WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: LilGuyBlastoise
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Mistaken for an S-Class Employee ◈
Chapter 11: What's the Hurry?
──────
Director Yoon studied Min-hyeok from the corner of their eye.
Min-hyeok had been making bold moves lately, so Director Yoon had been watching him closely. The way Min-hyeok's eyes had changed upon seeing that phone message seemed meaningful.
Director Yoon was curious what it said, but could not pry into a private matter.
‘Is he saying he'll do the same thing to me that he did to Team Leader Kim?’
Min-hyeok answered yes without a moment's hesitation.
This was a challenge.
Director Yoon found Min-hyeok troublesome, but Director Yoon was not someone who would meekly be pushed around like Team Leader Kim.
Still...
An executive versus an Assistant Manager.
The difference in weight class was too great.
Regardless of who won or lost, the very act of fighting Min-hyeok would be humiliating for Director Yoon.
It would be a battle that felt like a loss even if Director Yoon won, with nothing at all to gain.
‘It would've looked better if he got scared and backed down.’
Director Yoon really had been about to change their position on making the Operations Team Leader post vacant.
And Min-hyeok had pointed that out clearly.
‘A second-year Assistant Manager? What on earth is this guy?’
The more Director Yoon watched, the stranger Min-hyeok seemed.
Min-hyeok looked inexperienced when charging recklessly at a superior without a plan, but after talking with him, he sometimes felt like a seasoned expert with decades of corporate experience.
Min-hyeok had already produced three current group chairmen and was about to produce another.
In terms of imagination, Min-hyeok was practically a max-level office worker.
Director Yoon, who did not know that, had every reason to be puzzled.
“What do you come to work for?”
Director Yoon broke the silence with the question.
Min-hyeok had picked a fight, but instead of responding, Director Yoon asked something strange.
‘Why do I come to work?’
After thinking for a moment, Min-hyeok gave the obvious reason one had to work, though it differed somewhat from his own case.
“To live.”
“What?”
It was the real reason office workers so easily forgot.
“We earn money to live. We don't live to earn money.”
As long as they did not confuse the order of things, coworkers had no reason to sharpen their blades against one another at work.
“What does that mean?”
“What I mean is...”
Min-hyeok stared straight into Director Yoon's eyes.
“I think you know very well, Director Yoon.”
* * *
That line had appeared in my second work, Goddamn Company Life.
Had I sounded too much like some enlightened sage?
Director Yoon was no ordinary person, so I thought it would be better to speak in a way that left them a little confused.
I had been quite surprised to see Director Yoon hold back.
Unlike Team Leader Kim, Director Yoon had not exploded.
As I waited to see how Director Yoon would answer such a sage-like question...
“Ha ha.”
Director Yoon suddenly laughed.
“Let's not waste our energy on pointless emotions. Let's talk business.”
“Yes, let's.”
“I think there was a misunderstanding, so I'll make it clear again.”
“...”
“Make Team Leader Kim step down voluntarily.”
“I can't do that.”
I answered at once, without hesitation.
That was impossible.
Even if a natural disaster struck, Team Leader Kim was not the sort of person who would step down voluntarily.
“Just try. Seeing how you work, I think you'll do well.”
“You don't want to get even a drop of blood on your hands, do you?”
“What?!”
I was a little intimidated facing an executive, but I drew on the fighting power I had gained from monthly royalties of a hundred million won.
“If I've set the table, I'd like you to serve yourself.”
“Hey, you're being awfully insolent.”
Everything was difficult the first time.
I had already charged at Director Yoon once. What was so hard about doing it twice?
“Your true intentions are too obvious.”
“...”
“You said you would make things clear. Then I'll make something clear as well.”
I looked Director Yoon straight in the eyes.
“Keep your promise. If you really intend to go back on your word, I'll do whatever it takes.”
“Unbelievable.”
Director Yoon gave a faint laugh.
“Have you forgotten that I have authority over personnel decisions?”
“...”
“Don't you want to stay at this company for a long time?”
Was that a threat?
Director Yoon glared at me fiercely.
I did not want to spend any more of my working life as a superior's sucker. I would rather get fired.
“Are you going to fire me?”
“...”
“I don't care. But I won't leave quietly.”
For the first time, Director Yoon's gaze wavered.
They must have realized I was crazy. I had nothing to lose in corporate life.
“Hmm...”
Director Yoon thought for a moment with a stiff expression, then spoke.
“Are you certain you've shaped public opinion so there won't be any fallout?”
“You'll know if you look into it.”
Director Yoon shrugged.
“Since I'm in a position of responsibility, I suppose I must bear that much of a burden.”
“...”
“Anyway, the goal is to make the Operations Team Leader post vacant, so I'll issue the personnel order myself.”
Director Yoon had failed to get away with going back on their word and was returning to the original plan, yet spoke as if making a concession. What a politician.
“Aren't you going to thank me?”
“Pardon?”
“I took a step back, so you should express your gratitude.”
Saying thank you was not difficult, but...
“I don't think I have anything to thank you for.”
Watching Director Yoon, I felt that if I thanked them, they would use it against me later.
They might make it look as if they had changed their mind because I had asked.
“You gave the order, Director. Why should I thank you?”
It might be a little uncomfortable, but I had to take the direct route for now.
Director Yoon gave a faint laugh.
“We're done talking, so you may go.”
Director Yoon may have had nothing more to say after settling the matter with Team Leader Kim, but...
“We still have something to discuss.”
I had not yet brought up the important part.
“Hmm? What is it?”
“I understand this was a deal, not a work order.”
