episode_0056

How did I end up here?

Standing in front of a high-rise building made of glass, I blankly stared up at the sky.

It wasn’t because I wanted to see the sky. It was because I had to look at the sky to see the top.

The relocation group.

A large corporation with enormous financial power that has taken over not only the cultural and artistic sectors but also the hero industry.

Surprisingly, this is my first time visiting the chairman’s company.

The chairman only invited Mirae and me to his home. He thought that he strictly separated public and private affairs, so we didn’t bother to come visit him.

“I forgot… .”

Feeling the tension that was creeping up on me belatedly, I fumbled around in my suit pants pockets for no reason.

In fact, the only thing I brought with me was the authentication key needed to enter the company.

An authentication key in the form of a card that you can touch in your pocket.

Okay, this is fine.

I grabbed the shoulder strap of the backpack I always carried and went through the rotating revolving door.

“Hoo… .”

A spacious lobby with a modern interior and a sense of openness. I didn’t notice anything like that, and I just wanted to pass through the gate without being noticed by people. People working at large companies have a somewhat rough and scary image.

No, no.

I am currently a dispatched person from the guild to resolve a request.

There’s no need to be intimidated. Be confident, be proud.

Beep beep beep─!!

“Ahhh… !”

The moment I held the authentication key up to the sensor, a sharp, eardrum-splitting warning sound rang out.

I jumped back like a cat in water.

The red siren above the gate flashed to scare away any potential threats, and I began to feel like I really shouldn’t be here, and a cold sweat ran down my back.

“Please briefly verify your identity… .”

The guide sitting in the lobby approached me cautiously. Behind me, a group of men wearing sunglasses, as big as a house, were keeping a close eye on me, and the employees standing in front of the elevator with their Stella Bucks coffees in their hands were all looking at me.

Identity… I’m from the guild… .

My head suddenly turned white.

Did I bring my ID? I took it in the morning and went in, so it should be in my wallet. But what if I don’t have it? I’ll get arrested and won’t be able to make a request… .

“I am the one who called.”

A clear and crisp voice. It wasn’t a very loud voice, but its presence alone silenced the surrounding noise.

Also, my head, which had been spinning around without any direction, became clear like a summer sky as soon as I heard that voice.

“Hello, Chairman.”

The crowd of believers gathered in front of the elevator suddenly split apart like the miracle of Moses.

The guide, who had been looking at me with suspicion, bowed at a 90-degree angle and politely placed his hands near his belly button.

Soon, I was the only one left in the lobby just staring blankly at the chairman.

“Ah… Ugh… .”

Why am I about to cry? It feels like I’ve accidentally met someone I know in a strange place. If you think about it, that’s not wrong.

“Come, Chairman… .”

Maybe that’s why I didn’t even say hello, which I should have done naturally. I was scared of the gate, the security guards, and the atmosphere of a large company. As soon as the guide opened the gate, I ran to the chairman and hid behind his back.

“, thank you.”

The face of the guide who had stopped me was filled with shock. All the employees passing by avoided eye contact, and even the security guards took a step back to distance themselves from the guide.

I felt sorry for that sight, and was embarrassed that I was making a fuss over something so trivial, so I lifted my turban and whispered in the chairman’s ear.

“Hey, let’s go in first. The chairman called me… .”

The chairman called me…?

It was only after I heard it myself that I realized something was strange.

I was kicked out of the branch manager’s office, and when I asked the driver, he only said that I would find out if I went there.

But the client was none other than the chairman?

There is no way the Chairman would do something that breaks down the line between public and private affairs. But didn’t he say it himself?

If only you could save me from my troubles… .

“Please sit down.”

I guess that wasn’t the case.

The chairman’s office is located on the top floor, the 50th floor.

An open view of the company branch and a luxurious black interior. There was a desk there that didn’t fit in with the office atmosphere at all, like a 100-year-old kimchi stew restaurant you come across under the Eiffel Tower.

“What the hell is going on… .”

Even though I reluctantly sat down because it was my seat, it took quite a while for my butt to completely settle down.

