Chapter 72
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: The Mayor's Quitting Time
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5:59:59 p.m.
I gripped my sweaty hands, cheering on the second hand as it painfully crawled toward the final mark.
Quitting time.
The sacred moment of finally gaining freedom after serving out the prison sentence called work.
The moment the slave becomes the master.
The miracle of the zombie returning to human.
And above all, the time when I return to being the ordinary human Lee Garam, not the mayor Lee Garam!
It's almost here.
I'm finally done with this exhausting labor, and as a free spirit, I'll escape this chicken-coop office.
Ding-
Exactly six o'clock.
"Good work!"
I shouted it faster and louder than anyone else, springing up from my chair.
My bag was already slung over my shoulder, my coat draped over my arm, and my feet pointed at the door.
A declaration of intent: not a single second wasted.
Alright, now I'll open that door and head to my little paradise of games, Nutube, and delivery food.
Bzzz-
An ominous vibration rang out from the desk.
Who dares block my quitting time? Even Seria can't pull that off except once in a while!
[President Jin Yeonhwa]
Ah.
Oh no.
This timing?
Exactly at quitting time?
God, Buddha, Allah, and all the gods that exist...
Why? Why now of all times?
Why not call during work hours?
Then I could've tossed the paperwork aside with pride, saying, "Oh, a call from the president! Must be important!" and answered it.
I could've enjoyed some legitimate slacking off, basking in my subordinates' respect and Seria's suspicion at the same time.
"Hello, President. What brings you at this hour—"
[Gyeyangsan Summit.]
Click.
A one-sided cutoff.
The agenda. The location. That's it.
Jin Yeonhwa-style communication.
To her, conversation is just a one-way notice. A tyrant who doesn't give a damn about the other person's will.
I stared dejectedly at my phone.
After the Hero Association audit, my relationship with Jin Yeonhwa had turned strangely.
At first, she glared like she wanted to devour me, but after my unintended string of exploits, she started seeming to take a liking to me.
The problem was how burdensome her way of doing things felt.
We'd ended up with regular meetings between the two of us.
Regular meetings.
On the surface, it sounded plausible. Secret meetings between the mayor of Neo Incheon and the Hero Association president.
Two of the city's top powerhouses meeting—doesn't that sound suspicious just hearing about it?
Others would probably think something like this:
'What terrifying scheme are those two plotting when they meet?'
'Exchanging S-Rank villain intel? City defense strategies? Or a secret ops briefing?'
'The mayor and the president meeting... There has to be some massive conspiracy in the works!'
But the reality?
Chicken and beer, chicken soup in the valley, pork belly and soju at a street stall.
What is this? A neighborhood uncles' get-together?
On top of that, Jin Yeonhwa had incredibly analog tastes.
She preferred soju over wine, street stalls over restaurants, local billiard halls over golf courses.
The problem was that I didn't want any of that!
I find soju bitter.
I hate hiking.
Especially boring stuff like fishing—I can't stand it.
Rolling around on the bed with Nero at home is the peak of happiness in my life!
Why does she keep dragging me outside!
And there was another issue with meeting Jin Yeonhwa.
The problem of interpretation.
For example, something from a few days ago.
Jin Yeonhwa: "Hey, you look kinda pale these days."
Me: "Ah, just a lot of work."
Jin Yeonhwa: "Yeah? Want me to help out a bit?"
Me: "No need! I'm really fine!"
Up to here, it's normal conversation.
But Jin Yeonhwa's idea of "help" is usually like this:
'Want me to tidy up those annoying councilors?'
'Should I shut up the citizens filing complaints?'
'Want me to say hi to the government bureaucrats blocking the budget?'
This isn't help—it's terrorism!
To Jin Yeonhwa, politics was like a game where you solved everything with brute force.
No need for complicated negotiations or intricate strategies.
Just violence. One punch from her, and every problem vanishes.
'Got a problem? Smash it. Why overthink it?'
That was her philosophy of balance—hammering protruding nails level with her fist.
Someone talking nonsense? Yell louder to shut them up.
Someone not listening? Create a situation where they have no choice.
Someone rebelling? Make them abandon the thought entirely.
