Second Manager Contract
Baek Sehee remained silent for a moment. She just stared at me.
I can't stop here. I have to keep talking.
I had to break this awkward silence somehow.
"Of course, my time on the job was very short... but I did manage an EX-rank Awakener, right?"
Baek Sehee's face was still expressionless.
"Even if it's just odd jobs, I'd love it if you'd hire me, Sehee."
"………."
Still no response from Baek Sehee. The atmosphere was ice-cold. Colder than before, even. After I'd laid everything out, this was her reaction? The courage I'd mustered with all my resolve shriveled up like a lie.
Maybe it was too much to ask. Or bringing up Kang Haneul really was a mistake.
"T-to be honest... I don't really have anywhere else I can work... Could you hire me...?"
I shrank back without realizing it. In the end, I added it on in the most servile way, watching her every reaction.
And at that moment, Baek Sehee's lips moved.
"Oh my…."
With those words, the frozen expression on Baek Sehee's face melted away like spring sunlight thawing winter ice. Her rigid features softened, and that gentle smile returned.
"Now that I've heard you out... I think Yujin's idea is a good one."
"...Yes?"
I thought my hearing had gone wrong. Just moments ago, she'd been glaring at me with eyes like absolute zero.
And now suddenly my idea was good?
"Uh... so you're okay with it?"
"Yes, very much so."
Baek Sehee nodded.
...Phew.
I let out a sigh of relief. I didn't know why, but it seemed Baek Sehee had changed her mind.
But... something felt off. Just before, she'd been so cold and stiff, and now her attitude had flipped like that. Why? What had caused it?
Doesn't this feel... weirdly similar to Kang Haneul?
Looking back now, Kang Haneul had been the same. She'd build up to an explosion when she was upset, but as soon as I acted the way she wanted, she'd calm right down. Baek Sehee seemed like that too. When I said things that matched her intentions, she brightened up; otherwise, she froze over.
Could Baek Sehee be like Kang Haneul toward me too—
"One thing, though."
My train of thought was cut off by Baek Sehee's words.
"As for task assignments... hmm, I'll have to think about that."
"Yes?"
"I handle my own work already. The miscellaneous stuff is all covered by Awakener Association staff. I'll need to see if there's anything for Yujin to do."
...Ah.
That made sense. Like with Kang Haneul, Baek Sehee was an EX-rank Awakener too. The Association probably helped with a ton of paperwork and scheduling—daily tasks like that. And Baek Sehee seemed... intensely serious about her work. More than Kang Haneul, at least. So she'd handle everything herself. No need for a manager now.
So what kind of tasks would I get? Honestly, it didn't matter. I was grateful just to have a job.
Baek Sehee stood from her seat. She took my hand and helped me up.
"Let's start with drafting the contract, then."
"Contract?"
"Yes. Don't worry, Yujin. I'm not like that woman."
That woman. The word carried a strange mix of emotions—contempt, hostility, displeasure. No doubt referring to Kang Haneul.
"Last time, she tricked you into a slave contract. With me, it'll be a fair and legal manager agreement."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
"You're welcome. I'm your ally, Yujin. The only one in this world."
Baek Sehee smiled.
……………
Park Lawyer was wrestling with a mountain of documents again today.
The Awakener Association Legal Affairs Team. It sounded impressive at first glance, but in reality, it was the cleanup crew handling every mess Awakeners made—legally, of course.
It's been especially bad lately.
Recently, some EX-rank Awakener had caused a major incident by destroying a civilian's limbs. Kang Haneul. Just thinking of the name made Park Lawyer's head throb.
The Association had pulled out all the stops to cover it up. The entire Legal Affairs Team worked three straight days and nights. They scrapped the contract, deleted records. Falsified the injury cause as a Reptilian Dimensional Gate invasion. Submitted the doctored papers to the government, processed the victim's disability registration and compensation. Endless paperwork—and Park Lawyer had led the charge on all of it.
Because... the one who'd drafted the manager contract between Kang Haneul and the victim was none other than Park Lawyer himself.
He couldn't tell anyone. He'd take it to the grave.
In the end, the Awakener Association Legal Affairs Team succeeded. The incident was buried perfectly, and the problematic EX-rank Awakener faced no punishment. As far as Kang Haneul and the victim were concerned, nothing had happened. Case closed.
The victim... well, they got the short end. No helping it. EX-rank Awakeners were just like that. National strategic assets, overlooking all kinds of illegal acts.
And Park Lawyer was one of their enablers. Dodging legal nets from the shadows, omitting facts, forcing pieces to fit—making problems vanish.
Pride as a lawyer? He'd ditched that on day one. This was reality.
