Finally, Life Tastes Good

Kim Isol and Baek Hwayeon sat blankly, staring into my eyes for a long while.

Lee Donggeul was still completely absorbed in eating.

"Company?"

"Yes. My own company that I run however I please. Of course, that doesn't mean I plan to lounge in an expensive chair leisurely stamping approvals. I too, as one of the Awoken, intend to head into the dungeons."

"I'm fine with that. But the penalty fee... I still have ten months left on my contract with the current company..."

Baek Hwayeon seemed hung up on the money.

If sponsorship came in from the Diamond Guild, I'd lend her some.

I could always get it back later, or simply structure the contract to my advantage.

Meanwhile, Kim Isol stayed silent.

Lee Donggeul was still eating with gusto.

"I'll go. I like you, Team Leader. If I tell Mom about the penalty, she'll take care of it somehow."

"Donggeul-ssi, don't tell me you're from a gold-spoon family?"

"Not really, but if I tell her, she'll handle it. If I say I'm switching companies to follow the Team Leader who grew my mana this much, she'll actually be happy about it."

"Is that so... Then Isol-ssi?"

"I... I'll go too."

"But everyone seems pretty shocked right now. Has the company not contacted you at all? About me quitting, or reassigning you to another team?"

"Dunno. They just told us to show up Monday."

"Yeah. Same for me—that was all I heard."

Their processing was really slow.

Well, that worked out in my favor.

"The company will probably try to move you to another team... maybe D-Team or C-Team. If that happens, you'll first have to take and pass the D-Rank Awoken license test."

"I don't want that. A team without Team Leader..."

"Yeah. Especially the part where I'd have to join another team as the youngest. That pisses me off."

"But everyone, a D-Rank license is mandatory if you want to enter mid-to-high difficulty dungeons. The test fee alone is ten million won."

"Ah... so you're thinking of saving that cost? Get the license on the company's dime, then quit after?"

"You're quick on the uptake. Honestly, yes. You wouldn't want to pay the penalty fee out of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pocket either, right? So take everything you can get before you leave."

"What a cheapskate. Can we even trust this new company of yours?"

"Yeah. I'm worried."

"You don't need to worry about that. At the very least, I'll make sure you earn far more than you ever did at Cool Support. You know what I can do. If you still can't trust me, then don't come. I'll just look for someone else."

"Wh-wh-who said I wasn't going? Hmph!"

"I'm going!"

"Um... I..."

"If the penalty fee is the problem, I'll lend it to you. I'll charge interest, but if you come work hard at my company, you'll pay it off in no time."

"Yes... thank you."

Baek Hwayeon's expression finally softened.

She wanted to join my company that badly?

Well, in reality she was probably just greedy for the mana boost.

Hong Eunyoung, who had been watching with a puzzled look, leaned in and whispered to me.

I whispered back, keeping our exchange quiet.

"What is this? They're all women."

"So what? Did you think I was a lesbian like you, Hong Eunyoung-ssi?"

"I'm not a lesbian! If anything, I'm bi..."

"Ah, so that's why you enjoyed last night so much."

"Aah! Wh-what are you saying! They'll hear you!"

"Those three are all mine, so don't even think about making a move behind my back. On a day like that, I'll shove it straight up your—"

"I-I get it. Please just be quiet."

As we muttered strangely to each other, the three women's gazes locked onto me.

Sharp, needle-like stares.

They were so piercing it felt like holes might open up.

"Ahem... Anyway, I'm inviting you based on your potential, so please pass the D-Rank license easily and come. With the mana you currently hold, it'll be more than enough."

Everyone nodded.

But their expressions still weren't great—had they overheard the whispering?

I'd warned them so many times not to use mana carelessly, yet they never listened.

"The reason I called you all here was this. See you next time. Starting tomorrow I'll be taking classes at the Academy, saving money, and setting up the company, so I'll be busy. We won't meet often. Even if Cool Support drags you along on some other dungeon expedition, don't get hurt. I don't plan on building a company generous enough to scout injured people."

