Chapter 2: Return from Leave
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 2: Return from Leave
There is a saying: "Freedom is a system built on courage."
If you replace the word "courage" with "money," it becomes a proverb perfectly suited for modern society.
It’s true.
No matter how lucky I was to drop into a world that was kind to the Awakened, and even if I had been rejuvenated by over twenty years, I still needed money to enjoy freedom in modern society.
I checked my bank balance again, though I knew it wouldn't have changed.
There was less than a million won left.
The original owner of this body, scarred by trauma from his school days, had lived his life in a shambles.
It wasn't just that he had spent all his savings before giving up on life; he simply had no habit of saving money in the first place.
Most of his meals were delivery, and the house was overflowing with useless junk bought online.
Why on earth did he buy this cheap, neon-glowing skull necklace?
Did he actually intend to wear this out?
I sighed as I looked at the skull necklace draped over an electronic keyboard that was buried under a mountain of other items.
Given his tragic past, I didn't want to blame the original owner, but his habits were atrocious.
Whenever he saw something that looked remotely interesting, he bought it without a second thought for his balance, only for it to end up piled in a corner shortly after.
He lacked willpower, too. He tried to teach himself the piano as a hobby, but it turned into a table in less than a month. A heavy bag that belonged in a gym was just taking up space in this cramped apartment.
Having lived in a military BOQ since before I could even remember, the habit of staying organized was ingrained in my very soul.
Of course, not every officer living in a BOQ is tidy, but I was an Awakened under government management. Under the guise of "random inspections," I had to show my room to my superiors every time. If it wasn't in top shape, I’d get chewed out.
Thinking about it made me angry enough to want to just leave it as is, but because the habit was so deeply rooted, I couldn't focus while looking at this room.
Let’s start by cleaning. I need to throw out the useless stuff or sell it second-hand.
After several hours of deep cleaning, I lay down on the now-spacious floor.
Seeing the floor, once filthy with layers of dust, now sparkling clean brought peace to my mind.
The easiest way for an Awakened to make money is through Dungeons.
The byproducts found in Dungeons can be sold for high prices, and they also strengthen an Awakened’s power.
Since this is a world inside a game, I suppose I should call it "experience points."
Anyway, entering a Dungeon is the way to make money, but someone like me, with zero track record, can't just walk into one.
Most are managed by clans or the government, and with my current abilities, I’d just end up as monster fodder.
I took the measuring device I had already checked several times and pressed it against my body.
[Health: 1 | Strength: 2 | Agility: 2 | Mana: 8]
It was a miniaturized device, so there might be some margin of error, but error or not, these stats were pathetic.
The average person is rated at a 2 or 3. These numbers were low even for a newly Awakened person.
I tried to keep my mouth shut, but this was really pushing it.
The only silver lining was my high Mana, which meant I could specialize in magic and work as a Supporter.
My Awakened ability—what they call a "Unique Skill" here—was Mana Detection.
I was definitely lucky in that regard.
Mana Detection.
In a game, it’s just a scouting skill, but in the real world, this ability is incredibly efficient.
Compared to one-dimensional powers like manipulating fire or physical reinforcement, it might seem plain, but the true advantage of this skill is being more sensitive to Mana than any other Awakened.
While other Awakened struggle to learn a single spell, someone with Mana Detection can feel Mana as if they are seeing it with their own eyes, making it easy to master.
It might not be as specialized as skills dedicated to buffs or debuffs, but since I can learn a wide variety of magic, my utility is second to none.
In short, you could think of it as an ability focused on scouting and growth.
And I possessed the vast knowledge gained from my previous life.
This is where the cultural difference between the two worlds comes in.
In my original world, the downside was that the Awakened were under strict control, but the state integrated all data.
When necessary, they even conducted dangerous research on the Awakened, and the experience and knowledge gathered by them were stored in their entirety.
And if those in the field requested it, they could obtain almost any knowledge they needed.
Conversely, in this world, people are divided into clans and compete with one another.
For a clan, which is essentially a corporation, every piece of knowledge is an asset.
The government does collect data, but since clans don't disclose their own know-how or secrets, there’s a limit to what can be gathered.
No matter how large a clan is, it can't compare to the amount of information a nation collects.
Originally a mediocre Attacker, I had learned a bit of everything just to survive.
