Work Text:
Song Taewon feels a bit odd today. The city has been too peaceful.
Don’t get him wrong. It is not that he is dissatisfied with a peaceful day. He is indeed more relaxed than on other days. No one is in danger; everything is in order. He even has time to think about what food he should get for the “drama teatime” in the evening, hosted by Han Yoojin, of course.
But that is why the day has been so abnormal that he even has free time and not to be interrupted by emergencies created by hunters. In fact, he feels a mild discomfort in his stomach as his sanity questions if this is simply the calm before the storm.
The workaholic public servant refuses to think about the possibility of being a masochist or a battle junkie who feels sick when peace comes true. Song Taewon has a feeling: if he dares to think about it, there would be black and golden rascals who would tease him for having an allergy to peace.
Anyways, peace is a good thing. Grabbing a handful of sour gummies and stuffing them into his mouth as if they were painkillers, Song Taewon forced himself to focus on his work.
Firstly, check the schedule. There should be a four-hour meeting in the morning, which normally aims for nothing but to fit daily bureaucracy targets. However, the meeting was finished within 15 minutes today. That’s questionable.
Secondly, the nepo baby has not come to the office today. That young man, ugh, Song Taewon doesn’t know how to deal with. He is a classical case of the second son of a rich family whose parents arrange everything for him without expectation. Song Taewon doesn’t dislike the kid, but it is a nightmare to let him do his job. He would rather choose short of staff than take care of a baby.
Okay, Song Taewon now finds two suspicious things.
It seems that the wishes he made were granted. Song Taewon remembered that Han Yoojin let him download an online wishing app the last time he was in his house. Of course, he doesn’t believe such things, but Han Yoojin’s puppy eyes made things harder to reject. It’s not a big deal, after all. Song Taewon remembered he wrote something like “more efficient meeting” and “no trust fund kid to work with”. In his defence, these are not his personal preference, it’s for the overall benefit of the public. An efficient public system is everyone’s desire, right? Though he does hate the ice-breaking and team-building activities in those meetings…
Could that online wishing system be a product from a dungeon? Song Taewon starts to feel nauseous. How can he attempt to make wishes? See what his wishes cause. Does someone get hurt or is them forced to do things they don’t want to? He knows he is a monster, so why would he be more careful about his behaviour…
Feeling the urge to fix his mistake, Song Taewon messaged Han Yoojin for an answer.
Not waiting too long, he got the answer. “The online wishing system? Nah, it’s not related to dungeons, just a simple app made by me. I am just trying to learn how to code. What’s wrong?” Han Yoojin’s reply comforts Song Taewon. He let out a sigh of relief.
Waite, Han Yoojin didn’t tell him that the app was made by him. Song Taewon’s instinct tells him Han Yoojin must have hidden something. But compared to his previous actions, which include bombing overseas hotels, summoning a dragon to tear down buildings, and blackmailing politicians and government officials in order to “put the right people” in power, creating an online app is…very harmless and innocent.
Well, clearly, the honest public servant has successfully become the boiling frog.
Before Song Taewon could come up with another idea to blame himself, he received an emergency phone call.
“Director Song, we need your support!” a front-line staff member of the weakened office shouts on the phone call, with bursting sounds in the background. “Two hunter guilds are fighting for control of a dungeon in Geumcheon-gu. Both their A-class guild masters are involved.”
“Hold tight. I'll be there soon.” Song Taewon speaks with a measured authority in an attempt to comfort the poor on-site staff. At the same time, deep in his mind, he feels relief, like he’s going back to his routine.
Geumcheon-gu, the heart of the IT industry in the Seoul metropolitan area, with large outlets situated near the industrial zone. This means that any conflicts among high-class hunters would be a risk for large businesses and the public.
In his little red car, Song Taewon, who rarely violent traffic rules, has already run through several red lights while feeling the urge to arrive at the fighting site as soon as possible. Though, he has convinced himself that ignoring traffic rules is a must in an emergency. The bigger problem he is actually trying to ignore is why he is so keen on seeking chaos; it seems like he cannot stop believing his life can be normal and peaceful.
To his surprise, everything has been handled when he arrived. The awaken office hunters at the spot is having their coffee, waiting other staff from the hunter association to analyse the damages.
“…What had happened here?”
“Oh hi, Director Song. Hope you had a good day.” His subordinates greet him with a big smile. “A random, kind, and shiny civilians had helped us to arrest all the involved hunters. Don’t worry Director, it’s all set now. Sorry for brothering you earlier.”
