---

Honestly, before getting caught up in this incident, I used to work overtime as casually as eating a meal.

Even if there was a mountain of paperwork, there were days when I would just get everything ready and call it a day, and on days when the Team Leader asked me to write reports for presentations, I would seriously wonder if I’d ever make it home.

And that’s not all. When it came time for payroll, it was strictly no exceptions—I had to work overtime.

So I don’t use them now, but I had stored quite a few sleep aids in the warehouse.

I gaze out the window at the darkening sky.

It brings back memories; it feels nice.

“Press Enter from there.”

“Okay, Enter.”

“Good job.”

“Yep.”

As Jang Chae Yeon pressed Enter just as I said, the line moved on.

“I think I did well.”

“…I see.”

We had only moved one line so far, but seeing Jang Chae Yeon looking at me with a proud expression made me forget about getting mad.

I turned my gaze from Jang Chae Yeon, who was pressing Enter repeatedly, to Yu Da On.

“How are you doing, Da On?”

“Oh, yes. I’m doing well.”

Nodding, Yu Da On was pecking at the keyboard like a typing eagle.

Is it right to call it good if she’s typing like an eagle?

“Do you want me to teach you how to type?”

“Oh, um, that might look a bit odd, right?”

Yu Da On scratched her cheek while giving an awkward smile.

“I’m sorry. I’ve never really used a computer properly since I was young… If Kim Jae Heon teaches me, I’ll try hard to learn!”

“…”

Right. She probably hasn’t learned.

I really shouldn’t have said that.

I punched the inner me and moved closer to Yu Da On.

“It’s not hard at all. Just stretch your fingers out.”

“Okay.”

“Place them on the keyboard.”

“Okay.”

“Now type.”

“…This is hard.”

That’s possible. It was really difficult for me when I first learned too.

“We can do it together.”

Standing beside Yu Da On, I placed my left hand on the keyboard.

“Just put your fingers like this.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Like you’re tapping the keys.”

-Click… Clap…

The sound of Yu Da On typing echoed in the quiet office.

“…I think you’re doing better than before.”

“Yes. You’re doing much better.”

Yu Da On smiled slightly at my words.

“Well then, what’s next—”

“Excuse me.”

“Yes.”

Just as I was about to suggest we start writing paperwork again, Jang Chae Yeon called out to me.

“What do we do next?”

“Oh, I’ll be right there. Just wait a moment, Da On.”

“Okay!”

Yu Da On cheerfully responded and walked towards Jang Chae Yeon.

“What’s next after the Enter?”

“For the next step…”

Teaching Jang Chae Yeon was taking quite a while.

*

I glanced at the clock.

It was already nearing eleven at night.

If I had my way, I would want to go home right now, but…

“…”

“Um…”

I looked at the two struggling with the computer.

It didn’t seem like I’d be going home anytime soon.

It couldn’t be helped.

I headed towards the Human Resources Team’s storage.

The two of them looked at me with puzzlement.

“Here we go.”

I pulled out a dusty box and retrieved a simple mattress.

An essential item for anyone working late.

Originally, the Gangseo Branch had a duty room, but I heard it was now managed by the Management Team after some incident.

Because of that, those working overtime couldn’t sleep in the duty room and had to sleep in the office instead.

I was one of those people.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a simple mattress.”

“Why are you carrying something like this?”

“Why do you ask?”

As I stared intently at Yu Da On, she murmured, seemingly understanding my expression.

“You’ve been really busy, huh…”

“Right.”

I’ve been pulling night shifts since I started doing on-site work.

As I patted the dusty mattress, clouds of dust puffed up, and I involuntarily coughed.

“Cough, cough!”

-Krreeeak!

Seeing that, Jang Chae Yeon waved her hand, causing the window to open automatically.

Now, the cold breeze was coming in, carrying the dust away.

“…Is this enough?”

After shaking off the dust, I pulled out another mattress.

There were three mattresses in the Human Resources Team.

One for the Team Leader and one for me. So, that made two, but thanks to the Team Leader’s thoughtful consideration for any potential new hires, there were three mattresses in total.

While shaking off the dust from the last mattress with an insane fit of coughing, I looked at the two, and they were both just staring at me, not doing their tasks.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and practice.”

At my words, both jumped and started hitting the keyboard frantically.

Is there really time for this? Do they all want to be kicked out of the Human Resources Team?

Of course, even if their results ended up being a complete mess and they got dragged to the Isolation Team, I wasn’t planning on watching that happen.

Whether it was contacting the Branch Chief or the Headquarters Chief, I was going to do whatever it took to stop it.

But the reason I wouldn’t say that aloud is simple.

-Click… Click…

The sound of typing filled the office.

The reason is straightforward.

I felt wronged.

Up until now, I thought the reason my workload had reduced was that the other three were helping well, but it turned out it was just Song Ah Rin handling the paperwork properly.

I couldn’t just stand by.

I was determined to turn both of them into perfect Human Resources Team members that could perform flawless paperwork.

