episode_0024

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Time passed, and before I knew it, spring had fully arrived.

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I was fortunate to have landed a part-time job during the acquisition process, working hard to save up living expenses before starting my education.

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“Welcome.”

“Really? Damn, are they just born with a silver spoon in their mouth?”

“Their family is loaded, and they’re so good-looking. Life is so unfair.”

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Two young men who entered the convenience store started chatting about something unknown while choosing items.

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“Oh, the door’s wide open.”

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Without much thought, I closed the door they had left open and returned to the counter, but then…

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“Where can you meet a girl like Mayeonseo?”

“You can’t. Where in this world can you find a girl like her?”

“What a waste…”

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It seemed they were talking about Mayeonseo.

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“Goodbye.”

“Hey, since I bought a drink, let’s definitely try for a flush today.”

“You better play well to get a flush.”

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After finishing their purchase, they continued chattering and left the convenience store without a break.

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“These guys. They left the door wide open again.”

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Expressing dissatisfaction, I closed the door again and returned, inadvertently checking the internet, recalling what they had said about Mayeonseo.

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“What’s going on now?”

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Sure enough, the internet was abuzz once again with news about Mayeonseo.

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“Huh?”

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As I skimmed through the article, I began to doubt my eyes for a moment.

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[ S-Class Awakener Mayeonseo’s father revealed to be Mercury Group Vice Chairman Ma Junhwan… ]

[ No more secrecy, publicizing the Mercury owner’s family. Mayeonseo ranks 4th… ]

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The content revealed that her father was the vice chairman of Mercury Group.

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That Mercury, which I would soon be entering for my education!

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“No wonder.”

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I had always thought she wasn’t just an ordinary rich person. She truly wasn’t.

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When it comes to Mercury now, it’s a place that confidently leads the awakening equipment market.

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In fact, it’s a company with such competitiveness that it could be considered a monopoly.

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“I really ended up dating an unbelievable person.”

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I suddenly felt that I had done something quite remarkable.

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Not that I particularly missed it.

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“……”

While reading through the articles, a sudden thought crossed my mind.

Perhaps she secretly had a hand in my acceptance to the institute.

“Come to think of it, the interview did seem a bit strange.”

Due to the new course opening this time, there was an overwhelming number of applicants compared to the available spots.

Thanks to that, I entered the interview with a firm determination, feeling the forced sense of competition…

“Mr. Kang Yoo-chan, is there any discomfort?”

“No, there isn’t.”

“No physical pain either?”

“No. I’m healthy.”

“I see. Then, next…”

There were notably no specific questions directed at me.

It seemed as if they asked about my health because they had no other questions to ask.

Yet, despite that, seeing that I passed, perhaps Mayeonseo knew about my application and looked out for me…

“That’s unlikely.”

For a moment, lost in reverie, I chuckled and closed the article.

It’s been quite a long time since I parted ways with her.

In that time, enough to have forgotten someone like me.

Perhaps she’s already met a completely new man.

In reality, there were quite a few people who publicly expressed their affection for her.

It wasn’t an impossible scenario.

“I don’t know who it might be… but I hope they won’t suffer like I did.”

I offered a silent prayer for the unknown man in Mayeonseo’s life.

*

It was cherry blossom season.

I finally started attending the institute.

“This feels exciting.”

Thinking that I was about to have an entirely new experience, my heart fluttered, making it hard to sleep at night.

“For ordinary people like us, we can neither feel nor see what magic is. It’s like colorless, odorless gas.”

Initially, most of the classes were theoretical.

They mostly covered topics related to magic and its associated technologies.

There was a lot to memorize, but it wasn’t as difficult as I had anticipated.

“When the founder, Chairman Ma Junhwan, first went to the United States…”

Intermittently, under the guise of mental education, there were also history lessons about the Mercury Group.

“…one of the world’s greatest awakeners, Ms. Mayeonseo…”

In the midst of it all, stories about Mayeonseo emerged, causing me to startle quietly.

“My ex-girlfriend is the chairman’s granddaughter and the vice-chairman’s daughter… It felt like I had become the protagonist of a drama.

My name is ‘The Hidden Power of Trainees.’

It wasn’t a name that seemed likely to be popular.

“Today is your first practical training, so let’s start with the auxiliary equipment.”

Gradually, during the practical training, I got to handle equipment with real power. It was no joke to touch the equipment that had just been retired from active duty.

“Oh. Painful marks… even an awakened person shouldn’t do such things.”

That was when I was gradually learning the knowledge and know-how needed in the field and preparing for certifications.

