Chapter 11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Team 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"This is the place."
Under Seo Hwa-rin's guidance, we stepped into a towering 30-story glass building right in the heart of Gangnam.
It looked like any ordinary corporate headquarters or IT company from the outside, but the moment we crossed the threshold, the density of the air shifted.
A cool sensation brushed against my skin.
"Whoa... nice building. Is the cafeteria food any good?"
I gawked around like a country bumpkin.
Most of the people passing by were dressed in crisp suits, but some had talisman pouches at their waists or long bags slung over their backs.
Their eyes were all sharp as knives, and an eerie aura emanated from their bodies—something utterly unlike that of ordinary folk.
I immediately furrowed my brow and slipped back into the brazen attitude I'd used during yesterday's contract negotiations.
"I told you yesterday, didn't I? Don't touch my animals, and don't ask questions about them. Do you want to cancel the contract?"
Seo Hwa-rin let out a troubled sigh at my prickly response.
"We'll keep our promise. But since you're entering Ghost Gate headquarters, we need at least some justification on paper. Bringing unidentified creatures in without permission violates regulations. I'll ask just this once, and never again. Are they a type of shikigami under your command?"
Shikigami.
Spiritual entities animated by a sorcerer's infusion of their own spiritual power.
Usually manifested through paper dolls or talismans, but high-level sorcerers could shape them into animal forms.
According to Team 2's report, that puppy had bitten a C-grade yokai to death, and the chick had spewed fire on Bukhansan. From her perspective, it made perfect sense to see them as 'high-level shikigami' powered by my immense spiritual energy.
I swallowed hard and pulled out my pre-prepared answer.
As nonchalantly and shamelessly as possible.
"Ah, yeah. They're my shikigami. I'm pretty strong, so my spiritual power unconsciously clumps together and takes on these cute forms. This one's the fire user, that one's the biter. They're basically like my hands and feet."
A lie.
Reducing these divine beasts to mere shikigami was downright blasphemous, but it was the only way.
"I see."
To my surprise, Seo Hwa-rin nodded crisply in acceptance.
"That's unusual. Combat shikigami usually take ferocious forms like tigers or hawks... A chick and a puppy. Your tastes are certainly..."
"Haha, I like cute things. I'm a pacifist, you know."
"Peck. (I'll kill you, human. Am I your hand or foot?)"
Fry pecked my earlobe—not hard enough to hurt, but I forced a grin and endured it.
Please hold it in.
If you breathe fire here, we're all done for.
We took the elevator to the measurement room on Basement Level 2.
A researcher in a white lab coat held out a transparent crystal orb about the size of a soccer ball.
A smoothly polished crystal.
It was called a 'spiritual power measurement stone,' made from specially processed gemstone.
Cost tens of millions of won, apparently.
"Just place your hand on it?"
"Yes. Don't push—just relax. The color and brightness will indicate the quantity and quality of your spiritual power. Yellow is D-grade, blue is C-grade, red is B-grade..."
The researcher explained in a bored tone.
New recruits came through by the dozens every day.
Most topped out at D or E-grade, so he wasn't expecting much.
"What about A-grade?"
"A-grade is white... but don't get your hopes up. It often vibrates the stone too much and becomes dangerous. Anyway, no new recruit has ever hit A-grade since we were founded, so no worries."
I took a deep breath.
Fry and Pepper waited obediently on a bench behind the bulletproof glass.
'Just place my hand on it, huh.'
I cautiously laid my right hand on the crystal orb.
Whumm―
A cold energy sucked into my fingertips.
Like a vacuum cleaner devouring my power.
A faint light bloomed at the orb's center.
Yellow... deepening to blue...
"Oh, C-grade? Not bad for a newbie..."
The researcher was about to jot it down.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the light shifted to red (B-grade), then exploded into a blinding white (A-grade).
"Wha—what?!"
The researcher fumbled to adjust his safety goggles.
The gauge needle on the panel whipped wildly to the right, smashing past 'MAX.'
Vrrr! Vrrrrr!
The entire measurement room shook like there was an earthquake.
I hadn't pushed at all.
My inner energy was just pouring out like a burst dam.
I panicked.
What's going on? Did I do something wrong?
"S-stop! Pull your hand away!"
The researcher screamed.
But my hand wouldn't budge.
Stuck like a magnet.
The swirling light inside the orb hit critical mass.
Crack... crackle!
Fissures spiderwebbed across the orb's surface.
Dazzling white radiance swallowed the room.