"Hmph. Who's gonna get hurt!"

"Don't worry. I can heal more than thirty times now."

"Um... about the money, when..."

"Ah, send me your account number by phone. I'll transfer it sometime next week."

"...Thank you."

"It's not free, so don't think of it that way."

With that, the conversation with the three of them wrapped up for now.

I felt a little sorry for Jang Yong, but what could I do?

I couldn't scout someone who couldn't grow properly.

I planned to rapidly raise the three women's mana and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠head straight into C-Rank difficulty dungeons.

Against C-Rank dungeon monsters, the current Jang Yong would be completely useless.

Dealers and a healer were ready; now I needed a new tanker. Where to find one?

The Academy kids were still minors—should I look for a female tanker in the Special Class?

Mana I could raise myself.

Well, money alone didn't instantly create a company.

I'd take it easy.

These three had agreed to join my company as expected.

Besides, for C-Rank dungeons, I alone would be enough without a tanker.

"See you next time!"

I bought them dessert as well and sent them off.

Now it was time for me to return to the Academy.

Already Sunday afternoon.

I needed a proper rest today.

Whether it was from overexerting myself lately or burning too much energy against the Diamond Guild yesterday, the fatigue simply wouldn't lift.

Even after using my ability to fully restore my stamina, it was like this.

In times like these, sleep was best.

In the car heading back to Incheon, I spoke to Hong Eunyoung, who had followed me without a single complaint for two days.

"You've worked hard these two days. Once we arrive at the Academy, I'll give you free time."

"Yes... how generous of you."

"I need the list of parents by tomorrow."

"By t-tomorrow? How am I supposed to prepare that starting now..."

"That's why you shouldn't answer so snidely. My gratitude just evaporated."

"Hing... you're so mean."

I reclined the seat back and closed my eyes.

I was tired, yet the corners of my mouth refused to come down.

Four days since quitting the company.

So many changes had happened.

In that short span, the world felt completely different.

Yeah.

This was how a person was supposed to live.

Ah, Kang Junghyeok, twenty-two-year-old man.

Only now did the world finally taste worth living in.

The morning lecture on Monday was mind-numbingly boring.

How long had it been since I graduated school, and now I was stuck in theory classes again?

Listening to them drone on for hours about the duties and rights of the Awoken made the fatigue creep back in, even though I'd rested well yesterday.

"Excuse me, Instructor."

"Kang Junghyeok. Go ahead."

"When can I transfer to the Elite Class?"

"You may go starting this afternoon. It's truly remarkable, isn't it? For two consecutive weeks, top-tier talents among the Academy's Awoken have come out of our Special Class. However, this theory course isn't available in the regular curriculum until next spring, so even special cases ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like you, Kang Junghyeok-ssi, must sit through it here."

The main point was that since we received all sorts of benefits, we should gladly accept any government requests.

I planned to do exactly that.

Because I needed the tax reduction benefits.

The more you earned, the more taxes you paid, and I was going to earn a hell of a lot from now on.

To keep the tax breaks, I'd have to go help out two or three times a year. Fine by me.

When that tedious stretch finally ended and break time arrived, the Special Class kids from other lectures—somehow having heard about my mana test results—surrounded me all at once.

I'd roughly expected it after hearing from Senior An, but it was still annoying.

Especially the guys.

Still, it couldn't be helped.

If I wanted to find talent, I had to put up with this kind of hassle.

"Hey, hyung. How'd you get numbers like that?"

"I'm so jealous. Last week some girl went straight to Elite ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Class too."

"Hey, little bro. Let's get along from now on."

I greeted each person who approached me one by one.

Like a congressional candidate on the campaign trail, I shook hands with every last one of them.

"Oh, hyung-nim, you've got quite the talent."