Magic, monsters, Dungeons, tactics—even if I couldn't master them all, I greedily gathered knowledge. Thanks to that, I was able to excel as a commander who brought out the talents of my teammates.
Even with these frail stats, it wouldn't be hard to train myself to pull my own weight.
The problem was that my current abilities were negligible, so I had to keep a low profile and fill my empty bank account.
"I guess I have to go to work."
My leave ended today.
I had talked about freedom being my motto, but I was becoming a corporate slave the moment I started.
I’d never been an office worker before, so I felt a bit of curiosity, but they say life is a comedy from a distance and a tragedy up close.
Judging by the vitriol toward companies and the cries of people wanting to quit that flooded the internet, reality was likely hell.
I wanted to quit right this second, but looking at my balance, I had to go out there to survive.
I needed to earn money first before I could train or get in shape.
Han Ju-hee, who arrived early as usual, sat at her desk after greeting her coworkers.
As she turned on her computer, thinking about the tasks she needed to finish by noon, the idle chatter of the staff reached her ears.
"The Manager is coming back today, right?"
"Yeah. It’s been a while since we’ve had some eye candy."
Han Ju-hee frowned slightly at the nonsense coming from the employees who were chatting idly in the morning.
That damn Manager.
She admitted he had a decent face, but he wasn't their boyfriend, so what did it matter? This was a workplace.
Just because he was a former Hero, they had plugged a loser with no experience into a Manager position, and the subordinates were the ones suffering for it.
He did nothing and had no talent. Han Ju-hee couldn't understand why they liked him so much.
"He’ll probably be all shy and hesitant again, right?"
"Honestly, I just want to take him home and raise him like a pet."
No matter how relaxed they were in the morning, there were things you just didn't say about a superior.
But it was understandable.
The guy called a "Manager" couldn't even meet people's eyes or speak properly.
He’d probably just run away if someone said that to his face.
No matter how cute a shy man who triggers protective instincts might be, there was a limit to how much one could tolerate. To Han Ju-hee, the Manager was a hopeless case.
He had good looks but no intention of grooming himself; his hair was a mess, and he had zero fashion sense.
To be honest, he was the type of "man who doesn't know he's handsome" that usually appealed to women, but his frustrating personality made Han Ju-hee more annoyed the more she thought about it.
She was organizing the files for approval to give to the Manager—who was essentially just a rubber-stamping machine—when he walked in.
"Good morning. I’m back after a good rest, thanks to all your hard work."
At the pleasant, resonant voice and the clear, refreshing tone, Han Ju-hee turned her head blankly.
The employees who had been gossiping couldn't even think of a response and just stared. The Manager gave a bitter smile, seemingly embarrassed.
"Did I stay away too long? Did you all forget my face? Or did I walk into the wrong office?"
"No, no! Manager, you’ve become so handsome, we were just surprised!"
"You cut your hair! It looks amazing on you!"
It was an overwhelming reaction, but Han Ju-hee understood the employees' fuss.
He had cut his unkempt hair into a Regent cut, revealing his face and transforming into a polished, handsome man.
His clothes were basic—a shirt and black slacks—but that only made him look cleaner and more professional.
More than anything, his entire aura had changed.
He looked people straight in the eye and even smiled.
His once-slumped shoulders were now squared, expressing confidence through his upright posture.
What on earth had happened during his leave?
Han Ju-hee, who had cursed him for sandwiching his leave between the weekend and the holidays, changed her mind upon seeing the completely transformed Manager. She didn't know what he did, but he had certainly used his leave well.
"Why are you here so early? Did you miss me or something?"
"I’ve been away for a while, so I have to come in early to catch up on the backlog. Ah, Ms. Han Ju-hee?"
The Manager looked around, searching for her.
"Yes, Manager."
The Manager, who used to be unable to even find Han Ju-hee’s desk despite coming in every day, finally turned his gaze toward her as she stood up.
"Is there anything to report today?"
"...Yes, there are a few items."
"Then please bring those, along with the Dungeon conquest records for the B-rank Heroes for this year."
"Ah, understood."
It was the first time he had directly requested work, so Han Ju-hee responded belatedly in her confusion.
"It’s not urgent, so take your time. If it looks like it’ll take a while, just send the report first."
"No, it’s fine. I’ve already organized most of it, so I’ll email it to you right away."
"I see. Thank you."
The Manager gave a light nod and entered his office.
