The Method to Resolve a Dilemma
The men who followed Yuri-an stood before me. A strange, tense standoff ensued for a moment.
“Pl-please, spare me.”
Yuri-an had regained consciousness. She pleaded with me, her face a ridiculous sight. “You like me, don’t you? Then… why?”
Her words slurred because her front teeth were missing, but I could still understand her. ‘It seems to be the type that affects emotions.’ Seeing her say such things even after being beaten, it didn't seem like she was just relying on confidence in her own charm. Perhaps she possessed a related skill.
“Why are you doing this! What did I do so wrong!”
And her assumption was correct. Even in this situation, a part of me felt a lingering fondness for her. But fondness is just fondness, after all. Even if I didn't know what would happen as time passed.
“Whatever you did before, whoever you were—that doesn’t matter.” I spoke, bracing my core so everyone could hear. “The mistake was trying to stand above Samira. There is a difference between being proactive and overstepping your bounds.”
Go Mi-hye was the same, and so was Yuri-an. It wasn't just a matter of playing a few tricks. Both of them had orchestrated things to revolve around themselves. Since that didn't align with me, a collision was inevitable, and one side had to break.
“Ple-please… spare me. Just once… forgive me. I won’t act out again.”
“It’s too late.”
If Yuri-an’s skill truly did manipulate the emotions of others, I couldn't let her go. There was a chance that more men like those standing before me would appear.
I drew my dagger. “You’ll get hurt if you move.”
I grabbed Yuri-an by the hair and pulled her up with force.
“Aaaaaaagh!”
Yuri-an shrieked. I drove the dagger into her heart. Thwuck— Deeply. While looking her straight in the eyes.
“Crazy!”
Thud. Kim Jae-seok tripped while rushing over in a panic. Yuna had attacked his legs with a skill.
“Don’t move. You’ll die if you do.” Jang Hoseop warned the flinching men. At the same time, Yuri-an’s eyes lost their luster.
Riiip—
I sliced her clothes open with my dagger, stripping her down to her underwear. “Soul Extraction.”
I pulled out the magic stone, focusing my mind to scrape the mana from Yuri-an’s entire body. I could hear the sound of people murmuring outside the main building. These were the ones who had just come over from Seoul Station.
Thump.
I dropped Yuri-an’s corpse and looked at the frozen men. I felt their emotions, including Kim Jae-seok’s. ‘Anger.’ They still held hostility toward me. With that, their fates were sealed.
“What a shame.” These were the first humans to come of their own volition after the Cart People Project was implemented.
“Sir?”
“It’s nothing.”
I lunged. I turned the men into experience points. They would serve Samira by becoming magic stones.
A lot of blood had flowed in the main building. People were busy scrubbing away the traces.
“Lee Hyun, should I gather the people?” Aunt Sujeong asked, gauging my expression. It seemed my bad mood was obvious.
“Why?”
“Well… I thought we might need to talk about what happened.”
I shook my head. “Finish your daily routine as usual. You can address it well during the Time of Repentance.”
“Yes.”
I had said everything I wanted to say yesterday. I had no intention of giving the same warning twice.
“Oh, throw the bodies to Big Ma as feed. Strip them of all their clothes first.”
“Yes. Understood.”
The quality of meat we could obtain depended on what Big Ma consumed. Feeding her monsters or human flesh would cause toxicity, but that didn't matter to us since we had Seol-hee’s skill.
“Clean up, and everyone gather in the conference room.”
“Yes.”
My group moved busily. I checked their emotions. ‘Hoseop is fine.’ Jang Hoseop, like me, had felt an attraction to Yuri-an. Now, there was no particular emotional disturbance. Perhaps Yuri-an’s skill had certain conditions.
“Boss, but why do we strip them naked?” Jang Hoseop noticed my gaze and scratched his head, then asked as if it had just occurred to him.
“Clothes?”
“Yes. It feels like you strip anyone you consider an enemy. Regardless of gender.”
“It’s because I don’t treat them like people.”
“Ah….” Jang Hoseop nodded. Then he took out his notebook and wrote down what I had said. Why was he writing this down?
‘The one with unstable emotions right now isn’t Jang Hoseop….’
Jang Hoseop was fine. The problem was Jangsu and Yuna.
“Yuna.”
“Yes….” Yuna, who had been watching me, scurried over. Jangsu grew tense as well.
“I know you were deceived by Yuri-an.”
“Yes….”
“From now on, think carefully about what is important. Got it?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
“Hmm, one week of unpaid labor.”
“Yes!” Yuna lifted her head and answered vigorously. I could feel the father and daughter both sighing in relief.
“Lee Hyun, I think we can leave the remaining work to the employees.”
“Yes. Let’s head up.”
After finishing the cleanup at the scene, I went up to the conference room with my group.
“A significant number of people have crossed over from Seoul Station this time.” I started by talking about the treaty we had signed with the Seoul Station Hope Ark. Aunt Sujeong and Hoseop would coordinate the specific distribution of personnel.
“Seol-hee, review the personnel records once they’re organized.”
