This place that is simply called the 'company'…
Team 1, which is said to be the most militant even in this place…
Jang Sejong, the new employee and therefore the newest to this team, was walking past the employee break room with a lot of files in his hands.
He could hear some whispers through the slightly opened break room door.
"Don't you think that team leader Kim Rok Soo has become a bit weird?"
Flinch. He stopped walking.
Although the voice was so quiet that regular ability users would not be able to hear, this newbie, Jang Sejong, could hear it because he had a sensory-related ability.
"Mm."
"Seriously, don't you think that is the case? It looks like he might be burnt out, but… it also looks like… he might have gone crazy… Drinking at work-"
"…You talk like this is the first time that bastard Kim Rok Soo has been weird. He's always been a crazy bastard."
The brusque voice was Park Kyung Ho's voice.
He had joined the company at the same time as team leader Kim Rok Soo and was the Team 2 leader right now. However, he was said to be promoted soon.
"No, he is a crazy bastard, but… He's never been a crazy bastard in this way. Something, something seems weird."
"I thought you were busy? Stop being nosy and focus on your own work."
Screeeech. Park Kyung Ho stopped talking and the break room door opened immediately.
Jang Sejong flinched after making eye contact with Park Kyung Ho. Team 2 leader Park Kyung Ho, who was called the Spearman of Thunder, scowled after looking at Jang Sejong.
Flick.
However, he simply motioned with his head for Jang Sejong to move along and Jang Sejong bowed while curled up in fear and quickly walked past the break room to his office.
"Haaaaa."
Jang Sejong let out a light sigh.
He could not brush aside what he had heard in the break room.
"…Somewhat-"
As the person talking to Park Kyung Ho had said…
Team leader Kim Rok Soo…
"He really has somewhat become weird."
Jang Sejong thought about Kim Rok Soo's odd changes that the whole company was talking about and then recalled the moment two weeks ago when it had started.
Two weeks ago was the first time that Kim Rok Soo missed work at the company without notice.
"What? Team leader-nim is not here yet?"
Assistant Leader Kim Min Ah, who had been dispatched in the morning, frowned while looking at Jang Sejong. Jang Sejong looked a bit scared as he nodded his head.
"Yes, yes ma'am. The team leader-nim has not come yet."
"Wasn't his time off until yesterday?"
A Support Agent, Jung So Hoon, chimed in as well.
"Yes, ma'am. It was until yesterday and he should have been back at work today."
"…Something is weird."
Agent Jung So Hoon immediately picked up his coat.
Assistant Leader Kim Min Ah quickly scribbled something and handed it to Jang Sejong.
"Hand this to Agent Cha. I'm going to go see the team leader-nim."
Jung So Hoon and Kim Min Ah… The looks on their faces were quite serious.
Jang Sejong could clearly hear their extremely quiet whisper as they left the office.
"Do you think the team leader-nim fainted after pushing himself too much these days?"
"Agent Jung, have you ever seen the team leader-nim faint? He's the type of person who would call first even if he was going to faint. This… Something must have happened."
"…Do you think one of the illegal guilds attacked the team leader-nim's house?"
Agent Jung So Hoon's voice was slightly shaking from anxiety.
"Or maybe an assassin dispatched from overseas abducted the team leader-nim. Ah, I have a bad feeling about this. Doesn't the team leader-nim live in the outskirts of the city? I'm sure the security there isn't good either. Should I contact the Team 2 leader?"
"Calm down. We will decide after going to the team leader-nim's house."
"Haaaaaaaaa. Okay. But why does someone like the team leader-nim who makes a ton of money living in the outskirts of the city?"
"Who knows? He said he needs a lot of money to become a farmer later."
Jang Sejong looked around after watching two of his company seniors leaving.
There was nobody in the office.
Jang Sejong was the only newcomer this year.
"Mm."
He looked at team leader Kim Rok Soo's seat with an anxious look on his face. There weren't even many office supplies in that empty spot.
Kim Rok Soo.
Jang Sejong had not really known that name prior to coming here. In fact, Team 2 leader Park Kyung Ho was the famous one while the name, Kim Rok Soo, was unfamiliar.
However, gathering information about the company after deciding to come here, he was able to learn that Kim Rok Soo was quite famous not just in the company, but also throughout the industry and with the government and guilds.
