Chapter 18

< Personnel Manager (3) >

"I'm sorry, but I'm comfortable just as I am."

I've decided to live quietly on the back of the king lizard.

...Although I have a lot of things going on for someone who's decided to do so, it would be a waste to let the precious skills I've obtained go to waste. Anyway, I'll try to live as quietly and comfortably as possible.

"Please reconsider."

Seok Si-myeong said, not giving up.

"Very soon, anyone will be able to attempt awakening easily. Within a year, the number of awakened individuals in the country is expected to exceed five million, and within three years, more than two-thirds of the population will be awakened. Not using Han Yujin's abilities at this point would be a real shame, wouldn't it?"

Shame? More like a load of bull. If I just listen to him, I might start thinking I'm some kind of great scout.

"I appreciate your high regard, but Park Yerim's case was purely coincidental. The chances of such luck happening again are almost zero."

But if I put my mind to it, I could find more S-grade potential holders and optimize their awakenings.

But I won't. This is enough; I don't need to do more. Yerim is already enough of a hassle. I'll just make Yoo Myeong have an SS-grade skill and put him in the guild, and that's it.

"Of course, I don't expect you to bring another S-grade awakener. That would be greedy. Even if you don't scout any new awakeners, it's fine."

"Really?"

Seok Si-myeong answered with a gleam in his eye that didn't suit him.

"Using your outstanding insight and analytical skills, we can create a new system for the Hunter Association—"

"I can't!"

What is this guy saying! Insight and analysis? Even if I tried to fake it, it wouldn't work! I actually cheated. I saw the answers, from the future.

"Han Yujin!"

"I won't do it, I can't. I don't have the ability! I didn't even get into college. I graduated high school through a GED."

Look at my meager academic record and give up.

"Academic credentials are not important!"

...I almost swore. Check out job sites; there are plenty of places that filter out those below a bachelor's degree. If you've never been in a position where you can't even submit an application, then shut up.

"Anyway, I can't do it, I won't do it, I really don't know how to do it. I won't sign anything, even if you cut off my wrist."

I'll just use my skills occasionally, raise some pets, and enjoy my talented brother's success.

Seok Si-myeong seemed to finally give up, seeing me insist with my hands over my ears.

"Understood. Then let's just sign a regular guild member contract."

"Can't we just keep it as it is, half-in, half-out? I don't need to join the strategy team or enter any dungeons managed by Hyeon."

"Short-term guarantees and training for a Hunter's license are fine, but to live in the employee dormitory, you need to sign a contract. Especially since you'll be living in a residence for advanced Hunters. Even if you're the guild leader's family, your affiliation needs to be clear."

Seok Si-myeong explained calmly, erasing his previous excitement.

Well, I can't live in the regular employee dormitory since Yerim needs to be nearby. Yoo Hyun's place is a dormitory, so it wouldn't be strange for me, his brother, to live there.

"Understood. But if possible, I'd like to sign a regular employee contract, not a guild member contract."

"You don't want to receive support as a Hunter?"

"Yes. I only want to receive training and won't work as a Hunter afterward."

After all, the only place I can go is a low-level dungeon. I can pay to enter. Thanks to Yoo Hyun, I have enough equipment.

I plan to raise Ki-seung-su through individual contracts with Hyeon Guild, not as a guild member. That way, I can raise him appropriately and have some fun.

Freelancing is the best.

"It's possible, but the conditions will be lower. Currently, you only want to act as Park Yerim's guardian, correct?"

"Yes, if that's possible."

"To be honest, Han Yujin's academic credentials and experience fall short of Hyeon Guild's public recruitment requirements."

...When did academic credentials become unimportant? As soon as the situation changed, so did his words.

"Of course, successfully discovering and contracting an S-grade awakener is enough to qualify for employment. The problem is what comes after. The first month or two might be fine, but if you don't do anything and just take a salary, eventually, it will become an issue. Strictly speaking, being a guardian for Park Yerim isn't a guild duty."

That's the problem. It doesn't matter to me. Even if people start talking, I've already been through the ringer with the whole nation. I'm not ticklish. I doubt there are many people who have received more hate comments than I have.

...Thinking about it makes me a bit depressed.

"It's fine. Just match the minimum wage."

It doesn't matter if the salary is low. Even if I fail to apply keywords to Peace, I still have stocks. I remember the names of pharmaceutical companies that developed hair regrowth drugs and the companies whose stock prices rose due to the S-grade awakener boom after the Awakening Center.

I can buy stocks with my severance pay and savings, so a salary that covers living expenses is enough. What's the current minimum wage? Around 8,000 won?