Thanks to this mess, all I got was stress-induced alopecia.
Park Lawyer sighed, staring at his monitor. Then—
Click-clack, click-clack.
High heels echoed. Steady rhythm, neither fast nor slow.
Who's that?
Park Lawyer looked up. The footsteps stopped at his office door.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Baek Sehee entered.
EX-rank Awakener, leader of the Dimensional Gate Special Response Team. One of the Association's public faces. Lately—or rather, since the Kang Haneul incident—she'd only been making brief appearances at HQ. No one knew why.
Anyway, why was she in Legal Affairs?
"Hello, Lawyer Park. Sorry to bother you when you're busy."
Polite demeanor and tone.
"Ah, hello. What brings you to Legal Affairs...?"
"I need a contract reviewed."
Baek Sehee handed over an envelope. Inside: a few neatly organized A4 sheets.
"What kind of contract?"
"Hmm... a manager contract."
Manager contract. The words triggered nightmarish flashbacks. Kang Haneul's manager. Limb destruction. Three-day all-nighter. Coffee, energy drinks, headaches, alopecia.
"Lawyer Park?"
"Ah, sorry. Got lost in thought for a second…."
Park Lawyer composed himself and opened the documents.
He skimmed the contract first.
Hmm….
Two-year term, renewable. Standard structure. Party A: Baek Sehee. Party B: ...Moon Yujin.
Moon Yujin? Sounds familiar….
He read on. The terms were utterly routine. Hours, holidays, benefits. No legal issues.
Except... the job description was basically nonexistent.
Schedule management assistance, meeting attendance support, miscellaneous support, other tasks as directed by Party A….
Assistance, support, assistance, support. All vague. Practically no real work.
This is basically... a teddy bear?
And the pay: barely minimum wage.
No work, low pay. Makes sense.
No legal problems at all. Compared to the nightmare he'd drafted for Kang Haneul, this was squeaky clean.
Next document: Medical guardianship consent.
This….
During the contract term, Party A (Baek Sehee) could cover Party B's (Moon Yujin) medical expenses. Also, refinance any existing medical debts.
...She's generous.
Or rather...
Isn't this just straight-up support?
No real job, plus full medical coverage. In short: Pay someone about 2.2 million won a month to do nothing, and foot their hospital bills too.
Normally... yeah. Small-business owners did this a lot. Put relatives on payroll for show, claim government subsidies.
Were they family? Friends? Not his business. As long as it was legal.
"Mm."
Park Lawyer set the papers down and nodded.
"Review complete. No legal issues."
"Thank you."
Baek Sehee bowed. Unlike someEX-rank Awakeners, she was polite.
She started to stand, then paused.
"Oh, right. Lawyer Park."
"Yes?"
"One more thing I wanted to ask?"
"Of course."
Baek Sehee hesitated briefly, then spoke.
"Could... someone transfer legal and medical decision-making authority?"
"Pardon?"
The sudden question left Park Lawyer dazed.
"For example... if someone had all four limbs missing, could authority be transferred then?"
All four limbs missing?
Park Lawyer blinked. What an odd question. Why bring that up out of nowhere?
Still, he had to answer.
"That... would be difficult. Decision-making authority only transfers to a guardian if the person loses mental capacity. Like dementia, mental illness, or coma. Physical disability alone doesn't qualify."
"...I see."
Baek Sehee's face fell slightly. Her lips twitched down, like she was disappointed.
"Thanks for answering anyway."
Baek Sehee gathered her papers and left. The door closed, heels fading down the hall.
...What was that weird question? Did she eat something bad?
Park Lawyer shook his head. Then it hit him.
"Speaking of which, is hiring managers a trend among EX-rank Awakeners lately?"
Kang Haneul had done one recently. It blew up, costing him three sleepless nights.
And now Baek Sehee too.
But... something nagged at him.
Party B: Moon Yujin.
Moon Yujin... Moon Yujin….
He'd definitely heard it before. Park Lawyer rummaged in his desk drawer. Recent files. Kang Haneul incident.
There it was. Kang Haneul's former manager. The one whose leg got blasted off by a Reptilian ray gun—at least, per official records.
No way….
Cold sweat trickled down Park Lawyer's back.
No way the guy who lost his leg to Kang Haneul was the same as Baek Sehee's new manager hire.
"...No way. Haha."
Park Lawyer gazed out at the Seoul skyline, taking deep breaths.
Best not to look into it.
Getting involved with two EX-rank Awakeners? Only headaches and shortened lifespan. Ignorance is bliss.
Park Lawyer deliberately shut it out. His pile of work wasn't going anywhere anyway.