Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Back to Work
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"Sit."
Park Gi-cheol, the department head, spoke in a low voice. Early fifties, with a buzz cut and a stern impression. A veteran who'd been leading the Product Development Team for ten years.
Ian sat down in the chair across from him.
The department head spoke without unfolding his arms.
"Two days of unexcused absence and no contact. Explain yourself."
Ian met the department head's eyes.
In the past, he would have been tense. Park Gi-cheol was known in the industry as the 'Bulldozer.' Relentless drive, uncompromising principles. Famous for being strict with his subordinates.
But to Ian now...
'......'
It was nothing compared to the things he'd faced over tens of thousands of years.
The Smiler's laughter, the Beast's roar, the Void's silence. To Ian, who had survived those soul-eroding presences, a middle-aged man's voice was no more meaningful than the murmur from a TV.
"I had a family matter."
Ian decided to brush it off vaguely.
"A family matter? Is that an excuse for two days of going AWOL?"
"It was urgent."
"Urgent or not, you could've called. Or at least texted. Why no contact?"
"There was a problem with my phone."
The department head's brow furrowed. He clearly didn't buy it.
"Ian."
The department head placed his hand on the desk.
"I'm not trying to pry into your personal life. But you know what this week is about. Hanwoo Bulgogi Hansang. We've been prepping this project for weeks. The tasting evaluation was the day before yesterday, and the lead goes radio silent. What am I supposed to do?"
"......I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't cut it. Yujin pulled two all-nighters covering for you. You know that?"
Ian didn't respond.
The department head sighed.
"......What really happened?"
His tone softened a bit. Behind the stern boss face, a flicker of concern appeared.
"Family issue, you said? Parents? Or..."
"No."
Ian cut him off.
"Just personal business. It won't happen again."
The department head stared at Ian steadily.
He sensed something. Ian's eyes were different. The old Ian had always avoided eye contact. During reports, scoldings—even then, there was an air of unease.
Not now.
He was looking straight ahead.
"......Got it."
The department head nodded.
"I'll process this as paid leave for now. But from today, shape up. Executive briefing next week. Need the Hanwoo Bulgogi Hansang feedback summarized."
"Understood."
"Go."
Ian stood and opened the door.
"Ian."
Ian paused at the department head's voice.
"I don't know what it is, but if something tough's going on, tell me. I'll help however I can."
Ian turned back.
The department head's expression was still stern, but his eyes held sincerity.
"......Thank you."
Ian bowed his head and left the office.
As he walked down the hallway, Ian thought.
'I used to think he was just scary.'
Behind the tough exterior, there was a care for his subordinates. He hadn't noticed before. Intimidated only by the pressure right in front of him. Turns out, the man had a warm side.
Of course, the incident passing so easily had other reasons too. Ian was in his third year, but his tasting accuracy and product planning were top-tier in the team. Without that skill, two days AWOL wouldn't have ended with paid leave.
Back at his desk, Yujin approached.
"How'd it go? Get chewed out bad?"
"No. They're processing it as paid leave."
"Lucky. The department head's been on edge lately. Second-quarter results."
Yujin added as she returned to her seat.
"Oh, sent you the tasting results summary by email. Check it."
"Thank you. Sorry you had to cover for me, senior..."
"Forget it. Just buy me coffee later."
Ian sat and turned on his computer.
The OS logo appeared, then the desktop. Icons packed tightly. Traces of three years' work.
Ian grabbed the mouse.
'......What was this again.'
Mouse click. Double-click. Drag.
Familiar motions, but awkward. Natural after tens of thousands of years without practice. No computers in the Backrooms.
He opened his email. 47 unread from two days.
Ian started reading them one by one.
Email from manufacturer. Cost adjustment request.
From marketing. Package design review request.
From Yujin. Tasting evaluation summary.
Ian opened Yujin's email.
[Hanwoo Bulgogi Hansang Tasting Evaluation Results]
1. Overall Rating: 4.2/5.0
2. Key Feedback
- Bulgogi portion appropriate
- Rice slightly bland (needs improvement)
- Side dishes well-received (radish salad, rolled omelet)
- Price point suitable
3. Executive Comments
- "Suitable as summer season main product" (Senior Manager Kim)
- "Adjust rice seasoning and ready for launch" (Executive Director Lee)
Ian scrolled down, reading.
A strange feeling came over him as he read.
'This is what I was doing.'
Debating rice amounts in triangle kimbap. Calculating cost savings from removing pickled radish in lunchboxes. Rating "salty" at tastings.
Such things.
Trivial to someone who'd fought monsters for tens of thousands of years.
But...
'......Looks kinda fun?'
In the Backrooms, every day was survival. Eat or be eaten. Kill or be killed. Never a moment to relax.
Here was different.
If lunchbox rice was bland, add more salt. If kimbap steam was soggy, change packaging. Fail, no death. Try again.
Petty and ordinary, in a way.
He hadn't known how precious such things were, back tens of thousands of years ago.
Ian placed his hands on the keyboard.
Tap. Tap.
He started typing a reply.
[RE: Hanwoo Bulgogi Hansang Tasting Evaluation Results]
Thank you for the summary.
