Chapter 348
Chapter 348
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Spotlight
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Always felt this way, but the three from the HR Team excluding me—Yoo Daon, Jang Chaeyeon, and Song Arin—seem to get along well while also not.
Some days they act like childhood friends who mesh perfectly, and others like they're dying to kill each other.
No, wait. Doesn't the fact that they click so well to begin with mean they actually get along?
With that thought, I hurry my steps.
Somehow, if those three act like they know me right now, my position is going to get exhausting.
But unfortunately, other people spotted me right away.
"Hey! Jaeheon!"
Yoo Daon's face, which had been glaring expressionlessly at Jang Chaeyeon, suddenly lights up like nothing happened, and she shouts loudly while waving at me.
No, how did she even spot me.
Should I pretend not to know and bolt?
The thought crosses my mind for a second, but that might actually hurt their feelings for real, so I have no choice but to turn around and walk over to the three.
As expected.
"What? Who's that guy?"
"Looks like someone they know. He was so stone-faced just a moment ago..."
People murmuring as they stare at me.
No joke, I don't think I got this much attention even when the Butterfly's Dream adult form tore its way out of my body by the riverbank.
Do Management Bureau people care more about a guy getting attention from beauties than a monster ripping out of someone's body?
But if I saw the branch chief staring at someone with her face flushed beet red, I'd probably be more shocked than seeing a monster burst out of someone's head.
No. Head explosions are something I see all the time, but a blushing branch chief?
I'd snap a photo on the spot, upload it to the Management Bureau intranet, and quit clean.
Viewing it with that mindset, I could kind of understand why these people were staring at me like I was some exotic animal.
In that case, nothing to be done.
The moment I finish that thought, Yoo Daon comes running over to me, and Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin hurry toward me in quick little steps too.
"Jaeheon! Oh my god, those clothes suit you so well!"
"Doesn't seem like something Daon should be saying."
I check out the dress Yoo Daon is wearing.
It's a little revealing, so I don't know where to put my eyes, but is it thanks to her consistent workouts? She really doesn't have a single ounce of excess fat—nope. Stop analyzing.
"Your eyes look a bit lecherous."
"Sorry."
"Just kidding, go ahead and stare."
She laughs "ahaha!" and twirls around gracefully, the hem of her dress fluttering.
As I'm watching her do that, Jang Chaeyeon approaches me.
"I've been waiting."
"..."
I really don't know where to put my eyes.
Hate to say it like this, but her presence is on a whole other level—hard to put into words.
I knew that already, but anyway...
"Ahem, ahem."
Jang Chaeyeon fake-coughs to grab my attention.
"Look later."
When's later?
She says it in a shy voice and heads over to Yoo Daon's side.
Weren't those two fighting?
Then Song Arin comes over to me, like they'd planned it out.
"Sorry to keep you."
I haven't said a word, but she speaks to me in a curt tone.
"Huh?"
"Ah, damn. Of all the people to stick behind, why the white hair... Argh..."
She scratches her head irritably like she's annoyed, then looks at me.
"How do I look?"
"I don't think I've said anything to anyone yet."
"Your eyes and your gaze say it all."
Song Arin puts her hands on her hips and looks up at me.
"..."
No helping it.
I check out Song Arin's dress.
To be honest, it's way easier to look at than Yoo Daon's or Jang Chaeyeon's.
It covers the most area, and it suits her petite frame really well.
"Cute."
"...Who asked for your critique?"
Didn't she just say "how do I look"?
I look at her with an incredulous expression, and she whips her head away before sticking to Yoo Daon and Jang Chaeyeon's side.
"Were you three fighting or something?"
"Have you ever seen us not fighting?"
"Yep."
"Ahaha..."
Right.
"Fight in moderation, okay? No punching, and no sniping at each other's nerves."
"I'll try."
"If it's what Jaeheon wants...!"
"I was keeping my mouth shut."
How do they all ignore me like this.
I let out a small sigh and start walking, the three of them following behind me.
And even then, everyone else's stares were still fixed on us.
"Right, what about the maknae?"
"Yaeun couldn't make it."
She doesn't even have a dress to wear, and she didn't rack up the merits to get invited.
I had to pry Park Yaeun off my pant leg after she begged and pleaded to somehow come along—took forever.
If I'd brought her, I'd probably be even more worn out. Actually turned out better this way.
"Would've been fun if she'd come."
Song Arin twists the corner of her mouth up, and after glancing at her, I head inside.
*
"Wow..."
Yoo Daon, stepping inside, goes wide-eyed.
It was unavoidable.
A scene straight out of the movies was unfolding right in front of us.
People in dresses and tuxedos walking around, dazzling chandeliers, mountains of food, and even an orchestra playing music.
This is totally...
"Cruise ship? Ugh... my head..."
