Operations Control Room
Cherubim's benefits boiled down to these four key perks.
1. In combat, independent action guaranteed based on your own judgment.
2. Free rental of artifacts from the Safety Planning Department.
3. During lobby battles, support using Safety Planning Department resources.
4. In emergencies, permission to stay in the Operations Control Room.
Those were the biggest ones. And the one that appealed to me most was, without a doubt, number one.
Every time I'd moved freely in the underground stages so far, I'd felt eyes on me. Madric Blood had turned a blind eye because she thought well of me, but there was no guarantee that would continue.
Cherubim elaborated on that point.
"Technically, since you'd be under Operations Control Room jurisdiction, you'd have to follow orders from me, your direct superior. But I'll guarantee your autonomy on that front!!"
"Sounds good."
Next, Choi Heejeong voiced her curiosity.
"Does that mean we really get artifacts for free?"
"I never lie!!"
Honestly, I wasn't holding out much hope for the artifacts. The Safety Planning Department wasn't exactly rolling in wealth at this point. Though now that I'd become the munitions factory manager, that might change going forward.
Kim Hansu's turn came next.
"What kind of support exactly during combat?"
"You can use your abilities while drawing on Safety Planning Department resources instead!!"
Kim Hansu picked at his ear.
"No clue what that means. Hoo—"
That's when Choi Heejeong spoke up.
"Mind if we test it out?"
"Go ahead!!"
Cherubim zipped to the monitor and tapped at the computer. Moments later, a faint blue glow enveloped my body.
I tested it with a casual Blood Impact into the air. But the usual sensation of qi draining from my body? Nothing.
Think of it like pulling internal energy from an external source.
Blood Impact
Snap! Kim Hansu flicked his fingers and shared his impression.
"Feels like plugging into an auxiliary battery."
"Yeah, that nails it," I agreed.
Vmmm! Kim Hansu then kept expanding what I'd dubbed "Kim Hansu's Domain."
"Whoa whoa!!"
Cherubim flailed in panic.
"Stop!! Resources are draining at an insane rate!!"
"Tch. Felt pretty damn good while it lasted."
Watching that, a faint sense of unease crept over me. Even if you're pulling power from outside, wielding that much energy is a whole different beast. Was this the gap in talent?
"We're already short on resources after pushing through floor 14—I've got the Planning and Finance Department breathing down my neck!!"
"They know full well how much the Safety Planning Department contributes."
Cherubim planted hands on hips and puffed out her chest at my words.
"Of course!! But Section Chief Kim, you seem to know a lot about our company's departmental dynamics!!"
"Yeah, it was in the employee handbook."
"Someone actually read that thing!!"
Choi Heejeong chimed in.
"Oh, I read it too."
"Gasp!!"
Cherubim's reaction wasn't unwarranted. How many people, dragged into a place where they might die tomorrow, would leisurely crack open a training manual? Unless you're a bookworm or already overpowered enough to have mental slack, it's tough.
Anyway, in Hunter Stock Company, the Planning and Finance Department wielded serious power. They decided how to distribute the resources supplied periodically from "upstairs" across departments. In other words, they controlled the budget.
Their authority stemmed straight from that budget power. Madric Blood, as department head, couldn't bow to some mid-level manager, so Cherubim probably handled the grunt work.
For the record, our Safety Planning Department's power came from the surveillance cameras and turrets dotting the lobby. Basically the company's military and police rolled into one. That was a big reason I'd chosen to stick around.
Better to be the watcher than the watched.
Lost in those thoughts, I glanced at the time. Still a while before the munitions factory transfer.
I stood, looking for something to do.
"Nothing urgent, right, Director?"
"Leaving already!!"
"Yeah."
"Next stage clear, bring back any good monsters!!"
Storing monsters in the culture room lets you extract their energy as resources. Right now, it was just stuff like gem goblins and lizardmen—no real impact. But that room would become a major asset for Safety Planning someday. Monster recovery was thus a key duty for Operations Control Room staff.
"Will do."
Me and the other two had no complaints. You take, you give.
Leaving Operations Control, I parted from my comrades and headed to the dorms.
Madric Blood had mentioned leaving the Sealed Sword in my room when I left the infirmary.
In my previous life, Madric Blood had briefly wielded the Sealed Sword. Then it vanished, tucked away somewhere. Probably because of Lubrid and Angelica?
I was curious what Madric thought of those two. But asking outright? No way.
'Your family’s sealed in this sword, but I need its power, so mind if I borrow it? Cool?'
Of course, she'd greenlit Angelica's sealing herself, so no worries there. And she'd overlooked my actions in several spots. Nothing but gratitude from me.
Maybe ask Angelica?
—No clue. How should I know? That was Angelica's reply.
As I opened my mouth to respond, she jumped on me.
—By the way, that gift you mentioned? You didn't forget your promise to give me what I need, right?
"Well..."
—If you're thinking that crazy bird under me is the gift, forget it.
