Trainee Manager (1)

The next day. 

"It really did blow."

My brows slowly came together as I stared at the small lever in front of me.

'Is this what people call Déjà vu?'

Just as in the hallucination I had yesterday, the fuse of my house blew during the night.

"Haa... It's good that I set up another alarm."

Drrr― Ring―!

I turned to look at the small clock beside my bed. It rattled as it rang loudly on my bedside table.

Ever since the hallucination yesterday, I couldn't quite get rid of the nagging feeling that something was going to happen and decided to set up another alarm.

You could say that I was being paranoid, but in the end, it proved to be the right choice.

Now then...

"What are the odds that this is a coincidence?"

Rather slim if I had to be honest.

My brows further furrowed at the thought. Things were starting to feel quite eerie.

"Hmmm, I should get ready."

Checking the time on my watch, 6 a.m., I decided to brush my thoughts aside. While things were indeed a little eerie, at the very least, I wasn't going to be late on my very first day on the job.

"Should I take that as a sign that my first day will be a good one?"

I hoped so...

***

Being one of the most powerful guilds in the city, Knight's Crest's main office left a deep impression on those who passed it.

The building's structure boasted clean lines and a symmetrical layout, accentuated by a combination of concrete, and steel, adorned with large, reflective glass windows that mirrored the surrounding cityscape.

"As expected. I didn't make the wrong choice."

Brushing my hair back and tidying up my black suit, I heaved a long sigh. I looked presentable, right?

I didn't have much time to get dressed since I lived quite far away from the main Guild, but I did try my best. The suit, while it wasn't very expensive, was freshly ironed and had no crinkles. My tie was also tied properly, and my shoes were polished to the point where one would think they were new.

They were actually five years old. I just took good care of them. 

Staring at the imposing building ahead of me, my gaze fell on the large screen plastered in the middle of the building.

The screen depicted a captivating scene where a diverse array of individuals clad in sleek suits engaged in fierce combat against menacing monsters. Each person showcased a distinct blend of skills as they unleashed their abilities and weaponry, locked in a battle against the monsters.

I felt entranced by the scene depicted on the screens. They were... what I had been chasing ever since I was young, and what I aspired to be when I grew up.

Star Chasers. 

Sadly, my dream fell through the moment I realized that I wasn't talented enough to become one.

It wasn't an uncommon problem as not many people could become Star Chasers and dwell in dungeons. Only a select few could, and I wasn't one of them.

I understood this point a couple of years ago and only yesterday did I come to terms with it.

Now...

I was no longer an aspiring Star Chaser, but a Trainee Manager. My dream ended yesterday, but a new one arose within my heart.

'...Could you even call this a dream?' 

Perhaps, 'having someone accomplish my dream', would be more fitting. 

Staring at the screen in the distance, I slowly clenched my fist.

Since I couldn't become one, I wanted to make one. With my very own two hands, I wanted to create Star Chasers that would be recognized throughout the world. I wanted them to accomplish what I couldn't.

All of it would start with Knight's Crest. In there I would learn the ins and outs of the industry, and slowly climb my way toward my new dream.

"Huuu."

Taking another deep breath, I made my way into the building.

As expected, the moment I entered, I was met with a whole new world.

The first thing I took note of was the constant sound of phones ringing as they echoed throughout the reception area, intermingling with the chatter of conversations and the occasional laughter.

People waited patiently in a designated seating area, engaged in hushed conversations or engrossed in their electronic devices, while others paced back and forth, exuding a sense of urgency.

'Hm, where am I supposed to go?'

How should I say this? The place was a mess, and I struggled to find my way through the mess.

"Excuse me."

A sudden tap of the shoulder halted me on the spot.

"Yes?"

Greasy black hair, a crinkled black shirt, and a pair of jeans.

When I turned around, my attention was drawn to a middle-aged man whose countenance bore a deadpan expression. His face revealed little emotion, presenting a stoic and unaffected demeanor.

Glaring black circles appeared beneath his eyes, and he seemed to just be tired of life.

"How can I help you?"

"Are you Liam Marken? The one who applied for the trainee manager position?"

My eyes lit up, and my back subconsciously straightened

"Yes, I am."

"Well, that's great."

