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The meeting with the Branch Chief was fortunately shorter than I expected.

“But why did the Branch Chief call you?”

The Team Leader looked at me while he took a big spoonful of spicy pork stir-fry for lunch.

He certainly didn’t seem so dangerous, so where did he suddenly come from?

“Exactly! He even called only Kim Jae Heon aside from us.”

Yu Da On nodded while stabbing her salad with a fork.

“So, here’s the thing…”

She trailed off and glanced around.

People were too busy eating to pay attention.

Could it be part of employee welfare initiatives? The Management Agency’s cafeteria was incredibly nice.

At least, it was already a good sign that there wasn’t just one menu item.

“Sounds like it’s not good news?”

“It’s not like that.”

I shook my head at Song Ah Rin’s words.

“No, then what is it? Please explain.”

“Um… so, here’s the thing.”

I started explaining to my colleagues.

*

Why is that person here?

I pondered as I looked at the Reincarnator, who was staring at me with a tired expression.

“Oh. You might not know Kim Jae Heon.”

The Branch Chief smiled and pointed at the man.

He bowed to me.

“This is Kim Wan Woo from the Management Team.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. We’re basically acquaintances.”

“Oh my, are you close?”

Close? If anything, I feel like I’m on the edge of a panic attack every time I see him.

I shook my head in response to the Branch Chief’s question.

“We’ve only met a few times for work.”

“Ah ha!”

The Branch Chief clapped her hands and nodded before continuing.

“Well, Kim Wan Woo here is known for managing isolated entities all alone, even when the basement flooded.”

Naturally, my gaze turned to his head.

Cycle 666.

That’s about 300 cycles more than last time.

“Thanks to memorizing the management rules.”

“Impressive!”

The Branch Chief smiled at his words, and this time her gaze turned to me.

“Honestly, I’ve been meaning to call you, Kim Jae Heon, but I just never found the time…”

“It’s okay.”

Not calling me is the biggest consideration, but it seems the Branch Chief doesn’t fully understand that yet.

“Anyway, enough said. There’s no need to beat around the bush. You two are the best-performing team recently.”

The Branch Chief smiled as she looked at me.

“So, I’d like to give you both a good experience.”

Not a gift, but a good experience?

I feel uneasy that it already seems like she’s trying to pull us into some incident.

“I’ll decline…”

“No can do.”

The Branch Chief opened her eyes slightly and looked at me.

Her red eyes pierced right through me.

“Kim Jae Heon, please take a trip to the Gangbuk Branch by plane.”

“…That’s about that thing?”

That’s not good news at all.

I narrowed my eyes, recalling how the Branch Chief spoke cautiously about the Gangbuk Branch.

Noticing my gaze, she smiled and shook her head.

“Of course, that’s part of it, but my friend is there too.”

“Oh.”

“I asked that friend for a favor, and you should be able to receive it.”

Then she turned her body towards the Reincarnator.

“Kim Wan Woo needs to check something at the Gangdong Branch.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know about the Cube at the Gangdong Branch?”

Cube?

My gaze instinctively returned to the Branch Chief.

“…I know about it.”

“Good. I have a few questions related to that.”

“Sure, understood.”

The Reincarnator nodded, and the Branch Chief once again looked at us with a smile.

“That’s all. You all have worked hard, and I hope to see more good things in the future!”

Having finished the conversation with her, I left the Branch Chief’s office alongside the Reincarnator.

While waiting for the elevator, I checked his profile again.

[Name: Kim Wan Woo]

[Age: 28]

[Specialty: Reincarnation]

[Talent: – ]

[Background: Cycle 666]

[Weakness: Think of the Gordian Knot.]

The Gordian Knot.

I know the origin story. It was one of the riddles faced by Alexander the Great, where the knot was so tangled that he just cut it with his sword.

But there seemed to have been something else, though I couldn’t recall it well.

With a cheerful sound, the elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside with him.

The elevator began to descend quietly.

“…”

“…”

“I find something intriguing.”

What?

I had been holding my breath to remain quiet, but he spoke while looking at me.

“People aren’t machines.”

“…That’s right.”

What does he mean?

“Depending on what I say in the same situation, people’s responses change, right?”

“…”

He continued speaking.

“If I say, ‘This is a nice lunch,’ people would agree, but if I say, ‘This is a nice dinner,’ they would correct me saying it’s lunch.”

“…”

He kept going.

“However, some people give predetermined responses or avoid the topic as if there was an unwritten agreement.”

“…Really?”

Ding! The elevator doors opened, and he looked at me.

“It just means that.”

“…”

A thought suddenly passed through my mind.

But I couldn’t show any flustered expression.

I stepped out of the elevator, leaving him behind as the doors closed.

I have no one to talk about this with, this is annoying.

*

I passed the conversation along, minus the dialogue, to the Human Resources Team, and upon hearing it, Jang Chae Yeon frowned slightly.

“To take a plane to the Gangbuk Branch.”

“…It does sound bizarre just hearing it.”

It’s not like I’m going abroad; why would I need to take a plane to Gangbuk?

“The Gangbuk Branch requires a plane.”

Song Ah Rin calmly replied as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.

“Song Ah Rin, have you finally lost it?”

“Do you really want to die?”

“Uh, our youngest is right.”

The Team Leader nodded in agreement.

“The Gangbuk Branch must be reached by plane.”

“…How do you know that, Team Leader?”

“Hey, I’ve worked at the Management Agency for a long time.”

The Team Leader clicked his tongue as he replied.

“The Gangdong Branch is by subway, the Gangbuk Branch is by plane, and the Gangnam Branch is by boat. That’s how it should be.”

“Is that really how it is?”

I seem to be the only one who didn’t know.

