Chapter 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Sa-hyeon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sa-hyeon
"My name is Sa-hyeon. Age... well, I don't have an ID, so let's just say roughly twenty-five."
In front of the reception desk, Sa-hyeon grinned as he recited his personal information.
The staff member was frozen in terror, trembling too hard to even type.
Behind him, over a dozen lobby security guards had already formed a perimeter, batons and tasers at the ready.
"Um, sir. Your spiritual power reading isn't registering..."
The security team leader approached, cold sweat dripping down his face.
It wasn't undetectable.
The machine had overloaded beyond its measurement range and shut down.
"Ah, must be broken. People always say I'm pretty 'powerful.'"
Sa-hyeon slipped off his sunglasses and tucked them into his jacket pocket.
Revealing golden irises.
The security team leader who met those eyes instinctively staggered back.
Those weren't human eyes.
They were the eyes of a predator scanning for prey.
"Noisy. What's going on?"
At that moment, the elevator doors slid open, and a man stepped out.
Loose tie, wrinkled shirt, slippers.
Ghost Gate's top asset, Team Leader Do Jae-hyeok.
He eyed Sa-hyeon sideways while chewing a stick of candy.
"Huh? New face. What brings a model wannabe here?"
Sa-hyeon's head turned slowly at Do Jae-hyeok's words.
The two men's gazes clashed in midair.
In an instant, the lobby air crackled and froze.
Sa-hyeon sniffed the air.
"Hmm... you reek of fish. Blood and iron. Killed a fair share, have you?"
"......"
Do Jae-hyeok's eyes narrowed.
His instincts screamed.
This guy's dangerous.
Far too much killing intent for an ordinary person.
"You, what are you?"
Do Jae-hyeok crunched down on the candy.
A pure white aura rose from his body.
A-grade pressure crushed the lobby.
But Sa-hyeon didn't blink, flashing a leisurely smile.
"Told you. Here to register. As a model citizen with impeccable civic duty."
Sa-hyeon pointed a finger at the ceiling.
"And my 'packed lunch' is up there. I get cranky if I miss mealtime."
"Packed lunch?"
"A friend who smells delicious."
Sa-hyeon's golden eyes gleamed with hunger.
Do Jae-hyeok knew right away who he was after.
The '10-billion-won rookie' who'd just headed to the 30th floor, Kang Han-gyeol.
"Sorry, but our cafeteria is off-limits to outsiders. Head back."
Do Jae-hyeok stepped forward to block him.
Sa-hyeon smacked his lips and took a step closer.
"Don't block the way. A hungry tiger might even bite its master."
Crack.
The marble floor spiderwebbed beneath Sa-hyeon's shoe.
"This is Team 7's office."
Seo Hwa-rin opened the door.
The office was spacious and comfortable.
The problem? Only two desks.
One for Team Leader Seo Hwa-rin, one for me.
"Whoa... killer view. The whole Han River's right there."
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Gangnam skyline and the Han River sprawled into view.
Smelled like success.
"Like it? You'll stand by here from now on, deploying for special missions as they come."
Seo Hwa-rin sat at her desk and booted up her computer.
I plopped into mine and spun the chair around.
Fry lounged by the window, soaking up sunlight, while Pepper rolled around testing the plush carpet.
"Team Leader, so what are these special missions? Like the Avengers saving Earth?"
"Something like that. High-risk C-grade or higher yokai subjugations that regular teams can't handle, or investigations into special phenomena."
"Ah... sounds dangerous."
"That's why we pay 10 billion. Earn your keep."
Seo Hwa-rin replied without glancing away from her monitor.
Then, a red alert flashed on her screen.
Main building 1F lobby: Unidentified ability user appeared.
Team 1 Leader on standby for engagement.
"What?"
Seo Hwa-rin shot to her feet.
Intruder in the main lobby?
Bad enough for Team Leader Do Jae-hyeok to step in?
"Kang Han-gyeol-ssi, stay here. Things look bad downstairs."
"Pardon? What's going on?"
"Intruder. Spiritual power signature is off the charts. I'll check it out—do not leave this room."
Seo Hwa-rin snatched her radio and bolted from the office.
Leaving me all alone.
"What the... terror attack on my first day?"
I peered out the window.
Too high up—no ants in sight below.
Bored, I called out to Fry.
"Hey, Fry. You like it? Han River view's pretty sweet, right?"
"Pek."
But Fry wasn't looking outside—he was staring at the office door.
His feathers were slightly bristled.
"Pek? (A disgusting smell is getting closer.)"
"Huh? Something there?"
"Grrr..."
Pepper leaped up from the floor too, growling low at the door.
Her back fur standing on end.
Like a wild animal facing its natural predator.
"What's with you two? Something there?"
The moment I stood, puzzled.
Ding—
The VIP elevator chime echoed from the end of the hallway outside.
The one that normally required a security keycard.
Clack. Clack.
Shoes echoing down the corridor.
Rhythmic, leisurely, arrogantly unhurried steps.
As they drew nearer, heat wafted from Fry's body and white mist seeped from Pepper's jaws.
"Pek! (It's coming! Human, get back!)"
Fry flapped his wings frantically.
