Chapter 51: Chapter 51

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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Chapter 51: Someone Else’s Memory (2)

“Mr. Lee Eunho, you can start work next week, right?”

“Yes! I can start tomorrow if needed!”

“Haha, I like your enthusiasm.”

One thing I learned after becoming an adult:

“By the way, could I ask when the salary negotiation takes place?”

“What? You didn’t know? We don’t do negotiations. It’s already set.”

“Oh… I see.”

Signing the same contract doesn’t mean you’re on equal footing.

The kind of “negotiation” where I state my terms, hear their opinions, and work toward a compromise?

That was never in the cards.

So, I’ve never had a proper negotiation.

‘I’ve always just lived by reading the room.’

Digging through company rules no one bothers to check.

Labor laws.

Contracts.

Internal policies.

Because I wasn’t even qualified to sit at the negotiation table.

Because that was all I could do.

But this time...

[Do you agree?]

[If you do not agree, participation in the mission will not be possible.]

If what’s on the table is my memory and my life—

If it’s to that extent—

[Do you agree?]

“I won’t agree to these terms.”

[If you do not agree, participation in the mission will—]

“I plan to participate in the mission.”

This much defiance is worth a shot.

The fact that the penalty for disagreeing wasn’t outright “deletion” gave me some courage.

“Why are you being like this? It’s just a bonus game. Just follow the instructions and get it over with!”

“Mr. Lee Eunho, are you crazy?!”

The outburst from the foul-mouthed one and Lee Yejin was almost a shout.

They seemed to sense that the situation was taking a dangerous turn.

“Brother…”

“You’re sure about this?”

I met the trusting yet slightly worried gazes of Jaehyuk and Jieun.

[...]

A brief silence.

[Not possible.]

The predictable answer came back.

That’s fine.

I wasn’t expecting the system to give me the answer I wanted anyway.

Tap.

I turned my body toward the floating “eye” above me.

It had been a while since I faced it head-on.

Had I grown used to it?

Even so, staring into the massive black pupil embedded in the white orb felt strange.

Swish!

That sensation—like my clothes had been stripped off and disappeared.

The shame of being laid bare, even beyond nakedness, to the core of my bones.

The unease of facing an unknown entity, needing to persuade it, and overcome it.

“I want to speak directly with the Manager.”

But the thirst to live like a human surpassed all of that.

The desperation to not just finish the race on this slanted playing field but to win it.

And then, after a moment:

[...Why. What.]

A reluctant voice answered.

It was the voice of a young girl, sharp and spirited.

Her?

I thought the Manager had changed.

[With temporary Administrator privileges, settings have been modified!]

[‘Stone Golem’ is being updated with a new patch!]

So, that was just a temp.

Well, this might actually make things easier.

She’s somewhat predictable.

[You’re clever. Who are you?]

Since the moment she first appeared, she’s been consistent.

[Did you achieve some global feat? Create an incredible masterpiece?]

[I figured not. Then I’ll just sweep it all at once… no, I’ll move things along quickly.]

A leader who only cares about results, paying attention solely to those who meet her standards.

[Normally, I’d tailor everything to fit individual attributes, but that’s too much hassle. I’ll just randomize it.]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

She prioritizes her mood over company policy but doesn’t completely disregard the rules.

“This mission.”

For someone like her—

“I have an idea for additional revenue. Care to hear me out?”

Practical benefits work better than flattery.

[...What is it?]

“I reviewed the terms, and they’re essentially the same as before. Observers passively watch what I do in my memories and react to it. So, here’s my suggestion…”

It’s better to get straight to the point.

“How about ‘experiencing’ instead of just observing?”

[Ex-Experiencing?!]

“Not just watching, but stepping into my body and directly experiencing it. A piece of my life.”

[!!]

The Manager let out a startled sound.

Which made sense, given that I’d brought up something no ordinary human could possibly know about.

「...Therefore, to promote paid “experience” content, securing high-quality material is essential.

However, as previously mentioned, due to the standardized education process in Korea and the noticeably delayed independence from parents and institutions, acquiring distinctive “experiences worth remembering” is anticipated to be challenging.」

Content “experience.”

It was something I’d read in a report stolen from the ghosts.

‘The company’s primary revenue source.’

That’s what the memories of people like us were—converted into “content” for those above to watch and enjoy.

There were various ways to enjoy it.

The most basic level, viewing, simply watching as a observer.

The second level, experiencing, temporarily becoming the person and living their memory directly.

In other words—

“Temporary possession” might be a good way to describe it.

I wasn’t sure whether to marvel at the technology that allowed these beings to create countless virtual worlds from human memories—

Or to be horrified at the otherworldly beings who found such things to be mere entertainment.

Perhaps both.

[This is suspicious. How do you even know about “experience” content?]

