First Mission (4): Signature, Swoon, and a Star in the Making
"Mmph, mmph!"
The moment I released [Organization], Mr. Gwak Du-chil signed the documents with trembling hands. Even then, he kept glancing at me nervously, scribbling desperately with his ballpoint pen. It was... kinda pitiful.
Agh, my conscience.
I knew he was utter trash under the heavens, but seeing a middle-aged man old enough to be my dad like that... it made my stomach churn. My expression softened with pity.
And maybe that's why.
"!!!"
-Scribblescribble!
Mr. Gwak caught my look and sped up even more. He kept his mouth firmly shut the whole time.
Writing like that with an injured arm is gonna make it worse.
Suddenly, he seemed really pathetic.
But embezzling surgery money for his daughter? That's too far.
Yeah. Even cotton candy needs to harden up sometimes.
Seo Han-gyeol flicked off his conscience switch for a bit.
Scribble scribble.
How many minutes passed? The frantically moving pen finally stopped.
Seo Han-gyeol took the documents with narrowed eyes, acting all haughty. In truth, he was just exhausted, his hand limp.
Ah, he filled it out properly.
All procedures complete. No more worries about lawsuits!
Feeling much relieved, Seo Han-gyeol said,
"Get out of my sight."
"! Th-thank you!!"
No sooner had he spoken than Gwak Du-chil flung open the conference room door and bolted. He didn't look back, arm flopping as he sprinted down the hall. Employees passing by stared with wide eyes.
"......Whoa."
"I saw it. Bloodstains in the conference room."
"Seo Secretary...? Rumors say he's from the PEB. Is it true?"
? I swear I heard that.
-Creak.
As the voices faded in and out, the conference room door closed right on cue. Seo Han-gyeol wondered if something might happen and just scratched his ear.
"By the way, why'd Kang A-ram faint?"
Only then did he notice the splattered blood drops on the floor. Gasp! No way!?
Seo Han-gyeol alternated stares between the blood puddle and the slender figure collapsed beside it.
"Hemophobia? Yeah, that must be it."
Apparently, lots of women had blood phobias. Guess it was true.
Seo Han-gyeol fumbled with the conference room phone, punching in numbers. He'd seen the infirmary extension in yesterday's manual.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
The line connected after a brief silence.
"The number you have dialed is the Nebula Group infirmary. A staff member will connect shortly. Please hold."
Perfect.
The expected hold music played. While waiting for the connection, Seo Han-gyeol gazed at the fallen Kang A-ram, lost in thought.
No visible external injuries. And her face... it bugged him.
...She's insanely pretty?
Straight nose, big eyes. In a school uniform, she'd pass for a high schooler. Youthful face and all.
Anyone might think he was a paranoid delusionist suspicious of every pretty face, but no. Seo Han-gyeol had reasons.
In S-Rank Hunter Raising, high-end characters are mostly lookers...
Games sold better with pretty characters. The devs knew it, so good ones were full of hotties.
And there's the perfect example.
Seol Hwi. The fiery red-haired, ruby-eyed beauty. One of Korea's three 1st-rank hunters, the [Vault Keeper].
A lifelong local might scoff, "Even so, that's a stretch," with a realistic view. But
It makes sense! Even Kang A-ram looks familiar. Figure it out, Seo Han-gyeol!
Unfortunately, Seo Han-gyeol was a sudden isekai drop-in(?). No locals to correct his biased samples.
But lo and behold, by heaven, earth, and cosmic balance, real-life Kang A-ram matched one from the game.
Seo Han-gyeol's wild leap was spot-on. If Gottlob Frege, father of modern logic, saw it, he'd weep and pound the earth.
It hit me!
'Kang A-ram! The one fired early from Nebula, later a 4th-rank hunter in the Association's execs!'
I stared at the collapsed Kang A-ram in shock.
The reason for my surprise? Not that.
'She was originally 7th-rank? She was 26 on debut...'
Ranks. That's it.
Five years. She jumped three ranks in five years?
Tomato plant growth on Osmocote fertilizer levels! (For reference, Osmocote is cheat-code manure. Even a noob like me could grow a lush tomato forest.)
And her ability's straight-up broken.
Calling her a 4th-rank hunter undersold her true power. In the game, despite 4th-rank, she drew insane offers and dominated thanks to her unique skill.
