Chapter 1: Misunderstanding (1)

Chapter 1: Misunderstanding (1)

Translator: Dreamscribe

“I am resigning.”

In the cramped CEO’s office, a rather tall man declared decisively.

“I have organized the tasks I was in charge of so that there will be no problems. I’ll stop here.”

A man revealing his intention to resign with great calmness. Short hair with a strong impression. His name is Kang Woo-jin. Looking at him, the CEO, who looked like a pudgy toad, laughed in disbelief.

“Ha! You’re going to quit? You fool! Do you think the design industry here is as vast as China? It’s so damn narrow here. What will happen if you quit rashly? Do you think changing jobs is easy? Huh?”

The CEO blurted out complaints mixed with annoyance and mockery. However, Kang Woojin, who stood there calmly, didn’t respond.

‘Job change or whatever, it’s none of your business now, you toad bastard.’

Right now, he just wanted to go home as quickly as possible. The company Kang Woo-jin was about to leave was a very common design company with about 20 employees.

It was a company that was among the smallest businesses, and one that had a horrible reputation.

From high school to college and until now, Kang Woo-jin, who has been designing all his life, was in his fourth year in this damn company. He is now 27 years old.

‘Looking back, I have nothing but crappy memories.’

Although it’s a design company, the nature of a small business meant that aside from design work, there were countless other chores. Moreover, overtime was frequent. Overtime pay? They hardly gave any, and weekend work was common.

Annual leave? What is that, oh- a tea to be boiled and eaten?

And so, Kang Woojin had reached his limit. And today. On Monday morning. Woojin exploded as soon as he saw the toad-like CEO.

Hell, I don’t care, let’s yell it out.

Honestly, Kang Woo-jin had his resignation letter prepared two years ago. Everyone probably feels the same. Anyway, the toad-like CEO, who was glaring at Kang Woo-jin, waved his hand dismissively.

“Ha... unbelievable. Yeah, yeah, get lost, get lost. There are plenty of guys who can do as much as you. Don’t come in from tomorrow.”

At this, Kang Woo-jin replied as if he had been waiting.

“Yes, understood. And please send my unpaid overtime pay and severance pay properly.”



“Hey, you.”

“I’ve roughly calculated it. CEO, I don’t want to make a big deal. Well then.”

Once he made up his mind, words flowed easily. Whispering to himself, Kang Woo-jin politely said goodbye to the toad-like CEO and left the office. Soon, cheers and encouragement poured out for Kang Woo-jin. They were the employees. Well done, I’m jealous, and so on. One of the employees close to Kang Woo-jin approached him.

“I’m envious of your escape. But what are you going to do now?”

What am I going to do? Well. To be honest, he was worried. What will he live on in the future? However, Woo-jin, who decided to set aside his worries for today, replied nonchalantly as he moved to his seat.

“Honestly, I don’t think I’m going to do design anymore. I have a working holiday visa, I’m thinking of maybe going there.”

“Working holiday? Where?”

“Australia.”

So, a few dozen minutes later.

Kang Woo-jin stared blankly at the monitor, his chin resting on his hand. A wave of lost motivation washed over him, now that his resignation had been confirmed.

Then.

-Swoosh.

The weary-faced Kang Woojin picked up his phone. The screen showed unread messages and the time.

→February 3, 2020

→10:22 AM.

Has only 30 minutes passed? Time seemed to stand still. At that moment,

-Bang!

Suddenly, the office door swung open and the toad-like boss rushed in with a red face.

“Hey!! Kang Woojin!”

The shout was undoubtedly directed at Kang Woojin.

“Just get out of here now! I can’t stand the sight of you!!”



At the same time, Woo-jin was cheering inside.

‘This is perfect, I should be thankful.’

***

A week later, in Kang Woo-jin’s one-room apartment, around noon.

Kang Woo-jin lived in the Suji area of Yongin city. His studio apartment was, well, the neatly hung clothes on the wall, was surprisingly tidy. He seemed to be someone who keeps things tidy,

In the middle of such a studio,

“...”

A bum is sprawled out, fast asleep. Of course, it’s Kang Woo-jin. His appearance was the exact opposite of his neat apartment – he looked like a total bum. He was still wearing the padding jacket he wore when he went out yesterday, and his hair, which he had carefully styled, was now disheveled.

Worse yet, there was a strong smell of alcohol every time Kang Woo-jin exhaled. It was due to the heavy drinking he had with his friends last night in celebration of his resignation.

About an hour passed in this state.

“······Ah- shit.”

The bum who had woken up from his sleep, or rather, Kang Woojin, mumbled and groaned while lying down.

“Ugh··· my head’s splitting.”

Holding his head with both hands, Woojin looked around. Huh? Home? How did I get home?

“I remember······going for a second round.”

Everything after that was a blank. His memory was erased. He tried hard to recall the shattered remnants of yesterday, but to no avail. Was it because it had been a while since he had drunk so heavily? Kang Woojin exhaled a long sigh mixed with the smell of alcohol. He gave up trying to remember.

“Huh- I don’t know, I must have somehow made it home.”

