| Episode 136. In-House Retaliation (2)
After the meeting ended, practice repeated endlessly.
It was a relief Jeong Seongbin turned off the music before anyone threw up. Otherwise, we’d all be wiping down the practice room floor by now.
“Hyung…… can I go to the convenience store?”
“Why the convenience store?”
“I want an electrolyte drink…….”
Park Juu pleaded with a shriveled-up face. He looked like something terrible would happen if he didn’t get an electrolyte drink.
“I’ll buy it for you. It’s past midnight.”
The main vocalist’s throat was precious, so I decided to graciously go to the convenience store in his place. It was late, too.
“……It’s close, so I can go.”
“Kids shouldn’t be wandering around at night.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
“Choi Jeho, you stay here and watch the kids.”
Leaving the members in Choi Jeho’s care, I left the practice room.
The moment I stepped out of the building, a sweltering wind washed over my whole body.
Maybe because it was a tropical night, but I hadn’t even walked far before I felt suffocated.
‘The song should come out on time, but will the choreography be done in time? Where do I even start looking for an action school?’
Things that required time to think had to be dealt with at times like this. It was wisdom I’d gained at Hanpyeong Industries during a season when I’d been busy as hell.
As I walked, busily turning thoughts over in my head, the space before my eyes flashed white.
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[SYSTEM] A work order has arrived from the “Supervisor.”
▶ ☞
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A system message appeared with content I couldn’t understand. It was the first time I’d seen this kind of message.
I turned my gaze to the right, but there was nothing special there.
‘What…… what do you want me to do?’
At that moment.
A powerful impact struck the top of my head. Before I could even brace myself against the wall, my body pitched forward.
My head hurt as if it had been smashed open by something.
And it was hot. It felt like my skin was burning.
A long shadow fell across the light of the streetlamp.
Someone above my head kept muttering to himself.
“……You told him, didn’t you?”
Because he had the light source at his back, I could barely see the man’s face. It was hard even to open my eyes wide through the pain.
The assailant sat down on my back.
Then he leaned toward my ear and asked in a whisper.
“You told that writer about me earlier, didn’t you? You’re the one spreading rumors behind my back. Right?”
I could tell just from his voice. Yoo Hansu wasn’t in his right mind.
The head of the hammer Yoo Hansu was holding came into view.
It was a familiar brand. So this was the tool the deputy manager from the general affairs team had been looking for during the day.
‘If it hadn’t been for the system…….’
If I hadn’t turned my head to look to the right.
The burning spot might not have been the left side of my scalp, but the back of my head.
Yoo Hansu tapped my head with the chunk of metal and said,
“I should’ve cracked this open long ago.”
“…….”
“So you couldn’t use that useless head of yours.”
A rough hand grabbed my hair.
I bit down hard on my lip to hold back the scream that tried to burst out.
When I struggled to open my eyes, my gaze met Yoo Hansu’s as he lowered his head to look at me.
It was the kind of look I’d never seen in my life.
At the same time, I realized. Yoo Hansu was serious.
This wasn’t some momentary impulse. Even if it meant ruining his own life, he had chosen to drag me down with him.
‘Think.’
I didn’t regress just to get done in like this.
I barely held on to my reason.
‘First…… take his weapon.’
I grabbed Yoo Hansu’s hand where it held my hair. Then I dug my nails into the back of his hand.
As Yoo Hansu screamed and was thrown off, I picked up the dropped tool and pushed my upper body up.
My vision was red, and I couldn’t see things straight.
My head knew I had to stop the bleeding.
But I couldn’t bring myself to press my hand against the torn area. Sh*t, it hurt even when I stayed still, so how was I supposed to press on it?
As I was stuck there, unable to do anything and trying to catch my breath, Yoo Hansu’s two ankles appeared before my eyes.
Suddenly, I thought of the guys who would still be in the practice room.
It would be nice if this man only had a grudge against me. It would be nice if he planned to turn himself in quietly after finishing with me.
But what if the target of his resentment wasn’t just me, but all of Spark?
What if he meant to hurt everyone he thought was in his way, and……
What if Park Juu had been here instead of me, or if Choi Jeho had come out with me?
I snatched Yoo Hansu’s ankle as he backed away. Unable to fight the momentum, Yoo Hansu fell backward.
It hurt like hell. I felt like I was going to lose consciousness any second.
But if I let this bastard get away here.
With my remaining hand, I seized the head of the man who’d fallen on his ass. Then I climbed on top of him and pinned him down.
Beneath my grip, Yoo Hansu shouted something.
I couldn’t hear it. Only the sound of my heartbeat rang in my ears.
It felt like the blood was rapidly circulating in my head.
Then like all that blood was…… draining downward.
I was dizzy. The resume I hadn’t even pulled out appeared before my eyes.
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.
.