As I continued teaching the two of them,

-Tick… Tick…

Before I knew it, the clock pointed to 2 a.m.

“Wow, has it really gotten this late?”

With a startled sound, Yu Da On stretched her arms.

“I’ll be sleeping here.”

I looked at the two.

2 a.m.

At a glance, it seemed like it would be okay to go home, but no.

If I went home, I’d end up preparing and thinking of this and that, and I wouldn’t get enough sleep.

Compared to that, the Management Agency?

They didn’t have a duty room, but at least they had showers prepared for those working late, and it was a pretty good place to eat and rest.

Of course, there’s the misery of having to sleep at the office, but after going through that a couple of times, you get used to it.

“Oh, then I…”

“I want to sleep too.”

Yu Da On shyly raised her hand, and Jang Chae Yeon nodded confidently in agreement.

“It’s hard for me to go home because my place is so far.”

“Should I say I have a long way to go too…?”

Are their homes really far?

Isn’t it within a twenty-minute walk from the Management Agency?

Everyone has different standards, so for some, twenty minutes might feel long.

“Well then…”

I looked contently at the neatly arranged three mattresses.

“Shall we sleep?”

As soon as I finished speaking, Jang Chae Yeon naturally headed to the right mattress, while Yu Da On went towards the left mattress.

The two of them settled into their spots as if it were a promise.

I was going to slide over to make it comfortable for them in the middle, but I guess that wasn’t necessary after all.

I turned off the lights in the office and moved toward the mattress.

The city lights faintly illuminated the room through the window.

“Aah…”

As my back hit the mattress, a natural groan escaped me.

Working late really does wear a person down.

“I feel excited and happy about something!”

Lying on my left side, Yu Da On said joyfully, while…

“…”

Jang Chae Yeon turned to face me without saying a word.

As Yu Da On closed her mouth, silence fell again.

“I have something I’m curious about.”

Then, unexpectedly, Jang Chae Yeon spoke up after being quiet until now.

“Go ahead.”

“What were you like as a child?”

“Me?”

Well, what was I like?

“…Hmm.”

How was I as a child?

‘Honestly, I was just like any other kid. Not particularly smart, a bit mischievous.’

The words I had said as a child flashed through my mind.

“I think I had a bit of mischief in me back then.”

“I can see that.”

Jang Chae Yeon mumbled with a voice laced with laughter.

That’s a bit unfair. What have I ever done?

“What about you, Chae Yeon?”

“I was…”

Jang Chae Yeon trailed off, and then…

“Violent? Unobservant? Lacking work skills?”

Yu Da On chimed in next to her.

“…”

In the darkness, Jang Chae Yeon waved her finger.

-Smack!

“Ouch!”

A crisp sound came from my left, and Yu Da On cupped her forehead.

There’s really no arguing with that.

“And you…”

In response to Jang Chae Yeon, Yu Da On chuckled softly.

“I was a good kid who listened well, up until the point I got sold! Of course, after that—”

“What should we eat for breakfast tomorrow?”

That was not a topic to delve deeper into.

I quickly interrupted Yu Da On and shifted the conversation.

“I like everything.”

“I love all the food that Jae Heon likes too!”

As we chatted, the dawn slipped by.

This wasn’t so bad after all.

*

The next day.

As I looked at Jang Chae Yeon and Yu Da On, who stood with serious expressions, Song Ah Rin tapped my shoulder.

“Why are they acting like that?”

“They’re trying their best, after all.”

Even if it was just a short time, I confidently believed that I had taught them everything they needed in a crash course.

Writing reports, organizing personnel evaluation functions, removing deceased individuals, and other tasks the Human Resources Team had to handle.

We received our Safety and Health Education in Office 103.

I looked at the computer sitting in front of the office.

Now, if we could just use the computer provided properly—

“Hey, Kim Jae Heon!”

A booming male voice echoed in my ears.

“…Ahn Sang Hyun?”

Turning to where the voice came from, I saw a man approaching me with a smile.

A translucent window appeared above my head.

[Name: Ahn Sang Hyun]

[Age: 31]

[Specialty: Rolling]

[Talent: Uninterrupted during rolling]

[Background: At this rate, this guy might roll all the way to space.]

[Weakness: If he’s not rolling, he’s just an ordinary human.]

“Of course, you came here too, Kim Jae Heon?”

“Of course…?”

A few other people followed him into the room.

Men and women in suits, and even a man whose face was partially burned.

They all glanced at us as they took their seats.

This doesn’t feel good.

No, it’ll probably be fine since the computer’s in front of me.

I looked at the monitor.

Soon, a monotone voice filled the room.

<We will now begin Safety and Health Education.>

-Ding!

Words appeared on the computer.

<The test will begin now.>

With a crackling sound, the computer screen flickered, and before I knew it, I was standing alone in the ruins.

“…What the heck is this.”

<Question.>

A mechanical voice rang from the sky.

<To survive, would you betray your colleagues?>

This wasn’t the kind of test I was expecting.