A Call from the Future
Sure, that wouldn't fly. Everyone has their own stance on monsters. The Foundation believed that identifying every incomprehensible monster was the way to protect humanity. The Special Task Force thought exterminating every dangerous monster was the path to safeguarding humanity. The cult believed humans wouldn't meet a proper death because of monsters. Some even thought it was better to become monsters themselves just to survive. No one knew exactly how to handle monsters, but the deep web figured finding them all was the priority. While agreeing with all those views, Woorim Group had this thought instead: Ah, monsters could make us money.
That's why Woorim Group boldly invested in the Foundation and received several nice "gifts" in return. For example, the antique phone sitting on Woo Jin-ho's desk.
Ring ring, ring ring. Woo Jin-ho narrowed his eyes at the phone's ring while reading a report. The executive director's office had a sleek, refined vibe overall. But the phone tucked in one corner of the desk felt out of place with its antique style amid the modern interior. An old rotary-dial phone, the kind you turned instead of pressing buttons. In today's world, it looked utterly useless—just a decoration. And in fact, no line was even connected to it.
Yet this phone was the most valuable item in the office.
Woo Jin-ho reached out and picked up the "Phone from the Future."
"Executive Director Woo Jin-ho speaking."
"How'd it go?"
The voice from the receiver belonged to a woman—one he knew well. Executive Director Woo Hye-na. His younger sister and the owner's eldest daughter. She was also his rival in the succession battle.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh right, I forgot to mention? This is Woo Hye-na from a year in the future. I recommended Director Mayuri—how's she working out?"
"……."
Woo Jin-ho fell silent for a moment. And that silence was answer enough. They couldn't see each other's faces, and a whole year separated them, but Hye-na would pick up on it. She'd know he was suspicious.
"What's your angle?" Woo Jin-ho asked.
"Of course, it was for the product demo to go smoothly? A big incident there would hit us hard, right?"
He couldn't make sense of it. Her brother's failure should benefit her in the succession fight. So why help?
"Director Mayuri's a good pick, right? Does great work? And she owes our company, so we can keep a good relationship going forward?"
"……."
"Just hand over whatever Muksi Saengmyeongche she wants. But don't cut her a break on the loan? Wouldn't it be nice to keep seeing Director Mayuri for a long, long time? Right?"
Click. She asked as if seeking agreement, then hung up like she'd said her piece. Beep... beep... beep... Woo Jin-ho listened to the disconnected tone for a while before finally setting the receiver down.
Suddenly, it hit him. The Woorim Group succession battle might already have its ending decided. He could end up as owner, or Hye-na could, or maybe someone else entirely. But he had a gut feeling it wouldn't be up to him.
When I was a kid, I thought every big building was a whole company. Like in dramas. As I got older, I learned companies vary wildly. Tons only rented a floor or two. Owning an entire building? That was huge.
"Whoa…."
I couldn't help but gawk entering Woorim Group HQ. I'd had zero ties to conglomerates even in my past life. Just coming and going from a mega-corp building felt like I'd made it. And meeting the executive director in person, no less.
"This way, please. Right here."
Following the staffer's lead, we headed to the conference room. I'd brought Ari, Lisa, and Nao—the same crew from the demo. In other words, the PTSD squad.
Honestly, they were all still recovering, and I hated dragging them out. But no choice. Me going out meant Lisa with her separation anxiety tagging along, and Nao too. Ari? She just came.
"Lunch when?"
"After the talk."
"Okay."
Ari nodded. As expected, she'd bounced back in days. Was that good mental fortitude? Her recovery speed was the best among us. Because she's simple? Nah, can't say that.
Actually, Ari might thrive in office life. Even with stress, stuff her full of food and she'd show up next day. She probably wouldn't turn into a hikikomori. Now Lisa and Nao worried me more.
"…Nao, it's hard to walk. Can you back off a bit?"
"You've arrived, Director. You and your staff get along well."
Woo Jin-ho commented, eyeing Nao glued to my side. I almost explained her separation anxiety from last time but held back. No need to air that to outsiders.
"First, about the post-demo cleanup. As you suspected, it was the cult."
"…The cult, huh." I sighed without thinking. Most incidents I'd faced were their doing. Wipe them out, and peace? But fewer requests mean less cash for me. Tough call... though my will might not matter. The Foundation would handle it anyway.
"We shared this with the Foundation too. Spoke with Deputy Park Jong-cheol—heard you've been attacked by the cult before."
"The Eight-Foot Ghost thing? I wasn't hit, but... Harin took friendly fire, I think…."
I recounted the Eight-Foot Ghost tale. Woo Jin-ho listened intently, nodding a couple times.
"Then we'll chalk the 'Infiltration' resolution up to our security team."
"Thanks…."
Great PR, but better to stay off the cult's radar. Good ties with Woorim made up for it.
Afterward, he mentioned cultist bodies found near the demo site. The infiltrator acted alone, cause of death unknown. He said to call if anything happened to Liriri Detective Agency.
"Now, to the main topic: transferring Muksi Saengmyeongche. Any specific ones you want?"
He handed me a list of Woorim's holdings. Skimming the names, "Phone from the Future" was absent, as expected. If it were there, I'd have asked. Zero risk, future intel—prime stuff. No wonder he wouldn't part with it.
Oh well. Friendly with him now. If he got warning of my crisis, he'd tip me off, right? Hope so.
Scanning, only two stood out as useful.
I picked those two.
"Got it. We'll process immediately."
Woo Jin-ho said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Park Jong-cheol clenched his fist.
"Rat bastards... Hiding in Suwon, huh."
He muttered stepping out of the car.
Mayuri's "Murder Hotel" stint took 13 days, plus a month for the Woorim job. About 1.5 months since beating the Eight-Foot Ghost.
The Foundation hadn't idled. They'd tracked the cult somewhat. HQ unknown, but one outpost pinpointed.
If only we snag a lead on their main base.
The Foundation decided to wipe them out. Special Task Force cooperated, Woorim and investors agreed. Deep web stayed neutral but didn't oppose—some nameless hunters even helped. They'd risked lives finding monsters to protect the world, only for the cult to weaponize them for terror. Hunters were fed up too.
"Sir, Special Task Force is here."
"We're ready. Let's move."
"Yes, sir."
Foundation and Task Force raided the outpost together.
...Nothing happened.
"What? Why's it trashed?"
Park blinked. A large church—the cult outpost. Half-destroyed. Walls shattered, ground upheaved. Like a hurricane hit. No one inside.
"They knew we were coming and bailed?"
"Doesn't look like it. Damage suggests a week old."
"...Caught in an anomaly, probably."
Not everyday, but it happened. Managed Muksi Saengmyeongche escape, wreck the place. Seemed like that. Served the cult right—their raids on labs, now this.
Combat teams withdrew; investigators stayed to probe the ruins.
"Identified the Muksi Saengmyeongche. Traces match something observed thrice before."
"Quick ID's good. Which one?"
The investigator handed over the report. Park frowned instantly.
ENTITY NAME:Magical Girl's Birth
EST. MANAGEMENT RANK:Devastation (Rubedo) (Threat Level 5)
Threat Level 5. A monster that could devastate a city—or several.