I Have Too Many Money-Making Talents - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Too Many Moneymaking Talents — Episode 015
Mondays have always been grueling and exhausting.
I suspect it’s a feeling shared by every working person out there.
I was no exception.
My body felt leaden on the commute, and the moment I stood in front of the Bank building, a sigh would escape before I could stop it.
But not anymore.
For me now, Monday wasn’t about “enduring”—it was the beginning of a week I actually looked forward to.
Deposit: 2,340,000 won
Prize money from the Sudambae Cup organizers.
With a single number printed in my passbook, the entire world looked a little different.
It was the first time I’d ever received more than my salary.
It felt like getting a bonus every week.
Somehow, peace of mind came with it too.
‘Registration for the Presidential Cup is already complete.’
Unlike the Sudambae Cup, the Presidential Cup had no restrictions on the number of participants in the Championship Division.
In other words, every official 5th Dan amateur player of note across the country would be competing.
‘Top amateur ranked players and research scholars, all showing up at once…’
When I searched last year’s participants, their credentials were impressive.
The nation’s top-ranked amateur who claimed three consecutive titles in the Championship Division.
Even players who finished runner-up but later successfully turned professional.
This felt like a tournament on a completely different level from anything I’d faced before.
And yet.
‘…Why don’t I feel like I’m going to lose?’
There it was again.
That familiar, exhilarating tremor.
Facing off against stronger opponents and ultimately coming out victorious.
Along with the prize money and achievements that came with it.
Had I ever felt this excited, this alive, in my entire life before?
Now I truly understood—this talent, Baduk, had completely transformed me.
In any case.
This tournament had a structure where, if registration exceeded sixty-four players, it would begin with a Group Preliminary Round.
Saturday would cover the Group Preliminary Round through the Round of Sixteen in the Main Tournament.
Sunday would continue from the Quarterfinals through the finals.
A tight two-day weekend schedule consuming both days entirely.
‘The distance from home is the problem.’
By public transport alone, the round trip would eat up over four hours.
It made more sense to book lodging nearby.
“We’re closing now.”
Four o’clock—closing time.
I lowered the shutter at the main entrance.
Just then, Yeon-hee’s customer finished their business at the counter and left the Bank.
“Thank you so much. Have a wonderful day.”
Yeon-hee offered a respectful bow and returned to her seat.
In that moment, our eyes met.
Pfft.
Without either of us being first, we both broke into faint smiles.
—Senior, I’m seriously going crazy because of Manager Ha!
Just the other evening, the moment my body hit the bed after a shower, Yeon-hee’s complaints started pouring out.
All the grievances that had built up at the branch.
But by far, her supervisor Manager Ha bore the brunt of her venting.
—At the dinner, you’d think it would be Senior going, right? But she insists on driving me. I told her I could just take the subway, and then she says she’ll take the subway too instead of driving. I’m losing it.
It was clear a lot had accumulated.
As for me, I had almost no reason to cross paths with her professionally, and I made it a point to keep my distance.
But for Yeon-hee, she was her direct supervisor.
Constantly running into each other, it was only natural she’d feel exhausted and uncomfortable letting those personal feelings show.
‘She can be awfully persistent.’
I didn’t have a favorable impression of Manager Ha either.
She held onto trivial things and had a narrow heart.
She disrespected people and looked down on them.
Not long ago, she’d carelessly told me to clean up the coffee she’d spilled without a second thought.
The kind of person I wouldn’t associate with outside of work.
Ah, I’m so wound up. Senior, let’s grab a drink after work on Monday. I won’t back out! Promise!
As it happened, I didn’t mind either.
Yeon-hee had been at the branch for a while now, but we’d barely had a proper conversation between just the two of us.
“Vice Branch Manager. It’s been a long day—how about we grab some ice cream and wrap things up?”
Manager Ha stretched and floated the suggestion.
For once, the usually difficult Branch Manager wasn’t even in.
The Vice Branch Manager nodded readily.
“Sure, let’s do it.”
“Yes, thank you. Inha!”
Manager Ha raised his voice toward me, busy restocking supplies.
“You’re not doing much right now, are you? Go grab some ice cream for us.”
Manager Ha waved a card he’d pulled from his wallet, dangling it carelessly.
The gesture and tone felt like he was ordering around a subordinate.
Yeon-hee, unable to stand it, stepped forward.
