[Human Resources Manager (3)]
“Sorry, but I’m comfortable just as I am.”
I’ve decided to live quietly, like a docile lizard on a rock.
…Though considering the things I’ve got going on, I might not be living as quietly as I planned. Still, it would be such a waste to let my precious skills go unused, so I’ll keep a low profile and live as peacefully as I can.
“Please reconsider.”
Seok Gimyeong wasn’t giving up.
“Soon, everyone will be able to attempt awakening easily. The Hunter Association predicts that within a year, the number of Awakened in the country will surpass five million, and within three years, more than two-thirds of the population will be Awakened. In such a time, wouldn’t it be a shame not to make use of your abilities, Mr. Han Yujin?”
Shame, my foot. From the way he talks, you’d think I was some once-in-a-lifetime recruit.
“I appreciate the high regard you have for me, but Park Yerim’s situation was purely coincidental. The odds of such luck happening again are nearly zero.”
That’s what I said, but if I wanted to, I could definitely find more people with S-rank potential and optimize their awakening.
But I won’t. This is enough. Yerim alone is already more than enough trouble. Let’s just wrap things up with giving Yu Myungwoo an SS-rank skill and call it a day.
“Of course, I don’t expect you to bring in another S-rank Awakened. That would be beyond excessive—it would be downright greedy. In fact, you don’t even need to recruit any new Awakened.”
“…Then?”
Seok Gimyeong’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“With your remarkable insight and analytical skills, we could build a new system in the hunter industry—”
“No way!”
What is this guy talking about? Insight, analysis—what a load of crap! I just copied everything. I had the answer sheet! From the future!
“Mr. Han Yujin!”
“I said no, and I mean it! I don’t have that kind of ability! I didn’t even get into college! I finished high school by passing the GED!”
Look at my lowly education and just give up already.
“Your educational background isn’t important!”
…I almost cursed out loud. Take a look at job listing sites—they’re full of places that won’t even consider you without a degree. If you’ve never been rejected without even getting to submit an application, then keep your mouth shut.
“Anyway, I can’t do it, I won’t do it. I really don’t know how to do any of that. Even if you cut off my wrist, I won’t sign.”
I’ll just use my skills here and there, raise some pets, and enjoy living off my talented little brother’s success.
When I firmly stuck to my refusal, Seok Gimyeong finally seemed to give up.
“I understand. Then let’s just proceed with a regular guild member contract instead of an HR team contract.”
“Can’t I just stay halfway involved like I am now? I have no intention of joining a raid team or stepping foot into a dungeon managed by Haeyeon.”
“Certification and training as a hunter are fine as they’re short-term, but you’ll need a contract to stay in the employee dorms. Especially since you’ll be staying in the residence for high-level hunters, not just the general employee dorms. Even as a family member of the Guild Leader, your affiliation needs to be clear.”
Seok Gimyeong had completely calmed down from his earlier excitement and was now explaining things in a composed tone.
Well, I do need to be close to Yerim, so I can’t stay in the general employee dorms. It wouldn’t be strange for me to live in Yuhyun’s house, since it’s a guild residence and we’re siblings, but…
“Alright. But if possible, I’d prefer to contract as a regular employee, not a guild member.”
“You’re saying you don’t want any support as a hunter?”
“Yes. I’ll take the training, but I don’t plan to work as a hunter after that.”
Anyway, I can only enter low-level dungeons. I can just pay my way into those. Thanks to Yuhyun, I’m already well-equipped.
I was planning to raise Phoenixes as an independent contractor with Haeyeon Guild on a case-by-case basis rather than as a guild member. That way, I could balance work and play as I liked.
Freelancing really is the best.
“It’s possible, but the terms will be less favorable. You’re only intending to act as Miss Park Yerim’s guardian?”
“Yes, if that’s possible.”
“To be honest, Mr. Han Yujin, your educational background and experience don’t meet the qualifications for Haeyeon Guild’s open recruitment.”
…And didn’t he just say that educational background didn’t matter? He sure changes his tune quickly depending on the situation.
“Of course, just discovering and successfully contracting an S-rank Awakened is more than enough to qualify you. But the issue is what comes after. It might be fine for the first month or two, but if you’re doing nothing and just collecting a salary, it’ll eventually cause some murmurs. After all, being Miss Park Yerim’s guardian isn’t exactly guild business.”
Is that really an issue? I don’t care. Let people talk. After being publicly dragged through the mud once, a little gossip doesn’t even itch. There aren’t many people who’ve received more hate comments than I have.
…Now that I think about it, it’s making me a bit depressed.
“It’s fine. Just set the salary at minimum wage.”
I don’t need much of a salary. Even if I fail to apply the keyword to Peace, I still have my stocks. I remembered the name of the pharmaceutical company that developed the hair loss treatment, and I also remember the companies whose stock prices shot up thanks to the S-rankers that started appearing after the Awakening Center opened.
I can just use my savings and severance to buy stocks. As long as I have enough money to get by, that’s good enough. How much is the minimum wage these days? Around 8,000 won?
“Minimum wage, huh. Since you won’t be commuting, I’m not sure how we’ll arrange that.”
Seok Gimyeong said with a smile. Surely he’s not planning to pay me nothing at all.
