Chapter 29

A New Recruit Scouted for an Elite Team Just One Month into the Job.

It sounded like the clickbait title of some self-help book. But it was actually happening.

'What the hell is going on?'

Me? On Team A?

"Let's see, Soleum joined Team D last month, right?"

"Yes. Let's contact HR and process it as a temporary assignment for now, then make the transfer official in five months."

"Right, Deputy Jin. Then..."

Team A's leader smiled at me in satisfaction.

"First, we'll need to promote you to Supervisor right away, Soleum."

"..."

"The official notice will probably be out by next week."

Good God.

"This company doesn't put much stock in seniority, but there are still minimum requirements. You realize this is an extraordinarily generous offer?"

Of course it was!

He'd even arrange a promotion? Did he have that much pull in the company?

No, that wasn't it.

More precisely, an ordinary employee would probably have to prove themselves over the time it normally took to earn one or two promotions before joining an Elite Team. So, by convention, even the fastest recruits had to become Supervisors at the very least.

His calculation was that, since I needed to be a Supervisor to join Team A, the higher-ups would naturally promote me.

'And Team A originally only had people ranked Deputy or above...'

This really was exceptional treatment.

But why?

Why make me this offer out of the blue...?

Oh.

The instant I saw the immensely satisfied look on Team A's leader's face, realization struck like lightning.

'I picked every right answer today!'

I'd mistaken it for workplace bullying, so I'd been far too cautious and pushed myself far too hard!

Not a word of complaint about unreasonable orders. Eagerly coming up with every possible idea to deliver results within the guidelines set from above.

A new recruit who said yes to everything without an ego, yet still tried to show creativity!

The very image of a boss's ideal employee...

"Soleum? You can head home now. The notice could come out as early as next week, so be ready."

"..."

No.

'This is a tragedy.'

I... I was the last person who should join Team A!

'Their procedures are way too strict.'

If I worked here, where I could only do as my superiors ordered, there was a ninety percent chance I'd eventually be unable to hide that I was a coward.

'Then the Wish Coupon will slip further away, and my survival rate will skim along rock bottom.'

I'd actually die.

The chilling prospect made my mouth clamp shut.

"..."

"Hey, hold on."

Deputy Jin spoke in disbelief.

"You're... not seriously hesitating, are you?"

I quietly lowered my head.

"Why? Are you out of your mind? Is this about those meat shields from the Cleanup Teams? We don't have to take them—"

"Deputy Jin, a moment."

Team A's leader stopped her and addressed me with a gentle expression.

"You've only been here a month, so such a generous offer out of nowhere must give you a lot to think about. That's understandable."

"..."

"But to succeed in society, you also need to understand that wise people seize opportunities boldly."

The problem was, this wasn't an opportunity. It was a trap!

'Wow. What do I do now?'

How could I get out of this without offending this overbearing old-school boss any more than necessary?

If I turned him down the wrong way, I'd really get on his bad side. The workplace bullying I'd feared might actually begin.

'I don't see a way out...'

That was when it happened.

DING!

The elevator had arrived.

Its doors opened, revealing a familiar person—no, a lizard.

'Team Leader!'

Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who'd reportedly been summoned by the team manager, had appeared.

The lizard's slit pupils met Team A's leader's gaze.

"... Section Chief Lee Jaheon."

"Section Chief Baek Seokju."

Lee Jaheon gave him a sullen look.

"I was told to apologize to you. I'm sorry."

"..."

Team A's leader... was holding back a string of profanities.

"Ha... No, forget it. I'm the only one getting worked up. Just me."

"?"

"I said forget it. I've just recruited someone to fill our vacancy anyway."

He waved a hand dismissively, then patted my shoulder.

Gah.

"Here, look. This employee is going to be our newest team member."

It was meant to be something of a bombshell, but...

"I see."

The lizard nodded.

"Team A does offer better working conditions."

"..."

Couldn't you at least pretend to be sorry to lose me, so I could find some way out of this...?

Damn it. No choice.

'I'll do it myself!'

I deliberately looked back and forth between the two leaders as though flustered, then bowed to Team A's leader.

'First...'

Judging from what I'd seen of his personality so far...

'He's a stickler for rules.'

