Chapter 51: Paid Experience

“Mr. Lee Eun-ho, you can start work next week, right?”

“Yes! I can start as soon as tomorrow!”

“Haha, I like your enthusiasm.”

One thing I realized after becoming an adult.

“By the way, may I ask when the salary negotiation will take place?”

“Oh? Didn’t you know? We don’t negotiate. The table is already set.”

“Ah… is that so?”

Signing the same contract doesn’t mean you’re in the same position.

Thinking you could state your terms, hear the other side’s, and work out some ‘negotiation’—that was just a fantasy.

So, I’d never really experienced anything close to a true negotiation.

‘I’ve always just read the room and gone along.’

Quietly poring over the company’s rarely-read employment rules, labor laws, contracts, and all the internal regulations.

Because I wasn’t even qualified to sit at the negotiation table.

That was all I could do.

But this time…

[Do you agree?]

[If you do not agree, you cannot participate in the mission.]

If what’s placed on this table is my memory, my life.

If it’s to that extent.

[Do you agree?]

“I’m not going to agree to these terms.”

[If you do not agree, mission participation is… ]

“I still plan to participate in the mission.”

This level of provocation felt worth trying.

It also gave me courage that the penalty for non-agreement wasn’t ‘erasure.’

“Why are you doing this? It’s just a bonus game, you just need to do as they say!”

“Lee Eun-ho, are you crazy?!”

The foul-mouthed one and Lee Ye-ji, who had been silently listening, suddenly shouted.

They must have sensed that things were taking a bad turn.

“Hyung…!”

“Are you really okay?”

Jae-hyuk and Ji-eun gave me looks full of trust and a bit of concern.

[…….]

A brief silence fell.

[Impossible.]

Of course, that answer came.

Just as I expected.

That’s fine. The answer I want to hear isn’t one the system has, anyway.

Tap.

I turned my body, facing the ‘eye’ floating above me.

It’s been a while since I looked straight at it. Have I grown used to it?

Even so, staring at the huge black pupil embedded in the white sphere felt strange.

Srrrrt!

The shame of having your clothes suddenly stripped away.

A discomfort as if someone’s peering past your flesh, right into your bones.

The fear of facing, persuading, and overcoming an unknown being.

“Let me talk to the administrator directly.”

The thirst to live as a human, above all else, surged within me.

Even if I started this race on a slanted field, I desperately wanted to not just finish, but win.

And then, a moment later.

[……Why. What.]

A reluctant voice was heard.

A distinctly sharp voice of a girl.

That brat again.

‘Huh?’

I thought the administrator had changed.

[Administrator permissions have been temporarily changed!]

[‘Stone Golem’ is undergoing an update patch!]

So she really was just a temporary administrator.

Well, that makes things a little easier on this side.

At least I can somewhat predict what to expect.

[You’ve used your head. Who are you?]

She’d been consistent from the moment she first appeared.

[Someone who left some global achievement? An artist who made an incredible work, perhaps?]

[Well, I figured not. Then let’s just sweep you all up at once—no, I’ll move things along quickly.]

A performance-focused leader who pays no attention to anyone except a select few she likes.

[Normally I’d give out rewards to fit your characteristics, but that’s a hassle, so I’ll just randomize it.]

Her own mood takes priority over company policy, but she doesn’t completely ignore the rules.

“For this mission.”

With this type of person…

“I have an idea that could generate additional revenue. Would you like to hear it?”

Substance over flattery.

[……What is it?]

“I checked the terms, and it’s pretty much the same as always. The observers just watch my actions in my memories, and react. So I thought….”

Better to get straight to the point.

“How about ‘experience’ instead of just observation?”

[Ex, experience?!]

“Not just watching, but actually coming into my body and experiencing it. A part of my life.”

[!!]

The administrator made a startled noise.

No wonder—if I were just an ordinary Earthling, I’d never know to bring this up.

「…Therefore, to encourage ‘paid experiences,’ securing high-quality content is essential.
However, as previously described, Koreans’ educational paths are highly standardized, and their independence from parents and institutions is notably delayed.
Thus, obtaining differentiated content, namely ‘memories people would want to experience,’ is expected to be difficult…」

‘Experience’ content.

It was written in the reports stolen from the demons (귀).

‘The main source of this company’s revenue.’

It was exactly this—memories from people like us, turned into ‘content’ for those up above to watch and enjoy.

There are various ways to watch and enjoy.

Just watching is level 1—observation.

For a short time, becoming the person and experiencing it directly is level 2—experience.

So, basically…

‘It’s like a temporary possession.’

Should I be amazed at their technology, able to make countless virtual reality worlds from people’s memories?

Or at the beings from another world who enjoy this as their main form of entertainment?