Even though the desk is flimsy, the chair is very soft… .

As I was poking my fingers at the material that felt more like a sofa than a chair, the chairman, who had returned to his seat, added an explanation.

“I called because I needed to. I don’t have enough time to handle it alone.”

“Chairman… Are you uncomfortable with the employees?”

They’re so short-handed that they have to ask the guild to do the work.

The chairman is always busy with work… I wonder if it’s not that the chairman is uncomfortable, but rather that he’s being avoided by other employees… .

“Not really.”

“But why… .”

I guess it was just my guess.

Of course, it wasn’t someone else, so they wouldn’t have bullied the chairman. Bullying the chairman was similar to the guild receptionists bullying the branch manager. It was something that was unimaginable.

“I just wanted to leave it to the most trustworthy person. Since it is a job that I do myself… .”

While I was lost in thought after asking the question, the chairman continued answering in a slightly awkward tone.

“A trustworthy person… .”

And I was so intoxicated by that sweet sound that I threw away all my questions.

“I will work hard… .”

I have become someone the chairman can trust. I used to be called a child who couldn’t get out of his dreams, but now I have become a reliable person who can be trusted with important tasks.

This is more than a matter of trust. In some ways, it could be said that he became a pillar of support to support the Chairman during his difficult days.

I’m glad that I can help someone precious.

“I will work hard!!”

Unable to suppress his surging emotions, he shouted loudly in his office.

“Thanks to you, I am relieved. Please help me.”

Fortunately, the chairman did not seem to be taken negatively by such a brash attitude, as he responded with a faint smile and began to type on the keyboard.

* * *

“Ugh… .”

The task I was given was simple.

Checking to see if there are any missing parts during the period set by the chairman based on the vouchers inserted in the voucher file.

And once all the verifications are done, you just need to enter the latest records that haven’t been entered yet into the ledger.

Although the work itself was just a simple repetitive task, since it was a matter of big money, the sense of responsibility was huge, and I had to double-check it over and over again, struggling under a tremendous amount of pressure.

Because of this, there is no place that does not scream, from the waist to the neck and even the eyes.

Gulp─

Now even my stomach is crying… .

“Chairman… Aren’t you going to eat lunch?”

“You can come and eat it.”

The chairman was typing on the keyboard without stopping, with a straight posture. He had been doing that without moving an inch since a while ago. How can he concentrate on his work without doing anything else during work hours?

There is one possibility. He doesn’t do any work during his free time. That’s why he looks like he’s only focused on work.

“Chairman… .”

Of course, the chairman was not the type of person who would have time for something else. He was not like the person sitting next to him who would play card games, a basic computer program, whenever he had free time.

The chairman’s monitor was filled with windows like internal messengers and payment emails, and I felt like if I kept looking at these, I would soon lose my mind and turn into a madman.

“, let’s have lunch together? I’ll buy you some!”

“I don’t really… .”

“I, I! I have a disease that kills me if I eat alone!”

I was going to add that it was painful because it reminded me of my school days, but I held back.

There’s no need to step in and make the mood worse.

“There are still issues to be dealt with… .”

“You can eat and come back in 30 minutes… Can’t you put it off for a bit?”

The chairman showed signs of hesitation. It was not a complete rejection, but rather an extension of his concerns. It seemed like he could just push a little harder.

I grabbed the chairman’s suit jacket as if I wouldn’t let go. Of course, I couldn’t force him. I couldn’t even guess how important the work the chairman was doing was.

“If it takes about 30 minutes… .”

But of course, there was no way that a 30-minute lunch break would not be provided. If there were such a company, it would have to be reported to the Ministry of Employment and Labor immediately. In a case like this… it would be difficult because it would be detrimental to the chairman.

“Right? Let’s go quickly before it’s too late! I was wondering what the cafeterias at large companies were like.”

Just in case the chairman’s mind changed, I grabbed his thin, white wrist.

Every time he passed by, people’s eyes were drawn to him. The person who seemed to be the secretary sitting in front of the office was surprised. The employee he met in the elevator was surprised. The bodyguard who had been watching the surroundings from afar, Yoo Soo-ah smiled happily when their eyes met.

