Unfortunately for Park Mundae, he’d now been remembered as “Deputy” by that grade-seven clerk.
This guy even recalled Ryu Geon woo’s very first assignment.
“Hello!”
Most people roll over to the city hall side, but this fellow—either blessed or connected—ended up at the district office.
Well, since he never got so much as a “nice to work with you” call, it was clear it wasn’t connections at play.
“You need to stomp that kind of attitude out from the start.”
He’d been easy to push around.
What could a green rookie fresh out of the exam possibly know?
“Deputy Ryu, do your parents live around here? Where’s your hometown?”
“Uh... no. I just moved here recently!”
With no ties to the area, he couldn’t help any of the grade-seven projects around the office.
“Then he’ll learn the hard way.”
I planned to show him the bitter taste of working life.
But the sneer on his face—like he’d never suffered a day in his life—made me even more irritated. He clung to that unearned pride as though his exam score gave him divine right.
I expected that by the next transfer he’d be crying to go to city hall.
“Hah... but whatever.”
The setup was already complete.
He dumped every annoying, responsibility-laden task with poor handover on Ryu Geon woo, and snatched up all the networking and promotion opportunities for himself. He even thought his behavior was savvy—and generous toward Ryu Geon woo.
“If he’d gone to another district office, he’d have resigned by now.”
He was coasting with less work than city hall.
Anyway, there was no way that jerk could keep living high on the hog here. I had to pin him down now before he got promoted.
He truly believed it.
But Monday morning—
“Hello.”
When Ryu Geon woo arrived, he froze.
Geon woo swept the office with a searching gaze.
“...”
Had his expression always been so cold? He usually looked mild—almost gentle—but something had changed. In that instant, he seemed like a different person.
“Hello, Deputy!”
Yet when he greeted everyone else, his usual friendly face was back. Even when the clerk had sneaked in a jab—
“This time, do it properly! Thanks~”
“Y-yes.”
See? He couldn’t even answer back.
He shrugged. “Just my imagination,” he thought.
But he should’ve noticed when Ryu Geon woo turned to his computer and smiled.
That afternoon, after returning from the “meeting lunch” as usual, the office vibe was oddly different.
“...?”
Through the half-open door at the far end, he saw a silhouette.
The team leader was seated at a table talking with Ryu Geon woo.
“What’s going on?”
They should have been pounding keys at their desks, not chatting over lunch. Yet they looked pleased, not in trouble.
“Ha ha!”
Then Ryu Geon woo, smiling broadly, spotted him.
“...!”
The team leader beckoned Ryu Geon woo over, and when Geon woo came, he called someone else in.
“Deputy Lee.”
“Yep.”
The grade-nine clerk—nephew of a former city council president and current local assemblyman—stepped forward.
“The team leader needs you.”
“Oh....”
“Come on, take a seat here for a moment.”
“Ah, yes!”
At the leader’s gesture, the clerk hurried in through the door, leaving “Deputy” staring dumbfounded.
“...??”
Ryu Geon woo, still smiling, locked eyes with him a moment—
click
—and the door closed.
“...Damn that.”
“Deputy” seethed silently, then headed for the break room.
That was the first odd incident.
The second happened two hours before quitting time.
On his way up to the roof for a smoke, he passed the emergency stairs and saw Ryu Geon woo and that clerk deep in conversation.
“Unbelievable.”
What big secret did they have to discuss during work hours on the roof?
He couldn’t help himself. He smoked, came back down, and confronted the clerk.
“Deputy Lee, what are you two talking about up there?”
The clerk flinched and stammered.
“Uh... you know, just... helping with some complaints.”
“Wow, Deputy Ryu helps out too? Impressive.”
Obviously that was a sneer, not praise—what help could he possibly offer?
As always, only a terse reply came.
“Yes. Deputy Ryu is kind and helpful.”
“...”
Huh?
‘He’s actually showing discomfort?’
The clerk who once smiled and played along now looked uneasy. He almost took offense, but forced a hearty grin instead.
“Well, aside from his personality, Deputy Ryu’s useful. Nice guy.”
“Y-yes....”
His response was lukewarm, but at least the clerk backpedaled—and that satisfied him.
By quitting time, a final surprise was waiting.
“Deputy Lee~ Want to grab a drink before heading home?”
He invited every week, trying to be the genial boss who pays for dinner and drinks.
But the clerk shook his head.
“Um... I have plans tonight.”
“...!”
A polite but firm refusal. Never before had that happened since the first posting.
“I see.”
“Yes. I’m sorry, but I’ll see you tomorrow. Thank you, Deputy.”
Then he sped out of the office, even turning back for a quick nod to Ryu Geon woo.
“....”
He was stunned—and chilled to the bone.
‘What is going on?’
He burst out of the office and onto the elevator.
Two female staffers were already inside, whispering.
“No way...”
“Yeah, totally...”
But the moment they saw him, they froze and exchanged awkward smiles.
“...??”
Ding—
The elevator arrived and they filed out, clearly unwilling to answer any questions.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“We’re heading out~”
Deputy Lee was left alone in the lobby—knowing nothing, lost and isolated.
“....”
What the hell.
‘Why is everyone acting like this?’
Just that morning, everything had felt normal. So what on earth was happening?!
The office was empty now—no one stayed late except him.
“Alright, Geon woo, feel free to head home.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
I stayed behind to grab something I’d left at my desk.
[Hyung, what on earth did you do?]
What else?
‘I fixed it your way.’
[Where are you off to?!]
