#7

I carefully spoke while staring at Lee Gaon, who blinked his gentle puppy-like eyes. Considering that he was probably worried about his brother, Lee Daon, it didn’t feel right to say, ‘No matter what I say, your brother doesn’t seem like he’ll listen, so I just told him to kick instead’.

Yeah. It’s better not to be completely honest about that. I should just make something up. But how should I phrase it?

As I was silently contemplating, the door to the President’s office swung open at just the right moment, and Secretary Sung Yoojun appeared.

“President? You’re still here?”

“Yes, Secretary Sung. I had something to discuss.”

In response to my answer, Secretary Sung Yoojun calmly scanned me and the members.

“If your conversation isn’t finished, I can go back inside and kill some more time.”

As he spoke, Secretary Sung Yoojun glanced at the President’s office. From the way he looked, he seemed ready to step right back in the moment I gave the word. But this was still the President’s office of someone else’s company. Watching Sung Yoojun act as if it were a public lounge, I hesitated for a moment before quietly shaking my head.

“No, it’s fine. Let’s just head back.”

Honestly, I would’ve loved to send him back in to torment President Lee Yongjun a bit more.

But this was also a great chance to let an awkward conversation naturally fade away, and I didn’t want to keep the Tartarus members standing around here any longer. So, I chose to leave.

“Understood. Then let’s go. Manager Ahn is waiting downstairs.”

Manager Ahn…… That must be Ahn Siwon, the veteran manager in charge of handling long-time industry professionals. Recalling the information I had seen earlier, I nodded slowly.

Seeing my nod, Secretary Sung Yoojun promptly started walking toward the elevator. Trailing behind him, I suddenly realized there were no footsteps following me. I turned around. The members of Tartarus were still standing in front of the president’s office, not moving an inch, silently watching me.

Why aren’t they following? I thought they’d naturally come along when I moved.

I carefully scanned each of the Tartarus members. Was there a problem? Or…… did they not want to follow me?

That was a possibility.

Their agency transfer had been entirely a transaction between me and President Lee Yongjun, with no consideration for their opinions. As the thought settled in, I mentally scolded myself.

Why am I only realizing this now?

Of course, they would feel upset about a decision made without their consent. I had been so preoccupied with dealing with President Lee Yongjun and worrying about the members of Tartarus that my mind hadn’t been functioning properly.

Imagining myself slapping my own cheeks multiple times in my head, I straightened my posture and fully turned toward the Tartarus members.

“Everyone, if you’re okay with it, please come with me.”

I spoke while maintaining eye contact with them, my voice carrying a gentle invitation.

“If you’re not okay with it, you don’t have to come.”

At my added words, the members’ eyes widened slightly. I continued speaking, still looking at them directly.

“Do whatever you want.”

If you’re fine with it, come with me. If not, that’s okay too. Do whatever you want. Whatever that may be, I’ll respect your decision.

That was the message I wanted to convey. At my words, the members’ eyes wavered. I understood the confusion they must have been feeling. Based on my conversation with President Lee Yongjun, the one who first suggested Tartarus switch agencies was the in-game version of me. And the one who signed the papers to take them in was the current me.

Yet now, I was telling them, ‘Come if you want, or don’t’. It would be no surprise if they thought I was a strange person.

But so what? 

Would it matter if they thought I was strange? What was more important than that was respecting the opinions of the people in front of me.

“What will you do if we ask you to send us to a different agency after saying that?”

“If that’s what you want, I will, of course, send you somewhere else.”

“Wouldn’t that be a huge loss for you? The money you spent to bring us in must not be a small amount.”

“Money is far less important than your wishes.”

At my firm response, Nam Yisol blinked slowly and stared at me. His gaze held an emotion that was hard to define. I accepted it fully and continued speaking.

“Would you like to be transferred to another agency? Do you have a place in mind?”

“……What if I do?”

“Just tell me the name. I’ll conduct some research, and if I find it to be a good place, I’ll proceed with the contract immediately.”