“Yes.”
My job was to organize the rescue requests and gate-clearing schedules. In addition to that, there was the matter of promotions for several employees. The meeting dragged on a bit.
“Then, the important matters are finished, right?”
“Yes.”
“I have something to tell you all.”
Actually, what I was about to say was also important. If I conveyed my thoughts to the executive staff, they would naturally spread throughout all of Samira.
“I felt it while going through this incident. Currently, Samira takes good care of rewards and recognition, but the criteria for imposing penalties are insufficient.”
It couldn't be helped. Most of Samira’s members had passed my standards. They had gone through a kind of entrance test. Plus, there was Aunt Sujeong’s skill. There was plenty of work, and everyone had set foot on Samira’s land after experiencing difficult times. It meant they had neither the time nor the reason to have ulterior motives. So, they had done their best for survival and for Samira.
“Most of the people gathered were like that, but since I decided to expand our influence, Samira’s net has become quite loose.”
“That’s true. And it will continue to be that way.”
“Now that we have employees who have been promoted, establish a clear hierarchy and create a sense of tension.”
I instructed them to devise a method for that. Of course, my very existence was a suppressor that prevented people from going astray. However, people sometimes forget that when they can’t see it.
“Mitigating circumstances… there’s no such thing. Address even the smallest matters clearly.”
In my view, Go Mi-hye and Yuri-an had strong psychological defense mechanisms. Both of them had a mindset that ‘I am fine.’ This time, fortunately, I weeded them out before the problem grew, but I had to ensure such figures never emerged again.
“Secondly… I’ve decided to introduce a new concept for the classification of fundamental skills. Hoseop.”
“Yes. I’ve been thinking about Yuri-an’s skill.”
Jang Hoseop explained to the group his hypothesis about Yuri-an’s skill. It was a type that stimulated a person’s favorable emotions, and the intensity seemed to change according to certain conditions.
“The point we should pay attention to is that Yuri-an’s skill ignored levels.”
Aunt Sujeong’s skill was influenced by levels. To be precise, it was influenced by mana. Also, resistance to skills varied from person to person, which also had an effect. For example, Aunt Sujeong’s skill didn't work on me. Jangsu and Jang Hoseop had similar levels, but Jangsu was affected much more.
“So, I intend to call these fundamental skills ‘Authorities’ from now on.”
“Authorities?”
“Yes. Come to think of it, your skills, Boss, are also close to Authorities. They are a bit different in nature from our skills.”
‘Authority’ was a name Jang Hoseop had given after listening to me. We hadn't reached a clear definition yet. We were at the stage of roughly setting the name and trying to understand it.
“You can consider them a higher concept than ordinary skills. In the sense that they aren't affected by levels or mana. Instead, the fundamental skill itself has certain conditions or constraints….”
Among the skills possessed by Samira’s members, there would be those that belonged to ‘Authorities.’ From now on, we would classify and record them.
“I named them first to be wary of them. Authorities can be, um… a threat.”
“Ah, that could be true. If we had been late in noticing Yuri-an….”
“Yes. Samira might have split. Of course, if that happened, the people on the opposite side of you, Boss, would all be dead.”
The group nodded. After talking about a few more things,
“That’s all for today. Everyone, go have dinner quickly.”
I was just about to wrap up the meeting when, for some reason, Bom raised her hand.
“Um… I received a request for the Time of Repentance.”
“To you, Noona?”
“Yes. But it wasn't a matter for me to judge.”
The Time of Repentance was a system created only yesterday. I hadn't expected a request to come to Bom, following Yuna.
“What is it about?”
“Well… you know Do Ji-eun, right?”
“Yeah.”
Do Ji-eun was a resident of Muhwadong, a woman whose hand I had cut off due to her kleptomania.
“She said she was… looking at your mother’s photo and imitating her.”
“What? My mom?”
“Yes.”
Following Yuri-an, this was another difficult thing to understand.
After the meeting, I met with Do Ji-eun separately. My mood was already bad because of Yuri-an and her group. On top of that, Do Ji-eun’s consultation topic was related to my mother.
“I, I’m sorry!”
Although she didn't show it on the outside, Do Ji-eun was perceptive. She apologized as soon as she saw me.
“I heard the story roughly. Why did you do that?”
Do Ji-eun’s skill was in the beauty category. She could change her own body. She could choose to lose fat in desired areas or improve her skin texture. Simply put, self-plastic surgery was possible. Do Ji-eun had been using that ability to change her appearance. Into the image of my mother when she was young.
“I thought if I did that, you might look at me favorably… you hate me, don’t you.”
I read her emotions. Fear, anxiety, anticipation, etc. Various emotions were felt, and among them, her affection for me was also significant. In a way, she was an amazing woman. Even after what I did to her, she didn't harbor bad feelings. That was why she survived. My heart softened a little.
“Is that all?”
“Yes? What do you….”
“Do you have any other intentions?”
“No. I’m sorry. I didn't even ask for permission… I wanted to tell you, but I didn't have the chance.”