Although he had not known the name because this person doesn't show himself in the media, he was the leader of Team 1, the greatest force in the company, as well as implicitly the leader of the company's battle agents in the 'Body.'
Furthermore, even the people in charge of the 'Head' were said to be unable to hold in their admiration at Kim Rok Soo's abilities.
One of the nicknames they had for Kim Rok Soo was cold-blooded.
Jang Sejong had thought that this was a negative nickname for him.
However, he couldn't help but gasp after learning the reason for this nickname.
Team 1's mortality rate was 0% since Kim Rok Soo became team leader.
They had also not failed any of the missions they were assigned.
Kim Rok Soo was said to come up with a thorough plan and complete the mission under any and all circumstances, even if he was lacking the resources to do so.
Furthermore, many people's abilities developed even further when they were in his team.
That was why he was said to have received this evaluation.
'Kim Rok Soo truly is the person to follow after Lee Soo Hyuk.'
That was what they were saying.
Jang Sejong could feel Kim Rok Soo's amazingness after hearing the name, Lee Soo Hyuk.
Lee Soo Hyuk.
That was a name that was brought up every time the history of Korea after the cataclysm was mentioned. Furthermore, that person was the foundation of this company and the source of its creation.
Of course, he has passed away now.
Team leader Kim Rok Soo was said to be the person who survived the battle where Lee Soo Hyuk passed away.
"Mm."
Jang Sejong recalled that moment when he heard that Kim Rok Soo truly is the person to follow after Lee Soo Hyuk. Team 2 leader Park Kyung Ho had said something when he heard that.
He had been mumbling as if he was discontent about something. Jang Sejong had been the only one to hear it.
'…There were two people who were supposed to follow after Lee Soo Hyuk.'
Jang Sejong wondered if Park Kyung Ho was talking about himself, but it did not sound that way. It sounded more like there was someone else in addition to Kim Rok Soo.
"…Anyway, I hope it is nothing serious."
Jang Sejong tried to suppress the worry in his heart.
When he was assigned to the cold-blooded Kim Rok Soo's Team 1… Jang Sejong had been quite nervous. However, Kim Rok Soo had been a bit different from what he had expected when he met him in person.
'Nice to meet you, Mr. Jang Sejong.'
"Hello, Team leader-nim! Please speak informally.'
'Okay then.'
Kim Rok Soo had called him by name and greeted him as soon as he saw him, even though Jang Sejong had not introduced himself.
He had a cold look on his face and had a mysterious aura about him. He gave off the aura of a leader who had gone through many life-or-death situations and successfully completed missions?
A somewhat relaxed yet sharp aura was surrounding him.
'Let's survive here a long time, make a lot of money, and retire.'
However, there was at least a little bit of warmth in the words he nonchalantly said to this new employee.
'What about food? You must make sure to eat.'
'Go home. Newbies can slowly learn.'
'You're living on your own? What about your meals? You just eat whatever?'
In his cold and nonchalant face with his stoic voice… Kim Rok Soo looked after Jang Sejong, completely unlike his cold-blooded nickname.
Jang Sejong was still in his probationary period and could not be a part of the strategy meetings or go out to mission, making him not work with the team leader yet, however…
Kim Rok Soo had said the following to Jang Sejong after stopping by the office a few days ago, completely covered in blood after a mission.
'There's a side dish shop not too far from here. I paid for a few side dishes there. Make sure to take them when you go home.'
'You need to eat properly. I heard you were a support but wanted to be in the field? Fitness is a basic requirement for that.'
Kim Rok Soo seemed like a good leader.
That must be why all of Team 1 follows Kim Rok Soo.
Jang Sejong prayed that there weren't any issues with the team leader.
"…Assistant Leader-nim?"
However, Assistant Leader Kim Min Ah's face looked quite weird after returning from going to see Kim Rok Soo.
She had a serious look on her face but also seemed to kind of be blanking out while also having an oddly iffy look.
Jang Sejong called out to her again.
"Assistant Leader-nim?"
"Huh? Ah, ah. What is it?"
"Is the team leader-nim okay?"
"Ah."
Kim Min Ah smiled awkwardly.
"Yes. He's fine. I think he was just tired from pushing himself too much."
"Really?"
"Yes. Really."
"Then will he be coming to work tomorrow?"
Kim Min Ah had an odd look on her face after hearing that question before shaking her head.
"No. I think he will be resting for about a week."
She then left the office saying that she needed to check how much PTO the team leader-nim had left.
