Chapter 483: The Unique God
Fortunately, nothing major happened during the night.
No intruders crawled into my room, I didn't suddenly get whisked away to some strange place in my dreams, and all the HR team members reported they had slept soundly.
"You can stay a bit longer."
"Even so, having a coworker stay over for two nights is a bit... you know."
"I said it's fine."
"Well, I'm not fine."
Cutting off my mother's words in one breath, I looked at the three of them.
"Shall we get going soon?"
"Ah, yes. Just a moment."
Yu Daon clapped her hands together once, then hurriedly pulled something out from inside her coat and handed it to my mother.
It was a white envelope.
"Um, since it felt a bit rude to just sleep over and leave, I wanted to give you a little pocket money..."
"...A little?"
My mother muttered, bewildered, and I could only look on with equal bewilderment.
Because it wasn't a little.
If you stuff an envelope so full it looks ready to burst and call it 'a little,' what are we supposed to do?
"Ah, no. Even so, that's a bit too much..."
Fortunately, my mother is a sensible person and persistently tried to refuse Yu Daon's money envelope.
"No, really!"
"Oh my!"
Yu Daon practically shoved the envelope into my mother's hands and then bolted out the door.
Next, Jang Chae-yeon.
"..."
"...Um..."
"...Here."
Jang Chae-yeon pulled out an identical white envelope.
"No, I mean..."
"I want to give it to you."
"Why?"
"Please take good care of him," she said.
Speaking calmly, Jang Chae-yeon pushed the money into my mother's arms.
"Hey, I mean..."
Then Jang Chae-yeon also strode past me, ignoring my mother's protests.
Now only Song A-rin remained.
I looked at her with a gaze that asked, You too?
"...Why am I always the slow one?"
Song A-rin muttered, handed the money envelope to my mother, and then looked up at her.
Again, as if they'd coordinated it, an envelope stuffed to the point of bursting.
"So, um. You see. The others prepared something, so it felt wrong for me not to give anything. No, it's not that I absolutely don't want to give it to you or anything!"
Waving her arms and shaking her head as she explained, Song A-rin then slowly placed the envelope into my mother's hands.
"...Please, just accept it."
"Ah, alright..."
I watched as Song A-rin walked away, her head bowed deeply, until she disappeared.
"Jae-heon."
"Yes?"
At my mother's call, I lifted my head and looked at her. Meeting my eyes, she spoke in a serious voice.
"You have to snag one of them. Any one."
"It's not like I don't earn enough money, why are you saying this?"
"Money from a daughter-in-law is better than money from a son."
"What daughter-in-law?"
"From what I see, you're already too late. Just pick one."
"..."
I had absolutely no grounds for a retort. After saying my goodbyes, I walked out as well.
The three of them were waiting for me the moment I stepped outside.
"When on earth did you all discuss this with each other?"
"We didn't..."
"...Nope."
"...I really thought I was ahead."
They each responded differently to my question.
"..."
Rubbing my temples as a headache set in—despite suffering no mental attacks—I opened my mouth.
"...Anyway, please don't do this. My parents will get the wrong idea."
"Uh, then that's a success, isn't it?"
"Yep."
"Good thing I didn't get hypnotized."
Do they really have no conscience or sense of ethics whatsoever?
I shot them a look filled with that thought, and the three of them averted their eyes.
"Uh, let's go quickly."
"My back hurts a bit from sleeping squished with three people."
"Ah, what should I say... I'm a bit groggy, I guess."
They're all so articulate.
Sighing, I got into the car, and as if they'd made a pact, all three got in as well.
And so, having decided on our next destination, we set off.
To the church.
*
"..."
I looked at the number <27> written on the Manual.
"Jae-heon-ssi?"
Yu Daon tilted her head and approached me, then she saw the number too.
"Daon-ssi."
"Yes?"
"If the world were to end in 27 days, what would you do?"
"I'd have to save Jae-heon-ssi, of course."
She answered my question as if it were obvious.
"...Well, I suppose."
I wasn't expecting such a definitive answer.
"Jae-heon-ssi."
"Yes?"
"The world is in danger of ending every day anyway."
Yu Daon blinked as she looked at me.
"So, if we just keep living while doing the work we always do, isn't that the same as preventing the world's end?"
Saying that, Yu Daon gave a soft smile. I just stared at her blankly and shrugged.
"Can't say you're wrong."
Yeah. Every day is dangerous.
Thinking that, I sent a text to the Branch Chief.
<Hello, Branch Chief. This is Kim Jae-heon from the HR Team. I am planning to lead an incursion to the church denomination side shortly.>
Not long after, a reply came.
