Chapter 29.2
Wow.
Of course not.
āBut I canāt die for moneyā¦ā
Tears welled up in my eyes. This is nuts.
āNo, Seolum. Letās rememberāall the money in this world is just like game money for meā¦ game money, game moneyā¦!ā
Right!
I made my eyes shine with a bit of melancholy and began talking nonsense.
“I believe, more important than immediate money, I first need to hone my skills and value.”
This was insanity.
āThe reason we hone skills and value is to earn more money, so why am I rejecting it?ā
But I kept rambling in a way that perfectly aligned with a 30-years-ago corporate managerās mentality.
“Our ancestors used to say that itās worth even buying hardship when youāre young. While I donāt fully agree, I think thereās a reason that saying exists.”
Assistant Manager Jin from A-squad looked at me as if Iād lost my mind.
But it seemed to resonate with the top boss.
“Hmm.”
A-squadās leader looked thoughtful. She narrowed her eyes at me, then sighed and nodded.
“Fine. If thatās really how you feelā¦ I suppose we canāt push it.”
Wahoo!
“I thought you were a smart guy, Soleum-ssi, but maybe youāre a bit more naive than Iād assumed. How are you going to make it in this harsh world?”
Perfect.
The tone was slightly chiding, but since itās coming from her, it was practically a compliment!
ā¦Even though she just couldnāt resist adding a bit more.
“Itās good to work hard. But being too pure-hearted isnāt great for corporate life.”
Yes, yes.
“If I may give you some adviceā¦ remember, you donāt get through work by clinging to emotions. Especially donāt get attached to people who donāt understand you.”
She glanced pointedly at a particular someone, her expression darkening.
“Donāt do it. Itās not worth it.”
“ā¦Understood.”
Ah, sheās talking about the āstubborn psychoā Lizard Chief, isnāt she? Got it.
“Did you hear that, Section Chief Lee Jaheon?”
“? Yes.”
The lizard replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“I understand perfectly.”
“ā¦ā¦”
“ā¦ā¦”
Please stop with the āIs this guy for real?ā look, A-squad leaderā¦
“Anyway.”
With a deep breath, A-squadās leader brought the conversation to a close.
“Good work today. Head on home.”
“ā¦ā¦! Yes, maāam!!”
Sweet, sweet freedom.
“Thank you. Iāll head out now.”
Finally, I can escapeā¦!
I eagerly pressed the elevator button. Assistant Manager Jin quickly came up and whispered to me.
“You idiot. Youāre going to regret this.”
“ā¦ā¦”
“D-squadās Section Chief hasnāt even seen a wish ticket yet. Our Section Chief has already received one.”
Thatās fine. I know that lizard guy will eventually make it to Team Leader.
Of course, I couldnāt say that, so I went with a compliment.
“Iām sure youāll get one soon too, Assistant Manager.”
“What?”
“Iāll be sure to ask you all about it when that time comes.”
“ā¦ā¦”
Assistant Manager Jin looked momentarily startled, then scoffed.
“You do seem to have some sense.”
“Youāll answer, right?”
“Yes.”
Though it was a verbal promise, from what I could tell of her personalityāgruff, yes, but not one to lie or go back on her word.
“Section Chief, Assistant Manager, thank you both very much for today.”
“Sure, head on home.”
After expressing my thanks, I pressed the elevator button and quickly got inside before I could get dragged into anything further.
But right on cue, Lizard Chief slipped in right behind me.
So he really did come here just to deliver that soulless apologyā¦
ā Going downā¦
As the elevator carried the two of us in silence, Lizard Chief unexpectedly started talking.
“Kim Soleum-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“Is there something you want in D-squad?”
Huh.
“ā¦Are you implying, with that question, that you assume I stayed with D-squad despite having a chance to join A-squad because I want something specific?”
“Yes.”
Good grief.
After ruffling the back of my head a bit, I sighed and replied.
“Thereās nothing like that, Section Chief.”
“?”
“I didnāt choose to stay for any advantage.”
I stayed because I want to stay alive!
Lizard Chief narrowed his slit pupils, looking puzzled.
“Staying in a regular team rather than an elite one results in a points loss. Itāll take longer to get a wish ticket.”
“That may be true.”
I shrugged.
“But even if I do want a wish ticket, I also want to stay alive long enough to use it.”
“ā¦ā¦”
“Until then, Iād rather be somewhere I can work with a bit more peace of mind.”
Iād rather not live in constant fear of being outed as a coward, you knowā¦
“I see.”
Lizard Chief fell silent.
Finally, some quiet as we rode dowā
“What is your wish, Kim Soleum-ssi?”
More questions today than usual.
“ā¦Are you asking what Iād wish for if I got the ticket?”
“Yes.”
“In that case, Iād like to know yours first, Section Chief.”
It was my polite way of saying, āWhy ask me such a one-sided question?ā
But the Lizard only blinked his vertical pupils and gazed into space, as if pondering. After a moment, he replied.
“Itās not my wish.”
“Pardon?”
“I work here because I was assigned to, not by choice.”
This was something I never expected.
I turned, reflexively, to look at him. Light glinted off the scales of his distinctly non-human headā¦
“ā¦Can I ask whose will it is?”
“You may not.”
Oh. Right.
It didnāt really hurt my feelings, knowing this lizard.
āSeems thereās a story there.ā
Since heād answered, it felt like I should say something, too. After a momentās thought, I chose my words.
“Iā¦ just want to go home.”
In reality, Section Chief Lee could have followed up with countless questions. Where is āhomeā? Why is that your wish? Is it a place or more of a metaphor?
But instead, he simply said,
“I see.”
And that was that.
In the quiet, the elevator continued its peaceful descent.
“ā¦ā¦”
I have to admit now that, in a certain way, Lizard Chief is quite an easy conversation partner.
Oddly enough.
Back at my dorm unitā
watch out for serial killers –
After sending Baek Saheon another friendly disaster-warning text, I lay down to rest.
āAnother day packed with twists and turnsā¦ā
I seriously feel like this jobās going to cut my lifespan in half. My heart can barely take it. Still, I canāt deny there were some decent gains today.
Extra points, networking with elite team superiors.
And a hefty bonus.
“ā¦Five million won, huh.” (Approx. 3,500 USD)
I wonder when itāll hit my account.
Iāve said itās just āgame moneyā, but to be fair, that just makes it all the more useful.
Iāll need it to increase my stats.
āI could really use more cash for the Alien Shop.ā
With all these surprise emergencies, I felt the need for more defensive equipmentāespecially something for mental protection.
āAnd the Alien Shop has exclusive VIP items if you reach that levelā¦ā
Still thinking of todayās earnings, I found myself speechless.
Five million won.
“ā¦Hoh.”
Legit, thatās the bonus theyāre putting in a corporate employeeās account.
Itās enough to mess with your sense of monetary value.
And yet it still didnāt feel like quite enough to get all the items I needed.
“Any other way to make some cashā”
Bzzzt!
My phone vibrated, a new popup flashing on the screen.
āBaek Saheon?ā
No, not this time.
Unexpectedly, Iād been invited to a new open chatroom.
“ā¦ā¦?!”
The profile was set to a bright Hawaiian beach and displayed an English name.
This feels suspiciousā¦
– K.LEE : Need some extra cash?
“ā¦ā¦??”
Who?
