“Chief. But if that happens, wouldn't it be difficult for a freelancer like me to raid a Gate with the Guide-nim, no, Wonwoo-nim?”
“……”
“It would be hard if the Bureau doesn't dispatch us or share the schedule.”
Wonwoo mentally nodded at Jinho's carefully chosen words. It might have been a bit of an exaggeration, but it was ultimately a concern about monopoly. Wonwoo himself had been pondering this after receiving the System's fervent "Oppose Monopoly" message.
“So I think it would be better for you to work as a freelancer like me. If you work as a freelancer, I can help you as a senior. Or… we could even work together as a freelance team.”
As he said this, Jinho smiled with a radiant face. It was the angelic smile from the commercials, the one that had bewitched Wonwoo into donating 30,000 won to the stray dog association without even realizing it. Mesmerized by that smile, Wonwoo almost nodded.
However, that angelic smile didn't seem to reach Yonghyun. Regardless of whether Jinho was smiling or not, Yonghyun's expression didn't change as he spoke in a low tone.
“…Esper Han Jinho-nim, what you're saying sounds like you mean we would deliberately exclude you from Gate raidings.”
“No, no. What I mean is…”
“Our Bureau always does its best to assist with dispatches and manage schedules. But based on your words alone, it sounds like we form and dispatch Gate raiding teams based on personal feelings or reasons.”
“No, it's more about efficiency…. Yes. I'm saying this because there have been many instances where you, Chief, and the Bureau have raided Gates without external dispatch in order to maximize efficiency. Who doesn't know that you always put your all into coordinating and managing Gates and Espers from the middle?”
Jinho gave an awkward smile.
“So wouldn't it be right for us, from the 'middle', to work with the Guide-nim for more efficient dispatch?”
“But unless it's a high-danger level Gate like today's, isn't it rare to dispatch two or more S-rank Espers? In that case, the Guide-nim would end up operating centered around you, Chief, meaning the Bureau, and my chances of encountering Wonwoo-nim would be low, wouldn't they? That is my concern. On top of that….”
Weren't you two just exchanging warm glances and talking amicably a moment ago? Wasn't it a heartwarming atmosphere, like a senior student sitting in the front row and a professor who looked on with a sympathetic yet warm smile while conducting the class?
Wonwoo rolled his eyes, watching the two men busily exchange words with each other right in front of him.
‘No, really, why are you two talking amongst yourselves with me in the middle….’
-Bbirong bbirong!
At the same time, a humming alarm sound rang out. It was a message from the System, which had just been passionately shouting about opposing monopolies.
[If you stay quiet, User ‘Wonwoo’ will be on the fast track to joining the Bureau…! （；´д｀）]
[GUIDE for User ‘Wonwoo’ who is in such danger!]
[And that is...! A 1. Person. Guild! ╰( ^ o ^]
[■□■□……]
[<QUEST> Generated!]
[‘I hate corporations, but being a freelancer isn't great either. Then the answer is…?!]
“…What, that's just being self-employed.”
[That is none other than starting a business…!]
“Start a business? Suddenly? Like this?”
At the System's abrupt message, Wonwoo forgot to just think it in his head and said it out loud. But Yonghyun and Jinho, seemingly not having heard him, continued their conversation.
Should he call it a relief? He could hear his name mentioned from time to time, but feeling his energy drain away, Wonwoo ignored it and looked at his phone screen again.
[GUIDE from SYSTEM to User ‘Wonwoo’!]
[Ta-da-da-dun, start-up, start-up, start-up~ ╰(*°▽°*)╯]
[Let’s make User ‘Wonwoo’s identity secret through a paper company, no, a paper guild! (•̀ω•́)✧]
“W-w-w… wait a minute.”
A paper company is, what's it called, the kind of company created for tax evasion or other shady purposes, right? Wonwoo, who had only ever seen the term "paper company" in negative news reports, fell into agony, wondering if the System was finally recommending he commit a crime. Then, he realized something.
“Come to think of it, what about the quest, the quest right before this one? Why a new quest already?”
