༺ Prologue ༻
Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.
It was a very famous saying and one that I felt identified with. That phrase perfectly described my life as a civil servant.
From a distance, I might have looked like a gangster with unlimited power. However, once you took a closer look, I was just a mid-level manager who received pressure from the higher-ups and was constantly being chased up from below. Civil servants indeed have a lot of authority, but once you look closer, you will see them everywhere, just like dogs.
Who cares if I’m from a good family and have a good salary? There are Dukes, ministers, and all kinds of people above me. Even if you were lucky and became a civil servant, you couldn’t relax because there were people that belonged to royalty on top of you. Cast the royal family aside? That would be the perfect excuse to hold a three-generation family reunion in the Heavens.
That’s why the life of a civil servant is sad. Higher-ups put pressure on you, people compete with you to ascend, and there were also newbies who were climbing up the ladder at a frightening speed. And amidst such a situation, you had to deal with your work. And if you didn’t do it properly, they would punish you physically. Ah, it’s too scary.
“Executive Manager, the minister said that if you don’t come immediately, he will kill you.”
Even now, the higher-ups didn’t mind threatening the poor civil servant.
“Tell him I’m going to take responsibility, and I’m going to resign.”
“Didn’t you use that before? I remembered that he threw the inkwell. It was no joke.”
“Did that happen at that time?”
I looked out of the window. The rainstorm seemed to be expressing my broken heart. How strange; weather-controlling magic is quite rare…
“Is he angry?”
“As angry as usual.”
“So he’s really angry, huh?”
I would feel bad for him if I didn’t see him often. After all, if he keeps getting angry so often, he will die early. The Deputy General Manager silently nodded. You, who’s working as a messenger, are probably struggling too.
“I’ll be going then. Also, gather all the managers.”
“I hope you return alive.”
“Let’s hope so.”
After leaving the Deputy General Manager behind, I took some heavy steps. I wasn’t a manager who had to come when called upon and had to go when ordered to do so. But sadly, the one who called me was the minister. I hope one of the two resigns as soon as possible.
“How the fuck do you deal with the given work?!”
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
As soon as I entered the minister’s room, I heard shouting. And I instinctively lowered my head.
Today was the same as always.
Just another shitty day.
TLN:
Hi everyone! This novel is an award winner and very popular and highly rated in Korea.
The novel’s start may be a little hard and slow but it will get really good after chapter 20, so don’t give up before that!
Enjoy!