Chapter 81
Chapter 81
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Employee of the Month
Everyone loves opening gift boxes, regardless of age or gender.
Just think about it—even ordinary people dash out the door at the first ping that their rocket-delivered package from yesterday has arrived right in front of their home.
So, imagine this.
If the beautiful neighbor lady you're close with hands you a gift box...
...that's as big as a building.
"Alright, kids, pay attention. Today, we're unboxing a building-sized gift."
"Unboxing... nyang?"
"Arin knows what that is! It's opening a box, right?"
"Exactly. So we're going to slowly explore from the first floor up to the ninth, then head to the tenth. No breaking anything midway or falling away from Daddy, got it?"
"Unboxing is exciting nyang!"
"A giant building box! I can't wait to see what's inside!"
That's right. For the kids, exploring a new environment was fun enough.
But knowing this place was the inner space of a gift box they'd received made their excitement swell even more.
It must feel like winning a golden ticket and touring a massive chocolate factory.
"Master. I want to see where humans train. I'm curious how they do it."
"The fairy wants to go somewhere with lots of plants! Her Majesty is curious what potential this world's plants hold."
Of course, there was also an orc and a fairy whose expectations swelled in slightly different directions from the kids.
This could be chalked up to different races having different perspectives.
[Father. Strictly speaking, aren't Lulu unnie and Arin unnie different races too?]
"Now, now, Tabula. Can't say things like that. No matter what anyone says, you and your sisters are Daddy's blood daughters in his heart."
[Hmm... Got it!]
With that, I deflected Tabula's sharp fact-check attack.
By appealing to emotion with pure illogic until she was convinced.
Then I told the suit-wearing team leader shadowing me that I wanted to tour the building.
But somehow...
"Please wait a moment, and we'll prepare everything for your inspection."
"Aw, it's just a casual look around—do we have to use such a stiff word like 'inspection'? I just want to see things as they are."
"...Understood. We'll prepare as discreetly as possible with minimal personnel."
He seemed to interpret my words in a way different from what I'd intended.
Was that my misunderstanding?
####
About ten minutes after the suit team leader asked us to wait...
"These are perception-impairing sunglasses used by the response team. They blend you into the surroundings to avoid drawing attention."
"Oh, so you're not just wearing them for style?"
I was surprised once, realizing the sunglasses I'd thought were fashion glasses had such an effect.
Then we shared the handed-over sunglasses among Lulu, Arin, Lavris, and me.
Oh, by the way, for the fairy...
"What about the fairy?"
"Well... We don't have her size..."
"That's unfair! This is fairy discrimination!"
"...My apologies."
"Fairy. Don't push it."
"Hmph! Since my benefactor says so, I'll let it slide just this once!"
There was no way they'd have her size, of course.
So she handled hiding herself through her own means.
Pel-lorong-!
"Benefactor! Now no one can see the fairy!"
"I can see you just fine."
"I can hear your voice, but I can't see you."
"Master. That's the fairy's veil—a unique stealth technique fairies use. It lets them appear only to those they choose, making attacks from that state tricky in battle."
"Have you fought fairies before?"
"Quite a few times. I nearly died against one enhanced with darkness, but I won in the end."
...Well, I'd hear Lavris's intriguing TMI later.
For now, the issue was resolved, so we followed the suit team leader out of the room.
As we walked the white corridor to the door connecting to the first-floor lobby, people in casual clothes spotted us and bowed politely.
"These are the personnel assigned to protect you, Mr. Yi Ron. We've positioned them in plain clothes to stay low-profile, so feel free to look around."
"You prepared all this in such short time."
"That's the response team's job."
Hmm... The more I saw, the more impressed I was by the suit team leader's professional ethics.
Based on his actions so far, he deserved Employee of the Month.
He must be exhausted from 24-hour standby because of me.
Yet he handled every request swiftly without a hint of complaint.
'...Now?'
So now was the perfect time.
To give him something and motivate my subordinate, right?
Without hesitation, I pulled out one of the items Tabula had prepared and said,
"You've all worked hard, so here's some candy for each of you."
"No, that's alright..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Sweet-and-Sour Ginseng Candy][D+] A sweet-and-sour ginseng candy. [Effect]: Slightly increases resistance to abnormal statuses upon consumption. [Penalty 1]: Consuming 2+ times within 24 hours inflicts abnormal status (stomachache). [Penalty 2]: Tastes bad. "...Take it? Huh?"
Oh, first time seeing this.
The usually expressionless suit team leader looked utterly flustered.
He seemed more rattled than when his team members collapsed from killing intent yesterday.
Well, makes sense.
No one expects a candy handed out by their boss for good work to be an elixir.
"I told you it was good for you."
"You did, but... why give away something so precious...?"
"Isn't it because of me that you're working hard? I can't ignore my subordinate's efforts."
"...That was just our job."
But contrary to my intentions,
the suit team leader firmly declined the candy.
Even as...
Bburub-!!!
(Team leader-! Please just take it-!!!)
Bburub-!!!
(Why refuse even ours-!!!)
Bburub-!!!
