I Became My Ex-Girlfriend’s Summon

24 – 24

Time passed, and before I knew it, it was already spring.

Fortunately, I had attached myself to the acquisition process and was working part-time to save up for my living expenses before entering education.

“Welcome.”

“Really? f*ck, not just a silver spoon but a f*cking diamond spoon?”

“The family is f*cking rich, and they have a f*cking lot of money. They’re good-looking too. Life is so unfair.”

Two young men entered the convenience store, chatting about something unknown, and started choosing items.

“Oh. They left the door wide open.”

Without much thought, I closed the door they had left open and went back to the counter…

“Where can you meet a woman like Mayeonseo?”

Suddenly, a familiar name reached my ears.

“I can’t meet you. Where can I find a woman like her in this world?”

“What a waste…”

It seemed they were gossiping about Mayeonseo.

“Goodbye.”

“Hey. Since I bought the drinks, we must definitely have a toast today.”

“You better do well to earn that toast.”

After settling the bill, they left the convenience store without a break, still chattering away.

“Damn bastards. They just opened up and left again.”

Expressing my dissatisfaction, I closed the door and returned. In passing, I absentmindedly checked the internet, remembering what they were saying about Mayeonseo.

“What’s going on again?”

Sure enough, the internet was buzzing with news about Mayeonseo.

“…Huh?”

As I skimmed through the articles, I doubted my eyes for a moment.

[ S-Class Awakener Mayeonseo’s father revealed to be Hyun Mercure, Vice Chairman of Mercure Group… ]

[ Namurisk, Mercure Owner Family Exposed. Mayeonseo ranks 4th… ]

It was about her father being the Vice Chairman of Mercure Group.

The same Mercure that I was about to enter for my education!

“Wow…no wonder.”

I had always thought that she wasn’t just an ordinary rich girl. And it turns out, she wasn’t.

If we talk about Mercury now, it’s the place that confidently leads the awakened equipment market.

In fact, it’s a company with such competitiveness that it could be considered a monopoly.

“I actually dated someone who makes no sense.”

I suddenly felt like I had done something really stupid.

But I’m not particularly nostalgic.

“……”

While reading through the articles like that, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

Could it be that she secretly had a hand in me getting accepted into the training center?

“Come to think of it, something was strange during the interview.”

Maybe it was because the course I applied for was newly opened this time, but there were a lot more applicants than positions available.

Thanks to that, I had to face the fierce competition and went into the interview with determination….

“Mr. Kang Yoo-chan… Is there anywhere uncomfortable for you?”

“No.”

“Are there any areas where you feel pain?”

“No. I’m healthy.”

“I see. Then, next….”

There were no special questions for me.

It was as if they asked about my health because they had no other questions.

But even so, I passed. Maybe Mayeonseo knew about my application and supported me…

“That’s unlikely.”

For a moment, I spread the wings of my daydreams and let out a chuckle, closing the article.

It’s been quite a long time since I broke up with her.

In that time, I should have been able to forget someone like me.

Maybe she’s already met a completely new man.

In fact, there were quite a few people who publicly expressed their liking for her.

It wasn’t an impossible possibility.

“I don’t know who it will be… but I hope they won’t suffer like me.”

I offered a silent prayer for the mysterious man in the Mayan mask.

*

It was the time when cherry blossoms bloomed.

I finally started attending the academy.

“It feels exciting.”

Thinking that I would experience something completely new, my heart fluttered, making it difficult for me to sleep at night.

“Us ordinary people can’t feel or see magic. It’s like colorless, odorless gas.”

At first, most of the classes were theoretical.

Most of the content was about magic and related techniques.

There was a lot to memorize, but it wasn’t as difficult as I thought.

[ When the founding chairman, Ma Junhwan, first went to the United States… ]

Occasionally, under the guise of mental education, there were also history lessons about the Mercury Group.

[…one of the world’s greatest awakeners, Ma Yeonseo…]

I was taken aback when the conversation turned to the Ma Yeonseo in the middle.

“My ex-girlfriend is the chairman’s granddaughter and the vice president’s daughter….”

It felt like I had become the protagonist in a drama.

My name was “Education Trainee Concealing Strength”.

It wasn’t a name that would be particularly popular.

“Since today is your first practical training, let’s start with auxiliary equipment.”

Eventually, during the practical training, I got to touch equipment that contained real magical power.

As I touched the equipment that had just recently retired from active duty, it felt incredibly real.

“Ouch. There are marks of defeat…. Even an Awakened can’t do such things.”

It was a time when I was learning the necessary knowledge and techniques from the industry while preparing for my certification.

Suddenly, a rumor started to spread among the trainees.

“Yoo Chan, have you heard that story?”