Taking a quick scan of my body, he extended his hand forward.

"I'm Micheal, and you can say that from this day forth I'll be your boss. If you have any problems you can tell me, and I'll try my best to help you."

There was no sincerity in his voice. Every one of his words seemed to be rehearsed beforehand as if this wasn't the first time he had done this. I didn't mind this and shook his hand.

"The pleasure is mine. I look forward to working with you."

"Ah, great."

Letting go of his hand, his eyes swept my body one more time.

"Is there something wrong?"

Did he not like the way I dressed? And here I thought I did a good job.

"No."

He shook his head.

"I was just reminded of my first day on the job. It doesn't matter, let's go. I'll bring you to the group you will be looking after."

My eyes lit up. While I aspired to be a Star Chaser, I was also a big fan of them. The thought of meeting them made my heart speed up a little. 

"Your first day on the job may be rough, but I'm sure you'll quickly get accustomed to things. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind when becoming a manager, but really, out of all of them, there's only one that you need to keep in mind..."

His voice suddenly took a serious turn and my ears perked up. This seemed to be vital information.

Entering the elevator, Micheal swiftly pressed the button for the third floor. As the doors began to close, he shifted his focus toward me and adjusted his tie a little.

"Whatever you do, follow everything they say. Our job is to make sure they're happy. There's nothing else to it. So long as you do what they tell you, everything will flow smoothly. Just keep that in mind."

"Eh... okay?"

There didn't seem anything strange with his words. They made sense. Indeed, it was my job to ensure that everything flowed smoothly and that those that I managed were properly taken care of.

So...

Why did it feel like there was more to his words?

Could it just be me?

I guess we'll see.

"We're here."

We stopped in front of a wooden door.  Adorning the door was a beautifully crafted sign that instantly drew my gaze. The sign, meticulously designed, displayed one word, [Elypsis].

Is that the name of the group?

I never heard of them before, but judging from the single star beneath the emblem, I could see that they were Tier 1 ― Star Chasers, bordering Tier 2. 

Considering that the highest tier one could get was five, Tier 1 wasn't too bad. In fact, it was damn impressive. Becoming a Star Chaser was hard enough, and advancing high enough to Tier 1 was even harder. There weren't many that could be in this position, and the fact that a newbie like me was assigned to Tier 1 group like them was enough of a miracle itself.

To Tok―

"I'm coming in."

Micheal didn't even bother waiting. As soon as he knocked on the door, he pushed the door open and entered. I followed him from behind.

The makeup artists and hairstylists momentarily paused their work the moment we arrived, and a small hush fell over the spacious room that was filled with all sorts of posters. All eyes drew our way, and my focus shifted to the five individuals who sat before the stylists.

They're quite good-looking.

That was my immediate thought when I looked at them. It wasn't that surprising of a development though. Unless one was skilled enough, to be a Star Chaser, one had to have the looks. If not, how could they be marketed to the world?

This was a business, a very cruel one at that. If one couldn't stand out with their skills, they had to stand out with their looks.

Only that way could they aspire to garner the attention of sponsors and fan bases.

Now I wonder. Did they get to Tier 1 because of their skills, or because they're all handsome? Or maybe both?

"Hey, guys. I need your attention."

Micheal clapped his hands and attracted everyone's attention. That was when he stepped to the side and presented me. I smiled at the same time. It was good to set a good impression.

"I'll make it quick. Here's Liam, and from today onwards, he's going to be our new tra―"

"Ah, perfect."

A voice suddenly cut Micheal in the middle. With short black hair cascading softly above his brown eyes, he possessed an air of effortless charm. His skin appeared remarkably smooth, adding to his overall appeal. Leaning casually against the chair, he cast a fleeting glance in my direction before ordering.

"I'm thirsty. Go fetch me some water. Make sure it's cold. If it's not to my liking, I'll have you redo it."

As soon as his voice spread, like a chain reaction, the other four started to bark similar orders.

"I'll have some coffee. I want mine from the shop next to the headquarters. Tell them it's from Scott, they'll know how to make it."

"Green Juice for me."

"I want the same."

"I need you to go grab my sunglasses. I left them in my room. We don't have much time before we have to go, so make it quick."

My smile froze.