Ch.19Working Saint

I was on my way back to the office after lunch.

While waiting for Kang Seon-a, who had disappeared somewhere after telling us to wait, the two of us were engaged in conversation.

“And then, suddenly the ceiling went CRASH! and collapsed! Oh, since gravity was reversed, was it the floor rather than the ceiling? I guess saying we fell through the ceiling would be strange! So we floated up to the floor with a WHOOSH…”

It was less of a conversation and more like one person chattering away while the other silently listened.

Lee Se-kyung’s chatter continued until Kang Seon-a returned.

“What are you two doing?”

“We were just talking because we were bored! But unnie, you’re really—”

“Okay, that’s enough. Here, Ayla, this is for you.”

“What?”

Kang Seon-a tossed something toward Ayla.

The object Ayla caught was flat, hard, and had some weight to it.

“You need some way to communicate too. Use it sparingly, it’s expensive.”

“A cell phone?!! Boss, why are you suddenly buying such expensive things—ow!!!”

“I know how to make strategic investments too, you brat.”

“Ow ow ow ow!!! My head’s getting crushed!!!”

Kang Seon-a was pressing her fists hard against both of Se-kyung’s temples.

Se-kyung was squawking loudly in the middle of the sidewalk.

Feeling the stares of gathering onlookers, Ayla tried to stop Kang Seon-a.

“Ughh… I think my face got deformed…”

“Kid, stop exaggerating. Come on! Let’s get back quickly!”

Ayla and Se-kyung followed as Kang Seon-a led the way.

Watching Kang Seon-a’s back as she walked slowly ahead, Ayla suddenly seemed to remember something and ran toward her.

“Excuse me, Seon-a?”

“Hm? What?”

“I was just wondering something.”

“What is it?”

Ayla spoke.

“You wouldn’t deliberately waste time or lie about not finding something when you actually did…”

“……”

“…would you?”

“O-of course not! What kind of person do you think I am?!”

“…I’m sorry. I was just wondering…”

“I’m hurt! Do I seem like that kind of person?”

“I’m sorry…”

Hearing Ayla’s apology, Kang Seon-a inwardly sighed.

There’s a saying that the kindest people are the scariest when angry, and it seemed Ayla was that type.

To be honest, it would be a lie to say she hadn’t considered doing exactly what Ayla had just described… but seeing Ayla’s reaction now, she was terrified of the consequences if she had tried such a thing.

‘Good thing I tore up that contract…’

Kang Seon-a realized her earlier decision had saved her future self, and she let out a sigh of relief.

“Anyway, now that you’re part of our company… do you have a place to stay?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Right, so you’ll be eating, sleeping, washing, and doing your business at our company.”

“That’s right.”

“Then you should know the rules for staying at our company. I’ll only say this once, so listen carefully.”

Having arrived at the company, Kang Seon-a flung open the door and said this.

“First, about where you’ll sleep… the place you slept yesterday is where this kid sleeps. So we need to find you another spot…”

“I don’t mind the floor. I can sleep anywhere.”

“Really? Then sleep wherever. And for breakfast, help yourself in the kitchen over there… is what I’d like to say.”

Kang Seon-a looked at Ayla.

“Eat in moderation, okay? No, actually, eat with us at mealtimes. No entering the kitchen outside of those times.”

“I would never eat someone else’s food without permission! That would be rude!”

“Are you saying that knowing how much food you devoured over the past three days…?”

“T-that was… the food was just so delicious… but I can control myself!”

“Hey, do you believe that?”

“No? It’s more believable that my brother has a girlfriend.”

“You’re… so mean…”

Both of them looked at the dejected Ayla, but after seeing her behavior so far, they didn’t feel particularly sorry for her.

She had brought this on herself.

“There’s one bathroom over there, and another over here. The one over there is for guests. It’s a bit dirty.”

“I see.”

“Well, that’s about it? Don’t forget to tell others when you’re going to wash up. If you have any questions, just ask whenever.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Ayla looked around.

Walls with slight cracks, a space with a faint smell of mold.

This space would now be Ayla’s base for surviving in this world.

Her eyes grew moist.

“Alright! Now, to work!”

“What?! I just arrived this morning!!”

“Not you, I mean Ayla.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. You weren’t planning to freeload without working, were you?”

Ayla swallowed hard as she met Kang Seon-a’s gaze.

What kind of work would it be?

Gate clearing?

Finding missing people?

Monster subjugation?

As Ayla was wondering what job awaited her, Kang Seon-a’s voice came from above her head.

“Here, go to the address on this letter and say you’re from Rainbow Entertainment. That should do it.”