Once he disappeared, she could hear the employees whispering and gushing, but Han Ju-hee just stared blankly at the Manager’s closed door.
I sat in the original owner's chair.
Unlike the cheap leather chairs I used in the military, this one was plush and felt great.
To be honest, I was quite nervous when I first walked in.
Just how much had he avoided people that he couldn't even properly remember his coworkers' faces?
I was pretty sure I had the right department, but when people just stared blankly after I greeted them, I panicked for a moment. Fortunately, I played it off.
Enjoying the sensation of the chair supporting my body, I looked around the unfamiliar room.
The work environment is nice.
The interior was sophisticated, and the furniture and decorations were all high-end.
Since it was my first time here, I felt a bit awkward, so I toyed with the pen and mouse before opening the desk drawer.
...
What the hell does this guy actually do?
The bottom drawer was stuffed with snacks, and the top was filled with round plushies that looked perfect for throwing.
Who would ever think this was a drawer used for work?
I didn't know whether to be relieved that I wasn't swamped with corporate tasks or to find it pathetic.
The original owner did nothing at the company—or rather, the clan.
He had only gotten the title of "Manager" because he had joined the clan as a Hero but then thrown a tantrum during his first battle, saying he couldn't do it.
It wasn't a case of "giving a squeaky wheel the grease."
I was a figurehead.
Since this was a society with many women who were proactive toward men, they set up figureheads like me to attract even one more Hero.
Meeting unaligned Heroes was the original owner's only job.
Even then, because of his timid personality, he usually just sat there without saying a word.
But surprisingly, it was even more shocking that he actually got results.
The success rate changed depending on whether the original owner was at the negotiation table or not. It was hard to wrap my head around it.
I wondered what they saw in a small-to-mid-sized clan like this to make them join.
Looking at the list of Heroes belonging to the clan, the highest rank was B-rank.
They were also older, so further growth was unlikely; it would be a miracle if they didn't just retire.
I was clicking my tongue at the pathetic situation—where the clan's future was bleak without new blood—when there was a knock, and Han Ju-hee entered.
She was one of the few people whose face remained even slightly clear in the original owner's memories.
She had a slender body that looked great with her long ponytail, but she was curvy in all the right places.
She had a somewhat cold impression, but her sharp chestnut eyes were attractive.
I wondered why I had almost no memory of most of the staff's faces, but there was a reason hers remained, even if blurry.
It seemed the original owner also thought Han Ju-hee was beautiful.
"I’ve emailed the data you requested, and I’ve brought the reports."
"Yes, I’ve checked them. I like how quickly you handle things."
At my praise, Han Ju-hee’s eyes widened, and her expression stiffened.
I understood, given how different my attitude was from the original owner's.
However, since I had to live as Jeong Yeon-woo now, I had no intention of exhaustingly imitating him or staying in the shadows.
Humans are creatures of habit; even if it’s awkward at first, they’ll get used to it soon enough.
"The list of prospective Heroes has been narrowed down. Is there anyone promising?"
"Ah..."
At her hesitant response, I looked up from the documents. Han Ju-hee panicked and answered quickly.
"It’s not my place to judge, but there are three Heroes whose futures look promising."
I looked up the names she mentioned and saw they were Attackers.
Since nine-tenths of the list were Attackers, it couldn't be helped, but I felt a bit disappointed.
Still, she had a good eye; the Heroes Han Ju-hee recommended seemed decent for the future.
"Yes, I agree with your assessment. I’ll propose them to the Department Head."
"Pardon? It was just my personal opinion."
"I’m proposing them because I agree, right? You have a good eye."
When I looked her straight in the eye, Han Ju-hee turned her head with a shy expression.
Cute.
After a few more words, Han Ju-hee left the room.
Now, I had nothing to do except see my boss in a little while.
Did he really just sit here like this and collect a steady paycheck? He even makes more than my soldier’s salary.
I felt a sense of injustice as I remembered the days I spent working like a dog under Colonel Park.
The original owner spent his idle work hours surfing the web.
But I was different.
I had no intention of looking for extra work. I would fill my spare time with training.
After all, my goal was to return to the field as quickly as possible.
I devoted myself to training to master the spells I only knew in theory.
To think I could get paid while having no work, resting as much as I wanted, and even focusing on self-improvement... so this is what they call "stealing a paycheck."
This is damn great.