34-22

Chapter 22: Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (End) 

“Officer Park~? Come here for a second.” 

“Yes, Section Chief… (…What’s she going to make me do now?)” 

I remember. Even before business trips, Section Chief Kim would call me over for trivial things. 

“I’ve been too neglectful, haven’t I? You’ve been working hard…” 

“Haha… Not at all, Section Chief… (If you know, stop calling me over…)” 

“Here.” 

Section Chief Kim pulled out a card from her wallet and handed it to me. 

“Uh, Section Chief? What’s this…?” 

“Come on, I’ve been eating on your dime all this time, right? This time, it’s on me!” 

“Section Chief…!” 

I’d heard from that staff member that people’s personalities had completely changed, so I was worried, but she’s actually nicer than before? 

“Go get whatever you want for lunch.” 

“Sniff… Section Chief…” 

“Haha… Are you so touched you want to cry?” 

“Wow… She’s finally become a real person…! (Even just saying that, thank you…!)” 

“…What?” 

The mood instantly turned cold. 

‘Crap! I accidentally said what I was thinking out loud!’ 

What do I do? I don’t have the mental strength to handle the hysteria of an old maid who never married! 

“Ah, that’s not what I meant just now…” 

Right, there’s the three-second rule. If I apologize quickly, maybe she’ll let it go. 

“Hoho, you’re funnier than I thought! I like that.” 

Huh? 

“Oh… Ah! Yes! Just kidding, Section Chief! Hahahaha!” 

‘Phew… Thank god.’ 

For some reason, she seemed to be in a good mood today, so I survived. 

“Alright, I want to use this chance to get closer to you… How about a drink after work?” 

Ah, damn… was this a trap? 

Section Chief Kim’s drunken habit is saying whatever comes to mind. 

Once, we all went out for drinks, and she basically verbally abused a new hire who wasn’t doing well, and the next day that person got transferred. 

Of course, she was never disciplined. Well, she did say some hurtful things, but nothing like outright slurs. 

‘If anything, it was just a factual insult…’ 

“Ah, haha… I have plans later…” 

Plans… 

“Officer, I have a lot I want to talk about… You’re not going to run away with some lame excuse, are you?” 

Uh… 

“Haha, of course not… It’s an honor to be invited… (damn it…)” 

“Great~ It’s a team dinner tonight!! Deputy Kwon? Find us a good restaurant!” 

“Yessir~” 

Hic! 

“So~ I…” 

Sigh  

‘How did it come to this?’ 

  Officer! Section Chief wants to talk to you alone! 

  Oh my… Is it finally springtime for the Section Chief? 

‘Are these people crazy?!’ 

Trying to set me up with someone more than 10 years older? 

‘She does look like she’s in her 20s, though…’ 

But I know. Even if the outside looks fine, the inside is rotten. 

Mentally and physically… 

This is something I heard from the workers when I was out at a construction site. 

  Hey! Let’s go get a Coke later, yeah? 

  Sounds good… Is the supervisor coming too? 

  Huh? If you want a Coke, there’s some here. 

  No, not that kind of Coke! 

  You know, the Ja-Ae something! 

  …The Ja-Ae Cult? 

  Yeah, that! 

  What about it? 

  Man, you really don’t know the world… 

  What I mean is… 

  (Basically, they go have free sex with Ja-Ae Cult followers.) 

  …Sigh, I’m good. 

  It’s free, and you’re not going? 

  Tsk tsk, pathetic… 

  …What if you get an STD… 

I’ve also looked into the Ja-Ae Cult myself. 

To me, it’s a mental illness group suffering from love deprivation. 

‘I was shocked at first…’ 

I never imagined I’d have Ja-Ae Cult followers around me. But for them to be my coworkers? 

‘But after talking with them, aside from being a bit more promiscuous, they haven’t really changed…’ 

Actually, everyone seems to have gotten nicer. 

‘They even seem to look out for me more…’ 

Before, they’d gossip behind my back or scowl just from seeing me, but now they smile and talk kindly. 

  Officer… are you listening? 

“Oh, yes, of course.” 

Actually, I wasn’t listening. 

“So… you agree too?” 

What? About what? 

I almost said it out loud. 

‘…Shit.’ 

If she finds out I wasn’t listening, she’ll definitely get mad. 

I have two choices. 

Option 1: Be honest. 

  Uh, Section Chief, I wasn’t listening, sorry… 

  Officer… am I a joke to you? You’re not even listening when we’re drinking together? 

  … 

  Sigh, Officer… Are you getting cocky just because I was nice to you today?! 

  I’m sorry… 

If I pick option 1, I can already see the future: an uncomfortable dinner turning into a drunken interrogation! 

Option 2: Just agree, whatever it is. 