Jang Sejong heard about it later, but this was the first time Kim Rok Soo ever used over a week's worth of PTO at once.
Jang Sejong was able to hear the things Kim Min Ah was mumbling extremely quietly as she left the office.
"…My goodness, it makes no sense."
She did not say anything else after that.
However, Jang Sejong was certain that although Kim Min Ah was saying the team leader was fine, something more serious than he had expected must have happened to Kim Rok Soo.
That had to be the case.
One week. Something was different about team leader Kim Rok Soo when he came back after his time off.
"Team leader-nim! Welcome sir!"
Jang Sejong unexpectedly jumped up and greeted Kim Rok Soo because he was happy to see Kim Rok Soo.
At that moment…
Smile.
Kim Rok Soo smiled at him.
Jang Sejong couldn't help but flinch. He had seen Kim Rok Soo smile coldly a few times, but he had never seen him smile like this before.
He had a hard to approach aura just like before, but something seemed different.
He was cold and rational before but now, he seemed a bit different.
'…He seems elegant?'
Jang Sejong's mind blanked out after having that thought about Kim Rok Soo's smile.
'No.'
Rather than elegant-
'Class-'
It seemed full of class.
Kim Rok Soo's smile seemed extremely noble.
"Long time no see."
Although it was definitely Kim Rok Soo's voice and he was greeting him the same way as usual…
The tone was a bit different.
It was still cynical but somewhat elegant.
'What the hell?'
Jang Sejong pupils were shaking. He looked around.
Team leader Kim Rok Soo who had returned to work after a week off… The reactions from the team members were the same as Jang Sejong's if not worse.
All of their pupils were shaking.
Team leader Kim Rok Soo sat down on his chair.
Screeeech.
"Ho."
Someone gasped.
Kim Rok Soo leaned back on the chair almost as if he was lying down. It was different from how he usually sat up straight because he needed to take care of documents as soon as he got to work.
Shhhhh.
The way Kim Rok Soo slowly reached his hand out to grab a payment document oddly caught people's attention.
Kim Rok Soo looked around the office at that moment. He frowned.
"What are you all looking at?"
Jang Sejong wondered if this expression was right, but the way he slightly frowned seemed a bit trashy unlike Team leader Kim Rok Soo's usual stoic and cold expression.
"Are you not going to work?"
However, his slightly annoyed tone of voice, the movement of his hands, and his gestures all seemed full of class. This was the only way to describe it.
'What the hell?'
Jang Sejong subconsciously turned toward the two people who came to work with Kim Rok Soo.
Assistant Leader Kim Min Ah and Agent Jung So Hoon.
The two of them smiled awkwardly as Jang Sejong and the other team members turned to look at them.
That was the beginning.
"Delicious."
"Excuse me?"
Jang Sejong blankly watched as Kim Rok Soo sliced a piece of tonkatsu. Everybody else had left for work and only Jang Sejong and team leader Kim Rok Soo were in the office.
That was why the two of them ended up eating lunch together.
"This is new."
"Excuse me?"
"Mm. I won't have to worry about it suiting my taste."
"Excuse me?"
Slice. Slice.
Kim Rok Soo looked extremely relaxed and experienced as he sliced through the tonkatsu as if it was steak.
The way he wiped his mouth with the napkin was so overflowing with class that it seemed too much.
However, a desolate-looking person acting like this as if it was normal made it seem quite fitting.
"It would be great if I had some wine with it."
"Excuse me?"
Jang Sejong blankly asked but Kim Rok Soo commented as if he wasn't interested at all.
"I should drink."
"Excuse me?!"
Jang Sejong looked at Kim Rok Soo in shock.
He wasn't the only one. This was quite a popular tonkatsu shop in front of the company, which meant that there were a lot of people from other departments as well.
'!'
They were all looking at Kim Rok Soo in shock as well.
The cold-blooded Kim Rok Soo had taken a week off. Many people were curious about that.
"Y, you're going to drink right now, team leader-nim?"
"Ah."
Kim Rok Soo sighed so beautifully that it looked like a scene straight out of a painting and brushed his hair back. He had been brushing his hair back like this since coming to work this morning despite his hair being short and not having anything to brush back.
"Tsk."
Kim Rok Soo clicked his tongue.
"I want to drink. But I guess I can't do that at work."
"…."
"I guess this aspect is uncomfortable."