Seo Hwa-rin shielded her eyes in shock.
"Kang Han-gyeol! Stop it!!"
"I can't! It won't come off!!"
Boom―!!!
With a thunderous crash, the multimillion-won spiritual power measurement stone shattered to pieces.
Not just broken—reduced to glittering white powder.
Cracks spidered across the bulletproof glass, and every ceiling light exploded.
Only the mechanical alarms pierced through the pulsing red emergency lights.
Dazed in the swirling dust cloud, I stood there blankly.
Just white powder coated my hand.
Silence.
The researcher slumped with his mouth agape, and Seo Hwa-rin stared at me in a stupor.
I scratched my head awkwardly and brushed the powder off my hand.
"Uh... do I have to pay for this? Will it come out of my salary?"
Seo Hwa-rin pressed her forehead with a deep sigh.
Her expression had passed shock and settled into resignation.
"No... no need. But..."
She glanced between the wrecked gauge and me, muttering.
"I expected it, but... not to this extent. You really are a monster."
That day, a legend was born at Ghost Gate headquarters.
The unprecedented tale of the insane newbie who ate a priceless measurement device on orientation day.
Seo Hwa-rin left me waiting in the first-floor lounge and hurried upstairs to report.
A heavy atmosphere hung in the 30th-floor branch director's office.
Park Dong-cheol, the white-haired elder, chuckled as he alternated between the photo of the shattered gauge and the 100-billion-won contract.
He was laughing, but his eyes gleamed sharply.
"Heh heh... turned the measurement stone to powder?"
"Yes. Pure spiritual power release alone pulverized the reinforced glass. No recorded value, but estimated at upper A-grade minimum."
Seo Hwa-rin reported in a rigid stance.
But her flawless poker face cracked slightly, spilling out pent-up frustration.
"Branch Director. But is giving him everything like this really right? 100 billion annual salary, Gangnam penthouse, and clauses barring any intrusion on his privacy or shikigami. This isn't a contract—it's treating him like royalty."
She bit her lip in frustration.
"If we'd leveraged national authority and law to pressure and threaten him, we could've brought him in cheaper, in a form much easier for us to control."
Park Dong-cheol's laughter faded, his gaze turning icy as he fixed it on her.
"Deputy Team Leader Seo. You still think we're the ones holding the cards."
"......Pardon?"
"Pressure? Threats? Why not shove cuffs on a walking disaster who turns measurement stones to dust and incinerates C-grade evil spirits in ten seconds? Think he'd go 'Oh no, scary!' and comply?"
Park Dong-cheol tapped the 100-billion contract with a finger.
"If he'd snapped at our petty threats and rampaged in downtown Seoul with that golden flame... damages wouldn't be 100 billion, but tens of trillions. We're paying to put safeguards on an uncontrollable nuke. That he willingly wore Ghost Gate's collar with a smile? This contract's 100% profit for us."
Seo Hwa-rin fell silent like she'd swallowed honey.
Elite pride meant nothing against the director's ruthless pragmatism.
Then, Team Leader Do Jae-hyeok, sprawled crookedly on the sofa, whistled with interest and chimed in.
"Wow. For you to rate him that highly, Branch Director... And he broke the gauge? Broke my record. I only cracked mine gold last year—didn't shatter it. That guy's the real deal."
Do Jae-hyeok crunched his lollipop, eyes sparkling.
"If it's such an expensive, tough toy, send him to Team 1? I'll whip him into shape and instill some manners."
"He's not just a tool. An unpolished gem. Mishandle it, and it becomes a weapon."
Seo Hwa-rin cut Do Jae-hyeok off firmly.
"And with your personality, Team Leader, you'd use 'training' as an excuse to fight to the death and wreck headquarters. Which is why, Branch Director—assigning Kang Han-gyeol to an existing team is impossible."
"Why?"
"It'll breed resentment among current members. The '100-billion newbie' title is flashy enough, but given his potential and uniqueness, he needs dedicated oversight."
Park Dong-cheol rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Fair point.
Slot an uncontrollable A-grade-plus powerhouse into a normal team, and balance collapses or disaster strikes.
But releasing him into the wild was too risky.
"What's your suggestion?"
"Create a new team. A small elite unit solely for controlling and deploying Kang Han-gyeol."
"Hm... Form Team 7?"
Ghost Gate Seoul Branch had Teams 1 through 6.
Team 7 would be unprecedented.
"Approved. Makes sense. Who leads this special team? Needs someone exceptional to stroke his ego while keeping the leash tight."