[…(⊙ˍ⊙)]
“Excuse me. Hello! Isn't a quest supposed to give a reward and all that? I even get a gift certificate for writing this incident report…!”
Then, Wonwoo realized he had raised his voice and, with a sense of "oops," he tore his gaze from his phone screen and looked up at the two men.
While Wonwoo was conversing with the System, Yonghyun and Jinho had started a briefing and information share about the recent danger-level Gate.
Weren't these guys fighting or something about my future? Did they not hear my monologue, or are they just pretending not to know….
“The danger level AA was for the monster that came through the Gate, rather than the Gate itself. That's why I was planning to bide my time and wait for support rather than handling it alone… but thanks to the Guide, Wonwoo-ssi, I was able to handle it myself.”
“How much stronger did you get, then?”
“…I think I became about ten times stronger.”
“The side effects or backlash from your ability….”
“Amazingly, it converged to zero….”
Just a moment ago, they were exchanging words in a strangely sharp atmosphere as if they were about to grab each other by the collar… Is this what they call an evolved office worker, adapted for efficient work processing? Wonwoo felt a strange sensation once again at being the center of their discussion.
-Bbirong bbirong!
As if to distract Wonwoo, the System's message alarm sounded again.
[‘SYSTEM’ is searching for a <QUEST>.]
[□■□■□■….]
[‘That’s How It Was at That Moment’ <QUEST!>]
[This <QUEST> will be completed on May 8th at 23:59. (¬_¬ )]
“…What about solving the Gate?”
[■□■□■□….]
[<QUEST> ‘Solve the Suddenly Appeared A-rank Gate!’]
[This quest has not yet been completed, so the reward cannot be retrieved!]
“…What?”
[In the case of Gate raidings, the standard for completion is the dissipation of the Gate's residual energy. (ง •_•)ง]
“…You’re meticulous in weird ways. Anyway, there is a reward, right?”
[…(⊙ˍ⊙)]
[…It is not good for a person to be too attached to material things! (◔◡◔)]
“You, you son of a…”
“Wonwoo-ssi, do you happen to have any plans after this?”
Just as he was about to curse out the System, Yonghyun suddenly spoke to Wonwoo.
“Y-yes? What was that?”
Did he… hear me? Wonwoo cautiously glanced back and forth between Yonghyun and Jinho. But from the atmosphere, it seemed that fortunately, neither of them had heard. Wonwoo let out an inward sigh of relief.
‘System, you just wait.’
“Um, I didn't quite hear you. I'm sorry, could you please repeat that?”
“…Esper Han Jinho-nim and I have been talking and have concluded that this is ultimately a matter that depends on your will, Wonwoo-ssi.”
“Th-that’s… right, isn’t it?”
And I already refused the Bureau's job offer, did you forget about that…. But it was uncomfortable to say such things directly to Yonghyun, who was looking at him with such a serious gaze. Instead of answering, Wonwoo just gave an awkward smile.
“Yes. That's why I think talking like this is meaningless… If you're okay with it, I think it would be good to move to another place and talk in more detail.”
“Yes, that's right. So how about we talk while having a meal or something?”
Wonwoo thought for a moment before nodding. As Yonghyun said, he didn't have anything particular to do after this, and talking in a restaurant or somewhere else seemed better than staying in the container house.
The only problem was….
“Um, I. I haven't finished writing my incident report yet….”
“Ah, that's fine. While writing an incident report is the principle, since I was with you, I will write and submit the report instead. I have some things to organize regarding you anyway, Wonwoo-ssi.”
Wha-what about the gift certificate? The movie ticket? I was thinking that if I could get a gift certificate, I'd get one for the Europe Baguette bakery!
He had been waiting for Yonghyun to ask for his opinion on how to write it, but now the incident report had been completely handed over to Yonghyun. In Wonwoo's vision, baguettes, sandwiches, and cream-filled buns flew far, far away.
“…Ye-yes. I'll be in your care.”
Right, there are more important things than a gift certificate, it can't be helped. Wonwoo swallowed his tears and nodded.