‘But this is a 50-50 shot…’ 

“Hmm? Officer… why are you hesitating… After all I’ve done, you’re not going to say no, are you?” 

Section Chief’s face is getting darker, like a rotting banana. 

I’ve been working for 10 years… 

If I can’t even answer this, I’m not fit for society! 

“Ah, I agree too! Section Chief, haha! I was just thinking for a second…” 

“Oh! Really? Thank god… I was honestly worried you’d say no…” 

“Haha, as if I would.” 

Alright, looks like I dodged a bullet… 

“Great! Boss, another bottle here!!” 

“Section Chief..? Isn’t this a bit much?” 

“Come on, it’s for you~” 

‘Ah… here it comes… her drinking habit.’ 

Section Chief Kim’s drunk habit is to keep pouring drinks for others. If you refuse, she throws a tantrum. 

‘This is why I didn’t want to drink…’ 

“Here, bottoms up!” 

“Yes, ma’am.” 

Sip  

Ugh, I feel like throwing up. 

‘Nope. I’m just going to dump it on the floor.’ 

The reason I can survive drinking with Section Chief even though I can’t hold my liquor? 

Sleight of hand! 

I did magic club as a kid, so my hands are quicker than most. 

‘Didn’t expect that skill to come in handy like this…’ 

Well, you do what you have to to survive in modern society. 

“Another one!” 

‘How long has it been since the last one, and she’s already pouring more?’ 

Drinks are expensive these days, but honestly, it’s better to waste it than end up in the hospital. 

Sorry, booze. 

Next time, find someone who’ll appreciate you. 

“Hic! Hiccup!” 

She’s really drunk… 

I’m used to this. I’ve been doing it since I first joined this department. 

‘But to be doing this again right after coming back…’ 

If I have to go on fieldwork again tomorrow, I’ll just sign up. 

“Section Chief, let’s get you home…” 

“Ugh!” 

I think I’ve reached my limit. 

“Check, please! Now!” 

  Yes, your bill has been paid. 

“Let’s go, Section Chief!” 

“Mm…” 

Can she even walk straight like this? 

Luckily, her house is nearby just a five-minute walk. 

But dragging a drunk person home isn’t easy. 

“Hi-yah!” 

“Oof ” 

‘This crazy woman…!’ 

She hit me in the crotch. She didn’t hit hard, so it just hurt a little, but it was still a terrible experience. 

  Hehehe… 

She laughed after hitting me there. What’s so funny? 

‘Sigh…’ 

My fate… 

If I did the same to her, I’d be labeled a sex offender and go to jail… 

“Section Chief… we’re almost there.” 

“Mm… but we’re still outside…” 

We’re outside, but right in front of your house. 

“Take me inside…” 

‘Hoo ’ 

If she weren’t my boss, I’d just leave her here…! 

So I ended up inside her house. 

“Alright? I’m leaving now.” 

“…Huh? Hey!!!!” 

Whoa, that was loud. My eardrums almost burst. 

“Yes? What is it?” 

“Did you forget what you promised? You said you’d sleep with me!” 

Huh? What? 

Suddenly, my mind flashed back to earlier. 

  So… you agree too? 

  Ah, I agree too! Section Chief, haha! I was just thinking for a second… 

  Oh! Really? Thank god… I was honestly worried you’d say no… 

  Haha, as if I would. 

‘Wait, when I said I agreed…’ 

  You said you’d sleep with me! 

…Was that what she meant?! 

“Haha, Section Chief… Of course that was a joke…” 

“…What?” 

She already had her phone out, dialing 112. 

“If you leave now… I don’t know what I’ll do!” 

‘…I’m really screwed!!’ 

What do I do? 

‘Sleep with the Section Chief, or get reported to the police.’ 

“You have ten seconds to answer. Ten.” 

She might look like she’s in her 20s, but I know what people with that look are really like. 

“Nine.” 

Treated like a free prostitute by old men… 

“Eight.” 

‘Of course, I can’t believe Section Chief is like that…’ 

“Seven.” 

But if I just leave? 

A crazy Section Chief might call the cops and get me arrested on the spot! 

“Six.” 

As ridiculous as it sounds, here, it’s not a zero percent chance! 

“Five.” 

Her finger moves closer to the call button with every second. 

“Four.” 

Damn, there’s more than a ten-year age gap between us! 

Just let me off this once!! 

“Three.” 

“Two.” 

“…Alright, but seriously!! Just sleeping, okay?” 

“One… Yes, of course!” 

She smiled again, satisfied with my answer. 

‘…Please, let nothing happen.’ 

“♪ ♬~” 

‘Ah…’ 

Damn, I did it. 

And so, starting with the Career-Break Women Support Division, the Ja-Ae Cult’s influence spread throughout the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.