[Cut-Off]
Cut-Off. Halt, block, stop something.
What she stopped? Combustion.
Combustion. Burning away, oxygen binding to release energy—the chemical reaction itself, shut down.
'Early game, I wondered how a newbie 4th-rank became a main player. So that's it.'
What if combustion's banned in an area?
Even a lit major crying penance before science gods, I knew basics.
'Guns won't fire first off.'
Need ignition for bullets, but deny the principle? Not structural flaw—fundamental negation. Million-won guns become useless metal rods.
That's not all. Internal combustion engines die too.
'Modern warfare without guns, cars, tanks?'
Oof.
Hunter world or not, conventional forces mattered. Top tactic vs. high-rank hunters? Air strike. Nuff said.
Not all hunters had great mobility. Vehicles were essential.
Guns, engines, explosives, even some fire-attribute hunters—Kang A-ram's tactical value was immense. Slash enemy forces 70%+ just by existing.
Human suppressor! Human Silo! Human Bunker!
That was Kang A-ram's essence!
'Mommy! I wanna be Kang A-ram when I grow up!'
Ahem. Embarrassing after geeking out.
But one thing clear.
'Gotta recruit her to my side no matter what!'
My No.1 life insurance! Absolutely!
One week psycho-acting solo in monster-filled Nebula... Finally, a lifeline!
'Later, get close, joke around, eat together. Hehe.'
Confess it was all an act, clear misunderstandings, laugh it off in comfy retirement life—such delusions, when the phone connected.
'Uh-oh.'
Snapped back to reality. If I talked too much, my cover blows. Rude casual speech it is.
Sorry!
"Infirmary desk, Seo Secretary from the Secretary's Office. Special conference room I reserved. Kang A-ram's unconscious."
"Confirmed. But records show Gwak Du-chil entered too. What about him?"
Oh crap! I urgently deflected,
"Is that important right now?"
"...Yes. Dispatching medical team immediately."
"No external trauma, but check anyway. Request swift dispatch."
Click.
Call ended.
By the way, why'd the receptionist's voice shake before hanging up?
Cold? Weather's chilly, take care.
Meanwhile, in the infirmary that got Seo Han-gyeol's call.
The air was tense.
"You all heard...?"
"......"
"......"
"As of today, no Gwak Du-chil in Nebula. He never existed. And you two newbies."
The infirmary chief's menacing aura made the two rookies stand ramrod straight. Already overwhelmed by the vibe even over the phone.
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes!"
Who'd expect a massive incident right after joining? Infirmary work was usually just disinfecting wounds. This was straight-up abnormal.
Normally, he'd comfort the tense newbies, but the veteran chief knew tension was safer now.
He spoke gravely.
"The man you'll meet is Seo Secretary. And a word of advice."
"......"
"......"
"Don't think of him as human."
!!!
The rookies' eyes trembled silently. The chief pressed on.
"Our chairwoman keeps only treasures close. People included. But her 'treasures' are... different."
Seol Hwi's treasures weren't just objects. Above a certain rank, Nebula staff became collectibles.
"I assure you. Normies like us can't be her treasures."
A stiff rookie asked,
"Th-then, Seo Secretary is—"
"A monster. Probably doesn't even see us as people."
Heh.
The chief laughed self-deprecatingly.
"Just numbers, just HR to him. At least."
"......"
"Come back in one piece. Do whatever he says, stay invisible. Don't annoy. Just obey exactly. Got it!?"
The chief watched the rookies dash off with gear, staring blankly.
"Seo Han-gyeol, huh..."
What kind of guy makes the chairwoman fire all secretaries to hire him?
'At least' more value than all of them combined.
"Tch. Rough dreams tonight."
The chief shook his head, like shaking off fear.
A few hours later. Nebula Group infirmary.
"Ugh..."
Where...?
"Infirmary?"
Kang A-ram opened her eyes on the bed.
Month X, Day XX. 3:30 PM. Consciousness recovery confirmed for Field Team 7th-rank Hunter Kang A-ram.
"......"
"Unconscious for about an hour. Recommend post-recovery check of consciousness level and physical sensation."
Beside the just-awakened Kang A-ram stood Seo Han-gyeol, staring mechanically, scribbling notes.
"......Ah."
"Hm? Something wrong? Any physical anomalies?"
Kang A-ram just shut her mouth.
...She felt like crying.