Chapter 76
The series of commotions concluded, and peace returned.
Though it sounds grand, it was really just a return to everyday life.
Before I delve into that, I should point out one thing: I didn't really suffer any losses from this controversy.
If anything, I gained from it.
Standing at the forefront of the controversy, I went through all sorts of hardships, but the result was an influx of countless New Users.
Considering that every game company makes attracting new users its top priority task,
I had gained a benefit that money couldn't buy.
On the flip side, there were those on Bluebird and other platforms who gnashed their teeth at our game, but...
I didn't feel the need to pay attention to such *waste products*, so I simply ignored them.
As for *Justice*, which was at the center of the controversy... I suppose it managed to avoid the worst-case scenario.
Being at the heart of the controversy, it couldn't avoid damage entirely, but with proper countermeasures, it managed to prevent Users from leaving.
This was because the Team Leader of Team 3 responded surprisingly swiftly after experiencing the *Park Iseo* bomb.
It seemed that after dealing with such a massive bomb, he realized it wasn't the time to be stubborn.
First, they discarded the dubbing results of voice actor Lee Jiyeon, who was at the center of the Nita Dubbing controversy.
Furthermore, all the Illustrations that Nonomi—no, Park Iseo—had worked on were also discarded, presumably to be redone.
In addition, there was a sincere apology through a live broadcast, and generous compensation was provided.
Even I was surprised by how clean the response was, and public sentiment naturally surged.
To put it simply, the PC Bang User Ranking, which had been hovering around 30th-40th place, climbed to 15th, and was now eyeing the Top 10.
Perhaps because of these results, the Team Leader of Team 3's attitude towards me had undergone a dramatic change compared to before.
Previously, perhaps due to inferiority, his tone was subtly aggressive, but now he treats me with the same deference as Department Head Jo...
It was quite burdensome.
Regardless, we survived the storm of Gender Conflict.
Of course, our controversy caused fires to spread to the Webtoon Industry and other places, but...
They'll figure it out on their own.
***
With all the controversies settled, it was time to focus on preparing for the Offline Event, which was just three weeks away.
No, it *should* have been time to focus...
This time, my health issues got in the way.
Yerin was the first to notice something was off with my condition.
While we were in a meeting discussing the Illustration List to be hung on the Triangular Structure, the signature feature of the Olympic Stadium,
Yerin looked at me and asked,
Senior, are you sick?
No? Why?
Your face looks flushed, and you seem tired. Aren't you running a fever?
I don't think I had any symptoms until I came to work.
Really? Just a moment.
At my reply, Yerin placed one hand on her own forehead and the other on mine, starting to check my temperature.
Still not entirely sure, she tilted her head and spoke.
I think you have a fever, but I'm not certain... You should go to the hospital at lunchtime.
I nodded at Yerin's advice.
After the meeting with Yerin concluded, I visited Event Agencies for external appointments. When I returned, the symptoms began to appear serious.
Fever and chills started along with a headache.
My body was shivering, and I immediately knew what state I was in.
This was a sign of the flu.
And a very definite one.
Since childhood, I'd been catching the flu every few years like a minor illness, so I'd been managing it consistently.
But since I hadn't caught it for several years, I must have let my guard down, and it hit me hard this time.
Moreover, with the Offline Event preparations and the Gender Conflict, I'd been constantly working overtime recently...
Thinking *Reap What You Sow*, I sighed and took annual leave.
Even now, if I used annual leave instead of sick leave, the HR Team wouldn't nag me to use my leave...
After confirming that my annual leave request had gone to the HR Team, I packed the work materials I'd need at home and left the office.
First, I'd send a text to the Director-level staff to contact me if anything came up... then maybe I'd head to the Hospital.
***
It's the flu.
The Doctor's diagnosis was, as expected, the flu.
Influenza is going around these days. Didn't you get your vaccination?
At the Doctor's question, I could only give a troubled expression and smile as I replied.
I've been a bit busy lately...
Well, even if you don't feel the symptoms right now, your fever is over 38 degrees, so I recommend you get an injection and an IV drip before you leave. What would you like to do?
I'll take both.
All right, then please follow the nurse's instructions after you leave the Consultation Room. Nurse Kim!
Yes!
At the Doctor's call, the Nurse immediately entered the Consultation Room.
Give this Patient a fever-reducing injection and an IV drip.
Following the Nurse, I received the fever-reducing injection and IV drip, and even bought porridge ingredients. By the time I returned home, two hours had already passed.
“Once the medicine kicks in and I feel less pain, maybe I should finish organizing the groceries and then take a nap...”