'…What is uncomfortable?'
Jang Sejong wanted to ask but could not do so.
Instead, they ran into Team 2 leader, Park Kyung Ho, and Director Ma on their way back to the office.
"Hooooo. How are you feeling, team leader Kim?"
Director Ma.
Although Jang Sejong didn't know very well as he was a new employee, this person supposedly clashed against team 1 quite often. This person, who was one of the permanent directors, was famous for being more interested in politics than what happened in the company.
"Wow, Team leader Kim resting for a week. How amazing."
Director Ma smiled slyly but his gaze showed no signs of goodwill.
Director Ma made another comment as Jang Sejong became tense.
"You didn't even take a break when Team leader Lee passed away. I guess you want to rest while working now?"
Jang Sejong saw Team 2 leader Park Kyung Ho scowl at that moment. Park Kyung Ho was cautiously peeking at Kim Rok Soo at the same time.
Park Kyung Ho knew that talking about Lee Soo Hyuk and his team members was one of the things you should never bring up in front of Kim Rok Soo.
This was the first time Jang Sejong ever saw Park Kyung Ho being so cautious around someone. It didn't seem like the same Park Kyung Ho who was always grumbling to Kim Rok Soo. He immediately opened his mouth.
"Director Ma! What you said just now seems a bit much-"
"Why is it too much? I simply told the truth. Isn't that right, team leader Kim?"
It was at that moment.
"Pffft."
They heard a scoff.
Jang Sejong looked to his side.
Kim Rok Soo was standing there quite crooked with his arms crossed. He was slowly looking at Director Ma from head to toe.
And then…
"Pffft."
He laughed.
It was a scoff similar to before. Anybody would be able to tell that he was sneering. If not sneering, it would make it seem as if he thought nothing of Director Ma.
However, it was only for an instant.
'Eek!'
Team leader Kim Rok Soo smiled brightly.
A smile appearing on his cold face seemed awkward but they couldn't help but look at this extremely radiant smile.
Team leader Kim Rok Soo calmly spoke with the smile on his face.
"Haaaa. Makes me want to quit."
'!'
'!'
Jang Sejong and Park Kyung Ho looked at Kim Rok Soo in shock.
"W, what?"
Director Ma subconsciously stuttered.
Quit?!
Kim Rok Soo, the cold-blooded Kim Rok Soo wants to quit?!
Kim Rok Soo, the person who had done the most work in this company and had been the most passionate talking about quitting?!
This was unbelievable.
However, Kim Rok Soo stared at Director Ma with a piercing gaze before mumbling with the smile still on his face.
"Or should I flip everything over?"
Director Ma's shoulders flinched.
He wanted to say something about how rude this punk was being to him, but he could not do so because Kim Rok Soo was someone who would flip things over if he wanted to do so.
Furthermore, although Kim Rok Soo's smile was radiant, the elegance was gone and he looked like a neighborhood thug.
Of course, this was all just Jang Sejong's observation.
Kim Rok Soo walked up to Director Ma and put a hand on his stiff shoulder.
Pat pat. Kim Rok Soo patted his shoulder and gently spoke.
"Director Ma-nim."
Team 2 leader realized that Kim Rok Soo's gaze was different from usual.
He could feel more years of experience behind those eyes than the original Kim Rok Soo. It was a weird feeling.
Kim Rok Soo whispered to Director Ma.
"Peacefully. Hmm? Let's live peacefully."
He then removed his hand from Director Ma's shoulder. He pulled out a handkerchief from his inner pocket and wiped his palm.
They wondered why he had a handkerchief, but Kim Rok Soo's next comment made both Director Ma and Park Kyung Ho slightly tense.
"Director Ma-nim. There is nobody here who knows more about my position in this company than me. What are you going to do if I quit? Hmm?"
Director Ma's mouth closed shut while Park Kyung Ho's jaw dropped a bit.
'For Kim Rok Soo to say such things-'
Kim Rok Soo was similar to Lee Soo Hyuk.
In this company…
There was nobody to lead Team 1 if Kim Rok Soo was to quit right now. Furthermore, there was nobody to be the leader of the Body side either.
This was not an issue of promotion. There was nobody who could compare to Kim Rok Soo both in the field and in the office.
Director Ma?
Kim Rok Soo was worth much more than this old ass snake trying to maintain his position.
