Chapter 403
Chapter 403
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 403. Choose the Tasty Bento from These
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"Why must such trials befall me..."
The branch manager muttered while pressing her temples, and I gazed at her impassively.
"Kim Jaeheon, that's true, right?"
"It is."
I shifted my gaze to the two young people lying there groaning, and the branch manager's face filled with dismay at the sight.
"...I understand."
She closed her eyes, then opened them and looked at me.
"As you know, the ability Yoo Daon showed is far too great for any one person to possess."
...
I knew that well.
"Even with just you, Kim Jaeheon, the HR Team is already drawing tons of attention."
"...I see."
"Yes. From your achievements to your actions so far, it's no exaggeration to say you're rewriting the history of the Management Bureau."
The branch manager stared straight at me.
"And now Yoo Daon on top of that..."
...
"But splitting up the HR Team isn't an option either... Ah..."
The branch manager pressed her temples repeatedly and let out a sigh.
"How do we handle this..."
"I have a good idea, Branch Manager."
"Let's hear it."
The branch manager looked at me as I spoke, and I met her eyes before opening my mouth.
"Let's keep it a secret."
"...Pardon?"
"Just between me and you—no, between the HR Team members and you, Branch Manager."
"Are you telling me to deceive the Management Bureau right now?"
"Not at all. You can tell the Bureau Chief."
That old man I knew would probably take a lenient view of this incident.
...
The branch manager closed her eyes as if pondering my words, then opened them.
"...For now."
And then, she slowly spoke.
"For now, we'll do as you say, Kim Jaeheon. I'll tell only the Bureau Chief... and explain the situation."
"Thank you."
"But."
The branch manager cut me off and looked at me.
"If it gets found out and the other branch managers or people from other branches start complaining... I won't take responsibility... but really, I won't know anything about it!"
"Then we'll handle it ourselves."
"Please don't say you're quitting. Just thinking about the people who would quit after you..."
Her face went pale.
"Ah, anyway. I'll take care of it properly. Got it?"
"Understood."
"...I'm glad the incident is resolved, but why do I feel so sad..."
The branch manager muttered as she approached the two bound people.
"...It's been a while."
She addressed them in a voice utterly cold and different from the one she'd used when talking to me earlier.
"...Branch Manager Lee Ha-neul."
Yoo Daon's mother called her in a voice thick with hatred, and their eyes met.
"I don't understand. You should understand."
...
"You've lost things too."
Yoo Daon's mother glared at her, grinding her teeth audibly, but the branch manager simply looked back at her.
"You've lost more than I have. But how can you-"
"We."
The branch manager interrupted her.
"Deal with things beyond common sense, sometimes transforming into beings that far surpass the human body, and even earning awe from people because of it."
...
"Yet the reason we're still called human is that we always act for a better outcome."
"I'm acting for a better outcome too! More than anyone!"
"Pursuing the happiness of the many by using others' hell as a stepping stone is bound to explode eventually."
The branch manager cut her off again and looked at me and Yoo Daon.
An inexplicable, subtle emotion filled her gaze.
"You will be punished."
She pronounced judgment on Yoo Daon's parents in a calm voice.
"The Management Bureau will atone on your behalf for the lives you've ruined."
...
"Take them away."
Yoo Daon's mother bit her lip hard, and the branch manager turned to someone else and spoke.
Soon, several people dragged the two out of our sight, and the branch manager watched them go before letting out a deep sigh.
"Management Bureau branches get trashed all the time, but..."
She looked around the surroundings, and I followed her lead, surveying the area.
It was a total disaster.
Walls smashed, holes in the ceiling.
What a mess.
"This is going to take time to fix."
"Don't tell me we're working from home until then?"
Working from home.
It's called working from home, but you don't have to get up to commute, so you can sleep way more, catch up on sleep during lunch, and best of all, you don't have to see your annoying boss's face.
"No? We have to come in."
"Pardon?"
The branch manager looked at me like I was asking something obvious.
"The cafeteria area's wrecked, so food probably won't be served, right?"
...
Isn't this the worst?
No food, but we still have to come in?
Is this what life is? Too much.
"But we'll include meal allowances in your pay, so don't worry."
"No, Branch Manager, it's not like I'm saying this because I'm short on money—"
"Sure."
Someone else cut me off and appeared.
"...?"
I turned to see Jang Chaeyeon looking at me.
"Pay for the meals."
"No, Chaeyeon, I can't accept that..."
"I'll make you bentos."
...
Bentos from Jang Chaeyeon?
That sounds good.
No, really good?
Jang Chaeyeon is a great cook.
"Uh, so you'll make one for me too, right, Jang Chaeyeon?"
"No."
