Chapter 02
“Come to think of it, I was on my way to work even on the day the world ended… Wait… Did I really die without even getting off work?”
Technically, she was on her way to work, and since she didn’t die after arriving at her workplace, Milona’s claim that she died without clocking out was inaccurate, but she decided to lightly ignore that fact.
Muttering to herself about how pitiful her past self was for dying without even getting off work, Milona quickly finished washing her face and changed her clothes. She then subtly looked away from the crumpled pajamas lying on the floor and the bed with its sheets in complete disarray.
After all, she’d just come back, pick them up, sleep in them, and mess them up again. There was no need to be diligent on a busy (?) morning and tidy up.
“I’ll cover the backs of my hands… with gloves.”
Letting out a small sigh, Milona covered the backs of both hands with black half-gloves that didn’t match her worn but clean white blouse and her dark brown skirt that barely covered her knees.
For now, this was a temporary fix, but she’d have to come up with a proper solution soon.
Giving herself a final once-over in the mirror, Milona hurried out of the house.
It was the morning of the third day—she’d been absent without leave for two days, and now she was well past her starting time on the third. If she didn’t even look like she’d rushed, that vile-tempered, tyrannical boss of hers might just kill her.
And if she died like that, that boss would surely carve on her tombstone, in letters larger than her own name, the words: Cause of Death: Negligence of Duty.
“That’s exactly the kind of person he is.”
Milona muttered under her breath, greeted the owner of the first-floor grocery store who rented her the third-floor attic room, and then started running toward the shop.
How long had she been running? Just as beads of sweat began to form on her forehead, the shop’s sign came into view in the distance.
The shop, which bore the sign Bluebird Flower Shop—a name that didn’t suit its owner at all—was Milona’s workplace.
Her main job was as a transfer of ownership specialist, but her “side job,” which actually paid for her living expenses, was working at a flower shop.
The income was much smaller than from her main job, but since her main job’s earnings were irregular, the “steady” salary from Bluebird Flower Shop was incredibly precious to Milona.
Having traveled back three years, she didn’t remember her exact financial situation, but if she got fired from the flower shop, this month’s rent might be in danger.
If only the rent were the only thing at risk…
Just thinking about that tyrannical boss, who might already have a tombstone ready and waiting for her, made her want to turn around and run away right now.
God, are You listening? Love or whatever—if I’m supposed to save the world, don’t I have to survive first? So… please save me.
Her faith had long since plummeted, drilled through the floor and vanished into the underworld, but still, she’d seen with her own eyes that God existed. Surely a little prayer couldn’t hurt?
Would it not work without faith?
No, wait—wasn’t it God who called back a faithless human like her and sent her to save the world in the first place?
Shaking her head to clear the distracting thoughts meant for escapism before they could take concrete form, Milona looked at the firmly shut door and swallowed dryly.
She wouldn’t be this nervous even if she were asked to open the gates of hell.
When something similar had opened last time, she’d died before she could even feel fear—no time to be this tense.
But what could she do? Whether it was hell, destruction, or her tyrannical boss behind that door… Milona had to open it.
“Phew… Let’s open it!”
Giving herself a small cheer, Milona pretended not to notice her trembling fingertips and slowly began to open the tightly shut door.
“Um… I’m here for wo— Eek!”
Something flew at her.
Even before the door was fully open, Milona sensed something flying toward her. She quickly shut the door again and held her breath.
The loud thud of the door slamming shut was less distinct than the sound of something hitting the other side of the door.
And without even seeing what had flown at her so threateningly, Milona could guess its identity, thanks to a certain someone’s words from inside the shop.
“Do you throw gardening shears at people, you crazy bastard?”
Gardening shears. That dangerous thing. If it weren’t for her sharp instincts, she’d have been on her way to meet God again just three days after coming back.
Should I just run?
For a brief moment, she thought about skipping work again today, but if she did, she might receive a frightening visitor tonight.
Shaking her head quickly as if to shake off the ominous thought, Milona swallowed dryly, cautiously opened the door again, and peeked her head inside.
“Ahaha… Boss, are you angry?”