He divided work strictly by rank, deeply disliked insubordination, and looked after his own people. Scouting me after only a month showed he occasionally made daring moves, but only within boundaries he set himself.

'He probably can't stand anyone talking back.'

In short, he was the quintessential elite middle manager in a rigidly hierarchical corporation.

'In that case...'

I started by bowing my head low.

"Section Chief, thank you so much for thinking so highly of a new recruit like me and making such a generous offer."

"Mm-hmm."

"Still... I lack experience. As a new recruit, I believe I should work at my proper rank and build the basic skills and knowledge an employee needs."

Team A's leader stared at me, then spoke.

"... Soleum, do you know where the Elite Teams' base salary starts?"

No, I didn't.

"Eighty million won."

"...!"

"Once hazard pay is added, annual earnings generally start at a hundred and fifty million."

Holy shit.

"I'm also going to list you as a Major Contributor for the C-grade ghost story you just cleared. You cleared it in no time using a new method, didn't you?"

I-I did, didn't I?

"And it's a method other people could try using too. Know what that means?"

What did it mean?

"The manual could get a complete revision."

"..."

"Yes. Not just an addition. A revision."

Team A's leader smiled gently.

"And when a manual gets revised, there's a cash reward."

"...!"

"A fairly substantial one. That's why the higher-ups don't like approving revisions... but Elite Teams are an exception there too."

Oh.

"When Team A submits it, the process is much quicker and easier. You might call it a difference in credibility."

"..."

"Let's see... the bonus for revising a C-grade manual."

He paused theatrically before speaking.

"Fifty million won, isn't it?"

"...!!"

"That's fifty million in extra pay for you, Soleum, just for today's work."

Fifty million won.

"Do you really want to let the chance to keep earning like that slip away?"

Wow.

Of course I didn't.

'But I can't die just to make money...'

I could seriously cry. This was driving me insane.

'Keep repeating it. Money in this world is no different from game currency to me. Game currency. Game currency...!'

Right!

I made my eyes shine with as much wistful feeling as I could muster.

Then I started spouting bullshit.

"I believe honing my abilities and worth is more important than immediate financial gain."

This was madness.

'The whole reason you hone your abilities and worth is to earn more money, so why kick the money away?'

But my mouth kept babbling things perfectly tailored to the worldview of some old-school executive from thirty years ago.

"Our forebears said hardship in youth is worth paying for. While I don't entirely agree, I believe there must be a reason that saying came about."

Deputy Jin looked at me as though I were insane.

But apparently I'd struck a chord with the top boss.

"Hmm."

Team A's leader seemed deep in thought. He narrowed his eyes at me, then sighed and nodded.

"All right. Well, if that's what you want... I can't force you."

Yahoo!

"I thought you were a smart fellow, Mr. Roe Deer, but you're more stubbornly foolish than I realized. Honestly. How will you survive this harsh world?"

Success.

His tone was scolding, but from his perspective, that was practically a compliment!

... Though of course he still had to get a jab in.

"Working hard is good. But being too naive won't help you in corporate life."

Yes, yes.

"Let me give you some advice... You don't get by at work on personal affection. Be careful about that. Especially getting attached to someone who won't listen to reason when it's all one-sided."

His expression twisted as he looked at a certain someone.

"Don't do it. It's not good for you."

"... Ah, yes."

You wanted to say my lizard team leader was an obstinate psychopath. Understood...

"Did you hear me clearly, Section Chief Lee Jaheon?"

"? Yes."

The lizard answered as though wondering why he was stating the obvious.

"I heard you clearly."

"..."

You can stop giving me that look saying, 'Can you believe this lunatic?', Team A Leader...

"Anyway."

Team A's leader took a deep breath and wrapped up the conversation.

"Good work today. Get home safely."

"...! Yes, sir!!"

A declaration of freedom.

"Thank you. I'll be heading home, then."

Aaaah, I could finally escape...!

I hurriedly pressed the elevator button.

Team A's deputy came up to me quickly and whispered.

"Idiot. You'll regret this."

"..."

"Team D's section chief hasn't even touched a Wish Coupon yet. Our leader has already earned one."

It was fine. I knew that lizard would make team manager.

Of course, I couldn't say that, so flattery it was.

"I imagine you'll earn yours soon too, Deputy."