“What would you like to eat, Mr. Chairman?”

The first floor cafeteria I saw when I came in. Since it was past lunch time, there were only a few people left eating a late lunch.

“Same as the daily amount… and I will pay the cost.”

“No, no. I dragged you here by force.”

Sausage omelet rice, pork cutlet set meal… beef noodle soup… tteok ramen, dumpling ramen… . The menu was quite extensive, like a rest stop restaurant.

But still, if it’s lunch time… .

I quickly took a picture of two tonkatsu sets and inserted my card into the kiosk. I saw the card in the chairman’s hand.

“It’s not expensive food, so don’t worry too much.”

I was afraid that the company cafeteria might be seen as cheap, so I put my lips next to the chairman’s ear so that the kitchen staff wouldn’t hear.

“I’ll buy you a better place next time.”

“Then I will gratefully accept your kindness… .”

Was it because his breath tickled him? The chairman flinched and shrank his shoulders.

“Ah… !”

So naturally my arm moved, and only then did I realize that I was still holding the Chairman’s wrist.

Swish.

Still, I’m glad you didn’t find it unpleasant.

“Come on, Mr. Chairman, please sit down. I will take it when I come out.”

I carefully let go of my wrist so as not to be caught, and waited for our turn while holding the number tag.

Since there was no one waiting, the food came out quickly.

Mini udon noodles, mashed potatoes, cabbage salad, a fist-sized ball of rice, and a pickle.

It was a classic composition of a tonkatsu set meal that can be found anywhere.

“It’s okay to just leave it alone… .”

“I have hands too.”

We took our tonkatsu set and went to a corner seat in the restaurant.

“Enjoy your meal… .”

“Yes, one day transfer… .”

It’s not that I don’t feel a little awkward. After all, this is my first time eating alone with the chairman.

I lifted the knife on my fork so as not to make a sound and cut the freshly fried pork cutlet into bite-sized pieces.

And yum.

The batter was crispy and fell apart, and the unique savory flavor of pork filled my mouth.

Maybe because it’s a big company, the taste of the food is okay. Of course, for me who’s used to Hanna Yeon’s cooking, it felt a little lacking.

I hope the chairman is eating well.

I glanced over, wondering if he had followed along reluctantly, but the chairman was quietly slicing the pork cutlet without showing any expression.

One piece was already gone, and another small piece was put into the mouth.

I guess you’re still hungry though.

I was glad that it didn’t interfere with my work, and I devoted myself to eating to fill my empty stomach.

“Oh, Mr. Chairman. You have sauce on your mouth. Wait a minute.”

After eating the tonkatsu set meal for about 10 minutes without saying a word, I looked away from the bowl and noticed the tonkatsu sauce on the corner of the chairman’s mouth.

To this extent, you can just wipe it off with your finger and lick it off.

I lifted my hips slightly and reached out to the chairman’s mouth. Then I licked the sauce with my index finger and licked it with my tongue. This way, both the chairman’s mouth and my fingers would be clean.

“Ugh… Ha, what are you doing now… .”

I was satisfied with myself, thinking that I was glad I took care of it before the employees noticed, but the chairman was startled and stepped back.

Why are you like that…?

A vivid blush on her pure white cheeks. She looks like a ripe apple.

“Oh, that’s… .”

The Chairman is not the future. It would be rude to treat him as if he were the future.

Of course, I was embarrassed once too. I think it was when Hanna Yeon stole the sugar from the corner of my mouth at Chuchu Land.

“Sorry, I’m sorry! Ugh… I guess I should say that the chairman is like an older sister… Anyway, I think of him as family… .”

First of all, an apology is a priority. I acted rudely toward the chairman who is much older than me. Besides, I think the chairman has his own pride. It would have been fine if he had just let me know.

“Sister… ?”

But the chairman’s interests were directed elsewhere.

Certainly, it would be inappropriate for me to call the chairman ‘sister’ right now. I don’t mind, but it would be strange for others to see it.

