The Midnight Surprise and a Shadowy Infiltration
The late afternoon sun filtered through the tinted windows of the underground parking garage beneath the Sungjin Group building, casting long shadows across the concrete floors. Deputy Go leaned her head against the passenger-side window, eyes half-closed in a state of exhaustion, her voice a faint, weary murmur.
“My weekend…”
In the driver’s seat, Seo Eunha turned her head slightly, her expression calm but understanding.
“Next week I’ll add Friday off for you. Just work hard until then, okay?”
“I’ll do my absolute best!”
By 8:02 p.m., the clock ticked onward. According to Kang Seojun’s earlier instructions, Managing Director Kim Hak-yong was due to finish his reports and head out by eight sharp. Any moment now, the target would descend to the garage level.
“Everyone ready? The target is due any second now.”
The rest of the team checked their weapons with practiced efficiency, though a flicker of doubt still lingered in their eyes.
“Team Leader… you really believe his story? Kim Hak-yong as a Main?” Deputy Go’s words carried clear skepticism. “Even if it’s what he said, this feels like a stretch.”
Seo Eunha shook her head gently.
“I’m sorry. This is a direct request from our side. Our only job is to verify his identity with Holy Water. If he’s been misidentified, there won’t be any bloodshed.”
One of the team members suddenly straightened, scanning ahead.
“Team Leader! The target has emerged.”
A completely ordinary middle-aged man—nothing about him screamed “Main”—walked out of the elevator, loosening his tie with a casual flick. He looked nothing like the monster Seo Eunha had expected.
“Everyone remember the briefing?”
The instructions were short and straightforward.
If the target transformed into a Main, immediately form a perimeter. Then, as his power depleted, rotate in to keep distance and engage. Repeat until the creature was finished.
“Yes, understood.”
“We’re all set.”
“Good. Operation begins.”
Seo Eunha’s voice was dry and decisive. The team filed out of the vehicle, boots echoing in unison as they advanced toward the lone figure.
Knees thudded against the pavement. Managing Director Kim Hak-yong stopped mid-stride and turned, eyes narrowing in confusion.
“Huh?”
Seo Eunha walked straight up to him, offered a quick, respectful bow, and introduced herself.
“Good afternoon, Managing Director Kim Hak-yong. I am Seo Eunha, leader of Escort Team 2.”
Kim Hak-yong flashed a polished, affable smile and studied each member of her team.
“Ah, Miss Eunha. I’ve heard of you. What can I do for you?”
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but we need to speak with you privately.”
Seo Eunha gave a subtle hand signal. Her teammates immediately moved in, each grabbing one of Kim Hak-yong’s arms and applying steady pressure.
Before he could wrench free, a glass bottle flashed through the air.
HOLY WATER PLACED ON TARGET
—Splash!
Clear liquid drenched Kim Hak-yong’s face.
“……”
“……”
—Drip. Drip.
Shiny droplets slid down his cheek and fell from his chin in steady rhythm.
“What… what is this?”
No transformation occurred. He simply scowled at the sudden deluge, clearly irritated but not yet alarmed.
Deputy Go and the others exchanged glances, sensing something was wrong. They loosened their grip.
“Let me go!”
Kim Hak-yong wrenched his arms free with surprising strength and glared at them.
“This matter will be reported to the higher-ups. What kind of childish prank is this?!”
He shook his head sharply, turned on his heel, and strode back toward his car.
“He misidentified us…”
Seo Eunha watched his retreating figure in stunned silence.
—Thud.
Suddenly the man dropped to his knees right in front of them, then collapsed onto the ground.
“Aaah… aah… aaaaaaah!”
He clutched his face, screaming as if his skin were burning.
“Team Leader! What’s happening?!”
“Quick—look at him!”
As the team watched, Kim Hak-yong’s back began to swell. Black spikes erupted across his body in a grotesque display. The once-human shape twisted and warped into something that bore no resemblance to a man.
“What… what did you throw on me?!”
His voice had changed completely—thick, deep, and layered with raw hatred and multiple overlapping tones.
Seo Eunha’s mind raced. She issued rapid orders.
“It’s a Main! Everyone prepare for combat! Draw weapons!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“It’s really a Main?!”
The team, though shocked, moved with mechanical precision under her command.
“Uwaaaaaah—!”
—BOOM! CRASH!
