First Commission (1)
The story progressed smoothly.
"So we've got official IDs now?"
"Yeah! Now we can pay taxes." Me and Yoo Hwa now had proper identities. They'd even made one for Yoo Hwa when she asked. And the names were listed as Heuk Seol-ah and Yoo Hwa—seemed like brand-new registrations.
And then.
"No more need to work!"
The bank account tied to our new IDs had a balance of 10 billion won stamped on it.
"But why do you want a building in a specific location?"
"I just want to live in a nice place."
"Ah, if that's the goal, leave it to me."
The real reason I wanted a building wasn't the goshiwon—it was to have a good home. I entrusted it to him, and trusting Kim Han-seong, I slacked off.
"Please move into this apartment. It's owned by XX Corporation, a subsidiary of the Association."
"...XX Corporation is a subsidiary? That massive conglomerate?"
"It's not public knowledge. This apartment is where many high-ranking Association members live."
"Why's that?"
"If an incident happens at home, it's easy to respond immediately. Plus, the apartment has multiple monster defense systems, so low-grade monsters can't even stick a toe in."
"So no monsters show up?!"
"I can't guarantee it, but... any monster that could breach the defenses would be detected and eliminated before it even reaches the building."
My choice was spot on. The biggest issue—frequent monster appearances—was solved in one go.
"I've been wondering... is Yoo Hwa next to you also a monster?"
"Yeah, that's right. Say hi."
"Hello, I'm Yoo Hwa."
Kim Han-seong pondered for a moment at her words, then nodded.
"It should be fine. The Association won't make a fuss."
"Really?"
"Yes. They're lenient with friendly monsters." As he said that, he scanned us with some kind of device, beeping away.
"Now you're both registered, so the defense systems won't react. Though even if they did, you'd be fine anyway."
Time passed like that, and now, two days after moving into the apartment, I was rolling around on the bed.
This place was fucking amazing, no lie. If I'd tried to buy it outright, it'd probably cost at least 5 billion won.
'Just write off the goshiwon rent.'
The goshiwon rent stung a bit, but compared to the 10 billion in the bank, it was negligible.
Screeech.
"Time to eat~."
At that moment, Yoo Hwa entered my room wearing an apron. Obsessed with food as she was, she'd spent the last two days learning to cook. Probably found the idea of making her own meals appealing. And she had a real talent for it—now she could whip up home-cooked meals with ease.
"Up we go."
I bounced out of bed. The tray she'd prepared was luxurious as hell, taste aside. Thanks to her, I got to sample all sorts of Korean dishes at every meal. And this was just after two days. The future looked promising.
"This took a ton of work."
"Good job, thanks."
Sitting at the table, I eyed the feast: doenjang jjigae, fish... incredible.
'Her skills have leveled up again?'
Amazed by the spread, I started eating.
"Eat slowly. No one's gonna steal it."
"You saying that?" After devouring tens of thousands of won worth of food in a single day?
"..."
She shut up, knowing it, and sat across from me, eating quietly.
Bzzz.
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number. Spam call?
"Hello."
—Hello? Is this Heuk Seol-ah?
A woman's voice came through the phone.
"Yes, speaking."
—Ah, this is Jeong Seol-yoon, team leader of Special Ability Agent Team 7.
Special Ability Agent Team?'Oh yeah, Kim Han-seong asked me to join them.' So she was an agent too?
—Are you busy right now?
"No? What's up?"
—Nothing major, but our team's heading into an operation today. Could you join us? We have Association approval.
I chewed my food thoughtfully. They were deploying a whole team and calling in extra help like me? Must be one hell of a monster.
'Gotta take this one.'
I'd added a clause allowing me to refuse requests, but... this was the first one. Turning it down after taking all the benefits and chilling would be a dick move.
"Can you tell me about the operation first?"
—It's hard to explain over the phone, so I'll text you the details.
"Okay, hanging up then."
Click.
I hung up and shoved more side dishes in my mouth.