(Team leader-! I'll bark like a dog if I get an elixir-! Woof-! Woof-!!!)
...his response team subordinates shot desperate, greedy glares from the side.
He just kept repeating that it was his duty.
Ha, as expected of my Employee of the Month.
How strong must his professional ethics be to turn down free elixirs others would drool over?
"You're lighting a fire in my heart."
"...Pardon?"
But that's why I liked him more.
If I could win over a competent subordinate with such convictions to my side?
The sense of accomplishment would be beyond words.
So here, I decided to bring out that.
"Tabula. Time to bring out that."
[That already? Maybe scout a bit more first...]
"It's fine. Daddy's intuition..."
Zzirit-!!!
"...says he's worth it."
[Hmm... If Daddy's intuition says so... Got it!]
Oh, by the way, that here refers to
items Tabula made via multiple synthesis this morning, where a low-probability [Luck Effect!] attached.
They felt too extravagant for regular staff, so I'd sealed them away.
But the suit team leader seemed worthy, so I picked one.
"Thanks for the protection today."
"""Thank you! We'll do our absolute best to protect you-!"""
I first handed out ginseng candies to the plainclothes staff one by one.
Then sent them outside under the excuse of securing positions ahead.
"Suit team leader. What's your job and floor? Oh, and ranking record."
"...Tower of the Dead, 53rd floor. Thief. No ranking record."
"Ah! A thief! That's monumental. On a day like this, you deserve a gift."
"...Is there reason for that?"
"Hard to believe, but you're the first thief I've met besides yourself. So we should commemorate it."
Not a lie.
Since awakening as a climber, I'd holed up at Dr. Park's place and never met one.
"What nonsense is that...?"
"Now, now. When your boss gives you something, you say 'thank you~' and take it. Or rather, since when do subordinates talk back to their boss?"
"...My apologies."
Anyway,
After that, I broke his stubborn refusal with a combo of chit-chat and abuse of authority.
Let's see, first time meeting a thief, so not sure what's best, but based on my idea of one...
Rummage rummage...!
...Ah, this one?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Luck-Infused Sweet Honey Water][A-] Sweet honey water containing a tiny amount of royal jelly. [Effect]: Relieves fatigue and lightens the body upon consumption. [Penalty]: Consuming 2+ times within 24 hours inflicts abnormal status (indigestion). [Luck Effect!]: Grants skill [Stealthy Movement (C+)] upon consumption. A potion made using 'Honey Bee's Honey' from Bug Hater's materials—originally a D-rank fatigue reliever.
But the [Luck Effect!] bumped it to A- with guaranteed skill acquisition.
As a thief, [Stealthy Movement (C+)] should help a lot.
To give it cleanly, I'd mix truth with cunning lies by tweaking the info.
"Tabula. Do it like this... ...Got it?"
[Yes! Father!]
Thus, my customized version to spark his 'maybe I can accept this' urge.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Sweet Honey Water][C-] Sweet honey water containing a tiny amount of royal jelly. [Effect 1]: Relieves fatigue and lightens the body upon consumption. [Effect 2]: 0.01% chance to acquire skill [Stealthy Movement (C+)] upon consumption. [Penalty]: Consuming 2+ times within 24 hours inflicts abnormal status (indigestion). Perfect. He couldn't refuse this.
He might be briefly surprised by the effects,
"This is good for fatigue. Take it."
"...? ...!!! ...Ah, thank you."
He accepted it quickly, deeming it a plain fatigue potion compared to the ginseng candy.
Figuring the impossible 0.01% skill chance justified the slightly higher rank.
And at that moment.
"I'm giving it so fatigue doesn't hinder your work. You can accept this much, right?"
"...Yes. Understood."
I tossed the line casually, forcing agreement.
Undoubtedly, he'd drink without suspicion.
And then she'd realize.
Gulp-!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Yoon Seo-yoon has consumed Sweet Honey Water.] [Fatigue relieved. Body feels lighter.] [Acquired skill 'Stealthy Movement (C+)'.] "!?!?!!!?"
Pffft-!!!
The disaster from her oversight.
The insane value of what she'd just drunk.
"Oh, got a skill? Congrats!"
"Cough, cough-! No, I mean, cough-! That is...!"
We're almost there.
For the finish, act like nothing happened, no extra words?
"Hm? Why so flustered?"
"It's just... because of me, such a precious elixir..."
"Ah, want another?"
"...Pardon?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Sweet Honey Water][C-] "I have plenty, so speak up if you need one."
"Ah, no... I'm fine..."
"Really? Then take some candy instead."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Sweet-and-Sour Ginseng Candy][D+] "...Thank you."
"Work hard."
"...I'll do my best."
Done. Training to lower the vigilant Employee of the Month's threshold complete.
Now, slowly escalate the casual tosses of increasingly potent gifts.
Until finally, a tossed contract gets signed.
"Scouting talent and dyeing them in my colors feels damn good."
[As expected of Father!]
[Doing so casually what even Tabula can't—it's amazing! I admire you!]
"You'll be able to do it soon too, Tabula."