Or maybe…

[That’s suspicious. How do you know about ‘experience’ content?]

“Oh, it was an existing concept? I thought I’d come up with it first.”

[So… you came up with that yourself? With your brilliant mind?]

“Yes. It seemed like direct experience would be more competitive than just watching.”

Maybe what’s most surprising is that I use even these unrealistic situations as bargaining chips.

[Well… whatever. But where does the extra profit come from?]

“There’ll be an experience fee. Paid.”

Turning it into a money-making tool, too.

[Ha… do you even know what you’re saying?]

“Of course. Oh, and the commission stays the same. Fifty percent.”

[That’s not what I’m talking about!]

I waited quietly.

With an attitude that said, ‘What’s the problem?’

[Who’s going to pay to experience a pre-selection candidate’s content… ha, never mind.]

Then the administrator muttered to herself, letting out a sigh.

She must have finished calculating in her head already.

[……There are a few out there who would definitely jump at it if it’s you.]

I know. I know, too.

‘I’ve already done the demand research on this side.’

Observers flooded in after the fight with the golem.

【‘Audit Bureau Overtime Fairy’ nods in approval, saying you’re worth spending money on.】

【‘External Cooperation Bureau New Hire’ marvels that rumors are already spreading.】

Apparently, my ‘eye’ was pretty popular.

Not sure if that’s something to be happy about, though.

Judging by the thousands of points handed out as sponsorship, they all seem to have plenty of money.

So.

“Fifty percent commission. Don’t you want a piece, Administrator?”

I asked, masking the suggestion as a question.

Harona hesitated for a moment, then countered with a question of her own.

[How much is the experience fee? How will you select the experiencers?]

“Well…”

She’s curious.

A sign she’s half on board.

In that case, time for my last card.

“I plan to put it up for auction.”

[An auction?!]

Harona’s last syllable went up weirdly.

That’s the reaction of hearing something outrageous.

But—

“That way, we can maximize the price. Of course, assuming there’s enough interest and people compete for it.”

[What if no one bids?]

“Set the starting price low. That’s better than setting a high experience fee from the start—no need to worry about scaring everyone off.”

[Ugh…]

One second, two seconds.

A time longer than a blink, but shorter than a moment, passed.

[You really are something.]

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

[Ha. What on earth are you made of?]

“You’re looking at me right now, aren’t you?”

[…….]

Harona was back.

With what almost sounded like a compliment in her insults.

[……Shut up for a second. I need to think.]

A positive signal.

But—

“It’s five minutes to nine. I’ll give you two minutes to think.”

This time, I started the count.

Countdown.

---

[……Two minutes. Okay.]

Harona ground her teeth as she replied, then nodded toward the screen.

More precisely, toward the calm and smiling Lee Eun-ho on the screen.

A sharp subordinate quickly bowed and moved her hands.

Then—

【Voice connection deactivated.】

Click!

Suddenly, background noise I hadn’t noticed was gone.

It felt like the motes of noise drifting in sunlight just vanished.

And the instant I realized the connection was cut—

Clatter!

Harona jumped up from her seat.

She’d lost her hard-won composure.

[An auction? Where’d that come from?!]

[It’s surprising. Normally, most people hate having their past exposed and judged by others.]

[That’s what I mean! How can anyone think like that in this situation?]

And that confident attitude.

Acting as if he knows all of our plans.

This isn’t just because he’s smart…

[Isn’t that guy using some kind of future-predicting skill?]

[No way. Based on his actions so far, there’s been no time for that.]

[Haa. I feel like we’re being played here.]

Harona paced in front of her desk, muttering.

Her assistant Seung, growing uneasy, asked carefully.

[You’re not seriously thinking of agreeing to that nonsense, are you?]

A normal administrator would cut this off immediately.

But Harona—

[Well. What to do?]

[Of course you have to reject it! He’s not even an employee yet, and already trying to sell paid content?!]

Results above all.

The type who’ll do anything for the goal.

[Ugh, enough.]

And so—

[Did you finish the monthly report?]

[Huh? It’s almost done, but why the sudden…?]

[What’s the achievement rate?]

Flinch!

Seung trembled.

[Um…]

[Achievement rate. What percent is it?]

Achievement rate.

He knew exactly how much was riding on that one word.

Seung’s dry lips felt impossibly heavy.

[……61%.]

Zap!

Harona’s head whipped around.

She glared with eyes sharp as an axe.

Faced with that gaze, Seung stammered involuntarily.

No wonder—if this kept up, she’d get the worst evaluation in history.

[W-well, as you know, our team was assigned a much higher target this year, so…]

[So what?]

Harona crossed her arms and stepped closer to Seung.

Step.

Looking up at her much taller subordinate.

