The meeting place Claire had designated was a square located on 4th Avenue in District 3.

As a street of contemplation, led by cafes, the attire of the people was neat and elegant.

Milina Allqueyer waited for someone, looking at her watch.

It was almost the appointed time.

And soon, she felt that the person had arrived.

The wind rustled.

She could feel the citizens strolling down the street glancing at him, pretending not to.

'How can that be a contractor?'

A light breeze gently swept the man's hair.

Mysterious eyes mixed with green.

His flawless skin and high nose bridge were as ideal as looking at a painting or a sculpture.

And yet, the muscles visible through his form-fitting clothes strongly revealed a masculine side.

Contractor Allen.

Even though she had only seen his face in passing while accompanying Claire, she was impressed.

Milina calmed her ecstatic feelings and approached him.

"Are you Contractor Allen?"

Her body flinched as their eyes met.

A deep and sharp gaze that seemed to pierce to the depths of her heart.

Indeed, as his profession was what it was, he was not an easy man to judge by his appearance alone.

"Milina Allqueyer."

"...It will be convenient not to have to go through a painful self-introduction."

Milina hid her surprise at the voice calling her name.

She had thought it would be a one-sided acquaintance, but he knew her.

A sense of caution arose from that fact.

'Did he find out about the background check?'

Claire had ordered her to dig into his past.

Even after mobilizing Sylvester's manpower, nothing was revealed, so they had swallowed their pride and even put in a request to an outside company.

Since it was a request from Sylvester, it was natural for it to be treated as confidential, but since it wasn't their own personnel, there was always a possibility of information leaking.

Milina waited nervously for what he would say next.

"Don't misunderstand. I've heard a lot about you from your boss."

"...What?"

And Allen said sweetly with a fresh smile.

"She said you were like family who had overcome difficult times together, and she boasted a lot about you being her most trusted aide."

The content was unexpected.

"D-Director?"

Claire's position at Sylvester was director.

A large corporation executive at a young age, it could indeed be called a parachute appointment befitting a royal family.

Of course, in this city, parachuting was a basic skill, so it wasn't something to be particularly ridiculed.

Since she was a woman with the ability to match her position, it could rather be called a successful case of the 음서제 (yin-shi-je, a system of appointing officials based on their family background).

...Although she was a bit clumsy.

"When, ahem, when did she say that?"

"I heard it on the phone yesterday."

"Ah, so that's why the call was so long."

A blush appeared on Milina's cheeks.

"It's a secret that I told you."

"Of course, ahem, of course."

Milina coughed repeatedly to calm her excitement.

She was a woman who was stingy with compliments, not only to herself but also to others, due to the high standards required.

As a close aide who knew him well, she grinned at the story of being praised.

"Hehet."

But it seems she was too happy.

As a foolish laugh escaped, Allen's expression became subtle.

"Ahem!"

Her wariness had long since receded like the tide.

'He's a good person.'

A mysterious past, a profession as a contractor that didn't match his appearance.

It was all meaningless.

Allen was a good person.

'As expected, there are no bad people among the pretty and handsome.'

Claire, a sensible boss, was like that, and Councilor Giselle, who was prickly but soon affirmed his cooperation, was like that.

Allen, whose appearance was comparable to theirs, was also logically a good person.

"You have a very good impression, too. If you had found a different profession than a contractor, it would have been your calling."

"Thank you."

"If you're interested, please let me know. I'll contact the PR department and help you get hired as an exclusive model."

Milina handed him a business card.

It wasn't an empty gesture.

With that appearance, even if he didn't have to try hard to get a spot, the PR department would run out with open arms to welcome him.

"Please follow me. The director is waiting."

She had been worried about her boss meeting a mere contractor alone, but it was a needless concern.

Milina had already developed a small sense of intimacy with Allen.

***

Milina Allqueyer.

Claire Sylvester's secretary and driver, and a close aide who would share in the hardships and glories that the person named Claire would experience.

When one thinks of a royal family's secretary, a competent and cool-headed image would normally come to mind.

Surprisingly, Milina was not like that.

'She's indecisive. The fact that she remained as Claire's secretary until the end was because the situation just turned out that way.'

She would make excuses, saying that she had chosen a sensible and rational boss who knew and respected her value.

It was just that her personality itself was easily swayed.

'But she's perfect in terms of work.'

Contrary to Milina, Claire was not bound by affection.

No matter how unstable her position was and how few people she had under her, she would have kicked her out if she hadn't been up to par.

But the fact that she had kept Milina until the end meant that Milina was a person with no flaws in terms of ability.

'There's no need to be prickly.'

Most of the people associated with corporations were hungry hyenas who would immediately bite if you showed an opening.

That's why I had set a principle to deliberately treat them prickly.

Milina was an exception.

She was a treasure chest that would share the spoils if you got close to her.

'Should I grease the wheels a little?'

So I gave her some compliments.

"Hehet."

...She likes it too much.

I turned my eyes away from her, who was still laughing foolishly.

'Easy.'

Unfortunately, we didn't talk about personal matters during the call.

How long have we known each other to share intimate stories?

My conscience pricked me, but since it was a fact that Claire trusted Milina, I decided to be confident.

Since I had applied a lubricant for free so that the relationship with her subordinate would be smooth, Claire should be grateful.

"I've brought him, Director."

As the car door opened, the air from inside came out, and a captivating scent wafted.

Claire was riding in the back seat.

"Welcome."

Claire welcomed me with a gentle smile.

She was in a splendid dress that made the dark interior of the limousine seem bright.

However, under the presence created by her picturesque features, the splendor was muted, giving a rather demure impression.

"Please sit."

