Chapter 3

I'm an ordinary office worker - Chapter 3 (3/180)

< Chapter 3 >

Why isn't anyone contacting me?

Why not!

No, how can I not receive a single call after applying to dozens of places?

Maybe there's something wrong with my phone.

It's been almost 50 years since I last used this modern gadget. I might be using it wrong!

I borrowed my brother's phone to make calls, tried turning mine on and off, and even went to a repair center, but the conclusion was that my phone was fine.

Actually, I had a hunch.

The problem wasn't with my phone but with my resume.

I could tell it was a lost cause when my brother's eyes changed to the look he gives his "brother who lost his writing ability after a head injury in an accident."

But still, can't at least one place contact me?

"They could at least send a rejection text!"

"They probably think it's a resume submitted by a kindergartener for fun."

Suddenly, a voice came from behind me.

I turned around to see my brother, who had just returned home, approaching with a look of disbelief.

He casually threw something at me.

A business card?

"Want to try an interview here?"

'Player Research Institute'

I stared at the business card for a few seconds before turning to look at my brother.

Is my brother getting me a job?

"Bro, am I becoming a well-connected unemployed person now?"

"It's to help you get out of being unemployed."

Isunhyeon clicked his tongue in exasperation.

"With that resume you wrote, you won't even get a part-time job. I'm not pulling strings for you; I'm just getting you an interview. The rest is up to you."

"Okay, okay. I understand. But a research lab? I don't really fit in with research or science."

"It's just called a research institute; it's basically a regular company."

"When is the interview?"

"Today."

"Today?"

"Change your clothes and come out. I'll take you there."

In a daze, I changed my clothes and was immediately driven to the research institute.

Before I knew it, I was sitting in front of the interviewers.

My first interview, and it happened so suddenly.

I was moved.

The interview proceeded more simply than I expected. A brief self-introduction and some casual questions related to it.

The serious questions followed.

"As you may know, the institute collects and studies information about La Elta and Players. Through this, we aim to provide Players with a better environment and to make information available to the general public to ensure their safety."

I didn't know that. I thought the institute dissected monsters or conducted scientific and advanced technological research, but it seems I was wrong.

"Cooperation from Players is essential for studying La Elta and Players. However, they are well aware of their value. In practice, there are no Players who want to work at the institute."

"Are there any Players currently affiliated with the institute?"

"Of course not."

Of course not.

"Instead, we collaborate with them. We occasionally interview Players and gather information, which we then organize. La Elta's quests change every time, so you might think that information wouldn't help in completing quests. However, since all quests share a common world, knowing the history or the status of other Players' quests can make completing quests easier."

One of the interviewers added that I would be responsible for organizing the content of interviews with Players.

"Then, Mr. Isunhan, how much do you know about La Elta?"

I was strongly appealing my desire to work at the institute with sparkling eyes when the question came.

I took the question lightly and began to speak.

"La Elta is a world different from Earth. Players can travel through portals."

The interviewers nodded in agreement.

"Players who first enter through a portal wake up in a village called Veraford. Or, should I say, regain consciousness? I haven't traveled through a portal myself, so I'm not sure. Anyway, Veraford is like the starting village in a game."

This was basic knowledge, but it was information that non-Players might not know.

The interviewers smiled, thinking the candidate had at least prepared something.

"Veraford was a very small village just a few decades ago. A small village where residents farmed and bartered. It has since grown into a city. The main products are corn and potatoes, which are much richer in mana and more delicious than those on Earth. I'm not sure how they've changed now."

The interviewers' expressions hardened, but I didn't notice.

The candidate, who had been giving a proper answer, started to ramble. Veraford was a small village? It could be, but how would he know?

Even we, who handle information, didn't know.

Moreover, he spoke as if he had tasted the potatoes and corn there.

A non-Player.

"The current emperor of La Elta is Edward L. Alvaro. He ascended the throne through a war a few decades ago. If there haven't been any changes, he's still on the throne."

I wished I could tell them exactly how many years ago he ascended, but I didn't know how much time had passed in La Elta since I returned to Earth.

While I was thinking this, the interviewers wrote "braggart or lunatic" next to the candidate's comments.

"Your understanding of La Elta is sufficient, Mr. Isunhan. How much do you know about quests?"

One of the interviewers hastily intervened and asked the next question.

