Well Begun is Half Done
I spent the entire day until evening stimulating my lower dantian according to the incantations of the Thunder Cloud Heart Knot. Yet there was no sign of my magic power increasing.
Even when I checked my status, my magic power remained stubbornly fixed at E (1/32). It felt like I'd gone right back to square one. No, if I thought about it, there wasn't much difference between then and now. I'd just eaten some elixirs. Yeah. Zhuque was right. Fire Spirit Divine Purity was the answer. I wasn't sure if it would bring a real boost to my inner power, but it was definitely going to help.
I double-checked with Zhuque one last time.
"Zhuque. Just to be sure—you didn't make up some nonexistent Fire Spirit Divine Purity just to get out of a jam, did you?"
-Absolutely not! Master. Please believe me.
"Alright. I'll trust you."
-Hmph.
If it turned out Fire Spirit Divine Purity was a lie, I vowed to break that bird's bad habits no matter how long it took. Anyway, it was dinnertime now, so I left my quarters. Training had left me starving. Ever since experiencing bloodthirst, skipping meals felt off.
I grabbed my tray and found a seat, and Kim Hansu naturally plopped down across from me.
"Jeongha hyung. Where've you been wandering off to lately? Haven't seen you around."
"You're one to talk—you're always sleeping on the job."
"Hey now. I'm officially assisting Manager Kay in the Operations Control Room."
"Yeah? And what do you do there?"
"Make sure I don't bother Manager Kay."
"……."
"Kekeke."
The guy snickered and said, "So, what've you been up to, hyung?"
"Cultivating inner power."
"Hmm. Martial arts sound like a huge hassle. Definitely not for me."
"Your superpower's making good progress, I take it?"
"Yeah. Ranks up steadily every time I wake up from a solid nap."
His tone was dead serious, not a joke.
"Wish I could say the same."
"Keep at it. I might end up your boss someday. Kekeke."
I chuckled it off and said, "In that case, I'd love to see the future boss in action."
"Huh? You wanna spar or something?"
I shook my head. "Nah. I'm heading to Floor 15 tomorrow to scout it. Join if you're interested."
Kim Hansu furrowed his brow at my words.
"What're you talking about? Our department doesn't even have a raid plan yet. You have a dream or something?"
"No. I'm getting dispatched to another department's raid team."
"Huh?"
I nodded toward the cafeteria monitor. "It's coming up right now. There."
Soon, Kim Hansu and I listened to the news from the Media and Publishing Department playing on the screen.
Employees are curious about the identity of this Gift holder, but Health and Welfare says they won't disclose for the employee's safety. This has been Taki from Media and Publishing.
Kim Hansu looked unimpressed. "So what?"
"Health and Welfare's head isn't going, so they need more regular employees or higher. They don't have enough, so I'm filling in."
"Hmm? Dispatch?"
"Yeah."
"Hmph."
This dispatch was also the second condition Seon Ga-hee had offered in exchange for tracking techniques. They'd already committed one section chief, but Health and Welfare wanted more, so they asked me to sub in. I didn't have to, but I accepted. Floor 15 wasn't that tough, per their employee's prediction. In return, I'd asked them to investigate Jo In-ho. Now I was just waiting on the results.
Kim Hansu scratched his head. "Manager Kay didn't mention anything."
"They probably didn't request from our side."
"Why not?"
I said quietly, "My guess? Health and Welfare's tight with HR."
It wasn't a guess, of course. That made begging Safety Planning awkward for them.
"Hrm. But can you even go, hyung? Kekeke."
"If I'm offering, no reason to refuse."
"Fair enough."
Kim Hansu nodded. "Sounds fun. Kekekeke."
"You wanna go too?"
"Can't I?"
"Apply through Health and Welfare."
"Roger."
As expected, he hated work but loved a fight.
Suddenly, he asked, "Hey, hyung. Who do you think that employee in the news is? Feels like the same type of Gift as yours."
"Who knows."
* * *
I never imagined I'd end up at Director Madric Blood's quarters two nights in a row.
The one silver lining: I didn't need to let her suck my blood every day.
Her eyes lit up with interest. "Oh? Have you made a breakthrough?"
"As expected, you can tell."
"How could I not?"
She chuckled softly. "Soon, our department will have another manager."
She sounded genuinely pleased. But it still wasn't enough. My inner power had hit B-rank peak expert, but it wasn't a full breakthrough. Manager was a high position.
"I'd love for that day to come soon."
"With your talent, it will. Now, let's learn Blood Impact Beta. Sit."
I was inwardly uneasy. My talent's exceptional? I smacked my lips.
I sat as her hand pressed my shoulder.
"Show me how much your Blood Cycle has grown."
"Yes, Director."
Her palms touched my back, and I closed my eyes. A warm, familiar energy flowed in immediately, sweeping through my meridians without resistance until it reached my heart.