“Oh, is that already a thing? I thought I was the first to come up with it.”

[So you came up with it… using that oh-so-brilliant brain of yours?]

“Yes. I figured it’d be more competitive than just watching.”

Maybe I was the most surprised of all—using even something as surreal as this as a bargaining chip.

[Well… fine. Let’s set that aside. Where exactly does the additional revenue come from?]

“We’ll charge for the experience. It’ll be a paid service.”

And yes, I turned it into a money-making tool.

[Sigh… Do you even understand what you’re saying?]

“Of course. Oh, and I plan to keep the commission split the same. Fifty-fifty.”

[That's not the point right now!]

I waited quietly.

With an attitude that said, What's the problem?

[Who would pay to experience preliminary content... ah, forget it.]

Then, mumbling to herself, the manager let out a shallow sigh.

She must have already finished calculating it in her head.

[...Though there are a few people who might throw themselves at the chance if it’s you.]

I know that too.

“We’ve already conducted a demand survey on this end.”

After the fight with the golem, the observers flocked in.

【The "Night Owl of the Audit Bureau" nods in approval, saying you're a worthy investment.】

【The "External Affairs Department's Rookie" marvels at how quickly the rumors spread.】

Apparently, my "Eyes" were rather popular.

I wasn’t sure if that was something to be happy about.

Judging by how they were willing to shell out about 1,000 points in donations, they seemed to have money to spare.

So.

"Fifty percent commission. Don’t you want it, Manager?"

I threw the question disguised as a proposal.

After a brief pause, Harona responded with a question instead of an answer.

[How much is the experience fee? How are you going to pick the participants?]

"That’s..."

She had a lot of questions.

A sign she was half-convinced.

If so, time to play the final card.

"I’m thinking of putting it up for auction."

[An auction?!]

Harona's voice rose in disbelief.

Her reaction was as if I’d just said something utterly ridiculous.

But.

"That way, we can drive the price up as much as possible. Of course, that’s assuming it gets popular enough to attract people."

[What if no one shows up?]

"Set a low starting bid. That’s better than setting a high fee from the beginning. It eliminates the worry of scaring people away."

[Ugh...]

One second, two seconds.

A moment longer than a blink but shorter than a pause.

[You really are something else.]

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

[Ha. What on earth are you made of?]

"You’re looking at me now, aren’t you? You can see exactly what I’m made of."

[...]

Harona came back at me.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

w

With what sounded suspiciously like a compliment wrapped in an insult.

[...Shut up for a moment. Let me think.]

A positive signal.

But.

"It's five minutes to nine. I’ll give you two minutes to think."

This time, I pressed forward.

Starting the countdown.

* * *

[...Two minutes. Okay.]

Harona ground her teeth before answering and motioned toward the screen with her chin.

To be precise, at Lee Eunho, who was smirking leisurely on the screen.

Noticing the cue, the quick-witted subordinate bowed slightly in response and began typing away.

Then.

【Audio connection terminated.】

Click!

Suddenly, the background noise I hadn’t consciously noticed was gone.

It felt as if the floating specks of noise shattered in the sunlight and vanished in an instant.

And as soon as I registered that the connection had been cut.

Clatter!

Harona shot up from her seat.

Her carefully maintained composure was gone.

[An auction? Where the hell did that idea come from?!]

[Remarkable. Most people would have a visceral reaction to others digging into and evaluating their past.]

[Exactly! How does someone even think like that in this situation?]

And that audacious attitude.

Acting as if he already knows the whole plan.

It’s not just intelligence; it’s almost as if…

[That guy—did he pick up some future-seeing skill somewhere?]

[Impossible. Based on his track record so far, there’s been no time for that.]

[Ugh. I feel like we’re being played.]

Harona muttered as she paced back and forth in front of the desk.

Sensing her anxiety, Seung cautiously asked.

[Surely you’re not considering going along with that absurd proposal, are you?]

Any reasonable manager would flatly reject it.

But Harona?

[Hmm. What should I do?]

[Of course, you should refuse! He’s not even officially part of the company yet, and he’s already trying to sell premium content?!]

The very definition of results-driven pragmatism.

The kind willing to do whatever it takes to hit a target.

[Ugh, shut up.]

Naturally.

[Is this month’s financial report done?]

[Huh? It’s nearly finished, but why... suddenly...?]

[What’s the achievement rate?]

Flinch!

Seung stiffened.

[Uh, well...]

[The target achievement rate. What is it?]

Achievement rate.

Just one phrase carried so much weight.

Seung felt his dry lips suddenly impossibly heavy.

[...61%.]

Zap!

Harona whipped her head around.

Her glare was so sharp, it could cut.

Faced with that intensity head-on, Seung couldn’t help but stammer.

It made sense, though—at this rate, they were headed for the worst evaluation in history.

