Office Whispers and the Call to Dimension 33
Dimension 6-2, the economic powerhouse Great Huuriten's capital Linden, right in the heart of it all at 8508 Queen Nutorius Street. The HR bankers of the Dimensional Credit Vault HQ worked on the sixth floor here. Unlike the grim reaper image people might imagine, it was a calm and peaceful office atmosphere. But the documents on the desks were filled with top-secret info that no one from other departments should ever see.
"We've got an unusually high number of affair reports this week."
"It's because Christmas was just a bit ago."
It was 8 p.m. now, with most HQ bankers already clocked out. Fresh-faced HR newbie Mira Levrier, back from her field work, was checking the day's incoming messages alongside her mentor, agent Polomi.
"Ah... so they spend Christmas with family and meet affair partners around New Year's."
"Pretty much. It's the perfect excuse to take down a rival who got promoted alongside you. Anyway, what about the O'Hair branch investigation?"
"Oh, the section chief who took money from the branch vault to buy stocks? I finished summarizing it earlier. Looks like he pulled it off when his mentor wasn't there to check the cash."
"Embezzling after just a few months on the job? These new hires from this batch have some guts."
Mira nodded. Not long ago, another newbie had been caught dipping into the cash drawer. Every now and then, bankers blinded by greed would siphon bank funds for gambling. Some lucky few multiplied the money and returned it before getting busted, but that was rare. Most got caught and faced harsh punishment without exception.
Not all bankers were paragons of virtue. Mira, working in HR, felt that truth deep in her bones.
"If all the newbies were like Jian, we wouldn't have these issues. Right?"
"Shouldn't you start by praising your sub-mentee first, sis?"
"Everyone knows our Mira's a pro at her job."
Mira put on a deliberately pouty face.
"Oh yeah, unrelated, but isn't Jian super good-looking?"
"...Pardon?"
Mira openly flinched at Polomi's unexpected comment.
"Come on, he is. He stood out the most among the new hires at the orientation."
"Oppa was already handsome in the original."
Mira quickly regained her composure and nodded nonchalantly. Kim Jian's looks were indeed a hot topic among the female bankers at HQ. It wasn't just because humans were a tiny minority among the Dimensional Credit Vault's new hires. To Mira, subjectively and objectively, he was the type who could rack up fans if he dolled up a bit.
Talk about his face had popped up since the newbie orientation, but it really blew up after the news hit about him helping child-star-turned-hottie Flat Sharpendora make his comeback. Right after that story broke, people realized the banker in the photo with Flat didn't fade into the background at all.
"The internet communities were losing it over comeback Flat Sharpendora's looks, but quite a few mentioned Jian too."
"See... everyone thinks the same."
"Yeah. He wasn't just 'decent for a normie' level."
Polomi propped her chin on her hand, grinning like she was having the time of her life.
"But I'm worried it might burden him, you know? He's not even a celeb."
"Not worried someone might snatch him up?"
"Pfft, why would I? He's just a close oppa."
Truth be told, Mira somewhat understood the frenzy around Kim Jian. She'd built up some immunity from training together, but even hanging out long-term, talking to him had been intimidating at first. A soft, non-intimidating frame. A straight forehead and high nose. His eyes were just big enough—not too much—and his smile warmed you right up.
"I just hope people don't bug him too much. I want oppa to focus on his work."
"Well, he is quite the rising star."
Polomi had a point. Beyond helping Flat Sharpendora, Kim Jian had recovered 1.5 billion gulden from a company plotting bankruptcy fraud, making him the most talked-about newbie. He'd even earned rave reviews from the higher-ups and promoted to agent a month early.
"That's true, but he seems like the type who doesn't open up unless you're really close, you know? Makes me worry random people might swarm him..."
Mira recalled watching his profile during their chats side-by-side.
"Kinda nosy, but yeah, with that backstory vibe to his face, he'd probably hate strangers piling on."
As they chatted, Mira suddenly remembered a tipsy story from Kim Jian. Before joining the bank, he'd made ends meet selling his own drawings. He'd had long hair back then, but no matter how much she begged for pics, he wouldn't show any. Such a shame to hide that face under long locks, but she still wanted to see.
Mira pictured all the Kim Jian expressions she'd seen so far. The soft smile he gave her. The fury at scheming villains. For some reason, she started imagining expressions she'd never witnessed. There was something about that guy that sparked curiosity and imagination.
What would it feel like to stroke that semi-curly hair, kept neat and clean for office life? What kind of look would he give? Something kept nagging at her curiosity.
"Hehe..."
Polomi circled Mira with mischievous eye-smiles, clearly amused. Her hand-covered gaze held more playfulness than usual.
"W-what, sis? Suddenly?"
Mira straightened up, and Polomi flashed an suspiciously bright smile.
"Jian looks like he'll skyrocket up the ranks. Wanna grease the wheels early? If you're cool, can Mira play bridge for me?"
"......"
Mira froze at the ambiguous tease—joke or real?
"Don't worry, just messing with you."
Only after Polomi giggled did Mira's face muscles relax.
"You scared me, sis! Dropping weird lines like that."
"I should show this kid a mirror sometime."
"Why?"
"Never mind. Nothing."
Polomi gave a wry smile at Mira's brighter grin.