“How about this: in return for occasionally assisting with HR duties upon request, we’ll offer you 50 million won a year, with a cap of 10 hours a week?”
“…Just let me use the company cafeteria.”
That’s enough. I don’t want the money. Just let me eat there.
Getting 50 million won a year for just 10 hours of work a week would be easy money, but I don’t want to step foot in the HR team where that man works. I’d just end up revealing all my cards in an instant.
“If you insist that much, I suppose I have no choice.”
Seok Gimyeong nodded with a bitter smile.
“We’ll provide room and board as you requested.”
…Really, just room and board? Isn’t this the kind of situation where you usually throw in a little something extra? Cutting it so cleanly without a single crumb left—yep, this guy’s got a bad personality despite how he looks.
“If you ever develop a passion for work, don’t hesitate to contact me.”
“…Okay.”
Instead of being seen as a nepotism hire, I’m probably going to end up being pitied. Even Yerim was already looking at me with eyes full of pity.
“Don’t worry, Mister. I have plenty of money now.”
“I have enough to get by too.”
Though I’ll have to save it to buy stocks.
Ah, but this really is too much. I brought them an S-rank Awakened, and all I get is room and board? I glanced over at Seok Gimyeong, who was organizing documents, just in case.
“Is there no incentive for successfully contracting Miss Park Yerim?”
“That was before you were employed, so naturally, there’s none. Should I add an incentive clause for you now?”
…No incentive because it was before employment, huh? Feels like I’ve been scammed. Should I have tried to get something when negotiating Yerim’s contract? I was too focused on taking care of her.
But there’s still one more opportunity.
“Please add an incentive clause for successfully contracting A-rank Awakened comparable to an S-rank, like Saintess-level figures.”
Yu Myungwoo. With an SS-rank crafting skill, even if he can’t enter S-rank dungeons, he’d be treated as a quasi-S-rank, just like the Saintess.
I was planning to bring him in anyway, but I might as well get some compensation for it.
When I said that, Seok Gimyeong pulled out a pen with a leisurely smile.
“I can certainly add that. What amount or reward would you like?”
I was about to just ask for a hundred billion won but hesitated. In a few years, I wouldn’t need to worry about money anyway. So rather than cash…
“Are you aware that I’m currently raising a Flame Horned Lion cub?”
“Yes, the Guild Leader mentioned it.”
“Well, you see, it’s quite adorable and very attached to me. So I’d like to request either one more cub of a similar grade to the Flame Horned Lion or three cubs of a slightly lower grade, with the taming and care costs covered by the Haeyeon Guild.”
“Cubs?”
Seok Gimyeong’s face showed rare surprise.
Well, I guess it’s understandable. Instead of asking for money or items, I’m basically asking for pets.
But unlike Peace, who technically belongs to Yuhyun and is raised with his money, any monsters I receive as incentives would be entirely mine.
If I get a monster of the same grade as the Flame Horned Lion, I could even tackle B-rank dungeons with it, which would be far more valuable than a few bucks.
And if I fail to apply the keyword, well, it just means I’ll have one more pet. Since it wouldn’t cost me anything, it’s not a loss. If monster breeding regulations relax later, maybe I’ll even appear on a TV show. It’d be popular for sure.
“…It’s not an impossible request, but it is unusual. Do you have another purpose in mind?”
Seok Gimyeong tilted his head, genuinely perplexed.
“Does it look like I do?”
“Normally, I’d assume so, but… I can’t tell. I’ll add the condition for you. However, keep in mind that high-grade monster cubs are hard to capture and rarely come up for auction, so delivery might be delayed.”
“Well, it’s not like S-rank Awakened pop up every day either, ha ha.”
Of course, I plan to make Yu Myungwoo an SS-rank crafter within two months. If I use My Kid Is The Best three times, that should do it, right?
Finally, after completing my employment process, I got up from my seat. I hope I don’t run into this guy for a while.
“Well then, we’ll be seeing each other often.”
What’s that supposed to mean? I’m going to avoid the HR department like the plague.
…He’s not planning to hunt me down, is he?
Outside, I looked through the documents that Seok Gimyeong had given me about the inheritance left by Yerim’s parents. Her Uncle sold off a 50-pyeong apartment, some land, and even a commercial building, all under the excuse that he couldn’t manage it.
After taking so much, he couldn’t even buy her a pair of shoes? His conscience must be so thick it’s layered like a triple sandwich.
“Are you really not going to sue?”
Yerim nodded, her expression uninterested.
“I don’t want to get tangled up with him for too long. Besides, you said my base salary is over 10 billion won annually.”
That’s true. Considering the future, it might be better to just feed the leeches a bit and then cut them off. If they keep trying to contact her or pull stunts on TV, it’ll get annoying.
“Alright then. Let’s stop by the legal team to pick up some paperwork and head over right away. It’s still morning, so I guess the restaurant isn’t open yet?”
“They start serving from 1 PM on Sundays, so we should just go home.”
Yerim gave me the address. It’s in a good neighborhood. Considering how much they siphoned off, no wonder. Still, the store looks small, almost shabby.
Could they have blown through the inheritance already? If so, that’ll make things easier.
–TL Notes–
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