Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall into a Ghost Story, I Have to Go to Work
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A new hire scouted by the elite team just one month after joining.
Sounds like the title of some self-help book designed to pull aggro.
But this was actually happening right now.
'What the hell is going on here.'
Me, in A Squad?
"Let me see, Sol-eum went out with D Squad last month, right?"
"Yes. For now, contact HR and process it as a temporary assignment, then make it official after five months."
"Right. Deputy Jin. Then..."
The A Squad leader looked at me with a satisfied smile.
"For now, Sol-eum needs to be promoted to junior immediately."
"......"
"The official notice should come out within the next week."
Oh my God.
"Even if this company doesn't care much about strict seniority, there's still a bottom line. This is ridiculously preferential treatment."
Of course it is!
They're even giving me a promotion? Does that mean they have that much pull inside the company?
No, wait.
More precisely, to join the elite team, regular employees usually have to go through a proving process equivalent to one or two promotions worth of service.
So by convention, even at the fastest, you need at least junior rank to make elite team.
To put me in A Squad, they have no choice but to promote me to junior naturally from above.
'And A Squad normally starts from deputy anyway...'
This really is preferential treatment.
But why?
Why make this sudden offer to me...
Ah.
The moment I saw the A Squad leader's extremely pleased face, it hit me like a bolt of lightning.
'I picked all the right answers today!'
I overdid it trying to avoid what I thought was workplace bullying!
Following unfair orders without complaint, actively coming up with ideas within the guidelines set from above to produce results.
A newbie who says yes sir without ego and tries to show creativity!
The perfect image of what a boss wants in an employee...
"Sol-eum? Go ahead and clock out. It might even come as early as next week, so prepare yourself."
"......"
No.
'This is a tragedy.'
I... I'm not the type who can go to A Squad!
'The procedures here are too strict.'
If I work here just doing exactly what I'm told, the odds are nine in ten that a moment will come where I can't hide my cowardly nature.
'Then the Wish Grant slips away, and my survival rate marches straight to rock bottom.'
I'd really die.
The chilling thought made my mouth snap shut on its own.
"......"
"Hey, hold on."
Deputy Jin said in a tone of disbelief.
"You... you're actually thinking about it?"
I subtly bowed my head.
"Why? No, are you insane? Is it because you saw those meat shields from the cleanup team? We don't have to bring them..."
"Deputy Jin, hold on."
The A Squad leader stopped Deputy Jin and spoke to me with a gentle expression.
"You've only been here a month, so suddenly getting such a great offer must make you hesitant. That's understandable."
"......"
"But wise people seize opportunities boldly—that's how you succeed in society."
It's not an opportunity, it's a trap, that's the problem!
'Wow, what do I do.'
How can I escape this without hurting that boomer boss's feelings too much.
If I refuse wrong, I'll really get on their bad side.
The workplace bullying I worried about might actually start.
'No answer in sight...'
It was at that moment.
Ding.
The elevator arrival chime.
The doors opened, revealing a familiar face—no, a lizard.
'Squad Leader!'
Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who had been summoned by the team leader, appeared.
The lizard's vertical pupils met the A Squad leader's gaze.
"...Section Chief Lee Jaheon."
"Section Chief Baek Seokju."
Lee Jaheon looked at the A Squad leader with a sullen gaze.
"They told me to come apologize to you. Sorry."
"......"
A Squad leader... swallowing curses.
"Ha... whatever. I'm the only one getting pissed. Just me."
"?"
"I said it's fine. We just scouted someone to fill the vacancy anyway."
The A Squad leader waved his hand dismissively and patted my shoulder with one hand.
Whoa.
"Here, our squad's new maknae."
It was meant to be a bombshell declaration, but...
"I see."
The lizard nodded.
"It's true A Squad has better working conditions."
"......"
Can't you at least pretend to be disappointed so I can find an escape route...
Damn it, no choice.
'I'll handle it myself!'