"Who was that?"
"Nothing big. Looks like we've got work today."
"A request?"
Yoo Hwa knew all about my contract with the Association.
"Yeah. First one, so I'll take it unless it's insane."
"You'll be fine, but I'm worried..."
"Don't sweat it. If it looks bad for you, I'll shove you straight back to the Demon Realm."
Still, Yoo Hwa was pretty strong, so it shouldn't be that dangerous. No way something like the Underground Kingdom Great Enemy would pop up like a stray dog, right?
Ding.
We finished eating while chatting, and the text arrived.
Our Special Ability Agent Team 7 has been assigned to eliminate the B-grade organization 'Invincible Research Group'.
However, we determined that our team alone can't fully eliminate a B-grade group, so we've been authorized to hire external mercenaries.
If you accept and join us, we'll wire the 30 million won request fee immediately.
Below is the info on the targets. (Invincible Research Group. Grade: B. An organization that modifies humans using various monsters. Estimated 30 members, but combatant numbers unknown. Combatants are modified humans estimated at 6th~7th Grade strength. Targets confirmed as civilians, so the Association deems them non-cooperative. Elimination operation to be executed soon.)
We apologize for the limited info since they were recently discovered. If you accept, please call back!
"No big deal."
I read the text and nodded without much thought. B-grade, and 6th or 7th Grade—who knew exactly what that meant, but it didn't sound impressive. Real heavy hitters had titles that screamed power from the start. Like Underground Kingdom Great Enemy: ancient ruler of the Korean Peninsula, king of yokai... that kind of shit. These guys? No title, just kidnapping and modding people on the cheap. Yoo Hwa alone could probably clean house.
Slurp.
I downed the rest of the doenjang jjigae and called back.
—Hello?
"I'll take the request. When and where do we meet?"
* * *
"The way to the Association is so weird, huh."
"You came through here last time too?"
An empty street. Especially a back alley no one used. Apparently, this was the path to the Association's agent-related departments.
—Isn't it dangerous?
—Normal people can't harm agents. Agents are human weapons—even ten knife-wielding thugs wouldn't be a problem.
Monsters that could take on agents like that were impressive, huh.
"This the place? Nothing's happening."
"The pickup..."
Whoosh.
Before I could finish, I felt a floating sensation, and the scenery shifted instantly.
"Hi! You're Heuk Seol-ah, right?"
"Jeong Seol-yoon?"
The place we'd arrived at looked like a sci-fi facility straight out of a movie.
"You don't have access yet, so I brought you in."
"Ah. Is this the agent team HQ?"
"Precisely, the Special Ability Agent Team. Ability users are rare, so the Association only has 10 teams."
"10 teams... total?"
That seemed like a shit-ton.
"We'll talk details at our team room! Follow me."
She smiled and started walking.
"Whoa... so cool."
Yoo Hwa was gawking at everything. She hadn't fully adapted to modern stuff yet, so this must be mind-blowing.
"Hurry up."
I grabbed her wrist—she was spaced out—and we moved.
[Special Ability Team 1]
Team names were on the occasional doors down the hall. Yeah, it was a hike to Team 7.
Time for some questions.
"How big is the Association that 10 teams is all you have?"
"Pardon?"
She blinked at my question, then laughed.
"Right, you haven't been with us long."
She held up one hand wide open.
"50,000?"
"No, 0.5%."
0.5%? Of what?
"0.5% of the Korean population. Each national branch maintains about that."
"Huh?"
Korea's population was around 50 million, right? 0.5% was... 250,000?
'And branches in every country?'
Just how massive was this organization? And they controlled all monster info too?
'Way crazier than I imagined.'
A moment that showed the Association's true power.
"Here we are."
Spacing out, we arrived at Team 7 quick.
Screeech.
"Guys! I brought her!"
She yelled as she opened the door, and everyone inside turned to us fast.
'Whew.'
Right, forget Association power levels—focus on this.
I strode confidently into Team 7's room.