Suddenly, a rumor started spreading among the trainees.

“Yoochan, have you heard that story?”

“What story?”

“No, someone I know said that they are planning to select several people from our class to work as regular employees at the head office!”

“Really?”

It was nothing but a rumor about hiring at the head office.

“Our class is the first class. So, it seems they will pick a few for the tech department as a model case.”

“Wow. If it’s the tech department… that’s amazing.”

Most of us who entered for job placement are expected to be employed by Mercury Tech’s partner companies.

But to enter the head office instead of a partner company! It was truly a dream-like opportunity.

“I don’t know who will be chosen, but a business card from a large company… I’m really envious.”

Naturally, knowing the subject, I didn’t dream of going to the head office and focused only on obtaining certifications.

And then.

Before long, the identity of the trainee heading to the head office was revealed.

“Me, me?”

It was me.

I, Kang Yoochan, was going to the head office.

“Well, that’s the plan for now, but just in case, don’t talk about it around. You know what I mean?”

One day, the instructor who called me separately suddenly mentioned the head office recruitment.

Because the internal evaluation of me was so good, regardless of obtaining certifications, there was talk of being converted to a regular employee at the head office after a 3-month internship.

“No… does this make sense?”

By chance, in the certification education process I stumbled upon, what are the chances of directly entering a large corporation?

Accepting that it’s just because I did well wasn’t easy.

“Is this really fate? No, that doesn’t make sense either…”

This situation is inexplicable no matter how you look at it.

However, when Hanyul heard the news, she was just happy about my job news.

“Good news is good news! It’s Mercury Tech…! They say the starting salary there is 40 million won! We can save a lot of money quickly. Right?”

He was clearly pleased because our marriage plans were being moved up.

“Well… anyway, good news is good news…”

Feeling both extremely happy and somewhat uneasy, I decided to focus only on the present.

The endlessly hot weather had suddenly broken, giving way to a cool autumn.

“This is my company… I still can’t believe it.”

After obtaining my certification, I finally commuted to the newly erected Mercury Group building in the heart of Seoul…

“Ma, Marketing Team…?”

Once again, something unexpected happened.

“The Equipment Management team is currently full. Mr. Yoo Chan is scheduled to be placed in the Marketing Team for now.”

I naturally thought I would be entering the Equipment Management department, but when I actually showed up for work, I was sent to the Marketing Team out of the blue.

“What kind of marketing is this…! I don’t know anything about that…!”

Although I was greatly taken aback by this new experience, I could only reluctantly agree to the story that I would soon be returned to my original position.

“It’s all part of the experience. Since it’s come to this, let’s do our best…!”

And so began the unexpected marketing work.

Still an intern, I started learning the ropes from the team leader.

“I’m Hwang Jae-hee. Let’s get along well from now on.”

“I’m Kang Yoo-chan. I’ll do my best, even though I’m lacking.”

Nine years older than me, Deputy Hwang Jae-hee was a woman who fit the image of what’s commonly referred to as an “office lady”.

“If you’re confused, ask me again, okay?”

“…I’m sorry, but please help me.”

“Here, take a look.”

Her tone was warm, she never scolded for mistakes, and her consistent grooming and attractive appearance made her quite popular.

“They say you suffer because of ordinary people.”

Meeting a good supervisor like her, I felt incredibly lucky and secretly relieved.

…At least, that’s how it seemed at first.

“Mr. Yoo-chan, would you like to have lunch outside today?”

“Sure.”

She seems to be the type who approaches quite familiarly, taking me out for lunch and paying attention to me in various ways.

“Is your profile picture of your girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

“She’s cute. Is she a college student?”

“Yes, she’s a third-year student.”

“Oh, right in the prime of enjoying life.”

It’s not like they’re always together, and this is also part of social life, but I followed along quietly.

“Assistant Manager Hwang Jae-hee from Marketing Team 1 [What are you doing, Yoo Chan?]”

Suddenly, even after work, she started contacting me unnecessarily.

“Yoo Chan, would you like to have a drink together tonight?”

After work, suggesting having a drink together, she began to behave strangely.

“It seems like this person is interested in me…”

If she crosses the line completely, I won’t know what to say and it will awkwardly overlap with social life.

“It’s not easy.”

Helplessly, I just made excuses using my girlfriend to politely decline and subtly draw the line…

“Yoo Chan, would you like to have a beer with me tonight?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. My girlfriend is waiting, so it might be difficult for me to have a drink.”

For some reason, she persistently pushed for an evening appointment today.

“Really? Then… how about having a meal together? There’s a really delicious Chinese restaurant nearby.”

