The Overprotective Sister
Thanks to the three female Awoken—Kim Isol among them—stubbornly holding their ground, the scales seemed to tip back toward keeping our team intact.
To drive the point home, I made one proposal to Department Head Im.
The reason our company struggled to maintain F-Team was, of course, money. Judging by how they had no intention of cutting the Awoken or me, it wasn’t a personnel-cost issue. That left the equipment rental fees. If we could minimize those costs, I figured the department heads would come around to keeping our team.
So my proposal was this:
“If you keep our team, we’ll only take dungeons we can commute to without relying on equipment companies for a while. Please keep us.”
I bowed at a full ninety degrees and pleaded earnestly, and thankfully it worked. From the company’s difficult position it must have seemed like a decent offer, so they agreed to keep an eye on our team for the time being.
They had no real choice—the company had already signed one-year contracts with the rookie Awoken. Without mutual consent they couldn’t easily cast them aside. Of course they could shove the contracts in their faces and force them to follow company decisions, but that would create problems at the one-year renewal. After investing so much to grow them, if the Awoken all decided to jump to other companies the firm would be left with nothing. So they always had to cater to the Awoken’s whims. Especially for a small company like ours, we had no choice but to be somewhat led around by them. Even if they wanted to terminate the contracts right now, the penalties were substantial enough that keeping the team would be cheaper.
Anyway, the decision was made to keep our team. I couldn’t have been more relieved.
Jang Yong, finally reading the room, spoke up.
“I like being on the same team as hyung-nim too.”
Jang Yong, who had nearly been sent to Senior Kim’s team—the other F-Team. I couldn’t understand why no one from D-Team had wanted to take him. At least based on the combat footage at the time, Jang Yong should have been better than Kim Isol. Though now, with Isol’s mana boosted so much, who knows. Anyway, those D-Team leaders all had no eye for talent, huh?
“Please keep me on hyung-nim’s team no matter what!”
I wasn’t sure if I should be happy about this situation, but at least the team was staying together. Without a tank things would be tough, so I had to keep Jang Yong at least.
But Department Head Im and Deputy Head Park’s reactions were strange. Extremely troubled expressions.
“Um… couldn’t we at least transfer Jang Yong? If not, maybe swap one person with Kim Chan-il’s team.”
“Department Head, is that really necessary? Jang Yong has already synced up with our team, so keeping things as is would be most efficient. That would be the same from Senior’s team’s perspective too.”
“Haha, you think I don’t know that…”
Looking troubled, Department Head Im started whispering with Deputy Head Park beside him.
What are they scheming? Why are they so insistent on sending Jang Yong to Senior’s team? What possible benefit could such a pointless action bring to the company? They mentioned some sponsorship coming in or whatever—is that why?
As I watched the two with a puzzled expression, Kim Isol suddenly approached my side.
What is it? Do you urgently need the bathroom? This place is awkward for that…
She came far too close and whispered into my ear. What she whispered was about the department head and deputy’s private conversation.
This brat—I told her to only use her mana inside dungeons, and she’s using it freely again…
But I couldn’t scold her. The information she relayed was far too valuable to me. It went like this:
“Deputy Park. What do we do? That person is going to be really angry.”
“Does it matter? It’s just F-Team. As long as we don’t promote them to a higher team, it should be fine. They wouldn’t petty cancel over this, right? That person has a reputation to uphold.”
“You think so? After the meeting, go explain it well. We promised to report the results right away, so you go see them in person. They’re at the cafe in the next building. Don’t just call because it’s a hassle.”
“Of course. With how much money is on the line, naturally. I’ll go see them right away, Department Head.”
In short, some person had appeared and sponsored a large sum to the company while requesting that Jang Yong from our team be sent to Senior Kim’s team.
Who the hell?
I became extremely curious about who this sponsor was and why they were doing this. Perhaps the incidents from Jang Yong’s academy days were related to this person. Just a gut feeling.
It’s not rare for people to come to supporter companies like ours with sponsorship money. To ordinary people, gate overflows are on the same level as natural disasters like typhoons or earthquakes. And they see supporters like us as people performing public service to prevent them. Some sponsors even come with large sums asking us to avenge family or acquaintances who died in gate-overflow accidents by killing monsters.
But sponsoring to move a specific person to another team? What kind of case is that? What kind of person would… I just can’t understand it. What is Jang Yong, exactly?
“Then let’s end the meeting here.”
The meeting was over. The final decision the department head made regarding our team was status quo. Permission was granted to head to E-rank dungeons, and we were to find commute-able dungeons, report them, and if approved, go on the next expedition there.
I was finally able to release the tension that had filled my eyes and shoulders. We somehow survived.
I greeted the senior team leaders and made eye contact one by one with our team’s Awoken. Everyone seemed to want to meet me tonight, and I felt somewhat the same, but not today. I was too mentally exhausted. And the work I had to do wasn’t even finished yet.
“The next expedition site will be decided by tomorrow. See you next week.”
Watching the backs of the Awoken heading home, I took a deep breath. Perhaps today was the day I finally decided on something I’d been deeply contemplating. Whether to grow with the company, or quit.
I decided. And I resolved.
This shitty company—no matter what, I’ll quit as fast as possible.
But for that, I need to save money. To find a clue for that, instead of returning to the office, I tailed Deputy Head Park heading to the next building. To meet this so-called sponsor once.
