Chapter 3: Return from Vacation (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 3: Return from Vacation (2)
The department head reads the list I brought in silence.
Was her name Kim Yun-ah?
In the original owner's memories, there was nothing but a short skirt clinging to a large pair of hips, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but seeing her in person makes it clear.
Two large mounds are perched on her chest, and while the desk obscures the view, her protruding backside suggests a truly voluptuous figure.
As if flaunting her body, she wears a black off-the-shoulder shirt that puts the upper curves of her breasts on full display.
Her sultry lips and provocative eyes create an aura that even a neat updo can't hide.
"I see you had a good vacation."
"Yes, I got plenty of rest thanks to you."
Kim Yun-ah looks up at me with a flirtatious smile.
She’s been making comments like that for a while now, seemingly shocked by my transformed appearance.
"I'll do my best to make sure we can recruit the heroes you recommended, Yeon-woo. Consider it a favor from me."
"Yes, thank you."
What 'favor'? It doesn't matter to me whether they join or not.
For some reason, she reminds me of my superiors back in the unit, which sours my mood, but I suppose that's just how social life works.
Until I gain real power, I'll just shut up and smile.
Since I’m beaming at her, Kim Yun-ah grins back, stands up, and walks behind me.
"You know I cherish you, right, Yeon-woo?"
She whispers into my ear while kneading my shoulders.
Hmm... Since this is a world where women fawn over men, I wasn't exactly not expecting a situation like this, but experiencing it firsthand is a bit flustering.
Is this what they call workplace sexual harassment? Actually, I don't mind it.
The military had its share of severe hazing, but there were no crazy superiors who sexually harassed the Awakened.
As I stay still during this new experience, Kim Yun-ah’s hands slide down from my shoulders to my arms, and she leans in until her large breasts press against my back.
"Yeon-woo, you should answer when I ask you something, shouldn't you?"
"Yes, thank you for looking out for me."
"Mmm~"
I gave a dry response, but Kim Yun-ah seems to take it differently, letting out a faint, suggestive moan of delight.
Then, she pats my butt, gives it a firm squeeze, and steps back.
Wait, do it more.
"There's a meeting with the Clan Leader, so come upstairs with me."
Another useless task added to the pile.
They never made the original owner attend meetings, so I wonder why they're doing this to me.
When I follow Kim Yun-ah into the meeting, the other employees' eyes widen as they look at me.
Ah, so that's why she brought me.
I wondered why she’d drag a low-ranking staffer like me along, but seeing Kim Yun-ah’s smug expression, it all makes sense.
Seeing her answer every question directed at me on my behalf, it’s clear she’s treating me like an accessory or a pet.
Basking in their envious stares, Kim Yun-ah flashes me a bright smile.
Sure, keep smiling.
I’ll have to make sure you learn who the real master is later.
I was worked like a slave by Colonel Park; I’m not about to tolerate being treated like a pet here.
While I’m smiling back at her, the Clan Leader enters.
The Clan Leader is a man.
Since male heroes are rare, one might find this surprising, but the answer is simple if you consider the original owner's personality.
He was terrified of women, so he sought out a clan where the leader was a man.
Having established a clan, Park Sung-jun could be considered somewhat influential, but he isn't a particularly exceptional hero.
He was able to build a clan of this size solely because he is a man.
Since there are almost no men among heroes to begin with, women will dote on and take care of any man who shows even a modicum of competence.
Anyway, even though he’s the Clan Leader, I don't particularly like him.
He might seem like a decent person for not kicking the original owner out after he gave up on being a hero during his first battle, but in reality, he only kept him around to use his face as a marketing tool.
He’s a man who knows exactly what brings in the money.
While I’m lost in thought evaluating the Clan Leader, the meeting proceeds.
Various topics are discussed, including the duties of each department and the future direction of the clan, but as a pet brought along for show, I have nothing to do.
"Next is the Dungeon Omen Investigation."
A staff member in front of the screen speaks while pulling up a map of the metropolitan area.
Since the government delegates most dungeon-related tasks to clans, they are all desperate to find dungeons.
The Dungeon Omen Investigation is a peculiar policy, so I’ve researched it quite a bit.
Think of it simply as oil exploration.
Every quarter, clans are assigned certain regions to investigate for 'omens.'
If a dungeon appears while a clan is in charge of a region, it’s a jackpot.
Since they can claim rights to it, the resources obtained from clearing the dungeon are taxed at a lower rate.
If a rank beyond the clan's capability appears, they have to reluctantly hand it over to another clan, but A-rank or S-rank dungeons aren't exactly common.
Well, even so, not many clans have made a fortune through omen investigations.
Clans can't cover the entire territory of South Korea, and the probability of a successful prediction is low.
Furthermore, since they have to pay to enter each region, even giant clans find it difficult to occupy dozens of them.
With the country split into thousands of regions, including the provinces, you could say it’s a system the government created to legally shake people down.
Now that I’ve explained it, it’s not even oil exploration.
It’s more like a government-sanctioned shell game.
Hmm... Wait, what’s today’s date?
"According to the Strategy Department's current findings, clear anomalies are appearing in District 3 of Gangseo-gu. The detector readings have surpassed 40 waves, making it the most promising area."
"If it's over 40 waves, the competition from other clans will be fierce."
At Clan Leader Park Sung-jun's words, the staff member nods with a grim expression.
"Yes, the attention of most clans is shifting toward Gangseo-gu. The average unit price is... Do you have something to say?"
The presenting staff member asks as she notices me raising my hand.
Kim Yun-ah’s eyes widen, and she nudges me under the table to put my hand down, but I ignore her and ask the staff member.
"What about the Eunpyeong-gu area instead of Gangseo-gu?"
