Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Proposal
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Demon Worshippers.
A term for those who followed the demons from another world beyond the gates.
'Didn't expect to run into them this soon.'
They were one of the antagonistic factions in the game, but not active at this point in time.
They didn't make their full appearance until at least the mid-game.
He hadn't been able to grasp the full details while handing over the illusion to Oh Junhyeok, but the end had been clear.
The precursor to a demon summoning.
Creatures capable of driving someone to mental breakdown just from encountering them, if they lacked sufficient mental resistance.
Given the circumstances, Kim Sangjin had clearly lost his mind after seeing the demon.
Even mere observation through the illusion might affect the mind, so he had no choice but to cut off the ability in a hurry.
I might be fine, but Oh Junhyeok definitely couldn't handle it.
After that, he endured Oh Junhyeok's thanks for quite a while before Kang Jiwon and he returned to the Hunter Association.
He had been taken aback by the unexpected encounter, but that was all.
His mission was to uncover the culprit. Nothing more mattered.
He had no intention of getting involved with the Demon Worshippers already.
"The promised payment will be deposited within a few days. You worked really hard today."
Kang Jiwon bowed politely to him.
Her attitude had been strange ever since they finished the job in the hospital room.
Until now, he had felt like she kept her distance from him.
She never showed it outright, but she was especially businesslike and cold toward him alone—how could he not notice?
He figured it was unavoidable.
She was someone who had experienced his illusion back when the association still hadn't fully grasped his ability.
It wouldn't be strange if she had lingering trauma.
Yet now, Kang Jiwon was smiling faintly.
Treating him suddenly like some incredibly important figure... It was a bit embarrassing—what should he even call this?
Once their talk about this mission wrapped up, a brief silence fell between them.
Seemed like that was everything. He finished his farewell and started to rise from his seat when Kang Jiwon stopped him.
She bit her lip, hesitating over something, then looked at him with eyes full of resolve.
"Mr. Han Yujin. What do you think about a contract?"
Suddenly?
He frowned at the out-of-left-field question for a moment, his mouth falling open.
"You mean a full-time contract with the association right now?"
"Something like that, but not quite. You've only taken on two missions so far, which is well below the minimum rank the association requires. Regardless of my opinion, the higher-ups wouldn't approve it."
Ah.
Right, honestly, it didn't make sense for someone like me.
He understood logically, but his voice came out curt anyway, thanks to the expectations he'd harbored.
"Then what, a standard contract? Is that why you suddenly grabbed me?"
A standard hunter contract where you respond to a minimum number of association requests per month and get paid for it.
It was essentially the same as what he was doing now.
Just putting it on paper formally.
But Kang Jiwon shook her head at his words.
"I must have caused a misunderstanding. We can't offer you a full-time contract, but I'm not talking about some standard one either. Instead, I'm proposing to create a special new contract tailored just for you."
Kang Jiwon paused for a moment, let out a small sigh, and continued.
"Truth be told, this wasn't something I planned to bring up so abruptly. It's a recent internal opinion at that. We intended to observe you a bit more before fleshing it out, but..."
Her gaze, lowered in apology, rose back to him.
"For now, this is my own initiative. There's no contract document yet."
Still, she put strength into her voice, as if brimming with conviction.
"Once they hear about today's incident, the higher-ups will surely review it positively. So before that, I'd like to ask your intentions. Are you willing to work with the association?"
This wasn't about signing a contract right then and there.
But his answer would shape the content of their next meeting.
Before responding, he looked at Kang Jiwon.
She fidgeted slightly, signs of tension.
Who knew she could make a face like that? His answer was already decided, but he deliberately delayed it.
"Hmm..."
Payback for dashing his expectations earlier. He pretended to ponder deeply for a good while, sneaking glances at her expression, before finally opening his mouth as if he'd reached a decision.
"I'll look forward to your next contact."
At those words, the tension drained from Kang Jiwon's face, replaced by a bright smile.
"Yes!"
Her eyes softened, cheeks flushed.
For the first time, he saw Kang Jiwon smiling naturally.
