Go to work! (5)
The interview proceeded smoothly and ended successfully. I was surprised to find out that there were more talented people like Kim Mi-young than I had initially thought.
Of course, I found no reason to fire her. I knew desperate people ended up working better.
Meanwhile, some people found strange questions I asked to be unfair. I couldn’t blame them. Even I didn’t know what the correct answer would be.
“All Blue Guild members fell into the water. Explain who you would be looking for and why.”
“You had been asked to clean all the guilds in Lindel. How much can you say is the appropriate amount to charge?”
“You went on a dungeon expedition with your colleagues. Unconditionally, assuming that one person will die during the expedition, will you or will you not work on this dungeon attack?”
“What would you explain to your 5-year-old child if they ask what alchemy is?”
All my questions were ridiculous, yet all of them aimed for one wordinnovation.
It didn’t matter in the first place because I initially asked these to people I had no intention of keeping, yet some of their answers ended up surprising me. Thus, I decided to keep some of them. In the first place, I based all my questions on usual questions that companies back on Earth asked.
In the end, I was able to quell Blue’s previous controversy by establishing the guild as the new dream workplace for everyone. The interview process made sure of that.
“In case you do not get accepted, please contact me separately.”
“Why?”
“You may be wondering why you weren’t chosen. Please take a quick look at your resume and tell me why you think you didn’t get chosen, and write me a letter about it. This will probably help you out in your next job interview.”
“Ah, yes… Thank you.”
“No problem.”
I made sure Blue was also known as a guild who cared even for the dropouts, that it was different from other guilds who sent these people home without even telling them why they had been eliminated.
At the same time, I did not neglect to make use of my journalist friends.
[Why is Blue Different?]
I sent them an article in the form of an interview with this title, and I received an embarrassingly hot response. Our followers made sure to spread the word about our guild.
At this point, the former guild members who had deserted Blue after the incident with Lee Seolho began to contact us again. Of course, I refused to let them join once more.
‘I don’t need a bunch of migratory birds.’
It was better to hire a new batch of people who would surely love working with Blue. This meant that they were swamped with work, sure, but they were happy with the amenities and privileges that Blue provided. Plus, they got rewarded whenever they showed good results.
This simple system encouraged Mi-young and the other interns. After they had successfully adapted, they immersed themselves into their respective tasks, thereby creating a strange atmosphere of competitiveness within the workplace.
In short, everything was going smoothly. Nevertheless…
‘I still feel like I’m going to die.’
The fact that I was still busy was undeniable. My daily routine was simple, in a sense.
I didn’t know why, but I always found myself making excuses just to be able to see Jung Hayan in her hospital room, seeing as she still hadn’t woken up. I felt like if I didn’t do this, then I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together anymore.
There came the point where I felt so distressed that I had even slept right next to her. I even came to the point of masturbating, thinking that Jung Hayan would like it if she woke up. However, all I got from doing that was a sense of self-immolation.
After taking a short break, I still had time to go to the workshop and study the potions that would soon be shipped off as products. Although the newlychosen alchemy planning team was doing a lot of work, it was difficult to say that my burden had been reduced since there weren’t many things that they could do in the first place.
Those who were still on their second jobs were not yet qualified to be researchers. After that, meetings were held, the guild was organized, and detailed work orders were given.
I particularly made sure to give Hwang Jeong-yeon a little more work and allowed myself some time to resent Kim Hyunsung.
Next, to make it smoother, the public relations strategy, future planning, imperial legal affairs, and the personnel planning for the future fighting force were alternated.
I tried to finish the tasks that the interns could not do yet as much as I could. Of course, I couldn’t ignore particular matters that required Kim Hyunsung’s approval.
“Kim Hyunsung… You cock-sucker…”
As I muttered this almost unconsciously, I heard a voice speak up.
“What was that, Mr. Kiyoung?”
“It’s nothing, Miss Mi-young. I heard you are doing well recently.”
“Ah. Yes, I am. Thank you, Vice Guild Master.”
“How about your children?”
“It seems that they are very happy because of you. Thank you so much for helping us out.”
‘Ah, no, I’m more grateful.’
It was interesting how grateful she was to me just because I had helped her kids out. Among all the people I had chosen to work for Blue, Kim Mi-young was the best. Given enough time, I was sure that she would be more than capable of being the team leader.
“No, no. I actually want to thank you for coming to our guild.”
“Yes, of course. Anyway, here are the new files.”
“Ah. Well done. I think you should rest for today.”
“But the amendments…”
“I’ll have to consult with the Guild Master now. Anyway, you hardly spend time with your kids.”
“Ah. Thank you.”
At this, Kim Mi-young’s face reddened.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, Vice Guild Master.”
After Kim Mi-young left, I stood upright after organizing the new documents. Some particular affairs still needed the Guild Master’s approval, especially for the riskier matters.
At least, if the results did not turn out to be good, the higher-ups wouldn’t be able to blame me.
As I made my way up with my head buried in thoughts, a peculiar scene presented itself to me.