“What story?”

“Well, someone I know said that they’re planning to select a few people from our class to be regular employees at the headquarters!”

“Really?”

It was none other than a rumor about recruitment by the headquarters.

“Our class is the first class, right? So they’re going to send some people to Tech as a benchmark.”

“Wow. If it’s Tech…. That’s amazing.”

Most of us who came for job placement were expected to be employed by Mercury Tech’s partner companies.

But to enter the headquarters instead of a partner company! It was truly a dream-like opportunity.

“I don’t know who will be chosen, but a business card from a major company… I’m so envious.”

Of course, knowing the topic at hand, I never even dreamed of going to the headquarters and focused solely on obtaining certifications.

And soon enough, the identity of the trainee for the headquarters was revealed.

“M-Me?”

It was me.

I, Kang Yoochan, was going to the headquarters.

“Well, it’s planned for now, but don’t talk about it around just in case. Do you understand what I mean?”

One day, the instructor who called me separately suddenly mentioned the recruitment for the headquarters.

The talk was that regardless of obtaining certifications, my internal evaluation was so good that I would be converted to a regular employee after a three-month internship.

“No way… Does this make sense?”

What are the chances of directly entering a major company through a certification training course that I happened to find by chance?

It wasn’t easy to accept that it was all because I was doing well.

“Is this some kind of sorcery? No, that doesn’t make sense either…”

This situation was inexplicable no matter how I looked at it.

But when Hanryowon found out about this news, she was just happy for my employment.

“It’s good news, isn’t it? Mercury Tech…! I heard they start with a salary of 4,000! We can save money so quickly. Right?”

This guy was clearly happy because his wedding plans were being moved up.

“Well… anyway, good things are good…”

While feeling extremely happy, I decided not to dwell on it and focus on the present.

The weather, which had been endlessly hot, was now breaking, ushering in a refreshing autumn.

“…This is my company… I still can’t believe it.”

After obtaining my certification safely, I finally commuted to the newly erected Mercury Group building in the heart of Seoul…

“Ma, Marketing Team?”

Once again, something unexpected happened.

“The Equipment Management Team is currently full. Mr. Yoochan will be assigned to the Marketing Team first.”

Naturally, I thought I would be hired for the Equipment Management Department, but when I actually arrived at work, I was immediately sent to the Marketing Team.

“What is this marketing… I know nothing about it…!”

I was greatly taken aback by this new experience, but I had no choice but to reluctantly accept the story that I would be sent back to my original position soon.

“This is all just experience. Since it turned out this way, let’s work hard…!”

And so, the unexpected marketing tasks began.

As an intern, I started learning the work from the same team supervisor.

“I’m Hwang Jaehui. Let’s get along well from now on.”

“I’m Kang Yoochan. I may be lacking, but I’ll do my best.”

Hwang Jaehui, who was nine years older than me, was a woman with the image of an “office lady.”

“If you’re confused, let me know again, okay?”

“…I’m sorry, but please help me.”

“Here, take a look.”

Her tone was gentle, and she never complained about mistakes. With consistent management and a beautiful appearance, she seemed to be quite popular.

“They say we suffer because of ordinary people.”

I felt relieved to have met a good person and become friends with them.

… That’s how it seemed at first.

“Mr. Yoochan, would you like to have lunch together today?”

“Sure.”

She seemed quite friendly and took care of me in various ways, even taking me out for lunch.

“Is that your girlfriend in the photo?”

“Yes.”

“She’s cute. Is she a college student?”

“Yes, she’s in her third year.”

“Oh, she must be enjoying herself.”

It’s not like we were always together, and this was also part of socializing, so I followed along without thinking much.

Assistant Manager Hwang Jaehui from Marketing Team 1 [What are you up to, Mr. Yoochan?]

She started contacting me unnecessarily even after work.

“Mr. Yoochan, would you like to have a drink together tonight?”

She started behaving strangely, suggesting that we have a drink together after work.

“It seems like this person is interested in me….”

If she crosses the line completely, I don’t know what to do. It’s difficult to say anything that could potentially affect my social life.

“It’s not easy.”

I had no choice but to politely decline every time, using my girlfriend as an excuse and subtly drawing a line.

“Mr. Yoochan, would you like to have a beer with me tonight?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. My girlfriend is waiting for me, so I think it’ll be tough to drink.”

For some reason, she persistently pushed for a dinner appointment today.

“Oh? Then… how about eating together? I know a really delicious Chinese restaurant nearby.”

I firmly rejected her offer.

“I’m sorry. Even dinner seems a bit difficult.”

“…Really?”

And that’s when the torment began.

“Mr. Yoochan, could you come to the conference room for a moment?”