“Manager, I can go.”
“Why would you go, Yeon-hee? You need to finish the settlement. Inha can go. Inha, hurry up.”
He flashed Yeon-hee a world-class smile, then gestured at me with impatient fingers.
‘This guy really…….’
Manager Ha’s attitude was distasteful as always, but I had no solid ground to refuse.
The Vice Branch Manager had already tacitly approved it.
I took the card and headed to the convenience store.
I opened the freezer door inside the shop.
I grabbed a generous selection of various brands—Naturo Na, Haagen-Dazs, Tank Boy—more than enough for the staff.
“This should be fine.”
I finished paying, put everything in a plastic bag, and returned to the branch.
Manager Ha, who had been doing the settlement, stood up and took the card and ice cream from me.
“Thanks for that. Take one for yourself too, and—what’s this?”
Manager Ha’s brow furrowed as he opened the bag.
He pulled items out one by one, then put them back, then let out a heavy sigh.
“Hey, Inha. What’s the deal with this? Naturo Na, Haagen-Dazs—you know those, right? Premium ice cream. Who eats that kind of stuff anymore?”
‘……What?’
For a moment, I had no words.
Naturo Na? Haagen-Dazs?
He never said anything about specific brands.
I didn’t buy them for myself either.
I’d simply picked out ordinary ice cream that would be suitable for each staff member.
And now, this is what he’s saying?
I felt neither laughter nor anger.
“Just take these for yourself. Our tastes are too picky—we can’t eat stuff like this.”
Manager Ha said that and casually returned to his seat.
The bag was left on my desk, dropped there like it was trash.
Yeon-hee, watching all of this, became visibly uncomfortable.
“Manager, still, this is a bit…….”
Manager Ha didn’t really listen, just kept his eyes on the monitor.
The other staff members were equally indifferent.
Each of them tapped away at their keyboards, absorbed in settlement work.
Only Yeon-hee seemed lost, watching my face.
“Hah.”
In the old days, I would have swallowed it and moved on.
I was used to workplace discrimination.
If I just endured a little, things could pass quietly.
But that was different now.
‘Is this how I’m supposed to be treated?’
So this is what it felt like when anger ran so hot your mind went cold.
I picked up the ice cream bag from my desk.
I walked slowly toward the counter where Manager Ha was working.
Standing with my back to the overhead light, my shadow fell long across Manager Ha’s head.
“……Inha?”
Manager Ha looked up, and his eyes wavered as they met mine.
I held back my emotions and spoke as clearly as I could.
“If you’re going to ask me for favors going forward, be direct about it.”
Then I set the plastic bag I’d been holding down on the counter with a soft thud.
“I don’t need gifts if that’s all they are.”
“I, Inha! What is this…?”
Section Chief Ha’s voice rose.
I didn’t look away—I met his gaze steadily.
His lips began to tremble as he opened his mouth.
But no words came out.
He just stared blankly at the plastic bag, frozen.
Wordless shame and bewilderment settled across his face.
“…….”
The air in the branch chilled.
I felt the shift in atmosphere, but I didn’t care.
If the organization doesn’t look out for me, why should I look out for them?
I turned without a word and walked back to my desk.
My chest felt light.
‘Why did I put up with it all this time?’
Whenever I faced unfairness, I thought I had to swallow it in silence.
I believed that was just how things had to be—because I was a Contract Employee.
But thinking about it now, there was no real reason for it.
This wasn’t a work directive. It was a personal request dressed up as a favor.
And yet I’d been treated like this. It made no sense.
‘I’ve… changed.’
I didn’t dislike it.
The person I’d been—trampled, shrinking in on myself.
Just one skill had appeared, and yet—
I felt like I’d come into sharper focus.

* * *
“Senior!”
One stop away from the branch, in the Commercial District.
Yeon-hee emerged from the Subway Station, waving as she approached.
“Sorry I kept you waiting. The register wouldn’t balance—I got held up.”
“Don’t worry about it. I was keeping busy anyway.”
Since I got off work earlier, I had some time to kill.
On any other day, I would have scrolled through YouTube or read my favorite martial arts web comics.
But today I played two games of Baduk on a Three Kingdoms app.
‘Two wins under my belt.’
If I kept up this streak, a jump to 7th Dan seemed within reach.
“Keeping busy?”
