"I want to be something more."
Rows of workers sat before their glowing monitors, fingers tapping like synchronized machinery. The hum of air conditioning drowned out human voices, yet in the middle of it all, one man's thoughts rose like a flare in the dark.
Kim Seo-jin. His nameplate glinted dully on the desk as if even the metal had grown tired. He stared at the screen, a polite mask over the quiet ache in his chest.
'I will do it today' As Seo-jin rose from his desk, a ripple passed through the office. At the far corner, two women leaned toward each other, giggling behind cupped hands as their eyes tracked him.
"Tell him today," one whispered, giving her friend a gentle push.
The name tag pinned to her chest glowed faintly: Lee Ye-ji.
The younger woman hesitated, clutching something behind her back as though it were a charm. Ye-ji's sharp glare followed Seo-jin like a warning shadow.
Beside her, the other's nameplate gleamed with softer light: Park Ji-won. She stepped forward, shoulders stiff, breath shallow.
Seo-jin's gaze settled on her, voice calm and patient.
"Yes, Ji-won-ssi?"
Ji-won lowered her eyes, her fingers twisting nervously against the hidden object. Then, gathering her courage, she lifted her gaze, cheeks blooming pink.
"Seonbae-nim… do you want to have dinner tonight?"
Seo-jin blinked, curiosity flickering behind his composed expression. 'Ji-won-ssi… the rumors painted her as creepy, but during her internship — even now — she has been kind, shy, and hardworking. Still… I didn't expect this.'
He closed his tired eyes for a moment and offered a small, respectful smile.
'Relationship? All through school and university, I studied to repay my parents' sacrifices and make them happy. They gave me everything despite our poverty. But the day I graduated…'
He shook the memory away. 'No. Focus on the present. Maybe this is my first step toward something different.'
"Of course, Ji-won-ssi. Let's go after work," he said softly.
Hearing this, Ji-won and Ye-ji clasped each other's hands, hopping slightly in delight. Genuine smiles lit their faces as they exchanged small, joyful glances.
Ji-won walked past them, his gaze distant again.
'If she can be something more for me… I don't know if a relationship is that "something more." But if my last hope exists…'
"I want to be something more."
For anyone else, those words would be just a cliché — something fleeting, easily forgotten. But for Kim Seo-jin, they were a chant, a prayer, the last thread of hope in a world that had already taken everything.
Seo-jin walked toward the office and paused for a second in front of the door. A polished nameplate read: "CEO." He opened it and stepped inside.
A man in his fifties sat behind the desk, typing on a computer with one hand while sipping expensive coffee with the other.
The man looked up, eyes landing on Seo-jin.
"Oh, my brilliant employee, Seo-jin. Did you finish the project for that Russian company?"
"Yes. It's ready — just needs your final signature."
The CEO took the paper, scanning it quickly before signing. "This is an amazing idea. What do you want for a reward? Bonus? A vacation to Hawaii?"
Seo-jin's calm gaze met his. He pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket.
"Yes, I'd like a vacation… an infinite vacation. I'm resigning."
The CEO froze for a beat, then laughed loudly.
"Hahaha! Nice joke."
"I'm serious."
The CEO chuckled harder, wiping a tear from his eye.
"Your reason?"
"I already have enough money to retire, and I don't see a future for my dreams here."
The CEO laughed even louder. "Don't you know history? In the past, brilliant workers like you could never retire easily. There's no way I'll let a great employee like you walk away."
Seo-jin sighed, annoyed. "I knew you'd say that."
"Of course — you've known me for years."
'Even as CEO, he always acted like this — closing distances unnecessarily, asserting control.'
Seo-jin took out another file and handed it to the CEO, then walked toward the door.
"I'm sure you'll accept that resignation letter after seeing this."
"WAIT, SEO-JIN! I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF YOU! IS THIS HOW YOU REPAY ME?!"
Seo-jin closed the door without a word and walked away. He left the CEO's pressure behind.
Then at his desk, he gathered his belongings into a cardboard box, ready to leave for good.
Everyone's fingers froze, eyes drifting away from their monitors. Of course — the scene before them was utterly bizarre.
Seo-jin, the company's most hardworking and renowned employee, packed his belongings into a cardboard box. Unless there was a very good reason, this was simply unbelievable.