Park Dong-cheol's gaze locked on Seo Hwa-rin.
She paused, then spoke with resolve.
"I'll do it."
"What? Abandon deputy leader for this? You, next in line for Team 1, demoting yourself to babysit one newbie?"
Do Jae-hyeok asked, surprised.
But Seo Hwa-rin didn't waver.
"Not a demotion. I'm certain he... no, Team 7 will become Ghost Gate's perfect 'joker' card."
She recalled the overwhelming purifying flames from his rooftop yesterday, and the relaxed eyes that dominated the negotiation table.
Tricky to handle, but that power might avert the coming catastrophe.
No—it had to.
"Grant me this."
Park Dong-cheol drummed the desk.
"Done. As of today, Ghost Gate Team 7 is formed. First Team Leader: Seo Hwa-rin. Member: Kang Han-gyeol. And his shikigami."
"Thank you."
"But if he causes trouble, it's all on you. Got it? Team 7 budget comes from Team 1."
"I'm prepared."
Seo Hwa-rin saluted crisply and left.
Watching the door close, Do Jae-hyeok smirked and muttered.
"This'll be fun. Haven't seen Hwa-rin that fired up in ages. 100-billion newbie... Gotta spar and sync up later under 'training' pretext."
Moments later, Seo Hwa-rin returned to the lounge and handed me a fresh business card and ID.
Still-warm plastic cards.
Ghost Gate Team 7 / Member: Kang Han-gyeol
Rank: Provisional A-grade (Probationary)
"Team 7? Not Team 1?"
"Yes. A new team made just for you. Only you and me. I'll be your direct superior and mentor."
"Whoa... lean operation. Booze budget's safe. Does A-grade mean extra pay?"
I fiddled with the ID.
'A' gleamed in gold.
Looks expensive, whatever it is.
"Of course. Base pay plus 200% hazard bonus. The amount hitting your account monthly? Beyond your wildest dreams."
"Loyalty! I'll bury my bones here!"
I saluted with full sincerity.
The one paying is big sis, big bro, and boss.
"And these are registration tags for your shikigami."
She pulled out two small collars.
One yellow, one black.
Dog tags, basically.
Embedded microchips, she said.
"They need these to avoid attacks inside HQ. Powerful barriers auto-strike unregistered yokai. Don't lose them."
"Oh, thanks."
I fastened the yellow one around Fry's neck (sort of) and the black around Pepper's.
Fry flapped in disgust, but Pepper wagged happily, proudly lifting her head to show it off.
"There. You're officially my subordinate now, Kang Han-gyeol."
Seo Hwa-rin offered a handshake.
Her eyes were much softer than before.
But beneath burned the trainer's zeal: 'I'll make a proper human out of you.'
At the same time, in the bustling first-floor lobby of Ghost Gate HQ after lunch hour.
The revolving door spun, admitting a man.
Over 185cm tall, broad shoulders.
A stunningly handsome man in a perfectly tailored luxury suit, model-worthy.
His slicked-back black hair exuded wild sophistication.
Female staff in the lobby couldn't help staring as he approached.
"Whoa, who's that? Actor?"
"Newbie? He's gorgeous. Model?"
But the security agents and sensors reacted differently.
With each step, the spiritual power detectors screamed warnings... then clicked off with a 'tick.'
Overwhelmed by the colossal, savage aura, the machines shorted out.
The man glided elegantly to the reception desk.
Golden eyes flashed behind his sunglasses.
"How may I assist?"
The desk attendant blushed as she asked.
He lifted a corner of his mouth, voice a seductive baritone.
"Here to register."
"Pardon? For what..."
"My power's a bit much, they say. Unreported to the association's illegal, so I'm turning myself in."
He slid his sunglasses down slightly.
His pupils slit vertically, radiating golden light.
Instantly, the attendant felt choking terror.
This wasn't human.
A massive black tiger loomed, jaws gaping for her throat.
"And..."
He sniffed.
His gaze flicked to the ceiling—toward the elevator where Kang Han-gyeol was.
"Heard there's a deliciously fragrant friend here. Came to make friends."
That sweet, intoxicating scent he'd tracked from Gangwon Province.
Kang Han-gyeol's rich spiritual power aroma pulsed from the top floor.
Sandstorm Black Tiger.
The calamity-grade great yokai had walked into the tiger's den—human skin and all.
"Name's Sa-hyeon. Nice to meet you."
He grinned.
His canines looked razor-sharp.
The hunter had just registered at the prey's home.