<Kim Jae-heon-ssi.,.,! Hello^^;;>
<I've been trying to make my speech style a bit cuter lately. Is it any better now?^^;;>
<But, the church denomination, all of a sudden? -_-;;>
<It's a bit bewildering, shall I say? Are you planning to start a war or something?>
I quietly read the Branch Chief's text.
Yeah. He's definitely gotten younger.
Seems like he's regressed to about his early twenties.
If this goes on a bit longer, he might even start texting like a teenager.
No. Maybe by the time that day comes, he'll be able to use modern messengers.
<I plan to look into matters related to Kang-byeon. And it seems some of my personal circumstances are involved.>
This time, it took quite a while for a reply to come.
<I don't think it's a good idea hehe...>
<It's true that you have personal circumstances, but since the Management Bureau is a nationwide organization, it's difficult to accommodate each individual's personal matters. I understand how you feel, Kim Jae-heon-ssi, but I'm worried about the incidents it might unnecessarily provoke.>
The Branch Chief's reply.
It's logical, but...
<It's related to Kang-byeon, so I'd like to resolve it as quickly as possible.>
As soon as I sent that text, my smartphone started ringing immediately.
"Branch Chief."
As soon as I answered, the Branch Chief's voice came through.
<Kim Jae-heon-ssi. Is it really true? Kang-byeon?>
"Yes, it is."
<...Kang-byeon is one of the Management Bureau's long-standing aspirations.>
The Branch Chief muttered in a calm voice.
<It's also the reason there are four Management Bureaus in this small patch of land.>
"That's right."
<So, when you suddenly bring that up, I suppose you could say we get our hopes up... Given all that you've shown us, Kim Jae-heon-ssi, we do grant you considerable leeway... But still...>
The Branch Chief trailed off over the receiver.
"Is there no way we coul-"
<You know that I absolutely never convey such information through personal email, text, or any form of telecommunications, right?>
The Branch Chief's voice vibrated in my eardrum.
<All dangerous information is strictly prohibited according to information and communications security protocols. It can only be done through analog means, a very dangerous method. You know full well that I would never inform you, Kim Jae-heon-ssi, through a letter or any such method, right?>
"...I understand."
<That's a relief!>
The Branch Chief's voice brightened noticeably upon hearing my answer.
<I'm so glad Kim Jae-heon-ssi understands me so well!>
"I apologize for making such an unreasonable request."
<What's there to apologize for between us!>
The Branch Chief shouted cheerfully and hung up immediately.
"Team Leader, our team's mailbox is still there, right?"
"It is."
My Team Leader answered calmly to my question. I got up from my seat and walked out the door.
As soon as I reached the HR team's mailbox, I saw a single brown document envelope.
Tearing open the seal, a few sheets of paper came out.
[The Church, the Denomination. A place entangled with various religions.]
[Its largest stronghold was completely destroyed by Kim Jae-heon of the Gangseo Branch HR Team.]
[However, the stronghold of the Personal God has not yet been dismantled.]
[Due to the Management Bureau's incursion and successful destruction, the Church and Denomination side are now extremely wary of the Bureau.]
[Thus, a cautious approach is necessary.]
[If the existence of the Unique God is confirmed, or if even a fraction of the Unique God's wish is received, the Management Bureau side is expected to suffer significant losses, so repeated caution is emphasized.]
[However, if the existence of the Unique God is eliminated, this would also resolve one of the Management Bureau's long-standing aspirations.]
"..."
Beneath that was an address.
This is it.
Should I tell Eileen about this?
After a moment's contemplation, I simply put the papers inside my coat.
Eileen's story is already over.
After freeing her family from heaven with her own hands and releasing those trapped beneath, Eileen's past has concluded.
There's no need to call her back into this hell once more.
Then, is it right to call others either?
I unfolded the paper and read it again.
[However, the stronghold of the Personal God has not yet been dismantled.]
Perhaps the path ahead will be even more difficult than before.
I don't have the confidence to go alone, but I also feel bad about calling others.
What should I do?
I closed my eyes for a moment in thought, then opened them.
"Let's go."
Someone grabbed my arm and pulled.
Lifting my head, I saw dull blonde hair fluttering before my eyes.
A small frame, but a strength that didn't match it. A determined stride led me forward.
"Eileen-ssi?"
"The Branch Chief called."
Her voice was calm.
Following her, we passed through the corridor to the parking lot, where Yu Daon, Jang Chae-yeon, and even Song A-rin were already waiting.
"He was worried you'd go alone."
"I always feel this way, but you all know me too well."
"You do tend to feel a sense of debt towards others."
Eileen said lightly as she opened the car door.
"Let's go. I'll drive."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
To my question, laden with many meanings, she simply nodded calmly.
"Honestly, if you went alone and died, and I had to attend your funeral, I think I'd break down right there."
With a bitter smile, she started the car.
With the smooth sound of the engine, the car carrying the five of us set off.