Power Ignites
“Huuuuh……!”
I’d finally taken down the Iron Wire Fairy.
I immediately gulped down a [Stamina Recovery Capsule].
Right around the time the Iron Wire Fairy reflected my flames back at me, my protective barrier had fizzled out. I’d even tapped into the power of my First Star at that point, so there was no way my body could’ve come out unscathed.
There’d be Stella, the head researcher, back at the fairy village, but I didn’t think my body would hold out until I got there. The moment my fading consciousness slipped away entirely would’ve been my death.
Soon after, fresh skin began regenerating beneath the ashes and the sloughing flakes of charred flesh. My heat-scorched organs and meat flushed red once more. My pitch-black, burned bones must’ve regained their smooth, pristine white.
The faces of the employees watching me relaxed a little.
Lee Jun-yeol, the section chief, rushed over and extended a hand to me.
“Are you alright, sunbae?”
“Whew. Now I am.”
With his help, I rose to my feet. The medicine had made me whole again, like a miracle. It didn’t take long to shake off the shock. My nerves must’ve been fried— I couldn’t even feel the pain anymore.
I scanned the ground carefully, wandering around to pick up the [Energy Recovery Capsule] the Iron Wire Fairy had dropped.
“So it rolled all the way over there.”
Having felt its power firsthand, I handled it with extra care now. As I tucked the capsule into my pouch, a familiar voice called from behind.
“Whoa, hyung. Where’d you even get a potion like that? Does our company have some secret treasure vault or what?”
“I wish I knew about something like that too.”
Several questions popped into my head as I looked at Kim Hansu.
“But seriously, how’d you get here?”
“Gunshots.”
“Hm.”
I glanced at Section Chief Lee Jun-yeol. He shrugged.
“I just noticed, and there he was next to me.”
Kim Hansu said it flatly.
“Eh, you won, so what’s it matter?”
“Not trying to nitpick. Thanks.”
“You got it.”
Thinking back on that moment made my skin crawl. When the Iron Wire Fairy reflected my flames. I’d expected something like that, which was why I’d pulled out the First Star’s power. But could I have pulled it off without Kim Hansu showing up? I couldn’t be sure.
Come to think of it, his ability had reached all the way from there to Parachao Pavilion. Was its range really that wide?
“What was that Reverse Gate technique?”
“Oh, that? Made some progress with my superpower overnight. Just slapped a name on it like you always do. Kekeke.”
“It’s not slapped on.”
How’d he know?
More importantly, “progress” probably meant his superpower stat had jumped big-time or ranked up. We’d need a re-measurement back at the company. I’d known he was up for promotion soon, so it wasn’t too surprising.
“But if the gunshots reached the village, what about the other employees? You come alone?”
“Nah, something real fun’s probably going down there right now.”
Has the Ministry of Health and Welfare started an all-out war with the Rakshasas?
From my past life memories, Floor 15 hadn’t cleared in a single day. Sure, I’d thrown in some variables to speed things up, but not this fast.
“Because of that thing?”
I meant raiding the grain warehouse with him last night. No point hiding it now, but I didn’t want to say it outright. He got the hint and nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Let’s head back.”
I immediately led my comrades toward the fairy village.
Once we entered the village, I got the rough story from the Ministry of Health and Welfare employees.
The grain warehouse had been raided overnight, and the guard, Gong So-hun, had vanished without a trace. So the village chief had come demanding answers from us hunters.
I furrowed my brow and shot back casually.
“Why come at us about it?”
Stella sighed as she answered.
“Sigh. Tell me about it. No clue whatsoever.”
A glance at the chief showed him tossing his staff aside and stomping his feet.
“So-hun! So-hun, where the hell did you go?! This joke ain’t funny— come out already!”
Stella narrowed her eyes at me.
“By the way…… where’ve you been since morning, Section Chief Kim Jeongha?”
I thumbed toward the back of the village.
“You know how stingy the company is. Fresh mountain air like this doesn’t come around often. Oh yeah, you’re an elf, right, Head Researcher Stella? Maybe we could take a walk together later……”
Stella cut me off.
“Section Chief Kim. I saw smoke rising from the mountainside.”
“Did a little campfire.”
“……In broad daylight?”
“Caught a wild deer and roasted it.”
“……Just to be thorough, last night, there was a window where you and Regular Employee Kim Hansu had no alibis at the guest quarters.”
“Coincidence.”
I had no other reason to lay it on so thick with the lies. My comrades who’d fought the Iron Wire Fairy to the end were watching me right now.
Employees who could stick with me to the finish. Comrades who’d trust and follow me no matter what.
I wanted to screen them out early. If I died and regressed again, I could just cut ties with anyone who’d turn their back on me from the start.
A scheme only a reincarnator like me could dream up. Not that I planned on dying again— future’s unpredictable, though. Just in case.
“Alright, one last question. You didn’t see a guy named Gong So-hun?”
“Who’s that?”
