NOVEL NEXT After Resignation, I Refuse the Obsession from the Male Leads
Chapter 6
“Ah, hello, Senior Lupesque.”
“Uhm, good afternoon, Lowell.” “That, how much… of that did you hear?” The male lead awkwardly looked away and muttered quietly. “You’re quite good at comforting people.” “….” Ah, I’m screwed. He heard everything. ‘He must have heard me swearing at Allison.’ The male lead nodded, perhaps because my complexion had worsened. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone else about today.” “Ah…” “Even to Team Leader Capres.” “Heuph, thank you!” “Ahem. Anyway, there’s not much time left, so just hang in there a little longer. You don’t have to worry about being officially assigned to this team.” “Yes?” It sounded like he was trying to reassure me. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something off about his tone, so I tilted my head in confusion. “Are you saying that no one will be assigned… to the protocol team at all?” “There’s already a lot of discontent.” “Ah. Haha. I see.” It meant that the higher-ups were aware of the situation here. ‘Well, I didn’t see any team members the whole time I was working…’ They must have all been miserable and left. And the lunatic that was left alone would take this opportunity to vent their accumulated stress by bullying the new recruits. At that moment, the male lead stared down at my face. “Why are you smiling like that?” “Yes?” “Because you’re smiling strangely.” I touched the corners of my mouth. “No, I’m not smiling…” However, as the male lead said, the corners of my mouth were subtly twisted. I wanted to laugh at what the other person was saying. ‘Hold on, myself. Even if it’s the palace, it’s still a workplace.’ I’m just an intern starting again from the bottom of the pyramid. I really need to hold back from showing it on my face like this… “If you have something to say, say it, Lowell.” “No, it’s not like that.” “You have something to say.” He’s really persistent, huh. Why is he scolding someone who’s going to another department instead of comforting the female lead? “I want to know what you think, so tell me.” Why is he using his good looks to interrogate instead of putting them to better use? I didn’t know because I’ve never met a good-looking person at work before. With that kind of appearance, even someone who has been through a lot of social life would lose their defenses. “Then why would there even be a need to assign anyone in the first place…” “In the first place?” “Why would you allow new recruits to face unfair treatment like this?” “I understand that the other team is facing complaints. However, it’s also useful for new recruits to experience hardships as they start their social lives.” “….” “If you can’t handle that one, what else would you do?” I hate to admit it, but it was true. The bullying Allison engages in is actually quite common in real life. However… I muttered in a voice that suppressed my irritation. “Hardships don’t make a person stronger.” “…Mhm?” “Hardships only make people lose their minds…” Especially the hardship imposed by those in higher positions can drive a person to seek help from a psychiatrist. “Lowell…” “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m just getting out of work, so I’ll excuse myself first.” The apprentice, having sacrificed their manners, bid a one-sided farewell and turned away, leaving only the male lead behind. ‘Uhm, he was cool in the novel. He was cool and dependable.’ But in reality, he was a worn-out public servant. ‘Ey, forget it. As long as I do well in the next department, that’s all that matters.’ The next place I’m going to go is… ‘It’s a place flowing with milk and honey!’ The kind nerd sub-male lead, Marquis Theodore Wadsworth, is waiting for me in the ‘Magic Potion Research Laboratory’! * * * In the story, the female protagonist is mostly in the ‘BM-RP Department’. However, the horrors of black magic would occasionally bring pain to the kind-hearted female lead. ‘Every time that happens, the female lead would probably go to the research lab to heal, right?’ The gentle Theodore, with his tousled hair and glasses, would always warmly comfort her. 【“Miss Crosswell. If you have a hard time…Come see me anytime.” “N, no. I can’t be such a nuisance…” “It’s not a nuisance.” Theodore murmured shyly as he served her fragrant tea. “Because I want to put Miss Crosswell’s mind at ease. Even if that’s all I can do…” “Ah….” Yuriana quietly bowed her head at those warm words. Just coming here makes the tangled thoughts in her head feel like they’re gently unraveling. Theodore’s space was always peaceful and like a paradise without a single shadow.】 …After finishing my flashback of the original story, I glanced around the office. As soon as I arrived here, just like in the novel’s description, my heart felt at peace. ‘It’s only natural when there’s so much phytoncide.’ The expressions of the people working here were also gentle. ‘Theodore himself is the first to leave work, so no one notices!’ So is it only this time of year when they’re getting this much honey? ‘Hoho, no! How could I not have known that!’ I offered coffee to someone who had been working at the lab for a long time and spied on them. [We don’t really have a peak season.] [Oh my, really?] [Mhm! The manager gets a lot of funding, and they don’t scold us at all. It’s a really great place.] That’s it. My golden future flashed through my mind, and my determination grew stronger. I had to stick to this place no matter what. And on the last day of the tour. Since the palace was so large, there were cafes for officials to have ‘coffee time’ here and there. It was a place where officials gathered like walking corpses at 9 AM, 1 PM, and 8 PM. However, Theodore and I were enjoying a sweet rest at 3 PM. “Miss Lowell, have you gotten used to the palace?” “Yes. Thanks to you, Director!” I tried to summon the brightness I had lost after becoming a deputy. “I actually want to settle down here already. The next department would be nice, but I’m sad that my apprenticeship is ending.” “Yes? Hahaha! Really?” “Yes. I’m really serious. I realized once again that magical potions contribute to the health of the people of the empire. Although I may lack specialized knowledge, I want to help my seniors and contribute to the empire, even in a small way.” “Haha, take a breath, Miss Lowell…” Theodore seemed overwhelmed by my speech. However, this kind of passion doesn’t suit a newbie. Above all, Theodore also seemed happy. “I would really like Miss Lowell to join us.” “Oh my, really…?” “Yes. The people in our lab like Miss Lowell too.” “Ah, thank you so much!” “Then just endure the remaining schedule.” Director Theodore whispered with his eyes sparkling behind his glasses. “Let’s do our best after the training period.” Heuk. Hey, isn’t this enough? ‘Director Theodore! I love you!’ As expected, my exemplary work attitude and the enthusiasm of a newbie have created synergy and covered up Layla’s original grades! Now, I will become a righteous salary Lupin in a peaceful place! My steps felt light, as if I were floating. I must have been in such a good mood on my way out that even the grape-head flinched when he saw me. “Why do you look so happy…?” “Ah. Is the weather so nice today?” “It’s cloudy today, like it’s going to rain.” “Isn’t it great not to get sunburned!” The grape-head stared at me as if he were looking at a crazy person. His gaze was a little annoying. ‘Hmm. You buttoned it up nicely.’ I’ll consider it as him accepting my criticism. Thinking that I’m almost guaranteed a spot in the research lab makes me feel generous. ‘Oh, but… I’m bothered that I’ve missed my first flag with the male lead.’ While reading the original work, I had been hoping, ‘He’ll get along with the female lead, right?’ It’s true that they provided me comfort until the end, so I hoped for them to be happy together, but… ‘The male lead was a slave who surrendered to the absurdity of society.’ What does the most handsome person do in this world? A public slave! What’s the point of being cool and at max level in skills if you’re just a wage slave? I thought of the female lead and cheered her on. ‘That’s what he is, but please be happy.’ This worn-out office worker is going to move on to a more comfortable place! “By the way, Finley, where is Yuriana?” We were going to leave work together, but she left first? Is she waiting outside? I was going to go to the square just in case, but I stopped when I saw the sight on the way. Because Allison and the female lead were in a standoff! I would greatly appreciate your continued support by leaving a positive rating on NU so I can continue translating this novel. Thank you.
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