Chapter 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Mayor's Scandal
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah. I've made up my mind.
No choice. There is no choice. There isn't.
If things continue like this, I'll end up as the guardian of the metropolis, the idol of Neo Incheon, the citizens' eternal mayor.
I have to avoid that ending at all costs. Somehow. By any means necessary. Even the vilest, most despicable ones.
So, there's only one option left.
This is forbidden territory. Pandora's box. The Rubicon.
There are always lines in the world that must not be crossed. But some landscapes only reveal themselves once you do.
Right now, I need to see that view.
If my actions lead to misunderstandings, I can simply nip those in the bud with the ultimate villainy.
A scenario to shatter all unintended good deeds and heroic tales in one blow had formed in my mind.
And that is workplace sexual harassment.
How destructive is that phrase?
In Korean society, an unforgivable sin, one that no excuse can dilute.
In a Confucian Neo-Confucian masterpiece society, the fastest, most efficient way for a man to obliterate his social life.
The most primal, most lethal domain, one that no heroic narrative can ever package.
And committed by someone in the public position of 'mayor' against his own 'female secretary'? Power harassment sexual misconduct?
That's not just grounds for impeachment—it's a high-speed ticket to social burial.
Approval ratings, reputation, the stature of the latent dragon Lee Garam—all will vanish like dust.
And most importantly.
The target of this plan is Seria.
My capable secretary, the super villain who holds my life in her hands. The leader of the secret society Erebos.
She's suspicious of me. Sensing something inside the shell called 'Lee Garam'.
I need to escape that sharp gaze.
The method is simple. Earn her contempt.
'This guy's just a filthy, perverted lump of base desires—not worth using.'
'Ah, that guy's just a pathetic creep with his brain in his pants. I overestimated him.'
Make her think that.
No mastermind keeps a useless pervert by their side and stays wary.
I'll exploit that gap and vanish without a trace.
One stone, two birds. Or two gains from one act. Or whatever—call it what you will.
This is God's move—no, the devil's move—to solve all my troubles.
The world made me the villain. Fine, I'll gladly become one.
A low-class, sleazy, contemptible third-rate villain at that.
Knock knock.
As if blessing my resolve, the door to the mayor's office opened.
The heroine of the stage stepped into the spotlight.
"Mayor, here's the afternoon schedule report."
Cold turquoise eyes. Impeccable black suit.
Seria Park approached me with her tablet in hand.
In the quiet mayor's office, only the click of her heels echoed.
She's here.
The time for the final battle.
I swallowed dryly and stood from the sofa.
Alright, action. Third-rate villain Lee Garam. Lights, camera, roll.
"Seria."
"Yes, Mayor."
"The report can wait."
As soft as possible, as cheesy as possible. The tone chaebol heirs in dramas use to woo the heroine.
Seria stared at me without a flicker. No emotion readable on her expressionless face.
Even better. The catharsis will be greater when that blank face twists in contempt.
I approached her slowly.
One step, two steps.
When the distance between us narrowed to about a handspan, a faint fragrance brushed my nose.
Sniff.
Shampoo?
Fresh and cool, probably citrus-based.
Yes. This is the perfect start.
"Seria... did you change your shampoo, by any chance?"
My voice was sticky even to my own ears. Like well-melted caramel syrup.
Success. That's a passing grade.
Seria's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly. Really, just barely.
But she still didn't speak. Just looked up at me.
Silence means consent, they say. I'll take it as a green light to continue.
"The scent is great. It suits you perfectly."
"It's the same one as yesterday. It seems you've suddenly awakened enhanced olfactory superpowers, Mayor. Congratulations. Shall I report it to the Ability Registry right away? I could recommend 'Doberman' for your hero name."
"......"
Damn, it's creaking from the start. Doberman? That's calling me a dog.
But I can't back down here. My future's on the line.
"Ahem, just kidding, kidding. I just liked the scent."
I took one more step closer.
Now close enough to feel her breath.
"But you know, Seria."
My voice dropped another tone. A whisper, like sharing a secret.
"Don't you think it's a waste... staring at those stiff reports every day with that beauty of yours?"
Here it comes. The legendary line.
The one every working woman in Korea despises.
My old boss said no woman hates compliments on her looks. Of course, he got suspended for inappropriate conduct soon after.
Now disgust should bloom openly on her face.
