I Signed the Hunter Contract
Cha Haneul stared blankly down at the documents on the table.
Han Seungmin kept talking.
“When you sign an exclusive contract with the Association, a dedicated security team will be assigned to you. We’ll also provide a luxury officetel near our headquarters. You’ll receive full equipment support, medical coverage, legal consultation…”
Rent.
Whatever he was saying refused to register in her ears.
Maybe it was because she had suddenly tasted an absurd amount of money. Everyday, practical problems kept floating to the surface of her mind.
“Additional incentives will be provided during tower raids, and you’ll receive benefits equivalent to those granted to national meritorious persons…”
This month’s rent is due next week.
Rent. She had to pay the rent.
She also wanted to eat a mountain of delicious food.
A hundred billion? No, even fifty billion would leave her rolling in cash.
“Furthermore, since you will be operating directly under the Association rather than belonging to any guild, your independence is fully guaranteed.”
A silly grin kept spreading across her face.
The realization that she had become rich refused to fade. Of course the money wasn’t actually in her hands yet.
Oh, right. Now that she thought about it.
I texted the convenience store owner that I was quitting. That should be fine, right?
Even so, she wasn’t the kind of trash who would just ghost her job without notice.
That was how Cha Haneul kept drifting off into other thoughts and distractions.
“…Therefore.”
She flinched.
Han Seungmin, who had been speaking, turned to look at her.
“Do you have any questions?”
“Ah, no. Please continue.”
He gave a small nod and resumed. His expression suggested he wanted to ask whether she had actually been listening, but he politely held back.
At least now she was trying to pay attention.
Wow, there’s so much…
Hmm. Of course, listening and actually understanding were two entirely different realms.
Eventually Han Seungmin finished his explanation.
“What are your thoughts, Miss Cha Haneul?”
“Uh, ummm… Well…”
Haneul fell into deep thought for a moment.
Fifty billion. A hundred billion.
Money, money, money…
A security team, an officetel, medical coverage.
But with great power comes great responsibility.
What if she jumped in without thinking and ended up completely screwed?
Cha Haneul, using her brain for the first time in a while.
“Oh, and just so you know, we’ve raised the annual salary to twenty billion after an emergency meeting.”
“I’ll do it!”
In the face of that much money, she had no choice but to drop to her knees.
The conference room fell quiet for a moment. Then Han Seungmin nodded with a satisfied smile.
“A very wise decision. You may review the formal contract and sign it later, so for today we’ll simply record your verbal agreement.”
“Yesss!”
With that, the meeting ended.
The senior officials left one by one, offering handshakes as they went.
Haneul kept bowing in return.
She felt like she had suddenly become someone important, yet it still didn’t feel real. In truth, both feelings were correct.
──Inside the elevator.
Kim Jaewon had been tasked with seeing her off.
They stood side by side as the elevator descended to the first floor. The golden hair beside him caught the fluorescent light and glowed with a soft luster.
Kim Jaewon kept his eyes fixed straight ahead.
“You must be exhausted after today.”
“I’m fine. It wasn’t as tiring as I expected.”
Her voice was light. Her face really did look okay.
She had awakened only yesterday and come straight to the Association by herself today.
…Is she actually fine?
Kim Jaewon hesitated, then spoke.
“If you’re facing any immediate difficulties with daily living expenses, the Association can provide an advance even before the contract is finalized.”
It was purely procedural guidance.
But from Haneul’s perspective, it was a massive stroke of luck.
She whipped her head around in surprise.
“An advance?”
“Yes. We have a system prepared for situations like this.”
“O-oh! Really? Then please give me some.”
“Understood. I’ll process it right away.”
Ding. First floor.
As they walked through the lobby after leaving the elevator, the eyes of every passing employee clung to them. Someone even let out a small gasp of awe.
Whether she noticed or not, Haneul kept her head down beside Kim Jaewon, staring only at her phone. She gripped the device tightly with her small hands, checking the deposit notification that had just arrived.
Star Bank Deposit Notification!
[+1,000,000,000]
One billion won. A full billion!
This is insane. Completely insane.
Haneul’s heart churned in a storm of excitement.
She quickened her steps toward the exit. The automatic doors slid open with a soft whoosh, and cold outside air rushed in.
