Secretary Gwanggong's Survival Diary-Chapter 5

“Let’s go inside.”

“...But would he really come here?”

“Even if he didn’t, there might be a clue.”

Honestly, I don’t remember a single thing about Kim Daehyun. He was one of those forgettable background characters — barely made a dent in the episode he appeared in. I couldn’t tell you where he ran off to or how he ended up. If I’d known I’d end up here, I would've taken notes while watching that damn drama.

“Wasn’t he a Beta college student, Team Leader?”

“Yeah. Supposedly worked at a café to cover tuition. But seriously, what the hell is up with this mess?”

Hmm... something’s off. The filth alone was one thing, but the mountain of credit card statements stacked on ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) top of the shoe cabinet really stole the show.

“College students these days sure don’t hold back...” freewebnσvel.cøm

Five hundred. Eight hundred. And that’s just on two cards. Most of it was spent at bars — the names alone told the whole story. My already bad mood took a nosedive. No, more like... a sense of dread started creeping in.

Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind. I scrambled to pull out my phone.

“Hello? I need to report a lost card.”

“Secretary Baek, what are you doing all of a sudden?”

Kang Seokho, who’d been surveying the apartment, walked over as I spoke into the phone. I gestured at him to wait, then quickly entered Yoon Taeo’s card PIN and personal info to report it stolen. It wasn’t just one card either — I had to repeat the process multiple times.

“What the hell? What’s going on?”

“Is there... anyone with the CEO right now?”

“...Not sure. But even if there is, no way he’s answering his phone.”

Agreed. If there are any survivors left, they’re probably out hunting down the runaway Beta.

“Fuck... I’m losing it...”

“Why the hell are you freezing all of his cards?”

“This isn’t just a regular escape.”

As much as I didn’t want to, I called Yoon Taeo.

Praying — desperately — that my gut was wrong.

The dial tone dragged on endlessly, making my heart pound faster with every ring. I was about to ask Taeo, who was no doubt in the worst possible mood right now, about something he would consider trivial. I had a vague recollection of the Beta after seeing those statements, but I couldn’t be sure.

“Sir, it’s Secretary Baek. I hope you’re— I mean, I hope you had a good— I mean—”

– What.

Every word out of my mouth sounded like complete bullshit. I should’ve used the dial tone to plan what to say. Too late now. His voice oozed irritation, so I rushed to the point.

“Sir, I’m so sorry, but could you check your wallet for me?”

I braced myself for him to lose it and start screaming for me to get over there immediately — but the other end of the call went silent.

So silent, in fact, I thought he might have hung up.

“...Sir?”

Then came laughter.

A loud, deranged laugh that sounded half-mad. My skin crawled as the chill shot straight down my spine.

– Ha. Fuck. Bring me Kim Daehyun. Now.

And just like that, he hung up — after saying what he wanted, as usual.

No doubt about it. His wallet was gone. Let’s not even bother pointing out that he still can’t remember the Beta’s name correctly.

“Team Leader Kang, the Beta swiped a VIP wallet.”

“...He’s insane. Absolutely insane...”

No argument there. Taeo had money — like a true main character should — and he knew how to spend it, too. He had a talent for being absurdly generous to people he didn’t even like. But when someone stabbed him in the back?

There was zero mercy. Especially when he realized they’d used his emotions to do it. That was game over.

“He probably wasn’t even a student. That part-time café story’s sounding fake too.”

Now it’s coming back to me — just a little. There was some idiot who tried to scam the love-struck Taeo out of cash. Guy made it pretty far too. Used the card for thousands and didn’t get caught. In a way, it was a successful escape.

But once he got found out? One word: “Handled.” That was the end of his story. Since the drama centered around Yoon Taeo, everything after that happened off-screen.

“Unbelievable. Where the hell are we supposed to start looking?”

The memory was fuzzy. I don’t think the show ever actually showed how Kim Daehyun got caught, so I couldn’t remember the details.

“Let’s split up. He’s gotta be around here somewhere.”

I handed Kang Seokho two of the card statements and kept the other two for myself. We had to move fast — before Taeo’s mood hit irreversible.

