Surviving as an Office Worker in Monster Management Bureau

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I blocked Jang Chae Yeon from pressing a cola can against my cheek and fell into thought.

Why did it come to this?

*

Surprisingly, Jang Chae Yeon’s house wasn’t an apartment.

“…A private residence?”

“Because it’s the Isolation Team.”

“But you said it was a C-type apartment.”

I could swear that’s what was said during the last broadcast.

“That’s because if the Isolation Team or field agents lived in a house, people might feel relative deprivation.”

“Do you really think it’s that extreme…?”

Jang Chae Yeon explained to me as if it were obvious.

“Look, Jae Heon. There’s even a garden. Wow, it would be so pretty if there were a fountain!”

“That costs money. And I can’t maintain it.”

“That’s a very realistic reason…”

As I looked at the house in astonishment, Yu Da On and I passed by, and Song Ah Rin spoke as if it were the most natural thing before entering the door.

“…So there are downsides to being office staff.”

“Well… apartments aren’t too bad either.”

In response to my mumblings, Yu Da On comforted me as she followed Song Ah Rin inside.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Ah, right. Of course, I will.”

Quickly answering Jang Chae Yeon’s quiet question from behind, I moved into her house.

“…Wow…”

“…This is even more luxurious than my house.”

As soon as we stepped inside, Yu Da On’s eyes sparkled as she looked around, while Song Ah Rin crossed her arms and muttered disdainfully.

It was undeniably a house that fit the description of luxurious.

The marble floors gleamed so clean I could see my reflection, and the ceilings were impossibly high.

In the kitchen, the cookbooks were neatly organized, and the sofa had a lived-in feel.

Perhaps it resembled a tidy space of someone living alone.

“Do you live here all by yourself?”

At my question, Jang Chae Yeon stopped walking and stared at me intently.

“You can live here together if you want.”

“That feels a bit weird.”

“…”

How would a man live in a woman’s home when she’s already of a certain age? It would be easy to misunderstand.

“Honestly, I thought Chae Yeon’s house would be extremely desolate.”

I approached the kitchen and gently touched the cookbooks while looking at Jang Chae Yeon.

“Is it because I’m usually so quiet?”

“…Not exactly.”

It wasn’t entirely untrue.

Considering Jang Chae Yeon’s subtle emotional expressions, I had envisioned her living in a very lonely house. Yet, strangely, she lived in a place that felt very inhabited.

“And you also practice cooking?”

“…”

At my words, Jang Chae Yeon lowered her gaze slightly.

Come to think of it, when I was first hospitalized, she said she wasn’t very good at cooking.

I recalled our conversation.

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Why? Are you going to make it for me?”

“……..If you want.”

“It might take a while…”

“…It didn’t take as long as I thought, did it?”

While I was lost in thought, Jang Chae Yeon looked up at me with raised eyebrows.

“…”

“You said it was delicious back then, and I was happy.”

She was referring to the food she had made at my house.

“Ah, um… Well.”

For some reason, I couldn’t look at Jang Chae Yeon’s face.

Could it be because I felt her feelings?

“…What are you doing?”

A chilly voice interrupted us. I turned to see Song Ah Rin glaring at us with her arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed.

“Did you rent this place?”

“This is our house. It’s not a lease; it’s a purchase.”

“Are you trying to nitpick?”

At Jang Chae Yeon’s words, Song Ah Rin narrowed one eye and glared at her, and as expected, a verbal spar began.

It really seemed like it would never end.

As I thought that, a manual fell from my pocket, its pages spreading open.

[Manual for Office Staff]

[How to Make Rolled Omelet]

1. First, crack 4 eggs into a bowl.

2. Then add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt.

3. To make a soft rolled omelet, add 4 tablespoons of milk for every egg.

4. If you don’t have milk, water is fine, and you can add pepper to eliminate the fishy smell.

Since when did you become a cookbook?

I closed the manual with a clap and went out to break up the quarrel between the two.

“Hey now, stop fighting. This is Chae Yeon’s house.”

“Are you siding with the old lady?”

“It’s still my house.”

Fortunately, their argument ended quickly.

*

For dinner, Jang Chae Yeon cooked herself.

She insisted on preparing the meals herself with determination, despite our suggestions to order food, leaving the three of us sitting idly with beers in hand.

“I didn’t expect Chae Yeon to be this much of a homemaker.”

“…That’s odd…”

In response to Yu Da On’s mutterings while looking around, Song Ah Rin frowned and murmured.

“What do you mean?”

“If my memory serves right, she’s not the type of person who lives like this at all.”

“What does that mean?”

“I remember she was someone who either ate at work or starved if she didn’t.”

“Really?”

“Yes. She’s definitely not someone who would cook for herself… What happened…”

Song Ah Rin and Yu Da On turned their eyes toward me.

“What do you mean…”

“…I get it.”

“Ah…”

With a sigh, Song Ah Rin and a groan from Yu Da On followed.

“I hope it’s not because of me.”

Did she practice cooking just to make food for me?

That’s some serious overthinking. And overthinking often leads to social suicide.

“Chae Yeon, did you learn to cook for me by any chance?”

“No.”

Just thinking about it was terrifying.