At the same time, the office door slid smoothly open.
"Excuse me~ Heard this was a good eatery, so I dropped by."
A model-esque man stood in the doorway.
Tall, handsome face, impeccably tailored suit.
In his hand, a temporary badge ripped straight from reception.
"Who are you?"
He flashed a bright smile as he removed his sunglasses.
His irises gleamed gold.
"Ah, jackpot."
He eyed me and smacked his lips like a starving man spotting fresh fried chicken.
"Source of the aroma."
Do Jae-hyeok and Sa-hyeon's standoff fizzled out anticlimactically.
Just before blows were exchanged, Branch Director Park Dong-cheol's announcement boomed.
Do Jae-hyeok Team Leader, stop drawing your sword. Send that guest upstairs.
"Pardon? Old timer, you losing it? This guy's dangerous."
I know. That's why—no fighting here, or the building comes down. Send him to 30F. Team 7 test run and interview.
Do Jae-hyeok clicked his tongue and sheathed his sword at the director's order.
"Count yourself lucky. Without the bosses' call, today would've been your last."
"Aw, thanks. Good thing the higher-ups have vision."
Sa-hyeon smirked brazenly and boarded the VIP elevator.
Heading straight to the 30th floor, where Kang Han-gyeol waited.
The man stepped into the office.
I instinctively backed away.
No clue why, but his vibe was off.
Handsome... but terrifying.
Like standing in front of a tiger enclosure at the zoo—with no bars. Pure primal dread.
"Asked who you are. Restricted access, non-personnel only."
"Gonna be personnel soon. Job application."
The man closed in on my desk.
Then started sniffing my scent.
"Haa... so rich. Sun scent, underworld whiff... and your own delicious aroma."
"Hey, personal space. Why sniff a stranger?"
I held my ground, staring him down.
Unreasoning fear prickled, but hey—I was a 10-billion-won Ghost Gate elite(?) now.
No way I'd cower easily.
That was when it happened.
"Pek!!!"
"Woof!!!"
Fry and Pepper lunged simultaneously.
Fry spread his wings midair, spewing golden flames, while Pepper's third eye flashed as she charged to bite the man's leg.
But the man was fast.
Too fast to track.
Whish—thud!
He snatched airborne Fry with one hand and casually shoved charging Pepper back with a foot.
"Oof, feisty ones."
Fry thrashed in his grip. "Pee-yak! (Let go! You dare touch my body?!)"
Flames burst from him, but the man's bare hand endured the blaze.
No—even seemed to relish the heat.
"Nice and toasty. Perfect hotpack for winter."
"Hey. Release my shikigami."
Fury overrode everything—I kicked back from my chair.
Fear? Bullshit. My kid was nabbed.
I marched up and seized his arm.
"Let. Go."
Not a twitch.
Like shaking a steel pole.
His arm was harder than iron.
I strained with everything I had, grunting—but he didn't budge.
My strength was just average adult male level, after all.
But.
Crackle—
Where my hand met his arm, lightning-like sparks erupted.
Not mere static.
The energy inside me sensed the threat, instinctively repelling his alien yokai power in an explosive surge.
The man's golden eyes widened.
"Oh...?"
Reflexively dropping Fry from my erupting energy, he stepped back.
"Zero muscle... but spiritual power's insane."
He scanned me up and down, intrigued.
His licking tongue was blood-red, snakelike.
"You'd be chewy. Bet you'd taste great."
"Chew what? Get out—no crazy talk in my office."
I shoved Fry behind me and bared my teeth in warning.
That spark had boosted my confidence.
This creep couldn't manhandle my energy lightly.
Sa-hyeon grinned, clearly liking my attitude.
"Pass."
"What?"
"Me, wanna work here. Same team as you."
He released my hand and straightened his clothes.
"Too prime to eat now. Wanna keep you close... savor slow."
"What kinda bullshit..."
Then the office door flew open—Seo Hwa-rin and armed agents stormed in.
"Kang Han-gyeol-ssi! You okay?!"
Seo Hwa-rin burst in, sword at the ready.
But the scene she saw? Two men facing off post-grapple, a chick preening its feathers, a dog still growling.
"Huh? Team Leader, you're back?"
Sa-hyeon waved at her.
"Ah, the interviewer? Here to apply."
He slung an arm over my shoulder like old pals.
"Wanna partner with this guy. Got a spot open?"
Seo Hwa-rin's face twisted.
She had no idea who he was.
But instinct screamed: immensely powerful, dangerous, feral aura.
Matching—or surpassing—Team Leader Do Jae-hyeok. An unknown powerhouse.
"Who the hell are you? Can't onboard someone with no verified ID!"
"Aw, c'mon—my power's plenty useful. Gimme an interview?"
Sa-hyeon provoked with a cheeky grin.
Seo Hwa-rin's eyebrow twitched.
She pulled her radio and gave Branch Director Park Dong-cheol a quick report.
"Director. Intruder demands a job. Permission to run a 'practical test' myself?"
Short silence over the radio, then approval.
Seo Hwa-rin collapsed her baton with a snap, voice ice-cold.
"Follow me. I'll escort you to the interview room."