I'll contact the manufacturer about adjusting the rice seasoning—request higher salt content.
I'll handle the executive briefing materials.
Thanks again.
Best,
Ian
He hit send.
Morning passed.
Ian handled backlog at his desk. Email replies, report reviews, manufacturer calls. Familiar work, yet awkward too.
"Ian."
He looked up at the voice.
Team Leader Choi Min-su. Skinny guy, early forties. Oversaw Product Development Team operations. Department head set direction; team leader executed.
"Meeting room, quick."
"Yes."
Ian followed to the meeting room.
Inside, besides the team leader, two others. New Product Planning section deputies. Ian's peer Han Jeong-woo and one-year senior Seo Mi-ra.
"Sit."
The team leader stood by the whiteboard.
"Prep meeting for next week's executive briefing. As you know, finalizing Q3 new product lineup. Our section has three agenda items."
The team leader wrote on the board.
1. Hanwoo Bulgogi Hansang (Lead: Ian)
2. Cream Cheese Bagel Sandwich (Lead: Han Jeong-woo)
3. Fruit Yogurt Bowl (Lead: Seo Mi-ra)
"Ian, Hanwoo Bulgogi Hansang. Saw the tasting results. Generally positive—just tweak rice seasoning. Contacted manufacturer?"
"Yes. Called this morning. Agreed on higher salt."
"Good. Revised sample when?"
"Tomorrow afternoon."
The team leader nodded.
"Jeong-woo, Cream Cheese Bagel?"
Han Jeong-woo replied. Ian's peer, big build, loud voice.
"Cost is the issue. Reduce cream cheese, loses flavor. Keep it, no margin."
"Alternatives?"
"Considering switching cream cheese brand. From A to B. Unit price 15% lower."
"Flavor difference?"
"......Honestly, yes. Subtle."
The room went quiet.
The team leader sighed.
"Subtle differences get caught by execs. You know their picky tastes."
Jeong-woo's face darkened.
Ian watched, then spoke.
"B-brand cream cheese has shorter aging, less flavor depth than A."
All eyes turned to Ian.
"But add 0.5% lemon zest—boosts acidity, covers the shortfall. Negligible cost increase."
Silence.
The team leader blinked.
Jeong-woo stared at Ian.
"Dude, for real? Lemon zest?"
"Worth testing. Ian's got that edge."
The team leader jotted a note.
"Jeong-woo, test it. Add lemon zest like Ian said."
"Got it."
Jeong-woo nodded, but his expression was odd. Complicated feelings about his peer stepping into his project.
Meeting continued.
Seo Mi-ra's Fruit Yogurt Bowl. Fruit freshness the problem.
"Refrigerated distribution, but fruits soften. Especially banana and kiwi."
The team leader frowned.
"Swap fruit types then."
Ian spoke again.
"Lemon juice coating on fruits prevents browning and maintains texture. 3% concentration ideal."
Mi-ra looked at Ian.
Her expression subtly stiffened.
The team leader brightened.
"Great. Mi-ra, test that too. Lemon juice coating."
"......Yes."
Meeting ended.
As Ian headed out, the team leader called.
"Ian."
"Yes?"
"You're on point today. Two days off cleared your head?"
Ian just smiled, no reply.
Lunchtime.
Ian went to the cafeteria with Yujin and Jeong-woo. Menu: spicy pork stir-fry set.
"Hey."
Jeong-woo eyed Ian while eating.
"That lemon zest from the meeting. Where'd you get it?"
"Just knew it from before."
"'Just'? You read some food science book?"
Ian picked up pork with chopsticks, thinking.
Where did he learn it?
Backrooms?
No way.
No lemons there. Only rotten fruit-like things if anything.
"Just a hunch."
Jeong-woo grumbled, but looked convinced.
Yujin chimed in.
"Ian's always had good instincts. Famous for accurate tastings since day one."
"True, but..."
"Help's the project. Why complain when it saves your ass."
Jeong-woo shut up.
Ian ate, gazing out the window.
Far more peaceful than fighting monsters. And its own rewards.
For now.
For now, sticking around here seemed fine.
Afternoon.
Ian worked on executive briefing materials at his desk.
Tap tap.
Keyboard clacked rhythmically. Neighbor Jeong-woo on manufacturer call, opposite Mi-ra opening sample boxes.
Ordinary afternoon scene.
Then, Ian's hands stopped.
Very faintly.
Something stirred.
'......What?'
Ian's eyes narrowed.
A familiar aura leaked from somewhere in the office. Very weak, but unmistakable. His senses, honed over tens of thousands of years, reacted.
An Anomaly.
An Anomaly was in this building.
Ian slowly scanned the room. Employees oblivious, focused on work.
Of course. Civilians couldn't sense it.
Ian looked back at his monitor.
Fingers hovered over keys.
A hassle, but couldn't ignore.
The aura wasn't strong, but left alone, it could hurt people.
Ian stood.
"Where to?"
Yujin asked.
"Bathroom."
Ian left the office.
Walked the hall, following the aura. Past the elevators.
Toward where the Anomaly's presence pulsed.