Lost in such thoughts, a clattering sound drew my attention back as Jang Chae Yeon set the dishes down on the table.

“Here.”

“Wow, I’ll eat… it?”

Grilled eel, chicken feet, spicy stir-fried pork, rolled omelet.

“…Is this all for drinking?”

With furrowed brows, as soon as Song Ah Rin murmured, a loud bang sounded as a box of soju landed on the table.

“You can’t leave until you drink it all.”

“You crazy girl…”

“Wow…”

Upon witnessing the scene, Song Ah Rin sighed heavily, while Yu Da On looked at Jang Chae Yeon with a face full of horror.

*

“Drink.”

“Yes.”

The cola pressed against my cheek snapped me back to reality.

“…”

I watched the two of them, completely unconscious, as I poured and drank the cola.

Song Ah Rin looked like she was about to vomit, and Yu Da On had completely fainted.

As Jang Chae Yeon looked at them and waved her finger.

“Ugh…”

…

The two flew into the room with a thud as the sounds of commotion echoed.

They can’t be dead, right?

“…Ugh.”

And I also had too much to drink.

I won’t be hearing that I can’t drink anywhere else. Honestly, Jang Chae Yeon doesn’t stand a chance against my drinking.

“If you drink this a bit, you’ll wake up.”

“…Got it.”

I glanced at Jang Chae Yeon.

Maybe it was just hot in here, but she was fanning herself, unbuttoned from her dress shirt.

I really didn’t know where to look.

“It’s okay to look at me.”

“I’m the one who’s not okay with it.”

At my words, Jang Chae Yeon made a dissatisfied expression for a moment but then got off the chair and sat on the floor next to me, patting the spot beside her.

“Come here.”

“No, just a second… Wait, Chae Yeon, please don’t use your powers…”

I politely refused, but my body floated and drifted next to her.

If it’s a mental attack, I could at least defend against it. There was no way to stop this.

And then I cautiously found myself seated next to her.

While drinking cola, I blankly surveyed her home.

A house too large for one person.

She didn’t seem like someone who lived comfortably either.

As I thought about it, suddenly—

-Thunk.

Something was placed on my shoulder.

With a rustling sound, her hair brushed against my cheek.

“Chae Yeon?”

“…Can I do this for a moment?”

Could she be drinking too? With a slightly muffled voice, she asked.

“Sure.”

And I wasn’t the kind of person who wouldn’t return such a gesture.

“…”
“…”

Silence filled the quiet house.

“Um.”

“Yes.”

Still with her head resting on my shoulder, Jang Chae Yeon spoke up casually.

“Are you not scared?”

“What do you mean?”

“Of losing something.”

“…”

“If you’re in a place like this, you’ll end up losing a lot.”

“I guess so.”

Because it’s a life-risking job.

“Let me ask you in return.”

“…”

“Aren’t you scared, Chae Yeon?”

“I am…”

She paused for a moment.

“I’m scared.”

“…”

“But, because of that, I can’t just stop.”

She lifted her head to look at me.

“I don’t want someone else to die because I’m not there.”

Her voice was filled with regret.

She definitely wasn’t someone who had lived a long life either. What could have shaped her this way?

“So that’s why.”

She murmured and pressed her body against mine.

I could feel her lukewarm body temperature.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“…”

“I won’t die.”

“Are you confident?”

“I am confident.”

Our gazes met.

So close that I could feel each other’s breaths.

“I have another life, you know.”

“…That’s not funny.”

“Seriously.”

I actually do.

But she seemed to take my words as a joke, as Jang Chae Yeon chuckled softly.

“…But.”

“Yes.”

“This is a really serious question.”

“Okay, I’m listening.”

I focused on her words and looked at her as she stared at me with a frustrated expression.

“…Do you really not have any thoughts going through your mind?”

She flicked her opened dress shirt lightly.

“…”

Without realizing it, my gaze followed, and Jang Chae Yeon’s expression shifted as she noticed.

“…Haha.”

An unexpected laugh escaped from her lips.

At this rate, I would turn into trash.

“Wait a second, Chae Yeon, I mean…”

“You don’t have to say anything.”

Jang Chae Yeon stood up and looked down at me with a soft smile.

“I already heard your answer.”

And she walked slowly into her room.

“…”

This is driving me crazy.

“…I should sleep.”

With a sigh I couldn’t hide, I had no choice but to fall asleep.

*

The next day, after barely stopping Jang Chae Yeon from suggesting hangover drinks, we headed to Yu Da On’s house to try to recover.

“…Ahaha…”

Contrary to my expectation of finding a cozy house, we were greeted by an empty place with only a bed, table, and sofa.

“…Um, I live really minimally.”

“Minimalist?”

Yu Da On awkwardly smiled at Song Ah Rin’s comment, and I was also left speechless.

I found myself unintentionally looking up at Yu Da On’s head.

[Name: Yu Da On]

[Age: 23]

[Specialty: Immortality]

[Talent: Regeneration (Undetermined)]

[Background: She sincerely regrets it. If she had known, she would have at least gotten some display furniture for the house.]

[Vulnerability: She will cry immediately if someone says her house is really shabby.]

…

Isn’t this just piling one mountain on another?