Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Contract
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A steady daily routine had settled in.
When the alarm rang and I opened my eyes, it was around 6:30.
After a quick shower, I changed into workout clothes and stepped outside.
After catching my first monster and suffering muscle pain the next day, I'd realized how necessary exercise was.
So I'd decided: morning runs.
I didn't think I needed a gym since it wasn't serious training anyway.
Honestly, the cost was a concern too.
After running about 5km and getting back, I showered and finished a light breakfast.
Time to start my routine.
First up: ability experiments and practice.
Currently, there were three ways I could apply my Illusion ability.
Simulation Illusion—limited to intelligent targets, but my most powerful weapon.
Perception Impairment—setting boundaries over a space to overlay illusions on the space itself.
And the newly developed Illusion Control.
The ring on my left hand sparkled.
With the precondition of physical contact, applications that were previously impossible became feasible.
I could project desired illusions onto the opponent and even peek into the illusions they were experiencing.
Of course, with the vomit-inducing difficulty and extreme mana drain, I couldn't attempt it unless the target was already incapacitated like Kim Sangjin.
Of the three, the one I practiced was Perception Impairment.
Simulation Illusion and Illusion Control both required opponents, making practice impossible.
It would be great if I could practice on myself, but my mental resistance rendered even that useless.
In the end, only my Perception Impairment proficiency rose day by day, leading to two insights.
The first... well, was it really an insight?
I realized I'd been mistaken.
When I first used Perception Impairment, I'd evaluated it like this:
Poor fuel efficiency.
The mana cost to maintain the illusion was substantial.
Just a few seconds of upkeep matched the cost of casually firing off one Simulation Illusion—not efficient.
Back then, I'd chalked it up to lack of proficiency.
I figured repeated practice would improve it, but the limits only grew clearer.
Why was this happening?
After agonizing over it, I realized my ridiculous blunder.
It wasn't that Perception Impairment was inefficient.
Simulation Illusion had absurdly high efficiency.
Power that pierced even the next S-rank Hunter, mana consumption with zero waste.
Simulation Illusion had no room for improvement.
Unlike other applications honed through trial and error.
This was a technique that was 'complete' in itself.
From that sprang the second insight.
No matter how much I refined it, I could never match Simulation Illusion's efficiency.
So instead of obsessing over fixing Perception Impairment's inefficiency, I should tweak Simulation Illusion.
Of course, the resulting technique would be entirely different from Perception Impairment—but as long as the outcome was similar, direction didn't matter, right?
It was still just theory, no solid results yet, but I could test it gradually.
With that, after burning half my mana, I wrapped up the first routine.
Second routine: information organization.
Sorting the game knowledge I remembered with new info from this world—nothing major.
I skimmed through all the notes I'd jotted down so far.
Add anything new that surfaced, done if not.
No computer at home, naturally, so I used the note app on my smartphone.
Took about ten minutes or so. With info sorting done, my routine ended.
Current time: not even lunchtime yet.
"..."
No family, no acquaintances—literally, all I had left was time.
Idling brought a strange loneliness and harsh reality crashing down.
'Maybe look for a Gate I can solo.'
I turned my phone back on and dug through the notes.
No luck.
The awaited contact came just shy of a week after my last mission.
Positive response from the higher-ups, asking what date worked.
I replied to Kang Jiwon's message that sooner the better, and it was set for the very next day.
A day later, I walked the now-familiar path into the Association.
The woman at the lobby reception—Kang Jiwon—spotted me and her eyes widened.
"Mr. Han Yujin? Aren't you a bit too early?"
"My heart was pounding so much I couldn't focus on work. Couldn't hold back and came anyway."
She seemed to recall my parting words last time about looking forward to it and gave a small smile.
An unfamiliar reaction. It was a casual remark with no intent, but she responded with a new warmth.
"I'll wrap up prep soon, so please wait in the room first."
