The Cockroach Call Center Kang Jiwoo
Hey Jiwoo, you finally moved?
“Finally, I don’t have to take the subway for two hours anymore!”
Today is my first day at my new place after the move.
I’m ridiculously happy about it.
Because I moved within a five-minute walk to work.
Even if I had to scrape and scramble to afford it—pulling every last cent out of my pockets and even my ass cheeks.
“This neighborhood must be insanely expensive. You’re really something.”
“Haha. I did have to hustle a bit.”
“When’s the housewarming party? We’re all coming.”
“Ah, that… maybe later. Haha.”
I was thirty years old.
In a life where I had nothing special going for me, the only thing I could still do was talk on the phone, so I was living off my salary at the call center.
“Huh? There’s a super huge cockroach? Just call Secom or something like that.”
“Oh. It’s about the size of a fan, huh? Okay, I’ll call it right away. What’s the address?”
Twenty years ago, insects and monsters of impossible sizes started appearing.
And just like they were waiting for it, people with powers started showing up too.
The blessing only went to a select few, and sadly, it never came to me.
If I ever once hoped it might happen late in life, that would be a lie.
But.
Even now, not a single finger could light a candle for me.
Just the ability to charge my phone with my fingertips would already be so convenient and nice.
So instead of looking like a flashy hero that everyone would admire… I just do what I can.
Take reports and call the right hero to send.
That’s all I do now.
It’s so goddamn annoying.
[Central Monster Disaster Call Center]
Here we shortened monster entities to monsters and called them that.
‘…Hmm. For requests this big, I need at least a D-class hero…’
Unfortunately, the shortage of hero manpower had gotten worse because of the sudden explosion in small requests lately.
I scanned the rank-by-rank office list stuck to the partition next to my monitor with my finger.
‘Calling here would probably cause chaos… hmm.’
No choice. Delaying a request means I get penalized too.
“Hello. This is Kang Jiwoo from the Central Monster Disaster Center. Starforce office? There’s an Insect E+ grade cockroach request near Donggyo-dong. Can you respond?”
“Excuse me? Counselor. We only have B-class heroes here, right? These amateur requests are a bit much.”
I saw this coming.
“According to the caller, this cockroach isn’t normal—it has something like a huge weapon on its back.”
Liar.
“Eh? Is it a mutant? Well, whatever. I’ll send Leviathan Girl. She’s nearby, so tell her to be there in ten minutes.”
“Thank you. I’ll send the address right away.”
Click.
I’ll send her and figure out how to deal with the chaos later.
A cockroach that’s only fan-sized? Isn’t this already an urgent request?
I put the call on hold and took a quick breather.
In front of my counseling desk hung a huge status board showing real-time monster sightings in each area.
I had once dreamed big looking at that board, but now it was all useless.
I was just here sitting and turning phone calls.
I sighed and turned my gaze to the TV next to it.
[Popular Hero Leviathan Girl’s new battle suit revealed! Searches hit number one in just one day]
[Hero Association “Considering combat efficiency and public appeal…”]
Monster info was in the background, and everything was hero gossip.
The screen showed the dizzying new uniform of the Leviathan Girl I just called.
Is that a battle suit or a swimsuit?
I’d stared at it without realizing it.
Well, it looks great though.
Ding.
‘There are a lot of calls today. I should answer one more.’
Beep.
“Hello. This is Kang Jiwoo. How can I help you?”
『Uwaaaaaah! Save me! Giant monster flies are everywhere—come quickly!!』
This time it must be a fly-type monster.
This one is common too.
With its wings, its speed is high, so sending a C-class should be enough.
“Huh? How many are there? Where’s that place?”
『Not how many! They’re everywhere! Aaaah ah ah!!…』
Tap tap tap.
“Excuse me, sir!”
Emergency.
When this happens, I have to track the call and confirm the location.
At that moment.
My vision that was looking at the monitor suddenly split into hundreds, thousands of pieces.
I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head hard.
‘Ugh. What the hell. My head’s spinning.’
When I opened my eyes again, luckily I was fine.
Must be the lens.
But just now, it felt like I saw our building from outside.
Strange.
At that moment.
Instant calls started flooding in from everywhere.
Whoosh whoosh.
Why? Is something happening somewhere?
