Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Lights Out Time
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"Really?"
"Yes."
"For real?"
"Yes."
"Really for real?"
"Yes, yes."
"Really, truly for real?"
"Yes, yes, yes."
"Ugh, seriously!"
After I refused to the end, the Branch Manager looked at me with irritation.
"Is working with me really that bad?"
"Yes."
"..."
This time, the Branch Manager made a genuinely hurt expression.
"No, what's wrong with me..."
"There's nothing wrong with you as Branch Manager."
Honestly, even judging by appearance alone, or by ability alone, she's an impressive person.
After all, she's someone whose very humanity is strong.
But.
"You're just going to work me to the bone."
"W-Work you to the bone?"
The Branch Manager coughed dryly and avoided my gaze.
"It's not working you to the bone; it's an extension of duties for a superior career path..."
"So, that means the workload gets harder."
Saying something like that usually means more work without more pay.
"..."
The Branch Manager closed her mouth, then opened it again.
"B-But still?"
"Yes."
"There are lines of people dying to work under me!"
"Congratulations. Looks like you don't need me after all?"
The Branch Manager glared at me.
"I have plenty of people following me because they like me, you know."
"I see. Why not pick one of them and date?"
"You can't just talk about dating people that easily!"
The Branch Manager's eyes widened as she stared at me.
"Have you never dated?"
"I was busy!"
"Got it."
Well, yeah. With how she goes around like that.
As I was lost in those thoughts, the Branch Manager grumbled again, looking wronged.
"I've been praised as pretty sharp and aware, you know? I keep up with all the latest trends."
"Trends from two hundred years ago? No, you were already over sixty back then."
"..."
-Whoosh!
As the Branch Manager swung her fist past my face, there was a whoosh of air and an explosive sound.
"That was a slip of the tongue."
"Good choice."
At my quick apology, the Branch Manager responded plainly and withdrew her fist.
"Do you really not think at all?"
"I don't. And if I went, would the others come too?"
"The others?"
"You know, Team Leader, Ye-eun, Daon, Chaeyeon, Arin, and so on."
At my words, the Branch Manager paused for a moment.
"Then who'd handle HR Team work?"
"Exactly."
I shook my head as I looked at the Branch Manager.
"First off, thank you sincerely for the offer."
"..."
"But, you know. I've finally got coworkers I work with now, and even if they're just workplace connections, I think of them as friends."
At my words, the Branch Manager's eyes darted around.
"...Fine. Pretend the offer never happened."
"Thank you."
"But."
The Branch Manager looked at me.
Her eyes wide open, staring at me.
"This is advice from a senior in life... no, a Management Bureau senior."
"Yes."
"Like people. But don't bet everything on one person, Jaeheon."
She looked at me with a serious expression.
"If you like someone too much, in that moment, Jaeheon gains an irremovable weakness and an indelible wound."
"Is that... from experience?"
At my words, the Branch Manager stared at me intently, then smirked.
"If it was, I'd have died before becoming Branch Manager."
She nodded at me.
"Love everyone. But don't love everyone too much."
"..."
"That's the best way to protect your heart while doing this job."
I was a little startled that the Branch Manager suddenly called me Jaeheon instead of Kim Jaeheon, and didn't know what to say, but for now, I slowly nodded.
"...I'll keep that in mind."
"Good."
The Branch Manager smiled faintly.
"Eileen was writing something when I came out, so she should be along soon."
"Is that so?"
She'd tried to bring Eileen too, but recalled how Eileen had stubbornly insisted with a serious face that she had things to do first.
What on earth did she have to do?
"Anyway, shall we go?"
"Yes."
At my words, the Branch Manager smiled and started walking.
"Still, I'm jealous of you, Jaeheon."
"Pardon?"
The Branch Manager looked at me.
"That you can be with the people you trust, and who trust you."
And before I could say anything, she strode off ahead.
"Wait, Branch Manager!"
Even as I called after her, she walked like the wind, at a speed I couldn't catch, vanishing from my sight.
"..."
Humans are such complicated yet simple creatures.
They ponder their existence with all sorts of anguish, yet find solace in the mere fact that there are others like them.
I wonder how we looked in the Branch Manager's eyes.
After spending long years empathizing, sharing their hearts, living the same time, and facing similar deaths—wouldn't she envy us for that chance?
-Shrrrk!
At that moment, the Manual in my pocket unfolded on its own.
[Office Manual]
[OY - When conversing with yourself and others]
1. While working at the Management Bureau, you will often converse with those fundamentally different from you.
2. In such cases, understanding them would be ideal, but there will be times when you don't.
3. In those moments, just accept it. There's no need to force understanding of differences.
4. Additionally, while the Manual possesses thoughts and personality very similar to its owner, be advised in advance that it does not match to the point of self-loathing.
