Chapter 13: When the Team Leader is Obsessed, There’s a Lot of Overtime-5
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 13: When the Team Leader is Obsessed, There’s a Lot of Overtime-5
Ah, lol. Looks like another death flag.
This kind of "kill zone" feeling... maybe I’m getting used to it by now?
The presence outside hadn't vanished. If anything, I felt the weight of someone leaning even closer against the door.
I won't be able to sleep like this.
Either way, it was an unavoidable situation.
I yanked the door open, and Lee Mina, who had been pressed right against it, went stumbling back.
"Ugh!"
She landed hard on her backside and looked up at me. Her poker face was still mostly intact, but she couldn't hide the way her eyes widened in shock.
"Oh? Ms. Mina. What are you doing here?"
I reached out a hand to her, acting as if I hadn't known she was there.
Lee Mina hesitated for a moment before taking my hand.
"Oh, well... you said you weren't feeling well, In-ho. So I brought some porridge."
Lady, you literally saw me eating rice soup earlier. And it’s past 11 PM...
"......."
Her excuse was pathetic.
Perhaps sensing what my gaze was implying, she hurriedly shoved a bag containing the porridge into my arms.
"J-just in case. But In-ho."
"Yes?"
"Do you... usually dress like that at home?"
She asked in a tiny, crawling voice, covering her face with her hands.
"Hmm?"
Only then did I check my appearance.
A stretched-out tank top and boxers.
She couldn't take her eyes off my exposed collarbones.
"Ah... um, sorry. I just get comfortable when I'm at home."
"Ah, I see. I don't think you were like that [before]."
And how would you know that?
An awkward silence followed her words.
She seemed embarrassed, repeatedly stealing glances at my body and swallowing hard, while I had nothing to say since I didn't know the history of this body.
"Anyway, thank you for coming by. I'll enjoy this tomorrow."
"Um, In-ho. Are you doing anything tomorrow?"
"I don't know. I don't really have plans. I'll probably just stay home since I'm not feeling great."
In reality, I planned to go to the office. I needed to figure out my job responsibilities quietly without being disturbed.
"I see... Okay. Then I'll see you on Monday."
"Yes. Get home safely."
I closed the door and stood still for a moment.
The presence outside soon vanished.
"Phew... that nearly took ten years off my life."
Seriously. She’s going to give me a heart attack.
*
The weekend. Saturday.
If I were my original self, I would have woken up late and started the day by watching YouTube.
Instead, I was working a weekend shift I never asked for.
"Man... making a living is tough."
When am I ever going to relearn this job?
I walked into the office with coffee and a bagel for a quick meal, greeted by an empty room.
"Now... let's see what kind of work I actually do."
I turned on the computer, checked my emails, and looked over the proposals I had submitted.
Four hours passed.
"Hmm... I still have no clue."
I bit my pen and leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.
Wow, this is daunting. I don't understand a single thing.
Forget it, maybe I should just change jobs. I’d be better off doing what I used to do.
"Sigh... what a mess. That damn pigeon bitch. If I ever meet her again, I'm definitely killing her."
In a fit of frustration, I opened a job search site, only to be hit by a wave of reality.
They kill me off talking about "dimensional balance" or whatever, and then throw my life into the abyss just because I said a few harsh words.
If I die, I move to another dimension.
Then how do I escape this cycle? Do I have to die of old age?
Or am I like Sisyphus with his boulder, living forever as an eternal punishment?
Well... I’ll probably find out after I die a few more times.
Every time I jump dimensions, I learn some kind of rule. One day, I’ll know them all.
But I’m not going to let myself die easily.
With that resolve, I stepped away to the restroom. I splashed cold water on my face to steady my nerves.
"Huh?"
When I returned to the office, someone was sitting at my desk.
How rude.
I approached slowly.
The person in my seat was gripping the mouse, staring intensely at the browser window.
"...Traitor..."
A chill ran down my spine at the low, muttered voice.
Sensing my presence, the intruder occupying my seat slowly turned around.
"Why... did you... lie?"
Blood trickled from her mangled lips, and her eyes were bloodshot.
I had only known her for a day, but I had never seen her look this unhinged.
"Ms. Mina...?"
"Liar. Liar."
She stood up slowly and grabbed me by the collar.