LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 253
Chapter 253
The annoying noise that was hurting my ears finally disappeared when I reached the café inside the broadcasting station. I had come to buy coffee for our staff, who had been working since early in the morning and decorating the waiting room, and for the hardworking Music Pang Pang production crew.
Even after the crackling noise stopped, I kept hearing all sorts of strange sounds, like something being crushed, splashing of a viscous liquid, and heavy objects being thrown around carelessly. For a while, I debated whether I should just pretend I hadn’t heard anything.
It felt like they had gathered every sound effect used in horror movies that were rated unsuitable for teenagers due to their brutality.
Fortunately, I was now peacefully waiting in line at a café, where soothing music was playing, idly wondering if I could carry all the coffee by myself. It wasn’t scary at all.
– Sigh…
More than anything else.
The long sigh I heard after all the sounds had completely died down made me feel the deep sorrow of an overworked corporate employee, leaving me no time to feel frightened.
I almost asked if they were getting enough sleep out of useless concern.
As if sensing my leniency, Larry started rambling nonsense, not realizing how precious my time was.
– Customer. Would you be interested in drastically improving your relationship with me, who ranked 819th in the company survey for “Managers who might be helpful to know after you die”?
“[No.]”
Does this guy seriously think being 819th is something to boast about?
Not even helpful in life, but after death? Ridiculous.
– Think about it. Wouldn’t it be much better to have a colleague who can share life’s ups and downs and move toward a rosy future, rather than a cold, impersonal, gray business relationship?
“[Why would I share my life and death with someone like you?]”
Then, as if he had been waiting for this moment, Larry replied like a merchant opening a tightly wrapped bundle.
– Special offer number one! Parentheses open, similar parentheses close, immortality service!
I know very well that both Emperor Qin Shi Huang and Voldemort failed miserably chasing immortality and died earlier than King Yeongjo.
Reading my silence as dissatisfaction, Larry quickly presented a second condition.
– Special offer number two! If you join now, I will sacrifice myself to immediately transform this dull, worn-out body to match your preferred appearance and support you in emotionally connecting with your ideal type.
I didn’t even know where to start pointing out what was wrong with this.
Let’s pretend I didn’t hear anything from ‘now’ to ‘support you.’
Ignoring my sour remark about having no interest in romance, Larry continued to list every possible appearance and personality type like a madman.
‘Why am I even listening to this?’
Eventually, I got tired of his talk, so I ordered coffee at the counter while letting his words go in one ear and out the other.
[Not sure what you’re saying, but I might fall for you. The part-timer at the English café hopes that you will place your order in English. ??? Favorability +3 Current Favorability +26]
I’ll consider this for my next order.
Lost in his own world, Larry finally realized I wasn’t listening to him.
– …Surely, you wouldn’t say something as absurd as your own face being your favorite at this moment, right?
“[But it is.]”
If I had to be specific, if I could see someone else as good-looking as me, I’d like to.
Whether it’s a man or a woman, human or not, I was curious about what another person as handsome as me would look like.
If I looked hard enough, there might be one more person in the world, right?
No? If they existed nowadays, they’d be famous already.
‘Probably none.’
However, Larry was persistent today.
– Even if I search through a hundred years of human history, there wouldn’t be anyone as beautiful as you, but I’ll still try!
Not just a hundred years, but a thousand years wouldn’t yield anyone as beautiful as me…
Stop this nonsense and return to being my manager with your terrifying appearance that could scare away both ghosts and people.
– Please, make a contract with me and become my exclusive healer!
In conclusion, I was certain that this guy had gone mad from excessive work stress.
– Special offer number three! Guaranteed top treatment in the industry! I will treat you like a noble healer! You can relieve all the stress from your main job through exhilarating physical activities that can’t be compared to any extreme sports! This is a golden opportunity to secure a proper position even after death…
The more I listened, the more it sounded like a cheap ad for selling my soul to some shady demon, reaffirming my decision not to get deeply involved with him. I cut off his sales pitch.
“[Did you seriously call to talk nonsense like this?]”