The creature swelled to the size of a house, its head brushing the ceiling. It tore at its own melting face with one massive hand while using the other to flip nearby vehicles like toys.
“Watch the debris! Form a shield wall—move to flanking positions!”
“Flank positions—now!”
Seo Eunha and her team sprinted through the wreckage, encircling the colossal beast from every angle.
“Who dares… who dares interfere with twenty-five years of dedicated work?!”
Half-mad, the creature swung its enormous talons at the team.
Those claws dwarfed even a grizzly bear’s.
—Clang! Clang!
Seo Eunha raised her shield just in time, deflecting the blow. Her beloved blade countered with lightning speed.
—Clang!
The strike rang against an armor-like hide, leaving no mark.
“Impossible…”
“Toys out of the way!”
The beast lashed out with thick, corded muscle, the swipe whistling through the air.
—Clang!
The impact carved a deep gash into her shield.
One more hit would shatter it.
—Whoosh!
The creature swung again.
—Clang!
Her shield took the blow directly. The claw was now lodged fast.
“Got you!”
Seo Eunha twisted the shield, locking the talon in place.
“Deputy Go!”
She shouted, signaling for the hidden weapon.
“Roger!”
Deputy Go pulled a sheathed blade from her coat—the ancient anti-Main weapon Kang Seojun had given her.
She infused the blade with mana and charged forward.
A blinding white edge suddenly extended from the sheath.
“What—?!”
The blade sliced cleanly across the Main’s spine.
—Shaaaak!
“Gah—gwaaaaaah!!”
The tough hide split open with a wet, audible tear. Purple ichor erupted like a fountain from the wound.
While the creature thrashed in agony, Seo Eunha wrenched the claw free and signaled the others to reposition. The team adjusted their stance without hesitation.
“How… how is this possible?!”
The creature swung wildly, but the battle had already settled into a familiar rhythm. The shield blocked. Deputy Go struck. The others cut off its escape routes. Each time the glowing blade found a gap, the creature staggered.
Soon it collapsed to the ground, its massive body shrinking as magic drained away, turning into a desiccated husk.
“It… it was really a Main?”
The team had won the fight, yet none of them wore triumphant expressions. Only grim realization.
“He was right.”
The high-ranking executive of Sungjin Group—supposedly a top executive—had been a Main spy. The implications sent a chill through every hunter present.
“How did they… obtain this kind of information?!”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
In the student dormitory at the Hunter Academy, deep into the night.
“Serin needs to retrieve the necklace from the Main by tomorrow at the earliest… so I have until then.”
Plenty of time remained. Kang Seojun’s only viable option was simple: mana circulation.
[Basic Mana Circulation Level: Novice]
[Basic Mana Circulation Level: Novice]
[Lucky Bonus! A tremendous stroke of fortune has infused your training! Mana Experience skyrockets!]
…
…
By repeating these micro-sessions whenever he found a quiet moment, Kang Seojun stood a real chance of pushing Basic Mana Circulation to regular level soon. Once he reached that milestone, he could learn Circle Meditation—imbuing a ring in his heart to draw pure mana—or the Inner Energy Techniques passed down between 2nd- and 3rd-rank sects.
[Stealing Host Experience! Physical Experience surges!]
[Stealing Host Experience! Durability Experience surges!]
[Stealing Host Experience! Strength Experience surges!]
Park Sinhu, who had felt the same stimulation during afternoon sparring, was now pouring everything into his own training. Both mana and physical stats were climbing steadily. At this pace, he would probably reach regular cadet level within the week.
Just as these thoughts settled in his mind, a soft chime echoed through the hallway.
“Eh?”
Several faint chimes followed in quick succession. Kang Seojun checked his watch. It was 3:00 a.m.—well past the dormitory curfew.
“What kind of weird event is this…”
Groaning, he rose and shuffled toward the intercom.
Before he could reach it, the entrance camera revealed a small, adorable head—clearly made for cuteness.
“It’s late. Who is it?”
“……”
“It’s me. Serin.”
The voice that answered was nothing like the one Kang Seojun had expected—far too deep, far too low.
The small head lifted, and Jin Serin’s real face appeared on the screen.
“Eh?”
“Me… I know your real identity now.”
“What?!”
Midnight, and she drops this bombshell? Kang Seojun felt his brain short-circuit.