"Eunpyeong-gu... Since 40 waves were detected in Gangseo-gu, there is a possibility there as well, but it's low. No significant anomalies are being reported there."
The woman presenting at the front holds a higher rank than me.
She’s using formal language because Park Sung-jun is present, but her expressionless face is clouded with annoyance, clearly asking who I think I am to interrupt.
"There are already high-rank dungeons in Ujangsan and Gochon-eup. The data you showed also indicates that the measurement waves are getting higher as they move upward. Isn't it possible that the waves spreading from other regions are being inflated by the influence of nearby high-rank dungeons?"
"The other clans have already taken that into account and chosen Gangseo-gu."
No, I asked for your opinion, not what other clans chose.
Why are you talking about something else when I’m asking about a possibility?
As expected of a fragmented system, the analytical skills and knowledge vary wildly from clan to clan.
She clearly didn't understand what I meant.
The woman presenting is now openly scowling and glaring at me.
Kim Yun-ah, wearing a forced smile, repeatedly pokes my thigh, signaling me to stop.
"Square Garden has already preemptively secured the regions stretching from Gangseo-gu to Eunpyeong-gu."
"That's only Square Garden. Other clans are focusing on Gangseo-gu."
Square Garden, the one you say is acting strangely, is a major guild.
Why are you ignoring a major guild when you're just following the crowd with blind investments?
Predicting where a dungeon will appear is difficult.
Even in my original world, where it was managed by the state, the accuracy rate wasn't high.
However, if placed in the same situation, the South Korea of my original world would deploy its Awakened in the exact same way as Square Garden.
Just what kind of place is that? How can a mere clan have analytical power equal to the entire Republic of Korea?
While I’m becoming more interested in the clan called Square Garden than the meeting itself, Park Sung-jun, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, speaks up.
"It seems Manager Han Yeon-woo has something on his mind."
When the Clan Leader speaks as if taking my side, the presenting woman looks at him in surprise.
"But according to our Strategy Department's current analysis..."
"The competition is too fierce for us to enter Gangseo-gu anyway."
Park Sung-jun cuts her off.
Since clans are required to participate in omen investigations for a certain number of regions proportional to their size, from a management perspective, it’s seen as nothing but a money pit.
He can't help but be intrigued by my suggestion, which is cheaper than pouring a fortune into a gamble based on luck.
"Department Head Kang Jeong-mi, he may be a manager, but his opinion isn't exactly absurd. Shouldn't we hear more of his explanation before deciding? It's not like we lose anything."
"...Yes, you are right, Clan Leader."
Kang Jeong-mi glares at me as if she wants to kill me, but she reluctantly agrees.
Kim Yun-ah, sitting next to me, seems to have given up, staring blankly at the screen on the wall with a hollow expression.
Yes, good. Unlike the military, which was steeped in a rigid vertical culture, anyone can voice their opinion here.
She’s a bit annoyed, but if this were the military, I would have been met with curses, not just annoyance.
Once granted permission to speak, I walk to the screen to explain.
Using the materials Kang Jeong-mi prepared, I show the staff the data I need and explain Eunpyeong-gu.
Most of it was speculative, but I presented points worth considering by drawing on my knowledge from my past life.
Dungeon prediction is hard, but I am confident.
Because Girl Hero Front was a game that reflected reality quite heavily.
Actual monsters and actual dungeons appear in the game.
The developer must have been a lore nerd because even the timing of the dungeons' appearances was matched to reality.
It was to the point where some people recommended the game when learning about dungeons or the Awakened.
That person was me.
Anyway, the timeline is almost identical to reality.
The first thing I checked after falling into this world was the timing of dungeon appearances, and they all matched my memory.
I have roughly three years' worth of future knowledge, and I know all the dungeons that were added to the game.
In particular, I remember the exact dates, not just the general timing, for the dungeons I was personally responsible for.
That’s not to say I know the appearance times for every dungeon in the world; I only know a few major events outside of South Korea.
After finishing the presentation and answering the questions that popped up in between, Park Sung-jun nods.
"I didn't know Manager Han Yeon-woo was such a good speaker. You seem like a completely different person."
"He’s become a whole new man after his vacation. It’s good to see."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Park Sung-jun and an older woman, who came as the representative of the heroes belonging to the clan, praise me.
I felt a bit of a sting, but I put on a relaxed smile and gave a polite bow. Park Sung-jun then addresses the other employees.
"Now that we've heard the presentation, let's decide where to enter."
... ...
Unfortunately, my proposal was rejected.
It was the sorrow of a small-to-medium clan that felt it was better not to get on Square Garden's nerves.
Still, they decided to take one spot in the Eunpyeong-gu area that Square Garden hadn't already claimed, just to plant a flag.
The other three were concentrated in Gangseo-gu, as Kang Jeong-mi had presented.
That place is a dud. According to my memory, Gangseo-gu will be safe for at least three years.
Park Sung-jun and the hero lady leave first, and the rest of the staff stand up, packing their things.
Kang Jeong-mi, with the face of a demon, approaches me but scowls when she sees Kim Yun-ah behind me.
"I wondered why you brought him, and it turns out you brought him just to humiliate me."
"You should have prepared better. Our boy’s analysis was much better. If Yeon-woo ends up moving to the Strategy Department, what will I do? I'll be so lonely."
Kim Yun-ah smiles, placing a hand on my shoulder with a relaxed attitude.
Once a trembling Kang Jeong-mi leaves, Kim Yun-ah whispers in my ear.
"I was humiliated too, though. I'm seeing you in a new light, Han Yeon-woo."
Is that a compliment or an insult?
"If your face wasn't so pretty, I would have bitten your ear off."
Definitely an insult, then.