"Arin, if you really say something that jinxed, Daon is gonna smash your head hard."
"Just leave it to me! I'll make it all bumpy for you!"
Song Arin mutters while pressing her temples, and Yoo Daon grins and raises her fist.
"Don't actually hit her."
Where should we go.
Just wander around for now?
Looking at the people around us, they're either chatting with whoever they ran into or grabbing some food, so maybe we should do the same.
"Go do whatever you want."
I say that and start walking myself.
Been a while—maybe grab something to eat. All the food looks pretty good.
As I'm walking along with that in mind, the other three start following me too.
"..."
When I walk ahead, they follow ahead, and when I go back, they follow back—the three of them.
"...Didn't I say to go your separate ways?"
"I don't have anywhere particular to go."
"Me neither."
"The path Jaeheon takes is my path."
"..."
Fine, let's just stick together.
I sigh and start plating food, Yoo Daon follows me and plates some too... while Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin just watch the scene.
"You two aren't eating?"
"Eat food in a dress like this?"
Song Arin mutters incredulously while pointing at her stomach.
"Eating food makes your belly stick out!"
"..."
I look at Jang Chaeyeon, and she smiles softly back at me.
"I'm embarrassed."
Doesn't look embarrassed at all.
What about Yoo Daon then?
"I could eat and just will it back into shape."
Regeneration comes in handy even here.
Thinking that, I plate my food.
Once I've got enough to eat, I head to a seat.
"Wow! Kim Jaeheon!"
A cheerful voice rings in my ears.
I look to the side, and An Sanghyeon is staring at me with shining eyes.
"I heard! You totally finished off Aestheticism!"
"Ah, yeah."
When did he get here.
An Sanghyeon grins happily at me.
"Incredible, wiping out Aestheticism like that. I knew you were no ordinary guy from way back, but Kim Jaeheon, you keep surprising me every time I see you!"
"It was possible because the branch chief was there."
"No way. If the branch chief and I had gone, we probably—nah, definitely would've died!"
As An Sanghyeon chats away happily with me, other people's stares turn toward us again.
"...Gangseo's mad dog having a rational conversation?"
"And enjoying it?"
"That thing can even communicate? All I've ever seen is it rolling on the floor laughing the moment it shows up."
"I rode an assault chopper with that guy once. He tumbled out without a parachute and landed fine."
"Who are those people?"
"Wait... Oh. Central psycho Song Arin and Gangdong Branch Jang Chaeyeon. HR Team."
"...HR Team?"
Song Arin, who'd been listening to that, starts grinding her teeth.
"Those bastards keep calling people psychos. Should I make them pull some psycho shit right here in public?"
"Do it."
"...I'll hold back."
I look back at An Sanghyeon while listening to Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin.
The HR Team's reputation seems to be getting weirder by the minute.
People from Gangseo Branch who've seen us a few times just pass by indifferently, but folks from other departments are staring at us like we're aliens.
It's weird. It feels like just yesterday I was a Gangseo Branch HR Team member diligently handing out paychecks.
"Being with a famous guy like you, I'm even getting some stares myself! Haha!"
An Sanghyeon laughs sheepishly.
Isn't it the other way around?
Feels like I'm the one getting stares because I'm with An Sanghyeon.
As I'm exchanging pointless chit-chat with him like that,
"The award ceremony will now begin."
A solemn melody plays along with the announcer's voice drifting out.
A voice I'm very familiar with from the Management Bureau's internal broadcasts.
Before long, the lights dim, leaving only the stage illuminated.
And then, the elderly man I'd seen exactly once ascends the stage.
It was the headquarters chief.
Sure enough, dressed in a suit, he taps the mic.
"Everyone."
If a voice had magic, this would be it.
The murmuring crowd falls silent at his single word, staring at him entranced.
"Thank you for surviving another year."
He expresses his gratitude in a calm voice.
"Some of you won't be here next year, and new faces will join us as well."
"..."
"Let us hold a moment of silence in thanks and respect."
With that, the headquarters chief closes his eyes.
His figure looks more pitiful than I'd expected, so I close my eyes and join in the silence.
How much time passes.
"But we must celebrate what deserves celebration."
He breaks the silence.
"...After tormenting us for so long, one being has finally vanished from this world."
And then, he slowly begins to speak.
"Aestheticism... it is finally dead."
The moment those words end, the crowd erupts in murmurs.
"Aestheticism...?"
"That monster...?"
The murmurs grow louder, and the headquarters chief cuts through the silence to continue.
"And now, allow me to introduce the heroes who accomplished it all."
"..."
This feels really ominous.
"Introducing."
The headquarters chief continues in a proud voice.
"The Gangseo Branch HR Team."
As if on cue, the spotlights shine down on us.
"..."
I never heard about this.