Mistaken for an S-Class Employee - Chapter 12

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: LilGuyBlastoise

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Mistaken for an S-Class Employee ◈

Chapter 12: The Last Retreating Figure

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Director Yoon must have been quite surprised.

The team leader position had become vacant, and the most senior person on the team wanted a transfer...

“Are you joking?”

At times like this, I needed to be clear.

“I’m hardly in a position to joke with you, Director.”

Director Yoon’s expression stiffened.

Had I been too firm?

It couldn’t be helped. This was something I could not back down from.

I was earning a hundred million won a month in royalties while working at the company. I couldn’t afford to cut someone slack just because they were my superior.

“That won’t do.”

Director Yoon answered just as sharply.

“I can’t grant that request.”

“You clearly promised me. You’re not going to say you don’t remember, are you?”

“This guy...”

Director Yoon spoke with a reddened face.

“Personnel transfers aren’t something I can decide on my own.”

“...”

“Even if I send you, the team you want to join has to accept you.”

“You’re saying it can’t be done without even considering trying.”

I looked Director Yoon straight in the eye and spoke clearly.

“I feel I need to clarify something, so forgive me for saying this, but what I’m telling you now is not a favor I’m asking.”

The business between Director Yoon and me.

It was a deal made with clear terms.

It wasn’t a favor, so there was no reason to refuse. That was why I was telling Director Yoon to do everything possible.

“Where do you want to transfer?”

Director Yoon was not someone who failed to understand.

“The Content Team.”

“The Content Team?!”

Director Yoon’s expression grew complicated.

It was a department people had to pass through to reach key positions, and Director Yoon had worked on the Content Team as well.

“Ha...”

Director Yoon frowned.

“I understand why you want to go there. But you know it’s difficult to get in, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

Director Yoon pressed their lips together before speaking.

“I agreed to grant your request, but there were clearly limitations.”

[If it is not beyond my authority, I will grant your request.]

I remembered it clearly.

“Sending Assistant Manager Go is within my authority, but accepting you is beyond it.”

“Yes, I know.”

I made myself clear.

“Please exercise whatever authority you do have. That is all I want.”

* * *

Watching Min-hyeok’s firm attitude, Director Yoon realized it would be hard to change his mind.

‘I made a mistake. I should have heard his request before making the deal.’

If Min-hyeok had been planning to leave the team, Director Yoon would have thought more carefully before leaving the Operations Team leader position vacant.

But Team Leader Kim’s personnel order had already been issued.

‘They say you get punished for hurting other people.’

In any case, what was done was done.

As Min-hyeok said, they could find replacements for Team Leader Kim and Min-hyeok later.

The problem now was how to handle Min-hyeok’s request.

‘Why did it have to be the Content Team?’

Director Yoon knew the rumor that Content Team Leader Jo Min-ho might be related to the group chairman.

Since it was an important matter in office politics, Director Yoon had tried to find out the truth, but it had been difficult to confirm.

It made Director Yoon uncomfortable to suddenly propose transferring a team member to someone who might be the chairman’s relative.

‘And the Content Planning Bureau director...’

He had been Director Yoon’s team leader back when Director Yoon had worked on the Content Team.

Director Yoon briefly recalled those nightmare-like memories, then shook them off.

“Does it have to be the Content Team?”

“...”

“The Curation Team would be fine too. It has no less influence than the Content Team. You know that.”

Director Yoon wanted to avoid the Content Planning Bureau at all costs.

“I have some pull with the Curation Team. How about considering that instead?”

“You only need to make the request, so why are you making this so difficult? I’m not asking you to guarantee that I’ll be transferred.”

Min-hyeok spoke calmly.

“And the Curation Team... It’s fine for now, but doesn’t its future look a little uncertain?”

“The future?”

“Yes. Things like arranging content on the app or designing banners can be done by AI. It might even be more accurate than people.”

“...”

“As far as I know, Nutflix already does that.”

Judging by Min-hyeok’s response, Director Yoon could tell he had prepared for this transfer very thoroughly.

Now that Director Yoon had no choice but to request a transfer to the troublesome Content Planning Bureau, irritation rose.

“I’ve never seen anyone live their office life the way you do.”

Min-hyeok tilted his head and replied.

“Really? You seem displeased now. Not long ago, you told me to live bravely at work and not worry about what came after.”

* * *

“Phew...”

I left after finishing my conversation with Director Yoon.

I thought I was going to suffocate to death.

My heart was still pounding. What had I just done in front of someone that high up?

Still, I needed to see through what I had started.

I was afraid Director Yoon might only talk without taking action, so I repeatedly urged them to keep their promise until the very end.

With that, I had done everything I could.

“You’re back?”