“...”
“I'd like you to grant the request you promised.”
I was ready to make a proper scene if Director Yoon tried to say something different. People often changed their minds once they got what they wanted.
“Hmph. It's not time to discuss that yet.”
“...”
“Once the Operations Team Leader post has been vacated without any trouble, I'll keep my promise.”
Fortunately, Director Yoon did not pretend not to know.
“Yes.”
* * *
That meant it was ninety percent over.
My steps felt heavy all the way back to the office.
Unless Director Yoon suddenly changed their mind, things would come to an end with Team Leader Kim.
Team Leader Kim Se-jun.
Whatever else happened, we had been on the same team since I joined the company, as leader and team member.
I suddenly thought back on the time we had spent together.
.
.
.
There was nothing but shitty memories.
My pity vanished in an instant. I should have found the courage sooner.
Actually, there was no need to pity him. It was not like Team Leader Kim was being fired. He was simply being transferred to a position that suited him.
“I'm back.”
As I entered the office, I mechanically greeted Team Leader Kim.
“Yeah.”
Team Leader Kim answered mechanically as well, without even looking at my face.
Maybe knowing his future made it unpleasant to see him in person. Human feelings really were complicated.
“Sunbae, is something wrong?”
“Huh? Nothing's wrong.”
“You look down.”
“Isn't it stranger to look happy at work?”
“Ha ha. I suppose so.”
The next morning, a personnel order was posted on the group bulletin board.
Director Yoon really was impatient. Once they made up their mind, they did not hesitate.
<Personnel Order>
Kim Se-jun, General Manager: Operations Team Leader -> Planning Team Member
Yoon Hyeon-su, Director: Director of Operations Management -> Director of Operations Management and Operations Team Leader
I was not surprised, but the team members were utterly shocked.
- What's going on?
- Team Leader Kim is leaving the Operations Team?
- Did he mess up or something? Why so suddenly?
- And why is the Director...?
The office was chaos from the morning onward.
“Good morning.”
As usual, Team Leader Kim entered the office with a brief greeting.
He had arrived almost exactly at his usual starting time.
It was awkward to tell him, and awkward to act like I knew.
While Team Leader Kim turned on his laptop, a cold silence hung over the Operations Team.
“What?”
Scrrrl. Scrrrl.
The fierce sound of Team Leader Kim rapidly scrolling the mouse wheel was the only thing echoing through the quiet office.
Huff. Huff.
The sound of his angry breathing grew heavier, and we all held our breath.
I understood. Anyone would be upset.
“This is so fucking awful I can't keep working. You bastards!”
Bang!
Team Leader Kim slammed a fist into the desk, grabbed his bag, and left the office.
Assistant Manager Jeon approached me with a frightened expression.
“Sunbae, what do we do?”
“File a paid-leave request for Team Leader Kim first. I don't think he'll come back today.”
“Ah, okay.”
So this was how it ended.
It was refreshing and bitter.
I looked around at the team members.
Not one employee went after Team Leader Kim to offer comfort. Everyone began working as though nothing had happened.
It was what Team Leader Kim had built up over the years.
No one on the team was smiling, but I could guess what they felt inside.
* * *
Director Yoon had acted too quickly.
Since they were getting rid of Team Leader Kim anyway, it would have been nice if they had called him in and told him beforehand.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Director Yoon was impatient, so I decided there was no need for me to drag things out unnecessarily either.
That afternoon, I headed straight for the director's office.
Knock, knock.
[Who is it?]
“It's Assistant Manager Go Min-hyeok.”
[...]
There was no answer from inside the director's office. Director Yoon surely knew why I had come.
“It's Assistant Manager Go Min-hyeok!”
I called out loudly once more.
[Come in.]
Click.
I opened the door and entered. Director Yoon greeted me with an uneasy expression.
“We see each other often.”
“You've always called for me. This is the first time I've come to see you myself.”
I smiled meaningfully.
“Congratulations.”
“There's nothing to congratulate me for.”
Director Yoon gave a faint laugh.
“I've just ended up with a lot more work. Help me out a lot from now on. I'm your Team Leader now, too.”
Director Yoon was ambitious about work.
Getting rid of Team Leader Kim was likely because he did not suit Director Yoon's style, but Director Yoon probably also wanted to expand their influence as much as possible.
To move higher up, the easily overlooked position of Director of Operations Management would not be enough.
“It seems like the work has been wrapped up well.”
I cautiously broached the subject. Director Yoon pointed at the sofa.
“Sit down first. What's the hurry?”
The hurry?
It was not wrong, but I did not think Director Yoon was in a position to say that.
Still, I took a seat first.
“I'd like you to keep your promise.”
“Lower your voice.”
Though no one else was in the room, Director Yoon looked around before speaking quietly.
“Yes, I knew you'd bring this up.”
“...”
“Go on. I'm curious too. What kind of request could you possibly make?”
I thought of a place most GoPlay employees dreamed of working in, one that would also help my creative work, and one I absolutely wanted to experience before leaving the company.
“I want to transfer teams.”
“...What?!”
Director Yoon's face changed colors.
“What are you talking about? I got rid of Team Leader Kim because you were here, and now you want to leave the team?”
“You never said that to me.”
“It's obvious, you fool! How am I supposed to handle my director duties and team leader duties at the same time?!”
I nodded.
“It won't be easy, but I'm sure you'll find another solution soon.”
Everyone had their own circumstances.
Other people's circumstances aside, I did not need to accommodate even the circumstances of someone as capable as Director Yoon.
“I have to transfer teams.”
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