5. Your New Home (4)
I read through the handover file and kicked off the morning's work amid the freezer-like atmosphere.
Thankfully, Office Work was more or less the same as in my old department, so I didn't have to embarrass myself by asking Section Chief Jo anything.
The problem was...
"Ah— I don't wanna work."
The section chief's laments had been filtering over nonstop since earlier.
I glanced over, and there he was, sunk deep into his chair, pen wedged between his lips and nose, slacking off like a pro.
"Don't wanna— work—."
He looked like he didn't want to work even without saying it.
"This damn company... when's it gonna go under? Nah, it can't. Where would the money come from then?"
Why the hell was he muttering it out loud instead of just thinking it?
For me to hear? If so, it was working pretty damn well. It was getting on my nerves enough to make me not want to work either.
"Don't wanna work—!"
Now he was practically yelling. I let out a quiet sigh.
He seemed fine in the safety rules. Motivated, even. ...Except for that bathroom obsession.
How the hell did someone like that end up like this?
Did time change him? If so, time was one cruel bastard.
From my position as his subordinate, I didn't want to understand it, and it sure wasn't welcome.
"Work..."
What could I do? I couldn't exactly tell my boss to shut up.
Think positive. At least with him yapping, boredom wouldn't be an issue.
Tap.
"Don't wanna—!"
His voice was starting to develop a rhythm. Was I finally losing it?
That'd be a relief.
"Aaah... wanna go home. Hate working."
Focus on the job.
Clack. Tap. I typed away, saved documents, and dug through the handover file for anything unclear.
Time slipped by like that.
Alright, next... nothing?
The paperwork was done.
I checked the clock: fifteen minutes to lunch. Faster than usual.
More work might pop up, but for now, this was it.
Done?
My efficiency went up?
No clue what was going on.
Because of the section chief's whining?
Like focus-enhancing noise or white noise or whatever?
...A middle-aged bald guy's grumbling about "don't wanna work" and "wanna go home"?
That felt off. Saying my efficiency improved because of that wasn't even a joke.
It'd just be a lame, creepy story.
Field Division, maybe? Not much Office Work here.
I scratched my head for a bit, then gave up pondering and chalked it up to that.
Which left me with some time to kill.
What now? Preemptively knock out tomorrow's work?
Nah.
Not even I stuck to that hardcore business mindset.
"Wanna go home......"
The hint was in the section chief's whining. He looked pretty damn content doing nothing, from where I sat.
Guess I'll slack off too.
Why not? Work wrapped early—web surf it is. Section chief didn't seem to care about monitoring anyway...
Check out the welfare mall.
Surprisingly, Mirae Co., Ltd. took welfare seriously. For a company bleeding people left and right.
Actually, first time I heard about deaths was last Friday. Thought it was a great corp, turns out it was just top-tier industrial accidents.
Anyway, bottom line: Mirae Co., Ltd.'s employee welfare was industry-best.
Best company, best values, best perks. Nothing here wasn't the best.
So the accidents are top-tier too?
Random thought as I prepped to log into the welfare mall.
Of course, mine wasn't your average mall.
Handover file said to check the fountain pen's serial number. That's the ID...
Yep. This insane company had a separate welfare mall just for Field Division staff!
Found it.
I punched in the fountain pen's serial. A notice filled the screen.
[Mirae Co., Ltd. Field Division Welfare Mall]
*Warning! Non-Field Division personnel must close this page immediately.
Detected usage will result in disciplinary action. Company assumes no liability for any issues arising.
Brutal...
I scrolled down, thinking that.
Items flew by. Prices split into list and employee discount.
Full of weird crap, as expected.
Every single one was unhinged.
Like this.
Keychain: ₩430,000
Small: ₩1,270,000
Large: ₩2,350,000
It was a green-skinned doll with its mouth ripped wide in a scream. The warped shape made it utterly creepy.
But the price was even creepier.
Am I reading the units wrong?
Nah. Just in case, though. It's Future. Could be practical. Worth that much, even.
I scrolled the mouse wheel for the description.
Got something annoying going on?
Feel weighed down by prying eyes?
Or... is there someone just bugging you?
We prepared this just for you!
Strongly recommended by Mirae's fashion subsidiary, Renaissance!
Give 'em unexpected stomach pain!
Make 'em wail every morning clutching their receding hairline!
Stubbing a pinky toe on the doorframe? Child's play!
Become a fashion pioneer! No. 1 in Korean fashion, Renaissance's urban sophistication!
Perfect as interior decor or today's accent piece!
*Especially effective at commute time!
They're insane...
No one in their right mind buys this crap.
Good thing I was just browsing...
Would've been disappointed if I'd planned to buy something.
I skipped the "especially effective at commute time!" line and hit back.
Kept browsing anyway. It was a welfare mall. Had to be something useful.
Not everything's useless, after all.