“He was guarding the grain warehouse, apparently.”
Kim Hansu fielded that one.
“Oh ho. What an insane coincidence! The food and the guard both vanish at the same time. Not even on different days— same exact moment.”
“……”
Stella clamped her mouth shut. Truth was, like Kim Hansu said, the prime suspect was Gong So-hun, the guard on duty. So even Village Chief Geum Jong-gi couldn’t just hound the employees blindly.
Of course, Gong So-hun wasn’t even human— just a Rakshasa ghost. Framing him didn’t prick my conscience one bit.
Stella finally nodded heavily.
“I’ll believe you. Or, I want to. You, Section Chief Kim Jeongha.”
“Sure.”
I didn’t say thanks for believing me or anything. Best to play dumb. Keep a straight face and brazen it out.
She probably couldn’t erase her suspicions entirely. Fine— I’d use those nagging doubts to my advantage.
As she turned to leave, I called after her back.
“By the way, no food means the Rakshasas’ll show up soon. They’ll be starving.”
Like someone had orchestrated this whole mess.
Stella’s footsteps halted. She stood frozen for a bit, then turned back.
“……Section Chief Kim Jeongha, would you sacrifice even the innocent to clear this stage? Don’t get the wrong idea. This has nothing to do with what we just talked about.”
Confess now, and she’d let it slide. Such a soft heart. Trusts easily, forgives easily.
That was her weakness. And I’d exploit it thoroughly.
“Sacrifice? Like what?”
“Using the villagers’ food as bait, say.”
I chuckled softly. Right on cue.
“The deer meat was delicious, though.”
There was a solution, I implied.
“I see.”
I caught the slight uptick at the corner of her mouth as she turned away. Of course, I planned to return the stolen grain at the right time.
Stella let out another sigh.
“Haa.”
Her pointed ears drooped low. She always did that when troubled.
‘Knowing how to game people is a real talent, but……’
Seeing him today left her utterly at a loss on how to handle him.
‘Who’d have thought he’d steal the food and burn it all. Section Chief Kim.’
She’d seen the smoke. But by the time she sent a subordinate to check and they returned, the food— and Gong So-hun’s corpse— would all be ash.
She was convinced the fire was to destroy evidence. Still, killing even an innocent guard felt like going too far.
But he’d done it for the employees, which made it impossible to pin down.
Even she wasn’t sure what was right. Sacrificing one guard to minimize harm to the village and the team. The few for the many!
In a no-win situation, what was just?
‘……I don’t know.’
She didn’t have the answer. One thing was clear: Kim Jeongha wouldn’t hesitate if it came to that.
‘A warped sense of justice, maybe.’
That was her verdict on Kim Jeongha. After agonizing, she made up her mind.
‘If I can’t control him…… sorry, but you’ll have to step down.’
Remove him from the team. She had a solid pretext. She was grateful for the help so far, but no more innocent sacrifices.
They had the key to clearing Floor 15 now— they could manage without him.
She felt bad, of course.
‘Sorry. But I won’t just suck you dry and toss you away.’
Once Floor 15 cleared, she’d commend his contributions. With that settled, she went back to meet Kim Jeongha.
“Section Chief Kim Jeongha.”
“Yes, Head Researcher Stella?”
She cut straight to it.
“Thanks for all your help so far. I’ll make sure to thank the Safety Planning Department separately for sending you.”
“Pardon?”
Kim Jeongha looked baffled. She steeled her expression even more and pulled out her prepared rationale.
“It’s time to pass on what you and the Ministry of Health and Welfare have investigated. You seem perfect for the job.”
“You want me as a messenger? I’d rather stick it out to the end.”
“This is entirely my call. As team leader of the investigation squad.”
Different departments, but on the same team here— under her command. She didn’t usually like throwing her weight around.
But after seeing countless people in her life. And now Kim Jeongha. She’d realized: you handle the crooked with crooked ways!
So this time, she’d wield her authority to the fullest.
And sure enough, Kim Jeongha nodded.
“……I see. Understood.”
“Thanks for accepting so readily, Section Chief Kim Jeongha.”
She allowed herself a sly smile of victory. Payback for yesterday’s briefing.
But his response stabbed like a dagger.
“Why wouldn’t I? When you’re pushing me out with your authority like this.”
“……”
“I’ll be going now.”
“Didn’t you mention a walk earlier? At least let me see you off……”
“No need.”
With that, Kim Jeongha turned with heavy steps.
But why? His shoulders seemed to shake a little as he walked away.
‘……Why’s he crying like that? It’s a mission everyone else would kill for……’
Stages meant discomfort and death around every corner. Back at the company, he could report findings, eat well, and sleep cozy.
She recalled he’d volunteered for this dispatch.
Stella revised her take on Kim Jeongha. From “warped justice” to “warped justice born of ironclad duty.”
‘Can I fix that warped part of you?’
To her, the kind-hearted elf and head physician, Kim Jeongha was a patient she couldn’t just leave alone.