“Huh? A fly army? Where is that?”
“A monster fly has a machine gun sticking out? Euljiro?”
Everyone was saying the same thing.
But if it’s Euljiro, that’s right here?
Boom boom boom.
A huge noise exploded from the window at the edge of the office.
Glass shards flew in all directions, and the blind on the window was ripped to shreds like paper and shot through the air.
Concrete chunks and iron skeletons followed right behind.
One desk at the window was flipped upside down, and the monitor rolled across the floor and shattered.
Stacks of papers fluttered and scattered into the air.
In an instant, one whole wall was torn open.
Outside sky was visible through the dust and gray smoke.
The office was briefly wrapped in static.
Everyone stared blankly at the hole.
And belatedly, screams erupted.
“Kyaaak!”
“Uwaaa!”
“What the hell is that?”
Wiiiing.
The sound of insect wings pierced my ears first.
A huge fly appeared.
Its body was way bigger than a person, and its transparent wings were flapping madly.
On its back was a massive metal hunk.
A machine gun.
The muzzle slowly turned toward the inside of the office.
“Run!!”
The moment someone shouted, the muzzle flashed.
Space exploded in the direction the muzzle cut.
The monitor exploded, the partition was torn, and concrete chunks rained from the ceiling.
People screamed and dropped to the floor or threw themselves toward the emergency exit.
This can’t be happening.
I froze sitting right where I was.
‘This is a 21st-floor air-raid shelter building, right? How did it even get through that?’
‘In the middle of the city center too?’
I quickly dropped under the desk.
Other people were all running toward the emergency exit.
‘Just report and get out of here too.’
I squatted and quickly pressed the headset hotkey.
It was the feature that automatically connected to the nearest hero.
“Yes, Fortune Girl from Badgirl Agency.”
Of course, it was the Badgirl office.
A hero agency made up entirely of women.
But since their rank was low, they mostly handled C to E class missions.
Just like last time when I couldn’t find them for the cockroach case.
“Y-yes! This is the Central Monster Disaster Call Center. The Eulji building is currently under attack. Please send quick support!!”
“What? This voice sounds familiar. You usually don’t even take my requests seriously and suddenly call first?”
“It’s urgent. I don’t have time to talk. Shit…”
I almost cursed out loud.
Everyone’s screaming, and this voice isn’t heard?
No.
Especially at times like this, I should stay calm and polite.
I’m from the central call center, after all.
Grinding my teeth, I forced out the words again.
“Fortune Girl? This is an emergency right now. E-me-rgency. Send all personnel from your office.”
“Why? Are the other heroes all busy this time?”
Ah, really.
“Hello? Are you joking?”
“No, I’m not. Usually you wouldn’t even grunt if I asked for a mission. Last time I—
At that moment, I saw someone collapsing far away.
Damn, are you playing around?
“This damn shit. Stop bullshitting and come over!! Hurry!!”
“Ah… okay. I was already on my way from the nearby area.”
Tap tap.
Exactly like this, I have to be this chaotic.
Haa.
Fortune Girl.
E-class, she can’t even catch a cockroach properly, so that’s why she’s not usually called.
I immediately turned to the next call.
This time, luckily a big office came up.
After I added the support request, I went toward the fallen person.
“Is there anyone? Help us!”
Fortunately, the team leader ran in and helped carry the injured person.
The elevator door was visible, but the team leader hurriedly shook his head.
“Not the elevator. Go down the stairs!”
While changing direction to the stairs, I heard the fly wing sound getting closer from behind.
I glanced back and saw it had come right up to me.
Big trouble.
I’m going to get caught.
“Hurry! It’s coming this way!”
“Uh. Yeah. Let’s go.”
Since it’s a machine gun type, it definitely has reloading time.
But just this guy alone was dangerous enough.
Let me think quickly.
Insect C-type. Fly.
Light and sound.
Reactive to fast-moving objects.
Yeah.
“Team leader, go ahead. I’ll lure it.”
“What? It’s dangerous!”
I quickly pulled my phone from my pocket, manipulated it, and jumped to the opposite side.
“Illua and you bastard!! Aaaaaah!”
I yelled, waving my hand to draw its attention.
Luckily, the fly monster recognized me and turned its body toward me.