“…This address?”

“If you’re not sure, look it up on your phone. It’s the cheapest plan, but checking the map briefly shouldn’t be a prob—”

“I’ll go with her! I was planning to meet friends today anyway!”

“Oh? Then you can guide her. Can you find your way back?”

“Yes, I can do that.”

“Good, then get going.”

Kang Seon-a patted Ayla’s shoulder.

“Work hard. Do your best. Make our company proud.”

“…Yes! I’ll do my best!”

“The company name is literally ‘Rainbow,’ what’s there to be proud of…”

“You damn brat.”

“Aaaah!!! It hurts!!! I give up! I give up!!!!”

While twirling Se-kyung’s hair around, Kang Seon-a said:

“What are you waiting for? Get going.”

“Ugh… we were supposed to go together.”

“Oh right.”

As soon as Kang Seon-a released her hair, the freed Se-kyung hid behind Ayla.

“Unnie!! The boss is bullying me!!”

“Both of you, hurry up and go! There’s a penalty fee if you’re late!!”

“You’re the one paying anyway, boss!!”

“I’ll take it out of your salary?!”

“I’ll report you to the labor board!!!”

Caught between the two noisy individuals, Ayla began to feel, just slightly, a tiny bit of regret.

***

“Here we are!”

Having escaped the noisy pollution, Ayla, who had come to fulfill her mission, and Se-kyung, who had guided her, looked at the mansion before them.

The mansion was bustling.

Many people were moving back and forth, carrying rectangular boxes in their hands.

They were loading these boxes into cars.

“Well, I’ll be going now~ Good luck, unnie, fighting!!”

Poof!

Smoke rose from the ground.

Se-kyung had already disappeared into the distance.

Ayla turned to look at the mansion.

What could she possibly have to do in a place like this?

As she was lost in thought, someone approached her.

“Excuse me, are you here to help?”

“Ah, yes. Rainbow Enterta—”

“Skip the introductions. We’re busy right now. Put this on quickly and start carrying boxes.”

The man threw something at Ayla.

It was a shirt to wear over her clothes.

Though she didn’t understand the situation, Ayla followed his instructions and put on the shirt.

Now that she looked, everyone moving around was wearing the same shirt.

Perhaps it was some kind of uniform.

A voice called out:

“Hurry up and help!! What are you standing around for?!”

This time it was a woman.

“What should I help with?”

“Didn’t they brief you before sending you?”

“Well, today is my first day…”

“Ugh, seriously… dumping newbies on us?”

The woman sighed in irritation and pointed at the mansion.

“We’re moving stuff today, so hurry inside and bring out the boxes. Quick!”

“…What?”

Ayla asked again.

Moving?

As in, relocating a house?

They sent me here to help with moving?

Of course, there’s no job too lowly, and all work has divine purpose, but…

“Hurry up and work! We’re already short-staffed and busy!”

“Huh? Whoa?!!”

With her wrist grabbed by the woman, Ayla was dragged inside the mansion.

***

“I’m really sorry… I had no idea you’d be so good at this.”

“Um… is this really all? It looks like there’s more to move.”

“No! This is plenty! Yes!”

“So, the job is done now?”

“Yes!”

Ayla tilted her head in confusion.

Was this really all they called her for?

Maybe they gave her an easy job because it was her first time?

“Here’s your bonus! Wow, thanks to you we saved so much time, so I added a little extra.”

“Ah, yes… WHAT?!”

Ayla received a thick paper envelope from the man, opened it, and checked the contents.

Inside was a thick stack of South Korean currency that Kang Seon-a had told her about.

Green bills, the second highest denomination.

There appeared to be at least a double-digit number of them.

“I-I can’t accept this! For such a simple job, this much money… I’ll be d-divinely punished!”

Ayla considered whether what she had done today was worth this much.

The answer was ‘no.’

All she had done today was load a mountain of boxes into car trunks.

Moreover, her attitude hadn’t been particularly commendable.

‘Simple manual labor, how annoying. I’ll finish quickly so I can rest.’

Such an irreverent mindset, and yet such generous compensation.

As they continued to offer her the wad of cash, Ayla firmly expressed her refusal.

“…If you insist, please send it to my boss.”

“Understood.”

Ayla was the one who backed down.

“So, can I go now?”

“Yes, goodbye!”

“Goodbye!!”

The two bent at the waist at a right angle to bow.

Ayla became slightly frightened.

Was the value of work different in this world?

Ayla pondered this as she stood under the hot sun.

It was nearly the end of lunchtime.