“Oh, yes!”

It was a time when I would spend the whole day wracking my brain, having her review the report I had written as usual.

“This, did I write it according to the format I gave you?”

“Yes. The one you sent me last time…”

“But why is it like this?”

“…What do you mean?”

Hwang Jaehui started to harass me, nitpicking every detail.

“Do you not know what’s wrong with it?”

“…I’m sorry, but if you could tell me what’s wrong…”

“I’ve been holding your hand all morning, and if you still don’t know, what am I supposed to do? How long do I have to keep telling you? When am I supposed to get my work done?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Will an apology be enough to end your career here? You need to do better if you want to move forward.”

“…I’m sorry…”

“Ah… it’s okay. Go ahead.”

It was truly “torment.”

“Mr. Yoochan, did you finish the report I asked you for earlier?”

“Ah, I’m still working on it, so I couldn’t make…”

“You still haven’t done it? Did I ask for something difficult?”

“…No, I didn’t…”

“If you had started instead of doing other things, you would have finished it. Isn’t that right?”

“…I’m sorry…”

“Please do it quickly.”

“…Yes…”

Because of the work he irresponsibly passed on, he was left alone for no reason.

“Mr. Yoochan, shall we go eat now?”

“Yes.”

“By any chance, before we go, can you make one more document? I have a meeting in the afternoon, and I’m running out of time.”

“Ah… I understand.”

He also suddenly threw urgent work at a moment when they were about to go for lunch.

“Mr. Yoochan, can you make this document by tomorrow morning?”

“By, by tomorrow morning?”

“Yes. Can you do me this favor?”

“…Ah, I understand.”

When there was not much time left until the end of the workday, I was sometimes asked to work overtime due to a massive amount of data requested.

It was clearly the price I paid for not receiving her favor.

“How long do I have to endure this?”

I increasingly suffered from the persistent and cunning harassment, eagerly waiting for the personnel assignments.

But.

“……”

“Yoochan, are you not listening to me? You’re a full-time employee now, you know?”

“…No.”

“Lift your head up. People might think I’m tormenting you.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Even after the end of my internship and the conversion to a full-time position, there was no personnel assignment.

I was still stuck in Marketing Team 1.

It was hell.

“Ryowon, can you just hug me once?”

“Why again? Did someone harass you at work again?”

“…No, it’s just… I’m tired.”

“Sigh. Our Yoochan, struggling in the working world.”

“…Yeah.”

“If it’s too hard, you can just quit. I’ll take care of you.”

“…Chi, is that enough?”

Han Rye Won kindly comforted me, saying that I didn’t have to burden myself every day.

Every time she did, I had a strong impulse to really hit something…

“…Pull yourself together. Kang Yoo Chan. This is not a chance that will come again in your lifetime. You have to endure it no matter what.”

I went to work at the company like a relentless machine, with the mindset of needing to make money.

To make her happy.

“Let’s stay strong…!”

And so, day by day passed.

I became more familiar with office work, and the annoying tasks decreased. Hwang Jae Hee seemed to have given up on tormenting me.

“I got in!”

“Really? Really?!”

“Really! Yayyy…!”

“Wow!! Our Rye Won is the best!”

Han Rye Won got a job at the Korean Awakening Association she had dreamt of.

It was only for a moment, but it was rewarding to work hard and support her.

“It’s done!”

Unfortunately, it was difficult to commute to the association from our house, so she had to temporarily go back to her hometown…

But still, we were one step closer to our ultimate goal.

The common goal of building a happy family together.

It felt like even the tough times we had gone through were all rewarded.

“Hing. What should I do? We won’t be able to see each other often if we’re separated now….”

“If we wait a little longer, we’ll eventually be together again.”

“You shouldn’t be so happy that I’m not here?”

“There’s no need to worry about that, it won’t happen.”

After some time, Hanyeo-won returned home for work.

Our Princess ♥ [ Work is so tough ㅜㅜ ]

Me [ Hang in there, it’s almost the weekend! ]

Our Princess ♥ [ Yes, I’m going to do it 100 times this weekend…! ]

Me [ Are you crazy? ]

Our Princess ♥ [ 200 times…? ]

Me [ I’m seriously going to die ]

Our Princess ♥ [ hahahahaha ]

Because we were both busy, we could only meet on weekends and eagerly awaited the day we would move.

“I should start getting ready.”

As Hanyeo-won was coming to my place for the first time in a while, I began tidying up and preparing for a shower.

“hehehehe….”

Filled with anticipation, I hummed a tune and started taking off my underwear.

Swoosh-!

Suddenly, a magic circle appeared on the floor of the room….

“……Huh?”

I was engulfed in a bright light.