The Interview That Backfired
"Assistant Manager Shin. Do you have a moment?"
I was in the middle of processing work with a frayed temper when the Team Leader approached and asked. Why does this guy spend his time wandering around instead of doing his own work? Ever since the GN-493688 incident, the workload had piled up, and everything was getting on my nerves.
"I’m currently in the middle of processing the task you assigned earlier, Team Leader. What is it?"
The subtext was: I’m busy doing the work you dumped on me, so why are you bothering me again? Normally, I would have phrased it more tactfully to avoid workplace conflict, but my tone was sharp enough to cut glass. Of course, the Team Leader didn't pick up on it at all and continued.
"The company newspaper sent someone over to interview you. They said it would only take a moment, so I told them you’d make time."
"…Does it have to be right now?"
The subtext was: It’s not possible now, and frankly, I don’t want to do it later either. But the Team Leader’s level of evasion was higher than mine.
"It came down from Headquarters. And Assistant Manager Shin, you’re quite the celebrity these days! Everyone wants to hear your story, so I told them to wait! The work I gave you can wait a little, so go ahead."
It can’t wait. I have to get this up to Headquarters by tomorrow. "It can wait" my foot—is this his roundabout way of telling me to work overtime? If he hadn't been paying my overtime wages properly, I wouldn't have been able to stand it. Ugh, this damn company…
"Ha… Understood."
I stood up from my seat, sighing loudly and openly. Usually, an Assistant Manager would get an earful for acting like this in front of a Team Leader, but I was going to quit anyway. Besides, won't I be a Team Leader soon, too? I was going to make it painfully obvious that I didn't want to be here.
"Yes, yes! Go do a good job!"
The Team Leader, oblivious to the end, patted my shoulder firmly. Seeing as he’s a Team Leader despite having no real ability, he must have been promoted through that kind of thick-skinned social maneuvering. In corporate life, these are the people who are actually the most cunning.
"Ah, Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo! Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Gi-young, a reporter for the company newspaper!"
"Ah, yes. Nice to meet you."
I replied in a listless voice and shook Kim Gi-young’s hand. For some reason, he was beaming, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"It’s a true honor to meet Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo, the most talked-about person in the Association right now! I actively recommended you to the Department Head because I really wanted to do this interview today!"
"Ah, yes… I see."
Did you really have to go as far as 'actively recommending' it? I nodded, giving a soulless reaction.
"Whew… I’m actually nervous. Really, the rumors about Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo at Headquarters are incredible. Well then, let’s begin the interview."
I sat down, and the formal interview began. I still didn't understand why there were such massive rumors about me at Headquarters, but perhaps this was an opportunity. I could completely botch this interview and have my true, lackluster character laid bare for the entire Association to see. If I did that, it might just affect my appointment as the Team Leader of the new department.
"Then, I’ll ask the first question. It’s the hottest topic among researchers lately. You were the first to discover the method for identifying Magic Ore Mines, weren't you? It would be great if you could explain the situation at that time."
What kind of nonsense is that? I didn't discover any method for identifying Magic Ore Mines.
"…I have never discovered any such thing."
"Haha, you’re joking. As expected, you’re as humble as they say. Of course, you wouldn't have had the luxury of verifying every theory on-site at the time. But it’s a known fact that you examined the data thoroughly and made the determination."
This isn't working. This guy has no intention of listening. I have no choice but to shatter his expectations completely.
"There is truly no such fact. It was just a coincidence, and I just did what I always do. It was just a standard field visit with nothing special about it. The dungeon was effectively already cleared; I just ordered a search of the entire dungeon. It was discovered then. I didn't do anything."
"Hmm…"
After leaving his mouth hanging open for a moment, Kim Gi-young began to write something down furiously. His expression seemed to have stiffened slightly. He must have realized that I was just Employee Number 1 with nothing to show for myself.
"Then, the second question. I heard you’ve come up with a groundbreaking plan for the Magic Ore Mine raid rights. How exactly do you intend to operate it? It could be a business that generates quite a lot of money if handled well."
Right. It’s time to deal with the Magic Ore Mine issue. But if I did as he suggested, the Association would end up making an astronomical profit. First, I’d cancel the sale of the dungeon management rights. If I did that, they’d make an absurd amount of money for very few magic stones. High-ranking hunters have money to burn, after all. So, I’ll just set the compensation extremely low and hire the hunters. And I’ll lower the amount of compensation given as well. On top of that, I’ll make participation rights first-come, first-served. That way, even if they have money, they won't be able to get magic stones, and the hunters' dissatisfaction will explode. Deciding something like this on a first-come, first-served basis is a surefire way to get cursed at.
"For that part, I plan to roll it back and entrust the dungeon management by offering less compensation than before. Instead, the hunters participating in the management will be decided on a first-come, first-served basis. Online."
"You mean you’re going to hold a ticketing event?"
