Chapter 002
[Chapter 002]
< Contract Renewal Re-evaluation >
2
White eyes shining even in the darkness.
Park Jin-soo, with his eyes wide open, was looking at me with contempt.
“No, just now...!”
“No my ass! It’s lucky the Crack closed on its own, otherwise our whole team would’ve died because of you!”
Is he just concluding this arbitrarily based on this situation?
That I didn't do anything, and the Crack just closed by luck.
“Fine, forget it. What can I expect from an incompetent guy like you.”
Park Jin-soo said coldly.
“It’s not....”
In an instant, I snapped to my senses.
What use would any excuse I make here be?
“....”
So I just decided to shut my mouth.
Just as I always had.
Because I had no energy to be angry, nor strength to vent my sense of injustice.
Perhaps taking my silence as affirmation, Park Jin-soo became even more high-spirited and began to sneer.
“Well, what can one expect from an E-Class. If you don't have talent, you should at least do what you're told to act like a human being. You’re not even that, are you?”
Team Leader Park Jin-soo.
He was once a promising C-Rank Awakener, but he was a person who failed the promotion exam repeatedly and couldn't cross the threshold of B-Rank.
That twisted inferiority complex was the problem.
That inferiority complex manifested as flattery toward high-rankers more talented than him, and as contempt and power-tripping toward low-rankers weaker than him.
In particular, he hated seeing a low-rank Hunter trying hard the most, and he considered me the biggest eyesore.
“I knew it from the start. You’re a hopeless case. Is the Hunter Management Bureau some charity? To feed a salary thief like you?”
[...]
Amidst Team Leader Park’s vitriol, a system message only I could see appeared faintly before my eyes.
[Final rank re-evaluation complete.]
“Today's matter won’t just be overlooked, got it?”
[Determined as EX-Rank.]
I am... what?
“Hey, Jang Kang-hyun! Hey, you’re not answering?”
EX-Rank?
* * *
A few days later, the Hunter Management Bureau conference room.
The contract renewal re-evaluation was in full swing.
“Next is... Jang Kang-hyun. From Field Support Team 3, E-Class Awakener, right?”
The HR manager said while flipping through documents.
The contract renewal re-evaluation is held annually at the Hunter Management Bureau.
This was a shackle that only applied to E-Rank and D-Rank Hunters.
Usually, from C-Rank and above, it was common for contracts to be automatically extended or scouted with better conditions.
Having a low rank meant you could be cut at any time.
“Hmm, let's see. Over the last year, Crack response contribution C, monster debris processing efficiency B-, team collaboration score C+··· overall, it’s mediocre.”
As the HR manager said, Jang Kang-hyun’s official report card was meager.
Most members of the support team were like that.
Because most of the work they did was classified as miscellaneous tasks and wasn't properly reflected in the scores.
The standards themselves were a mess.
“Hmm, with this kind of score, is there any need to renew the contract?”
Just then, Old Man No from the equipment management team pushed up his glasses and spoke.
“I am in favor of extending Manager Jang’s contract.”
“Is there a reason, Old Man No?”
“He might not have talent, but it’s rare to find a person as sincere and meticulous as that guy. When the Crack occurred largely in Incheon last month, did you know there was a fine crack in the mana stabilization field generator?”
“Ah, that Songdo Crack? It was terrible.”
It was the Crack that occurred at the Songdo New City coastal park in Incheon last month.
A Crack is a phenomenon where space is torn because it cannot withstand the pressure the Tower exerts on reality.
Unrefined mana pouring out through the gap.
It was the same as eroding poison.
“At that time, there was such a crack in the generator?”
Mana stabilization field generator.
It was equipment that was the very reason for the Bureau's existence.
As the name suggests, it was essential equipment to minimize civilian damage by stabilizing the mana around the Crack.
Unrefined mana leaking from the Tower is just an unpleasant energy to Awakeners, but it was different for non-Awakener civilians.
Exposure to mana winds would cause pain as if tens of thousands of needles were pricking the entire body, and in severe cases, could even lead to death from mana poisoning.