When I entered the Operations Team office, Assistant Manager Jeon greeted me.

I glanced at Team Leader Kim’s seat and asked,

“Team Leader Kim didn’t come in, right?”

“...Yes.”

That day, the Operations Team spent the whole day as quiet as a grave.

And the next morning.

“Good morning.”

Team Leader Kim entered the office, and I greeted him.

His face was dark, as if he had not slept all night, and his skin looked dry and haggard.

This was probably the greatest crisis of Team Leader Kim’s working life.

“...”

Team Leader Kim did not respond to my greeting. After sitting down, he began packing his things.

Rustle. Rustle.

The sounds were not loud, but the office was so quiet that they were all anyone could hear.

Team Leader Kim really was being transferred.

Only now that he had started packing did it feel real.

I felt relieved, but it was not entirely pleasant. I couldn’t simply rejoice at someone else’s misfortune.

If I also transferred teams without issue after Team Leader Kim, two people would be leaving the Operations Team.

I had been worried about the remaining team members, so I had repeatedly stressed the matter to Director Yoon yesterday.

‘Two people are leaving, so you need to make sure we get replacements. You know how heavy the Operations Team’s workload is, right?’

‘A person about to transfer sure has a lot to say.’

‘...’

‘I’m also the Operations Team leader. I’ll bring in replacements for my own convenience, so don’t worry.’

It was almost fortunate that Director Yoon would be serving as team leader as well.

To prove that their decision had been correct, Director Yoon would do everything possible.

Rustle. Rustle.

It took Team Leader Kim quite a while to pack.

Having stayed in one place for years, he must have accumulated a lot of belongings.

About an hour later, three boxes had been packed. Team Leader Kim brought over a handcart and loaded the boxes onto it one by one.

Even then, the Operations Team remained deathly quiet. No one raised their face above their monitor.

Rattle.

The sound of the handcart rolling echoed as Team Leader Kim headed out of the office.

No one saw him off. Not one team member even offered a hollow wish for him to do well.

Everyone remained perfectly still in their seats.

I turned my head slightly and watched Team Leader Kim walk away.

He looked terribly lonely and empty.

Just as Team Leader Kim vanished completely from sight,

“Sunbae.”

Assistant Manager Jeon rose from their seat and called me.

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to step outside for some air? I feel a little strange.”

“...Let’s.”

I couldn’t bring myself to work, so I got up from my seat.

Sniffle.

Just as we were about to leave the office, I heard someone sobbing. It was Assistant Manager Song.

She was probably not crying because she felt sorry for Team Leader Kim. Even when people leave, hurtful words remain for a long time.

His departure seemed to leave behind a lesson.

No matter what kind of office life I lived, I vowed that my final retreating figure would never look like his.

* * *

The Content Planning Bureau director’s office.

Director Yoon had come to keep their promise to Min-hyeok, but couldn’t easily bring themselves to step inside.

Han Jae-jeong, the Content Planning Bureau director.

He was Director Yoon’s senior, and they had once been team leader and team member on the Content Team.

Director Yoon had pursued an aggressive, results-oriented career, never cowering even before seniors.

But before Director Han, whose boisterous style was like that of a tiger, Director Yoon had never been able to stand up to him.

‘Ha, damn it. Why is my mouth so dry?’

Annoyed at hesitating at this stage of their career,

Knock, knock!

Director Yoon rapped on the door without warning.

[Who is it?]

“It’s Director Yoon Hyeon-su.”

[Yeah, come in.]

Click.

Director Yoon opened the door.

A broad-shouldered man grinned, his large eyes gleaming.

The intimidation in his appearance was immense.

“Hello, Director Han.”

“Hey, Yoon Hyeon-su. It’s been a long time.”

Han Jae-jeong, GoPlay’s senior director and head of the Content Planning Bureau, patted Director Yoon’s cheek as he spoke.

“We work at the same company. Why is it so hard to see your face?”

“Ha ha, haven’t we both been busy?”

“Bullshit. You’ve been avoiding me. Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

When Director Yoon looked startled, Director Han burst into hearty laughter.

“It’s only natural to get too big for your boots once you become a director. It’s fine.”

Even after so much time, they were still polar opposites.

Director Yoon had kept telling themselves not to be like this, but when they stood before Director Han, they found themselves becoming meek without realizing it.

“What are you doing? Sit down.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Want some coffee?”

“Sure.”

“Make one for me too.”

“...Yes.”

Director Yoon made two cups of instant coffee mix, handed one to Director Han, and sat down.

Slurp.

Director Han drank noisily, then laughed heartily.

“Ah, that’s good. Then and now, you make a damn fine cup of coffee.”

“...”

Slurp.