Episode 74:
I needed an opportunity.
* * *
“Mister, would you like some water?”
Director Kang Min-ah is someone who has never been properly described in novels.
He was an unfortunate character who died before even getting through a few pages at most, and ended his life at work without even being able to go to the park. Moreover, at the beginning of the story, it was time to describe the main character, so there was no way to tell in detail about a character who would soon disappear.
“… These days, a lot of people ask me if I want some water when they see me.”
“The doctor says drinking a lot of water is good for your health.”
“That’s true.”
Therefore, Lee Jae-heon also did not know much about Director Kang Min-ah. In my memories of my past life, there was too little description, and in my current life, Manager Lee Jae-heon was a person who did not listen to the stories of his subordinates. Is it just that he is timid but very curious and has the perfect personality to die for?
However, while he was with her, Lee Jae-heon felt a strange sense of discomfort with Director Kang.
‘It wasn’t something you could feel from a timid person.’
To conclude, Kang Min-ah feels an abnormal amount of responsibility.
And the abnormal aspects of the underworld had no choice but to be expressed externally in some way.
There is a strong tendency to want to take responsibility for something. If you don’t see its use, you become anxious. Pay attention to relationships. Although he is timid, he has the tenacity to persevere as long as it is within his responsibility….
“…Thank you for your concern.”
“…Do not be sick.”
“That would be nice.”
Jaeheon Lee was convinced after visiting a small lake overnight.
‘For Director Kang Min-ah, employee Kwon Yeon-hee is someone who must be protected.’
It’s not like anyone said it or came up with it himself, but he must have unconsciously decided to protect the small person being held in his arms. Even though she could not speak due to the intimidation of the small lake, she held on to Kwon, who was clinging to me, as if protecting her. He quickly regained his composure and protected her beyond his ability.
“….”
“You look really dazed these days. “Is it because you’re tired?”
“Is that so?”
“…Are you sick?”
“It already hurts.”
But what if Kwon Yeon-hee wasn’t there? What if there were more than 3 people gathered together?
Even if Lee Jae-heon was by her side to protect Chief Kang, she would have been anxious. Judging by her appearance at the company, Kang Min-ah was not mentally strong enough to endure the threat of the lake.
To sum it up completely, Manager Kang Min-ah….
‘Efficiency increases when you have something to take responsibility for.’
It should be seen as such.
“It’s just that I have a lot to think about. “It’s not really painful anywhere.”
“…It must be very painful at that level.”
“It’s about this much.”
If you think about it that way, it also explains why Manager Kang Min-ah, who has never properly hammered a nail before, is so good at using a hammer. Probability was given.
It was a reasonable guess rather than a sexist thought like, ‘What kind of nails has a woman ever hit!’ In the past, Director Kang remembers seeing a large amount of blood while hammering a nail that stuck out in his office. Who would look at that and think, ‘Oh, I’ve used a hammer often.’
Moreover, hitting a nail with a hammer and hitting a monster with a hammer are two different stories. If you think about it, a cat hunting a fishing rod that a person waves is as different as hunting a healthy, alive mouse.
“Don’t worry too much. “If you worry about people like me, it’s all your fault.”
“I… wish you wouldn’t say that. “Because we worry about you all the time.”
“…I’m sorry.”
If we wondered why Manager Kang Min-ah, who had never held a hammer much before, was able to cut down vines so well, the answer was easy to come up with.
“I meant to take it easy because I’m not going to die any time soon.”
“I think that makes it more uncomfortable.”
“I really don’t die when I see you siblings.”
“That’s our advantage.”
This is a hidden world. It is a space where the abnormal aspects of humans are maximized and given shape, and as such, it is a place where an individual’s trauma exerts its power. If Director Kang Min-ah, who has an excessive sense of responsibility, was influenced by it, all the discomfort he felt so far was explained.
Just like CEO Yoon Garam in the novel.
“….”
“…I think it’s a good thing.”
The manifestation is slower than expected, perhaps because I still have some mental space.
“It’s already hard to make a living, so what will happen if young people like you die?”
However, the important actor in this version was not CEO Yoon Garam.
Of course, I plan to make them aware of their constitution by stimulating them a few times during the planning process, but it was none other than Manager Kang Min-ah and intern Noh Yeon-seok who had to step up to the plate.
They had to open the curtain.
“…What do you think of us?”
“Chicks.”
“Wow, it really doesn’t suit you coming out of your mouth. “Is this our chick?”
“Things that have just been born.”
“omg.”
“What’s so surprising?”
I thought to myself as I half-consciously responded to Park Da-young.
‘We have to bring the monster.’
If possible, it is an abandoned dog monster.
‘Fish intestines would work well as bait.’
When you disembowel a freshly caught fish in the sea, sharks not far away are also caught. The fishy smell of aquatic life was that strong, and if it was the intestines, it was even worse. If it was an abandoned monster that was always hungry no matter what it ate, it would come running as soon as it smelled the intestines.
