Published: August 15, 2025
Today, three episodes are updated simultaneously.
This is the first episode.
“Thank you for waiting.”
“Oh, the meeting is over, right?”
“Yes, everything went smoothly.”
I met up with Mr. Eudam, my escort, at the Guild’s reception.
Since only representatives were allowed in the conference room, the rest were asked to wait inside the Guild.
“W-well then, I’ll be going now.”
Saying that, a woman stood up and left. It seemed she had been talking to one of the receptionists.
“Was I disturbing you?”
“Just some casual chat. Also gathering information. By the way, what’s next on the schedule?”
“We have a street cleaning planned for the afternoon, but there’s still some time, so I was thinking of returning to the security company for a bit. I’ve entrusted the supervisors at each workplace, but I need to check some reports and sign some documents.”
“Understood.”
So, as we headed toward the entrance of the commercial guild,
“!”
Just before Mr. Eudam, who had gone ahead, could reach the door, my eyes met those of a man entering the Guild.
The man seemed to scowl briefly, but almost instantly shifted to a smile and called out to us.
“Well, well, it’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has. Mr. Wanz…”
“The last meeting ended up like that, and we haven’t met since, but you look well.”
“Yes, thanks to you. Have you lost some weight, Mr. Wanz?”
“It’s gotten suddenly cold lately… By the way, what brings you here today?”
“I just met up with an acquaintance.”
“I see. I also have a meeting with an acquaintance soon, so I’ll excuse myself.”
“Take care.”
The conversation ended. Wanz headed to the reception, and we went outside.
I’m sure neither of us wanted a long chat.
Still, since our eyes met firmly, we just exchanged superficial greetings.
However,
“Manager, was that guy just now Wanz?”
“He’s probably exactly who you’re thinking, Eudam.”
“Ah, the one you argued with with such determination when you were on edge. Glad it ended peacefully.”
“There’s no way I’d start an argument there. He seems to be pretending to be a decent citizen, and I don’t want to cause unnecessary trouble.”
“Hmm.”
Saying that, Mr. Eudam peered at my face.
“So, Manager, why the gloomy look? You met someone you didn’t want to, but you’re really this down?”
“...Do I look that down?”
“You do.”
Was it really that obvious?
“Well, since that argument, I haven’t met him even once until just now. I wonder why I reacted so strongly to someone like him, as you said, Eudam.
I can’t quite put it into words, but when I met him before, it felt like he had this kind of ‘pressure’ — something that made me feel danger, like ‘this can’t continue.’
“You mean like intimidation?”
“I’m not sure. In any case, I thought it would be bad to just do as he said.”
But when I saw him just now, I didn’t sense that at all.
Honestly, I don’t know why I was so tense back then.
Rather, thinking back, my extreme reaction to such a small fry feels exaggerated.
Well, it probably was exaggerated.
Imagine being in a group fighting a single Goblin, and instead of just being careful not to get hurt, you go alone with a death wish, thinking if you lose, the country will be destroyed.
From an outside perspective, it was an overreaction to such a small opponent, and I feel like I want to disappear into a hole from embarrassment.
If I say I lost my composure, well, that’s just it—”
“Okay, got it. It’s clear you find it embarrassing to think back on.”
Honestly, I feel like that incident has become a black history of this life…
“By the way, this is a personal curiosity and also related to another job, but don’t you think you should do something about that man?”
“I’m certain about it, but he’s cautious too, so he doesn’t show his hand easily. There’s also a ‘priority’ and ‘victory condition’ involved.”
“Can I hear more about that?”
Mr. Eudam asked while keeping an eye on the surroundings, so I checked as well before replying.