“Don’t get caught. And even if you do, act well.”
“Got it. You don’t get caught either.”
Beside me now was Kim Isol, who hadn’t left yet. Of course, she was a substitute for a wiretap. It seemed the company side had some scheme, and when I suggested we find out together, Kim Isol readily agreed. She’s starting to follow my words pretty well now. Though her speech is still as rude as ever.
We entered the cafe. This was the very cafe where I first met Kim Isol and our team members. Without ordering drinks, we secretly followed Deputy Head Park heading to the farthest corner on the second floor. Fortunately, without being noticed, we took another seat on the second floor. Using Kim Isol’s power, we intended to eavesdrop on the conversation between Deputy Head Park and the person he was meeting.
But there was something a bit surprising. The person Deputy Head Park met was, contrary to my expectations, a young woman in her twenties. And someone I knew.
“No way… so it really was a family issue.”
“What. You know her?”
“Ah, no. Lower your voice. We’ll get caught.”
“Tch.”
“Now, quickly tell me what those two are whispering about.”
Kim Isol showed her reluctance but followed my words. Borrowing her voice, I could hear the conversation between the woman and Deputy Head Park.
“Thank you so much for this sponsorship. It’s been a great help to our company.”
“Let’s keep it to business. You know I’m a busy person. How did the matter I requested go?”
“Yes… it went well, but there were some unexpected parts.”
“Continue.”
“Yes. Um, we decided to maintain the status quo for the team Jang Yong was originally on. This is all thanks to our Jang… no, the Awoken’s sponsorship…”
“Stop with the sponsorship talk. Why didn’t it go the way I wanted? I thought it was settled that he’d move to the other F-Team.”
“Ah, we tried to handle it that way. But Jang Yong insisted on staying under Team Leader Kang Junghyeok… he held out saying he’d rather die than leave that team, so there was nothing we could do.”
“Haa… and the other women on that team?”
“Yes. Since the team is maintained, they’re all still… Aaah.”
Kim Isol, who had been relaying Deputy Head Park’s words, suddenly covered her ears. Probably because of the noise that reached even my ears. With her hearing enhanced, loud sounds would be even louder.
With my back to Deputy Head Park’s side to avoid detection, I hurriedly turned my head, wondering what was going on. I was curious if something had happened to Deputy Head Park.
What the hell is that…
Looking at the situation, it seemed the female Awoken had ripped off the corner of the thick wooden table with her bare hands. She looked thoroughly furious, and anyway, that woman was just another temperamental Awoken piece of trash. What a filthy temper. And that kind of person appears on TV and models—what a world…
Fearing I’d get caught if I kept looking, I turned my head back. I told Kim Isol that if she was okay, to resume her relay role. I had no mind to worry about her ears. The only chance to eavesdrop on Deputy Head Park and the woman’s conversation was now. I didn’t want to miss a single word of that conversation.
Kim Isol naturally had a dissatisfied expression, but she seemed to know there was no choice right now. She suppressed her anger and opened her mouth again.
I’ll praise you later, so please endure for now. I’m begging you.
“Um… I’m truly sorry. But there was no way… We tried to force Jang Yong to change teams, but all the female Awoken on the same team refused… I’m really ashamed.”
“It’s fine. And don’t worry. I’ll maintain the sponsorship. But absolutely no sending him to D-rank dungeons. I want to make that clear. And if word that I sponsored reaches that child’s ears, I won’t sit still then. Even if I lose everything.”
“O-of course.”
This Deputy Head Park seems like some kind of criminal? Anyway, they say family is the scariest…
As I was thinking that, Kim Isol in front of me asked.
“Deputy Head Park is lying?”
“What, that much isn’t even a lie… He has to look good in front of the sponsor, so he’s making excuses appropriately.”
“Hey! Turn your head!”
Kim Isol suddenly speaking without sound. It seemed Deputy Head Park had already stood up and was heading outside. I couldn’t see because he was behind me, but without Kim Isol I would have been caught right there.
Fortunately, Deputy Head Park didn’t pass right by where we were sitting, so we weren’t noticed. But because Kim Isol suddenly grabbed my face and turned it the opposite way, I thought my neck would break. There was a crack sound, but since no shield deployed, my bones should be fine.
But I couldn’t relax. Damn it. I never expected the next problem to explode right away…
“You two there. If you move now, I’ll kill you. Only do what I tell you. Stay seated and slowly turn your heads toward me.”
A calm, settled female voice. I could tell who she was without confirming her face. The woman who had just been talking with Deputy Head Park. The one who sponsored a large sum to our company. And an extremely famous Awoken, a model, and a member of the top-tier raid team that first enters unconquered dungeons. And the blood sister of our team member Jang Yong.
Kim Isol and I slowly turned our heads as she ordered. I only hoped Kim Isol wouldn’t go wild. This woman wasn’t an ordinary Awoken. Among the hundreds of thousands of Korean Awoken, one of the top 100 super powerhouses. No matter how much Kim Isol threw a fit, she wasn’t someone we could even compete with.
“Um, uh…”
“Shut up. Don’t make a sound until I tell you to open your mouth.”
Scary. Aside from the rudeness, as expected of someone on the front lines, not a bit of carelessness. Slowly turning my head as she ordered, I could finally confirm Jang Ahra’s face.
Fuck, her face is ridiculously pretty.
That was my first impression upon seeing her.