The generator was the invisible shield that blocked that very mana wind.
“If it weren't for Manager Jang, no one would have noticed and it would have been overlooked. If that had exploded on site, half the civilians would have died instantly.”
A moment of silence flowed in the conference room.
“That's not all. The problem where C-Rank Hunters' equipment replacement cycle was uniquely short. It was resolved thanks to Manager Jang organizing a report on corrosion patterns according to monster blood components.”
“I think there was such a report.”
“Well, it’s not exactly a great achievement.”
“Even if it’s not flashy, if that guy isn't here, troublesome things will pop up here and there.”
At Old Man No's words, several people nodded.
“That’s nonsense. Does that change the fact that he’s E-Rank?”
Park Jin-soo countered, shouting so loudly the entire conference room echoed.
“During this Crack incident, Jang Kang-hyun ignored and did not follow the superior’s orders.”
“He didn't follow orders? Manager Jang isn't the type to....”
“Don't you all know? A Crack isn't just a simple gap in space! You know well how dangerous the mana pouring out through that gap is for civilians, don't you?”
Park Jin-soo was getting excited, even the veins in his neck bulging, and since there was no one to judge the facts, everyone could only listen.
“A Crack is a time attack. If not processed in time, it turns the surrounding area into contaminated land like a part of the Tower along with a massive explosion. Disobeying orders at a scene where every second counts is a heavy crime, like pushing citizens into the jaws of death!”
There was even a plausible sense of mission in his voice.
He was criticizing Jang Kang-hyun’s actions while highlighting the danger of the Crack.
“We must make it clear this time. Our Bureau is a place operated by national taxes. It is right to lay off all E-Class Hunters who have no talent and no sense of mission.”
“All of them?”
“Wouldn't it be much more efficient to support talented B and C-Rank Hunters with that budget?”
This was the agenda Park Jin-soo had been pushing lately.
Claiming that keeping incompetent low-rank Hunters is a waste of blood tax, and insisting on increasing organizational efficiency through bold restructuring.
“If you put it that way....”
“Then, shall we conclude here?”
The decision didn't take long.
* * *
As soon as I arrived at work, I moved to the basement.
There was something I had to do first.
‘First, let's confirm if this EX-Rank is correct.’
It was common to raise a Hunter rank through a promotion exam.
In the case of a sudden re-awakening like me, one could be officially recognized only by visiting the Hunter Association and doing a ‘rank re-registration.’
‘Was the re-registration fee 3 million won?’
The reason the cost was high was clear.
Re-awakening itself was a very rare case, and above all, the visual memory seen on the status window was everything as to whether a real re-awakening had occurred or not.
It could be a hallucination created by the fear of death, or an illusion shaped by an earnest wish.
‘I think I re-awakened as S-Rank. I’m sure of it!’
The minimum device to filter out visionaries who come with conviction.
That was exactly this expensive fee.
Of course, they would return it if a high rank came out, but it was too much money for me right now.
It could really be that I saw something that wasn't there.
‘So let's go the safe way.’
The fortunate thing was that because I was a Bureau employee, I could use the measurement room within the Bureau without needing to go to the Association.
Before I knew it, my steps reached the rank measurement room on the 1st basement floor.
“Oh? Manager Jang, what brings you here?”
Manager Kim Mi-na, who was guarding the measurement room, recognized me and spoke.
“Did someone ask you to measure them secretly again?”
Hunters who wanted to try measuring but didn't want to pay the fee often used me to bring people here.
Because they knew I couldn't refuse well.
“Ah, it’s not someone else, it’s for me.”
“For you? That’s unusual. But what should I do? I’m called to headquarters right now and have to leave.”
It was still during work hours, but she was already wearing her outer coat.
“Manager Jang, you know how to do this, right?”
Manager Kim Mi-na pointed to the measurement machine.
It was her intention to dump the work on me and leave.
Normally, I would have had no choice but to do it, but today it was rather a relief.
“Yes, of course. Have a safe trip.”
When Manager Kim Mi-na left, I was left alone in the measurement room.