Nah, useful stuff outnumbered the junk overall.
Like...
₩2,500,000
Modern man's essential! Custom suit!
Mirae's fashion subsidiary Renaissance Boutique Bespoke line's immortal steady-seller!
Afraid of anomalies? Body won't obey from terror?
Worry not! We prepared this for you!
Forget standard hazmat gear's uniform design!
Wear this and become a proud Future employee!
Guaranteed 3 defenses against hostile anomaly traits!
This one's definitely...
Worth the price.
That alone made it a buy. ₩2.5 million wasn't bad for custom.
But the real draw?
Defense against anomaly traits.
If legit, no wonder it's an "immortal steady-seller."
And...
I rubbed the fabric of my off-the-rack suit between my fingers—the one I'd rushed to buy over the weekend after ditching my old one in the aptitude eval.
Cheap purchase showed: it felt pretty trashy.
Need a real suit.
Buy it?
Was just browsing, but...
How much in the bank? This'd pinch a bit.
But a suit. Hmm...
Scrolled down. Flashy text popped up.
50% off purchases over ₩50,000! (Max ₩300,000 discount)
Buying it.
Pure impulse bait.
My hand twitched toward "add to cart"—that's when I spotted the fine print below.
* Bespoke nature may incur additional fees.
* Protection may probabilistically fail, exposing user to death, critical injury, or cognitive corruption. AS available only for related issues.
* Full specs: contact Renaissance Boutique Bespoke.
Protection failure? Extra fees? Shoulda said that up front...
At least they offered AS. Silver lining?
Wait.
If protection fails, who cares about AS—you're dead.
...Efficient. Chillingly so.
Dizzy, I rubbed my brow and leaned back.
That's when a voice came from above.
"Oh, gonna buy that? Decent stuff. Sometimes it flops hard, but when it works, it works."
......!
I slowly opened my eyes.
Section Chief Jo loomed over me, glaring.
Grinning. Then serious.
"But you done with work?"
***
Surprisingly, Section Chief Jo let my slacking slide.
"All done? Fast worker. C'mon, lunch."
We headed to the cafeteria. Cheap and good quality—popular spot. Seemed like his go-to too.
"Order mine and yours. Two. Grabbing a smoke. If food comes and I'm not back, snag a table. If still not, eat without me."
He muttered, handing me his card.
"What for the menu?"
"Use your head."
He waved dismissively and left. Too confident to question.
Use my head?
...Kongnamul gukbap it is.
Food came quick. Busy place meant plenty of staff.
I grabbed a spot near the entrance for easy spotting.
"S-S-S-Sung-jin s-si!"
Someone called as I scooped soup toward my mouth.
"Eun-hye-ssi?"
Hwang Eun-hye, same transfer timing as me.
"T-T-To-Toge-together, e-e-eat...?"
"Eat together? Sure."
"Hehe..."
She plopped down across, giggling weakly. Ordered pork cutlet set.
Bit awkward.
As I went for more soup, perfect timing—she spoke up.
"S-S-Sung-jin s-si, h-how's it l-l-lately?"
I eyed my soup sadly, set down the spoon.
"How's what?"
"W-W-Work or b-b-bosses or..."
My boss, Section Chief Jo, wasn't exactly likable.
But badmouthing the boss? Too tacky.
I flipped it.
"You?"
"O-O-One s-s-sunbae is t-t-to-total psycho. C-C-Crazy bastard..."
......
"K-K-K-Keeps hitting on me, t-t-to-tal gross type. Worst. T-T-Teaches work, grabs my sh-sh-shoulder, arm—g-gives me chills."
She gestured wildly, ranting about her boss. More stutters from excitement.
Valid gripes, though. Sexual harassment? Worst.
Her side's rough too.
I pictured the bald section chief harassing me. Sudden chills.
Jo's better.
Creepy talk aside, he didn't do weird shit.
"You have it rough too, Eun-hye-ssi."
"......!"
Her eyes went wide. Then wild gestures, spilling words—I barely caught half.
She's gonna tip over. Dangerous...
My worry hit reality. She slipped, nearly fell.
No butt-plant, thankfully. But something slid from her pocket toward me.
"Careful. Floor's slippery."
"Hehe... sorry..."
I bent to grab what she'd dropped.
Under the table: green-skinned doll, mouth ripped in a grin, staring at me.
This was it.
......The Screaming Curse Doll.
Wondered who bought one...
Suited her, kinda...
But who was it for? Oh, that sunbae.
...Whatever. Don't think about it.
I pinched the keychain part between thumb and forefinger, handed it back. She bowed her head, embarrassed.
"G-G-G-G..."
Her words cut off.
From "g" to "kam" to "sa"—that's when someone joined our table.
"Oh, Oh Joo-im, Hwang Joo-im. Fancy meeting you here. Nice."
Muscular guy with facial scars: Ko Kyung-min.