However, Kim Rok Soo had never stated this fact out loud before. Park Kyung Ho could tell that Kim Rok Soo had changed a bit.
It wasn't his appearance or abilities or things like that, but more so his thoughts and values.
"Pffft."
Kim Rok Soo chuckled and walked past Director Ma.
"Please enjoy your lunch, Director Ma. You as well, Team leader Park."
Everything he did looked relaxed. He seemed quite used to things like this.
Quite a lot of people had seen what just happened outside the company. Included in that group were not just company employees, but also numerous people from the guilds and the government.
Everybody was looking at Kim Rok Soo with shock but Kim Rok Soo brushed this kind of attention as normal before leisurely walking into the company.
His walking looked oddly lazy yet elegant.
Jang Sejong could see Assistant Leader Kim Min Ah, who had been on her way back, covering her face with both hands.
What was going on right now?
"Ah, hold on."
"Excuse me?"
"Someone I know is here so I'm going to chat with them for a bit before going back."
"…Of course, team leader-nim."
Kim Rok Soo headed to a side alley by the company. Jang Sejong saw a person wearing a black hat and a leather jacket standing in the alley before turning away.
"Newbie."
It was because Kim Min Ah pulled Jang Sejong's arm.
"Assistant Leader-nim?"
"Haaaa. I guess I have no choice. You should know about it as well."
"Excuse me?"
Kim Min Ah pulled Jang Sejong to their office before confirming that nobody was around and then finally speaking.
"There's a bit of an issue with the team leader-nim."
"Excuse me? What do y…?!"
"His memory-"
Kim Min Ah looked uncertain even though she was the one speaking.
"He said that there are things he doesn't remember."
"Excuse me?"
Jang Sejong subconsciously made a comment.
"He was very good with his work despite this so-called memory loss? It seems more like his personality than his memory-"
"Shh."
Kim Min Ah quickly covered Jang Sejong's mouth.
"Anyway… That is what the team leader told me. So let's just go along with it for now."
"…Yes, ma'am. I understand."
"Newbie, you know this is information we can't let anybody else find out, right?"
There is an issue with Team 1 leader's memories.
People finding out about this would lead not just Kim Rok Soo, but Team 1 and even the entire company to danger.
A leader's weakness could bring forth hostility from their enemies.
"Anyway, I'm telling you because you seem to have many reasons to be with the team leader-nim."
"Yes, ma'am. I understand. I will keep my mouth shut."
Kim Min Ah smiled while looking at the solemn look on their smart newbie's face.
Twenty years old. Jang Sejong, the youngest applicant, had been close to being cut. However, Kim Rok Soo had looked at his resume and selected him at the last minute.
'His abilities are on the sensory and brain side but he wants to be in the vanguard and not be a supporter?'
Kim Rok Soo then watched Jang Sejong's interview and test footage before choosing him for Team 1. He said that this applicant showed a lot of potential.
There was a reason that Jang Sejong was going around to a lot of places with the team leader. Of course, Jang Sejong did not seem to know about this at all.
"Anyway, don't make it obvious you know when the team leader-nim comes back. I'll tell him that you know about it, but you know how it'll seem if you make it obvious, don't you?"
"Definitely."
"Okay, so who did the team leader-nim say he was meeting?"
"I don't know either, Assistant leader-nim. I didn't see the person's face."
"Really?"
Kim Min Ah wondered if Kim Min Ah had anybody to meet with like that but chose to stop thinking about it.
Kim Rok Soo was in the back alley by the company at that moment. He was meeting someone in a place without much foot traffic.
"I was waiting for you."
Kim Rok Soo was observing the person with a more relaxed position than he had shown inside the company but an extremely slanted position that showed his years of experience.
"You're the punk that the god sent, right?"
The man wearing the black hat and black leather jacket slowly nodded his head.
"Yes. The God of Death sent me."
His dark brown hair appeared under the black hat. He then asked a question.
"You're Cale Henituse, right?"
Team leader Kim Rok Soo. No, Cale Henituse started to smile.
"Yes. That's right. Are you the god's lackey?"
Haha-"
The man who laughed out loud after being called a lackey slightly raised his hat.
The man with dark brown and black eyes was looking at Cale Henituse with an odd gaze.
"A lackey? Yes. I guess it could seem that way. I am working for the God of Death right now after all."
He approached Cale Henituse, who looked like Kim Rok Soo right now.
"Are you not having any issues adjusting?"