I glanced at the phone and manipulated while playing some random video.
The screen flashed on, and the volume was turned to the maximum possible.
It had to be a loud sound that would definitely catch attention.
But at that moment.
A sticky voice suddenly burst from the phone video.
“Aaaang. Aaaang. Oppa. Aaaang.”
Ink?
What kind of video is this?
Clearly something bad.
Damn it.
No time to check.
The fly monster’s body was turning toward me right in front of my eyes.
I swung the phone light big.
I stretched my arm fully and waved it like drawing a big circle in the air.
Its thousands of tiny eyes followed the light.
Ugh. Gross.
Then I threw the phone with all my strength toward the opposite desk.
“Kk!”
Looking at the phone flying in an arc across the office space, I thought.
‘Goodbye, my AirPods 17.’
Thud.
The phone fell into the corner between the desks far away.
And through the phone speaker, the unknown girl’s voice echoed thickly throughout the entire office.
I immediately squatted where I was, covered my head, and closed my eyes.
Please.
Please go that way.
I slightly opened my eyes.
The huge fly monster was half-flying toward the noisy side.
‘Phew. Thank goodness.’
I slowly turned around without making any sound and started walking toward the elevator.
I glanced back and walked slowly.
The thing stayed right there.
Kk. That video must have been to his taste.
When I reached the elevator, no one was there.
‘Somehow it feels a little empty, like everyone just left.’
At that moment, a call came up on the elevator.
Ehh?
Ding.
The elevator stopped at the 21st floor.
‘Who got on the elevator? In the middle of this?’
The door slowly opened, and one silhouette appeared.
A woman with black ponytail tied high. A healthy beauty with slightly tanned skin and big eyes.
Her short track jacket outfit gave a bright, refreshing, and even punchy vibe like a soda.
Even in this situation, my instinct to scan if she’s pretty first felt a bit absurd, but a serious hero-like composure came from her tightly shut lips.
She stood there quietly for about five seconds.
‘But why didn’t she get out immediately?’
Whether she was taking her time or thinking something, I couldn’t tell.
But standing alone inside the elevator posing like the main character strangely suited her.
Finally, she stepped out of the elevator and shouted while looking around.
“Everyone! Miss Fortune Girl has arrived! Everyone, get on and go down!”
“………”
Ah. So you’re Fortune Girl? The one I called earlier?
I remembered raising my voice on the phone a few times, but this was the first time I actually saw her face.
Everyone? What the hell? I’m the only one here.
But this is the elevator right before it collapses, and she came on it.
With this, can I really call her a hero?
Fortune Girl ran to the front of the elevator after her gesture, but I saw cracks on the wall and unease surged.
Should I take this? I learned that you don’t take elevators during disasters.
Looking at her suspicious gaze, she nodded reassuringly and smiled brightly.
At that moment.
Without realizing, my heart thudded and went blank at her smile.
Looking closely, she’s completely my type?
No, what the hell, Jiwoo. This isn’t the time.
But just now, that woman had safely taken the elevator, and above all, seeing that self-confident smile gave me some weird trust.
‘Ah, whatever.’
I swallowed hard and stepped toward the elevator.
At that moment.
Drrrrrrr.
The floor trembled.
More precisely, inside the elevator.
Kriiiik.
Along with a sound of something snapping, the floor inside the door suddenly sank.
Ku ku ku!
The elevator cabin in front of my eyes fell down and disappeared.
Dust gushed out from the open door, and broken cables swung.
I stood frozen and only turned my neck to look at Fortune Girl.
She waved the thick dust with her hand and said.
“Cough. Huh? Why suddenly… cough.”
“………”
This damn it.
She was about to go straight to the afterlife.
Fortune Girl approached me with an expression as if nothing had happened.
She brushed off the dust on my shoulder and awkwardly smiled.
“Ah. Haha. Whew. It’s really lucky. That thing was about to collapse right before I got on… right?”
Haa.
Yeah. Good that it collapsed before I got on.
If it had collapsed after, what would I have done?
It had to be this hero who came first.
At that moment, an eerie giant shadow flickered behind her.
I had forgotten.
The fly monster.
That guy was still here.
I quickly raised my hand and pointed at it while shouting.
“Look behind you!! The fly guy!!”