Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Billing Notice
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Passing through the restaurant entrance right away.
The first things we encountered were.
Huhlk-
Three women collapsed powerlessly on the floor.
Swallowing their tears sorrowfully.
"...Hic... Hee-ji."
"You guys..."
The three women who had been sitting on the floor, weeping sadly, noticed Hee-ji standing beside me the moment they did.
Springing up!
"Jeong Hee-ji!!"
"Hee-ji!"
"Waaaaaah!"
They leaped to their feet.
And rushed toward Hee-ji all at once.
One of her friends checked her body all over for injuries, genuinely worried.
Another felt guilty for not being able to escape together because she had stalled for time.
And even the one whose face was a mess of tears and snot, thinking she'd never see her again.
Every single one of them.
Was a good friend.
Conversely, it was only possible because this woman named Hee-ji was such a good person.
'Thank goodness it all ended safely.'
Honestly...
This time was a bit dangerous.
Especially the chase scene with that employee bastard.
Of course, judging by the results alone, it looked like I'd resolved it perfectly without any physical harm.
But if things had gone just a little wrong, I could've ended up as that restaurant staff's meal that day.
'Maybe I should start exercising for real...'
There's no guarantee situations like this won't happen again in the future.
I needed to seriously consider countermeasures for that from now on.
As much as possible.
Within the shortest time frame.
While I stood there dazed, deep in thought about the future.
"Um, excuse me..."
"?"
A black shadow approached me.
When I looked up toward it.
Four women stood in perfect formation, staring right through me.
Intensely enough to be burdensome.
'This... I should be happy about it, right?'
In an inexplicable unease, the women who had been staring at me in a straight line suddenly.
Bowed at the waist.
"Thank you for saving us!"
They offered their heartfelt gratitude.
Beeeep-
It rang out so loudly my ears went numb.
"......"
The thought that hit me when receiving their thanks.
Was bewilderment.
I couldn't help but doubt if I deserved this gratitude.
After all, the reason I'd risked my life to protect them was entirely for my own survival.
But...
I planned to accept the thanks anyway.
'Gotta take what's mine.'
On the surface, the fact that I'd struggled to save them was real enough.
I put on the friendly smile I was now so accustomed to and continued speaking.
"I just did what anyone would have."
Short.
But not bad.
Even I thought it was a good line.
My gaze naturally drifted toward the women.
"I'm just glad we're alive!"
"Shouldn't we call the police?"
"...Do you think they'll believe us?"
......
......
......
The conversation seemed to veer off in another direction already, and as I watched them, their eyes no longer on me.
"......"
It was a profound moment realizing that life.
Never goes as planned.
A chill swept over my body as I suddenly felt like mere background scenery.
'Why do you show up so late at times like this?'
I unwittingly resented the white door that was late today.
When.
"...Um."
"......"
I turned toward the voice addressing me.
There stood Hee-ji, who had gone through the chase with that ghost story restaurant employee alongside me.
"It's you, Hee-ji."
"......"
A smile-
My automatic smile sensor reacted to the woman named Hee-ji.
"No visible wounds, but please make sure to visit a hospital."
Even if she looked fine externally.
There could be mental trauma issues.
But what Hee-ji wanted to hear from me.
Didn't seem to be superficial concern.
"...You still haven't told us."
"Pardon?"
Hee-ji posed a puzzled question about something I hadn't mentioned.
"Why you saved us."
"......"
Ah... right.
I did say something like that.
I just remembered.
"If it's hard to say, I won't ask anymore."
"......"
If you're gonna say that.
You shouldn't have asked in the first place.
Hee-ji asked me.
-Why I saved them.
'What's the big reason?'
It was all just to save my own skin.
I racked my brain for a moment on a good excuse for this.
And naturally, one came to mind.
"I take on the role of rescuing civilians in bizarre phenomena like the one just now. Simply put, I'm like a rescue agent."
"So! Do you usually go into dangerous places like this?!"
"Yes, that's my job, after all."
But I was in the same boat, hoping someone would come rescue me too.
Of course... I wasn't holding out much hope.
"Does that answer your curiosity?"
"...Then why did you make the person who came with you... eat that food?"
"......"
I knew she'd ask that.
But right after, the guy I'd been searching for finally appeared here.
Kreeeak-
The white door emerged from behind my back.
'You got here quick.'
I stepped toward the white door, giving a light farewell to those remaining.
"Well then, I'll be heading back."
"Yes?! So suddenly... There's still more I want to ask..."
Hee-ji seemed more surprised than expected at my departure.
But I wanted to avoid lingering and getting tangled in anything troublesome.
So I quickly stepped into the dim corridor.
As if responding to my hurried steps, the white door closed faster than usual.
Dal-kuk-
Passing through the now somewhat familiar corridor.
The moment I went through the white door.
Drrrrrring-
The blaring bell sound welcomed my safe return.
Drrrrrring-!
I hurried to the shrilly ringing phone, picked up the receiver, and held it to my ear.
The guidance voice followed immediately.
"......"
Today as well.
Without fail.
Starting with the pointless nonsense from AI Lady's greeting.
The next part was about this mission's results.
"That's welcome news."
『Then, moving on to the next mission...』
"!!"
Did I hear that wrong?
I just got back?
I barely survived a near-death experience and returned...
If thrown straight into another mission like this, my body clearly wouldn't hold up.
"Wait a..."
『Before proceeding, we will now inform you of changes to mission procedures effective immediately.』
"...Pardon? Changes?"
『This is because Employee Kim Min-hyuk has shown outstanding performance, so upper management has instructed a focus on mission "quality" rather than "quantity."』
"......"
The explanation continued about changes to future missions, and I quietly listened.
The stiff voice ended, followed by AI Lady's additional explanation.
Bzzz-
A vibration from my pocket.
I pulled out my smartphone, and a notification caught my eye.
"......"
Ten million won deposited into my account.
A massive sum.
But having already endured the mental blow of fifty million before, confirming ten million with my own eyes didn't faze me as much.
Shiver shiver shiver-
Though I couldn't control the trembling in my legs.
After paying the ten million allowance, AI Lady also distributed another reward.
『Employee Kim Min-hyuk, please check your welfare card. Welfare Points have been added.』
Following the ten million, welfare points too.
I immediately checked the card in my coat's inner pocket.
The number at the bottom of the white card, which had been 4000P.
Was now 6000P.
It had risen by 2000P.
Click-
The line cut off.
I gently set down the receiver, and a digital clock that had appeared before my eyes caught my attention.
Beep-
The moment I acknowledged the digital clock, it began counting down.
00:59:59.
00:59:58.
00:59:57.
.
.
.
For some reason, bad memories from the ghost story restaurant flooded back.
But now I had time to breathe.
That was the positive part. Using this time efficiently was key.
So my gaze fell on the most out-of-place structure in the space.
'Hope there's something useful.'
With an hour of free time and extra welfare points.
My feet naturally turned toward the 99 O'Clock Convenience Store.
When.
Bzzz-
?
Another vibration from my smartphone in succession.
'Was there more?'
Puzzled, I checked what had come to my phone.
A single text message.
"......"
I stood there blankly.
Reading the same message three times over.
Bzzz-
My body stiffened again at the next smartphone buzz.
-15,000,000
......
......
......
Today was.
A meaningful day to learn more deeply about the Daily Part-timer anomaly.
...Step-
...Step-
For some reason, my steps toward the convenience store.
Felt as heavy as boulders.