[Are you saying you won’t achieve it just because the target’s high?]

Step.

[Did I teach you to work like that? Hm?]

[I mean… it’s just that…]

Even with a bright smile, her pressure was overwhelming.

Seung instinctively stepped back.

And blurted it out.

[I’ll set up a catch-up plan and report it.]

But—

[Forget it. I’ve just made a plan.]

[Huh?]

Harona always had a plan.

[At first, it sounded ridiculous. But now that I think about it, it’s not so strange.]

[Huh?]

[As long as there’s still ‘observation,’ the mission framework is intact, even if we add ‘experience.’ Strictly speaking, there’s no problem.]

[Isn’t that a bit too convenient an interpretation…?]

[The real issue is on what basis we let people ‘experience’ it.]

She’d stopped listening to her subordinate a while ago.

Harona thought for a moment, then—snap!—snapped her fingers.

[Ah! Just revise the terms!]

Like the mad researcher who would change survey questions at will.

The terms? Just edit them and sign off herself.

[That’s it! It’s done!]

Harona smiled broadly and sat back down.

She thought long but decided fast.

Seeing this, Seung let out a long sigh and signaled again.

【Voice connection activated.】

The audio channel reconnected.

[Do as you want.]

“Understood.”

Lee Eun-ho’s face on the screen remained unruffled.

[The auction proceeds will be taken like regular sponsorships. We’ll follow as much of the existing rules as possible, got it?]

“That’s fine.”

His calm look suggested he’d expected all of this.

Maybe he really did have some kind of future-predicting skill.

[But there’s no time to set up a new system, so we’ll run it from our end.]

“Oh, that’s all right. I can do it myself.”

[You? Have you ever done it before?]

“No. But I get the idea.”

What a suspicious guy.

Harona thought she should take a closer look, and was about to end the conversation when—

[Well… do as you like. I’ll send the revised terms, so just ag—]

“Oh, and one more condition.”

Lee Eun-ho interrupted with the world’s most shameless face.

[Haa? You’re doing whatever you want and still adding conditions?]

If anyone’s going to make demands, it should be us.

Like, don’t talk back, don’t argue—stuff like that.

Harona looked at him as if she couldn’t believe it, but Lee Eun-ho continued without caring.

“While the experience is going on, I’d like observer privileges.”

[What? Why’s that?!]

“How do I know what someone will do with my memories? I need to watch, at least.”

[Sigh, you too?]

Harona’s brow twitched.

It’s a request everyone makes the first time they experience ‘experience’ content.

After all, it’s all happening in a memory.

There’s no need to know, and nothing changes if you do.

“But it’s a whole hour, you know. I’d get bored otherwise.”

It is a little uncomfortable, but…

[Whatever, do what you want.]

Well, observer access is available to anyone affiliated with the company anyway.

[I’ll send the revised terms. Agree to them.]

“Thank you.”

Finally, the conversation wrapped up.

And with a lively notification sound—

─ Ding!

[Do you agree?]

The same question floated up again, and this time a different answer.

“I agree.”

Fwaaash—!

In that moment, a bright halo bloomed.

Just like all the other notification windows before.

The terms filled the translucent window, then each letter floated up, sparkling, circling around Lee Eun-ho.

Flap! Flap! Flap…

And a moment later, the glowing syllables surrounded Lee Eun-ho’s head.

[Subject ‘Lee Eun-ho.’ Reconstructing memory.]

They seeped in.

While Harona, who had set all this in motion, busily prepared for the auction.

【Select the auction target!】

【Set the auction start and end dates!】

【Enter the starting bid and bid increments!】

【Select the payment method!】

……

She really was working hard.

[Kya! Why is there so much to input?!]

And finally.

【Auction begins!】

Lee Eun-ho’s memories were placed on the table.

[Ha, Harona! There are already responses!]

[What? But we haven’t even announced it yet?!]

The anonymous message board was heating up.

【Numerous observers are expressing their intent to participate!】

【‘Administration Bureau Crow’ can’t hide their excitement!】

【‘External Cooperation Bureau New Hire’ says this is their first time seeing an auction and their eyes are shining!】

Ding! Ding! Ding! The office filled with the sounds of notifications.

[Harona! The number of users in the Lee Eun-ho channel is skyrocketing!]

[I guess a product needs to stand out! All the others are just for watching, but this one you can go inside. Of course it’s a hit, right?!]

She high-fived Seung and cheered…

[We might hit it big this time!]

[Yeah, yeah! We might really—huh?]

Suddenly, Harona realized.

[But Seung?]

[Yes, Harona!]

The prime target, Lee Eun-ho.

She’d thought he was just a tool to make money.

[Why am I paving the way for that brat…?]

Realizing that, in fact, it was she who had become the tool.