Riser
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29-9
🕑 Added 2025-06-10 01:17:33 +0000 UTCEpisode 9: Kang Juyeong
Kang Juyeong.
She’s the manager at the travel agency Travel Wiz and the team leader of the MD team.
Despite being in her mid to late 30s, she has an attractive figure with all the right curves and a sharp, disciplined work style and leadership that commands the team.
She’s a company ace recognized by everyone.
In fact, since she became team leader, the team’s performance graph has never once dipped.
However, she has her flaws.
“Hmph. So you’re saying you were so tired after work yesterday that you just fell asleep?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
As soon as the elevator doors closed, Kang Juyeong, as if she’d been waiting, started pressing me about not answering her call yesterday.
She didn’t press the button for the second floor.
“...Yes, that’s right.”
Shrinking like a herbivore in front of a carnivore, I recited the excuse I’d prepared in advance.
In the oppressive silence, I kept glancing at the unmoving floor display, still on the first floor.
I was so nervous that my armpits and back were already damp.
“...Well, I suppose that can happen if you’re tired. Our j0b is tough, after all.”
Her judgment, after a long wait, was surprisingly lenient.
I finally let out a breath, but I couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
‘With her pers0nality, there’s no way she’d let this go so easily.’
Then Kang Juyeong reached out and pressed the button for the second floor, where the office was.
“Um, Team Leader?”
“What is it?”
“May I ask what you were calling about yesterday?”
Ding-
But before I could finish my question, the elevator arrived at the floor.
When the doors opened, Kang Juyeong walked out without a word, and I quietly followed behind.
As we walked down the light beige hallway, there was no conversation between us.
“Good morning.”
When we reached the office, a few coworkers who’d arrived earlier greeted her.
While she exchanged greetings, I tried to slip past and hurry to my seat.
“A$$istant Manager Lee.”
Her voice caught me by the scruff of the neck.
“I sent you a file by email. Please revise it.”
“A file?”
“Yes. Please get it done today. That’s what I was going to ask about on the phone yesterday.”
“Ah, I see.”
Fortunately, it wasn’t as serious as I’d feared the night before.
But why give me that instruction so late after work?
I swallowed the words rising to my throat and nodded at Kang Juyeong.
“Ah, yes. Underst-”
But before I could finish, she turned on her heel and kept walking.
What a rude woman.
“Phew...”
Finally freed from her leash, I slumped into my chair and let out a sigh I’d been holding in.
I felt ten years older.
“You’re going to echo through the whole office, sunbae.”
As I waited for my computer to boot up, a familiar bright voice came from the side.
Soon, the sound of chair wheels rolled over, and my junior, Park Mina, peeked out from behind the divider.
She’s a staff member who joined just two years ago and my first mentee.
“What brings you in early?”
“Do you think I’m lazy like you? I’ve always come in at this time.”
Mina retorted confidently and turned her head away.
Her platinum blonde hair, down to her exposed shoulders, swayed in front of me.
“Calling me lazy-this brat has no respect for her senior.”
When I reached out to flick her forehead, she pulled her chair back to dodge.
“Hehehe.”
Her narrowed, smiling eyes gave her a charming yet cute appeal.
My gaze, which had been on her face, drifted down to her bare white legs exposed by her short shorts.
Sometimes I wonder if she dresses like that on purpose to show off, or if she just genuinely likes that style.
“What about you, sunbae? Why are you here so early?”
“Oh? Uh, I just happened to wake up to my alarm today...”
No way I could say I woke up because the maid burned the omelet.
“Still, unlucky for you. Team Leader Juyeong always comes in at this time, too.”
“No wonder.”
Getting to work early turned out to be a bad move.
Next time, I’ll make sure to leave late on purpose.
Then I felt a persistent gaze scanning my body.
“What are you doing?”
“Sunbae, haven’t you changed a bit?”
When I questioned the culprit, she came even closer and examined my body up and down.
“Did you gain some muscle? Or is it just because your clothes are tighter?”
“Uh-huh!”
Just as Mina’s hand was about to touch my arm, Kang Juyeong, sitting at the team leader’s seat, cleared her throat to stop her.
“Let’s talk later.”
Mina covered her m0uth and whispered, then slipped back behind the divider.
Her reaction lingered in my mind, but it wasn’t wise to risk upsetting Kang Juyeong any further.
When my computer finished booting, I checked my inbox and found the file Kang Juyeong had mentioned.
“Isn’t this the proposal you wrote recently, sunbae?”
As soon as I opened the file, Mina leaned over the divider to look at my monitor.
Her face naturally came close, and I caught a whiff of her fragrant shampoo.
“...Yeah, it is.”
Just as Mina said, the file was the product proposal I’d written and submitted to Kang Juyeong a few days ago.
True to form, she’d left detailed comments and corrections on every item.
“Was it rejected?”
“Yeah, it was.”
Well, I figured as much.
It was my first proposal since becoming a$$istant manager.
If it pa$$ed right away, would I even be here?
The problem was-
“Wow... That’s harsh.”
The scope of revisions was huge.
It was basically like being told to rewrite the whole thing.
“Knew it.”
No wonder she seemed so lenient earlier.
She had it all planned.
“Are you going to be okay, sunbae? You have other work too.”
“What can I do? She said it’s due today.”
If the higher-ups say jump, you jump.
I swallowed the curses on my tongue and closed the proposal.
