Restructuring

Gwak Do-cheol was right where I'd expected—in the training room.

"What brings you here, young hero?"

"This might come out of left field, but what do you think talent is, Do-cheol?"

"Hm? Talent?"

It was clearly an unexpected question. Gwak Do-cheol looked a bit lost for a moment before pondering it and replying.

"I suppose it's the overall efficiency in performing any task. Just my personal take, mind you."

"Overall efficiency?"

The answer was so out of nowhere that I couldn't help but repeat it.

Gwak Do-cheol crossed his arms and nodded.

"Innate constitution and personality, environment. Acquired knowledge, environment, experience, effort, luck, and so on. Talent is what emerges as the result of all that combined."

"Hmm..."

It wasn't the usual pat answer, leaving me at a loss for words.

"Then what do you think explains why people get different results even with the same effort?"

"That'd mostly fall under innate factors, wouldn't it?"

"And conversely, do you think talent in the acquired realm can be changed?"

"Even if it could, I'm not sure anyone would accept it."

I tilted my head.

"What do you mean?"

"As I said, acquired talent is the outward manifestation of a person's knowledge, values, ideology, constitution, and more, all mixed together."

"Right."

"Let's say we change young hero Jeongha's acquired talent. Would the Jeongha after the change still be the same person as before? That's the question."

"Sounds a bit philosophical and tricky."

In other words, if my talent changed, the new me wouldn't be the old me anymore. That seemed to be his point.

"No need to overthink it. Simply put, a sword genius thinks about swords all day, so their swordsmanship improves naturally. That's the idea."

I got it.

"But if that's possible, wouldn't a lot of people go for it?"

"Hm? Why's that?"

"Because plenty of people in the world want to change."

"Hm, fair point."

After twenty years as a lowly intern, who wouldn't want to change?

"That said, I'm curious why young hero Jeongha brought this up. From what I see, your talent is the envy of even the greatest late bloomers."

"Well..."

"Or is it about someone you know? No need to say if you don't want to."

A complicated feeling washed over me. It felt like I was deceiving those around me somehow.

I steeled myself and spoke up.

"Truth is, I'm no genius. I just lucked into a good spirit pill."

"Spirit pill?"

"Yeah. Back in my world, I happened to..."

I casually wove in some lies as I explained how I'd gained my current internal energy. Gwak Do-cheol listened quietly, his expression unchanging.

"Hm, I see."

"You don't seem surprised."

"Truth be told, I had a hunch."

"What?"

I had to ask. After all, he'd always called me a genius.

"I've said it before—luck is a talent too. Young hero Jeongha snagged a once-in-a-lifetime spirit pill and turned it into first-rate internal energy. How many people even glimpse first-rate in a lifetime?"

"Uh, well... less than 10 percent?"

Gwak Do-cheol shook his head.

"At most, around 1 percent."

One percent. Yeah, that tracked with why they called it first-rate. Come to think of it, I'd heard something similar in my first life—that section chief-level hunters were around 1 percent. Not sure if it was accurate, though.

"But I..."

I wanted to say I didn't want to rely on luck; I wanted to grow the proper way. But I held my tongue. If martial arts just didn't suit my constitution, I had information on my side. Plus, my EX Gift as a reincarnator.

As if reading my mind, Gwak Do-cheol said,

"The conclusion you've reached in your heart right now is the right one."

"Got it."

My mind felt much clearer.

"Since you're here, how about a spar?"

"Sure."

"Hold back on that sword's peculiar power this time."

Sharp as ever. I chuckled and drew the Sealed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sword.

* * *

Training with Gwak Do-cheol paid off nicely with the eighth form of the Black Moon Tyrant Sword.

"A few more days, and you'll be ready for the next form."

He'd said it was incredibly fast for a beginner. Technically, I was just overpowering it with raw internal energy, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but that kind of progress was impossible without insight. My internal energy was first-rate, but my insight was still stuck at third-rate.

Gwak Do-cheol called it inexplicable, but I knew why. Twenty years of brutal combat experience was filling in the gaps.

Anyway, a few days passed like that, just as I was mastering the eighth form.