Woojin immediately opened a food delivery app. From the moment he opened his eyes, he was craving Mul-Naengmyeon (cold noodle soup). Hangover cure, was the first thing on his mind.

At that moment.

-ring, ring.Ñ00v€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.

The phone with the delivery app opened vibrated with a long vibration. It was a call. The caller was one of Kang Woojin’s closest friends, also a member of last night’s drinking party. His friend’s name was Kim Daeyoung. Subsequently, Kang Woojin, still lying on his side, held the phone to his ear.

“Hey-”

At Woojin’s dying voice, Kim Daeyoung laughed over the phone.

Soon, Kim Daeyoung let his imagination run wild.

“Damn... I just thought about it and it gives me goosebumps.”

While grinning, Kim Daeyoung suddenly looked around at the dozens of participants and clutched his stomach.

“Ah- Hey, I need to take a dump. And it feels a bit soggy.”

“You’re crazy. When is this interview or audition starting?”

“I don’t know, I heard that when the staff calls, we go in.”

“Then ask and get back quickly. Don’t shit yourself while acting.”

However, as if such a scene was unacceptable, Kim Daeyoung jumped up and rushed to a female staff member standing at the entrance of the waiting room. After a brief conversation, he ran out into the corridor.

Looking at his friend, Kang Woojin muttered.

“What a waste.”

He sank deeper into the plastic chair. After about 10 minutes? Kang Woojin, frowning, checked the time on his cell phone. Kim Daeyoung’s return was taking too long.

“Why isn’t that crazy guy coming back?”

It was at this moment.

“Kim Daeyoung, Kim Junsu, Kim Taejung!”

At the front of the waiting room, a male staff member called out to the participants filling the plastic chairs.

“Kim Daeyoung, Kim Junsu, Kim Taejung!!”

Was this in order of name? His friend Kim Daeyoung’s name was called first. Thanks to that, Kang Woojin was slightly flustered when the other participants started to move forward.

Soon.

“Excuse me.”

Kang Woojin raised his hand and called the staff.

“Sorry, my friend Kim Daeyoung is currently in the bathroom... Sorry. I’ll go and get him right now.”

“Ah, he’s in the bathroom? Hmm, just a moment. You’re his friend, right?”

“Yes.”

The male staff member spoke something into the intercom around his neck. What was interesting was that he chuckled at some reply. A mischievous grin characteristic of variety show staff. It looked like they were up to something.

Then, the male staff member spoke to Kang Woojin.

“Then would you like to go in first instead of your friend?”

“Excuse me?”

Are you crazy? Kang Woojin frowned.

“Me?”

“Yes. Your friend is the first one and if things stay this way, Kim Daeyoung will be automatically disqualified. If he’ll be back soon, you can go in and hold a seat. When Kim Dae-young comes, we’ll guide him.”

So, he means it’s better to have someone rather than an empty seat? Well, Kang Woo-jin didn’t quite understand, but he sighed slightly thinking about his friend.

“Where should I go?”

A short while later.

Kang Woojin had arrived at the end of the corridor. There were two other participants seated on a makeshift chair by the door, and Kang Woojin was guided into the room.

Soon.

‘Wow-’

Woojin was impressed when he saw the inside of the room. It was somewhat decorated, unlike the previous waiting room. A straight desk in front had the logo of ‘Super Actor’. There were two large cameras on the left of the desk, and small cameras were installed on the ceiling and elsewhere.

There were about ten staff members.

Among them, a woman in her late thirties, with a short haircut, approached Kang Woojin. With a mischievous smile on her face.

“You’re Kim Daeyoung’s friend, right?”

Soon, Kang Woojin, who was looking around the room, nodded his head a bit.

“Yes. I’ll call my friend right away.”

“Okay. Take this, and please sit on the chair over there.”

The woman handed Kang Woojin a thin stack of papers and pointed to a chair placed conspicuously in front of the straight desk.

“That’s your script? Today’s task is improvisational acting, so you’ll read the script briefly and then show us your acting right away. You can read it while waiting for your friend if you’re bored.”

“Ah- Yes.”

“And the judges will be here soon.”

At this, Kang Woojin confidently asked.

“Excuse me, is Hong Hyeyeon among the judges?”

The woman’s smile became even wider.

“Yes, she is. But you cannot ask for autographs or take pictures.”

Awesome, Kang Woojin felt a burst of anticipation. He managed to hide his excitement with a subtle smile, and sat down in the only chair.

And then.

-Swoosh.

While dialing Kim Daeyoung, he glanced at the script on his lap. It was an unconscious action. This insignificant piece of paper meant nothing to Woojin.

However.

“Why isn’t this guy picking up... Huh?”

While looking down at the script, Kang Woojin hesitated.

“... What is this?”

Kang Woojin, looking precisely at the space next to the script. Why? Because something strange was visible. How should I describe it? It’s square, about the size of an A4 sheet of paper, with a pattern that looks like a whirl of black and gray. It was obviously strange.

Because of that.

“...”

As if bewitched, Kang Woojin slowly moved his index finger. He wanted to poke this strange thing. Then, Kang Woojin cautiously, pressed his index finger into the center of the swirling square.

The problem occurred next.

“Eek!

He was sucked into something.