Chapter 102.2 - [Illustration]

“Huuuu.”

By the time I emerged from the abandoned rental apartment building, it was already well past sunset.

‘They said time flows strangely inside, and they weren’t lying.’

It was already 7PM.

I immediately called someone.

[Ah, Soleum-ssi…!]

It was Jang Heo-un, who I’d told to meet me at 5 PM.

Despite making him wait for two hours, I smoothly delivered my apology.

The reason? Well…

[Oh, no, it’s fine. This café is great! If something urgent came up, it can’t be helped. Don’t worry about me.]

Right.

I’d deliberately told Jang Heo-un to meet me at 5 PM.

‘Just in case the Research Team found out I went in alone and decided to shove him into some other insane ghost story in the meantime.’

That deranged sociopath of a researcher could absolutely do it, saying something like, ‘Well, since it’s already like this, why don’t you head somewhere else?’

‘Corporate life is such a goddamn mess…’

In any case, I later apologized to Jang Heo-un at the café.

Then, I explained the situation—carefully, without being overly shocking—framing it as though the Research Team had tried to force us into a pointless and dangerous task, and I had refused.

But Jang Heo-un focused on something else.

[Wait, wouldn’t this put you in a tough spot, Soleum-ssi? I mean, you ignored a company directive…!]

“Oh, it’s fine.”

I spoke warmly.

“If you keep this between us, I can make good use of it.”

[……??]

And not long after—

As soon as I returned to hand in the Dream Essence Collector, I was urgently summoned by Kwak Jaekang.

Feigning calm, I shamelessly explained the situation.

“So, you left the Round-Off Team member behind… is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes.”

Kwak Jaekang stared at me like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, then let out a long sigh before laughing in disbelief.

It wasn’t a good laugh.

It was the ‘I can’t believe this’ kind of laugh.

“No but, Mr. Roe Deer! You know this is grounds for disciplinary action, right? Do you think this company’s a school, where you can just do whatever you want? Did Section Chief Lee Jaheon say this was okay?”

“No, Section Chief Lee Jaheon consistently advises adherence to company policies and field exploration manuals.”

“Aigoo, if you knew that, why would you do such a thing? Hm… quite puzzling.”

Kwak Jaekang spoke in a subtly probing tone.

“Do you have a strong aversion to the idea of a colleague being sacrificed in an exploration? Perhaps because you’re acquainted?”

Of course, that’s what he would think.

I replied without hesitation.

“……? Isn’t it just frustrating?”

“…??”

“Why should I, when I’m capable of achieving a quick solo clear, have to drag along—well, pardon my bluntness—a useless burden?”

“……!”

Kwak Jaekang stared at me, momentarily stunned, before hastily trying to explain.

“No, I mean, you could just clear it and leave him alone in the elevator when it’s done…”

“That’s precisely the point. Why should I bother with that kind of thing during Darkness exploration, sir?”

I furrowed my brows slightly, as though barely holding back my irritation.

“Do I need to worry about whether the staff waiting downstairs might run away, or whether I can send them at the right time? None of that helps shorten the exploration time or increase the essence grade, does it?”

“……”

“The purpose of a field exploration role is to extract high-concentration solutions as quickly as possible and supply ingredients for the Daydream Inc. Wish Ticket elixir. Why should I waste time on tasks unrelated to my job?”

“But this is also part of the job—”

“Isn’t that your job, Section Chief?”

Kwak Jaekang shut his mouth.

He seemed at a loss for words in the face of my ridiculous MZ-generation efficiency logic.

Not that I’m a real MZer—my persona is all an act! Like fresh graduates just entering the workforce, I’m just role-playing here.

(T/N: MZ generation – a term coined originally for millennials or gen z people, but in a colloquial sense is just a buzzword older people use along with the connotation of ‘Young people these days…’)

“So I figured it’d be more efficient to just take the disciplinary action.”

“…More efficient, you say?”

“Yes.”

I answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“At the very least, I’d be sanctioned with disciplinary action during my downtime when I’m not out for exploration.”

“……”

Kwak Jaekang looked at me like I was some newly discovered alien species.

Of course, even he had to find this absurd.

Exactly.

‘This is the weakness you were so eager to uncover…!’

A meticulous efficiency addict obsessed with their own rules!

While it might come across as morally upright, in reality, it’s just someone who loses their mind if their self-imposed principles are violated, acting with zero social grace.

‘This kind of extreme personality is, by nature, a weakness.’

If it could stop Kwak Jaekang’s unnecessary provocations from here on out, the disciplinary action would be worth it…!

“In that case, I’ll await the decision on my disciplinary measure.”

I maintained my delusional lunatic persona to the end as I left the lab.

‘Time to find Braun.’

I was quite proud of how I did.

The now-quiet office of Research Team 1, after Kim Soleum’s departure.

Everyone else had already left for the day. So, sitting alone at his desk and mentally organizing the events of yesterday and today…

“Hahahaha!”

Kwak Jaekang suddenly burst into laughter.

“Left him behind because it was frustrating? Hahaha!”

How could this be so entertaining?

If it were any other employee, he might have fallen for it entirely.

Extreme statements paired with overwhelming performance often sound convincing.

But…

“I’ve observed a lot of people!”

In the end, actions speak louder than words.

And predicting future actions based on behavioral patterns—well, that’s part of the joy of this job…!

“Ah, delightful.”

Smiling ear to ear, Kwak Jaekang finished jotting down notes, stood up from his desk, and left for the day with a cheerful gait.

Click.

His soft humming echoed briefly in the office before fading with the sound of the door closing behind him.

Left on the desk were a few sheets of documentation.

[Supervisor Kim Soleum / Field Exploration Team]

It was Kim Soleum’s profile file.

Beneath it, hastily scribbled notes in Kwak Jaekang’s handwriting could be seen.

Traits (predictable with meaningful probability)

1- Virtuous.

2- Cowardly.