Haneul stopped just outside and checked her phone screen again. The number was still there.
It wasn’t a dream.
…This is a total jackpot!
Her lips curled upward.
In the afternoon sunlight, her halo shone brilliantly.
Two Association employees behind her watched the sight and quietly met each other’s eyes.
Cute.
A nod.
It was fine because she was cute.
The subway was far more crowded than earlier. Rush hour had begun.
Haneul stood near the doors, staring at her phone and trying her best to erase her presence.
Of course it was impossible.
If only the halo weren’t there, she might have managed it to some degree.
Ugh…
A strange empty radius had formed around her. Inside the packed subway car, only she had personal space. It was a bizarre scene.
She could feel the sideways glances. They felt different from before.
…Why are they all acting like this?
In that slightly uncomfortable moment, the middle-aged woman standing beside her gently touched her arm.
“Excuse me… by any chance…”
Haneul turned her head.
A woman in her fifties held out her smartphone with a shy expression.
“Aren’t you the angel awakener who was sighted in Gangnam today?”
“Huh…?”
Angel awakener? Sighted?
What was she talking about?
Confused, Haneul looked at the screen. It was a community post.
The view count had already surpassed three hundred thousand.
The attached photo showed a golden-haired woman with a halo walking through the Association lobby. She was wearing an oversized XL t-shirt and sneakers that clearly didn’t fit her feet.
…That’s me.
The comments were exploding.
Haneul tore her eyes away from the comment section.
The woman was staring at her with sparkling, expectant eyes.
“…Ah, um.”
The photo was too clear to deny. But she didn’t want to confirm it either. There were far too many people in this subway car.
More importantly—
I’m not an angel awakener??
Her appearance might resemble an angel a little, but she was definitely not an angel class. Not at all.
“Well… I’m not sure.”
The words came out vague. She should have clearly said no! It was because she was too nervous.
The woman’s eyes lit up. Since Haneul hadn’t denied it, she seemed to take it as confirmation.
“Oh my, you really do look like an angel. My daughter would absolutely love this. Could I get just one photo—”
“I-I have to get off here, sorryyy!”
Haneul bolted away in a panic.
Of course, it wasn’t her stop. There were still two stations left.
It was truly a sad story.
She left the subway station and turned into a quiet alley.
It was peaceful. No people, and naturally no staring eyes.
I’m saved.
Haneul let out a long sigh of relief.
She tore open a triangle kimbap package and began walking while eating. It was the first thing she had eaten all day.
Delicious.
That was when something brushed against her foot.
“Hm?”
She looked down. It was a cat. A striped tabby with its tail held straight up, walking right beside her foot.
…How long has it been there?
She stopped. The cat stopped too.
Their eyes met. The round pupils sparkled, reflecting the light of her halo.
Shoo. Go away.
She waved her hand gently, but the cat didn’t move an inch.
“What’s with you?”
When the frustrated Haneul started walking again, the cat followed faithfully, staying right by her feet.
She turned the corner.
Another cat sat on top of the wall—a cheese-colored one. It saw her, leaped down lightly, and joined the procession. Now there were two.
She walked a little farther. On the stairs deeper in the alley, a black cat lifted its head.
Meow—
The third one.
Why do they keep increasing?
She sped up. The cats followed behind her.
Strangely, they matched her pace perfectly, as if they had planned it in advance.
People watching from the entrance of the alley smiled warmly at the sight.
“Look at that.”
“…Oh my.”
A petite girl with golden hair and a glowing halo was walking through the alley followed by three cats. The halo gently lit the narrow path. The cats wore satisfied expressions.
Only Haneul shook her head in utter confusion.
“I-I’m not raising these cats.”
She offered a pointless explanation. No one listened.
For real…
Annoyed, she stomped her feet.
She had thought her luck was unusually good today. The moment she received a billion won, her face was exposed everywhere, she was misunderstood as an angel awakener, and now these cats were harassing her too.
Why is everyone doing this to me?
Then one of the cats placed its front paw on the top of her foot.
Press.
Knead knead.
Nom. It took a bite of her triangle kimbap.
Her chest felt tight.
…Because she had absolutely no idea what to do.