Before it got too late, I put the porridge ingredients I'd bought into the refrigerator, changed into my pajamas, and lay down in bed.
Feeling the warmth of the Electric Blanket, lying alone in bed, I started to feel a little sentimental.
*‘Is this why they say the loneliest moment when living alone is when you're sick...?’*
I wasn't usually a lonely person, but perhaps because I was sick, my thoughts drifted in that direction.
Just as I was feeling sorry for myself, my Smartphone rang.
I answered the call, and Yerin's familiar voice came through the smartphone.
Senior, I went to the office, but you weren't there. Did you take sick leave?
Oh, you didn't know? I sent a text to everyone before leaving the Company, telling them to contact me if anything came up.
It didn't come through?
...Really? Just a moment.
At Yerin's words, I checked my Smartphone and indeed, the message was still unsent.
I must have been too sick to check if it sent. Yerin, can you tell the others? Tell them to contact me if anything happens.
Eh, wouldn't it be better to just rest and not worry about the Company?
I'm anxious about it.
Alright... Senior, please get some good rest, and I'll come visit you in the evening.
No, don't. If you get sick too, the Offline Event will be in real trouble. Just take care of yourself.
After that, I finally managed to end the call after repeatedly dissuading Yerin from visiting.
“Well, at least arguing like this made the lonely feeling disappear quite a bit.”
I tossed my Smartphone aside and lay back down in bed, my eyes falling on the bag containing Work Documents.
...Should I just look at them for a bit before sleeping?
Why would I look at them when I'm sick...? I should just sleep.
Trusting that my future self, once recovered, would somehow handle the Pending Tasks, I closed my eyes.
Contrary to my worry that I wouldn't sleep well in the daytime, I quickly fell asleep, perhaps due to the medicine.
How many hours had passed?
Thanks to the medicine, I slept soundly without dreaming for the first time in a while. Then,
I started to hear knocking at my door.
My consciousness instantly rose to the surface, and I couldn't help but wake up.
“Who is it...?”
I wondered if I had misheard in the quiet room.
*Thump-thump-thump!*
The knocking came again, and I quickly got out of bed and headed towards the front door.
Checking the Intercom outside the Front Door, I saw a familiar figure.
It was Suyeon, appearing to be in the mid-150s, with wavy brown hair, neatly dressed in a suit.
As soon as I confirmed who was at the door, I quickly opened it.
Suyeon, holding a fruit basket, smiled and entered the room.
Our Director's face has gotten so thin. Were you sleeping?
Ah, yes. I took some medicine and was resting my eyes.
Then I woke up a sleeping patient? I'm sorry.
It's all right. I was about to get up anyway.
Don't be modest. Anyway, take this.
Suyeon offered me the Fruit Basket with an apologetic expression.
Taking the basket, I felt it was heavier than I expected.
The Fruit Basket contained fruits chosen with care that were supposedly good for colds and the flu.
Suyeon took a couple of apples from the Fruit Basket I was holding and said,
Hojin, go lie down in your room. I'll peel the fruit and bring it. You have a knife at home, right?
I do, but... I'll do it.
No, it's fine. I have no intention of making a patient work.
I tried to insist a few more times, but Suyeon refused, so I reluctantly nodded and returned to bed.
Sitting on the mattress, I looked towards the kitchen and saw Suyeon concentrating on peeling apples.
As I watched her, feeling half-dazed from the flu symptoms and the medicine's effects,
Suyeon, having finished peeling all the apples, placed them on a plate and approached me.
Why are you staring so blankly?
Ah, no...
Is it because of the fever? Excuse me for a moment.
Suyeon placed the plate of apples on the desk and approached me.
Before I could stop her sudden action, she came closer and checked my temperature with her hand, just as Yerin had done that morning.
It doesn't seem too high, but you're still a bit warm. Did you take your medicine?
I managed to nod at Suyeon's question.
Then, Suyeon speared an apple slice with a fork and offered it to me.
Eat it.
I-I'll eat it myself.
Just eat it quickly.
Unable to refuse, I took an apple slice and bit into it, tasting the sweet and sour flesh of the apple.
*‘It's delicious...’*
Suyeon watched me with a pleased expression, resting her chin on her hand.
I'm glad it suits your taste.
Me too. I had no appetite, so I hadn't even thought about eating...
Eat more. There's plenty.
With those words, Suyeon handed me another apple slice, then, as if something suddenly occurred to her, she asked me with an apologetic expression,
Hojin.
Yes?
I'm really sorry to say this to someone who's sick, but could we talk about work for just a moment?