I'll Submit My Resignation!
High-rise buildings filled the entire city. Neon signs glowing on their exteriors, all sorts of gadgets everywhere. And right in the middle of the street stood an especially massive building. This was my workplace, the black company Rose.
It wasn't in the top ranks, but if you grabbed any random person on the street and asked, more would say they knew it than not.
[Constellation Hymn Art God admires that it looks clean on the outside]
"Only on the outside... just on the outside..."
This place was suffocating. Sure, every job had its issues, but this one was especially bad. No smiles during work or even breaks. At a glance, it felt like I was working with machines, not people.
Real AI would probably be warmer than this...
I took a deep breath and stepped into the company building.
*Beep*
The automatic door slid open as I scanned my employee badge. Employees didn't even glance my way.
[Constellations complain that this place is too stiff]
"It's always like this. Always."
The whole neighborhood was the same. But there was one silver lining...
"Hey, Adam!"
Not everyone was that rigid. I turned at the familiar voice to see a blonde beauty waving at me. Evelyn, the new hire who started with me.
"Hey, Evelyn."
"You're in early today?"
"Yeah... got some stuff to do."
There are all kinds of people in the world. Some pick up dropped money and keep it, others take it to the police. Some buy coffee for hardworking firefighters, others complain about it. And the cyberpunk world was no different.
Evelyn was like me—a mutant.
"Stuff? What kind?"
"Uh, well..."
How do I even explain this? I can't say I'm quitting to make games. Does she even know what games are? Everyone here has built walls around that stuff.
"Just... some things came up."
"Things outside the company? Wait—don't tell me you got a job as a criminal or something!"
"What kind of ridiculous guess is that?"
Evelyn, spinning her wild imaginations. ...Well, I had briefly considered dipping into the dark web, so maybe not entirely wrong.
"You two, if you're gonna keep chatting, take it outside."
After she'd spun her theories for a while, an unknown section chief's voice cut in, and she finally went back to her spot.
[Some Constellations are disappointed there's no pink vibe]
"...As if there'd be anything like that."
Staying sane here was hard enough—no room for love. Love, marriage—those need leisure, which we don't have. That's why birth rates tanked in my past life. Young people couldn't even afford to eat, let alone date.
Ding!
A message hit my phone mid-thought.
"Huh, approval came through fast..."
Do resignations process this quick? I'd only seen them in novels, so who knows. Cyberpunk world—anything's possible.
Straight to the Director's office.
"D-Director."
"...You've arrived, mutant."
Her cold eyes scanned me as the door opened. A statue sculpted from the world's beauties, with amethyst-purple hair. Her emotionless voice hit like ice.
"By the way, your title's off. Can you fix it?"
"Ah, yes."
So picky.
"Not 'chairman'—'Director'."
"Good. Now I get it."
She was our company's head—not chairman, but Director Lilith.
What is this, some fancy lounge? Just call her chairman...
Director? What even is that? Not a university or biker gang—why that title? No clue.
"So, you're leaving our company."
"Y-yes."
I snapped back and answered.
"Reason?"
"Nothing big. Company life just doesn't suit me..."
I want to make games, not be a cog. Even with guaranteed retirement, a life without your passion—meaningless. Not for me.
"I see. Must be the mutant in you."
"Yeah... pretty much."
That word kept popping up. Sounds discriminatory, but no malice. In a world chasing progress, hate was obsolete first. Mutants could admit it openly—no big deal. Response? "Oh, you're a mutant. Whatever, get to work—backlog's huge." Hide if you hate it.
Lilith just stated facts.
No hard feelings.
"We'll handle your severance properly."
"Whoa, thanks—that's appreciated."
Thought I'd get stiffed as a grunt. Huge perk by this world's broken labor laws. One week's workload says it all.
"Then I'll head out. Thanks for everything, Director."
"Yes. Good luck."
I left her office. Next: my desk. Packed for resignation.
Hmm-hmm-hm...
[Constellation String Art God asks why you seem in such a good mood]
"Duh, isn't it obvious?"
I was on cloud nine. Severance and pursuing my dream? Heaven.
Good mood boosted efficiency—desk cleared fast.
"Aha! Found it!"
As I finished and turned to leave, that familiar voice again. Blonde beauty storming over, cheeks puffed.
Evelyn.
"Oh, Evelyn..."
"Why didn't you tell me you're quitting?!"
"What would be the point?"
Nothing changes, just disrupts work—that's why.
"Did someone bully you?"
"No, I just have something I really want to do..."
"Sniff... really? Sounds suspicious..."
She eyed me skeptically. Fair—quitting job security? I'd react the same. Few chase dreams over stability here.
"Hng... I'll be so bored alone..."
"Can't help that."
Losing a fellow mutant would suck, but she'd adapt. One worry...
"Still, tone down the chatter from now on."
"Huh? Why?"
"People won't look kindly. Might even get disciplined."
In a one-eyed village, two eyes are freaks. Evelyn's chatty even by past-life standards—obvious here.
"Meh... probably fine."
"Pardon? What was that..."
"N-nothing! Got it! Mm-hm..."
Huh? Sounded like something. But if she's brushing it off, no biggie. I'm quitting—no more ties. Her issues aren't mine.
"Well, see ya."
"Y-yeah! Stay healthy, Adam!"
"You too, Evelyn."
Final goodbye to her, then out of the company. Forever.