"..."
—You're not seriously gonna cringe out with 'What I need is a friend!' are you?
"...How'd you know?!"
—You were serious?! Aaaah!
I could practically see her clawing at her hair.
First, reassure Angelica.
"Don't worry. Promise to release the seal still stands. We'll call that your gift."
—Haa... Haaaa...
She let out a long sigh. Deeply disappointed.
—Why did I ever trust this guy...
That's when it hit.
—Chatter chatter, enough!!
This voice?
Angelica screamed again.
—Aaaah!!
—I said quiet!!
They escalated back and forth. My mediation did nothing.
Time for drastic measures.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
—Kyaak! Ugh! Gyaaak!
Angelica, tamed by me, shut up quick. But Zhuque? Who knows.
As I raised the Sealed Sword again, an unexpected plea came.
—W-wait! Hold! What do you want?
"Didn't expect you'd surrender so easily."
—Please, no more. I hate pain.
Surprisingly compliant? A far cry from that majestic, dignified figure earlier.
Things seemed to resolve smoothly. I nodded.
"Fine. Straight to the point. I want your power."
—Looks like I can lend you this bird's power through this mysterious sword.
"Oh? Figured that out already?"
—Heh. What do you take this one for? I bear the blood of Flame Emperor Shennong, born under the seven southern constellations...
No interest in his brag reel.
"Doesn't matter—you're just an avatar, right?"
—...H-how?!
"If you're as grand as you claim, you wouldn't pop out on floor 14."
—Hoh. Sharp kid. Heh heh.
He chuckled darkly and continued.
—Exactly. I'm merely an avatar. Meaning threats lurk below that even you lot can't imagine. What can puny humans do against what even the true bird struggles with?
Hit the nail on the head.
"That's why I need your power."
—Fine.
"Huh?"
Agreeing just like that? I'd hoped, but suspicious.
—Five thousand push-ups, five thousand sit-ups. A thousand-ri run in a day. Manage that, and the power's yours.
"...What? Impossible."
—Aiya. Your heart, technique, and body are all woefully inadequate for my power. I gave you the easiest—body—and you can't even?
"Just say no if you don't want to! That's not doable!"
—Truly impossible? That red-haired horned superior of yours could knock it out in half a day.
"..."
No retort there. But damn, harsh comparison.
That's when—
—Tsk tsk. Won't believe the truth, eh? Here.
Whoosh!
"...?!"
Suddenly, the Sealed Sword blazed crimson. Scorching energy surged into my hand, racing through veins to my heart. Far worse than the hallucination pain from floor 14—it squeezed my breath with searing agony.
"Guhk...!"
Hot. Steam rose from my exhaling mouth. My heart felt like it was melting!
"S-stop...!"
—Kuh huh huh.
"Hahk, hahk."
I collapsed, gasping. For a split second, I glimpsed my next life. Even fighting Zhuque hadn't been this bad. Like slamming into an immense wall. Power within reach, yet not. Infuriating.
But quitting? No. Grasping at straws, I asked,
"Fine, body's lacking—I admit. What about the heart?"
—A supreme, pure devotion solely to the power you seek!
"Got that already."
How hard had I strived to grow strong? Twenty years—no need to elaborate.
"And your power's for killing anyway. How's that pure?"
But Zhuque's response shattered my logic.
—Tsk tsk. That's why I hate explaining. 'Heart' means no greed for powers beyond what you truly desire.
"What?"
—Like why divine beings don't covet others' might. Greedily chasing this power, that power—you'll never touch true authority.
"..."
Thunderbolt from clear sky.
"You saying I ditch everything I've learned? Then how do I handle that power?"
—Heh. Exactly why humans can't borrow divine beast power. Wrong target from the start.
"Damn. Then teach me qi techniques!"
—If you can endure forcibly drawing the true bird's power, not impossible.
"Hm..."
I'd felt it clearly. Like cradling the sun in my body. Pain blocked everything, but...
A theory clicked. I headed straight to the training grounds. Fainting in the dorm meant no one to drag me to medical.
Gwak Do-cheol approached as I entered.
"Awake, young Kim."
"Don't disturb me for a bit."
"Mm. Understood."
He sensed my resolve and backed off.
"Hoo."
Deep breath. Then to the Sealed Sword,
"Zhuque. Again."
—Still clueless. Just die.
No quick death for me. Zhuque's energy flooded in again.
I immediately barked,
"Barrier Shield."
Generates a barrier that protects the user from all types of damage for a set duration. Damage reduces barrier value.
A crimson dome barrier bloomed around me.
—Heh. Think some petty trick like that barrier will...No?!
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.
The barrier flickered wildly, sparks flying. Meaning it was shielding its user—from internal damage, but my hunch was spot on.
I grinned.
"Knew it."
From the artifact description. Underground floor 14, Volcano Zone munitions factory. The manager badge was designed to harness Zhuque's power.