The Main Characters That Only I Know

Chapter 198:

Chapter 198

“Wha, wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-what.”

Alisa stuttered.

She quickly regained her composure and thought it was a lie to tease her. 

She took a mocking attitude.

“Pfft, what. That’s not funny at all, you know? Just admit it, what, admit it. I came up right after you from below, so it’s understandable that you’re nervous. But if you’re going to lie, at least make it plausible. How long have you been an assistant, and now you’re a manager? A manager.”

“What are you talking about. It’s true.”

“No, I mean…”

“Look at this.”

Yu-hyun showed Alisa the official document that came to him. 

It was a notice that one more person had been added to the promotion ceremony, and Yu-hyun’s name was clearly written there.

Alisa’s pupils shrank to dots when she saw Yu-hyun’s name. 

She looked at it closely and it was definitely an official document from the central office.

‘When did this happen?’

Alisa suddenly remembered that the document had been revised last night.

She thought it was just a minor typo or correction and didn’t check it, but who would have thought there was such a major change.

Alisa’s eyes fell to the ground. She bowed her head and clenched her fists, shaking her shoulders.

“Thi.”

“Thi?”

“Don’t think you’ve won with this! Next time, I’ll definitely win!!”

“Hey, hey!”

Alisa shouted as she swung her fist at Yu-hyun and ran away from her seat.

Yu-hyun stared blankly at her receding figure. 

Baek Ryeon, who had been watching the situation quietly, chuckled.

[She’s really consistent. It’s really fun to watch you two together, you know?]

‘Don’t tease me.’

[What are you talking about? You’re the one who teases her the most.]

‘…Ahem.’

Yu-hyun had nothing to say in response and closed his mouth.

***

It was the second time Yu-hyun visited the auditorium for the promotion ceremony.

The tellers who came to watch were shocked to see Yu-hyun’s face. 

Yu-hyun, who became the youngest assistant in history, was already very famous in Celestial Corporation, and most of them knew his face.

There were very few tellers who had human forms.

And Yu-hyun showed his face at this promotion ceremony.

Not as a guest, but as a protagonist again.

‘How long has it been since he got promoted?’

‘Already a manager? And unaffiliated? Is that possible? Even if he was the chairman’s son, I don’t think that would happen.’

‘Didn’t they say the document was revised yesterday or something? Was it because of him?’

The eyes that looked at Yu-hyun were full of awe.

There were mostly assistants in this place, except for regular employees, and some managers were mixed in.

The managers were wary of Yu-hyun’s growth, and the assistants were envious or jealous of him.

Yu-hyun didn’t change his expression even as he received those eyes.

Suddenly, he felt a strong gaze from his side.

He turned his head slightly and saw Alisa looking at him with a sullen expression. 

She realized that Yu-hyun was really getting promoted as a manager when she came here.

‘See me later.’

Alisa said that with her eyes. 

Yu-hyun didn’t know exactly what she meant, but strangely enough, he got the gist of it.

Soon after, the promotion ceremony began and their eyes turned to the front.

-Along with Kang Yu-hyun who is promoted to manager and five others whose promotions are confirmed at this time, we hope that you will continue to work hard for the endless development of our company.

The same formal words he had heard before. But not everything was the same.

There was an unmistakable confusion in the announcer’s voice. 

It was obviously because of the surprise at Yu-hyun’s unprecedented growth rate.

Yu-hyun himself didn’t show any change in his expression.

He acted as if standing in this place was a matter of course.

-Let’s all applaud for the promotees.

Clap clap clap clap.

The auditorium was filled with applause.

Yu-hyun recalled when he first stood in this place. It was only three months ago, but it felt like a distant past when he thought about what had happened in between.

He had surely made a big resolution in his heart then.

Enjoy this moment of glory, but don’t stop and keep moving forward.

‘I’m standing here again.’

Standing here faster than anyone else meant that his last three months of life were not in vain. 