But the place where they were located was almost in the middle of the park. This meant that it was a good location to live in, although it would be difficult to escape if necessary, as it was a bit far away from all monster habitats, including the green algae lake.
Even if the smell of intestines was released in a place like that, it would be difficult for a monster dog to smell the scent and come running.
“…Uncle, sometimes. “It feels like they live in a different world from us.”
“….”
“Seeing different things and feeling different things. Think about something else…”
“I see.”
“is it so.”
So, to bring out the monster, he had to carry the intestines and go far, but Lee Jae-heon couldn’t do it himself.
‘There is no need to raise unnecessary doubts in a place like this.’
The Lee Jae-heon that the party now sees was quite capable, at least in situations related to survival and coping. The fact that he brought in a monster because he couldn’t properly dispose of his internal organs would have been unconvincing to the party.
Moreover, he had a main character who was always watching me around him. Most of the group members probably also felt the difference between ‘Director Lee Jae-heon’ and ‘Lee Jae-heon’, but there was no way that In-ho Jeong, who knew the whole story, would not be suspicious of his handling of the matter.
I don’t know when I’ll notice it, but I’m sure we’ll eventually get to the point where ‘Director Jae-Heon Lee deliberately brought in a monster.’
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
So Jaeheon Lee should not have left his internal organs in an awkward place and attracted a monster.
People who are overly smart or relaxed also do not fit the role. He must have been a person who was usually not relaxed, but now he has become a little more relaxed and his guard has dropped to the floor.
In other words, intern Noh Yeon-seok was the perfect fit.
‘He doesn’t even know what mistake he made.’
Intern Noh Yeon-seok has not done anything so far. Because his condition was so bad, he was only treated with consideration by his companions, and although he had a conscience, it would not have been a sign of pride for a strong adult man.
That guy is quite relaxed. I felt a little more at ease. Recently, the frequency of vomiting or nausea has decreased significantly, and it is time for the patient, who was in a hurry to exhale, to return to his daily life and reflect on his life. With a little encouragement, it wouldn’t be that difficult to take on a task whether you wanted it or not.
But what if there is someone next to you that you have a crush on? It will be hectic in a different way than before. This is especially true because, unlike patients discharged from the hospital, they have not fully recovered.
“…Are you really sorry?”
“maybe.”
In the end, it was a guy that would jump on its own if you shook it enough that it couldn’t even think of things like ‘just fish intestines’.
“lie.”
In that case, even if this internal matter was discovered among the group, it was not the fault of intern Noh Yeon-seok. Because he will frantically jump towards the group, he will create an incident in which he will not be a criminal.
‘Then the remaining problem is Chief Kang Min-ah…’
Of course, this guy wasn’t that difficult either.
“….”
Despite his timid personality, Chief Kang was quite smart. He probably understood why I told him to throw the intestines away. I was thinking of taking it away so that it wouldn’t be attracted to some useless monster.
However, there was a high probability that they would not think of throwing it on a familiar path they always took. If one day, you encounter a hideous monster on your way to a small lake to get water, the damage will be severe.
Then, they would try to throw it away in a place opposite to that or similar to that. For reference, the ‘opposite’ direction was towards the pavilion.
“You always lie.”
“That’s what being an adult is all about.”
“You always get hurt.”
This is the place where Lee Jae-heon, who was being chased by a green algae monster, escaped, and where police officer Kim Yeon-woo, who helped him, and many other survivors are now gathered together. Also, that direction is the habitat of abandoned dog monsters. So now our group and a group of other survivors could all be threatened by the monster.
From then on it gets really easy.
‘No matter what, it’s faster to roll with your body than to roll with your head.’
Jaeheon Lee thought that and clicked his tongue.
“Is that what you’re dissatisfied with?”
“I think so.”
Abandoned monsters usually live in groups and have a habit of returning to places they have visited once. The main character was never specifically described that way, but looking at the development pattern, it seemed roughly that way.
And it wasn’t that long ago that an abandoned monster dog came to our group’s shelter. There was a high probability that they were probably wandering around in a group somewhere far away, or at least returning to their habitat to rest. In this case, it was natural for the abandoned monster dog to smell the fish intestines and approach the group.
‘Apart from being friendly to humans, they have a big appetite.’
So, what this means is that you just need to create an incident that makes you throw away your internal organs and come back.
“We hope you don’t get hurt. You can do that. Because I have the ability….”
“….”
“I’m sorry.”
“what.”
“I was just complaining.”
“You can complain a little.”
Chief Kang Min-ah had a strong sense of responsibility. And if that responsibility was about the mission of ‘making sure to throw away the fish intestines’, there was a high possibility that Lee Jae-heon’s plan would fail.
“They’re still kids.”
“….”
“It’s okay.”
“…thank you.”
That’s why he never said a single word to Chief Kang, ‘Please throw away the fish intestines.’
“Oh, I don’t know. “I’ll come back and see if the fish is cooked well!”
“You don’t have to come, Dayoung….”
“That’s my wish!”
