Operations Control Room
I had a dream.
From the monster's back sprouted tentacles that tapped at the empty air. It was just like human fingers touching a smartphone screen.
Dong! Circular waves radiated out from the tapped spot in all directions, stretching far and wide. It looked just like ripples spreading across a lake after tossing in a stone.
“Pfft! Cough, cough!”
“Gaaahhh!”
That incomprehensible wave engulfed the employees before they even realized it.
Again. Dong!
“S-stop ittt!”
“P-ple… please spare me. Please. Please. Ngh…”
“O, Lord… your humble servant is about to return to your holy em… bra…”
I watched as employees vomited blood and collapsed around me through the seven orifices, but I couldn't do a thing. No one was even holding me—I just couldn't twitch a single finger.
Was this the stage we, who had overcome all sorts of trials so far, had to face? I couldn't accept it.
Dong!Pssshhh!
“Gweeeek!”
“Urk! Pfft… grrrgh…”
With a single meaningless motion, hundreds, thousands of employees were swept away. The thing was on another level entirely. A colossal evil we couldn't even stand against properly. An indescribable terror washed over me.
The creature opened its maw.
—Is this all that's left?
It slowly turned its head.
—You had your chance.
The moment I met those eyes, holding depths of an abyss beyond human imagination—
Snap! Both eyes flew wide open.
“…Hah!”
A pair of reptilian eyes with vertically slit black pupils stared right at me. From point-blank range, close enough to feel each other's breath.
“Ugh!”
I flinched for real in that instant. Dreaming of Behemoth out of nowhere like this. I'd thought I wouldn't have to see the bastard again for a long time after dying to it.
“…Why, what troubles thee?”
Madric Blood, looking just as flustered as me for some reason, was straightening her clothes.
I checked if the badge pinned to my collar was still there, then casually buttoned my shirt. Even though I didn't remember unbuttoning it.
“Sorry.”
“Pardon? What is this su—”
“Ah, 'tis nothing, nira.”
She turned her head away, as if to hide her flushed cheeks, and said, “Didst thou startle so?”
“Yeah… had a bad dream.”
“I see.”
I looked around where I was and asked, “Ministry of Health and Welfare?”
“Aye. I brought thee hither, nira.”
“Thanks.”
The medical facilities here at the Ministry of Health and Welfare were state-of-the-art to the extreme. Healing waves emanated from the walls—if you were barely clinging to life, they'd pull you back from the brink good as new. Sure, there were side effects, but compared to your life, it was a bargain.
Like having a nightmare or a bit of dizziness, right?
Waking from the dream, I'd half-thought I'd died and regressed again. I'd frequented the Ministry's medical room like a hotel in my previous life, but this felt different from back then. No nausea from the healing waves, and the bed was comfy as hell.
Glancing over, I saw someone lying in the bed opposite.
“Seon Ga-hee? So this must be the room for director-level brass.”
No wonder it felt familiar yet off.
“Precisely, 'tis for department head-level, nira.”
“Hm.”
Come to think of it, at this point in time, the Ministry had no director, so no director-level facilities. Same for all departments except Safety Planning and HR Innovation.
In that sense, Safety Planning producing a director-level so quickly was a huge stroke of luck for everyone in the 17th Branch.
Otherwise, could we have cleared the Volcano Zone stage today? I was skeptical. Especially considering my first life.
“Is it okay bringing me to a place like this?”
“Of course. A mere department head is no match for me, nira.”
“…”
True, but there were still company regs.
“Yet dost thou call thine superior by name so freely?”
“Huh? Oh, that…”
I fumbled for an excuse and blurted, “Seon Ga-hee isn't my superior, is she?”
“…!”
Madric Blood's eyes widened. She seemed subtly pleased. The corner of her mouth twitched up faintly.
“Indeed. Thou shalt heed only me henceforth, nira. Understood?”
“Ah, yes. Naturally, Director.”
Not like I wanted to transfer out anyway.
I glanced at Seon Ga-hee. She was out cold. Last I'd seen her after sealing Zhuque, she'd passed out. Using an incomplete divine beast technique must've cost her big.
“More importantly, what about the military factory?”
“'Tis transferring to the lobby, they say. Someone accessed the main system, it seems.”
Madric Blood stared right through me as she spoke. Meaning the 24 hours hadn't passed yet.
“Then Technical Information probably doesn't know who the manager is yet.”
“Likely. Imagining that department head fretting is amusing.”
Her finger tilted my chin to meet her gaze.
“Well done. Come to my room tonight. I wish to reward thee.”
“Yes, Director.”
I hoped night would hurry up. One of my 20-year hunter life's dreams was about to come true.
Clack.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare's front doors opened.
Stepping into the lobby, a familiar voice hit my ears.
“Oh, Jeongha hyung. You're up?”
“Huh? Oh, it's you.”
“Huh? What's with the disappointed tone?”
No such intent, but whatever. I looked beside Kim Hansu.
“Heejeong's here too. Were you waiting here the whole time?”
Choi Heejeong shook her head.
“No, we just got out too.”
“Come to think of it, you were in medical too. Good work.”
“Nah, you did all the heavy lifting, Jeongha-ssi. Here, have this.”
A cold metal touch pressed to my cheek. Apple juice.
“Didn't know your taste, so I got something safe.”
“It's my favorite. Thanks, Heejeong.”
Hiss. The cool drink refreshed me, venting the built-up stress with its sweet-tart apple zing sliding down my throat.
