The Idle
I hung Go Mi-hye’s corpse on the wall of the lecture hall and stood before the people.
“Hello. This is Lee Hyun.”
Under any other circumstances, there would have been applause and cheers. But perhaps because of the atmosphere, it was deathly quiet.
“You’ve all worked hard today.”
My voice echoed through the crowded space. After the greeting, I got straight to the point.
“There was a rat in my house.”
The gazes that had been fixed on me shifted to the wall behind my back. Black tear stains streaked down from under Go Mi-hye’s eyes.
“That rat coveted the fruits of our collective labor through unjust means.”
What if there were a dangerous monster right in front of us? What if we had to risk our lives just to secure a single grain of rice?
“I was angry. Because that rat didn’t put in any effort at all.”
In such a situation, if you only had one companion to watch your back, would you still act selfishly for your own comfort?
“Everyone. We are all striving for the survival of Samira. Protecting Samira is the same as protecting my own life.”
I believed Go Mi-hye’s actions were only possible because she felt she had the luxury to do so. She was in an environment that allowed it. What angered me was that I was the one who created that environment. It wasn’t something Go Mi-hye had built.
“Our roles may differ, but we operate on the belief that each of us is doing our best in our respective positions.”
The peace Samira enjoys right now is precarious. Everyone knows that. Yet, because they couldn’t see an enemy right in front of them, they chose to indulge their own greed.
“This person betrayed that trust. She deceived me, and she deceived all of you. I, and we, have been robbed.”
That is why I could not forgive her. Because having my things stolen is the same as having them taken from me.
Anger began to well up in the hearts of the people. Even without knowing the full details, they nodded at my words.
“There is a saying: He who does not work, neither shall he eat.”
That is the grand principle I established today. It was so obvious, and everyone was already doing it, that it hadn’t even needed to be said.
“I promise you. The members of Samira will continue to do their best in their respective positions. This is an absolute and equal rule. I will make sure of it.”
I have the right to say this. Because I am the one who built Samira. Because I spent all day running around to protect it.
“Do not try to play shallow tricks. I am watching. You might be able to deceive yourself, but you cannot deceive me.”
So, I said it clearly with my own mouth. That they must keep this obvious promise.
“There is no second chance for those who betray Samira and the trust we share.”
I was still wearing my combat gear. I hadn’t had time to properly maintain my equipment, so the monster blood from this morning was still splattered in places. I had come straight here in that state.
I gripped a club in my hand and swung it.
CRACK!
Go Mi-hye’s head vanished from her corpse.
This was a warning. If their tension drops because they can’t see an enemy in front of them, I will become the tension for everyone.
After finishing what I wanted to say, I looked around at the people for a moment. Jo Bo-yeon, who had once told me she wanted to write fanfic—no, a novel—about me, was busy scribbling something down. Some were staring blankly behind me, while others were shedding tears and staring intently at my face.
Amidst them, I found a face that stood out particularly well. It was Yuri-an.
“Ah, you can create your own opportunities. Tomorrow, I will convey the methods for repentance through each department head.”
It felt like I had made eye contact with Yuri-an. I stepped down from the podium, and Aunt Sujeong went up in my place.
“Boss.”
As I was leaving the auditorium, Jang Hoseop followed me out. It seemed to be because of what I said at the end.
“Let’s talk at the morning meeting tomorrow.”
“Ah, yep. But… you mean don’t slack off, right?”
“Yeah.”
I walked toward the main building, but the kid kept following me. He seemed to be trying to sneakily skip his time for cultivation.
“No, but seriously, you little… I just said it.”
“Ah, hehe… Being by your side is more important to me. I’m working.”
He wasn’t wrong. In fact, the cultivation time didn’t mean much to Jang Hoseop anyway.
“So… what happened with Go Mi-hye?”
Jang Hoseop asked cautiously, curious about the details. I had planned to talk about that tomorrow all at once.
“More importantly.”
“Yes?”
“How accurate do you think your Lie Detection skill is?”
“Uh… it’s 100% when it comes to weeding out lies. Why do you ask?”
I didn’t think it was 100%. That’s why I was asking.
“There must be a loophole. Think about it.”
“A loophole? Uh… hold on. So, there’s a weakness, but… a loophole.”
Jang Hoseop fell into deep thought.
“You know Yuri-an. What do you think of her?”
I gave him a hint.
“Yes? Why Yuri-an all of a sudden?”
“That woman is strange.”
“Uh… could you be more specific?”
When Yuri-an joined Samira, we went through a verification process using Jang Hoseop’s skill and my own target detection. There hadn’t been anything unusual.