I firmly declined her offer.

“I’m sorry. It might be difficult for me to have dinner as well.”

“…Is that so?”

And that’s when the harassment began.

“Yoo Chan, could you come to the meeting room for a moment?”

“Oh, sure!”

It was when I usually spent the whole day writing reports and getting them reviewed by her.

“This report, did you write it according to the format I provided?”

“Yes, based on the one you sent me last time…”

“But why is it like this?”

“…Yes?”

Hwang Jae-hee started to nitpick at everything.

“I don’t know where it went wrong?”

“…I’m sorry, if you could tell me what went wrong…”

“I’ve been holding your hand all morning, and you still don’t know? How am I supposed to handle this? How long do I have to keep telling you? When will I get my work done?”

“I’m sorry.”

“If you keep apologizing, will our work ever get done? You need to figure it out yourself.”

“…I’m sorry….”

“Okay, forget it. You can go.”

It was truly ‘harassment.’

“Yoo Chan, did you make the materials I asked for earlier?”

“Ah. I’m still in the middle of writing a report, so I can’t make it…”

“You still haven’t done that? What did I ask that was so difficult?”

“…No, it’s not that…”

“If you had started instead of doing other things, you would have finished it. Isn’t that right?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Please do it quickly.”

“Okay…”

I felt lonely for no reason because of being left with work as others pleased.

“Yoochan, shall we go eat now?”

“Yes.”

By the way, suddenly throwing urgent work at the moment of going to lunch.

“Yoochan, could you make this document by tomorrow morning?”

“By tomorrow morning?”

“Yeah. Can you do me this favor?”

“Oh, okay.”

Demanding a large amount of work just before leaving for the day, leading to overtime work.

It was clearly the price for not receiving her kindness.

‘How long do I have to endure this?’

I waited eagerly for my transfer order while suffering more and more from the increasingly persistent harassment.

But…

“….”

“Yoochan, are you not listening to me? Are you a regular employee now?”

“No, I’m not.”

Lift your head up straight. Someone might think I’m harassing you.”

“I’m sorry.”

Even after the end of the internship and the conversion to a regular position, there was no transfer order.

I was still in Marketing Team 1.

It was hell.

“Ryeowon, give me a hug.”

“Why again? Who harassed you at work this time?”

“No, it’s just… I’m tired.”

“Sigh. Our Yoochan, struggling in social life.”

“Yeah…”

“If it’s tough, you can just quit. I’ll support you.”

“Really?”

Haryeowon kindly comforted me, saying I didn’t have to force myself every day.

Every time she did that, I felt a strong urge to just quit…

‘Pull yourself together, Kang Yoochan. This opportunity won’t come again. You have to endure it no matter what.’

Driven by the determination to earn money for her happiness, I persistently went to work like a stubborn mule.

‘Let’s stay strong…!’

And so, day by day passed.

As she became more accustomed to her office work and the harassment from Hwang Jae-hee seemed to decrease, around that time.

“I passed!”

“Really? For real?!”

“For real! Yayy…!”

“Wow!! Our Ryeowon is the best!”

Ryeowon got a job at the Korean Awakened Ones Association, which she had dreamed of.

It was brief, but it was rewarding to work hard and look after her.

“That’s enough!”

Unfortunately, it was difficult for her to commute to the association from our house, so she had to return to her hometown for a while…

Still, we were able to get closer to our ultimate goal.

A common goal of achieving a happy family together.

Even the difficult times felt like they were all being rewarded.

“Oh no. What should I do? If we live apart, we won’t be able to see each other often…”

“We’ll reunite soon if you stay a little longer.”

“You shouldn’t be too happy just because I’m not there, right?”

“That won’t happen, so don’t worry.”

Eventually, after Ryeowon went back to her hometown for work.

Our princess♥ [ Work is so tough ㅜㅜ ]

Me [ Hang in there, it’s almost the weekend! ]

Our princess♥ [ Yes, this weekend I’m definitely doing it 100 times…! ]

Me [ Are you crazy? ]

Our princess♥ [ 200 times…? ]

Me [ I’m really going to die ]

Our princess♥ [ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ ]

Due to being busy, we could barely meet on weekends, eagerly awaiting the day we would move.

“I should start getting ready.”

Just as Ryeowon was about to come to my place after a long time, I was tidying up the house and about to take a shower.

“Hehehe….”

In the midst of undressing with overflowing anticipation, suddenly…

Boom-!

Suddenly, a magic circle appeared on the floor….

“…Huh?”

With a bright light, it swallowed me up.