The problem was that it actually worked.
One glare from Jin Yeonhwa, and councilors turned meek as lambs. One threat, and government bureaucrats rubber-stamped the budget.
In the end, my workload got easier, my results improved, and my approval ratings climbed.
This isn't right!
I'm supposed to be impeached!
In the end, I dragged my heavy feet along.
What could I do? She was an S-Rank Hero—the Hero Association president, no less. A being where the fist trumped the law.
"Aigoo, my fate."
A little while later, I arrived at the Gyeyangsan summit, sweating bullets.
Hiking in a suit? What kind of madness is this?
They say life is a comedy from afar and a tragedy up close.
Right now, my life was an 8K close-up documentary.
My breath was up to my chin, my thighs screamed, and my sweat-soaked shirt clung wetly to my back.
"Huff... huff... I-I'm here..."
Off in the distance, a human silhouette sat atop a massive boulder near the summit.
An overwhelming presence silhouetted against the sunset. Fiery red hair fluttered in the wind like flames.
"Hey, Lee Garam. You're late."
Late? Late how? What about? The appointment time?
Wait, was there even an appointment time to begin with?
Who was it that called right at six, tossed out "Gyeyangsan summit," and hung up?
I didn't even have the strength to reply. I just collapsed on the ground, panting.
"No elevator on Gyeyangsan... as the city's mayor... this is a serious infrastructure deficiency. If there'd been a Gyeyangsan elevator, I wouldn't have been late..."
"What bullshit. It's 'cause you crawl up like a slug."
"Huff, huff... then someone must've flown up...?"
"Yeah."
"...Pardon?"
"Flew here. Why?"
I had nothing to say.
I can't fly! I'm just an ordinary human!
Whoosh-
She hopped lightly down from the boulder.
Then she came over and mercilessly smacked my back.
Thwack! Thwack!
"How're you this out of shape already at your age? Exercise if you wanna live long."
"Gack! Ack!"
It hurts.
It hurts so much.
Not just pain—feels like my bones are shattering.
"Tsk. So frail. Useless."
"Urk, President. Me, frail? That's going too far."
I staggered to my feet. My legs were jelly, but I held on through sheer willpower.
"I'm the mayor of Neo Incheon. I have mountains of documents to sign daily, councilors sly as old foxes to deal with, and complaints tangled like yarn balls to untie. My battlefield is the desk, my weapons the pen and my mouth. My muscles are just barely enough for bipedal walking—they didn't evolve to conquer Gyeyangsan summit!"
"So?"
"That's why! Demanding hiking skills from a politician is as unfair as demanding you draft next year's city budget review report!"
"Bullshit."
Jin Yeonhwa pounded on me for a good while, then grinned in satisfaction and snatched the bundle I'd brought.
Makgeolli, tofu kimchi, bossam. All menus tailored to her tastes.
We sat in a suitable spot and laid out the spread.
"Grrrah-"
"What's with that uncle groan?"
I downed a bowl of makgeolli too.
The fizzy tang and thick sweetness spread through my weary body.
Not bad.
Though a canned beer lounging on the home couch would be a million times better.
"But what's that?"
I was forcing down makgeolli with tofu kimchi as a side when it happened.
Wriggle-
Something squirmed in the crevice of that boulder over there.
No, it wasn't just squirming.
"Urgh... grrrgh..."
The massive boulder where Jin Yeonhwa had been sitting. Underneath it.
Looking closely, there was a person crushed there!
Is getting crushed by rocks a trend these days? Some kind of rock-buried performance? Goku cosplay? Unique tastes.
"Uh... hey? There's a person there!"
"Yeah. I know."
"You know and you're just sitting there?!"
"Training. Mind your own business."
Jin Yeonhwa replied indifferently as she downed her makgeolli.
"I like the kid's grit, so I'm giving her a little guidance."
I squinted and peered closely at the figure under the boulder.
Familiar navy costume. Constellation pattern. And limp golden blonde hair.
Wait a minute.
That's...
"Polaris!"
C-Rank Hero Polaris, Han Sia!
"Mm... that voice... M-Mayor?!"