Do Ji-eun’s purpose was pure. She said it was hard to bear being disliked by me because of her past mistakes while living in Muhwadong.
“I don’t have bad feelings toward you, Do Ji-eun. That was a matter that ended back then.”
I didn't hate her. Do Ji-eun had paid for her crimes.
“Yes? Really?”
“Yes. But it’s unpleasant that you’re imitating my mother’s appearance as you please.”
Whose appearance she imitated was her freedom. However, it was unavoidable that it bothered me that she was imitating my mother.
“Ah, I’m still far from it. It takes a long time anyway because the bone structure is different. So I was going to ask for permission if I had the chance….”
She said that since the Time of Repentance was created, she had informed Bom immediately. I examined Do Ji-eun’s face closely.
‘Certainly, I don’t see Mom’s face yet.’
It was just that her skin was better than others and her double eyelids had become more defined. There were no dark circles or blemishes at all. If she hadn't told me first, no one would have known for a while that she was imitating my mother.
“I’m sorry. I won’t do it. I had absolutely no intention of hurting your feelings, Lee Hyun. And there was no impure motive either.”
“Yes. Then that’s fine.”
Do Ji-eun bowed her waist deeply again. I could feel her relief. After hearing the answer I wanted, a question suddenly occurred to me.
“But how are you imitating my mother?”
“Well… a while ago, when I went to your house for treatment. I saw your mother’s photo then.”
Do Ji-eun coming to my house was almost two months ago. The time she stayed at my house was also very short. Could she imitate my mother’s appearance with just the memory from then?
“I remember people’s faces or… visual information well.”
“Is it not the influence of the skill, but that you were originally like that?”
“Yes. So I drew a picture… ah, I’m sorry about this too. I wanted to tell you.”
Do Ji-eun took out a notebook. She opened the notebook and held it out to me.
“Ah….”
It was my mother. Longing surged up at the sight of my mother drawn in pencil.
“You… draw well.”
“Hehe… thank you. I’m an art student, after all….”
The face of my mother that Do Ji-eun drew was almost identical to the photo I still had. But that wasn't the end. As I flipped through the notebook, drawings of my mother in various angles continued to appear.
“This isn't it.”
“Yes?”
“There are parts that are different from my mother.”
“Ah, I only saw a front-facing photo of her face… so I just filled in the rest with imagination….”
I wanted to see a proper drawing. If I showed Do Ji-eun more photos of my mother and explained things, I thought she could draw them. In addition, I also had the greed to see my mother’s living appearance again.
“Is it possible to change your appearance to be exactly the same as my mother’s?”
I didn't intend to force her. I asked because it seemed like Do Ji-eun had the heart to do so anyway.
“I’m just asking out of curiosity.”
“It probably won’t be exactly the same. Touching the bones takes a long time… but I think it could become similar enough to resemble her.”
Do Ji-eun replied that she didn't know what would happen if her level rose further.
“Shall we try it for now?”
“You don’t have to force it. Let me say it again. I have never had bad feelings toward you because of that incident. The same goes for now.”
Do Ji-eun would also value her own true self. And just because her appearance became the same didn't mean my mother would really come back to life.
“I’m really fine. No, it’s not that I’m fine, but what if I want it?”
“You don’t have to do that just to read my mood….”
“Your mother is a beauty, isn't she? It takes a long time anyway, so if you give me permission, I’ll think about it gradually….”
It wasn't just for the purpose of scoring points with me. Do Ji-eun emphasized that point.
“You seem to like the drawings too… I’ll draw more for you. How about it?”
I hesitated and then nodded. Since Do Ji-eun’s appearance wouldn't change drastically in an instant, I could stop at any time by watching the situation later.
“Let’s stop if either of us feels uncomfortable.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
Do Ji-eun asked for my permission and rejoiced. And I thought of a way to better utilize the gate search function of the Spirit Stone by using her ability.
‘I’ll have to test it, but….’
Before that.
“And this part.”
“Yes? Ah, the drawing? Yes.”
“It’s too flat.”
“Yes? This?”
“Yes. My mother was bigger than this.”
I pointed out the parts that bothered me in Do Ji-eun’s drawing first.
I talked with Do Ji-eun for quite a while and returned home. The conversation was longer than I thought, so we even had dinner together at the main building’s cafeteria. I also decided to show her more photos of my mother.
“Hyun-ah. You’re late. How did it go?”
“I gave permission.”
“Oh? Really? I thought you would hate it.”
Bom didn't go to the Time of Repentance today either. Bom and Seol-hee didn't have to attend the Time of Repentance. Since one person was missing, there was a lot of work for the two of them to do. Actually, it was the interns who really needed the Time of Repentance.
“Equipment cleanup is finished.”
“Yes. You worked hard. Thank you, Noona.”
“It’s nothing~ Go wash up quickly. You need to rest.”
Bom left the main room, saying she had to watch over Hyerin. I took off my clothes and headed to the bathroom.
Creeeak.
But there was someone in the bathroom. Seol-hee was cleaning the bathtub.
She looked at me with her eyes wide open, then sat down and hurriedly turned her head away.