Many employees rushed over, showering him with questions. He was loved by everyone, so this situation shocked them all.
Seo-jin's lips curved into a warm, respectful smile.
"Everyone, I'm leaving this company. I know this might surprise you, but I've given it my full thought."
"Then why are you leaving?" All eyes turned toward the voice. Seo-jin saw Park Ji-won — the same person who had just asked him out minutes ago.
Lee Ye-ji stood nearby, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Tch." She stomped the floor in irritation and walked away.
Ji-won, however, was already in front of Seo-jin. Her normally cute face now wore a worried, heartbroken expression.
"Are you… okay? Did something happen? Do you…?" Her voice caught, as if her throat crushed the words.
A genuine smile appeared on Seo-jin's face for the first time in a long while. He gently tapped her shoulder, the touch warm and empathetic.
"It's alright now. I'm totally fine. See?"
Ji-won's eyes didn't leave his. Seeing this, Seo-jin let out a calm sigh.
"Okay. I'll tell you the reason. I just want to move forward with my dreams — that's all."
Everyone else stood there, puzzled. What could someone like Seo-jin want, when he had already achieved so much? But only one voice broke the silence.
"Dream?" Ji-won's sharp gaze widened. She deliberately leaned forward, closing the distance between them.
Seo-jin didn't move. He slowly, gently tapped her head while turning toward the door.
"Let's talk over dinner tonight," he said softly, calmly, then walked away.
Ji-won's face flushed, a warm rush of excitement spreading across her cheeks. She watched Seo-jin leave, longing in her eyes, still processing what had just happened.
***
As Seo-jin walked out of the main gate with his box of belongings, he noticed the day had turned gray. Large, dark clouds swallowed the sky, and rain began to patter loudly, as if heaven itself were crying over his impending future.
"So… what's going to happen now?" he glanced to his right. A familiar figure stood a few meters away, just out of the falling rain. Leaning against a pillar, Lee Ye-ji held a cigarette in her right hand, smoke curling into the air in delicate, chaotic patterns.
Seo-jin walked over and leaned against the pillar beside her. 'Ye-ji… I've known her since before Ji-won even came to the company. We started at the same time, and we had a good rival relationship back then.'
"It's been a few years since we both started working," she said, holding out a cigarette. Seo-jin took it and placed it near his mouth. She flicked her lighter, lighting it for him.
"It's been years since I last smoked." Quiet emotion lingered behind his tone.
"I see… no, I already know. You don't take smoke breaks, unlike me."
"Well, I like to keep my health first. Still… it's nice to smoke with someone after so long."
"I didn't know you were that health-conscious. Trying to act old?"
"Health is just one thing. The main reason is survival.
"Survival? You're perfectly healthy, and you've got more than enough money to retire. So what exactly are you worried about?"
In this age, money makes living a little easier—but if spending more means I survive longer, then I'll gladly risk burning some."
"Wow… you're also quite unfiltered."
Seo-jin inhaled, then exhaled slowly, eyes following the stormy sky. "So… not ready to say goodbye?"
Ye-ji froze for a second. "I just… reality hasn't fully sunk in yet. Unlike Ji-won, I noticed you indifferently — someone who looks exhausted, yet still makes no mistakes in their work.
She continued speaking, her voice lingering softly.
"I always felt a strong rivalry with you… and I respected you. I admired how good you are at life and work. It was fun because I felt challenged."
Seo-jin could read her feelings just from her eyes — sadness, regret, like seeing your favorite idol retire.
As their cigarettes burned down, they tapped the glowing tips together with a soft hiss—an unspoken habit between them. Seo-jin scooped up both butts and flicked them into the bin without looking.
"Give me your phone," he said.
Ye-ji handed it over, puzzled.
Seo-jin typed something, then returned it. Stepping into the rain, he looked back.
"I don't have an umbrella, so I'll just go like this. You must have already clocked out… want to walk to the station together?"
Ye-ji looked at her phone. It now displayed Seo-jin's number. She froze, realizing what had happened — then nodded.
"Yes… let's go. There's no way we'll get a taxi in this rain."
As they walked, they spoke about mundane, unrelated things, rain softened between them for a moment. Ye-ji smiled lightly… until she noticed a large scar across Seo-jin's body.
The rain had soaked his translucent white shirt, revealing the scar beneath.