I saw Choi Heejeong's beaming face.
“Something good happen? You look happy, Heejeong.”
“I was waiting for you to ask. Ta-da!”
She flashed her ID badge from around her neck.
“Officially promoted to regular employee. What do you think?”
Ah, that explained the juice. Interns couldn't even grab a drink in peace.
“Congrats! So you too, Hansu?”
“Kukuku.”
Affirmative. Such fast promotions. I didn't show it, but from my perspective—recalling my past life—it felt unfair.
Still, stronger allies meant higher survival odds, so I congratulated them sincerely.
“Your stats went up in the meantime?”
Choi Heejeong nodded.
“Yeah. In manhwa, protagonists always level up big after life-or-death fights, right? Probably feels like that.”
“Hm…”
Really? Employees dispatched to stages always risked their lives. If so, survivors should get massive promotions per floor cleared.
Not that it never happened. Rare dramatic growth cases did exist.
But not just anyone could be the protagonist in a comic or drama. Not even me.
Hard to respond to that.
Kim Hansu and Choi Heejeong must've gained superpower stats for sure.
Then Choi Heejeong clapped and went, “Ah!”
“Manager Cherubim was looking for you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Said to bring you.”
They'd just gotten out but were waiting after all.
Should I head to Cherubim first? Kim Hansu pointed at me, eyes gleaming.
“Hyung, what's that badge?”
“Artifact. Got it on Floor 14.”
“Oho. You're a congressman now.”
Since it came up, I gripped the badge.
Checking artifact info was simple.
“Info check.”
◈ Proves status as military factory manager.
◈ Barrier: 3/3 — Protects the badge's owner.
How strong was that barrier? I wanted to test it. No one in my previous life got to enjoy it after blowing up the factory.
Today's Zhuque showdown had shown just how reassuring a defense could be.
Kim Hansu jerked his chin at me.
“So, hyung? Good stuff?”
“Gotta try it to know. Let's go see Manager Cherubim first.”
Someone was waiting, after all—polite to meet them first.
“Mm.”
“Sure.”
Curious what Cherubim wanted too.
And so I headed to Safety Planning with Kim Hansu and Choi Heejeong.
“You're up, Section Chief Kim?”
“Glad you're recovered.”
“Thanks.”
Walking the building, I was busy exchanging greetings with folks approaching me. From Floor 10, people started remembering me one by one; Floor 14 must've sealed the deal.
Kim Hansu snickered beside me.
“Heh. Mr. Popular. Though my face is handsomer.”
I didn't deny it.
“Yeah? Jealous? Get strong quick and shine.”
“Tell me how to power-level, hyung?”
“Not great with superpowers.”
I brushed him off. Truth was, among physical power, magic power, and superpowers, I had the least talent in the latter. Proof: mine stayed F(0/0) without budging.
Then an unexpected line from him.
“Guess I'll learn that martial arts stuff too.”
“What?”
“No rule against it, right?”
True enough. Getting stronger was company-encouraged. Martial arts, magic, superpowers—none of my business which they picked.
Choi Heejeong asked me then.
“Mm… Should I try magic? What do you think, Jeongha-ssi?”
“Someone to teach you?”
“That's the issue. Hehe.”
Yeah, rare to share your power freely. Unless you'd saved their life like with Gwak Do-cheol.
Chatting like that, we soon reached the operations control room.
Cherubim, seated at the command monitors, turned.
“You're here!! How's your body!!”
“All good.”
We exchanged brief pleasantries and sat somewhere comfy.
Cherubim Manager fetched coffee and cookies from the attached kitchen. The babyish form fluttering wings to fly around was pretty cute.
I asked, “You stay here mostly?”
“Since the new features unlocked, yeah!! Used to roam outside more!!”
“You like the job here.”
“Right!! Similar to what I did in heaven, so it's familiar too!!”
Choi Heejeong, sipping coffee, went wide-eyed.
“W-wait, Manager, you're a real angel?”
“Why!! Don't believe it!!”
“Well… that is…”
About time to get used to it.
Kim Hansu, munching cookies, mumbled through a full mouth.
“Can't we skip to the point?”
Cherubim nodded.
“Got it!! Then as of now, Kim Jeongha-ssi is directly under operations control!!”
“…”
Straight to the point, but skipped the process entirely?
Choi Heejeong stepped in.
“Shouldn't Jeongha-ssi's opinion matter?”
“He's quiet, so probably not against it!! Right!! Section Chief Kim Jeongha!!”
“Just me and you working together, Manager?”
“If you want, both employees can join!! Actually, I'd love to request it!!”
“Does the director know?”
“Nope!!”
Choi Heejeong again.
“Wait, is that really okay?”
“No issue!! Not transferring departments!! Bringing in unassigned staff is my call, and it's your freedom!! Leaving's another story though!!”
In short, free movement between sub-departments within Safety Planning.
I turned to Choi Heejeong.
“That's the deal. What do you say, Heejeong?”
“Mm… If you join, I'll join too. Feels like I'd learn a lot by your side.”
I shifted gaze.
“You, Hansu?”
“Whatever.”
I nodded to Cherubim Manager.
“Looks decided.”
“Great!!”
Normal for staff to shift as departments grow and sub-units form. Getting headhunted first meant recognition of skill.
I'd been interested in operations control anyway, so I accepted gladly.
Cherubim Manager continued smiling.
“Now that you're assigned to operations control, time for the perks!!”
“Oh.”
Even Kim Hansu, who'd looked bored, perked up.