I'm Not That Kind of Person (3)
Myeong Gi-sa snatched the gas mask right out of my hand. He slipped it on with practiced ease. Meanwhile, A-ram fumbled awkwardly with hers—it was clearly her first time, and the unfamiliarity showed. My empathy levels skyrocketed.
Yeah. This is normal. The first time you do something, you panic a little, fumble around—that's what gives you that human touch.
I thought back to the people around me, one by one. Chairman Seol Hwi, Team Leader Yu Seo-yeong, that hothead Ma Hyeok-do…
They're not human.
Ma Hyeok-do's exit had been pathetic, sure, but the guy could smash tiles with raw strength alone. Team Leader Yu Seo-yeong? She'd aced entry into the elite Assault Strike Team on her first try and got fast-tracked into Nebula—no need to elaborate. And Chairman Seol Hwi…
Stop right there.
My thoughts ground to a halt, like I'd taken one step back from hell's gate. I moved over to the fumbling A-ram and helped her with her gas mask.
"Stay still. I'll adjust the straps for you."
"Th-thank you…"
Figuring it might be tricky for a newbie to get a perfect seal, I tightened them myself. But Kang A-ram's voice came out muffled, almost shrinking.
And her face looks a bit red, too.
She'd been like that before.
Her condition hasn't improved yet.
From what I'd heard, her little sister wasn't doing well health-wise either. Caregiving, fieldwork, handover of secretary duties… Come to think of it, for someone in her mid-twenties, it must be overwhelming. With a pang of sympathy, I checked the seal.
"Take a few breaths."
"Hah! Hah! It's working properly."
Okay. Now I could finally relax a little. Sure, I thought of myself as a Chungcheong-style cotton candy—soft and fluffy—but I wasn't the type to melt at the first drop of water. In emergencies, priorities: elderly and women first. That lesson, beaten into me by my two-years-older sister smacking my back, was etched in my blood.
Speaking of which, I wonder how Mom, Dad, and Sis are doing. Once I retire, I'll take my time looking for them.
That was the plan. I finished putting on my own gas mask.
Seo Han-gyeol donned his gas mask with solo expertise.
"……."
"……."
Kang A-ram and Myeong Gi-sa watched the scene in silence. Their thoughts diverged sharply.
Kang A-ram instinctively touched the gas mask now covering her face. Through the foggy visor, she took in the sight of Seo Han-gyeol. Ordinary people prioritized their own lives first. It was the natural law of survival—and no one blamed them for it. No one could. Life was singular, after all.
But…
Senior Secretary Seo took care of me first.
What had Seo Han-gyeol done after the anchor overload hit outside? He'd assessed the situation and immediately pulled out gas masks. His actions were swift, almost prescient, though realistically, that couldn't be. Which meant he'd been prepared at all times, ready to deploy them on a moment's notice.
Suddenly, a memory from a few days ago flashed through Kang A-ram's mind. Late afternoon, red sunset spilling through the Nebula infirmary window, and Seo Han-gyeol's words to her.
"I won't allow you to break."
"I'll become your user."
Words that would've been empty bravado from an average person were now proven true, right here, right now. Specifically, by valuing her life over his own.
"…I'll repay that trust."
Whatever it takes.
Kang A-ram clenched her fists, swallowing her resolve. For someone like her, whose lowly, useless ability had always been scorned, to be trusted this much by another person—it was like something out of a fairy tale. But this was reality.
-Woooong…
Caught in emotional turmoil, Kang A-ram didn't even notice her own ability evolving deep within.
Myeong Gi-sa focused on Seo Han-gyeol's expert gas mask handling. The motions were simple: tighten the straps, pull, exhale roughly to test the seal. Done.
Of course, internally, Seo Han-gyeol was grinning like an idiot: Whoa, haven't forgotten what I learned in the GOP after all. The company commander was obsessed with fast gas mask drills—practiced like crazy… and now it's paying off here.
But Myeong Gi-sa, oblivious, sank deeper into misunderstanding.
Flawless technique, not a single error.
There was a magnetic quality to his actions, like gears meshing silently, drawing the eye relentlessly. Seo Han-gyeol stood, Magic Secretary Bag in hand, scanned the surroundings, then spoke calmly.
"Let's move. The noise outside is growing louder. Primary goal: assess the situation first, then take appropriate action. Any objections?"
Myeong Gi-sa stared, mesmerized, into Seo Han-gyeol's eyes. They were like a still lake—endlessly dry, focus softly blurred. Viewing this entire crisis as mere "business as usual." The gaze of a true professional.