“Yeah, that sort of thing.”
“What? You’ve been keeping a lot of secrets lately, senior?”
“A man with no mysteries isn’t worth much.”
“That’s not how it goes. That’s a girl thing.”
We traded light banter as we headed toward a nearby Korean Grill Restaurant.
Over pork belly and soju, we reminisced about our university days.
“About Section Chief Ha…”
Yeon-hee brought it up first.
“What’s his problem, anyway? The way he treats you, and just—why is he like that?”
“Jerks aren’t just a customer service thing.”
“Right? All that nonsense about premium ice cream or whatever. It’s ridiculous.”
We downed our soju, using Section Chief Ha as a convenient target.
“Are you holding up okay?”
“I don’t know. I keep my distance, but he keeps poking at me.”
Yeon-hee looked stressed too, though she hid it well.
She was straightforward and had solid convictions, but—
this workplace didn’t reward people for acting on their principles.
“If it gets bad, report him. They’re sensitive to this stuff these days.”
“I thought about it, but… I held back. I’m still new. It’d follow me around like a label forever.”
When Yeon-hee laughed at herself, I quietly lifted my soju glass.
A regional university graduate, just like me.
For Yeon-hee, Ciel Bank was not a job she could simply walk away from.
We were both living, suppressing our feelings, pushing through. Both of us.
“Senior.”
“Hmm?”
Yeon-hee, flushed with drink, rested her chin in her hand and looked at me.
“Can I ask you for one favor?”
“No. Don’t.”
“Why not! I haven’t even said it yet. I’m going to ask. Just listen.”
“Is that how you ask for a favor?”
A laugh escaped me.
“So what is it?”
“Well, listen without misunderstanding, okay?”
Yeon-hee paused, then opened her mouth carefully.
“Would you…… pretend to be my boyfriend?”
“What?”
“What?”
We just blinked at each other.
When I said nothing, taken aback, Yeon-hee rushed to continue.
“Not for real. Fake. A fake boyfriend for photos to post on social media?”
“A fake boyfriend?”
Yeon-hee pulled out her smartphone and showed me the photos.
A wrist shot like young lovers might take, a couple’s silhouette making a V-sign.
And a shadow photo taken on a sandy beach.
“Like this. Just a few shots. My face won’t show. Just hands, silhouettes, shadows—that kind of thing?”
“……Is this because of that manager?”
“Yes. I think he’ll bother me less if I do this.”
I thought about what Yeon-hee must be going through to resort to something like this.
“No one will find out?”
“Absolutely not. Trust me. I’ll edit the photos myself.”
Yeon-hee was smiling, but she meant it.
In her eyes, I could feel the desperation.
“I’ll buy you meals and drinks. Please, senior. Just help me this once.”
“Ha.”
At Yeon-hee’s plea, everything that had happened with that manager came back to me.
The dismissive way he spoke, tossing words at me like garbage.
The contempt in his gaze.
The coffee incident and today’s ice cream situation.
Honestly, I was sick to death of that bastard too.
“Fine.”
“Really? This can’t be taken back, right? You understand?”
“I won’t back out.”
Yeon-hee’s face lit up at my answer.
“While we’re on the subject—what about this weekend? Are you free?”
“No.”
“Don’t tell me it’s a date?”
“……There’s a Baduk tournament in the provinces.”
“Senior, you play Baduk too?”
I nodded, and Yeon-hee looked at me in surprise, then murmured.
“That makes sense…… somehow it suits you?”
“Don’t lie.”
Caught red-handed, Yeon-hee laughed awkwardly.
“Which province?”
“Namwon. It’s pretty far.”
The 9th Chunhyang Cup.
An amateur tournament held in Namwon, Jeolla Province, the setting of the classical novel “The Tale of Chunhyang.”
Smaller in scale than the Sudambae Cup, but the prize money was quite substantial.
“It is far, but…… can I come with you?”
“Huh?”
“It’d be boring going alone anyway. Since I’m already going, I might as well take some pictures—and I’ll slip away at just the right moment.”
Yeon-hee pulled a car key fob from her bag and dangled it.
“As you can see, I have a car too.”
It was an offer he hadn’t anticipated.
He’d been worried that if he won by injury again like last time, he’d end up taking home some local specialty as a prize.
“……Deal.”
It was too good an offer to refuse.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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