“Uh……”

What just happened to me?

My sense of reality hadn’t returned. Did I see a smile on Cheon Shin Woo’s profile as he passed by, or was it my imagination?

“What was that just now?”

“That Cheon Shin Woo…?”

I heard whispers around me. One of them spoke to me.

“Excuse me, are you acquainted with Cheon Shin Woo?”

“Huh? Oh, no?”

“Then what was that just now? Don’t tell me……”

I felt their gaze scanning me from head to toe. It was rude and unpleasant.

“I wondered how someone without an Awakened registration card passed the document screening……”

I heard them gossiping among themselves again. Suddenly, anger welled up inside me.

“It’s not like that!”

“Wh-what? Why is she acting like that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe she’s feeling guilty.”

This is maddening. How am I supposed to explain this situation?

Pretending not to care, their gazes scrutinized me. The intense scrutiny made me feel exhausted. Trying to explain would be pointless. It’d be better to leave quickly.

I fled from that place in a hurry.

Only after entering the subway did I come to my senses, as if cold water had been poured over my head. I gently raised my hand to touch my hair, and it was standing on end.

“……”

When I turned on my phone to check, I already saw an article at the bottom of the internet news list:

[(Breaking News) Cheon Shin Woo’s Hidden Lover? Uncovering the Private Life of the Rank 1]

The content was based on an anonymous post on a community forum.

To think they’d call this breaking news, everyone must be really bored.

If I were really acquainted with Cheon Shin Woo, I wouldn’t be going to an interview. I’d already be a member of Cheonrang Guild……

Fortunately, there was no information about my personal details. I closed the internet browser and scrolled through my contact list.

I should ask a friend to buy me a drink.

[This is the timeline separator]

When I opened my eyes, I felt a splitting headache. What is this, a time loop? Looking at the date, it wasn’t.

As I checked the messages I received overnight with half-closed eyes, there was one from an unfamiliar number.

“Am I still drunk……”

Even if I were still drunk, this kind of joke is too much, isn’t it? I put down the phone with its unbelievable content and went to wash my face.

Even after washing my face, the content of the message remained the same.

[Cheonrang Interview Result Notification]

“Huh? Am I still not fully awake?”

The water felt cool, but just in case, I pinched my cheek once more. It hurt. Surprisingly, it wasn’t a dream.

This can’t be. The content of the message was a notification of acceptance!

No matter how many times I rubbed my eyes, the content remained the same. There was even a kind explanation about starting work attached. It said I could start working from next week.

Forget about being accepted, the interview was just yesterday. Is it possible to receive an acceptance message in just one day?

My mouth hung open in disbelief. I rolled three times on the bed, and my head started buzzing. I was about to try spinning in place but gave up.

I got accepted! It’s just a 3-month short-term office assistant job, but I got accepted to Cheonrang!

I felt extremely happy. Maybe it’s finally time for some sunshine in my life?

I’m now a working person!

[This is the timeline separator]

……Three hours into my first day at work with such excitement, and I want to go home.

“Haha, Ha Young, you’re doing a great job.”

“Th-thank you. Haha……”

Just yesterday, when I was choosing my clothes, I was so happy. Grateful that they hired someone as unremarkable as me, I was determined to work hard no matter what.

Even during the 1 hour and 30 minutes crowded subway ride during rush hour, I was still somewhat happy……

But once work started, I just wanted to run away.

A senior colleague too busy to properly look after their direct junior, people from other teams with no sense of organization and carelessly written reports needed for accounting.

Couldn’t they write proper reports……

Someone sniffled. It was a team member who had just returned, looking pale after going to receive a report.

In this state, there was no way they could take care of a new employee. I observed the situation and gathered the scattered materials to organize them.

Seeing me working alone like that, the team leader came running over in shock. But after seeing what I was doing, they suddenly became gentle.

This summarizes the situation I’m in.

I did as she instructed, and the team leader wore a happy expression.

“How do you know so much about the hunter ecosystem? I was worried because you’re not Awakened……”

“I’m really interested in this field, so I’ve looked into it a lot. I’m glad if it was helpful.”

“Were you aspiring to be a hunter?”

“Um, yes. For now, at least.”

“Awakening isn’t something that happens just because you try hard….. But still, you’ve gotten into Cheonrang. Take comfort in that.”

“Thank you.”

“More than that, I’m worried. We have a lot of work, don’t we? What if Ha Young refuses to come to work from tomorrow……”

Despite the smiling face, there seemed to be a lot of sorrow behind it. It looked like a face that had been through a lot. My voice lost its soul.

“How could I refuse to come to work when I’m working at Cheonrang.”

“Hmm. Our team’s workload is a bit… on the heavy side, you know? Even when we ask for more staff, the higher-ups turn a deaf ear….. And. Combat hunters tend to have a bit of a high pride. There are many who get angry, saying why we get paid for just playing in front of computers while they risk their lives raiding gates and earning money. They keep talking about reducing our already insufficient staff……”

“I see……”

The team leader’s words, tinged with sorrow, were truly shocking. So the Association and Cheonrang were no different. If it’s this bad now, what if they reduce staff from here?

