Creature Card Onslaught

Madric Blood shouted confidently. To be precise, it wasn't so much faith in her ultimate as trust in me and Manager Cherubim.

That made sense. Our department's promotion to the Safety Planning Agency was recent. None of the employees had actually witnessed the ultimate's power firsthand. Of course, the ultimate from my memories had truly lived up to its name, so I had no worries there.

I radioed Manager Cherubim. "Manager Cherubim. How much longer until the portal opens?"

Sounds of turret activations buzzed from all around. As Cherubim said, with the deck mostly filled with turrets, even spawning a single goblin wasn't easy.

"Argh! Fuck! What the hell is this goblin?"

"Uh……."

"D-Department Head! Goblins just popped up nearby!"

"Now they're teleporting too?"

Panicked voices from employees rang out. Naturally, these weren't from our Safety Planning Agency—they were from other departments. We didn't have time to brief every single department on our plan, so this mishap was inevitable.

I'd anticipated something like this, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it still gave me pause. Should I make contact with that person right now?

Slash!

"Grahhh!"

I spotted an employee from another department slicing through a goblin Cherubim had just spawned. Even with the Safety Planning Agency emblem, in this chaotic melee, no one would notice. It was only natural they couldn't fathom monsters as allies.

I brought the radio to my mouth again. "Manager Cherubim. Could you patch me through to the HR Department for a moment?"

"That's exactly why I'm asking. Hurry!"

"Cahoots or not, at this rate, every goblin we spawn gets killed on sight."

I was about to add something when I stopped. Cherubim grumbled but complied—a signal tone started beeping from the radio.

A response came soon after.

It was a sharp voice like a thunderbolt. I hadn't expected Cherubim to connect me straight to the HR Department Director. Say what you will about her, she gets the job done.

I spoke as politely as possible. "This is Section Chief Kim Jeongha of the Safety Planning Agency. The situation is urgent, so……."

As expected of a director-level figure—quick on the uptake.

Even the countdown was lightning-fast.

"Please activate your department's special function."

I shouted before she cut off. "Identification function!"

A reaction. "The identification function lets you distinguish friend from foe visually. That's what we need."

Graciously, she doubled the time this round.

"So……."

I explained the situation as concisely as possible within 10 seconds. My head throbbed from the effort.

The HR Director fell silent, pondering. Then her voice returned.

With that, the line cut. I hoped she'd activate ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it soon.

Right on cue—

Bzzz.

A faint sound effect played, and colors painted the surfaces of employees and enemies alike. Allies glowed green. Foes burned red. Even our Safety Planning Agency's(?) goblins turned green.

True to her second-by-second timing, she acted fast. The HR Department's identification function wasn't just visual distinction. It applied a debuff for extra damage to identified enemies and a buff reducing ally damage for our staff.

In other words, contrary to her words, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it was far from useless. What other function was better suited for this chaos? Of course, they hadn't ignored it entirely—they'd just limited it to HR staff before expanding it company-wide. Meaning HR was now burning massive resources in real-time.

No surprise—Cherubim sounded stunned.

"Nothing like that, so don't worry, Manager."

I'd had to share the bare minimum to convince her, but I quickly changed the subject. "More importantly, how's the ultimate?"

Five minutes would be plenty. Our gem goblins were piling up without losses, thanks to HR's help—and Director Madric Blood's orders to protect them as much as possible.

Just then, enough gem goblins had gathered.

Vrrr!

The ground stacked with gems vibrated violently, warping the space around it.

"The portal's opening!"

Someone shouted. Other employees had gotten the heads-up from Cherubim too. No one was in the dark.

Gwak Do-cheol, now beside me, asked, "We just go in there, right?"

"Yes. Time to storm their base and show off the true essence of the Black Moon Tyrant Sword."

"Hahaha! Music to my ears!"

Turning, I saw Kim Hansu and Choi Heejeong slumped on the floor.

"Come back alive, bro. Heh heh heh."

"Be safe out there, Jeongha."

"You two rest easy."

Anyone would think I was heading to my death. And yeah, it was that dangerous.

Vrrr, whoosh!

As the portal fully opened, Director Madric Blood stepped forward.

"The Safety Planning Agency will infiltrate the enemy base alongside the HR Department."

We needed minimal staff to defend the department, so not everyone could go. I'd figured we'd coordinate with another department, but HR? Of all places.

[Rival Powerhouses of the Company Unite!]

Tomorrow's headlines would scream something like that.

Gwak Do-cheol chimed in. "Good that it's a department with a director. Suited for raiding the enemy base."

"Yeah, true."

"Hm? Something wrong?"

I shook my head. "No."

He must've caught the unease in my tone. Fair enough—Gwak Do-cheol was right, but the HR Director being that person bothered me.

Soon, HR Director Seon Ga-hee, the Thunder Sword, appeared. Right beside Director Madric Blood.

"We sweep them away. That's our goal."

She declared to her staff, then whipped her head around. "Faster than these guys."

Her "these guys" meant our Safety Planning Agency, obviously.

"……."

"……."

Madric Blood and Seon Ga-hee locked eyes. Sparks and flames seemed ready to fly.

It was no wonder. The Safety Planning Agency and HR Department were fierce rivals. Everyone in the company knew of their power struggles.

HR—back when it was just the HR Department—had solidified its top spot with promotion. But our recent upgrade to Safety Planning Agency reignited the tension.

Maybe that's why Kim Hansu died at Madric Blood's hands early on—her mood soured by the rivalry. Just my theory.

Gwak Do-cheol tutted. "Hmm... they really don't get along. Bad omen."

"They'll separate work from personal, at least."

"One can hope."

I just nodded curtly. Once inside, they'd have no choice. Or rather, I'd be too busy wondering if I'd survive the next minute.

The two directors led the way into the portal. I scooped up gems dropped by slain goblins, pocketed them, and joined the group.

"Time to go."

Following with the staff alongside Gwak Do-cheol, I asked him, "Do you like saunas, by any chance?"

"Hm? The ones in the Health and Welfare Department? Why ask out of the blue?"

"You might hate them after this."

I dove into the portal first.

Vrrr!

My darkened vision gradually brightened with the message. I knew the entry succeeded before seeing anything—my skin felt like it was cooking from the heat.

"Gahhhh!"

"Hot, so hot!"

"Mage! Any cold spell, just cast it!"

"Already on it!"

Whoosh.

The entire area boiled with lava—the Volcanic Zone, stage for Underground Floor 14.

"Urgh... hngh!"

Gwak Do-cheol, following close, grimaced in pain. Allies scrambled with magic and barriers against the heat, but it was futile.

"Do-cheol. Calm down and listen. This heat's phantom pain."

"Phantom pain?"

"Yes. It hurts like burning, but no real burns—that's proof."

Gwak Do-cheol scanned around. "Indeed. Just endure it."

The problem? The pain felt real. Even for me—it was like I'd combust any second.

That's where Angelica came in.

"Hey, Angelica."

Of course she'd ignore me. Bait time.

"Help this time, and I'll give you something good."

"If I die here, you're stuck forever with nothing."

Jackpot. She hated being stuck here too.

"Reflect the master's sincere wish to befriend you."

"Gotta when I need to."

"You know. Fix this phantom pain."

Simple answer.

"You're not hurting anymore, despite feeling it before."

If she was, she'd be complaining nonstop. Besides, Angelica really had the skill. Phantom pain was illusion territory—and illusions were her domain.

She asked, curiosity tinged. "What'll you give me if I erase it?"

Hook, line, and sinker.

"What you need most."

"Yeah."

What did current Angelica crave most? Something she needed but didn't even realize.

I knew the answer.