Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols

▶ ☞

I glanced right, but nothing special was there.

‘So... what am I supposed to do with that?’

Right then.

A heavy blow landed on the top of my head. I pitched forward before I could even brace on the wall.

My skull throbbed like something had stamped it, ready to crack.

And it burned. My skin felt like it was being scorched.

A long shadow stretched across the streetlight’s glow.

Someone kept muttering to himself above my head.

"...You talked, didn’t you?"

With the light at his back, I could barely see the man’s face. The pain made it hard to even force my eyes open.

The attacker sat on my back.

Then put his mouth to my ear and asked in a whisper.

"You told that writer about me earlier, right? You’re the one spreading rumors about me. Aren’t you?"

I knew just from his voice. Yu Hansu was not in his right mind.

The hammer head in Yu Hansu’s hand came into view.

A brand ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) I knew well. So that tool the deputy in General Affairs was looking for earlier today was this.

‘If not for the system...’

If I hadn’t turned my head to look right.

The place burning might not have been the left side of my scalp but the back of my head.

Tapping my skull with the hunk of iron, Yu Hansu said,

"I should’ve smashed this sooner."

"..."

"So you’d stop using that brain for useless schemes."

A rough hand grabbed a fistful of my hair.

I clamped my lips hard to hold back the scream that wanted out.

Forcing my eyes open, I locked eyes with Yu Hansu, who was bent over looking down at me.

It was a kind of thing I’d never seen in my life.

And I realized at the same time. Yu Hansu was serious.

Not some momentary impulse—he’d chosen the path of dragging me down even if it ruined his life.

‘Think.’

You didn’t regress to get taken out like this.

I barely held on to reason.

‘First... take the weapon.’

I seized the hand he had in my hair and drove my nails into the back of his hand.

As Yu Hansu screamed and reeled back, I snatched up the dropped tool and pushed myself upright.

My vision was blood-red; I could hardly bring things into focus.

My head knew I needed to stop the bleeding.

But I couldn’t bring myself to press a hand to the torn spot. F**k, it hurts just staying still—how am I supposed to press there.

As I stood there catching my breath, paralyzed between options, Yu Hansu’s two ankles came into view.

Suddenly the ones left in the practice room flashed through my mind.

It’d be nice if I were the only one he held a grudge against—if he planned to turn himself in after finishing with me.

But what if his target wasn’t just me—what if it was all of Spark?

If he meant to hurt everyone he thought stood in his way, and...

If it had been Park Juu here instead of me, or if I’d come out with Choi Jeho.

I grabbed the ankle of the backpedaling Yu Hansu and yanked. He couldn’t fight the momentum and toppled backward.

It hurts like hell. I feel like I could black out any second.

But if I let this bastard go here—

I clamped the fallen man’s head with my free hand. Then climbed onto his body and pinned him.

Under my grip, Yu Hansu shouted something.

I didn’t hear it. Only my heartbeat pounded in my ears.

I could feel blood racing out of my head.

Then it felt like all the blood... was draining downward.

I was dizzy. An unopened resume floated up in front of my eyes.

.

.

Accumulated fatigue: 70% (Labor Support Service applied)

But not now. Not until I completely stop this man.

Except nothing ever goes the way you plan.

Even though I’d subdued him, strength was leaking out of my hands.

Cornered, Yu Hansu thrashed wildly.

Every time I forced him down with strength, my skull rang.

When accumulated fatigue pushed past 75%—

I couldn’t make out what it said.

With my focus going fuzzy, I groped my way through the newly appearing lines.

▷ If ‘Eul’ suffers a serious accident while on duty, ‘Industrial Accident Insurance’ will be applied once.

▷ During the coverage period of ‘Industrial Accident Insurance,’ ‘Eul’ may choose one of the following: ① relief from pain caused by a work-related injury, ② accelerated recovery from a work-related injury (varies by severity).

▷ Benefits are limited to a single use...

I asked the system, and it answered immediately.

▶ Deputy Kim, did you get in an accident on your way to work or what? How long do you need off? More than two weeks is a no-go, you hear?

I chose option 1 without hesitation.

Then, like a lie, all the pain vanished.

I could see Yu Hansu’s face clearly. He was smiling.

"Is this fun for you, you f**ker?"

When I grabbed his collar, he spat in my face.

"Kim Iwol, you deserve punishment."

"What?"

I thought I’d misheard. He was spouting the very line anyone could see I should be saying.

"It makes no sense that someone like you gets more recognition than me. Who are you to insult me?"

"You’re out of your mind, aren’t you?"

"If trash like you throws your name around carelessly, it makes the industry a joke. Should’ve kept your head down and learned nicely while listening to me. A brat with no XXX..."

There was nothing more to hear. I pressed my knee into his neck.

"Kh— You son of a b**ch, you’re trying to kill me."

"You tried to kill me too, you d**n bastard."

I was out of breath. Only the pain was gone; my fingertips were still getting colder.

At this rate I could pass out from blood loss.

‘No time.’

If I blacked out, Yu Hansu would really hurt me. His reputation had already crossed a line he couldn’t come back from.

But how...

▶ Deputy Kim, they say there’s an incentive for all your hard work. What was the reason—something like doing your best even under a difficult boss?

[SYSTEM] A reward is provided as ‘Eul’ has complied with ‘Professional Ethics.’

▷ Walk-in-the-other’s-shoes Pass: You may let a chosen target experience one element such as a sensation or an emotion.

It was the kind of message I’d seen exactly once—when I witnessed Jang Junhu’s workplace bullying.

I thought it only punished behavior that didn’t meet moral standards, but turns out if you work hard aligned with them, you get rewarded too. With a way to change someone positively.

‘If I use the pass while pain is relieved, what happens?’

The system answered my question concisely.

▶ Deputy Kim, it’s not that you’re without pain right now. You just can’t feel it. You know, like that Schrodinger whatnot.

Working like a dog paid off, f**k!

Wiping my sticky face, I asked,

"Mr. Yu Hansu. Have you ever imagined your own skull breaking?"

And I used the pass.

▶ Recommended program: Pain

▶ Yes / No

I smothered his mouth before he could scream, set the hammer down for a moment, then rifled his outer pocket and pulled out his phone.

First, I reported the incident using Yu Hansu’s phone. I said I’d been attacked by an assailant and struck in the head; they replied they’d dispatch immediately.

Next, I entered my number. Then I called the contact saved as ‘UA Odd Jobs.’

When the character controversy broke out I’d been issued a temporary phone, and since I hadn’t returned it yet, my phone was still in the practice room.

So if a call from Yu Hansu’s number hit my phone—

— ...Hello?

Chances are, those guys would pick up.