"I'm having quite a lot."
Cale Henituse grumbled without being able to hide his annoyance.
"Foundational information about friends at work, the work itself, and daily life are all in my head so there's no issues there, but…"
He then pointed to himself.
"Even if I see this Kim Rok Soo guy working through information, I can't help but be inconsistent because I haven't received all of his memories."
He then shrugged his shoulders.
"Of course, I wouldn't have been able to complain much even if I came to this world without any information. That wasn't the important part of my deal with the God of Death."
Of course, it had been chaotic when Cale Henituse opened his eyes in Kim Rok Soo's body. However, all of those things were minor issues.
Going back to the first time he met Choi Han to change the fate of the world while he entered into the body of someone named Kim Rok Soo in a different world. Those were the conditions of the deal.
Furthermore, other conditions included finding out the truth about his mother's death and saving his territory and his family.
Those were the important contents of this deal and it was enough if those conditions were met. Instead, Cale Henituse was waiting for important information. He was certain that the God of Death would give him information.
"Where is she?"
He walked toward the man as he asked.
"Where is my mother?"
In this place…
Somewhere in this world…
Somewhere in this dangerous world where monsters resided…
His mother was alive.
Her reincarnation was here.
"There is a child."
The man in the black hat responded.
"There was an incident a few years ago where quite a lot of people died because of an attack by an unranked monster. A child lost her parents during that time and was left alone. She was sent to an orphanage and is currently growing up there."
The now Kim Rok Soo Cale Henituse had basic information about Korean life in his mind. The God of Death had provided that information to Cale Henituse out of consideration for opening his eyes in a new world.
"…And the location?"
"Here."
The man handed Cale Henituse a piece of paper. Cale immediately opened it. His hands were slightly shaking.
The address of a certain orphanage was written there. Cale's eyes were scrunching as he read those words.
The man continued to speak.
"The child watched her parents pass away. It caused her quite a lot of shock mentally and she has yet to recover from it. She is suffering from serious trauma."
The man looked at Cale Henituse as he continued.
"So don't rush it."
Cale looked away from the paper and at the man.
The innocent-looking man calmly commented.
"Slowly. It will be best to approach her slowly. Her wariness will only increase if you rush it."
Cale's dark brown eyes looked into the man's black eyes.
The man smiled weakly at his gaze and continued speaking.
"Also, her dream seemed to be becoming an ability user. Kim Rok Soo, the guy whose body you are in right now, is someone with quite the abilities."
"I'm aware of that."
"Really? You're already finished analyzing the condition of that body?"
"No. I know what powers he possesses despite not finishing the analysis."
"I guess Kim Rok Soo's powers are not something you can figure out at once. That punk has multiple abilities."
The man was about to say something but closed his mouth for a moment.
He then eventually resumed speaking. His voice was even calmer as if the emotions had disappeared.
"Anyway, Kim Rok Soo's abilities should be able to help her a lot since that child wants to become an ability user."
"I see."
Cale nodded his head and asked the man in front of him a question.
"But why are you being so nice to tell me all of these things? You could have just told me where she was and left."
He asked the silent man a question.
"Did you know this Kim Rok Soo person?"
"…I."
The man who looked much younger than Kim Rok Soo, who was currently in his mid-thirties, continued with a calm look on his face.
"I am temporarily in charge of you."
"…Does that mean that you will be the one to show up if I run into any problems or there are messages to be delivered to me?"
"Something like that."
Cale nodded his head and nonchalantly asked.
"What is your name?"
"…Why do you care about my name?"
"You know my name and the truth about who I am. I should at least know who you are. It's obvious you know this Kim Rok Soo guy."
Cale, who was asking the question while standing crooked, did not hide his wariness while in Kim Rok Soo's body.
"Haaa." The man let out a short sigh before responding.
"Choi Jung Soo. My name is Choi Jung Soo."
He lowered his hat again.
He spoke to his friend who was now in his mid-thirties, no, the random person who was now in his friend's body.
"It is the name of someone who has already died here."
Cale's pupils shook slightly. Choi Jung Soo pretended not to notice as he continued speaking.
"Furthermore, I am the dead friend of Kim Rok Soo, the guy whose body you are in."
They were both silent for a moment.
Cale pointed to his body and asked.
"…Is this guy living well?"
Choi Jung Soo shook his head.
"Even I don't know yet."
"Mm."
