Working Miracles
My first goal was to build relations with the Ministry of Health and Welfare until I could come and go from their premises—and even inside their buildings—like they were my own bedroom.
If only I'd been able to learn Kasumi's Dark Illusion Heavenly Shin-ryu, especially the stealth techniques, I could've skipped that whole process. But with that path blocked, I'd have to solve it using only the abilities I had.
There was plenty of time before Jo In-ho fell to corruption. No need to rush—I'd proceed carefully.
The 15th-floor raid with the Ministry was the first step toward that.
Stella, the head researcher, addressed me and the dispatched employees. "As per Section Chief Kim Jeongha's request, I'll partially allow independent action during the exploration, but I hope you'll follow my command in emergencies."
"Understood."
That was the only concession I wanted from Stella. She highly valued my Gift and approved without much fuss.
"Everyone seems ready, so shall we go?"
"Let's."
The moment had finally arrived. Outside, the Ministry employees we'd seen in the briefing were waiting, just as expected. I scanned their faces again, just in case, but Jo In-ho was nowhere to be seen. Good—it was better that way. I didn't want to keep tabs on the guy even inside the stage.
Stella led her subordinates, and we naturally followed behind.
The massive pillar at the center of Hunter Stock Company was plastered with incomprehensible formulas, patterns, and mechanisms. In my past life, quite a few had tried damaging it, but it was all pointless. They could only guess it was imbued with some divine power. Given that this was the "God's Workplace," it wasn't a strange assumption at all.
Kuung.
The pillar slowly rotated in place. With a brilliant light, the center gradually parted, revealing the door to the 15th floor.
Stella looked slightly tense. Who wouldn't be? She stepped through the unknown portal first.
"Entering!"
We threw ourselves in right after.
The night was pitch black. You couldn't see an inch ahead.
Squelch, squelch.Crunch, crunch.
If not for the sounds, you might not notice someone tearing into meat in the same room.
"W-Who's there?"
The boy trembled at the eerie noises from inside the house. "A-Are you... my parents' friend...?"
Squelch, smack, slurp.
No answer—just the sounds of chewing flesh, ripping it, savoring it, gulping it down.
"Mom, Dad... where are you?"
Gathering courage, the boy approached. He stepped in something squishy. His sole instantly grew slick and wet. Instinctively, he wiped it on his finger and sniffed. A fishy metallic tang hit him.
"Ugh...!"
He knew that smell all too well. Bending down, he groped the floor and picked up what he'd stepped in. Soft skin, yet heavy. As he felt further, he realized: it split into five segments at the end. A human forearm.
"Eek!"
A jade ring gleamed on the ring finger. "Th-This is..."
It was the one his mom wore. How could he not recognize it? The hand that always stroked his head with a warm smile.
"Hic... snif..."
Thud. The boy fell on his butt.
As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he spotted a silhouette in the back—someone chewing meat. A very familiar shape.
"...D-Dad?"
It twitched. The figure called "Dad" stopped, then rose. It turned. Blood dripped from its chin. Its mouth split wide to its ears. Saw-like teeth. A demon's twisted face opened wide.
"You still see me as your father? Kekeke."
"U-Uwaaaah!"
The demon reached out with its demonic claw.
My darkened vision brightened. The first thing I saw was the message floating before me.
You have entered the 15th-floor stage Cannibal Village.
The message hinted at the floor's theme. Stella quickly scanned the surroundings, confirmed no immediate threats, and spoke up. "No need to worry. As I said, it's a stage we can handle. And remember, this is just preliminary investigation."
Everyone visibly relaxed. But I didn't let my guard down.
After the 14th-floor Volcano Zone was cleared, Hunter Stock Company went public, accelerating shareholder involvement. Meaning shareholders could intervene anytime, even after the dungeon formed.
Lee Gun said, "This place feels similar to where I lived, for some reason."
"Similar isn't the same."
"True. Even in the Central Plains, bandits existed, but I'd never heard of them eating people."
Section Chief Lee Jun-yeol added, "I've been prepared for death since enlisting, but I must not die here."
All the employees felt the same. Soon, Stella began leading the group. We were in some forest; following a path, we found a village. Judging by the villagers' clothes and architecture, it was an ancient Eastern-style stage—quite old.
But a group in pitch-black suits from another world encounters them? The outcome was predictable. The farmers we met gawked, then bolted somewhere.
Leading them was a pointy-eared elf-like figure, followed by armed warriors. Their reaction was natural.
Moments later, an elderly white-haired man approached from the huddling, peeking villagers.
He cautiously asked, "Wh-Who might you noble ones be...?"
He saw through us at a glance. Our high-quality clothes and clean skin screamed high status.
Stella seemed relieved that communication was possible, though she stayed alert. This was Cannibal Village, after all.
As Stella opened her mouth to reply, I stepped forward with Lee Gun. "Stella, leave this to us."