❖ ❖ ❖

There was a time once... I had my fortune told.

Not really my thing — I don’t believe in that kind of pseudoscience. But you know how it is. Every now and then, you meet one of those people. The kind that gives you a reading so dead-on it’s like they’ve got a direct line to the afterlife.

I didn’t believe a word of it at first. I mean, most of those charlatans talk in vague riddles, right? Stuff like “You grew up without much support from your parents,” or “You had a rough time in school,” or “You suffered a lot in your youth.” The kind of stuff that could apply to anyone.

But this guy was different.

He nailed my past, point by point. Even gave me a pretty detailed look into my future. But one line stuck with me the most.

“Don’t bother with lottery tickets. You’re never gonna win. Not once in your life.”

He said luck would never come to me. And honestly? Maybe he was right. I’ve never even won fifth place on a lottery scratcher. Not once.

So why do I suddenly remember all of that now?

Because I feel like I just won the lottery.

“He’s here, you’re sure?”

I showed the karaoke employee the picture of Kim Daehyun, and she gave me a small nod.

Out of all the stores... out of all the places he used that card... why did it have to be this one — the one I came to?

Is this good luck?

Or bad?

“...Thanks.”

I pushed the thoughts aside and handed the employee a 50,000 won bill. It’s only fair to compensate someone who provides you with information — that way, if anything happens later, they’ll remember the money and stay on your side.

“This way, please. This room.”

Whether it was the cash or just good customer service, the staff led me straight to the room where Kim Daehyun was. The place was... surprisingly upscale. From the way young Beta women in revealing outfits flitted in and out, it wasn’t hard to guess what kind of clientele this place catered to.

“If you hear anything... loud, please pretend you didn’t.”

I handed her another 50,000 won bill and caught the sparkle in her eyes.

“Oh, of course~”

I shared Kim Daehyun’s location over messenger and took a deep breath. I’d never seen the guy in person before. He looked delicate in his photos, like someone who wouldn’t last a second in a fight. But I couldn’t afford to underestimate him — not with the weakness I carried. Even a skinny Beta could be dangerous to someone like me. An Omega with worse physical stats than the average Beta. Fighting? Not my specialty.

“Hoo...”

But what choice did I have? If I wanted to stop Taeo from stacking up another corpse, I had to find Kim Daehyun and bring him back — fast.

I braced myself and opened the door.

“...Kim. Daehyun...?”

I had planned on figuring out how to dominate the room when I walked in, but the sight in front of me knocked every coherent thought out of my head. Under the low, dusky lighting was a mass of bare skin — tangled bodies sprawled across the wide table, liquor bottles and snacks scattered in a chaotic mess.

Two... no, three people, all naked. Twisted up together like some obscene modern art exhibit.

“What the fuck...”

Kim Daehyun, who had his face buried between a Beta woman’s bare breasts, turned his head when he heard my voice.

“...Looks like you walked into the wrong room...”

Their hips were still locked together. And the two Beta women didn’t even pause — they just kept grinding, not giving a damn that I was standing right there. I was the only one embarrassed. Great.

And Kim Daehyun... looked nothing like his photo. Same facial features, sure — but the whole vibe was off. Sharper, more vicious. His eyes were glassy and wild, like he was high on something — alcohol or worse.

“Agh...!”

One of the women groaned beneath him, only for Daehyun to shove her head aside irritably and hop off the table. Still completely naked. He lit a cigarette without even trying to cover himself, and I had to force my brain back into focus.

I couldn’t afford to lose it now. What was I gonna do, run away?

“Both of you — get out.”

They just laughed. Like it was a punchline. Kim Daehyun and the two women chuckled in sync, as if I’d told a joke they’d already heard.

Figures. People never listen when you ask nicely.

I bent down, picked up an empty champagne bottle from under the table.

“I said get the fuck out.”

Gripping the slender neck of the bottle, I slammed it against the edge of the table — CRACK! The glass exploded, sending shards in every direction. One of them slashed across the back of my hand, but I acted like I didn’t feel it.

...It hurt like hell. Fuck.