Creature Cards
Cherubim Manager's eyes sparkled brightly as he awaited my answer. I pretended to mull it over before speaking.
"Before that, I have one question."
"What is it?"
"This seems to be a cultivation chamber, right?"
"Hm... probably."
"Then, if we use it for its intended purpose, maybe we can fill those blank cards with something."
"Use it for the cultivation chamber's purpose?"
I nodded lightly, pointing to the large cylinder nearby.
"For example, put something in there... you know, something like that. Just a hunch."
"Aha!"
I'd phrased it uncertainly to hedge my bets, but Cherubim seemed to grasp it instantly. Flapping his dainty wings excitedly, he said,
"Put something in that cylinder... and turn it into a card! Is that what you mean, Section Chief Kim?!"
Cherubim's insight was sharp.
"Yes. More precisely, I was thinking we could stuff a monster in there. Put a captured monster from the cultivation chamber into it, and a new card of that monster gets drawn onto the blank. Then, when you draw that card, it summons the monster to the field. But not just any monster works—there are conditions. Stronger ones require more resources, obviously."
"So if we put Director Madric Blood in there, we could use her as a card in our deck...?"
I shook my head.
"Nah, it wouldn't be that simple."
"Aww."
Even if it were possible, Cherubim's idea was both brilliant and twisted. Turning employees into cards? I couldn't quite picture it. Nothing like that had ever happened in my past life either.
Cherubim, looking dejected, soon perked up and spoke.
"Alright! Let's capture a suitable monster and test it!! I'll entrust that crucial mission to you, Section Chief Kim!!"
"What about you, Manager?"
At my question, Cherubim glanced at the command center monitors.
"Resources are full!! I need to install turrets, so I'll head out!!"
With that, he flapped his wings and darted out of the cultivation chamber. It was blatantly "you handle the annoying and dangerous stuff," but Cherubim's job wasn't just some card game. It was closer to a headache-inducing, complex strategy simulation. The only difference was that this was real life.
Still, with the command center unmanned in this crisis, I let him go. It was what I planned to do anyway.
Who knew better than me which monster to pick for this?
I left the command center, steadying my nerves. Even if we had a way to overcome this, it wouldn't be easy.
Rushing back to the battlefield, I spotted my nosebleeding fellow hunters.
"Jeongha-ssi!"
"Heejeong-ssi."
"Where'd you go?"
"I was discussing strategy with Cherubim Manager."
"Did you come up with some brilliant idea?"
Choi Heejeong's eyes brimmed with hopeful expectation. I scanned the field and pointed to one corner.
"Heejeong-ssi, can you bring that corpse over here?"
"Huh? That one... why?"
She looked utterly puzzled—and understandably so. I'd pointed to the body of a goblin that had been hauling jewels. It was relatively intact, clutching a gem tightly in its death grip. But it lay smack in the middle of enemy territory, making a reckless grab risky.
"I'll explain later. Can you use your Gift?"
"One or two more times, maybe. But I'll need Hansu-ssi’s help."
I turned to Kim Hansu. He grumbled curtly,
"This is my last one too, bro."
Hunters usually had an instinct for how many uses they had left in their Gifts, so it was a fair answer.
"Just once."
Both had pushed themselves hard defending this place. I wouldn't ask for more. Soon, we'd need employees for direct combat in the enemy heart.
Snap!
Kim Hansu snapped his fingers, and Choi Heejeong activated her Transfer Gift right away. The targets: scattered weapons around her and the goblin corpse I'd indicated.
Choi Heejeong wiped her streaming nosebleed with her sleeve and sighed.
"Phew... the rest is up to you, Jeongha-ssi."
"Got it."
The moment their positions stabilized, I grabbed the goblin corpse and bolted for the command center.
Bang!
The door flew open, and Cherubim Manager whipped his head toward me.
"Ooh! You're here!"
His eyes gleamed. Mixed in with hope for turning the tide was even greater excitement at discovering a new departmental function.
"This way!"
Cherubim Manager promptly opened the cultivation chamber door. As I entered, I asked,
"Do you know how to operate this?"
"No!!"
Of course not—no one had needed to before.
"Maybe press this."
I feigned deliberation, then moved my finger to a nearby keypad.