[I-I mean, as you know, our team was assigned an unusually high target this year, so...]

[So what?]

Harona crossed her arms and took a step closer to Seung.

Step.

Looking up at her much taller subordinate.

[You think a high target means you don’t have to hit it?]

Step.

[Did I teach you to slack off like that? Hm?]

[M-my point is... I just...]

She smiled sweetly, yet the pressure was palpable.

Seung involuntarily stepped back.

And blurted out.

[Catching up… I’ll draft a plan and report it to you.]

However.

[No need. I just made one.]

[Pardon?]

Harona always had a plan.

[At first, it sounded absurd. But on second thought, it’s not entirely nonsensical.]

[Pardon?]

[Whether we incorporate an experience or not, it still counts as "observation," so the framework of the mission remains intact. If you think about it, there’s nothing inherently wrong with it.]

[Aren’t you interpreting this a bit too conveniently…?]

[The real issue is what justification we use to include the experience.]

Her subordinate’s words had long ceased to reach her ears.

Lost in her thoughts, Harona snapped her fingers with a bright idea.

[Aha! I’ll just tweak the terms and conditions!]

Like a deranged researcher altering survey questions on a whim.

Changing a few clauses, signing off on them herself—simple.

[There, it’s done!]

She smiled widely and plopped back into her chair.

Though her deliberations could drag on, her decisions were always swift.

Watching this, Seung let out a deep sigh and gestured toward her.

[Voice connection activated.]

The audio channel reconnected.

[Do as you like.]

"Understood."

Eunho’s face on the screen remained expressionless.

[We’ll receive the auction payments as if they’re regular donations. Stick to the existing rules as much as possible, got it?]

"That works for me."

He had the air of someone who had predicted this all along.

Did he gain some kind of future-predicting skill?

[But since there’s no time to build a separate system, we’ll handle the logistics on our end.]

"Oh, no need. I’ll take care of it myself."

[You? Have you ever done this before?]

"No, but I have a sense of how to do it."

Suspicious guy.

Harona decided she’d need to keep a closer eye on him and was about to end the conversation.

[Fine, do as you please. I’ll send you the updated terms for app—]

"Ah, one more condition."

Eunho interrupted with the most shameless expression.

[What? You’re already doing things your way; why tack on conditions?]

If anyone should be making demands, it’s us.

No backtalk, no sass—something like that.

Though thoroughly exasperated, Eunho ignored her reaction and pressed on.

"During the experience, I want observer privileges."

[What? Why?]

"Who knows what you’ll do with my memories? I need to keep an eye on things."

[Ugh, not you too?]

Harona’s brow twitched.

Every first-timer in this "experience" thing made this demand without fail.

It all happened inside their memories.

Knowing or not knowing wouldn’t make a difference.

"But it’s a whole hour. I’d get bored."

A bit annoying, but…

[Fine. Do as you like.]

After all, access to the "Eye" system was a privilege available to any company member.

[Just approve the updated terms.]

"Thank you."

Finally, the conversation wrapped up.

Then, a cheerful notification sound.

─ Ding!

[Do you agree to the terms?]

The same question popped up once again, and this time, a different answer followed.

"I agree."

Flash!

A radiant light burst forth.

Like countless other notifications before it, the semi-transparent contract text dissolved into individual letters, which swirled around Eunho.

Flutter, flutter, flutter…

Moments later, the glowing words enveloped Eunho’s head.

[Reconstructing subject ‘Eunho’s’ memories.]

…and sank in.

While Harona busied herself preparing for the auction.

【Select the auction target!】

【Set the auction start and end dates!】

【Enter the starting amount and bidding increments!】

【Select the payment method!】

She worked tirelessly, clicking through countless prompts.

[Ugh! Why is there so much to input?!]

And finally…

【Auction is now live!】

Eunho’s memories went up for auction.

[Ha, Harona! We’re already getting responses!]

[What? We haven’t even sent out a notification yet?!]

The anonymous forum was ablaze.

【Numerous observers express interest in participating!】

【‘The Raven of the Administration Bureau’ is barely hiding their excitement!】

【‘External Affairs Department's Rookie’ says it’s their first auction and looks thrilled!

Ding, ding, ding! The office filled with notification chimes.

[Harona! The number of connections to Eunho’s channel is skyrocketing!]

[Of course! The product has to be unique! Everyone else just watches, but this one lets you actively participate. No wonder it’s drawing a crowd, right?]

Harona and Seung exchanged high-fives, their excitement mounting.

[Are we about to hit it big?!]

[Totally! We’re gonna— Wait, huh?]

Suddenly, Harona froze.

[Seung?]

[Yes, Harona!]

Target subject: Eunho.

A pawn she considered merely a tool to line their coffers.

[Why… am I paving the way for his success…?]

It dawned on her that they, in fact, were the tools in his hands.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

w