I sat in the room, and sure enough, she arrived moments later.
Papers in her bag disheveled, breathing ragged—anyone could see she'd rushed.
This wasn't why I'd come early... Embarrassed and sorry, I bowed my head.
"Y-you didn't need to rush like this... Sorry."
"I was just following protocol, no need to worry. And..."
She caught her breath lightly, then said it playfully.
"My heart was pounding so much I couldn't focus on work. Couldn't hold back and came anyway."
She mimicked my words exactly. My mind went blank.
What? A sudden joke like this? It was a joke, right?
I froze like an idiot when I should've played along, and she got awkward too—cheeks slightly flushed.
"Ahem. Shall we get to the point?"
"...Yes, please."
Composing herself with a professional expression, Kang Jiwon handed me the contract.
"Simply put, what we're proposing to you is a kind of secret contract."
"A secret contract?"
First time hearing the term. She explained right away.
When a Hunter says they've contracted with the Association, it usually means an exclusive contract.
Only those verified in ability and performance can sign one, but their missions aren't particularly different.
Gate clears and monster kills.
Same work. The only change: all under Association orders.
But,
Not every problem in the world stems from Gates or monsters.
Not all Association missions can be disclosed publicly.
Especially when the cause is human—that's why the Inspection Department exists.
But even Inspection isn't omnipotent.
Association staff are civil servants, most non-Awakened.
Sometimes, an individual's overwhelming power is needed over organized force.
Hunters whose abilities are especially effective against people rather than monsters.
Abilities perfect for turning wanted criminal—but they haven't.
After long observation, if character is guaranteed, the Association secretly summons them and offers a contract.
Hunters contracted with the Association but unknown to the public.
"No official name, but we call them secret agents."
Obviously extraordinary. So I had to ask.
"Odd for me to say this, but aren't I still lacking compared to the requirements?"
Setting aside my ability's excellence, was I worth the Association's fixation?
The Association would know plenty of talented Awakened.
Me? A newbie registered less than a month ago.
Too soon for certainty on ability or character.
Kang Jiwon paused briefly, as if choosing her words.
She spoke slowly.
"First, ability-wise: more than sufficient—overflowing. Mental abilities are rare, and narrowing to useful, powerful ones? Practically none exist. You're unparalleled there, Mr. Han Yujin."
"......No one similar even in the Association?"
"Hunters with similar abilities do exist. But none as powerful and versatile in application as you, to my knowledge."
I was newly shocked as she continued.
"Character-wise, we viewed the last incident positively, but you're right—it's lacking. The Association's always short on talent, though. They value your ability enough to overlook that."
A one-month newbie getting a contract? Questions welled up, but I held my tongue.
When someone's calling you talented, rebutting with 'Eh, that so?' just looks bad.
No more questions, so Kang Jiwon began explaining the contract details.
Not quite exclusive Hunter level, but comparable privileges and substantial benefits.
"However, it may involve dangerous missions going forward. Is that alright?"
I nodded. I'd already steeled myself for it.
I'd never assumed gains without risks from the start.
More than that, one benefit she'd mentioned caught my eye.
"What exactly is the housing benefit?"
"We provide dormitories to those who want them."
Dormitories!
Wasn't my reason for busting my ass this whole time the house?
Nights crying inside, wondering when I'd save enough to move.
No more of that shithole that drained my sanity just looking at it and killed my will to live.
In my heart, the dorms were already brimming with dreams and hope.
Seeing my eyes glaze over, Kang Jiwon awkwardly jotted 'dormitory provision' on the paper.
Then something occurred to me.
"Can I do Alchemy crafting in the dorms?"
She paused; the pen stopped on the paper as she looked up.
Her eyes asked, 'You're proficient in Alchemy...?'
I said I knew a little, and she awkwardly averted her gaze.
"W-well, in shared apartment dorms... Alchemy might be a bit... difficult?"
Ah.
My hopes shattered.