Chapter 22
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Monster Tale Specialist Office: Centipede's Child (2)
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As always, Taeju was up early in the morning. It was around the time when most people were just starting their day.
The office members lived in a pitch-black, four-story old commercial building on the outskirts of the city. It wasn't a great building for living in since it was designed for shops, but after various modifications, it had become a reasonably cozy space.
The first floor was set up like a cafe for receiving customers, the second floor was Sia's personal space and storage room, the third floor was arranged as living quarters for the office staff. The fourth floor was used as the Director's office and living space.
Taeju finished a quick shower and headed to the kitchen.
“What should I make?”
Taeju usually prepared breakfast since he had the most regular schedule in the place. Someone else would do it if he pulled an all-nighter, but that was rare.
Making something elaborate first thing in the morning was a hassle. Taeju opened the cupboard, took out a few retort pouches, and heated them up. He roughly plated them and headed to Woli's door, knocking hard on it.
“Hey, you up?”
Neither wanted to barge in and see something they shouldn't, so Taeju usually just knocked from outside.
“I'm up~”
Woli's groggy voice came from inside. Taeju went back to the kitchen and opened the fridge to grab some eggs.
One serving had to be delivered upstairs. The three of them ate on the third floor, but the Director always ate separately. No one knew why.
Because of that, he felt a bit more distant than the staff they saw every day, but no one avoided or felt uncomfortable around him.
Everyone in the office had received help from the Director in the past, and their current lifestyle was supported by him.
They worked and got paid, so it was an employee-boss relationship, but they all knew their jobs didn't generate revenue.
They understood that their ability to live without scraping by was thanks to the Director making money somehow.
The fact that they could use the entire building was due to his inexplicable wealth.
He provided everything needed for living. He'd even remodeled the third floor into a dorm-like setup and usually bought whatever items they needed.
Sure, there was that time the latest Xbox got rejected, but the requester was half-joking anyway, so no one complained.
The Director was unpredictable and hard to deal with, but that was why people liked him.
“Ah, we didn't go grocery shopping yesterday.”
Even so, relying only on retort food felt off, so Taeju opened the fridge, clicked his tongue, and grimaced. Breakfast would be meager.
Still, there were a few eggs, so Taeju roughly heated some oil in a pan.
He had some stew left over from yesterday too, so it should be edible enough.
He portioned out one serving and headed for the stairs.
There was an elevator, but the residents mostly used the stairs. They were faster than the rickety old elevator.
Kicking the door open with his foot while carrying the tray, Taeju climbed up and, as usual, went to open the fourth-floor door when he noticed something attached to it.
“What's this?”
It was a single sheet of paper stuck to the door. Suspecting another prank, he narrowed his eyes and read it, instantly sensing a major hassle.
[Eat breakfast just the two of you today. I've got urgent business, so tell Woli's school she can't make it. I'll arrive after you eat.]
The Director usually slept all day if he had nothing to do, so this was rare. More often than not, you had to bring him breakfast to wake him up.
There was no way he'd gotten up early and left; he must have gone out last night and still wasn't back. Taeju let out a small sigh as soon as he read it.
“Trouble first thing in the morning.”
This meant the Director had dumped something troublesome or difficult—or both—on them.
He had no complaints about the work itself, but sudden jobs without warning annoyed anyone.
Plus, the Director must have known from the start that something like this would come up.
“Why's it so hard to give a heads-up? I could've prepared something.”
Taeju sighed deeply and went back down. Woli, sitting at the table, saw him return with the tray and sighed too.
“No one up there either?”
Her long hair, faintly gray-tinted, was still damp. She must've skipped blow-drying.
“Nope. Since it says skip school today, it's definitely not something easy. By the way, Sia's not around either?”
Come to think of it, the note said for the two of them to eat.
“Yeah. We'd have to call in sick for everyone.”
She sounded annoyed, but Woli's expression was the opposite. School had barely started, and she already hated going that much? Taeju shook his head.
“Then tomorrow's Saturday... that's three days off!”
Taeju looked at her pitifully, wondering why she thought skipping school was better when going sounded easier.
“Ugh, lucky you. Anyway, I'll text about being sick, so do a good job with the patient cosplay later.”
“That's my specialty!”
Taeju shook his head at Woli, who was grinning openly now, not even trying to hide her joy. Her frail girl act was still working at school, but with her personality, Taeju always worried how long it'd last.
