The Factory Went Bankrupt
-Closed-
A single fat sign hung on the factory door.
The tiny letters saying it was no longer in operation weren't even visible.
My eyes were glued to those two words: closed.
“Fuck.”
The curse slipped out on its own.
I couldn't hold it back.
A few colleagues nearby were pounding on the door, wailing.
“You bastard boss! Get out here!”
“You said it wouldn't go under! You fucking liar!”
“Hey!!!”
The company I'd been working at had gone bankrupt.
There had been warning signs.
For months, paychecks had been delayed by a full month.
The boss said the economy was bad.
I let it slide back then.
Orders started trickling down bit by bit.
Some employees quit.
They said it was gonna fold soon, that they'd find something else.
And just like they said, work dried up.
I couldn't believe it.
No way it'd actually go under, right?
But that "no way" became reality.
Last month, when they owed two months' pay, I should've confronted them and gotten my money.
I should've quit right then.
“We're fucked.”
We forced the door open, and the factory inside was a wreck.
Nothing left behind.
Like the boss had fled in the night.
“We're getting jack shit from this.”
“These assholes! They worked us like dogs, and now this!”
“Fuuuuck!!”
The employees' howls tore at my ears.
“Haaa……”
Tomorrow's rent day.
Two months' pay delayed, no cash for tomorrow's rent.
What the hell do I do?
Can't even track down the boss right now.
Part of me wanted to hunt the bastard down and shake him for every penny, but no clue where he'd gone—no way to do it.
In the end, I pulled out my phone and opened the part-time job app.
When you're desperate, you dig a well.
The app was flooded with part-time gigs.
They looked decent at a glance, but dig deeper and they were straight-up labor exploitation.
No matter how desperate, get into one of those and you'd regret it.
If I had time, I'd never even glance at them.
Shadier than the factory I'd just lost.
So I hesitated.
Even those gigs, though.
Rejected—positions filled.
The few left.
Just hearing it made my blood boil.
Fuck.
No dorms, or if they provide, they dock your pay.
That's below minimum wage.
Grueling work not even hitting minimum? Bullshit.
“Does nothing in life ever go right?”
28 isn't that old, so why the hell...
Then one ad caught my eye.
“Taepyeong City?”
A part-time ad with a place name I'd never heard of.
- Hourly: 25,000 won.
“25,000 won an hour?”
More than double a regular convenience store rate.
Way better than the factory pay.
Scam?
But then.
- Due to location, lots of difficult customers, so high pay. Need reliable staff.
- Room and board provided.
- Humans get bonus points.
Bonus for humans?
What the hell?
Normally, I'd dismiss it as a joke.
Some weird cult trying to lure someone.
But right now, no job, no rent money—I couldn't just scroll past.
Plus, I'd been rejected everywhere else.
Gulp.
“Just call and check.”
Weird? Hang up.
I dialed right away.
Riiiing-.
A few rings.
- He~llo~?
A woman's voice, drawling and husky.
Like she'd just woken up.
“Calling about the part-time ad.”
- Uuuugh... wait a moment...
Rustling over the line.
Sun's high in the sky, and she's sleeping?
This legit?
Clothes rustling.
Swallowing something.
- Uuuugh... much better. Speak again. Why hast thou called upon Jinjo?
“Calling about the part-time ad.”
- ...Jinjo must have been short on sleep. A part-time call? Impossible.
“I said, calling about the part-time ad.”
Silence.
- For real!?
My eardrums nearly burst.
- At last, a part-timer calls! Jinjo knew her wait would pay off! Hahaha! The stars aligned today!
“Hello?”
Not a scammer, at least.
- Ahem, apologies. Got too excited. Part-timers have been scarce lately.
Makes me uneasy.
My gut's screaming to bail.
But then I saw 25,000 won/hour.
“25,000 an hour, right?”
- Indeed! Jinjo speaks no lies! As advertised, difficult customers mean high pay to endure.
“...When can I come in? Tomorrow if possible—I wanna start right away.”
- Oh, tears of joy! Such passion! Thou art fit to be Jinjo's trusted aide.
Weird lady.
What concept is this?
Why's a convenience store manager doing this...?
- Forgot the most important question. What is thy race?
Race?
She's deep into the roleplay.
One of those landmine types?
To make money, gotta play along.
Can't pass up a sweet gig like this.
“...Human?”
- Thud!
Something fell on the other end.
- H-human? Truly human?
“...Yes.”
- A h-human... Not a beastkin or orc claiming to be human?
“What are you even saying?”
- Oh, nothing! Human is even better!
Fuck.
Bail?
- Human? Then 30,000 an hour! Room and board free!
30,000 an hour.
7 hours a day: 210,000 daily.
25 days: 5.25 million monthly.
A convenience store clerk making 5.25 mil?
Free room and board too?
Nope, scratch that.
I'm going.
Got to.
“Can I start tomorrow?”
- Hehe, of course! Jinjo shall await her aide tomorrow.
Weird woman.
But the money's too good to skip.
“If it's sketchy, just bolt.”
My build's solid—no one outmuscles me.
Factory work toughened me up; I can run if needed.
Wear sneakers tomorrow.
Rush hour commute.
“This the way?”
Searched Taepyeong City.
Nothing.
- Location not found. Did you mean Pyeongtaek City?
- Taepyeong City (太平市) refers to an era of peace under wise rule...
Weird results.
Joke ad?
But.
- Come hither.
Manager sent clear coordinates.
Into this alley, looks like.
“This is Seoul, though...”
Why's this alley Taepyeong City?
Turned the corner per the map.
“...Huh?”
Something felt off.
Just moments ago, ordinary commuters.
Middle-aged suit staring at his phone.
Girl in revealing clothes with a handbag.
Chattering high schoolers.
Exhausted salarymen.
All humans seconds ago.
“What?”
That guy's...
an orc?
Muscular dude with jagged fangs wiping sweat, walking along.
Short blue-skinned goblin in a suit, on the phone.
Lamia with snake tail, smoking in skimpy clothes.
I rubbed my eyes.
Rubbed again.
Same.
People passing by.
A little—no, a lot—weird.
Am I finally losing it?
Factory bust, rent pressure—snapped?
Heard that happens.
Sudden shock drives you mad.
Yeah.
That's it.
Ignore it.
Followed the map; convenience store appeared.
24-Hour Convenience Store. Hunter Tower Branch.
Here.
Finally.
Ding-a-ling-.
“Welcome.”
Opened the door; familiar voice.
“Here about the part-time ad.”
I saw her.
Silver-haired red-eyed woman in a baggy white hoodie.
Skin pale like she avoided sunlight; beauty so stunning it hurt to look.
Street encounter? I'd stare forever.
Even in sloppy clothes, her looks shone.
She gawked at me, eyes wide.
Mouth agape, she gulped.
“A r-real... human...”
Hey. Why's she licking her lips?
Whoa? That look in her eyes?
Bolt?
“HIRED!!!”
And that moment.
Ding-.
You've been hired at Taepyeong City's convenience store.
Huh?
What the...
A translucent window popped up, like an internet community portal.
You are a special race—human—hired at the convenience store.
You can add effects to convenience store items.
Brain can't keep up.
Blinking blankly, one gallery post caught my eye.
Comes back from manual labor, should shower and crash, but picks on innocent clerk instead.
Keeps throwing 100-won coins yelling for "True Elven Ale," wanna smash the bastard.
Doesn't listen to shit.
Call tower guards for business disruption? Ugh, wanna chase him down.
What.
Is.
This.