A thought flickered through his mind just then, leaving him embarrassed, and he quickly turned and headed home.
'Maybe I was too hasty.'
That was what Kang Jiwon had thought before meeting Han Yujin today, as she left him that message.
The speculation that he might be an Irregular. As a result, the association had concluded to maintain friendly relations with him.
If he was an Irregular, they needed to thoroughly investigate his abilities.
If not, he was a capable Awakened who could help the association.
Different assumptions, but leading to the same conclusion.
Thus, Kang Jiwon hadn't planned to call Han Yujin so soon after his last mission.
But she had no choice but to change her mind. It was due to a request from the Arang Guild.
It listed a man's characteristics and asked if they knew the person.
Han Yujin's information had already been classified as Gamma-level confidential.
So the initial staffer who received the contact truly didn't know. But Kang Jiwon couldn't pretend not to.
Why was the Arang Guild after that man?
If there was conflict between them, she should inform them. But if they'd reached the same conclusion as the association, she couldn't.
So she lied to the Arang Guild, saying she didn't know, and cut off the request.
For whatever reason, Han Yujin's extraordinary nature might have leaked out.
Worried he could get scouted by another guild if she sat idle, she grew impatient and summoned him earlier than planned.
Even if it caused some resentment, she'd call him multiple times for missions going forward to assess him.
If he exceeded the threshold, she'd propose a contract. If not, they'd adjust their management policy.
Three evaluation criteria: identity, ability, character.
Identity: Han Yujin, 27 years old. Orphanage background. Blank period since university graduation. Investigation showed no issues.
Ability: Peerless among rare mental ability users. Just what the association needed.
So the key was character.
She didn't plan to judge harshly. Just enough confidence that he wouldn't misuse his powers.
—I'll accept if you promise no penalties even if I fail.
A mission that went ahead under the condition that it offered a completion bonus on success but guaranteed the advance payment even on failure.
Her personal impression of Han Yujin had been the worst.
He had proposed it himself, but the illusion from their first meeting still haunted her.
Even seeing her cat at home made her face stiffen and her body tremble without realizing it.
That's why she'd interpreted his acceptance of the mission somewhat negatively.
Could he really peek into someone's memories with illusion? She was skeptical.
Besides, Han Yujin's ability showed no obvious signs that even an outsider could detect.
So had he chosen this mission just to fake using his ability and collect the pay?
She had watched him from the bedside with eyes full of distrust, and soon even she, a non-Awakened, could sense it.
Mana. Not overwhelming since it was only E-rank.
But through the distinct mana prickling her skin, she could tell from experience.
Han Yujin was using his ability at full power.
He kept it up even while retching and drenched in cold sweat.
The reason he'd mentioned possible failure wasn't some petty motive, as she'd thought.
It was simply that even going all out offered no guarantee of success—it was that difficult.
'Maybe I was too hasty.'
Her first impression had clouded her judgment.
She had no choice but to admit her negative bias.
As she felt ashamed and reconsidered her evaluation of him, something astonishing happened.
Han Yujin succeeded.
Oh Junhyeok, who had confirmed something through the illusion, tearfully expressed his gratitude.
Watching the man—who had gone AWOL for three days to protect his close friend—leave the room to contact the association, she turned her head away.
The man slumped exhausted in the chair.
A person who had resolved what even another association agent couldn't in under thirty minutes, despite shaking his head.
If she'd focused on ability before, now she saw his competence.
But with her bias shattered, she could view him through new eyes.
A man who smiled impassively at Oh Junhyeok's thanks, not boasting of his feat.
A man quietly closing his eyes, simply proud of his success itself.
Her objective gaze defined him in one word.
A good man.
'Am I being too hasty?'
What she was about to propose was something she'd originally planned to decide after two or three more missions.
The higher-ups might reprimand her for acting on her own.
She turned her head and saw Han Yujin waiting for her words.
Kang Jiwon pondered once more and reached her conclusion.
"Mr. Han Yujin. What do you think about a contract?"
In her eyes, it wasn't hasty at all.