"Minimum wage. Since you won't be commuting, it's a bit tricky to match it."

Seok Si-myeong said with a smile. He can't be planning to not pay at all, right?

"How about 50 million won per year, with a maximum of 10 hours per week?"

"...Just let me use the company cafeteria."

Forget it. I won't take it. Just let me eat.

Working 10 hours a week for a 50 million won annual salary would be like getting free meals, but I don't want to step into the personnel department. I might lose all my savings in an instant.

"Since you put it that way, I have no choice."

Seok Si-myeong nodded with a wry smile.

"I'll provide you with room and board as requested."

...Just room and board? Usually, they'd offer a bit more, right? Cutting it so cleanly, this guy is worse than he looks.

"If you develop a passion for the job, feel free to contact me."

"...Sure."

Instead of causing trouble, I'll probably just get a lot of sympathetic looks. Yerim is already looking at me with pity.

"Don't worry, sir. I have a lot of money now."

"I have enough for myself too."

I need to save for stocks, though.

But this is really too much. I brought an S-grade awakener, and all I get is room and board. I sneakily glanced at Seok Si-myeong, who was organizing documents.

"Is there no incentive for successfully contracting Park Yerim?"

"Since it happened before you were hired, there's no incentive. Ah, would you like me to add an incentive condition?"

...No incentive because it happened before I was hired? I feel like I was scammed. I should have tried to get something when Yerim signed her contract. I was too focused on her.

But I still have one thing left.

"Add an incentive condition for successfully contracting an S-grade or A-grade awakener, similar to an S-grade."

Yoo Myeong. With an SS-grade creation skill, he won't be able to enter S-grade dungeons, but he'll be treated like an S-grade.

I was going to give it to him for free, but I need to get something in return for the injustice.

Seok Si-myeong took out a pen and smiled calmly.

"I can add it. Please specify the amount or reward you want."

I was about to ask for a trillion won but stopped. Eventually, I won't lack for money. So, instead of money...

"Do you know that I'm raising a Flame Horned Lion cub?"

"Yes, I heard from the guild leader."

"Well, it's really cute. It follows me well. So, I want a cub of a similar level to the Flame Horned Lion, or three cubs of a slightly lower level. The taming and raising costs will be covered by Hyeon Guild."

"A cub?"

Seok Si-myeong looked surprised. I guess it's understandable. Choosing a pet instead of money or items is pretty odd.

But unlike Peace, who is owned by Yoo Hyun and raised with his money, the cub I get as an incentive will be entirely mine.

If it's the same level as a Flame Horned Lion, I can clear B-grade dungeons with just that cub, which is worth more than a few thousand won.

If the keyword application fails, it's just another pet. Since I won't be raising it with my own money, there's no loss. If the pet raising regulations are relaxed later, I might even appear on TV. It would be popular.

"...It's not an impossible condition, but it's unusual. Do you have another purpose?"

Seok Si-myeong tilted his head, looking confused.

"Does it look like I do?"

"It would be normal to have one, but... I don't know. I'll add the condition. However, high-level cubs are hard to capture and rarely appear at auctions, so it might take some time to provide them."

"An S-grade awakener doesn't come along often, ha ha."

Of course, I plan to make Yoo Myeong an SS-grade skill holder within two months. I can probably get the skill after using my cub a few times.

After finishing my hiring process, I finally stood up. I hope I don't have to see this guy for a while.

"Then we'll see each other often."

What? I'll avoid the personnel department and stay out of his way.

...He won't keep coming to find me, will he?

I stepped outside and looked at the inheritance documents from Yerim's parents that Seok Si-myeong gave me. They sold a 50-pyeong apartment, some land, and a commercial building, all under the pretense of management difficulties.

After taking so much, they couldn't even buy Yerim a pair of sneakers. Their conscience must be triple-layered.

"Really not going to sue?"

Yerim nodded indifferently in response to my question.

"I don't want to drag it out. Anyway, my basic salary is over a hundred billion, right?"

That's true. Considering the future, it's better to let the leeches have their fill and then cut them off. It would be annoying if they keep trying to contact me and appear on TV, crying and making a fuss.

"Then let's go to the legal team to get some preparations and head over. It's still morning, so the restaurant might not be open yet?"

"On Sundays, it opens at 1 PM, so we can go to the house."

Yerim gave me the address. It's a good neighborhood. Considering how much they took, it's not surprising. The store, however, is quite modest and shabby.

Did they already squander the inheritance? If so, it will be easier to find their weaknesses.

< Personnel Manager (3) > End

ⓒ Geunseo

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