What did I ever say to you?
*
The way back was quite far.
Had I come this far without realizing?
I wondered if the Branch Manager had teleport-instantly dragged me to some distant place without me knowing, and as I headed back,
"Why are you so late?"
"What did the Branch Manager say?"
"She said something weird again, didn't she?"
Yoo Daon, Jang Chaeyeon, and Song Arin were glaring at me like they wanted to devour me.
"She tried to scout me."
"Scout you?"
"No wonder she dragged you off to some remote spot."
"She's so old, acting just like a sly old fox—no different from one."
Yoo Daon's eyes widened at my words, Jang Chaeyeon muttered with a serious expression, and Song Arin launched a personal attack without a shred of hesitation.
"So, what'd you say to that woman?"
Song Arin pressed me, and I shrugged as I answered her question.
"I said no. The work would be tough, and I'm already with the HR Team anyway."
"...Phew."
Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin let out sighs of relief.
"We were worried you'd get forcibly transferred or fall for the Branch Manager's temptations."
"Temptations? More like lures."
You could think of it that way—
"I didn't?"
Song Arin and Jang Chaeyeon spoke, but Yoo Daon cut them off neatly and stared at the two.
"No way you two thought that? That Jaeheon would leave us behind?"
"..."
"..."
Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin shut their mouths,
"Jaeheon wouldn't leave us behind."
Yoo Daon looked at them with an expression like they were spouting nonsense.
"Right?"
And then she smiled at me.
"...Yes. Of course not."
"See? I trusted you, Jaeheon."
Yoo Daon smiled brightly.
"..."
Not knowing what to say, I just smiled back at her.
"Anyway, we've wrapped up a tough incident."
At my words, the three nodded.
"Let's rest for a bit first."
It was one of the rare breaks.
And resting on the moon, no less—making it all the more special.
"Everyone go where you want and rest, then meet back up."
"Yes!"
"Yeah."
"Sure."
The three nodded, and I turned back contentedly, taking a step.
It'd be nice to gaze at the night moon for a bit and sort my thoughts.
As I walked,
-Step... step...
Footsteps sounded from behind.
Whipping around, all three were following me.
"I said go wherever you want and rest."
Their reactions to my words varied.
"Ah, well..."
Yoo Daon avoided my gaze, trailing off.
"Hey, you going where I wanna go, got it?"
Song Arin snapped back irritably.
"The path you're taking is the one I want to go."
And Jang Chaeyeon said something to fluster me again.
"...Fine. Come along then."
In the end, the four of us ended up moon-gazing together again until the Branch Manager called.
*
Moon-gazing wrapped up, and there was still about half a day left before descending to Earth.
After settling meals with the dry rations the Branch Manager brought, we prepared sleeping bags on the floor.
I took the spot closest to the door at the end. The Branch Manager was directly opposite me. Next to her were Song Arin, Jang Chaeyeon, and Yoo Daon in order, each with their own sleeping bags.
Where on earth did she get sleeping bags like these?
In the end, Eileen got the bed.
I strongly advocated for respecting the elderly and insisted the Branch Manager take the bed, but her fierce will—threatening to rip out my tongue if I said more—couldn't be stopped.
As we prepared to sleep, laying out sleeping bags, the Branch Manager at the wall end grabbed the curtain.
"How was today's trip, everyone?"
"It was awful."
"Don't wanna do it twice."
"Hate it..."
"It's tiring..."
"..."
No positive responses came.
Naturally, I didn't say anything positive either.
"You all look so lively—it's great!"
Ignoring our complaints cleanly, the Branch Manager beamed as she gripped the curtain.
"Alright, lights out!"
Swish! The curtain dropped, and darkness fell.
Fatigue hit immediately, and I fell straight asleep.
"..."
Or so I thought.
I opened my eyes.
Warm moon dust brushed my face.
"I have something to say."
A familiar voice reached my ear.
Looking up, a familiar-faced girl was gazing at me.
"...Give me a break time."
"Ah, s-sorry. But it's not... like an incident or anything. Just talk."
At my grumbling, she startled wide-eyed, then hurriedly waved both hands.
"A-Angry?"
And then, peeking at my mood, she hurried to my side.
"Not angry."
Yeah. If she called, there's a reason.
"R-Really?"
"I said not."
I readjusted my position, feeling the warm sand's texture as I looked at the girl.
"What is it."
"Got it, then... A-hem."
She cleared her throat and continued.
"I'll tell you. About the moon, and the wedge."
Behind her floated the bright moon I'd seen earlier.