Cale groaned before nonchalantly commenting.
"I think that I will live well."
He smiled at Choi Jung Soo, who was looking at him. He clenched the paper in his hand.
"I think that I will live very well in this body. I have a hunch that that will be the case."
The corners of Choi Jung Soo's lips curled up.
"That's a response I like."
"Right?"
Cale put the piece of paper in his pocket as he spoke.
"Anyway, I think I'm going to make a move right away."
"Okay. Go ahead."
"See you again next time."
KRS Cale quickly exited the alley. (TL: She keeps writing Cale Henituse in Kim Rok Soo's appearance. It's repetitive and annoying so KRS Cale it is).
The elegance was gone and he looked a bit excited and anxious.
Choi Jung Soo watched him for a moment before quietly mumbling.
"…It'll be better if you don't see me."
A black shadow started to cover Choi Jung Soo in the alley.
Chhhhhhhhh. A half-transparent parchment opened in front of Choi Jung Soo.
Choi Jung Soo read what was written on it before disappearing into the shadows.
"There's so much to do."
Shhhh—
A breeze brushed past the alley.
There was nobody there.
Slam!
The office door slammed over.
"Assistant Leader Kim Min Ah."
"Yes, team leader-nim."
Kim Min Ah's eyes opened wide while looking at the anxious Kim Rok Soo walking toward her.
Kim Rok Soo gave a single comment to the confused woman.
"I'm leaving early today."
"Excuse me?"
Kim Min Ah looked at him in shock but Kim Min Ah grabbed his coat and quickly got ready to leave.
"Leaving early all of a sudden?"
"Yes."
The company was currently rowdy talking about how Kim Rok Soo mentioned quitting or flipping things over in front of Director Ma. However, the person who said those things didn't seem to care about that at all.
"I already did all of my work for the day. Did you know that?"
Kim Rok Soo asked Agent Jung So Hoon once they made eye contact and Jung So Hoon evaded his gaze as he responded.
"You did do everything, team leader-nim. But to suddenly leave early like this-"
"Haaaa."
KRS Cale let out a short sigh.
He wanted to get to where his mother was as quickly as possible.
"The team leader position has so many uncomfortable things. Should I just become the CEO to do as I please?"
This Cale Henituse had lived as a noble and had even battled in the War of the Western continent and gone up against the White Star. Based on what he had observed, the person in this body, Kim Rok Soo, could easily take the CEO position if he wanted to do so.
Cale Henituse, no, team leader Kim Rok Soo, headed toward the door as if he had not said anything while all of Team 1 was looking at him in shock.
"Ah."
He stopped for a moment and patted the newbie Jang Sejong's shoulder before walking past him.
"I put in an order with the side dish store so make sure to take it."
"Ah."
Jang Sejong blankly watched Kim Rok Soo's sudden action before realizing something after hearing those words.
'He's the same.'
Although his actions and tone had changed, the things about him that made Jang Sejong listen to the team leader whom he had only known for two weeks had not changed.
He was stoic but cared about the people around him and worried about his team members. That had not changed.
"Are you going somewhere, team leader-nim?"
Jung So Hoon snapped out of him and asked Kim Rok Soo, who stopped moving for a moment.
Then an odd smile appeared on his face.
Excitement, joy, some concern, and tension were visible in that smile.
He spoke in a calm yet slightly shaking voice.
"I may end up getting a new family."
Kim Rok Soo then walked out of the office.
Silence filled the office.
"…Ha!"
Agent Jung So Hoon looked at the air and laughed.
Jang Sejong suddenly felt the mood in the office get brighter.
"Now I won't need to worry about him dying!"
His seniors showed their agreement at Agent Cha's comments and smiles appeared on their faces.
Now back to the present… Jang Sejong, who was walking with a pile of documents, watched as Team 1's office door burst open.
"That trash-like bastard!"
"Haaaaa."
Director Ma and General Manager Kim came out of the office angry or sighing.
"H, hello sirs."
Jang Sejong looked extremely scared as he greeted the two of them but they just walked past while ignoring him. The employees from the secretary's office greeted him with their eyes as they followed behind the two men.
'Mm.'
Jang Sejong, who had a pretty good idea as to what might have happened, walked through the open office door.
Team leader Kim Rok Soo was seated at a table he presumed a meeting must have been taking place until just now and waving at him.
He looked extremely relaxed and free while sitting crooked on the chair.