She glanced between us and the elder, then nodded. "That might be better."
Stella's appearance was too exotic here. We were Easterners, and Lee Gun wore his Volcano Sect dobok over his suit—blending surprisingly well. That was one reason I'd uniformized his dobok.
Lee Gun caught on and followed quietly. Sure enough, the elder's expression softened toward us.
I asked, "Are you the village representative, elder?"
He nodded. "Yes. I'm the village chief, Geum-jong-gi. Who might you be?"
"Pleased to meet you, Village Chief Geum-jong-gi. We're from the Hunters' Guild."
"Hunters' Guild? You don't mean..."
"We're people gathered from around the world to exterminate demons."
"...From Tianzhu, perhaps?"
I nodded. "You've heard of us."
The Hunters' Guild of Tianzhu—India's martial forces united to eradicate rampant demons. Their success scattered the demons worldwide, even reaching the Central Plains. The elder knew the rumors.
I'd learned the details from the past-life briefing on clearing the 15th floor. Back then, they'd charged in blind, fumbling through. With my knowledge, I could avoid pointless clashes.
"Good, this'll go quickly. We'd like to stay in the village and investigate the surroundings."
The elder's face darkened, his tone urgent. "W-We don't need people like you. Be on your way!"
The expected reaction. I stayed calm. "We're not here to cause harm, so relax. We have a healer—if anyone's hurt, we can help."
I said it loudly, exaggeratedly, for the villagers watching behind. Some had bloodstained bandages on limbs; others coughed harshly.
I glanced their way pointedly. "Looks like a plague's hit the village."
"I-I said we don't need you!"
The elder shouted, but the villagers didn't agree. Sure enough—
Patpatpat! A snot-nosed child rushed over. He tripped on a rock, scraping his knees and palms bloody, but ignored it, pleading tearfully. "Y-You said you're a healer? P-Please save my mom. Please? Yeah?"
I immediately looked to Stella. She caught my meaning from my gaze—eyes wide at the scene—and hurried to the child. "Kiddo, show me your wounds first."
"Snif... Okay..."
The child rolled up his sleeve and opened his palm.
Wooong!
"Power of great nature..."
Stella chanted something; her hand glowed green. She gently stroked the wounds, and they healed like magic.
"Whoa! M-My scrapes are gone!"
"...!"
"Heavens!"
"I-Is this possible...?"
"A miracle right before my eyes... I can't believe it."
The chief asked with complex eyes, emotions swirling. "...How many healers do you have?"
Stella answered. "More than half of us."
They were Ministry of Health and Welfare hunters, after all.
"Th-That many?"
Then—
"Aigoo, healers! Please check my daughter!"
"Healers, heal my brother and we'll never forget the favor!"
"Cough cough! Can you cure my illness too? Not long left, but I'd like to go peacefully."
After witnessing the miracle, villagers clamored for help.
"Everyone, calm down. Wait patiently, and we'll see you all."
Stella glanced at the chief. "If we can stay here, that is."
Village Chief Geum-jong-gi closed his eyes tightly. Public opinion had already swung our way. Even a revote would elect one of ours in a landslide.
Demonic Rakshasas, or just Rakshasas—man-eating demons. These monsters fled here from Tianzhu (India) and blended into Fairy Village, settling among the humans.
You couldn't distinguish them by appearance alone. Root out all the hidden Rakshasas and kill their leader to clear the 15th floor.
"That's all the info I've got."
"Ah..."
Stella, ears twitching as she listened intently, sighed. "I'd heard rumors, but what an incredible Gift."
"Just got lucky."
"I'd love to petition Safety Planning right now to transfer you to our side. Seriously."
"You don't doubt my info's authenticity?"
"I'd be lying if I said I was 100% sure right away. But if you were lying, you wouldn't have survived the 14th floor."
I'd shared only the pure truth. "Thanks for believing me, Stella."
"I'm the grateful one."
Stella and the Ministry hunters treated patients all afternoon, lending credibility to my words.
Her expression hardened as she explained. "Many had severed limbs or chunks of flesh missing. The wounds were clearly from beast-like teeth."
"Yet the chief and villagers hide it. We need to find out why."
Indeed. While treating patients, the Ministry staff asked about injuries and more, but got tight-lipped responses.
Stella gripped my hand. "We're lucky to have you, Section Chief Kim Jeongha. Thank you. But we can't rely on you forever. Time for our own investigation."
"Go ahead."
I casually broached. "Meanwhile, I'll gather more intel around..."
She nodded. "Of course, Section Chief."
Perfect. The Ministry had won the villagers' trust. And I'd won Stella's.
I smiled back, then left the room—the lodging the chief provided.
Outside, my fellow newbie Kim Hansu snickered. "Hey, Jeongha hyung. Seems like there are holes all over the info you shared? Kekeke."
I quietly pressed a finger to my lips.
"Shh."