“You really like her. You’ve been like that from the start.”
“Well… she’s a famous celebrity and she’s pretty, right? And her speech and behavior are sensible, too. Isn’t that natural?”
Jang Hoseop only listed positive things about Yuri-an. The more he did, the more convinced I became.
“Hoseop.”
“Yes.”
“What did you think when you found out I killed Go Mi-hye?”
“Hmm… I thought there must be a reason.”
“Right. But what about now?”
Even though I had specifically pointed out that she was strange, Jang Hoseop was still defending her.
“Uh-oh? W-well, I guess so?”
“Strange, isn’t it?”
Jang Hoseop realized it too.
“Look. If I told you I was making bean paste out of red beans, you’d try to figure out the method. You wouldn’t doubt me.”
“Uh… yes. That’s right.”
Jang Hoseop’s faith in me is absolute.
“Yuri-an said she had something she wanted to tell me privately, so I called her to the office.”
“Yes.”
“That day, she sat right next to me. But I didn’t say much.”
“Yes?”
“If it had been anyone else, I would have told them to sit in front of me.”
“Ah….”
It wasn’t just Jang Hoseop who acted strangely when involved with Yuri-an. I was acting strangely, too.
“And I met Yuri-an at the Lemon-Mae cultivation site today, too.”
I told him what happened during the day as we walked toward the main building.
“Yuri-an used a shortcut. Like you said, she slacked off. It’s a bit ambiguous, though.”
“Yes.”
“Even then, she came up to me and smiled, and I didn’t think much of it.”
Simply put, Yuri-an did something I hate.
“Could it be that you liked Yuri-an from the start…?”
“No. She’s not my type, and I don’t even know her well.”
“I see. It’s definitely strange. You don’t even like it when I stick to your side.”
The comparison was a bit off. Jang Hoseop is a man, regardless of likes or dislikes. Anyway, my point was conveyed.
“What Yuri-an is doing is similar to Go Mi-hye.”
I am a person who is used to being alone. Now, I am taking care of many people and living with them. That’s why I was a little late to notice.
“Standing next to me. Having personal time with me. How would that look to other people’s eyes?”
“They’d think she’s close to you. Naturally, they’d be envious and cautious. Is that what you mean, Yuri-an is doing that?”
“Yeah. Even Mr. Bae Bong-sik was conscious of Yuri-an being by my side while he was talking to me.”
Yuri-an acted with such confidence. As if she were certain I wouldn’t push her away.
“Wow. You’re right. You could think it’s because she’s confident in her looks, but…”
“Looking at your reaction and my own feelings, it seems right to assume there’s something more.”
I had tolerated Yuri-an’s behavior too easily. I had developed a fondness for her too easily. This was a truly strange thing.
“So, did you conclude that there must be a loophole in my skill?”
“Yeah. Now, whenever something that doesn’t make sense happens, we have to start by doubting the skills.”
“That’s true.”
I trust myself more than Jang Hoseop’s Lie Detection.
“That means she could have deceived the skill… wow, does that even make sense?”
“Or there could be something we haven’t even imagined. That’s why I told you to think about it.”
“Yes. I’ll think about it.”
We decided to discuss the rest at tomorrow’s meeting. Since I had given a warning just a while ago, I wondered if there might be some kind of reaction from Yuri-an.
The next day.
I fell asleep early yesterday, exhausted from a long and difficult day. Thanks to my recovery rate improving as my level rose, I was fortunate enough to regain my condition in just one day.
“Hyun. Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah, you’re up early, Noona?”
“Mhm. I wanted to make you breakfast. You should eat before you go to the meeting.”
Bom Noona was filling the void left by Go Mi-hye.
“Noona. Call Seol-hee, too. So we can eat breakfast together.”
“Ah, okay. She’s up.”
I sat at the table. Bom Noona brought Seol-hee over.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. Seol-hee, you should eat breakfast and get ready quickly, too.”
I should have said this yesterday. I was too busy washing up and sleeping to talk.
“From now on, Seol-hee will also be attending the executive meetings.”
“Yes?”
Seol-hee was surprised. Even when she lived with me at the house in Muhwa-dong, she always had to leave the room during meetings with my group. Perhaps those trivial things had made her even more impatient.
“Just know that and get ready.”
It wasn’t that I expected anything special from Seol-hee. I was just showing it to the other group members. Because I had decided to accept her.
“Um… what about Hyerin? Ah, I’m sorry.”
“You can bring Hyerin, too. And…”
It didn’t end there. I felt sorry for Bom Noona, but I was going to give Seol-hee one more role.