Hunter Stock Company's employees had gathered in the lobby, eyes glued to the main monitor. News was playing.

The company intranet was buzzing nonstop with the topic.

I scrolled through roughly and pocketed my smartphone.

Choi Heejeong asked me,

"It won't really be a big deal, right, Jeongha?"

"Nothing to worry about."

It would be big, but I reassured her anyway. We'd prepared thoroughly. And I had my new ability too.

Kim Hansu snorted.

"Less than 24 hours till restructuring, and you say no big deal? Heh heh."

Yeah. Dungeon raids weren't like "test the waters, bail if it's bad, try again later." Once you entered the underground floors, a cooldown kicked in before re-entry.

The problem? Floor 12's cooldown overlapped perfectly with the restructuring deadline. If no one stepped up soon, we'd drag our feet right into layoffs.

And that's exactly how it went down in my first life. Our Safety Planning Agency had tacitly agreed to just wait it out.

Soon, Madric Blood would call her subordinates and relay the plan in secret. HR wouldn't budge either—they saw this as their chance.

A shot to check Safety Planning and solidify their spot as top department. That was the hidden truth buried in my first life.

Bzzz.

My smartphone vibrated. Kim Hansu and Choi Heejeong pulled theirs out too.

We exchanged glances, then headed out.

"Think the director has a plan?"

I shrugged.

"We'll see when we get there."

In the conference room, Safety Planning staff were gathered. I took a seat, and soon Madric Blood arrived.

She spoke.

"Our Safety Planning Agency waits for restructuring to hit."

The room went dead silent.

"......"

"......?"

"......Whoaaaa!!"

Cherubim the manager had the biggest reaction. Seemed like news to her too.

"B-but the damage...!!"

"My words aren't finished, Cherubim."

"Sorry!!"

"I have one thing to say."

Madric Blood's golden eyes gleamed.

"Let's show them why we're Safety Planning."

* * *

Less than ten minutes till restructuring. Everyone was on edge.

Department heads were expected to step up front and center, but they stayed holed up in their buildings—like it was coordinated.

The intranet was filling with doomsayers claiming the end of Hunter Stock Company.

Looked just like the outside world's panic.

Madric Blood pulled me aside.

"One last check. The monsters summon here for sure?"

"Certain."

"That's your Gift too?"

"Yes."

I hadn't told her everything—like how HR's special function set the summon spots. That intel was mine to exploit.

Besides, telling her would tank relations with HR overnight. With what's coming, we needed every department united, not infighting.

I didn't want her charging at Seon Ga-hee over this either. But we couldn't just play the fool.

Once things settled, I'd step in.

Madric Blood stood.

"Time to prepare."

"Yes."

One minute to go. Employees from every department poured out, lining up in front of their buildings.

Casualties would be heavy. But no other way.

Underground Floor 12: Volcano Zone. No easy clear method.

Better to fight in the lobby—hunters' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠home turf. Thin their numbers here, then we re-invade. That was the strategy.

Ten seconds left.

9, 8, 7, 6, 5.

It hit zero after five heartbeats.

The invasion began.

"Get ready!"

"Yes!"

Portals of every color ripped open around us. Just like we teleported into the dungeon, the monsters teleported into the lobby.

First out: lizards. Lizards wreathed in flames!

"Salamanders?"

An elf hunter muttered it.

"Why would spirit kin...?"

Spirit or not, they were enemies now. I drew the Sealed Sword and charged the oncoming salamander pack.

Monsters poured out endlessly. Lizardmen with weapons mixed in here and there—shinier scales, better gear.

"Looks like commanders. Watch out, Jeongha!"

"Shaaah!"

Perfect opponents to hone my Black Moon Tyrant Sword. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I slashed through them, glancing around.

Every step from salamanders and lizardmen ignited the floor. Some roamed without fighting, melting the ground.

Just like Underground Floor 12, Volcano Zone.

"Hm. Feels like the terrain's localizing."

Yeah. Fail to contain them in time, and it'd be irreversible.

Monitors around the lobby tallied invading monsters.

1,501 in under five minutes!

Then my earpiece Bluetooth crackled with Cherubim's voice.