Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: What She Wants
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Last year it was the same, but the Management Bureau mandates mental counseling and evaluations for every employee. If you skip them, you face disciplinary action—it's enforced rigorously for everyone.
Maybe because it's not your typical workplace.
I went through it last year, so no big deal for me.
"Team Leader."
"Yeah?"
"Nothing happened while I was out?"
He stares at me in response to my question.
"Nothing happened."
"Your tone makes it sound like something did."
"Nah, really nothing. Daon was quiet the whole time, and Ye-eun was just..."
The Team Leader trails off.
"It felt exhausting dealing with bratty little cousins who won't listen."
"They're young. Cut them some slack."
"Yeah, yeah, expecting anything from kids would make me the unreasonable one."
I sink into thought, leaving the sighing Team Leader behind.
The Management Bureau's counseling keeps everything strictly confidential.
I had no idea what results the Team Leader got last year until he told me himself. Same for him with mine.
"You're from the HR Team, right?"
"That's correct."
A man in a white coat holding a chart looks us over.
The four people standing behind me and the Team Leader.
"Last year it was just the two of you..."
"We've got some new faces."
The Team Leader flashes a friendly smile at the man.
"Staff numbers stretch like rubber bands around here, don't they?"
"True enough."
The man nods and looks at us.
"Please go in one by one for your counseling."
He turns, revealing a row of temporary white booths spaced apart.
"Does it matter which one?"
"No. The equipment's all the same."
"Then handle it yourselves."
With that, the Team Leader waves and heads into a booth.
...
...
...
...
And then four pairs of eyes turn to me.
"Have you all had the Management Bureau mental eval before?"
"I haven't!"
"I'm just an intern."
Yoo Daon and Park Ye-eun raise their hands, while Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin just nod without a word.
"I'll explain quickly, then."
Their eyes light up as they look at me.
"There's a machine inside. You get in, and it scans your mental state automatically."
...
...
"Then you do the counseling."
"...That's it?"
Park Ye-eun mutters in disbelief, and Yoo Daon just blinks at me.
"Yeah. That's it."
"It works if you're that casual about it?"
"Isn't modern tech more reliable than some pointless questions from a person?"
At least for me.
Park Ye-eun shuts her mouth, and Yoo Daon nods.
"You two seem to know the drill..."
I trail off, glancing at the booths.
"See you after."
Honestly, none of them are in bad enough shape to worry about.
I head to a booth, keeping it light.
*
Park Ye-eun stares blankly at the machine in front of her.
It looks like a small shower booth.
The glossy black steel door and walls scream "do not enter."
"You go in here."
A woman with a kind voice snaps Park Ye-eun out of it.
"Ah, okay."
"Don't worry too much. It'll be fine."
"Yeah..."
She mumbles as she steps inside.
The door shuts, plunging her into pitch darkness.
[Just stay still and it'll be okay.]
She zones out to the mechanical voice from beyond.
How does it work? Brain scan? Or some weirder tech?
[All done.]
"Already?"
She hadn't even had time to think much.
Then a single sheet of paper is handed to her.
"Been through something rough lately?"
"Uh..."
"Oh, sorry. You don't have to say."
The doctor waves it off with a gentle smile at Park Ye-eun's awkward expression.
"Everyone who joins the Bureau young has their reasons."
...
"If something's tough, talk it out. Got any reliable adults around?"
Reliable adults?
A few faces pop into Park Ye-eun's mind.
Scary black-haired sister. No way.
Stoic white-haired sister. No.
Rude purple-haired sister. Nope.
Old guy. Half-trustworthy.
Tired-looking brother. Probably trustworthy.
"...One or two...?"
"Ask them what you need, lean on them. Give it a shot."
"Ah, okay..."
"No major trauma, looks like. Some mild anxiety, but that'll pass."
The doctor smiles, handing over the paper.
"The HR Team's doing okay."
"Ah..."
Is it really?
"Something wrong?"
"No, thank you!"
Park Ye-eun bows and steps out, looking around.
No one's out yet.
*
...
...
Silence.
