I (30), Who Works for a Black Company and Died While Regretting My Gloomy Life, Started Over From High School!
Chapter 142: I Quit My Job

Around noon in the office district.

In a calm atmosphere coffee chain, I was sipping a cafe latte.

(I’ve quit… surprisingly easily…)

The process isn’t entirely finished, but legally speaking, once I’ve communicated my intention to resign, the company can’t refuse.

In other words… at this point, my resignation is nearly finalized. If the company insists otherwise, I can always resort to the appropriate measures.

In my past life… why couldn’t I do something as simple as this?

After becoming a working adult, it didn’t take me long to realize how abnormal my company was. However, because changing the current situation required effort and was frightening, I couldn’t bring myself to implement the simplest and most effective solution: resigning.

If it was too difficult for me to act on my own, there were plenty of options, like using a resignation service…

“Now…”

Putting an end to my self-disgust, I took out my smartphone with a stern expression.

“There’s a good chance they’re mainly working from home around this time…”

The registered name in my contacts read: ‘Home’.

Just looking at those two characters made my stomach feel as heavy as lead. Cold sweat ran down my entire body, and I was overcome with a guilt that felt like my chest was being torn apart.

But even so, upon returning to this world, I had to stop my wrongdoing. With that resolution, I dialed the number — and the call connected immediately.

“… What is it?”

“…Kanako…”

My older sister’s voice came from the other side of the smartphone, filled with contempt.

But that was only natural.

Since I graduated high school and started working, Mom had been worrying excessively about me and her health started deteriorating. Unable to leave Mom alone, Kanako continued living at home… She had witnessed my deteriorating state for a long time.

“… Kanako has repeatedly tried to convince me to quit this black company. If I did, not only would my life be spared from ruin, but Mom wouldn’t have to worry anymore… That’s really true.”

However, lacking the courage to quit, I kept evading the subject. From Kanako’s perspective, I was nothing but the worst older brother, neglecting to address my deteriorating life and our mother’s declining health.

“Why on a weekday? Mom will be out, so I’m hanging up. Honestly, just hearing your voice—”

“I quit my job.”

“Huh…”

When I announced this, I could hear Kanako gasp on the other side.

“I’ve finally realized, even though it’s too late. I was an idiot to throw away my life in that hellish workplace, causing Mom nothing but worry… I can’t believe how unbelievably stupid I was.”

“…Uh…”

How difficult it was to escape the darkness, no matter how much Kanako persuaded me. Her voice was filled with surprise, not entirely able to grasp this sudden change in her older brother.

“The next time I come home, I’ll tell everyone properly. But I had to call you both immediately to let you know. I’m really sorry, Kanako.”

“… What is…?”

After finishing my report and apology, Kanako’s voice trembled with a mixture of emotions.

“Why didn’t you do this sooner!? Even though everyone tried to persuade you, you never budged. And now, suddenly, like it’s some whim…!”

Her anger, ignited by a long-standing frustration, was justified.

“Do you have any idea how much Mom worried about you during the seven years since you started working!? What’s the meaning of doing this now…!”

Sobbing and teary, Kanako’s words were a blend of anger.

“…Did you really… quit?”

“Yeah, I’ve already submitted my resignation letter, and I turned down the company’s attempts to keep me.”

“I see…”

Just moments ago, Kanako’s voice, which had been filled with anger, now carried a deep weariness.

“I see… Well, at least now… it won’t be the worst.”

“…gh…”

That sigh of relief was, in fact, my ultimate punishment.

In the first loop of my life, I led the Niihama family to the ‘worst’ fate. Adult Kanako had been praying to avoid that conclusion – knowing this only made my guilt dig deeper into my chest.

“I haven’t forgiven you. But… I’ll choose to see this one action as a step in the right direction. Please, from now on, don’t make Mom worry…”

“Yeah, I’ll never do anything to make the family sad again. …Apologizing to you and Mom will never be enough, but please, let us have a proper conversation next time. The three of us as a family.”

“…Yeah, let’s do that. If we do, I’m sure Mom will be happy.”

“Alright. I’ll get in touch again. I’m really… sorry.”

Listening to Kanako’s voice, now freed of its burdens, I ended the call.

(…This is just the consequence of my own actions… bear it.)

In the coffee-scented air of the shop, I muttered to myself as I pocketed my smartphone.

The future I was originally heading towards: death by overwork in a black company, and the subsequent collapse of the Niihama family.

It wasn’t inevitable or unavoidable. With a little courage, it could have been easily resolved – and today, I had proven just that.

Realizing how foolish my first-loop self had been, knives seemed to pierce my heart one after another.

“…But for now, it’s over. Before I deal with the main issue, there are some minimum things I need to take care of.”

Despite being tormented by the weight of my conscious sins, I murmured in a low voice.

Returning to this first-loop world, the first thing I needed to take care of was escaping that godforsaken black company and putting an end to Kanako and Mom’s sorrow.

With this settled, I could now approach the original goal I had in this first-loop world without any reservations.

“Now, let’s get to it, shall we?”

Operating my smartphone, I called up the map app, savoring the convenience leagues beyond a regular flip phone.

The search term I entered was… the name of the company I had seen plastered across magazines and online news countless times.

TLN: Tried to give the author time to get ahead of us but with this we’re caught up again. Feel free to read my other stuff. You should also check out my friend Bibell and their work on Relife Player. Nowhere near as cozy as this but its very fun and I’m excitedly waiting for each chapter. Or at least, was caught up when I translated this. I will check the author’s site later.