"Quests? Well... In most games, you kill monsters, gain experience, and level up. I heard it's different for Players. One quest equals one level. You start at level 0, and completing one quest gets you to level 1, and another gets you to level 2. Level 20 means you've completed 20 quests."

I knew this from my brother.

If leveling up during quests is impossible, long-term quests could be quite inconvenient.

"I also heard that difficulty is more important to Players than level. It ranges from 1 to 10, with higher numbers being more difficult and reducing the survival rate. You can choose the difficulty for each quest, and choosing a higher level than the previous one reduces your chances of survival, so choosing the right difficulty for your first quest is important."

"Exactly. That's why the institute analyzes level 0 quests by difficulty and recommends the most appropriate difficulty based on a Player's potential and starting stats when they first awaken."

"That would be very helpful. Players who awakened in the early days without any information and chose difficulty 1 out of ignorance must be regretting it now."

The interviewers, who had just written "braggart or lunatic," added "but has some common sense" next to it.

"The higher the difficulty of the quest, the greater the increase in stats and the better the rewards."

"Do you know what kind of rewards there are?"

"They could be weapons, gold coins, skills, or potions."

All this information came from my brother.

I had asked him endless questions about this new type of game until he got annoyed, and it turned out to be helpful.

"I understand, Mr. Isunhan. Thank you for your effort. We will contact you via text later. Thank you."

"Thank you, have a good day."

With that, I finished the interview and walked back to the parking lot where my brother was waiting, humming a tune.

***

"He seemed to understand things that ordinary people don't, which was good, but he was also very boastful."

"Isn't that boastfulness a problem? If he's handling important information and mixes in 'those boasts,' it could cause big problems."

The three interviewers who had just interviewed Isunhan were discussing the interview.

It was strange that an unexpected interview had been scheduled, and the candidate didn't seem particularly outstanding.

What was that about corn and potatoes?

"I agree. Having an employee like this isn't bad. He seems passionate."

"I disagree. What do you think, Chief?"

The chief was looking at the candidate's resume, ignoring the other two.

A very simple resume with no cover letter and an empty work history.

He stared at it for a while before answering.

"We should hire him."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He's Isunhyeon's brother."

"Isunhyeon, the one we know?"

"Yeah, that Isunhyeon."

Isunhyeon. Isunhan.

Names that are hard to deny.

"The story about corn and potatoes might just be something he heard from his brother."

"It's potatoes, not sweet potatoes, Chief."

"Contact a Player we can collaborate with and check if corn and potatoes are indeed the main products, and if they are as delicious and rich in mana as he said. Also, find out about the current emperor."

"Understood. And it's potatoes, not sweet potatoes."

"Send him a text to start work next Monday."

The chief gathered the resume and stood up.

"By the way, don't assign him to meet Players. Start him with organizing data or simple tasks."

"Are you giving him special treatment?"

"Not special treatment. He might be a braggart or a lunatic. Just ask if he can interview his brother or his guild members later."

***

Feeling confident about the interview, I hummed a tune as I walked to the underground parking lot where my brother was waiting.

"Did the interview go well?"

"Yeah. They only asked questions I knew the answers to. I think it went well?"

"That's good. Lucky you."

"Let's celebrate with a pork belly party tonight."

"If the results are good."

I want to eat pork belly.

With kimchi and mushrooms, wrapped in lettuce, and on rice.

For dessert, a bowl of ramen with less water would be perfect.

'Ding'

Just as I was about to get out of the car at home, my phone alarm went off.

A text?

Did I have any reason to receive a text?

I didn't have many friends, and working a night shift had made it hard to keep in touch with friends who were active during the day and slept at night. I had lost touch with most of them.

After the accident, only a couple of people visited me in the hospital at the beginning.

Feeling a bit melancholic about my limited social circle, I thought about how the faces of people I saw in La Elta for decades, other than my family, had become blurry, and meeting them again would be awkward.

So, is it spam?

I checked the text, not thinking much of it.

Hello, this is Kim Hye-young, the hiring manager at Player Research Institute.

You have been selected as an intern at Player Research Institute.

We will send you detailed schedules and information to the email address on your resume today.

Thank you.

What? Really?

I was confident it would work out, but receiving an acceptance text so quickly left me bewildered.

It must be because of my brother. It must be.

I showed my phone screen to my brother, who was casually turning off the car engine.

"Ta-da."

"What is it...? Oh?"

My brother looked surprised that I received a response so soon after the interview.

His reaction didn't matter.

Yay! Pork belly party!

< Chapter 3 > End