It seemed insane. The guild will surely collapse. It will definitely collapse.

Just now, someone screamed. It was because someone had destroyed a combat power measuring dummy.

The news of accidents constantly erupting from here and there added even more to the already heavy workload.

Still, the tiny hope that if I worked hard, they might view me favorably and make me a permanent employee was shattered.

Let’s run away. No matter what, I must escape after three months.

Unaware of my thoughts, the team leader kept praising me. The eyes saying it’s a shame I’m leaving after three months seemed to glisten. It must be my imagination.

As I was concentrating for a while, I heard a clear bird-like sound from somewhere. The pale-faced team members rose one after another, walking like zombies towards somewhere.

As I was watching, wondering what was happening, the team leader who was about to leave looked at me and asked.

“Ha Young, aren’t you going?”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, I forgot to explain. It’s lunchtime. The company cafeteria is this way.”

Isn’t that usually explained by one’s direct supervisor? Though I don’t even know who my supervisor is. I had no choice but to follow the team leader.

The company cafeteria was crowded, but not as bustling as I had imagined.

“Come this way.”

The team leader, who had already found a seat, called me over. Without hesitation, I received my food and sat across from the team leader.

By the way, the food quality is amazing.

Thinking of the tasteless slop served at the Association, I carefully put some side dishes on my rice and took a bite.

And I almost dropped my spoon.

“Oh my……”

I can say with certainty that this was a taste I had never experienced before. I’ve never eaten at a 5-star restaurant, but if such food exists, it might taste like this.

Seeing my expression, the team leader burst into laughter.

“Haha, look at that face. Everyone makes that expression when they first taste it.”

“How can such a taste exist……”

“The person working in the company cafeteria is a Culinary Awakened. You know? All food made by Culinary Awakened has buff effects. In the case of mass-produced food like this, the grade is low, but the taste is amazing.”

“Oh my……”

“Plus, some of the gate byproducts are used as ingredients. The buff effect might be minimal, but it’s not non-existent, and the taste is better than most restaurants. Not bad, right?”

“Yes…!”

I was moved to tears. To think it would completely erase my desire to go home. I felt that I made the right choice coming to Cheonrang instead of the Association.

After laughing at me for a while, the team leader gestured lightly and said,

“After eating, want to have coffee downstairs? It’s on me.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you!”

Humans are truly simple creatures. To think my mood could improve this much just because the food is delicious.

As I was eating as slowly as possible, savoring each grain of rice, I saw a familiar and famous face on the TV hanging in the company cafeteria.

“The ‘Black One Day’, known as the worst S-class gate, which even the elite party of Amwol couldn’t conquer, has been reportedly solo cleared by Cheon Shin Woo, who continues to make shocking moves day after day……”

It was a rerun of a familiar news segment. As I glanced in that direction, I saw a devastatingly handsome man giving an interview with a gloomy voice.

“He’s really handsome……”

“Hmm? Ah. Our guild master is indeed handsome. On lucky days, you might even run into him in the hallway.”

When I inadvertently exclaimed, the team leader answered cheerfully. She looked at me closely and added,

“Now that I look at you, Ha Young, you resemble the guild master a bit.”

“Pardon? Me?”

“Yeah. Whether it’s the eyes or the face shape. Overall, there’s a similar feeling. I was surprised when I first saw you, you know?”

“Ah, haha.”

It was nonsense. To compare my face to such a handsome man, it’s disrespectful to Cheon Shin Woo.

As I actively denied it, the team leader’s eyes narrowed.

“Oh? You don’t believe me? It’s true though.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

“Don’t be like that, really, is there nothing? You look so similar….. Actually, there was some talk within our team because Ha Young is not Awakened. Seeing you work, I can tell you were hired because of your skills, right?”

“Actually, I’m related to Cheon Shin Woo by blood.”

“What, really?!”

“It’s a joke! A joke! We even have different surnames. I’m a Park!”

“Ah, you got me. Well, if it’s not true, then it’s not.”

The team leader’s voice asking if it was true was so loud that it instantly drew everyone’s attention. How embarrassing. I hope they didn’t hear the content of our conversation. When I hurriedly denied it, the team leader, looking disappointed, still glanced at me with skeptical eyes.

I really wish I were related to Cheon Shin Woo by blood. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have to struggle like this.

“If you’re done eating, shall we get up? The coffee on the first floor is delicious. I said I’d treat you, so let’s go quickly.”

“Then I’ll accept without hesitation.”

After finishing the meal, a peaceful time followed. The team leader added that I should pay her back when I get my salary, but when I said I really would, she panicked and stopped me.

After that, work continued as usual. The only difference was that I now had a self-proclaimed supervisor who kindly explained things to me.

Yes, this is my life. A life that flows quietly without major incidents, even though I struggle.

I hope every day will be like today from now on.