The branch manager's eyes sparkled as she looked at her, but Jang Chaeyeon shook her head with an expression like she was spouting nonsense.
...
The branch manager pouted her lips.
"Fine. I can make bentos too."
For some reason, I had a feeling the branch manager's bento would be something like barley rice with radish kimchi.
That actually sounds intriguing.
"Then, let's ask Chaeyeon to—"
"No."
An irritated voice cut me off.
I turned to see Song Arin standing there with hands on her hips, looking up at me.
"Hey, I'll make yours this time."
...
Song Arin? A bento?
"Arin, can you even cook?"
"Hah, really. What do you take me for?"
She glared at me, eyes wide.
"It's been years since I grew up without parents!"
"Sorry, but everyone here grew up without parents."
"Me too!"
Yoo Daon raised her hand and smiled at Song Arin's words.
Why are they bragging about that? What am I supposed to say?
Sure enough, the branch manager looked awkward and smiled.
"Th-that sounds great, Kim Jaeheon."
...
I didn't respond to her, and the branch manager stretched with a groan.
"Anyway... head out for now?"
"...Yes."
Man, I'm exhausted.
I nodded while rubbing the back of my neck, and the others nodded along.
And so, the long day came to an end.
*
After the man left, the three from the HR Team gathered and chatted.
Precisely four, including.
"Sisters! I'm so glad you're back safe!"
The youngest, Park Ye-eun, with them.
"...Listen up."
Song Arin glanced at her briefly, then spoke in a serious tone.
"Let's compete fairly, us. No tricks."
"Aren't you the best at tricks, Arin? Like messing with our taste buds so we can't tell sugar from salt..."
"Yeah."
"You think I'd stoop that low?"
"Yeah."
"Yes."
"...Fair point. Winning is all that matters, fair or not. I'll do what I'm good at."
Song Arin clicked her tongue.
"But since we're doing it fair, let's do it properly."
...
...
Yoo Daon and Jang Chaeyeon exchanged glances at Song Arin's words.
Park Ye-eun, who'd been listening, narrowed her eyes and smiled.
"Then I'll judge for the three of you..."
"Jaeheon will do it."
"Yeah, you don't need to."
"Not necessary?"
"...Ah... Okay..."
Park Ye-eun replied in a thoroughly deflated voice, and Yoo Daon smiled happily as she watched her.
"But I'll prepare food for Ye-eun too!"
"Oh, really!"
"That was your goal all along."
Song Arin smirked, and Jang Chaeyeon gave a soft smile.
"It's just more portions, no big deal."
"Thank you, sisters!"
Park Ye-eun nodded brightly, beaming.
We might not have to worry about meals for a while.
*
...
I stared at the three bentos in front of me.
"Is this some new kind of food torture?"
Not just any bentos—three two- and three-tiered ones.
I even bought one myself just in case.
"It's not food torture."
Jang Chaeyeon replied calmly.
"Eat them and pick the tastiest one."
"No, this isn't a cooking show—what's the point?"
When I responded in bewilderment, the three exchanged glances.
"Just eat them!"
"Yeah. Eat."
"Why so chatty? Eat one by one and tell us, one by one."
...
I turned my gaze to Park Ye-eun and the Team Leader.
"They look delicious..."
Park Ye-eun's eyes sparkled,
"I've got a bento from my wife."
The Team Leader replied curtly, avoiding my eyes.
...
How am I supposed to choose one?
-Shrrrrk!
[Employee Manual]
[CGB - Braised Short Rib Recipe]
Ingredients
Main: 600g short ribs, 20g carrot, 10 ginkgo nuts, 10 chestnuts, 1 green onion, 50g onion
Seasoning: 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp sugar, 12 tbsp broth, 1 tsp minced ginger, 2 tbsp sesame seeds, ¼ cup cooking wine, 3 tbsp minced garlic, 1 tbsp sesame oil, pinch of pepper
1. Cut short ribs into 5cm cubes and remove excess fat.
2. Score the fat-free rib meat and soak in cold water for 30 minutes to an hour to draw out blood, removing any bone dust or fragments from cutting. For a quicker version, blanch once in boiling water instead.
3. Place steamer over boiling water, add blood-drained ribs, chopped onion, and green onion, and steam until fully cooked. Test by poking with chopsticks midway—if blood comes out, it's undercooked.
4. Drain cooked meat through a sieve. Strain the broth to remove impurities and use as base for seasoning.
5. Mix broth with soy sauce, sugar, and other seasoning ingredients.
6. Add half the seasoning to boiled rib meat, bring to boil, then add garlic, green onion, and onion midway and simmer.
7. When braising liquid reduces by half, add half-cooked carrots, chestnuts, ginkgo, and remaining seasoning, then simmer.
Try to stay quiet for a bit.