Kim Jiwoo has no idea what to say to the black-haired woman staring at her with an empty smile.
She's no rookie. She's seen plenty of unstable people, and even in this hellhole, some keep their sanity.
But the one sitting in front of her is different.
She brushes her black hair behind her ear and meets Kim Jiwoo's eyes.
Her innocent looks would turn heads anywhere, and that fleeting smile stirs a protective instinct.
Except for those indifferent eyes.
...
Kim Jiwoo glances at the paper in front of her.
Unstable mental state. Severe dependency issues.
She's not fit for work—she needs treatment.
"Um... looking at this chart..."
...
The blank gaze shifts to the paper.
Finally, Kim Jiwoo can breathe.
Right. Just avoid the face.
She continues, now that the woman's focused on the paper.
"See here."
"Yes."
"...It's a bit risky. The graphs and numbers are sky-high. Normally, we'd recommend time off..."
...
"Ah. But don't worry too much. Pay keeps coming, and you can return whenever..."
"What if I want to keep working?"
"Pardon?"
Did I hear that wrong?
She turns, locking eyes with the black-haired woman—still emotionless.
"I have no plans to quit."
...
"I'm telling you."
...
The black-haired woman beams at her.
"Never."
"...Yes..."
"No intentions of leaving the job."
"Yes..."
"If I do, I'll come back no matter what it takes."
Her eyes curve into crescents.
Her face screams friendliness, but those eyes stay dead.
Kim Jiwoo is terrified.
Normal people show some emotion toward her—positive or not, it's human.
But Yoo Daon is different.
Her gaze at Kim Jiwoo holds zero feeling.
Like a talking doll, or someone blankly watching something boring.
That's what scares her most.
"Yes..."
Kim Jiwoo nods helplessly.
Yoo Daon stands.
She bows at a perfect right angle, same smile as before.
"Then, doctor. Thanks so much for your time!"
Beaming, she heads out.
"Ah, Jaeheon!"
Emotion floods her voice.
Kim Jiwoo peeks out and sees Yoo Daon talking to the man—eyes full of joy and affection.
...
Mid-conversation, Yoo Daon turns, spots Kim Jiwoo, and gives a blank nod before the door shuts.
*
"Wow, you're perfect!"
Oh Seokhyeong had never seen results this good.
Flawless.
Mental health: perfect. Zero trauma.
Not just normal—ready for field duty right now.
"Let's check your history too."
Amazing, just amazing.
He mutters, pulling out the paper.
Every metric is ideal.
"No need for me to say anything."
Where do they find people like this? Our staff should be the ones getting counseled.
He hands it over, marveling, and a slender hand takes it.
"...I see."
"Isn't it perfect?"
"No. Far from it."
"These numbers?"
What more could she want?
He gazes at her in awe.
"Let's see."
She mutters, picking up the paper.
"Severe self-doubt. Fair enough. Dropping self-esteem—huh. And loneliness. Hmm."
"Yes?"
"It's pissing me off how spot-on it is."
He checks the paper.
Perfect scores, and she's complaining?
"Um..."
"Yes."
She answers curtly, looking at him.
"I don't think you need to worry."
"Yes."
She stands, paper in hand.
She shouldn't take it, but whatever.
He shrugs it off.
As she heads out, she turns back.
"...Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"How do I seem to you right now?"
"...Uh."
He scans her face.
Long purple hair, not exactly sweet-faced but cute.
And above all...
"...I feel this weird liking for you."
An irrational fondness. She just appeals.
"...Right."
Song Arin smiles self-mockingly at the paper.
-Riiip...
She tears it with both hands, tosses it in the trash, and mutters.
Leaving the man behind—still praising her blankly, eyes unfocused—she walks out.
"I know."
She eyes the unopened doors and heads to a corner.
Arms crossed, leaning against the wall, Song Arin closes her eyes.
"You all see me as useful."
But it means nothing.
Footsteps approach, followed by a bright female voice.
Song Arin straightens and rounds the corner.
"Arin, done early?"
"I've done this a time or two."
There was only one thing she wanted.