Of course, the hand that was holding the cup of green tea was extremely elegant.
"How about ramen for lunch today?"
"…Team leader-nim. Did you argue with them again?"
"What? I didn't say anything. All I said was that I wanted to quit."
Kim Rok Soo shrugged his shoulders as if he had no idea.
Cold-blooded Kim Rok Soo was starting to get a new nickname.
'I want to quit' Kim Rok Soo.
That was his new nickname.
If Director Ma, the guilds, or foreign organizations tried to pull any kind of funny business, he would talk about quitting and put the whole company in uproar.
His superiors were saying that he was arrogant and unprincipled, and they were even cursing him out and calling him trash.
"…Hmm. What should I buy? Hey newbie, do you know what kind of books kids read these days?"
"I'm not sure, team leader-nim."
Jang Sejong thought that Kim Rok Soo seemed the same as usual.
Of course, his posture and the atmosphere around him did change, but…
"Team leader-nim, is it really okay to keep angering Director Ma like this?"
Kim Rok Soo slowly responded to Agent Cha's question.
"We should get rid of people who don't take care of their responsibilities properly."
The atmosphere around him was sharp as if he had not been lazing around. They could feel the sharpness and years of experience of a person who had been through numerous life or death situations.
Of course, these were not based on Kim Rok Soo's experiences. Cale Henituse, who was currently using this body, had also been through many battles and wars, giving him a sharp aura.
The two of their auras were similar.
Maybe this was an aura only those who had lost loved ones and continued to fight could have.
Kim Rok Soo was different but still their same team leader to the team members who had no way of knowing about that.
"Haaaaaaaaa. I want to drink. Should I ditch work?"
Other than when he acted like this that is.
"Mm."
KRS Cale opened his eyes.
"How amazing."
He looked around.
He could see the office where he had been working late until just now.
'…When did I fall asleep?'
He had fallen asleep without realizing it and had met the 'real Kim Rok Soo' in his dream. That person was the true owner of this body and the person who was in Cale Henituse's body in another world.
It was quite unconventional to meet him.
"Hmm."
He turned his head.
It was dark outside as it was night time.
He could see his reflection on the window.
"Yeah."
'I'm Kim Rok Soo now.'
He decided not to think of himself as Cale Henituse anymore.
He was now Kim Rok Soo.
He recalled the words he had said to the other world's Cale Henituse.
'I plan on living the rest of my life in this body. That's why I plan on throwing away the name of Cale Henituse and living as Kim Rok Soo.'
'I'm going to make sure to save this world I'm living in right now. I'll make it so that the people around me can live in peace.'
Ding-!
Kim Rok Soo unlocked his phone after hearing it go off.
Uncle, when are you coming tomorrow?
A smile appeared on Kim Rok Soo's face after checking the text message.
Tomorrow was when he was going to the orphanage to see his reincarnated mother, no, his niece. The child who had been full of wariness and fear was now listening to him and calling him uncle.
He was planning on going through the procedures to truly become family with this niece in the near future. Even without thinking about the fact that this girl was his reincarnated mother, she was a precious member of his family now.
He looked at the text and opened his mouth.
"Choi Jung Soo."
"What is it?"
Choi Jung Soo, who was still wearing the black hat and black leather jacket, was standing in a corner of the office looking at Kim Rok Soo.
Choi Jung Soo had entered without making any noise but Kim Rok Soo did not find this to be odd. Choi Jung Soo always appeared out of nowhere.
"Do you have no thoughts about going to see Cale Henituse?"
"…."
A relaxed smile appeared on Kim Rok Soo's face.
"You should live a more peaceful life too."
"I don't think you should be saying that while working late."
"I guess that's true."
Kim Rok Soo watched as Choi Jung Soo slowly disappeared into the shadow and asked again.
"When are you planning on going to meet him?"
"In the near future."
A smile slowly appeared on Choi Jung Soo's face.
"I plan on seeing him in the near future."
"The way you phrased it sounds a bit odd? Are you saying that you are going to go see him but that he might not know that you are there?"
"Who knows?"
Choi Jung Soo let out a low laugh before disappearing into the shadow.
Kim Rok Soo watched the darkness that remained before picking up his pen again.
He needed to quickly finish this late day of work and prepare to go see his niece tomorrow.
"Busy, busy."
The smile on Kim Rok Soo's face did not disappear despite his grumbling.