The popup wailed. It sounded like a misunderstanding.
To explain, I needed to start here.
I abruptly asked,
‘Why do you think Deputy Lee followed you on that external meeting?’
[Uh...? Because it’s part of his job?]
Exactly.
Does anyone follow just because they like it? Of course not.
‘I forced him to do it out of fear.’
[...!]
In his first working experience, he didn’t want to get on his boss’s bad side. Everyone’s the same, and a clerk who came to civil service for work-life balance wouldn’t enjoy field visits, meetings, and entertaining guests—especially with a jerk like that.
‘He must’ve been annoyed by your “kind help.”’
Like being held up for dinner after work.
‘So.’
[...So?]
I simply cut him loose.
‘I needed to make him not afraid of you.’
First, I targeted the most influential voice: the team leader.
I waited for our lunch together, then praised “Deputy Lee,” giving it a plausible reason.
Then I casually steered conversation into the leader’s personal life. At the right moment, I brought the clerk into the discussion—and the stage was set.
[What stage...?]
A stage to show the clerk his place.
Using the “team leader”—the highest authority—as messenger.
‘I gently guided the conversation...’
Until the clerk realized how advantageous his family connections were.
Then he’d think,
“Oh? So it’s okay to push back on that deputy, huh?”
Normally you’d have to serve another year before daring such thoughts. Of course, making that thought real would take time. So I gave him one final push...
‘A justification.’
[...A justification?]
Yes.
‘I reminded him that he’d actually harassed you.’
“Deputy Ryu, thank you. Thank you for speaking up for me.”
“Oh no, truly deserved it! And... we’re both in this together, right?”
“....”
“Let’s hang in there. After this period, it’ll get better.”
A sense of righteous duty. People value that. Add the thrill of upholding justice, and you have unstoppable momentum.
I nodded.
And look at the office’s reaction when this upheaval happened—so many were amused. That meant Ryu Geon woo normally had a great reputation.
‘You earned it by being a decent person.’
[.......]
Hmm, praising his character—he could’ve been happier.
‘Anyway, from now on, if they take “Deputy Lee” to meetings, he won’t be so cooperative.’
He knows how useful you are now. He’ll harbor resentment and show it—and that friction will grow until “Deputy Lee” is furious.
‘But now it’s too late for him to switch and take you instead...’
He’d have to accept that he’s now stuck here and managing connections in this office.
[So...]
I shrugged.
“Well... maybe he’s aiming for the next posting.”
‘Then that jerk goes away and you get to leave on time every day.’
A happy ending.
[Hahaha.....]
It was remarkably gentle justice in retrospect.
Handling it all by praising leaves no losers—everybody’s happy. Just like Big Sejin’s usual style.
[Yes?]
And yet nobody suffered, and all were content. Truly.
I murmured my admiration.
‘Living like you isn’t a bad approach.’
[...Yes. Thank you......]
My pleasure.
I logged off the internal system in a refreshed mood.
Looks like I’ve had more than enough of civil servant life.
‘So how’s the evening schedule shaping up for you?’
It’s my turn again to guide Park Mundae.
[Ah... yes! I’m all set.]
‘Good.’
I set out immediately.
[...Yes!]
Upon arriving, I retrieved the heavy bag I’d stashed in my cabinet.
‘I haven’t carried this in ages.’
Shouldering it, I left the office and headed toward my destination:
Jamsil Indoor Stadium.
“Waaah!!”
“Ughh!!”
Screams and flashing lights everywhere—this wasn’t a club or a battlefield.
Though the seat scramble was that fierce.
‘Phew.’
I found my seat.
It was late January at a prestigious awards show—right near the end—namely, the Cychart Music Awards.
And here, TeSTAR would make their comeback.
‘But my body swap is still in effect—how will I get on stage?’
Fortunately, the show ran past midnight. TeSTAR wouldn’t perform until the very end, so my body swap would revert before then.
Whether Big Sejin could calmly sit for the awards until that time was another matter.
‘Meanwhile, Ryu Geon woo has a plan of his own.’
His post-work plan, that is.
“...Hmm.”
I opened my bag and took out what I’d prepared: a black rectangular device.
A camera.
Plus the white telephoto lens. Once that was attached, I was ready.
‘Not bad specs.’
I wondered what he paid for it but decided not to ask.
Anyway.
Tonight, Ryu Geon woo planned to photograph TeSTAR at an awards show.
“You kept posting videos you filmed before... I wanted to try it myself and bought one. But honestly, my shots aren’t great...”
He’d said that himself.
It wasn’t a hobby I’d really recommend—yet exploring interests is healthy. So why not try people photography once?
I focused the lens and raised the camera. Despite the hiatus, my framing was instinctive.
[Now, at the Cychart Music Awards, let’s meet this year’s artists!]
The MCs’ introductions kicked off the ceremony, and the audience’s glow sticks and cheers ignited again.
Even the artists at the table were applauding.
‘It’s only natural to film here at this moment.’
I zoomed in to find the table—TeSTAR, of course.
“Got them.”
I framed the seven seated idols, all smiling, through the viewfinder.
Especially Park Mundae.
‘He looks okay.’
Hiding the occasional tremor under a blanket had been a smart move. I nodded in approval.
click
I ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ reflexively snapped a few more of the surrounding members, satisfied with the tactile click. It looked like good shots.
‘Hmm.’
This is kind of fun.
I turned the camera again. There was still time before the stage began.
‘Maybe I’ll try others too.’
Let’s see—next to TeSTAR sat...
“...”
Cheongryeo.