I deliberately looked back and forth between the two squad leaders in feigned bewilderment, then bowed to the A Squad leader.
'For now...'
From what I've seen of the A Squad leader's personality so far...
'A stickler for rules and principles.'
Divides work strictly by rank, hates insubordination greatly, cherishes his own people.
Scouting me after one month shows he sometimes takes bold risks, but always within his own lines.
'Can't stand backtalkers.'
In other words, the typical elite middle manager from a hierarchical mega-corp.
'In that case...'
I bowed my head deeply.
"Section Chief, thank you so much for looking favorably on a newbie like me and making such an undeserved offer."
"Ahem."
"Still... I lack experience. As a new hire, I think I should work as an employee should, building basic skills and knowledge."
The A Squad leader, staring at me, finally spoke.
"...Sol-eum, do you know what the base pay table starts at for the elite team?"
No idea.
"Eight thousand."
"......!"
"Add hazard pay, and annual take-home starts at 150 million usually."
Good lord.
"We're putting you down as a major contributor on that C-Grade clear you did today. Cleared it in a flash with a new method, right?"
Uh, yeah?
"And it's a method others might actually try too. Know what that means?"
What does it mean?
"The manual could get fully revised."
"......"
"Yeah. Not just an addendum—a full revision."
The A Squad leader smiled softly.
"And manual revisions come with bonuses."
"...!"
"Pretty big ones. Upper management doesn't like processing them as revisions... but elite team is the exception."
Ah.
"Joining A Squad makes it go much smoother and faster. Difference in trust, I guess."
"......"
"Let me check... C-Grade manual revision bonus."
The A Squad leader deliberately paused for dramatic effect, then spoke.
"Fifty million won."
"......!!"
"Just for today's work, that's your additional bonus, Sol-eum."
Fifty million won.
"You wanna pass up a chance to keep earning like this?"
Wow.
No way.
'But I can't die for money...'
Tears. I'm going insane.
'Repeat after me. Money in this world is no different from game money to me—game money, game money...!'
Right!
I made my eyes well up as much as possible.
And started spouting nonsense.
"I believe honing my skills and value is more important than immediate money."
Insane.
'The reason to hone skills and value is to earn more money—why kick money away.'
But my mouth was perfectly tuned to that 30-years-ago boomer executive worldview.
"Our ancestors said you should seek hardship in your youth, and while I don't fully agree, there must be a reason that saying exists."
A Squad's Deputy Jin looked at me like I was crazy.
But it seemed to reach the top boss.
"Hm."
The A Squad leader pondered, narrowing his eyes at me, then nodded with a sigh.
"Alright. If that's how you feel... no helping it."
Yes!
"I thought you were a smart kid, Deer, but people can be more stubborn than expected. Sigh. How're you gonna survive this harsh world."
Done.
The tone was scolding, but from his perspective, that's practically praise!
...Of course, he still had to say something.
"Hard work is good. But being too naive isn't great for company life."
Yes, yes.
"One piece of advice... Don't get sentimental in company life. Be careful. Especially getting attached unilaterally to people who won't listen."
The A Squad leader's expression twisted as he glanced at someone specific.
"Don't do it. It's no good."
"...Y-yes."
You're saying the lizard squad leader is a stubborn thug. Got it...
"You hear me good, Section Chief Lee Jaheon?"
"? Yes."
The lizard replied as if it was obvious.
"I heard you loud and clear."
"......"
"......"
No need for the 'can you believe this psycho' eye signals, A Squad leader...
"Anyway."
The A Squad leader took a deep breath and wrapped up.
"Good work today. Head out."
"...! Yes!!"
Liberation.
"Thank you. I'll head out carefully then."
Aaah, finally escaping...!
I hurriedly pressed the elevator button.
A Squad's deputy quickly approached and whispered.
"Idiot. You'll regret this."
"......"
"D Squad's section chief hasn't even touched a Wish Grant yet. Our squad leader has already won one."