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Cumulative Fatigue: 70% (Work Support Service in effect)
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So it means I’m right on the verge of dying. Without the work support, it would be 90%.
But not now. Not until I completely stop this man.
However, not everything goes the way you think it will.
As if pinning Yoo Hansu down had been for nothing, strength slowly drained from my hand.
In contrast, Yoo Hansu, cornered, thrashed violently.
Every time I used strength to press Yoo Hansu down, my skull rang.
The moment my cumulative fatigue passed 75%.
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…….
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The system appeared.
I couldn’t see clearly what was written.
With my focus blurring, I fumbled through the newly appeared text and read it.
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[SYSTEM] “Eul” is being notified of “Four Major Insurances—Industrial Accident Insurance.”
▷ If “Eul” suffers a serious accident while on duty, “Industrial Accident Insurance” will be applied once.
▷ During the period in which “Industrial Accident Insurance” is applied, “Eul” may choose one of the following: ① relief from pain caused by an occupational accident, ② rapid recovery from injuries caused by an occupational accident (varies depending on the severity of the injury).
▷ Insurance benefits are limited to one use…….
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‘How long would it take for the injury to heal right now?’
When I asked the system, an answer immediately came back.
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[SYSTEM] A work order has arrived from the “Supervisor.”
▶ Assistant Manager Kim, did you get into an accident on your way to work or something? How long do you need to rest? I can’t let you take more than two weeks off, okay?
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Two weeks, when I needed to tie this man down right this second?
Without hesitation, I chose number one.
Then, as if it were a lie, all the pain disappeared.
I could see Yoo Hansu’s face clearly, too. He was smiling.
“You f**ker, is this fun?”
When I grabbed Yoo Hansu by the collar, he spat in my face.
“Kim Iwol, you need to be punished.”
“What?”
I thought I’d heard wrong. Because Yoo Hansu was saying something anyone would think I should be the one saying.
“It makes no sense for someone like you to be recognized more than me. Who are you to humiliate me?”
“You’re out of your mind, aren’t you?”
“If someone like you starts making a name for yourself so carelessly, it makes the whole industry look ridiculous. That’s why you should’ve kept your head down and learned quietly while listening to me. A little brat with no XXX…….”
There was no need to listen any further. I pressed my knee down on Yoo Hansu’s neck.
“Ghk…… You son of a b*tch, are you trying to kill me?”
“You tried to kill me too, you piece of sh*t.”
I was out of breath. Only the pain had disappeared; the fact that my fingertips were growing colder hadn’t changed.
At this rate, I could lose consciousness from excessive blood loss.
‘I don’t have time.’
If I passed out, Yoo Hansu really would harm me. His honor had already crossed a river it could never return from.
But what should I do……
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[SYSTEM] A work order has arrived from the “Supervisor.”
▶ Assistant Manager Kim, they say an incentive is coming out because you’ve worked hard all this time. What was the reason again? Something about doing your best even under a difficult superior?
[SYSTEM] A reward is being provided because “Eul” has complied with “Work Ethics.”
▷ Put-Yourself-in-Their-Shoes Experience Voucher: You may make a desired target experience one sensation or emotion.
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Work Ethics.
It was the kind of message I had seen only once, back when I witnessed Jang Junhu’s workplace bullying.
I thought it was only a function that imposed sanctions when something failed to meet moral standards, but if you worked hard according to those standards, it gave rewards too? In a way that could positively change others.
‘What happens if I use the voucher while my pain is relieved?’
The system answered my question concisely.
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[SYSTEM] A work order has arrived from the “Supervisor.”
▶ Assistant Manager Kim, you’re not in a state where you have no pain right now. You’re in a state where you can’t feel it. You know, that thing. Schrödinger’s whatever.
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“Haha!”
Working like a dog was worth it, damn it!
I wiped my sticky face and asked,
“Mr. Yoo Hansu. Have you ever imagined what it feels like for your own head to be cracked open?”
And then I used the voucher.
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[SYSTEM] Would you like to use the “Put-Yourself-in-Their-Shoes Experience Voucher” on “Yoo Hansu (Producer)”?
▶ Recommended Program: Pain
▶ Yes / No
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When I selected “Yes,” Yoo Hansu clawed at one side of his head. His agony was plainly visible on his face.
I covered Yoo Hansu’s mouth as he tried to scream, set the hammer down for a moment, then searched the pockets of his outerwear and took out his phone.
First, I reported it using Yoo Hansu’s phone. When I said I’d encountered an assailant and been struck in the head, they answered that they would dispatch immediately.
Next, I entered my own number. Then I called the contact saved as “UA Odd-Jobber.”
When the controversy over my character broke out, I had temporarily received a phone, but since I hadn’t returned it yet, my phone was still in the practice room.
So if a call from Yoo Hansu’s number went to my phone.
─ ……Hello?
Most likely, those guys would pick up.