episode_0037

Today, the time for work has come again without fail. Seo-hu is reading in the front seat, and Mirae is nodding off, leaning on my shoulder.

When the bus shakes, Future’s head falls and breaks, and every time that happens, I resent my chest that is close to the cliff. It is barely able to assert its existence… If it were just a little bigger, it could have supported Future’s head.

Of course, it’s not a problem that can be solved by making it a little bigger, and even if it were bigger, it would still be inconvenient and people would complain.

Woohooo

As I was enjoying a morning similar to yesterday, a rare vibration came from my pocket.

There’s no one to contact me… Is it Hanna Yeon? I heard she’d arrive around 7pm today, so maybe she was so excited that she couldn’t hold back and called.

[Chairman]

Well, there’s no way Hanna Yeon would do that.

“What are you doing this morning?”

[No business. Just….]

only?

[I know it’s the day that Mirae Yang enters school…]

What are you talking about so early in the morning? I answered bashfully and smiled.

“Mirae Yang entered school yesterday.”

[… … .]

A brief moment of silence. If you get to know him, the chairman is a very easy person to understand. Right now, he must be looking through his calendar or notepad with a puzzled look on his face.

[No way…]

“Did you write it down wrong? I heard you were busy last time I called… .”

[… I’m sorry for my rudeness. I’ll hang up now.]

The look of panic was clearly conveyed. It was so urgent that he tried to hang up the phone abruptly.

“Oh, no, wait a minute! I’ll make sure to tell Mirae. My aunt congratulated me on my admission.”

I decided to stop teasing the chairman. I felt like I was really going to break up with him if things continued like this.

[I should congratulate you belatedly…]

“Anyway, I guess you meant to congratulate me. The future will be happy too.”

I’ve been beating around the bush until now, but now I’m finally saying congratulations with my own mouth.

The Chairman is weak in matters related to the future. After all, the future is the Chairman’s nephew. Not only in name, but also in the family register, a real nephew.

Not long after I arrived at the chairman’s house, I met him again.

It was due to practical family registration issues.

As a high school student, he could not take on the role of Mirae’s guardian, and eventually Mirae returned to her original family register.

I accepted that there was no way, and most importantly, the future agreed, so the process itself was surprisingly smooth.

But what caught my eye was public opinion. It seemed like the reporters wouldn’t leave the future that suddenly appeared alone.

But it was just a rumor. On the day that Mirae was registered in the family register, the news and the internet were filled with scandals involving celebrities and heroes. Because of that, there was no room to talk about Mirae, and I searched a little more on my own with an anxious heart, but there are still no records left.

I underestimated the power of money, Mr. Chairman.

[That would be fortunate, but… it’s true that I was late because of my mistake… ]

And the chairman is trying to use the power of money again.

[I’ll send you some clothes that Mirae Yang can wear. If you don’t like them…]

“No way. I will be grateful.”

Clothes that are sent to us from time to time when the season passes. Thanks to them, our family does not need to buy clothes separately. Even the good quality that looks expensive at first glance and the design that the chairman personally selected. In my own closet, I have dozens of identical suits from the same brand.

[… Okay. That’s it.]

Stop─

I wondered what was so urgent, so the chairman hung up the phone. I thought he would give me some words of encouragement, telling me not to overwork myself. Well, I guess I can just go and do it myself. It’s about time to go out and play.

“… Aunt?”

“Yeah, congratulations on your aunt’s admission.”

Mirae, who had been leaning her head on my shoulder, slowly opened her eyes and asked. She seemed quite sleepy, even rubbing her face against my shoulder.

Mirae, who had been struggling to get out of that state of sleep for a long time, soon smiled faintly and muttered.

“I should say thank you.”

Mirae had avoided the chairman for a while. Maybe she was afraid of his harsh speech and attitude, or maybe she hated him because he had taken her there by force. Anyway, their relationship has improved a lot now. It must be because Mirae has grown older and has come to understand the chairman.

“Let’s stop by sometime this weekend or next week. Hmm… how about going to a park or something and having a picnic?”

“Anywhere I go with my mom is fine.”

Perhaps because she was still half asleep, Mirae’s answer gave her a glimpse of her childhood.

I feel like I’m going to be lucky today.

* * *

“Heh, heh.”

I entered the guild, humming a tune.

It seems like it’s been a year since I last saw Hanna Yeon. So now you’re saying you’ll be staying at Stella… .

“Mr. Haru, come quickly! Don’t hesitate!”

“Yes, me, me?”

As I was walking to my seat with an excited heart, my coworker, Lim Seul-gi, who was sitting next to me, gestured excitedly.

“Why, why are you doing that?”

“I guess you haven’t heard yet… .”

No, you have to tell me what I didn’t hear… .

What on earth would someone who just came to work know? This is no small surprise. It’s amazing how even Lim Seol-gi, a calm and composed adult woman, can make such a fuss.

“The branch manager came and went.”

“Branch manager?”

It’s certainly something to be excited about.

The branch manager is an incredibly busy person. The day shift workers of the guild rarely see each other even after working for several years, and only the night shift workers occasionally see each other.

“Go quickly. Isn’t Mr. Haru getting promoted?”

“Eh, hey… So suddenly?”

“I used to be like that too. The branch manager has a bit of a side to him.”