“Brag all you want... Let's eat first. Eat up good. I doubt we'll have lunch today.”
“Jeez! You won't die missing one meal.”
“Who was it that whined about being hungry after skipping one last time?”
Woli pouted, and Taeju chuckled.
Woli shifted her gaze from Taeju to the table. Suddenly, the breakfast had double the side dishes—a bountiful spread.
“Eat hearty? Okay!”
Woli grabbed her spoon before Taeju could, determined to devour it all. She quickly cleared the food from the table one by one.
“Hey, you won't get indigestion?”
“You told me to eat a lot.”
Taeju gave her a dumbfounded look at her shameless reply. He thought she'd stuff her mouth full, but she'd somehow swallowed it all in seconds.
“I said eat hearty, not stuff your face. Slow down. You'll get sick.”
“My mom doesn't even worry about my body anymore. Why should you? Hmph.”
She had a point; Taeju was at a loss.
Woli wasn't normal to begin with. Even if shot, she'd heal in minutes and hop around, then poke a hole in the shooter with her finger. No way she'd get indigestion from eating fast.
“Sigh, do what you want.”
With that, Taeju passed her one of his eggs. Woli stared at it in surprise for a moment, then smiled.
“Oh? You won't eat it even if it's tasty?”
“You should've said that before shoving it in.”
Taeju slurped his stew while watching Woli pop the egg in her mouth whole. He had no appetite.
But knowing today would be exhausting, he forced the rice down.
* * *
Bzzz—zzzt zzzt bzzz—
As the two finished eating and Taeju started on the dishes, a vibration sound came from somewhere. It was Taeju's phone.
“The Director?”
“Probably.”
The only ones who'd call them were the Director or Sia. And only the Director would time it perfectly right after breakfast.
Taeju answered without checking the caller.
“What's up?”
“What else? You already guessed, right? The usual thing. It was urgent enough I had to go myself.”
As expected, the Director's voice came through.
“I haven't guessed a thing. What's urgent about it?”
The Director never explained jobs. Taeju didn't know if he assumed they knew everything or just did it on purpose.
Taeju tried for a hint, but it didn't go as hoped.
“Nah, put Sia on if she's there. Let me hear her explain.”
Talking to the Director, who enjoyed teasing by beating around the bush, seemed worse than Sia's long-winded version.
“She's working. I'm heading up now. She'll probably still be there when you come down.”
Taeju sensed something seriously off. It felt like it could be as painful as the time he first met Woli.
“Where are we going? Not something quick, right?”
“She'll explain on the way. Best to hear it from the person involved. You gotta handle it cleanly without me later anyway, right?”
The Director clearly had no intention of explaining.
“Then why call if you're not explaining? Got something for me?”
The Director replied nonchalantly.
“Of course. The kid I'm bringing is a girl, and she's in bad shape. Prep a shower and some leftover food. She's exhausted from rolling around the mountain all night.”
“Huh? Why was a kid rolling in the mountains? How does that even happen?”
Taeju's head started to ache. He didn't even know who this 'kid' was, but the rest was even more absurd.
“That's what I'm saying.”
“Ha... You're really not explaining, are you?”
Even as Taeju pressed, the Director dodged.
“Nope, really not. I told you—details from her directly. Be here in about ten minutes. Oh, her clothes are a mess too. Tell Woli to prep that set she hid in the bottom right drawer—the matching one she doesn't wear.”
The Director hung up after saying his piece, leaving Taeju to sigh deeply.
Woli's expression grew heavy too, following Taeju's lead. She'd overheard enough to guess this job would be tough. She sighed deeply and asked Taeju.
“Can I just go to school?”
Taeju shook his head, face saying no way.
“Already called in sick. Too late.”
“Damn.”
Woli seemed to just be whining; she pouted but didn't push it.
Taeju flicked her forehead and relayed the Director's words.
“The Director picked up a girl who was rolling around in the mountains till now. Wants you to get her showered. Prep clothes too—the matching set you hid bottom right drawer. What's that set anyway?”
Woli clutched her forehead and yelled, but went quiet at the mention of clothes.
Taeju eyed the suddenly silent Woli. She stood still for a bit, mouth opening and closing as if to speak, then shut.
Sensing a sensitive topic, Taeju waited quietly.
“...Director's orders?”
After a long silence, Woli asked. Taeju nodded. She sighed deeply, said okay, and went to her room. Taeju said nothing at her sudden downcast demeanor.