However, she spoke so that her gaze could be focused on ‘protection of intern Noh Yeon-seok’ rather than processing internal organs, and so as not to make it seem like she had pushed for that to happen. In that case, when the situation becomes urgent and he is trying to quickly fulfill his responsibilities, Director Kang will try to protect and accompany intern Noh Yeon-seok instead of properly discarding the fish intestines.
Then, in this case, the internal organs incident becomes too ambiguous to be anyone’s fault.
‘So there will be no need to openly complain.’
He just wanted to go away on his own and had no intention of splitting up the current team. Even if I had something to complain about, all I had to do was direct all the arrows toward me.
“….”
I saw the main character who had talked with Dayoung Park walking towards me. You can see the smile and neat steps that look like they were drawn.
So, I had to prepare for the play slowly.
It’s time to start.
“Boss.”
“….”
“… Manager?”
“ah.”
Jaeheon Lee raised his head, pretending to be a beat late when he heard the voice calling him.
Those pitch black eyes stare at him.
“Are you unwell by any chance?”
“….” It was
a truly
disgusting gaze.
He answered, still pretending to be blank.
“…no.”
“…Is that so?”
“I guess I’m sleepy.”
He spoke firmly, as if making a judgment.
“I’m falling asleep.”
The protagonist smiled with a vaguely friendly expression.
“You can do that.”
“….”
“I sang because I thought everything was baked, but if you’re really tired, I’ll sing for you after Kang Min-ah and Yeon-seok come. “Would you like to get some sleep?”
“It’s okay, I’m not sleepy.”
“Is that so?”
“Are you sure it’s ready?”
Focus coming back little by little.
But the slow tone and somewhat strange context.
‘I’m good at pretending to be crazy again.’
Thinking like that, Lee Jae-heon slowly clenched and unclenched his fist. Then he blinked and rolled his eyes again. I heard the sound of my sore eyeballs being twisted as my pitch-black gaze met them.
I don’t know for sure, but the main character, the doctor, and some of the party probably knew that Lee Jae-heon was insane. Haven’t they already shown enough sense of discomfort and seen numerous mistakes that he was unaware of?
Moreover, it is said that Lee Jae-heon, who was asleep, was strangling and scratching his neck even while he was asleep. It’s a sleeping habit that’s hard to come out of unless you’re completely crazy, so who can really say that Lee Jae-heon, who slept for almost three days, is normal? This means that the time for not knowing that I am not mentally ill is over.
Nevertheless, the reason why these group members did not push Lee Jae-heon away was because of the great grace they received from him. Of course, Jaeheon Lee himself could never understand this, but he was not a fool enough to deny it until the situation came to this.
So, Jaeheon Lee was going to use this opportunity to make the group avoid him in some way.
“…hmm.”
He had chewed glass the other day while losing consciousness.
But at that time, no one was screaming, so a stronger stimulus than that was needed. A stimulus that will surprise complacent audiences who pretend not to notice the cracks in the elusive peace.
‘We need to cause an incident.’
Jaeheon Lee reached for the bonfire without even taking a deep breath.
“….”
And then
the contracted hand digs deep into the fire, as if trying to grab something.
“…Boss?”
“….”
“Manager!”
Sure enough, the protagonist immediately noticed the abnormality.
Jaeheon Lee just blinked his eyes slowly.
“…uh?”
“Hand hand! “Remove your hand quickly!”
Immediately his arm was grabbed and pulled back.
The important thing here was to act stupid, as if I didn’t know anything. That’s because ‘Manager Lee Jae-heon’ only stretched out his hand to check whether the fish was cooked.
And the complexion of President Garam Yoon, who had been watching the situation blankly at the sight of the burnt hand, changed.
“…ah.”
A white face.
In the sudden situation, the doctor who was looking at Manager Lee Jae-heon turned to look at her when President Yoon Garam took a step back. His expression was naked, unable to hide his embarrassment and impatience.
By the time he reached out to Yoon Garam, a broken moan burst from her mouth.
“Ah ugh. Hmm….”
“Boss, boss. Hey, Garam Yoon.”
“Huh ah huh.”
“Garam.”
Even Doctor Ha Seong-yoon’s lamenting voice could not silence CEO Yoon Gar-ram.
Her gradually darkened eyes were still looking at Lee Jae-heon’s crushed hands, and her body was shaking as if she was hiccuping. Even though I covered my mouth with my hand, it wasn’t to block my voice.
Yoon Garam, who was shaking and covering her mouth with her hand, said,
“Ah.”
“Garam…!”
“…Huhhhhhhhhh…!”
In the end, I sat down, covering my head.
He could not raise his head, he was pale and his whole body was shaking. Doctor Ha Seong-yoon urgently approached her and comforted her, and it was obvious that he knew about President Yoon’s past.
“…what what?”
“What is happening…!”
“Ahh…!Ahhhh.”
In an instant, the atmosphere is overturned.
Lee Jae-heon laughed inwardly at her sonorous scream that was still echoing through the forest.
“…this.”
The curtain is ready to open.