Our eyes met as Han Sia's head barely poked out from under the boulder.
"W-Wait a sec! I'll be out soon! Urghhh!"
She hurriedly tried to lift the boulder, but it overwhelmed her, and she collapsed back under it.
"May... or...!"
She gritted her teeth.
"The mayor's... watching...!"
A faint starlight seeped from her entire body.
Crack-!
An unbelievable sight unfolded.
Han Sia's slender arms trembled violently, and she actually began lifting the massive boulder crushing her.
"Hya!"
Finally!
Rumble-!
The boulder fully rolled aside.
Good heavens.
She really did it.
Han Sia staggered to her feet amid the dust cloud. Her battered body wobbled toward me.
Or rather... she barely managed to walk over, trembling.
"Mayor! Sorry! I didn't want you seeing me like this...!"
"No, it's fine. But what were you doing here?"
"Ah, lately the president herself has been giving me special training!"
Special training?
Getting crushed by a boulder?
This isn't training—it's torture. Hero abuse?
I shot Jin Yeonhwa an incredulous look, but she calmly sipped her makgeolli.
"Her basic stamina's too weak. Just toughening her up."
This woman isn't normal either.
"Come on, you join too. Got bossam here."
I bought it! She slyly omitted the subject.
In the end, our modest drinking session turned into a three-person gathering.
Menu: tofu kimchi, bossam, and makgeolli.
They say food tastes like honey at a mountain summit, but honestly, I wouldn't know.
Summit or basement, bossam is bossam and makgeolli is makgeolli.
No need to sweat buckets climbing up to eat it!
"Mayor... sob..."
One glass of makgeolli.
Just one, and Han Sia's face turned tomato red.
And suddenly, tears streamed down.
"Hic, because of me... you became a hostage... if I'd been stronger... waaah..."
Aigoo, still weak to booze, huh.
I tsked inwardly but smiled kindly on the outside.
"It's okay. Sia did her best."
"I-I'll... become an even stronger hero! Hic!"
Han Sia staggered to her feet.
"So never again... never again will you be in danger!"
She declared it, swaying with her makgeolli glass in hand.
"I'll train diligently... next time... definitely! I'll be your strength, Mayor! Hic! You're... such a good person... hic... I'll definitely protect you...!"
"Y-Yeah, yeah. Thanks."
Whoa, booze breath.
I patted her back while tsking inwardly.
That pure gaze of respect and trust toward the righteous mayor.
It's burdensome.
And guilt-inducing.
She has no idea.
That the mayor she admires so much is the owner of the username "IlluwaIt."
The uncle sending pervy donation messages like "Hehe... Sia looks pretty today too?"
She can never find out.
One more secret to take to the grave.
"Yeah, yeah! Work builds up stress. Gotta come out like this sometimes, sweat it out, have a drink to relieve it!"
Jin Yeonhwa laughed heartily, taking charge of the mood.
"How about sea fishing this weekend? I know a killer spot. Clear your schedule."
Fishing? What fishing?
You my boss or something?
This isn't a company—why drag me into the weekend too!
"How about it?"
I want to refuse. Desperately refuse. Maybe claim fishing violates my religious beliefs?
But sitting before me was an S-Rank Hero and Hero Association president.
Refuse?
If I say "no thanks," next instant I might be skewered on a fishing hook and tossed into the sea.
'Sharks are trending Lee Garam-flavored bait lately~'
No way!
"Haha... Fishing sounds great. The seas off Neo Incheon have such charm, don't they?"
"I'll prep the rods and bait, just bring your body. Pack seasick pills. If you puke, I'm tossing you in the ocean."
"The mayor's coming too? I'll pack lunches!"
Han Sia chimed in from the side, eyes sparkling.
Kuh... repaying kindness with enmity...!
Of course, to her it's just pure joy at a weekend outing, but sometimes purity is the cruelest thing.
I want to go home.
My comfy couch and fluffy bed are calling me.
I want to escape this endless after-work drinks, these burdensome relationships.
But reality, as always, crushed my wishes.
"Yes... see you Saturday then. Haha..."
Aaah, farewell. My weekend.