Chapter 47: The “Promotion Team Takeover” Rumors

“Where in the world does a Public Notice like this exist?”

The Seocheon Flower Garden was bubbling like an erupting volcano.

The Shinsomi, who had always worked well without anyone’s say-so, exploded in anger.

Especially the Farming Team—they seemed to think they were being ignored.

“It just says we should figure out the time and place ourselves—what kind of Public Notice is that?”

“And Promotion Team runs everything? Are we just supposed to get dragged along with whatever they say?”

There were practical reasons too.

The leader of Farming Team 3, Shinsomi, spoke sternly.

“It’s peak Flesh Rebirth Flower harvest season, we’re extremely busy. If we’re late even a day, Geomsu Hell is all over us to make quota. How are we supposed to take people off work for an Outdoor Event?”

“Guess that means overtime, then.”

“We’re already doing overtime, okay?!”

The Meal Service Team leader Shinsomi, tough on the outside but soft inside, rolled up her sleeves, her eyes brimming with tears.

“If it’s an Outdoor Event, they’ll want us to prepare outside food, right? Then, who’s supposed to handle all that? It’ll end up being us again!”

Just the thought seemed horrifying—she shouted and started calculating on the spot.

“There are about 800 Shinsomi in Seocheon Flower Garden, so that’s 800 lunch boxes at least, 800 snacks…”

“Just tell everyone to make their own rice balls.”

“You think that’s easy? Do you know how many cauldrons of rice that takes?!”

The Fertilizer Team leader Shinsomi sighed too.

“The Fertilizer Warehouse is always busy. If you suddenly add to our schedule like this… it’s tough…”

“But, um, do you think there might be a sack-of-fertilizer-lifting event or something?”

“Why?”

“…Because we might have an advantage at that.”

A strange tension hung in the air between the grumbling Shinsomi.

The Education Team leader Shinsomi, who had been quietly listening, slipped in.

“…We’re actually pretty free lately, so I think we’re fine.”

“Right, this term’s classes ended early, didn’t they?”

“We’re just waiting for new students… It’d be a nice change of pace.”

“Haven’t we never had an Outdoor Event before?”

A strange thrill crept in among them.

Behind all the grumbling that swept the Seocheon Flower Garden, laughter followed.

“If Promotion Team is doing it, they’ll probably come up with something outrageous, don’t you think?”

“What kind of events will there be? Flower Pot Replanting Contest? Seed Matching Blindfold Game?”

“Sounds great, loser does double Pumasi!”

The laughter spread like waves.

It had become a symbol of trust now—this anticipation for the Promotion Team’s events.

Meanwhile, the Promotion Team office was like a funeral parlor.

Since yesterday, Mujae had been tearing at his hair every chance he got.

“It was supposed to be our first day of vacation!”

Zack, draped limply over the sofa, replied in sign language.

‘Basically, they want us to work instead of having fun.’

Hallakgoong clutched his aching stomach and massaged his temples.

His head, which had been packed full of Princess Bari’s words, was now a wasteland, blown apart by the bomb Father dropped.

If this was Father’s intention, then it was a complete success.

“How do you just backstab us like this and then disappear…”

“Fine, let’s just not do it!”

Mujae shot up and shouted brightly.

“We don’t even have a boss in the office anyway!”

Hallakgoong explained the reality in a tired voice.

“Department meeting starts in 30 minutes. Go and say that there.”

“Huhuhuu…”

“‘Let’s just ignore orders from a boss who may or may not even show up for work!’ Shout that.”

Mujae, who’d been to a department meeting once before, looked like he was about to cry.

Just thinking about it made his hands shake…

“How could I possibly do that in there…”

“Then just cry. I’ll stage a protest behind you.”

Hallakgoong continued, half-serious, half-joking.

“Or, how about we make it an event? Like, ‘Tearing up several Public Notices’ as a competition?”

‘Oh, I’m for it. How about “Catching the Ggotgam Officer” instead of Whack-a-Mole?’

“Phuheng!”

Hearing Hallakgoong and Zack’s jokes, Mujae made a strange sound, not sure whether to laugh or cry, and collapsed onto the table.

Watching him, Hallakgoong fell into thought for a moment.

‘Maybe Mujae actually heard everything?’

The conversation with Princess Bari in Revelation Hell.

Hallakgoong remembered bumping into Mujae after seeing Princess Bari off.

If he’d heard it all, what could he be thinking?

‘But then…’

Zack’s fingertips broke the silence.

He looked like he was dreaming.

‘Why is it suddenly an Outdoor Event?’

“Hmm… Zack, do they have Outdoor Events in your homeland?”

Zack’s eyes suddenly flared.

He was an Iron Bachelor who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Ice Prison Guards of Boiling Hell.

‘Of course!’

Zack’s hands moved at a speed never seen before.

‘That’s where the Olympics began!’

‘Originally, it was a festival—a ritual—dedicated to the Highest God, Zeus.’

‘The champion’s glory wasn’t for humans, but to be offered up to the gods.’

“Ah…”

Mujae and Hallakgoong made slightly dumbfounded noises at his passionate lecture.

But the lesson continued.

‘It started with a lot of religious meaning, but over time, it became a symbol of peace for everyone.’

‘When the Olympics were held, even wars would stop. People would come running and compete fairly.’

‘Now there are all kinds of events, and there’s no discrimination of gender, country, or anything… That’s the spirit of sports!’

“So, what did you do in the Outdoor Event, Zack?”

Freeze.

Suddenly, Zack’s hands stopped.

His ears tinged red, and he gave an awkward smile.

‘…We didn’t have Outdoor Events where I lived.’

“Oh, sorry.”

Hallakgoong felt genuinely sorry for a moment.

But from Zack’s words, he picked up on a hint of his true feelings.

“Zack. Do you want to join the Outdoor Event?”

“Promotion Team~!”

Just then, outside the window, the lively voices of Shinsomi rang out.

Hallakgoong peered out to see what was happening, and saw several Shinsomi rushing over.

“Hello! Is there anything we can help with?”

“How’s the prep going? Have you decided on the events?”

The three from Promotion Team just stared at each other.

If all they had agreed on so far was “let’s not do it!”, the Shinsomi’s faces were full of excitement.

“Uh… honestly, we’re still figuring things out. We’re just organizing what needs to be done.”

“Right?! I knew it~”

Kyarururu… Another burst of laughter, and Hallakgoong asked, feigning ignorance.

“What did you ‘know’?”

“Oh, it’s just something we said amongst ourselves…”

The Shinsomi exchanged glances, then as if it were a huge secret, tiptoed up to the window and whispered.

“Our team leader suspects this is all the Promotion Team’s doing.”

“What?!”

“Promotion Team’s been so energetic lately, she says you’re going to take control of the Seocheon Flower Garden…”

“Heyyy.”

“But she’s not wrong~”

They nudged each other nervously, but the secret was out.

And then, the time had come.

“…Let’s go. Emergency department heads’ meeting.”

At Hallakgoong’s words, Mujae’s face crumpled.

Forget vacation—the Promotion Team, which had turned into a funeral parlor, now had to march to war.