I looked at Yu Da On, who also had wide eyes, realizing I wasn’t the only one.

Ah, speaking of which.

“Da On.”

“Yes?”

“Shall we grab some coffee after lunch?”

Yu Da On’s body froze.

“…I’ve finished eating, so I’ll be leaving first.”

Her face turned pale suddenly as she grabbed her tray and bolted out like lightning.

“Uh… me?”

“Yes, Da On.”

She put down her fork and began to sneak glances at the others.

“Others can join too…”

“You two should head out first.”

“…”

At my words, Jang Chae Yeon’s expression stiffened slightly, and Song Ah Rin raised an eyebrow, but both of them stood up with their trays without saying anything.

“Uh…”

“I’ll treat.”

I encouraged Yu Da On, who was walking hesitantly.

I recalled the moment she grabbed my sleeve at my house.

As I walked through the eerie corridor of the Management Agency, Yu Da On’s voice crept into my ears.

“Jae Heon…”

“Yes?”

“Are you angry?”

“…Me?”

Why would I be?

As I looked at her with a genuinely confused expression, Yu Da On hurriedly continued.

“No, it’s just… I was too forward back then…”

“Too forward…?”

“Like…”

Yu Da On seemed unsure of how to phrase it, her eyes darting around as she tugged at her sleeve.

“I’m sorry…”

“Uh… for what?”

Let’s just buy some coffee first.

Surprisingly, for the duration it took us to go buy coffee, Yu Da On didn’t say a word to me. Or maybe she couldn’t.

She seemed to turn pale by herself, clutched her sleeve, and sighed.

It was surprising to see no positive reactions from her, so I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of dark assumptions were swirling in her mind.

I glanced at her profile.

[Name: Yu Da On]

[Age: 23]

[Traits: Immortal]

[Talent: Regeneration (Undetermined)]

[Background: Those who live without knowing warmth will tremble in endless fear when that warmth is taken from them.]

[Weakness: Please continue as you have been.]

What does she mean “continue as you have been”? What did I do wrong?

Feeling incredulous, I stared out the translucent window, and our eyes met.

“…Jae Heon?”

“Oh, sorry.”

After ordering two cups of coffee, I started walking with Yu Da On.

“…”

“…”

The suffocating silence.

Finally, I was the first to speak.

“About that incident…”

“That’s when I really messed up.”

“No…”

“I… was too overbearing with you, Jae Heon.”

With a dry smile, Yu Da On lowered her head.

“The thing is…”

“I can still be quite useful in fights… of course, maybe not as much as Chae Yeon or Ah Rin, but I can definitely hold my own…”

“Uh…”

“Other than that, I’ll be useful… really…”

“Da On.”

“If it comes down to it, you can…”

“Da On…!”

I hastily placed my hand on her shoulder to stop her.

“I just want us to get a bit more… comfortable around each other.”

“Uh…”

A shadow crossed Yu Da On’s face as she looked at me.

“Until now, haven’t you felt comfortable with me, Jae Heon…?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Is this what it feels like to dance on a minefield?

Every word I throw seems to be interpreted fatally.

I took a deep breath and slowly continued.

“I just think sometimes that you’re too… well.”

I want to say selfless? That feels too self-centered.

“I think you’re altruistic.”

I tried saying it in the kindest way possible.

“Altruistic…? Me?”

A look of pure puzzlement crossed her face.

“Um, I mean… sacrificing yourself for others.”

“No.”

Before I could say anything, her icy tone cut me off.

It was completely different from her usual cheerful voice.

“I don’t sacrifice myself for others.”

“…”

Yu Da On stared at me intensely.

“I sacrifice for you, Jae Heon; I’ve never thought about sacrificing myself for someone else.”

“…”

Her emotionless gaze seemed to pierce through me.

“Of course, I do it for the HR team too… but that’s…”

“Exactly.”

It didn’t seem necessary to listen to her any longer.

I hastily interrupted her to shift the conversation.

“Anyways, I look forward to working well together in the future… um.”

“No! I’m the one who should be…!”

Seeing Yu Da On instantly return to good spirits as she waved her hands made me speak again.

“But, Da On, how long were you in the hospital?”

“…Um.”

Her movements suddenly paused.

She hesitated with her response, faking a smile.

“I was there for quite a while.”

“I see.”

That makes sense.

“Anyways… what I meant to say was, I look forward to working well together.”

“…Ah!”

It’s no good to be the only one feeling uncomfortable and worried.

Unlike before, a smile blossomed on Yu Da On’s face.

“I look forward to working with you too, Jae Heon!”

*

Arriving at my desk, I powered on the computer.

“What did you discuss?”

“Just the usual stuff.”

“Seems like you’re not going to tell me properly.”

“It’s private.”

“You surprised me with a question earlier, didn’t you?”

Song Ah Rin grumbled while tapping on the keyboard.

First, let’s check the email…

There was a message labeled “Invitation” in my inbox.

“…Invitation?”

“What’s that?”

Hearing my muttering, Song Ah Rin rolled her chair closer behind me.

There was only one email with the subject “Invitation.”

“This feels creepy. Let’s delete it.”

“Yeah, that’s the plan.”

I already felt uneasy.

I right-clicked on the email and clicked the delete button.

[Beeep…]

But the mouse cursor moved on its own and double-clicked the email.

“Hey, you idiot! I told you to delete it!”

“No, I was trying to delete it too!”

The invitation opened up.

Song Ah Rin and I locked eyes.

“…Should we delete it?”

“Then why not just not click on it?”

While Song Ah Rin asked that, a strange sensation emerged within my pocket.

Reaching in, I felt a hard piece of paper in my hand.

I pulled out the red invitation.

“…”

This isn’t good.