"Something like that. Magic stones will be part of the compensation, but it will be a small amount."
Kim Gi-young looked dumbfounded again. Of course he would; it was a chance to make big money, and I was throwing it away. And the very sentence of entrusting dungeon management on a first-come, first-served basis with low pay was poorly constructed. Anyone could see it was a terrible way to handle business. Likewise, Kim Gi-young sat there blankly for a moment before writing something down.
"Then, this is the most recent event. I heard that the Deputy Director of Personnel visited the GN-493688 raid site. I heard there was an incident where voices were raised between the two of you. I heard you were offered the position of Team Leader for the new department. I heard there was an argument during that process…"
This guy finally asked a decent question. It was true that I had snapped and gotten angry when he told me to be a Team Leader.
"That’s correct. He told me to take on the role of Team Leader for the 'Special Dungeon Management Team'."
"Then why were voices raised?"
"Because it’s not a sensible thing to do. I’ve only been with the company for one year. And to go from Assistant Manager to Team Leader? That’s absurd. Honestly, Shin Chi-hyun… Ah, excuse me. I think the Deputy Director of Personnel’s judgment might be flawed. Honestly, I don’t even know if the Deputy Director of Personnel has the skills to be a Deputy Director at such a young age…"
This position isn't mine. And I’ll subtly let out a reaction that disregards Shin Chi-hyun. Even if he doesn't look like it, Shin Chi-hyun has quite a lot of influence within the Association. Surely, if I show such a rude reaction, Kim Gi-young will feel uncomfortable. There will definitely be voices at Headquarters calling for a reconsideration of my Team Leader position.
"Hmm… I understand. I think I can write the article by introducing Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo’s anecdotes along with the interview content. Thank you for your time."
"Don't mention it. I look forward to it."
A few more questions followed, and the interview ended. I shook hands with Kim Gi-young and returned to the office.
"Jiwoo, where did you go?"
As I returned to the office, Kim Hee-yeon poked her head out and asked.
"Just somewhere. The company newspaper came by. Why?"
"About what we talked about before, are you free this weekend? You know, for helping me with the presentation."
Ah, come to think of it, I had an appointment with Assistant Manager Kim Hee-yeon. At the time, I had made the appointment happily, thinking I would be resigning. But looking at it now, it was nothing but an extension of work. A dinner appointment with a senior colleague? And why did it have to be the weekend? Do I have to see the faces of company people even on the weekend?
"Yes, sure. Let’s do that."
"…Yes! Then I’ll contact you on the weekend!"
But I had no time, as I would likely be working overtime all through the weekdays. But postponing it to next week was out of the question. I had no choice but to deal with the appointment with Assistant Manager Kim Hee-yeon this weekend. Fine, I already lost the cancellation fee for my plane ticket, so I might as well get a hearty meal out of it. I focused back on my work.
That evening, at the company newspaper editorial department.
"Gi-young, aren't you leaving?"
"No. I’ll be working overtime today."
"…Overtime? The article on Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo isn't due until today."
"That’s true, but I want to write this right now. I feel like this inspiration will disappear if even a day passes."
Kim Gi-young’s colleague nodded as if he understood and left for the day. Kim Gi-young didn't even notice his colleagues disappearing one by one, his fingers flying across the keyboard at an incredible speed.
"Really… Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo is… insane. No, he’s Team Leader Shin Jiwoo now."
Kim Gi-young wrote the article as if he were pulling an all-nighter. It was work he hadn't been asked to do, but he couldn't stop. The inspiration Shin Jiwoo had given him was that profound.
Click—
Around dawn, as the sun began to rise, Kim Gi-young pressed the Enter key with a flushed expression.
"This is… a jackpot."
Before Kim Gi-young’s eyes was an article that would turn the Association upside down. Even though he had only interviewed one person, he had enough material for several articles.
Recently, within the Association… (omitted) … In the interview, Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo mentioned the Magic Ore Mine case and simultaneously pointed out the recent dungeon management practices of the Dungeon Management Team. He pointed out the problems of the recent, slapdash raids conducted quickly to shorten the duration, stating that he had always conducted raids according to principles, and as a result, such luck had followed. Regarding the new theory on magic stone discovery, he humbly stated that he knew nothing, but according to the research results of experts, Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo’s discovery has left a major mark on the history of Gates. Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo even showed a humble side, refusing to take credit for a field outside his own expertise (laughs).
Of the new department 'Special Dungeon Management Team'… (omitted) … Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo showed humility regarding the position of Team Leader for the 'Special Dungeon Management Team', saying, "There are many people more capable than me. It is an undeserved position for me." Furthermore, amidst rumors that the promotion was due to his blood relation to Deputy Director of Personnel Shin Chi-hyun, he showed a strong will to prove himself through ability, stating, "Everything must be evaluated strictly by ability. The Deputy Director of Personnel must also continue to prove himself as he took the position at a young age."