In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. The dryness was actual dry eyes, and the blur was his desperate attempt to distance himself from the terrifying scene.
"None!"
"Same here. I'll guide us out."
Kang A-ram's firm response. Myeong Gi-sa bolted for the bunker exit without hesitation. Kang A-ram and Seo Han-gyeol followed. The three dashed down the not-insubstantial corridor. As he ran ahead, Myeong Gi-sa's mind raced with Seo Han-gyeol's unexpected displays.
Naturally, the topic was Seo Han-gyeol's unnerving familiarity with this kind of uproar.
…That's not a technique honed in training. Fluid, natural responses and instant command. Has to be battle-hardened.
As a Korean, paths to forging a reversal warrior like Seo Han-gyeol(?) were limited. Overseas deployments from the Heavy Equipment Knights were one option. Just recalling his brief time in Syria made Myeong Gi-sa shudder.
But no. If he'd ever been in the Knights, even briefly, I'd have heard rumors about a monster like that.
That left…
A PEB black agent…
PEB. The sharpest dagger of public authority, a devil instilling terror in Red Hunters. White agents operated openly. Gray agents infiltrated and excised society's tumors. And black agents?
They only showed up for the irredeemable human trash and special-grade beast disposal sites.
Even in Monsterland Syria, villains overflowed. In some regions, humans were scarier than monsters. As a pioneer nation, Korea occasionally dispatched hunters to the third world. But not just anyone—high-rankers were national assets, and losing them overseas was a waste.
In other words, "Hunters strong enough to overwhelm other hunters, tenacious enough to survive Monsterland, and reliable enough to always return home."
Few met all criteria. If Seo Han-gyeol was a disguised gray agent or retired black op, it all fit perfectly.
Meanwhile, the sturdy bulkhead at the corridor's end loomed.
"Opening the door soon—brace yourselves."
"…Understood."
"……."
Still a fresh grad, but bolstered by field experience and resolve toward Seo Han-gyeol, Kang A-ram held firm surprisingly well. Confirming she wasn't panicking, Myeong Gi-sa punched in the code.
What about me?
Seo Han-gyeol felt a twinge of injustice at Myeong Gi-sa's glance—translated as You don't need coddling.
Hang on, mister. The one who wants to bolt most is me…
His inner cry faded unheard. Just before the door opened, Myeong Gi-sa clicked his tongue—self-reproach for his past naivety.
Right. Nebula wouldn't appoint some pushover as chief secretary.
World No. 2 and 3, undisputed Korea No. 1—the Assault Corporation title wasn't handed out lightly.
Seo Chief Secretary, was it? Heard the Nebula chairman went nuts, gutted the secretary pool, and plopped some unknown nerd at the top. Turns out that "nerd" act was all camouflage. Even his obsessive stickler routine with protocols and promises—old agent habits, huh.
The final puzzle piece clicked! Wrong! A giant cotton doll jammed into a 100-piece puzzle—but somehow it fit the gap…
Myeong Gi-sa praised his own insight for piercing the ironclad disguise.
Heh. Impressive camouflage. Even fooled me for a second. But in the end, I uncovered the truth.
How to leverage this intel for the Heavy Equipment Knights?
Watching Myeong Gi-sa's broad back, Seo Han-gyeol wore a bemused expression.
He's under some massive misunderstanding…
Golden—correct. The three, thoughts askew, took in the scene beyond the door simultaneously.
The construction site was a battlefield from hell.
-BOOM!
"Apprentice Park! What now?!"
"Knight Hwi, the excavator's hydraulics blew! Anchor overload fallout!"
-THUD! RUMBLE!
-SCREEECH!
"Damn it all! G-3 case is toast! What was in it?!"
"A wyvern! Small-class, flying, physical type! We cut the wing tendons for capture!"
"Crane! Crane team, raise altitude!!"
"Wire at full release right now!!"
-CLANGCLANGCLANG!
Monsters and men tangled in chaos, screams and roars mingling.
-SCREE! RUMBLE…!
Giant monster corpses and heavy machinery locked in a destructive dance. Thrashing hydraulic cylinders and acrid exhaust fumes stung the nose, but
"Awaiting your orders, Chief."
Kang A-ram stared at Seo Han-gyeol unflinchingly, while
"Hmph. Hey, Chief, keep up! I'll guide the shortest path to the anchor!"
Myeong Gi-sa scowled, snorted once, and plotted the route like his head might explode, as
"……."
Chungcheong cotton candy Seo Han-gyeol shut his eyes tight at the grim future unfolding before him.
If I really retire, I'm buying a house in a safe zone and never stepping out.