"Seriously, you show it all over your face."
"What?"
"Our Mira's the cutest. Do whatever you want."
"Hehe..."
Polomi flew over Mira's head, ruffling her hair, drawing out Mira's signature dopey laugh. Right then, Mira's smartphone on the desk buzzed.
"Ah, oppa Jian..."
Mira sneaked glances at her mentor while grabbing the phone mid-shift. Polomi stifled a laugh and gave the okay to take it.
"Be right back!"
Mira dashed to the pantry with her phone.
"Workplace romance, huh? Guess we can't judge other bankers."
The fairy sighed softly at Mira's back and the leftover docs, alternating glances. Then, barely audible.
"Lucky her..."
The tiny words slipped out for real.
"Hello? How's Kikiwai life, oppa? Lots of pretty sisters in swimsuits?"
Polomi sipped her still-warm red tea, savoring Mira's voice leaking through the pantry door like sweet treats.
"Whoa, oppa, I just looked outside—it's snowing! Crazy, right?"
Sure enough, the first snow of the new year was blanketing the windows outside. Dimensional Credit Vault HQ, sixth floor. The HR department's night faded quietly away.
I'd figured a dark elf like Mira would know about Dimension 33's elves and the World Tree—and luckily, my optimistic guess hit the mark.
'Dimension 33 elves... Sure, I know of 'em. They're treated like ancestors, for better or worse.'
'Why do I sound excited? Me? Nah. Hang on, lemme grab some water. *gulp gulp*.'
According to Mira, Dimension 33 was the homeland of all elves. Dark elves were mixed-blood descendants, but lore on pureblood ancestors and the World Tree got passed down to older generations.
'The World Tree's a massive tree. Not quite living up to the name, though.'
'Back in the day, you could find World Trees all over Dimension 33. Elves claimed one per clan, built homes inside. Great-great-grandma told me.'
'How old is she? Rude to ask a lady's age.'
'Yeah, she's alive and kicking. Her grandma's doing great too.'
Mira's great-great-grandma's grandma apparently took up pilates as a hobby. But what do you even call a great-great-grandma's grandma? Ultra-great-great-grandma? Anyway, per Mira, ancient elves withered away without sleeping in their World Tree, never reaching full lifespan. No overnights allowed, minors or adults.
'Why so fragile for such long-lived folks? They draw stellar essence from the World Tree. Details? No clue.'
So how did elves living outside survive? The answer was surprising.
'Oh, mutants became the dominant species.'
That's when I recalled the World Tree elves looked different from typical elves or dark elves. Elf eyes and hair varied wildly, especially mixed-blood dark elves. But Cappelino di Driade's visitors were all blond with green eyes.
Probably the originals—no mutations—the first true elves.
'Not that jealous. They can't even travel despite living way longer.'
Mutant elves multiplied without World Trees. Climate change shrank the Trees, decimating pureblood numbers. The loan applicants were the last remnants of those primordial ancient elves, staking their life-source World Tree as collateral. How'd it come to that? Figuring it out was my job.
The Corporate Goddess Loan Department's reply came in under three days. Before approving a massive 130 billion gulden loan, they needed thorough on-site verification of the collateral's value. As expected, I was off to Dimension 33 with Elama.
-Click
9 a.m. I twisted the crown on my issued pocket watch, dialing it to 33, and stood before the Dimensional Gate.
"We'll be off."
"Have a safe trip, agent."
As I grimly bowed to the section chiefs, Pluto greeted me with her usual blank face—like always.
She wasn't scorning my non-regular status, so why the casual speech after days apart? Why not just polite talk?
"Uh, yeah... See ya."
Something about polite speech felt like losing, so I matched her casual.
"Heh..."
Pluto's blank face flickered briefly—amusement and surprise? Too quick to tell. First non-regular teller with Job Authority I'd seen, total mystery. Guess time would tell.
"Quit dawdling. Get in already."
Elama snapped at me frozen before the gate.
"...Fine watching customers pass through, but doing it myself? Kinda scary."
I pointed at the shimmering dimensional boundary like heat haze. My grim face wasn't from hating the trip. Just sudden anxiety about side effects.
"Verified tech perfected by smarter folks than you. Go on in."
"For real safe? 100%?"
"......"
I hadn't feared dimension-hopping back when I knew nothing. Crossing to 6-2 for the interview, flying to Dimension 12's training center or Dimension 8's Laravia—no biggie.
But after Del Monte spilled on guC bankers' tales, dimensional travel started freaking me out. Side-effect victims losing bodies sat right there in private banking. Razma.
"This form has its conveniences. You should try it sometime, agent Kim Jian."
"......"
Razma's deadpan "joke" left no room for witty comeback. Faceless, tone-only clues—couldn't even tell if joking.
"Pass the gate in 3 seconds, or I'll make you like Razma. Rope-tie your naked ass and toss into a rift. Easy."
"I'll report you! Not labor board—cops!"
"Shut it."
"Waaah...!"
Elama shoved my back, ignoring my freakout.
-Sploosh!
A drowning sensation engulfed me.
"Ngh!!"
A soapy bubble membrane wrapped around, then vision went black. Inertia alone screamed I was hurtling somewhere. Breathless seconds ticked by.
-Flash!
Blinding light hit without warning.