“A random civilian who has the power to supress two A-class hunters at the same time…?” Song Taewon isn’t that kind of managers who love to question his subordinates, but this makes no sense.
“Well…the most important thing is, the problem is solved! And he didn’t ask anything for return, not even asked to be recorded for a credit. All is fine.” So saying, those awaken office hunters flee the spot, joining the risk analysing team and pretend they are busy.
Okay, so, it’s a shiny, powerful, he, helping the authority to arrest frenzied high-class hunters. He now can surely confirm Han Yoojin and Sung Hyunjae must have prepared something tends to drive him mad.
Finally, after an abnormally tranquil day, he finds his peace. It must be some pranks from them. That would totally make sense.
Song Taewon left his office a bit earlier than usually. Work has been too smoothly today that not many things were left for him to deal with. He did waste some time driving to Geumcheon-gu but only found that nothing he needed to do. But still, he has been well rested, physically and mentally.
Plus, although he definitely would not confess his own feeling, Song Taewon does look forward for the evening event that he will share time with Han Yoojin, chitchat for the man who seems to be born for annoying them. Bring two servings of fried chicken and beer with him, Song Taewon rings the doorbell at Han Yoojin’s house.
The door opens atomically, another sign proofing Han Yoojin is definitely planning something- the little guy normally will greet him at the front door. Well, no matter what he is planning, as always, Song Taewon would accept it.
“Pop” “Bang”
Song Taewon’s muscles tensed momentarily until a few soft ribbons fluttered down onto him. Sensing no threat, he lowered his guard, only to be surprised that Han Yoojin is not alone.
“Happy Birthday!” Han Yoojin hugs him. Behind Han Yoojin, Sung Hyunjae is standing there with a pink birthday cake on his hand.
This is…unexpected, Song Taewon thinks. He is preparing for being tease or prank, not that someone celebrate his birthday. Though, he needs to point out, “Thank you, but…today is not my birthday?”
“Oh~~, Director Song, you hurts my heart, why would you question our sincerity?”
“Shut up Sung Hyunjae!” Han Yoojin rolls his eyes, then stares at Song Taewon, “Yeah, we know your birthday already passed. But why did you always on business travel on your birthday?”
Song Taewon freezes, refusing to answer.
Sung Hyunjae let out a sight, “I didn’t expect dear director Song to take his day off, but choosing his own birthday to pile on the work? You really are a masochist…”
“NO I AM NOT!”
“Wow, you flushed.” Han Yoojin is fanning the flames, “Anyways,” he shrugs, “If you don’t want to celebrate birthdays, take it as an April fool joke.”
“So…it’s not my hallucination that my work had been overly smooth?”
“As a member of the community, it is my duty and my rights to supervise public service performance.”
“And the good Samaritan helping the awaken office to stop the fight involving high ranking hunters?”
“I see no problem to get rid of trashes ^^”
“They are humans… Never mind,” Song Taewon is speechless. As a public servant, he should arrest these two menaces who just confess obstructing public officials and involving in brawling, but all he can say is “Thank you.”
“He he,” Han Yoojin smiles with satisfaction, “enough talking, let’s have some cake.”
“It’s sour gummy favour; I made it myself.” Housewife Sung Hyunjae proudly added.
“How do you know…never mind I don’t want to know anymore.” Song Taewon is surprised that someone has noticed his preference on snack, but it should be a surprise since it’s Sung Hyunjae.
“Hmm, how many candles should we put on?”
"Why not just fill the whole cake? We should have faith in our dear Director Song. I’m sure he can get the puff for it."
"Eh? Who on earth uses birthday candles as a fitness test? Of course, I can send you a thousand candles as your birthday gift this year, as you wish?"
“Such a pleasure^^”
Song Taewon watched the two bickering before him, a warm feeling washing over him. He wondered if they noticed that he had indeed deliberately chosen to go on a business trip on his birthday. He is a monster who devours everything around him. His birth is not worth to be celebrated.
“Director Song?”
The two are waiting Song Taewon to blow out candles and make his wishes. Looking at the fond gazes from both of them, Song Taewon thinks, perhaps he could indulge himself a little.
“Thank you.” Song Taewon said softy, blowing out the candles.
He has struggled to reconcile with the fact of his birth. Such struggling will continue. However, this year , though today is not his exact birthday, in front of the two people he cares, Song Taewon is finally able to tell himself, “Happy birthday to me.”