Saying that, I glanced at Secretary Sung Yoojun, who stood behind me. My look was a silent question—was background research possible? Secretary Sung Yoojun met my gaze and gave a slight nod.

I had asked just in case, but it seemed it was indeed possible. Satisfied, I turned my attention back to Nam Yisol and waited for the name of an agency to come out of his mouth. But instead of a name, what came from him was a clear burst of laughter.

“Pfft, ahaha!!”

Nam Yisol clutched his stomach with both arms, laughing as if he could barely breathe, and I widened my eyes in surprise. He looked genuinely amused, which was nice to see, but I didn’t understand why he was laughing like that.

“Hahaha! Sir, do you know you’re really a strange person?”

……Yeah, I know. Of course, I do. I brought you guys in, and now I’m saying you can go wherever you want, do whatever you want—it’s obviously bizarre. But this wasn’t something I started by choice……

With a hazy gaze, I thought about the in-game version of myself who had demanded Tartarus’s agency transfer from Lee Yongjun. If you started this, you should finish it. Why am I the one cleaning up after you?

As I floundered in self-reproach, Nam Yisol’s bright voice reached me.

“But I don’t dislike such a strange president.”

Having given a far more positive evaluation than I expected, Nam Yisol turned to look at the Tartarus members with a smile still lingering on his face.

“I’m going with the president. What about you guys?”

The first to react was, surprisingly, Jung Hosu. With his expression still unreadable and devoid of emotion, he stepped forward and said,

“I’ll go.”

“……Me too.”

Next was Yoo Euiseo. He glanced at the members beside him for a moment before quietly stating that he would go along as well.

With three members having spoken, everyone’s attention naturally shifted to Lee Gaon and Lee Daon, who had yet to voice their decision.

“Daon……”

“Shut up. We’ll go, okay?”

At the sudden attention on them, Lee Gaon flinched slightly, reaching out to grab Lee Daon’s sleeve as he called his name. In response, Lee Daon roughly swatted his hand away but still gave a positive answer. His agreement made Lee Gaon’s face brighten instantly.

“We’ll go too!”

Seeing Lee Gaon looking truly happy, I offered a faint smile. Then, slowly turning my body, I spoke.

“Shall we head out, then?”

As I turned around, Secretary Sung Yoojun, who had been standing behind me, started walking again. I trailed closely behind him.

It was the same situation as before. The only difference was that this time, unlike earlier, I could sense multiple people following behind me. That unfamiliar sensation made me twitch my lips awkwardly, and before I knew it, the elevator had arrived at the underground parking lot.

“President! Secretary Sung!”

As the elevator doors opened and we stepped out, a man emerged from a black van with its engine running, calling out to both me and Secretary Sung Yoojun. I didn’t need to ask his name—I already knew. That man was Manager Ahn Siwon.

“You took longer than I expected!”

“Did you have to wait long? I’m sorry. Things took a bit longer than anticipated.”

“No, sir! This is my job—there’s no reason for you to apologize to me! If you do, Secretary Sung will scold me later~.”

The way he exaggeratedly waved both hands while speaking felt a bit comical, yet strangely, it didn’t come off as annoying. It was probably because of his eyes—those eyes that, even while joking, still looked at others with warmth.

“I won’t scold you.”

“Really? You promise?”

He extended his pinky toward Secretary Sung Yoojun, seemingly wanting confirmation. It was a rather amusing sight. However, Secretary Sung Yoojun easily ignored the playfulness and turned to me instead.

“Where should I take you?”

His gaze briefly flickered toward the Tartarus members standing behind me before returning to me. At the same time, Manager Ahn Siwon, who had been pouting over being ignored, also fixed his gaze on me. And, most likely, the members of Tartarus behind me were also looking at me, waiting for an answer.

I stroked my chin with a finger, then slowly turned around. As expected, the Tartarus members were staring at me.

Would it be best to send them straight to their accommodations so they could rest? I recalled the premium-grade houses and villas I had seen through the frosted glass earlier. But which one was their lodging? If I asked Secretary Sung Yoojun or Manager Ahn Siwon to take them to their accommodations, would they know where to go?