“Here it is.”
When I turned on the familiar measurement machine, the screen soon lit up.
[Please place your hand on the mana measurement machine.]
I took a deep breath and placed my hand on the cold measurement machine.
V-RRRRRRR-!
The machine operated with a loud noise.
After a while, the result was displayed on the screen.
[Identity confirmed.]
[Awakener Jang Kang-hyun]
[Previous Mana Rank: E]
Usually, a Hunter's rank is determined by the total amount of mana held in the body.
So usually the Hunter rank and mana rank almost match, which was the reason this measurement machine had reliability.
[Re-measuring rank....]
The downside was that reliability wasn't 100%.
Still, it roughly converged to about 80%, so it wasn't completely untrustworthy.
[Analyzing mana composition··· Unable to detect special wavelengths.]
[Analyzing total mana amount··· Infinitesimal change value.]
After a tense wait, the final result appeared on the screen.
[Current Mana Rank: E]
“...What?”
As expected, I had seen it wrong.
‘Right, I hadn't even heard of there being an EX rank in the first place.’
Currently, A-Rank in South Korea are a tiny minority compared to all Hunters, and S-Rank who only deploy for national disaster-level situations can be counted on fingers.
But I am EX-Rank?
It was an absurd delusion.
‘Was it a hallucination created by the fear of death...?’
It could be that my earnest heart burst through.
It was a bit hollow, but it’s something that happens often.
“Manager Jang, were you here?”
“Yes?”
While I was lost in thought, someone opened the measurement room door and entered. It was an HR staff member.
“Team Leader Park was looking for you. He said to come to the Team Leader's office.”
I could roughly guess what it was about.
* * *
I was called to the Team Leader's office and received a white envelope.
“....”
As expected, it was a layoff notice.
“Good work, Jang Kang-hyun.”
This was the report card for the last 6 years.
“When you get your severance pay, use it to go out and fry some chicken or something.”
I didn't make any response.
No, it would be more accurate to say I couldn't hear any words.
“I’m saying this because I think that would suit your aptitude better, so don't take it badly.”
My mind went blank.
6 years of early morning commutes, night shifts, and weekend shifts flashed by like a kaleidoscope.
All of that returned in the form of this single sheet of paper.
I felt hollow.
A feeling of deep futility rather than anger encroached upon my whole body.
Overnight, the place I had to go disappeared.
But strangely.
‘Now that it’s come to this, my heart feels lighter instead.’
The heavy responsibility that weighed down my shoulders.
The inferiority complex about my low rank that always tightened around me.
The apology toward my family.
I started to feel a strange sense of freedom as if I had been liberated from all of that.
‘This isn't bad either?’
Without realizing it, a smirk escaped me.
“What, are you crazy?”
Ah, this human was still here.
“Team Leader.”
“W-what?”
“I learned a lot thanks to you.”
“What? Have you finally come to your senses?”
Park Jin-soo laughed triumphantly.
I continued my words with a smile.
“Yes. I learned well that no matter how hard you work, it’s useless if the superiors press you down like this.”
“W-what? That arrogant thing...!”
Park Jin-soo’s face turned bright red.
“I hope we never meet again.”
With those words, I turned my body without dealing with him further.
Park Jin-soo’s shouting echoed behind my back, but I didn't care in the slightest.
Thanks to that, I felt like I could leave without any lingering attachment.
* * *
A wasteland where quiet silence flows.
The black-red soil that hadn't been touched by anyone for several years began to move very slightly.
Tap.
A faint sound as if a single raindrop had fallen on the dry land.
Tap, tap.
On the cracked garden plot.
As if inside a giant egg that had been sleeping deep underground, something was tapping the ground as if trying to hatch.
Cr-crack!
Cracks spread like a spiderweb on the ground centered where the sound occurred.
The moment beams of mana light rose like a haze through the gaps and uncontrollable cracking spread.
-...!
An out-of-spec existence completed preparations to come out into the world.
Only to greet its one and only master.
< Contract Renewal Re-evaluation > END