“Huh?”
I could see some Red Mercenary Guild members, the same ones Cha Heera had sent to protect me in case the assassination would happen again.
One of the mercenaries opened his mouth, and I worried about why they were here again.
“Long time, no see.”
“Yeah. It’s been a long time. What brings you here?”
“Our Master is here.”
“Cha Hee-ra?”
“Yes, she’s currently talking to Mr. Hyunsung, the Guild Master of Blue.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the door swung open, revealing Cha Hee-ra. It had been quite some time since I last saw her, yet I still couldn’t adapt to her smiling expression.
“Hey, there you are.”
“Hee-ra?”
“Perfect timing. I was just about to look for you.”
Kim Hyunsung’s voice rang out from the open doorway.
“Kiyoung, come in.”
“Ah, yeah.”
I didn’t know what was going on, but anxiety definitely coursed through my body. I didn’t know what Cha Hee-ra would talk about with Kim Hyunsung alone. Conversation between two Guild Masters was normal, but most negotiations with the Red Mercenaries went through me. It didn’t help that Kim Hyunsung’s facial expression looked as if the sky itself had collapsed.
‘What happened?’
I had never seen that kind of expression on his face before. What was strange was that Cha Hee-ra’s expression was the exact opposite.
“Did something happen?”
As my anxiety started to build up, Kim Hyunsung started to speak.
“Nothing happened. We were just talking about a particular meeting.”
“Is this an important meeting?”
“Yeah. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it, so it would be nice to explain it from the beginning. It is said that the Holy Empire Benigore holds a party every year, inviting masters of large guilds belonging to each free city. It is a social event, so to speak.”
“Okay…”
I definitely heard of this in the past, from Cha Hee-ra no less. Of course, this had nothing to do with us.
Only guilds such as the Black Swans and Red Mercenaries were invited. Blue was literally just like a newly-starting guild. However, judging from Cha Heera’s expression, there seemed to be something amiss.
Upon seeing me looking at her, the woman in question started to speak.
“Of course, my Red Mercenaries as well as the Black Swans were invited.”
“Ah…”
“But I, the Red Mercenary Queen, have formally requested to bring Mr. Lee Kiyoung with me to the social event.”
“It’s actually more of a plea bargain than a request…”
“A-Ah!”
I realized what had happened in an instant. I was also able to understand why Kim Hyunsung looked as if he had lost face.
‘Damn! Cha Hee-ra, I love you!’
This meant I would get a break from my job!
I had to resist the urge to kiss her luscious red hair and smiling lips out of pure appreciation.
“Ah, I see…”
I resisted the urge to control my facial expressions.
This would grant me the chance to take a breather from my tasks, enjoy a social event, be able to spend some time with Cha Hee-ra and wander around the empire itself.
I missed being able to rest so much.
“Cha Hee-ra…”
“But, if Mr. Kiyoung, who is in charge of the overall business in our guild, goes missing… Our situation may become very difficult, but it would be helpful for him to go to the capital to meet influential people.”
As he spoke, Kim Hyunsung’s expression was disastrous.
I was not overconfident of my abilities, but in fact, it was not an exaggeration to say that the reason the guild was running well was because of me, Lee Kiyoung.
It would be obvious as to what would happen if I fell out in this situation. The tasks on the rest of the members’ shoulders would be even heavier.
Justice prevails.
It would be natural for Kim Hyunsung not to let me go, but it would not be a bad exchange if it meant giving us some publicity. That was why his facial expressions looked complicated yet subtle.
“The Red Mercenary Queen says that if Mr. Kiyoung refuses, she will not take him.”
“Thank you for coming.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true…”
Considering Blue, who was always being helped by the Red Mercenaries, it was natural to accept such a simple request. I wasn’t doing this just because I wanted to escape my duties.
“Is it then decided? Hyunsung?”
“Yeah. I actually want to thank you, Cha Hee-ra. Opportunities like this are rare.”
“You look a little bitter, saying all that.”
“Because Kiyoung has so many roles in the guild… Haha. When he’s away, our jobs will be much harder to do.”
‘Now, it’s your time to cry over work.’
At this moment, I felt very triumphant. My time as a housewife was over, even if only for a short while.
**
*
“Hey, is she okay, Miss Hee-young?”
“Yes. I’m not sure why she isn’t up yet, but there seems to be nothing wrong with her body.”
“It’s good to hear that she’s healthy, but it’s a little worrying that she’s not waking up. Still, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with her vitals.”
“You don’t have to worry. She’s as healthy as can be.”
“By the way, did you hear? It seems like Lee Kiyoung is going to the Imperial Capital this time.”
“Ah, yes. Thanks to it, the guild’s swamped with work. Didn’t they say that he’d be gone for some time?”
“Probably. I heard that he’d be going with the Red Mercenary Queen. It seems like the fiery boss won’t be here for some time as well.”
“Ah… No!”
“H-Huh?!
“J-Jung Hayan?!”
“Please explain that to me in detail!”