It was deep—deep enough that any normal person would have bled out and died on the spot. With a wound like that, it wouldn't have been surprising if he had been cut clean in half.
"What… what is this scar? It doesn't look like an accident."
Seo-jin didn't look at her. His gaze remained forward, cold and distant.
"I'd rather not talk about it now."
The moment she met his eyes, her body tensed. A chill ran down her spine. His gaze was sharp, murderous even.
Ye-ji immediately forced the conversation back to lighter topics, trying to diffuse the tension.
As the station slowly approached, Ye-ji gave Seo-jin a side–eye warning.
"By the way… what are you going to do about Ji-won's date invitation? You better not decline it."
He chuckled.
"As if I would. Her feelings seemed genuine. I'd be happy if she… really becomes something more in my life."
Then he added, "Now that I think about it… I heard you two are childhood friends. Why are there so many negative rumors about her?"
Ye-ji clicked her tongue, debating whether to say it. "It's nothing serious — if you're doubting her nature or something."
"No," Seo-jin replied calmly. "She really seems like a kind person."
Ye-ji sighed, remembering the old days.
"Anyway, if you date her… just don't bring up her family or high-school stuff too much in the beginning."
Without giving him time to ask why, she continued,
"There was a rumor back in high school… that Ji-won and her family were involved in some cult. Idiots used it to bully her."
She threw an uppercut into the air, then flexed her arm proudly.
"I beat the crap out of all those idiots."
"She and her family are a bit strange, sure — but they're all genuinely good people."
She waved her hand at him, like she was clearing away future misunderstandings before they could exist.
Seo-jin listened silently and nodded.
As the station finally arrived, they parted at the split in the platform. Seo-jin waved.
"Call me later this weekend. With Ji-won. Let's all take a small holiday together."
Ye-ji waved back.
"Yes, I'll do it — 100%."
Then she grinned.
"And remember to actually go to your dinner today. If you skip it, I'm spending your entire wallet this weekend."
Seo-jin smiled faintly as he turned toward the train.
He boarded, sat, and looked out the window.
The rain outside blurred into soft streaks — somehow more beautiful than before.
When the train began moving, he closed his eyes, letting the rhythmic rattle carry him toward his next destination.
Rain echoed softly against the windows — too soothing, almost hypnotic.
As if it were the calm before a storm.
As if agreeing with that thought, an unbelievable scene unfolded before Seo-jin's eyes.
He was lying on his bed.
'What…? What is happening? There's no way I'm in my house. I don't remember anything after sitting on the train. I don't remember getting off. I don't remember coming home.'
He tried to move, but his body had no strength.
His eyelids closed again — not naturally, but as if something was forcing them shut.
Then it began.
A bell-like chime rang from somewhere far, somewhere close. His entire body felt like it had sunk into heaven… or perhaps somewhere just below it.
Golden light washed over everything, soft and overwhelming — and then everything collapsed into pure nothingness.
When he opened his eyes again, discomfort hit him instantly.
He couldn't control his body.
A loud cry echoed around him — sharp, raw.
It took a heartbeat for him to realize the cry was coming from his own mouth.
He looked around.
A cave.
Cold. Damp. Breathing frost.
He felt movement.
He was being carried — held in the arms of a woman wearing an obsidian-black dress adorned with gold and crimson ornaments.
A black veil covered her face, but even through it, he sensed she was beautiful. Her clothes were smeared with dirt and blood.
Turning his tiny head the other way, he saw them:
Dozens of figures — maybe thirty, maybe fifty — kneeling in absolute silence.
Yet the air around them was heavy with an eerie presence.
Each one wore a long cloak that hid their entire body.
'Cultists' — he had seen people like this before on the streets, but never gathered in such numbers.
Some wore black.
Some wore crimson.
All unmoving.
As the veiled woman held him and sat upon the stone-carved throne, a sudden illusion flashed before his eyes:
A grand throne room — crimson walls glowing like living flame, gold carving dancing along pillars, black and white marble enhancing the royal beauty of the hall.
It was an overwhelming, majestic space — something only a fantasy-world royal family would possess.
His head shook slightly, snapping him back to the cave's rough stone and chilling air.
And then he understood.
'…Did I reincarnate as a cult's young master?'
His newborn cry echoed through the cave — but inside his mind, a small thrill flickered.
A strange excitement.