"What?"

"I'll ask you about it then."

"..."

Deputy Jin seemed briefly taken aback, but soon snorted.

"Well, you do have some judgment."

"You'll answer me, won't you?"

"Sure."

It was only a verbal promise, but although her personality was shit... ahem, rough, she didn't strike me as the type to lie or go back on her word.

"Section Chief, Deputy. Thank you very much for today."

"All right. Get home safely."

After saying my goodbyes again, I pressed the elevator button and hurried aboard before anyone could detain me further.

The lizard promptly followed me inside.

Had he really come just to deliver that one soulless apology...?

-Going down...

As the elevator carried the two of us down in silence, Section Chief Lizard spoke to me unexpectedly.

"Kim Soleum."

"Yes?"

"Is there something you want from Team D?"

Huh.

"... Are you asking because you assume I must want something specific, since I chose to stay on Team D despite having the chance to join Team A?"

"Yes."

Good grief.

I raked a hand through the back of my hair a few times, then answered with a sigh.

"Nothing like that, Team Leader."

"?"

"I didn't decide to stay for some benefit."

I stayed to survive!

The lizard narrowed his slit pupils in apparent puzzlement.

"Remaining on a regular team rather than an Elite Team means losing out on points. It will affect how quickly you receive a Wish Coupon."

"Perhaps it will."

I shrugged.

"But even if I do need a Wish Coupon, the time I spend living until I earn it is part of my life too."

"..."

"I wanted to spend that time somewhere I'd be happier working."

I didn't want to spend every moment terrified I'd be exposed as a coward, man...

"... I see."

The lizard fell silent.

Now we could ride down in peace...

"Kim Soleum, what is your wish?"

He was unusually talkative today.

"... Are you asking what I'd wish for once I receive a Wish Coupon?"

"Yes."

"Then I'd like to hear your wish first, Team Leader."

That was a polite way of asking why he was the only one doing the prying.

But the lizard stared blankly into space with his slit-pupiled eyes. He seemed to be thinking hard.

Then he spoke.

"It is not my wish."

"Pardon?"

"I am working here at someone else's behest."

That was something I'd never imagined.

I turned to him reflexively. Scales gleamed on his inhuman lizard head...

"... May I ask whose wishes you're following?"

"No."

Ah, right.

I wasn't particularly offended. I knew that was just the sort of lizard he was.

'So he has his reasons.'

Anyway, since he'd answered, did I have to tell him mine too?

After some hesitation, I chose my words.

"I... want to go home."

In truth, Section Chief Lee Jaheon could have asked any number of follow-up questions.

What sort of home? Why was going home my wish? Had my home been destroyed? Had someone died? Was I speaking of home in an abstract sense? And so on.

Instead, Lee Jaheon opened his mouth and said this:

"I see."

That was it.

The elevator descended peacefully in the quiet.

"..."

Now I admitted it.

In some ways, my lizard team leader was quite easy to talk to.

Surprisingly enough.

* * *

I returned to the company housing.

[Watch out for serial killers]

After sending Baek Saheon another friendly disaster alert today, I lay down.

'Another eventful day...'

At this rate, my lifespan really might be cut in half. My heart couldn't take it.

Still, I couldn't deny that today had yielded some substantial rewards.

Extra points, connections with Elite Team superiors.

And a cash bonus too.

"... Fifty million won, huh."

When would it hit my account?

I'd called it game currency and all that, but thinking about it objectively, being game currency actually gave it even more uses. I needed it to improve my stats.

'It's true I could use more cash.'

I was starting to think I ought to buy some new items from the Alien Shop. All these unexpected incidents kept happening, making me feel pressed for time.

I definitely wanted armor, particularly equipment or items that protected the mind.

'There were special items that became available once you reached VIP status at the Alien Shop too...'

Still, thinking about the money I'd earned today shut me up for the moment.

Fifty million won.

"... Hah."

That much money, legally deposited by a company into an employee's account as extra pay.

I felt my sense of money going numb. All the more so because it still felt insufficient to buy all the items I needed.

"Isn't there anywhere else I could get some mon—"

BZZZT!

My smartphone vibrated, displaying a new pop-up.

'Could it be Baek Saheon?'

It wasn't.