The unprecedented speed of promotion proved it.

Maybe he could slow down a bit from now on. 

He deserved to be praised for the speed he had run so far.

But Yu-hyun didn’t want to be satisfied here.

‘From now on, I’ll keep standing here.’

A better present than the past.

A better future than the present.

Even if someone tells me that it’s enough, that I’ve done enough, and asks me to stop, I won’t.

Because this moment, right now, is nothing but the starting point of my story.

“Thank you.”

I said that to the tellers who clapped for me.

Calmly.

***

The artificial park of Celestial Corporation was built for the rest of the headquarters staff.

I sat at an outdoor table in that place, facing Alisa and having a conversation with her.

“This is unfair.”

“What is?”

Alisa muttered in a low voice, and I asked her back.

I was planning to go back right after my promotion was confirmed, but since I met a colleague who got promoted with me for once, I thought I could spare some time for her.

“How can you get promoted so fast? And to a manager position?”

Alisa stared at me hard across the table.

Her eyes demanded the truth behind this absurd situation.

“Well, it’s because I’m good at what I do.”

“No way. Being good doesn’t mean you can do that. Besides, you’re still unaffiliated with any department. How does it make sense that you get promoted faster than anyone else?”

“…”

I couldn’t argue back. 

Alisa was right. 

Even I didn’t expect to become like this when I first became a teller. 

How much more so for her?

But this was all reality.

“I would believe it if you were the president’s hidden offspring.”

“What kind of offspring would a teller be?”

“Why not? It’s possible if they want to. They just don’t do it. Do you know? Maybe the president or someone high up made a child with someone from Hage.”

“And that’s me?”

“If not, there’s no way this situation makes sense.”

Is that so?

I felt more doubtful by Alisa’s confident words.

[That’s impossible.]

Baekryeon muttered as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Anyway! Unless you’re the president’s offspring, there’s no way this can happen.”

“I understand that you’re confused, but I’m just a normal teller who has nothing to do with anyone.”

“Normal tellers don’t get promoted that fast.”

“Fine. Let me correct myself. I’m an extraordinary teller who has nothing to do with anyone.”

“Are you trying to make a joke right now?!”

“No, but if you’re going to be like that, you’re also one of the fastest promoted tellers ever.”

“So what! I’m still behind you!”

It seemed that Alisa was more annoyed by the fact that she fell behind me because I became a manager than by me becoming a manager itself.

She had a strong pride, so this defeat was hard for her to accept.

“Anyway, I’m a teller who went through the first mission with you as colleagues. I’m not some hidden child of the president or anything like that.”

“I know. I just said that because I was so pissed off.”

Alisa muttered and lay down on the table. 

Her silver hair that reached her waist scattered over her red skin, creating a strange contrast of colors.

I tried to think of some words of consolation for her, but decided to keep my mouth shut. 

Anything I said here would sound like mockery.

Alisa touched her horns with her fingertips and murmured.

“Jenjang. When will I be able to catch up with you?”

“Do you really want to catch up with me?”

“Of course! You know what? Ever since I was born, I felt it instinctively. That I’m the greatest genius teller ever, and that I can’t tolerate being behind anyone. A personification of confidence!”

“That’s quite impressive confidence. But you are behind me.”

“That, that’s because…you’re an anomaly!”

“Oh, Assistant Manager Alisa. What kind of language is that to your superior?”

I scolded her in a mock tone, and Alisa’s expression twisted unpleasantly. 

She knew it too well. 

The reality where ranks were divided by promotions, even among colleagues.

She thought she caught up with me when she became a deputy, but I already took the manager’s seat.

In name, I was Alisa’s superior.

“Grrrrr…”

“Call me Kang Yu-hyun manager~ once and I’ll forgive you.”

“…I’d rather die.”

“Call me and I’ll give you some tips on how to become a manager.”

“Really…?”

Alisa’s eyes widened. 