"Whoa!! Don't just mash random buttons!!"
Beep.
Sure enough, one of the glass tubes hummed mechanically and began to open slowly.
Whirr.
"Now, let's put it in there."
"Eee!!"
Cherubim fidgeted like a kid in anticipation. Then, a sudden doubt crossed his face.
"But Section Chief Kim Jeongha."
"Yes."
"Why that goblin? Not an armed Flame Lizardman or those pesky lizards—why pick such a weak one?! It's mentally and physically feeble, barely F-rank employee level in combat!!"
Good point.
"We'll use this one for a counterattack."
"Counterattack?"
"If it works as planned."
No matter my past-life knowledge, I couldn't be 100% sure about everything. This company held secrets even I didn't know—or knew of but hadn't experienced.
Whirr.
The glass tube containing the goblin corpse sealed shut.
"Whoa!! Something's filling up!!"
Soon, the tube brimmed with a mysterious transparent liquid.
"......"
"......"
We waited silently, but nothing happened. I turned to Cherubim.
"Maybe check the cards?"
"Good idea!!"
He scurried to the command center monitor. His voice rang out soon after.
"Ooh!! The blank card's been painted as a 'Flame Goblin' card!!"
"Let me see."
"Sure!!"
◈ Installs a single-shot rifle on CCTV or a designated turret that auto-detects and fires at enemies.
◈ 10 rounds loaded.
◈ Summons a goblin that generates a portal connecting the Volcano Zone and Hunter Stock Company headquarters.
"Hmm!!"
I addressed Cherubim, who wore an impressed expression.
"Now we have a way. A method for the counterattack."
Their portals were one-way.
"But will the goblin summoned from this card really be on our side?!"
"We'll find out soon enough."
"Then, just to be safe, shall we test-summon one?!!"
I nodded, and Cherubim unhesitatingly consumed a [Flame Goblin - Summon Stone] card.
"Somewhere far from the employees for now."
A sudden goblin appearance would startle anyone—especially in combat. Panic would ensue.
Cherubim designated the spot, and sure enough, a Flame Goblin materialized there.
"Ooh, success!!"
Observing briefly, our created goblin soon fell to the enemies. I shrugged.
"Wasn't expecting much combat power anyway."
"True."
"At least the enemies can identify friend from foe."
"The key is whether our employees can!!"
Employees did have a way to distinguish monsters summoned by the Safety Planning Department. Otherwise, the battlefield would be total chaos. I'd need to check in person.
"As long as it opens the portal."
"It doesn't just need one jewel—we'll have to summon multiples!!"
"Keep shuffling the deck hard, Cherubim Manager."
I radioed the Safety Planning Department employees: instructions to stay calm and not attack any suddenly summoned goblins.
Confused responses flooded back immediately.
"What? What the hell is that supposed to mean, Section Chief Kim Jeongha?"
"Huh? Did I hear wrong, Section Chief Kim?"
"What kinda bullshit is that?"
"I'll join the fight first. I'll explain the details to Director there."
"Trust Section Chief Kim Jeongha for now!!"
More questions came, but Cherubim's endorsement bought us time to table the doubts.
"We'll be waiting, Section Chief Kim Jeongha."
"Yes."
"Good luck!!"
Leaving the command center again, I spotted Cherubim's summoned goblins with my own eyes.
"Good, they're not blindly killing them."
Our allied goblins, that is. Looking closer, each bore the Safety Planning Department emblem on a body part.
Employees could use that for identification.
"So, what's the plan now, Section Chief Kim Jeongha?"
It was Madric Blood's voice. Despite having plenty to ask, this was her chosen question.
"Those goblins will open portals, so we hit their rear. In pro terms, it's called raiding an empty house."
"Not a bad idea, but risky. Our forces thin out—who defends headquarters?"
The answer came from elsewhere.
"Leave it to me!!"
Madric Blood touched her ear.
"Cherubim? Sounds like he's got an idea."
"Ultimate's almost charged!! That should buy enough time for a raid!!"
That was it. The Safety Planning Department's new ultimate, unlocked via department promotion.
Madric Blood nodded without much deliberation.
"That'll work. Safety Planning employees, prepare. We're raiding the enemy base soon."