"Haha, really? Elite Class really is different. Just a handshake and you already recognize how great I am!"

"Ah, noona, that's a shame. Still, keep working hard. Congratulations on awakening."

"Oh my, thank you."

I went around kneading this person's hand and that person's hand.

Over ninety percent of them had F-1 mana.

Only a tiny minority held F-2 or F-3.

Potential was mostly between 3 and 5.

A 5 meant that, assuming they grew to their absolute limit, they could reach B-class mana.

Not exactly hopeless.

Thinking of Lee Daeman, even B-2 mana was enough to snag an executive seat at a major corporation.

While shaking hands, I carefully observed their clothes, ears, necks, wrists, and fingers.

I was looking for any rich kids draped in luxury brands.

I'd been hoping to do a little mana business with people who reeked of money, but it was a bust.

Well, flaunting it that openly was something only nouveau riche did.

I couldn't exactly yell "All rich people raise your hands!" either.

Looks like I'd have no choice but to check the list Hong Eunyoung was bringing.

And today there would be plenty of bastards coming to offer sponsorship.

I'd squeeze the money out of them.

After finally shaking off the annoying people who even asked for my phone number, I stepped outside.

I met Senior An and had lunch together at the student cafeteria.

Starting that afternoon, I would follow her into the absolute top of the Academy's elites—the A-Class.

My dorm belongings would be moved to the elite dorm by my assigned guide.

It was so convenient it was almost a problem.

"Junghyeok-ah, where did you go over the weekend, leaving me behind?"

"Ah... the company. I still had some things to wrap up."

"Huuung... is that sooo?"

"Yes. Like I told you last time, sunbae, I'm about to start setting up my own company. What about you? Want to go to a major corporation? I heard you're already getting sponsorship offers from all sorts of companies."

"......"

She glared at me without a word.

I understood exactly what that look meant.

Realizing my mistake, I hurriedly changed my words.

"An Sora-ssi. I am scouting you. Will you please join our company!?"

"Pfft... I'll decide after watching how you do from now on."

"You're quite the picky one. Actually, I have a condition too!"

"What? What is it?"

"You must always wear your glasses in front of me!"

"You pervert! I told you my eyesight's better now and I don't need glasses..."

"Then I'll double your incentive."

"Deal! Hehe..."

She laughed so brightly.

According to her, starting the very next day after her mana test, people from various major corporations had swarmed in requesting meetings.

What kind of security did this Academy even have?

Well, thanks to that she was able to receive sponsorship right away.

My mana test had been on Friday.

Because the next day was the weekend, the same situation as hers hadn't happened.

It would probably hit today, Monday.

One place was already booked, after all.

Bzzzt—. Bzzzt—.

Just as expected, a message arrived immediately.

A message through the Academy-exclusive app.

It told me to come straight to the Business Building the moment class ended.

Things were rolling along exactly as planned.

Just how many companies had come looking for me?

I immediately contacted Hong Eunyoung.

I asked if the list was ready, and received a positive answer.

Two hundred people? And that was only part of it? There really were a lot.

I never imagined there would be that many well-off families just inside this Academy.

I told Hong Eunyoung to meet me that afternoon.

And one more thing.

"Among that list, are there any of the ones you messed with?"

"Bring three or four of the ones with the lowest mana to the Business Building the moment class ends. Be late and you'll regret it."

"Don't get any weird ideas. Do you think I'm you!?"

"I have no intention of doing anything shameless to minors like you did, so just do as you're told."

The stage was already set.

Now it was time to spread the rumor.

Time to spread a rumor so massive that the major corporation bastards would grab onto my pant legs and refuse to let go.

Just how much would those bastards pay for a single-stage mana increase?

It wouldn't be a small sum.

And I planned to put a limit on the numbers so they'd compete against each other.

Of course, all of that would come after afternoon classes ended.

"Ah, I can't skip class on the very first day... fuck."