It’s been over 16 years since I started living as a woman. This year marks my 17th year, so talking about sexual identity now feels like someone else’s problem.

A future mother, not a man or a woman. This is the identity I have maintained until now.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m completely used to life as a woman.

Actually, I haven’t been to a bathhouse once since I came to Stella. I couldn’t go because I felt guilty about the past Haru that was lurking in a corner of my heart.

No matter how much time passes and how much I talk about being a future mother or whatever, I can’t completely shake it off.

Besides, you’re not even a mother to anyone else. You shouldn’t treat her as comfortably as you treat Mirae.

“Ah, so that’s it!”

Anyway, putting aside my reflections on my identity, the problem was that the title of older sister came out naturally.

The title ‘Unnie’. I’m used to hearing it. Both Narin and Tachibana call me that.

But I’ve never called anyone “sister.”

Sister… Sister… .

Yeah, it’s nothing special. Here, let’s be manly…!

“Oh, sis… .”

The beginning was curious, but the voice that came out of my lips was so ugly and shabby.

Well, I forced myself to say unfamiliar words.

But looking back, it was so normal that the worries I had had until then seemed insignificant. It felt like my mind and body were reacting differently.

“Okay, I can’t hear you very well. Why did you call me sister?”

The chairman muttered, avoiding my eyes.

I’m sure you heard that… .

The chairman is trying to get me to call him ‘sister’ again.

They say that most people who grow up as the youngest want to have a younger sibling. Is that the same for you, Chairman?

I couldn’t help but laugh because the intention was so obvious. I thought the chairman was a person who had no interest or desire for anything other than work.

“Sister… .”

It was difficult at first, but it came out smoothly from the second time on.

“Again.”

“Sister… !”

But that would be the third time.

“Again… .”

“Huh, Sister?”

Let’s be the fourth.

“Your voice is too small. Haru Yang lacks confidence.”

Instead, I felt a subtle sense of shame and my throat got stuck.

“Sister, sister! That’s enough! I won’t call you that again! Chairman, Chairman. You can be Chairman for the rest of your life!”

I felt embarrassed and my face started to burn.

What is your sister?

Because the chairman is forcing it so much, it somehow feels like a shameless word… .

* * *

“Then, do your best in the afternoon too, Chairman.”

He spoke with a very strong accent on the title of Chairman.

“Yes, if you do it just like in the morning, I will be proud as the one who trusted you.”

“Of course! I, Haru! I will do my best in every way to be loved by the Chairman!”

We exchange warm greetings and return to work.

I sat down on the soft chair and opened the form I was organizing on the desktop. I took the forms out of the form and scanned them from top to bottom, entering them into the form I had prepared in advance.

[Guild regular donation]

I guess I got used to it because I did it in the morning, but the speed of checking the voucher and typing has noticeably increased.

Guild regular donations.

I was trying to quickly type and move on, but suddenly I felt uneasy, so I checked the details again.

It is clearly written that this is the amount donated to the guild.

How many zeros are there? One, two, three… seven?

I know that your company has a history of jumping into the hero industry. But I thought you gave up after you got your sister’s revenge…

No, wait a minute.

Things started to connect one by one in my head.

Like the constellations of a midsummer night. Smooth and natural.

The chairman’s guild sponsorship. The promotion that was decided suddenly. And the branch manager’s reaction that seemed somewhat unnatural and forced.

When all of this was tied to the amount of the donation written on the slip, doubts and disappointments snowballed.

Even so, should an employee be promoted at the request of the company president who sponsored the employee through a place like a guild?

Even though I consoled myself with such thoughts, I could not deny the connection between the Chairman and the guild.

I walked slowly to the chairman’s seat holding the slip.

I desperately held onto my trembling arms like a poplar tree, being as careful as I could to avoid dropping the check on the floor.

Above all, to avoid expressing disappointment out of the blue without even asking the chairman.

“Chairman… This is… What I think… Oh, no… ?”

I may have been able to control my body, but there was nothing I could do about my voice or my gaze.

When I stopped my struggling steps, I had already poured out all my resentment through my lips and eyes.