The bait that Yu-hyun threw was too big. 

Alisa knew it was a trap, but she couldn’t resist his words.

She blushed even more, whether it was from embarrassment or her dark skin.

With a face as ripe as a persimmon, Alisa forced her lips to move.

“Th, thank…”

“Thank?”

“Thaank yoouu hyuun…”

“Speak clearly. I can’t understand you.”

“Thank you, Yu-hyun… sir.”

She looked like she didn’t know what to do with her shame, and there was even a faint tear in her eyes.

“Please… tell me some tips… to get promoted.”

“Hmm. It’s not exactly a satisfying answer, but I can’t refuse. I’m your senior, after all. I can show you some mercy, right?”

“Sniff.”

Was it so humiliating to be called a senior?

Alisa bit her lips hard, like a volcano ready to erupt.

She cursed herself for meeting Yu-hyun today and boasting that she had become an assistant manager.

Why did she do such a thing!

“Be nice to the collectors.”

Alisa lifted her head at Yu-hyun’s words.

“What?”

“Be nice to the collectors. Don’t think of them as food, but as individuals. No, think of them as colleagues who work with you. That’s the tip.”

“What kind of tip is that!”

Kyaah! 

Alisa finally exploded.

“I don’t need you to tell me that, I’m already on good terms with the collectors!”

“That’s good to hear. The collectors you signed contracts with are definitely talented people. Don’t lose them and treat them well.”

“…I was going to do that anyway.”

“That’s good enough.”

Yu-hyun got up from his seat. 

He enjoyed talking to Alisa, but he had things to do today.

“Alisa. You’ll be able to become a manager soon enough. With your growth rate, you might even aim for a director position beyond an assistant director.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t need you to tell me that, I was going to do that anyway.”

She said that, but her mouth twitched slightly. 

She seemed to be trying hard not to let a smile show on her face. 

Then suddenly, Alisa felt something strange about Yu-hyun’s words.

‘What is he saying? He sounds like he’s not going to become a director himself.’

Did he have no confidence? 

That couldn’t be. 

The Yu-hyun she saw was always relaxed but passionate. 

She didn’t think he would give up on becoming a director.

Then what was that weird and annoying thing he said?

Alisa became curious.

“You…”

‘What is your goal in the first place?’ 

She was about to ask.

Swoosh!

The artificial grass swayed in the wind.

Yu-hyun and Alisa flinched their shoulders. 

They instinctively felt the ominous aura that flew towards them with the wind.

Alisa stopped her words and closed her mouth. 

She looked at the source of the bad vibe with Yu-hyun.

There was a teller.

He was dressed like a priest of some religion, but his clothes were very dark and dull.

He was leaning back and looking at them, but they didn’t notice him standing there even though he wasn’t far away.

Yu-hyun’s eyes narrowed.

‘When did he?’

His body enhanced by the fruit of life also enhanced his senses by several levels. 

He couldn’t catch the teller even with his senses.

He was not an ordinary teller.

‘And that appearance.’

Yu-hyun frowned.

He had the head of a cephalopod. 

Instead of a mouth, he had several tentacles covered with mucus like octopus legs as his beard.

An octopus face on top of a skinny human body.

He knew that tellers took on various forms of different races, but he hadn’t seen many as disgusting as him.

‘It’s not just disgusting. There’s something else that bothers me more.’

When their eyes met, the teller opened his mouth.

“Did I interrupt?”

“…No. I was about to leave anyway because I’m busy.”

“Is that so? That’s good. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

“That…”

Yu-hyun stopped Alisa from saying anything with his hand.

“So, do you have any business with us?”

“Hmm? Oh, no. I only have business with one of you.”

“Me?”

He pointed at him with his action, and Yu-hyun felt more suspicious.

He tried not to show his wariness as much as possible, but his voice revealed his dislike for him.

“Who are you?”

“Demiarios.”

He added more words.

“The director of the Pentagram department.”