– …Ah.
If he continued spouting nonsense without grasping the situation, I’d hang up for real without any sympathy.
– Have you had anything going on lately?
It was way too late to get to the point.
“[Yes.]”
– What?
After glancing around to check if anyone was watching, I fell silent.
– Why are you suddenly silent?
Larry asked again, his voice sounding a bit more serious than before.
“Is there really something going on?”
“[Since you’ve been gone, the sasaengs have become extreme again.]”
– …….
When Young-min Lee, who was ranked first in people you shouldn’t meet on a dark road, was my manager, the sasaengs would disappear like they’d encountered their natural enemy just by him silently glancing at them.
Now, they don’t fear the law and even try to hit our precious manager, Gwak Sang-hyun, who was selected by our CEO’s recommendation.
It’s the end of the world, the end of the world.
– You seem to be doing quite well.
“[But why are you asking all of a sudden?]”
– Actually, I lost him.
“[…What did you say?]”
Is he saying he was chasing Zero but lost him?
– It seems he deliberately drew in otherworldly creatures to throw me off, which means he’s planning something.
The things he had been blowing up and setting on fire just moments ago seemed to be those otherworldly creatures.
I didn’t know exactly, but I was relieved our mutt hadn’t killed anyone.
– It seems you’re thinking something very rude about me right now.
“[You’re right.]”
– Haha, joking too.
“[Haha, not joking though.]”
– …Anyway, there’s not much he can do since he’s still under restriction.
“[Are you sure?]”
– Yes. In any case, I’ve handled things here to some extent, and I’ll be back soon after I return this cumbersome body. So, stay alive in the meantime. If you ever consider a healer job, do contact me. Well then, I’m busy, so goodbye.
Is this guy crazy?
* * *
After the call was abruptly cut off, I stood there in disbelief for a moment, then took the coffee and returned to the waiting room.
As I handed out the coffee to the staff, I noticed my favorability rising all around.
I felt like I had become one of those people who gain favor through food.
“Were you on the phone while you were out? Who were you talking to for so long?”
“These days, you really seem suspicious. Raon, you’re not really dating, are you?”
“Ah, I told you I’m not. If Hyung keeps having weird suspicions, I might really start dating someone. I have the ability to do that, you know!”
“My bad.”
I accepted Gwak Sang-hyun’s apology as he fed me a piece of dried pineapple.
“So, what was the call about?”
“Well, I do have a private life…”
“Were you the one who grilled Geul Yi a few days ago, asking if the person on the phone was a girl?”
“That was because I heard a woman’s voice while Geul Yi was laughing. Of course, I was curious.”
“So who was the woman?”
“It was composer Jung Ha-neul.”
“Oh…”
“Was he really smiling though?”
“So, who were you on the phone with?”
“This is so chaotic.”
After the chaotic atmosphere settled down a bit, I explained vaguely.
“It was spam, and to be specific, a job offer.”
“What? Another company asked you to leave us and join them?”
“Why do you always think so extremely? It was just a job offer, and I said no.”
“But you have a decent job already, even if the salary isn’t regular… Why would you even entertain that?”
“That’s why I listened to it, feeling sorry for them.”
“If you don’t plan to accept, just hang up. That’s better for both parties.”
“Right. You have a good personality but are too kind.”
As time passed, it was time to go to the MC rehearsal.
“Hyung, I’m going to work.”
“That sounds like he’s calling himself Hyung, not us.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Aeri, we have no hierarchy among us.”
Seeing Ban Yo-han snitching to the camera filming behind-the-scenes footage for the “Again” activities for the Orca YouTube channel, I quickly explained.
“Why are you telling Aeri strange things? I just adapted the American ‘bro’ to the Korean ‘hyung’.”
“Wow…”
“That kid’s really clever.”
“Everyone, this kid claims American nationality only when it’s convenient.”
“What can I do? I was born on American soil…”
You guys will go to the military, but I won’t.
Hahaha. As I laughed heartily, they seemed to guess my unsaid words and glared at me resentfully.