
I didn't know the full details of how it happened, but one thing was clear.
'She approached the Boss on purpose to poke at me.'
She probably misunderstood some special connection between the Boss and me.
That's why she linked arms with him right in front of me to provoke.
"Haa."
A sigh escaped naturally as I pieced it together.
"...Why's she like that?"
Had I done something to get on her bad side?
'Can't think of anything.'
If anything, when Hwa-young first joined our company, I'd even admired her a bit.
Being so active in the media while managing her image flawlessly—it was impressive.
"Haa. Whatever."
I waited in the bathroom a bit, then returned to the lounge once I figured they'd left.
"..."
Good, they were gone.
'Ah, there it is.'
As I picked up my phone, a thought crossed my mind.
'No way they're actually dating... right?'
Nah, probably not.
The Boss looked startled when she grabbed his arm. Yeah, that's right.
'...Even if they are, it's not like it matters to me.'
Still, my chest has felt so tight lately.
Maybe I should see a doctor.