I wanted to get started right away, but as Mina said, I couldn’t neglect my regular duties.
“Guess I’ll be working overtime tonight.”
Still, let’s just get through today.
Tomorrow’s the weekend.
With that small hope as my motivation, I got to work.
MD, in Korean, basically means product manager.
You handle things like travel product costs, schedules, airline seat management, and regional marketing.
It’s a j0b with a lot of responsibilities.
I’m in charge of the Japan products.
I think about this all the time, but I really don’t think I’m suited for this j0b.
First of all, it’s not fun.
How much interest can someone who just sits at home playing eroge have in travel?
Of course, how many office workers actually find their j0bs fun anyway?
Still,
Most people have at least some small reas0n or motivation for working.
I just ended up here because I was looking for a j0b I could do with my Japanese major.
I had no idea how hard this j0b would be.
I thought I’d get to travel more, but most of the time I’m just stuck in the office.
If even a small problem crops up during a trip, it can snowball into a huge issue.
Once, another department left a zero off the package price and reservations flooded in.
Thankfully, it was resolved with refunds.
If that had been me, I’d have had chills.
Anyway, it’s a stressful and not-at-all-fun j0b.
I’ve thought about quitting more times than I can count.
But if I quit, I have no idea where I’d go next.
So, even while cursing under my breath, I stuck it out and finally got promoted to a$$istant manager a few days ago.
Now I have more work, subordinates to be responsible for, a bit more money.
But I’m still just a regular employee waiting for the end of the workday.
‘Which game should I possess next?’
Even today, I couldn’t stop thinking about possession, even as I worked.
It’s like being at a buffet and not knowing what to eat.
Now that I have the ability to possess games, I have to be careful with my choices.
Might as well do things I could never dream of in reality.
Like being a molester, incest... Shota could be fun too.
I wonder if tentacles or goblins are possible?
“...A$$istant Manager Lee. A$$istant Manager Lee!”
My wandering thoughts were scattered by a sharp voice.
When I snapped out of it and turned toward the voice, I saw Kang Juyeong at the edge of the conference room, glaring at me with an annoyed expression.
“Were you listening to me?”
“Yes?”
“I just told you to report the sales results for the past month.”
“...Ah. Sorry.”
“Why? Are you tired again today?”
“No, I just had something on my mind for a m0ment.”
At my excuse, Kang Juyeong let out a sigh that echoed through the conference room.
“Sigh. I know you’re excited about your promotion, but try to focus during meetings, okay?”
Her sarcasm made my lips twitch.
“You’ve already been here four years. If you keep acting clueless, what are the juniors supposed to learn from you?”
“I’m sorry.”
This time, it was clearly my fault, so I kept apologizing.
Looking around, I saw other department heads glancing at Kang Juyeong nervously.
No one wants to get caught in the crossfire.
“That’s enough, let’s get on with the report.”
“...Yes.”
With so many eyes on her, Kang Juyeong didn’t drag out the scolding.
I let out a sigh of relief and continued my report.
“That’s all.”
When I finished, Kang Juyeong scribbled something on her tablet and nodded.
“Hmm. Got it. Since it’s almost peak seas0n, try to coordinate with other departments for effective marketing strategies.”
Other departments, huh.
Those guys who always come up with ridiculous ideas without considering our situation?
“Team Leader.”
“What is it now?”
Her sharp tone echoed through the conference room.
Normally, I’d have just shut up, but somehow I found the courage to keep talking.
“Well, as you know, working with other departments always ends up hurting our side...”
“So? You doze off during meetings and now you’re openly refusing instructions?”
“That’s not it, I just want to find a more effective way-”
Kang Juyeong tapped the table hard with her finger, as if she wouldn’t tolerate my objections.
“Maybe the reas0n you think the other departments’ ideas are bad is because you’re not competent enough?”
Her criticism naturally shifted from my earlier mistake to an attack on my abilities.
“Isn’t it irresponsible to blame other departments for your own incompetence?”
She clearly had no intention of accepting my opinion.
Realizing this, I ground my teeth and nodded.
“Understood. I’ll do as you say, Team Leader.”
“Let’s move on to the next team’s presentation.”
Kang Juyeong’s expression returned to normal as she continued the meeting.
When the meeting ended, the other department heads quickly left, glancing at her nervously.
“A$$istant Manager Lee.”
As I was gathering my things to leave, Kang Juyeong called me back.
“How’s the task I asked you to do earlier?”
More like ordered, not asked.
“Not done yet.”
She scowled at my answer.
“It’s already afternoon. When are you going to finish? Do you really think you’ll get it done today?”
“I’ll try to hurry.”
“I told you it had to be done today. This time, don’t even think about using the ‘I’m tired’ excuse.”
She’s really milking that one excuse for all it’s worth.
“Why aren’t you answering? Did you hear me?”
She pressed her finger into my chest, raising her voice.
“...Understood.”
After hearing my answer, packed with suppressed emotion, Kang Juyeong turned and left the conference room with dignity.
Her tight skirt swayed with her steps.
The old me would have just watched and cursed under my breath.
But now, things are different.
When she pointed her finger at me just now, I saw her eyes tremble for a split second.
And I remembered her reaction in the lobby this morning.
“Just wait a little longer.”
Even if no one else, I’ll make sure you’re the one begging at my feet.
Left alone in the conference room, I chewed over my feelings of revenge as I watched Kang Juyeong’s retreating figure.