“I’ve told you hundreds of times: it’s ‘Manager’ here.”
“With that kind of old-school mindset, no wonder your employee plays hooky. Hey, Milona, how about dumping this old fogey and coming to work for me?”
For them, it hadn’t been many days, but for Milona, these were the “family” she was meeting again after going back three years.
The only difference from a normal family might be that they could sincerely throw weapons at her.
Of course, it was always “that side” throwing, and Milona was always on the receiving end.
Of course, I dodged brilliantly every time! …But if I boasted about that, my life might really be in danger…
The other side probably threw without hesitation because they were sure Milona would dodge, but scary was still scary.
Once she was sure nothing else was flying at her, Milona let out a long sigh and turned her gaze toward the people standing inside the shop.
“Anyway, I won, so pay up.”
Daniela, her dark maroon eyes sharply emphasized with black eyeliner, scoffed at her twin brother as she casually brushed back her sword-cut, dark green bob that hung long over one cheek.
“Wouldn’t I win if I buried that thing outside right now?”
Danilo, hiding his similarly dark maroon eyes behind non-prescription glasses, gently—or perhaps menacingly—smiled at his twin sister as he lightly shook his dark green ponytail.
They were fraternal twins who looked so alike they could be mistaken for identical, but from the clothes they wore to the vibes they gave off, there wasn’t a single thing the same about them.
Daniela, dressed in a form-fitting dress and covered in flashy accessories, took a gold coin from Danilo, who wore neat but dirt-stained work clothes, and beamed.
Seeing that, Milona felt confident that at least she wouldn’t face any life-threatening danger today, and she stepped further into the shop.
“You were holed up at home for two days without moving—did something happen that I don’t know about?”
“There’s no way anything happens in Loasa that Daniela doesn’t know about.”
“Hmm, suspicious?”
Milona pretended not to notice Daniela’s narrowed, scrutinizing gaze and approached Danilo, who was glaring at her with an obviously sulky expression.
Then, lowering her eyes, she fidgeted with her neatly clasped fingertips and struck a pose of utmost remorse.
Although he was a tyrannical boss, Danilo had personally guided young Milona into the path of becoming a transfer of ownership specialist and raised her well. He was quite fond of her.
Though “raised her well” was a bit much—it was more like a kid taking in another kid—Danilo had nonetheless contributed to Milona’s growth. Seeing her pretend to reflect obediently, he let out a long sigh and shook his head.
That was the trouble with knowing someone for so long. If she were anyone else, he might have actually buried her somewhere, but since he’d known her since she was very young, he just couldn’t do it.
“Enough with the act.”
“Hehe.”
Oh God, are You watching? I have survived brilliantly again today!
Swallowing a sigh of relief, Milona turned away, ignoring Danilo’s suspicious gaze as if she’d just handed off the baton to Daniela.
She had shown up for work, but because of the owner’s “main job,” this flower shop closed earlier than any other shop. Soon it would be time to go home, and she didn’t have a single speck of desire to start working first.
Besides, Daniela is here too.
Milona, who had been thinking of visiting the tavern Raven after work to see Daniela, decided to take advantage of this unexpected luck and gladly conserve the time given to her.
“Daniela. I know it’s not ‘business hours’ yet, but I have some information I want to buy.”
“Just transfer to my side. Then you won’t have to pay.”
“I think I’ve told you a hundred times—give it up. I have pride in my main job, but I’m also attached to this flower shop. Besides, betray the boss of the workplace that gives me my precious living expenses? What do you think would happen to me?”
And that boss was right behind her, glaring in her direction. If she jokingly agreed, she’d definitely die this time. And then her tombstone would have the word Traitor carved on it.
That was a future Milona really, truly wanted to avoid.
“Hmm, what a shame. So, shall we talk business? What information do you need?”
“Specifically, information about a certain person.”
“Who?”
Thinking of Danilo behind her, whose eyes were probably also sparkling with curiosity, Milona swallowed dryly for a moment and then slowly opened her mouth.
“His Grace, Duke Wade Lee Ponti.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Have you lost your mind?”