"Hmm?"
"Something wrong?"
"What's this energy in your heart?"
I was slightly startled. The magic in my heart had always been there. But she'd noticed the anomaly just from me learning Thunder Cloud Heart Knot?
"I've always had it."
"I know that. But it feels... changed."
"How so?"
"Mind if I'm blunt?"
"Please."
"It resembles what I sense from that HR alley cat."
She'd picked up on even that. Director Madric Blood said uncomfortably, "It's prickly and stinging, just like when she's nearby. Unpleasant."
"……."
"What in the world happened?"
I was at a loss for words. I'd half-expected her to notice, but not this soon. Thunder Cloud Heart Knot wasn't about storing energy in the lower dantian. It formed thunder temporarily in the heart using existing qi to generate electricity. Traces might remain, sure. But my magic was still E-rank 1, unmoved by even a fraction...
"Tell me now. Hurry!"
I'd never seen Director Madric Blood this angry. Who knew learning Seon Ga-hee's martial arts would rile her up so much?
What to do? I learned it out of curiosity? No. Say it was useful for tracking. That was true. And frame it as learning the Thunder Human Immortal School's arts, not hers directly. Words mattered.
"……That is……."
As I opened my mouth, she cut in. "What did that woman do to you? I warned her. Did she cast some wicked spell on you again? Why won't my curse-breaking work?!"
"……."
Then it hit me. She wasn't mad at me for learning Seon Ga-hee's arts. She was worried I'd gotten hurt by her.
"Fine. You've been hexed. I'll go deal with her right—"
"Wait, Director. I'll explain everything."
"Speak."
I laid it all out: the apology, agreeing to learn tracking in exchange. I skipped the master-disciple bond—didn't want to rub it in, and she was a department head with her pride. But if I didn't come clean, she'd cause a scene.
Once she heard the full story, Director Madric Blood relaxed and cupped my cheeks, meeting my eyes. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? I was worried sick something happened."
"I didn't think it needed mentioning."
"True. You don't have to tell me everything. Just... spare me the worry."
I gently removed her hands. "Thanks for caring, Director. But honestly, it's a bit much. I don't need overprotection."
Her eyes flickered, then steadied as she nodded. "Understood. I've been treating you like a child. As long as you're unharmed, do as you like."
She saw me as a proper adult employee now. And recognizing my ties to Seon Ga-hee was a relief. It had slipped out accidentally, but it worked out better.
"Anything you want?"
"I want to learn Blood Impact now."
"Right. Let's resume."
"Please don't stop this time, no matter what."
"Got it."
She began examining my body again. Her hands slid up my back to caress my nape.
"Something wrong with my neck?"
"Haa……."
She let out a heated sigh and whispered in my ear, "My throat burns with thirst. I want your blood."
"Hoo……."
She's a total blood-obsessed perv, huh? Well, vampire and all.
I sighed softly. "How about one sip after I master Beta?"
"Baby, I won't last that long."
Alarm bells rang in my head. Can't let this slide. Giving in now meant daily demands.
Lick.
As her tongue tip touched my neck, I took drastic measures. "……If you drink now, I'll never come back."
"……!"
She froze, hands trembling in devastation. Bigger reaction than expected. This could let me control her with my blood as leverage.
"C-Can you endure bloodthirst? I'm doing this for you……."
"I'll try my best too. I want to share the pain with you, Director."
"Don't. Baby, I messed up. Forgive me."
Her voice shook. Is my blood that good? She's losing it like she wants a taste herself.
"How about we build self-control together?"
"Ughhh……!"
She gripped and released my arm repeatedly, conflicted. Her instincts and reason were battling inside.
"Haa. Fine. You win."
Reason prevailed, thankfully.
"Thank you, Director."
"I acted shamefully."
Thus, we continued Blood Impact Beta training.
"But keep your promise."
"Yes."
She hadn't ditched the obsession entirely. Anyway, when I first learned Blood Impact, I'd worried about my talent. It wasn't exceptional as she thought, but decent by my standards. After Thunder Cloud Heart Knot, I realized it was a subtle blend of martial arts and sorcery—mysterious and fun to learn.
Thanks to late-night guidance from Director Madric Blood, I clumsily awakened Blood Impact Beta. The insight from Thunder Cloud Heart Knot had influenced it.
A dark red energy gathered at my fingertips. Still clumsy, it dispersed quickly, but I knew this hand could slice flesh effortlessly. Perfect for checking close-range sword-swinging foes.
Impressed by my progress, Director Madric Blood said, "Oh ho. You pick up anything fast. Teaching you is a joy."
She laughed "huhuhu" and stepped closer. I didn't react, just accepted the inevitable.
"Time to keep your promise, my baby."
She lifted my chin with a finger.
"……Do as you like."
"I shall. Hah."
Stab.
Looks like I'd be sleeping in the director's room again tonight.