It's fine. I know that lizard's going all the way to team leader.
Of course, can't say that, so butter him up.
"I'm sure you'll win one soon too, Deputy."
"What?"
"I'll ask you then."
"......"
Deputy Jin seemed briefly flustered, then snorted.
"Well, you have some judgment at least."
"You'll answer?"
"Yeah."
Verbal promise, but this guy's personality seemed rough... but not the type to lie or back out.
"Section Chief, Deputy. Thank you so much today."
"Yeah. Get home safe."
I bowed repeatedly, pressed the elevator, and hopped in before they could grab me again.
Then the lizard swiftly followed me in.
Did he really come just to spit out that soulless apology...
-Going down...
The elevator descended in silence with just the two of us.
Unexpectedly, the lizard section chief spoke up.
"Kim Sol-eum."
"Yes?"
"Is there something you want from D Squad?"
Huh.
"......Are you asking, based on the assumption that even though you could go to A Squad, you chose to stay in D Squad because you have some separate desire...?"
"Yes."
Sigh.
I scratched the back of my head a few times, then sighed and answered.
"Nothing like that, Squad Leader."
"?"
"It's not a decision based on benefits."
I'm staying to survive!
The lizard narrowed his vertical pupils curiously.
"Staying in a regular team instead of elite means point losses. The Wish Grant acquisition speed will differ."
"Maybe."
I shrugged.
"But while I do need the Wish Grant, surviving until I get it is part of my life too."
"......"
"I want to work where my heart feels happiest."
I don't want to work in constant terror of my cowardice being exposed at any moment, damn it...
"...I see."
The lizard shut his mouth.
Now we can go down quietly...
"Kim Sol-eum, what is your wish?"
Talkative today.
"...Are you asking what I'd wish for if I repair a Wish Grant?"
"Yes."
"Then I'd like to hear your wish first, Squad Leader."
A polite way of saying don't pry one-sidedly.
But the lizard stared blankly into space with his vertical eyes.
As if deep in thought.
Then he spoke.
"It's not my wish."
"Pardon?"
"I'm working by the will of another."
An unimaginable response.
I reflexively turned to look.
Scales glinted on the non-human lizard's head...
"...May I ask whose will?"
"No."
Ah, yes.
Didn't feel bad. That's just how the lizard is.
'He has his circumstances.'
Well, he answered, so maybe I should too.
I hesitated, then chose my words.
"I... want to go home."
Truth be told, Section Chief Lee Jaheon could spin a ton of follow-ups from that.
What home, why is going home your wish, did your home get destroyed, did someone die, is it metaphorical...
And Lee Jaheon opened his mouth and said,
"I see."
That was it.
In the quiet, the elevator descended peacefully.
"......"
I admit it now.
The lizard squad leader was, in some ways, a pretty comfortable conversation partner.
Surprisingly.
Back at the company dorm.
I sent Baek Saheon his daily kind disaster alert text, then lay down.
'Another turbulent day...'
At this rate, my lifespan's gonna halve. My heart can't take it.
Still, can't deny today's solid gains.
Bonus points, connections with elite team bosses.
And hazard pay too.
"...Fifty million won, huh."
Wonder when it'll hit the account.
I called it game money, but rationally, game money has tons of uses precisely because it is game money.
Need it to boost my stats.
'I do want more cash.'
Starting to think I should buy new items from the alien shop.
With all these sudden incidents, I'm getting antsy.
Want armor, especially mental defense gear or items.
'The alien shop has special VIP items too...'
But thinking of today's earnings shut me up.
Fifty million won.
"...Ha."
Legal company bonus hitting a working stiff's account like this.
Money sense going numb.
Even more so since it still feels short for stocking up on items.
"Anywhere else for extra cash..."
Vrrr!
My smartphone vibrated with a new popup.
'Baek Saheon?'
No.
Surprisingly, someone had invited me to a new open chat room.
"...?!"
"...??"
Who are you.