I sat facing Claire.

The plush seats were no different from those of a luxury car on Earth.

The ride was so stable that the shaking during driving was almost unnoticeable.

"You look well. Your expression is good."

If before there was a darkness and sharpness that she couldn't erase from her expression, now her complexion was bright at a glance.

Claire smiled and nodded readily.

"Thanks to you. I've been busy with the profits I gained before."

Is being busy with work a good thing?

She must be a workaholic.

I played along moderately.

"It's better to be busy than to be idle."

"You know well."

Claire even hummed a tune.

Her eyes, looking at the scenery passing by the window, were sparkling.

As I remembered, she wasn't originally such a lively person.

It was a sight of her retaining her liveliness thanks to things going well before she had experienced any real adversity.

"It's known in the company as my foresight, but do you want me to correct it?"

"I don't really care about that."

"Thank you. It's nice that we can communicate well."

Anyway, how could a rumor that had already spread be reversed?

Those who knew of my achievements knew, so there was no need to covet even such a small honor.

Claire also knew that and must have said it after calculating everything.

'In the long run, securing Claire's position is also a benefit to me.'

Aiming for that, I had shared information with her and given her a chance to be active.

Her skill of taking care of her own share like a fox was what I had hoped for.

"I heard you were going to show me the main office building."

"Yes, since you'll be visiting often from now on."

"What's the intention?"

"I'll be direct. Become my person."

The car, which had been stopped at a signal, stopped.

Claire leaned her upper body forward, physically expressing the closer distance.

"I think it's a waste of your talent to rot as a contractor. I'll provide you with as much convenience as possible. I'll also match your salary to whatever you hope for."

"…!"

I wasn't surprised because it was something I had expected.

Instead, Milina, who was looking at me through the rearview mirror, had her mouth agape.

Claire, who had glanced at Milina, who had started abruptly after being dazed, with dissatisfaction, continued.

"It's not a bad condition, is it?"

Compared to the life of a contractor, which was like a mayfly's, of course it was.

I could have settled down stably in this city with a decent job and sufficient wealth.

The disappointing thing was that it wasn't the life I wanted.

"I refuse."

"...Is that so?"

Contrary to me, Claire paused for a moment, as if she hadn't expected a refusal.

"That's surprising. I thought you had shared the plan to look good to me."

"It was a long-term perspective. If you maintain a good relationship with the successor of a large corporation, there are many spoils that will fall."

"Do you usually say that in front of the person?"

"Since you're a talent who even made a direct recruitment offer, wouldn't you look at me cutely?"

Claire didn't deny it.

As long as it didn't cross the line.

On the premise that ability was a given, a confident, almost arrogant person was the type of talent she wanted, rather than someone who lacked confidence.

"Hmm, then it's a bit troublesome. This means I have to pay the price for the deal in a different way."

I could feel her pride in the fact that she had assumed I would naturally accept.

That's how it would usually be.

I was the one who was different.

"Is there something you want?"

Claire was not a conscienceless entrepreneur who would receive a favor and then shut her mouth.

Whether it was a favor or a grudge, she would return it more than she had received.

As the question I had been waiting for returned, I answered without hesitation.

"I hope we can continue to maintain a good relationship. To the extent that you consider me a priority when commissioning a request."

"Of course. There's no reason to turn away a skilled contractor."

"And one more thing."

This was the main point I had thought of after talking to her on the phone yesterday.

"I'd like to see the factory."

"...A factory?"

At the unexpected story, Claire's one eyebrow twitched as if she didn't understand.

***

"Is this really enough?"

"This is enough."

Claire, who had heard my story, changed her destination and headed to District 8.

Although it was a factory, the one I was looking for was a special factory, so it was located in District 8, the opposite of the industrial zone, District 10.

"You really don't regret it?"

"No. Should I write a memorandum?"

"That's not it."

Claire asked me again and again.

It was an expression of her opinion that she couldn't understand from her position.

"There's really nothing special."

Ignoring the muttering Claire, I opened the door.

Inside, the scene I had expected unfolded.

"Our second cultivation factory boasts a stable supply with excellent quality compared to other companies..."

The factory manager, who had been notified of the sudden visit, chattered on next to Claire, as if this were his chance.

I ignored him and looked around.

Green waves rippled over the land divided by sections.

It was a large corporation's plant cultivation factory.

The World Tree, which had been quiet, pricked up its leaves and then shrank back.

[The World Tree is disappointed.]

My impression was no different.

'I had a rough idea from the quality sold in the market.'

There were no spirits here either.

The various plants I had grown in my own vegetable garden were more lively and better to look at.

'Is artificial nature restoration impossible even with the technology of a large corporation?'

Seeing that the yield was not small, the technology was there.

However, they had not solved the fundamental problem of devastation due to the absence of spirits.

'A pity.'

Well, it was a quest that involved returning.

There was no way things would be resolved so easily.

If that were the case, I would have achieved my gameplay goal early on before I was possessed.

'Still, since I'm here, should I give a hint?'

[The World Tree responds to your will.]

I used the spirits to bless the area.

It was a wide-ranging application of the trick that had rapidly grown the plants in the vegetable garden.

It wouldn't have as dramatic an effect as then, but it could guarantee a stronger growth than before.

"This should be enough."

"Already?"

It hadn't been long since I had arrived.

Claire, as well as the factory manager who had missed the opportunity to look good to his superior, had a strange expression.

"Ah, one more thing."

"Of course. What is it?"

"Collect data carefully until the next harvest."

"..."

Claire now looked at me as if I were a complete eccentric.

I, who had achieved my goal, didn't care.

(End of Chapter)