It became more credible when someone with experience told the story. So, Lim Seol-gi refused the promotion even though the branch manager called her personally. Well, it must have been because she had that much courage that she was able to work as a receptionist for a long time.

“No way… I’ll go first.”

“Mr. Haru, fighting! Don’t be nervous!”

Compared to that, I’m already trembling.

Why did you come here before work? I’m not late. You won’t scold me for being late, right?

Until just now, I thought I was lucky. I finally got to see the child-like side of the future.

Also, something good might have actually happened, but only negative thoughts were running through my mind.

Smart─

I swallowed hard and knocked on the door. The large black door made anyone who saw it feel intimidated, and the golden handle with the blue dragon, the symbol of the Isty branch, wrapped around it. I placed my hand on the handle, thinking that I would run in as soon as I heard the answer.

“Yes, come in.”

“Oh, yes, yes!”

He didn’t even open the door, but straightened his back and shouted from outside.

“Ah… .”

Then, he came to his senses belatedly, carefully opened the door, and went inside. Fortunately, there was no one around, but if there had been a witness, he would have definitely died.

…I.

“I heard a loud noise outside. Was anyone there?”

“Oh, no. That’s not it.”

The person who greeted me inside was a small woman buried in a pile of documents.

She is the branch manager of the Easty branch, Baek Seung-ah.

Even though she was buried in a pile of documents, her bright-toned platinum hair stood out. Her transparent eyes, which seemed to show her insides, were fixed on the documents.

Indeed, she has such an outstanding appearance that she could have been called the Saintess of Istiti before she retired.

Moreover, although she looks young enough to be believed to be in her late 20s, Stellawiki says she is already in her mid-40s. Perhaps because she is a saint, aging seems to be avoiding her.

“You were away in the morning.”

“Ah, that’s… Sorry. But it was before work hours… .”

Apologize first, then make excuses. This is a skill that you have acquired while living in society. Of course, if the relationship is not smooth, excuses can be poisonous, so be sure to remember it.

“Commuting… There was such a great system. I had forgotten about it for a moment. So, was your rest after work sweet?”

Was my relationship with the guild leader not smooth?

I think I stepped on a landmine. I should have noticed the dark circles under my eyes sooner. My hair suddenly turned white and I suddenly wanted to see the future.

“Oh, no. I’m sure I enjoyed my time with my family, but… if the branch manager doesn’t want it, I’ll give it up… .”

“I didn’t say that! Cherish your family.”

As a last resort, he brought up his family, and the effect was better than expected. The branch manager shook his butt and waved his hand.

“Ker, kehem. Then, Mr. Iharu, do you know why I called you?”

The branch manager immediately coughed and returned to his original pace. On the contrary, my confusion only accelerated.

“I’m sorry, but something came to mind… .”

“Is there a hero rank review today?”

“I know that.”

A regular monthly grade review. Usually held on the first day of every month, but as an exception in March, after the Academy entrance ceremony. This is because the Academy often requests a re-evaluation of students.

“Then there is no need to explain further. The examination will begin in an hour. Please take your seats at the examination table immediately.”

There seems to be a strong need for explanation… .

As I stood there with a dumbfounded expression for a moment, unable to open my mouth, the branch manager, who had been looking through a pile of documents, turned his gaze back to me.

“Isn’t this your 4th year, Mr. Iharu?”

“Yes, yes. That’s right. 4th year… .”

I feel like crying because it’s so unfair. This is my 4th year, and I’m asking why I have no tact. What do you want me to do when I don’t know what tact is?

“Usually, after about 4 years of service, you will be given the opportunity to move to a different department. If you are lucky, you may be assigned to a higher position. So, don’t be too surprised.”

The branch manager wasn’t as bad as I thought. He was so kind to explain it to me again, even though I was just a mere employee. However, the doubt that had been hanging over my face still remained.

“There’s an expression on his face that asks why it has to be 4 years.”

Could it be that he reads minds? The branch manager pointed out my question exactly.

“Nothing much. I got my first promotion in my 4th year.”

The branch manager continued speaking in a playful voice with a sly smile.

“I can’t just let you get promoted faster than me, right?”

And when the doubt was resolved, I regained my sense of direction and flattered somewhat exaggeratedly.

“That’s right! Getting promoted faster than the branch manager, there’s no way someone would do something so ungrateful. Four years seems about right. I’m just getting used to it.”

I debated whether I should rub my hands or not, but eventually placed them politely near my belly button.

Too much of something is as bad as too little. If it goes to extremes, it’s better to not do it at all.

“As someone said, Mr. Iharu is a more interesting person than he looks.”

Fortunately, the smile on the branch manager’s face deepened as if it was the right kind of flattery. Furthermore, it seems that the person who gave me a good impression of myself was someone I don’t know.

“There will be many seniors, so please arrive early. I look forward to seeing you show good insight.”

Although I made a lot of mistakes because I was nervous, my meeting with the branch manager ended in a warm atmosphere.

“Thank you…!”

I bent down until my head touched the floor. Of course, I didn’t go any lower than the middle because I had no flexibility.

“Wow… Ouch… .”

As I came out to the branch manager’s office, I barely managed to suppress the gasp that was rising to my chin.

Finally, I have a chance for promotion!