But surprisingly, Seria remained silent.
Just staring at me with those cold turquoise eyes.
Like an entomologist observing a rare new bug.
What? This reaction?
Come on, react more intensely! Be repulsed!
"Got time tonight? How about drinks after work... just you and me?"
Screw it. Can't stop now. The show must go on.
"Not somewhere noisy. A quiet bar... sipping top-shelf wine. Just us, having a real, honest talk. Forget work—just human Lee Garam and human Seria."
Perfect.
'Just us, a real honest talk.' How creepy and cheesy is that?
Self-applause-worthy line selection.
"Mayor."
She finally spoke.
Ah, what venom will pour out? 'Stupid mayor, finally lost your marbles?' Or 'Disgusting, stop it.' Either's welcome.
"The approvals are piling up."
"...Huh?"
"Yesterday's club infiltration op report, Zodiac post-incident management budget execution plan, Hero Association audit interim report. All need your sign-off by today."
No, is that important right now? Can't you see my burning flirtation?
Can't retreat now.
"They say brave men win the beauty, right?"
With an awkward laugh, I finally moved to action.
The crowning touch of the plan. Skinship.
I slowly, gently extended my arm to rest naturally on her shoulder.
Just before my hand touched—
Whoosh.
"Huh?"
My hand sliced awkwardly through empty air.
Seria's shoulder, right there moments ago, was gone.
She stared at me blankly from half a step back, as if she'd always been there.
"......?"
What? Coincidence? Miscalculated the distance?
"Uh... you must be sore from standing all day, Seria. Thought the mayor would give you a special shoulder rub! Figured it's all knotted up!"
I flashed a sleazier smile and tried again.
Bolder this time.
Planning to yank her waist into an embrace.
That'd be undeniable harassment.
My arm shot toward her waist.
This time for sure—
Swish.
"Ack?"
Empty air again.
Seria slipped away like flowing water or smoke, evading my grasp.
"No, wait, Seria! I know a bit of palm reading! Want me to check yours?"
Now I'm babbling nonsense.
Reached for her arm.
Whoosh.
Swing. Dodge.
Aim for wrist. Dodge.
Fingertip even. Dodge.
Her hand, so close to grabbing, always slipping away.
My attacks(?) failed to even graze a single strand of her hair.
"Huff... huff huff..."
Before I knew it, I was panting.
Every attempt missed.
Felt like a clown dancing alone.
Seria stood exactly where she'd started, silently watching my flailing.
Our eyes met in midair.
Silence.
A long, suffocating silence.
Ah.
Come to think of it, Seria's a superhuman who fights toe-to-toe with S-Rank heroes in the original story.
How could an ordinary human like me ever grab her?
This was like an ant charging a dinosaur. Utter folly.
But it's not over yet.
Even if the touches failed, the discomfort from the harassment lingers.
Look at her face. It must be filled with contempt and disgust.
I checked Seria's face with trembling eyes.
But... it wasn't the anger, disgust, or contempt I'd expected.
A very faint smile played at the corner of her mouth.
So faint it was hard to notice.
"Mayor."
She called me.
"Y-Yeah?"
I responded like a raw recruit snapped to attention.
"I'm not interested."
Cold voice. Razor-sharp rejection.
With that, she looked back at her tablet as if nothing happened.
"Then, continuing the afternoon schedule report. 3 PM, Urban Development Bureau weekly briefing. 4:30 PM, Hero Association cooperation agenda review. 6 PM, dinner with the top 10 conglomerates alliance..."
Seria raised the tablet again.
Her expression back to flawless poker face, as if nothing had occurred.
"That's all, Mayor. I'll prepare for the next schedule."
"Y-Yeah, good work."
She turned and headed for the door.
Another... failure...?
No.
No, no.
'I'm not interested.'
Seria clearly said that.
She expressed rejection definitively.
Isn't this a success?
Yes, a clear success!
Her mind right now must be thinking:
'Typical perverted boss harassing a female subordinate with his power.'
'Can't hide his true nature after all. Pretended to be decent for a bit, but back to the sleazy Lee Garam.'
Yeah, she'll think that. Definitely. Mmm, yes.
For a pathetic guy like that, no need to stay wary or watch closely.
My plan succeeded. Perfectly.
Now I can escape her surveillance and suspicion.
Right?
Yeah?
It worked... right?