Villain Appears
I arrived at the Awakening Association a little past noon.
Truth be told, since it was my first day, I'd planned to show up early, but some weird dream left me feeling heavy as lead.
I couldn't even be bothered to lift a finger, so I scarfed down some food, rolled around in bed, and only now dragged myself in.
"……No matter how I look at it, I just can't get used to this."
I stopped in front of the full-body mirror in the subway station and checked myself out from every angle.
The off-the-rack suit Seong Yu-mi had urgently bought me right before yesterday's press conference.
I mean, heading into Gangnam, a hoodie and tracksuit didn't feel right, so I'd thrown this on. The nostalgia hit different.
"From construction grunt to office drone commuting to Gangnam."
Life's full of twists—ain't that the truth about "blessing in disguise."
Of course, it's just a temp gig.
I rolled my neck loosely and headed for the exit nearest the Association.
That's when I sensed an unfamiliar presence approaching from behind.
"……."
Who the hell?
The moment the presence closed in, I whipped around.
"Eek!?"
A girl jumped in surprise at my sudden spin.
I blinked down at the tiny girl, who barely reached chest height.
"Wh-who are you?"
"Y-you're Heukryong, right? I saw you yesterday!"
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at me.
I scratched my cheek and bent down to meet her gaze.
"You saw me?"
"Yeah! I heard you're a super super strong hunter!"
She huffed excitedly, then made an "oh crap" face and dug something out of her pocket.
"Could you maybe sign this?"
"……A signature, huh."
The only signatures I'd ever done were those half-assed scribbles at the mart for purchases over 50,000 won.
I clicked my tongue faintly and scrawled "Mir" in loose script on the notebook she held out.
"Sorry. Don't got a fancy one yet."
"Am I your first fan, then?"
"Pretty much."
"Gasp! What do I do?!"
Her eyes went wide as saucers, and she stomped her feet in excitement.
Is this that big a deal?
As that thought crossed my mind, a pure curiosity popped up.
"By the way."
"Yeah?"
"Shouldn't you be in school right now?"
I glanced at the clock hanging far off.
It was 12:33.
Lunchtime at school.
At my words, she puffed out her chest and thumped it proudly.
"Today's school founding day holiday!"
"Lucky you."
"You bet! So I came to Gangnam to hang with friends!"
"……Gangnam?"
"Yep!"
"How old are you?"
"Twelve."
Twelve and already hitting Gangnam solo.
At twelve, I was probably digging holes in the neighborhood playground.
Times sure have changed.
"But y'all got stuff to do in Gangnam?"
"We're going to the aquarium!"
"Real wholesome."
Then again, maybe not that changed.
I chuckled and watched her tuck the notebook away like treasure.
"Come to think of it, I never caught the name of my first signature's owner."
"Me? Han Song-hee."
"Alright, Song-hee. Have fun and stay safe."
"Yep!"
I checked the time, and Han Song-hee bolted off with a yelp, waving back at me.
Looks like her exit was that way, but she'd run over here because of me.
"Kkung kkung kkung."
The moment I sensed its presence, Cheori poked its head out from my pocket where it'd been hiding.
Confirming no one nearby was watching us, it climbed out and onto my shoulder.
"Hey, Cheori."
"Kkung?"
"You don't gotta hide anymore."
Association rules say no monsters outside gates.
Back then, I didn't fully trust Cheori and saw it as a monster, so I told it to stay hidden.
"Not anymore."
Now I had a good read on Cheori.
It wasn't the type to hurt people for no reason.
'Plus, even if it's out in the open, hardly anyone would notice.'
If they had, Seong Yu-mi or Jeong Chan-woo would've said something first.
Since they saw it and said zilch, they must not realize it's a monster.
Cheori shuddered at my mutter, like it was shocked.
"Kyuung……."
A aggrieved cry that basically said, "Then why'd you make me hide in a panic?"
I stroked its drooping head with my index finger.
"Sorry. Shoulda said sooner."
"Kkung."
It shot me a side-eye, its cry saying "Good, you get it."
With Cheori proudly perched on my shoulder, I headed to the Awakening Association.
Thankfully, aside from Han Song-hee, no one recognized me.
I made it to the entrance quietly.
"……."
The second I stepped inside, gazes stabbed at me from all sides.
Curiosity, doubt, amusement.
A rainbow of stares prickling my skin.
That's why I was surprised.
"Huh?"
Why no hostility?
I blinked at an Association hunter glaring fiercely from nearby.
Our eyes met; he gulped, then bowed deeply.
"F-first time meeting you, Heukryong-nim!"
"Ah, yeah……."
Didn't Seong Yu-mi say apprentice hunters get picked on?
I'd braced for it on the way, but there was way more goodwill than expected.
I nodded vaguely to nearby hunters and headed for the elevator.
No one spoke to me while waiting for it.
I hit the 9th floor button, then close, and as the doors shut, I finally exhaled.
"What the hell."
Nobody likes baseless hostility.
Everyone knows why without saying.
But baseless kindness ain't all that great either.
First time feeling it—kinda creepy.
'Maybe prefer the pointless hate…….'
At least that's familiar.
Lost in dumb thoughts, the elevator dinged at 9.
I headed right down the hall.
"This it?"
A closed door labeled "Seong Yu-mi" in big letters.
I knocked lightly with my knuckles and turned the handle.
"I'm he—huh?"
No one's here?
Stepped in, and the place was empty.
She definitely said come here.
I scanned the vast, echoing room.
Desks, computers—everything there, which made it feel even emptier.
Why?
"How's it just desks and computers……."
Room's big enough for a whole department.
Desks are huge, but only two computers.
Only signs of life at those two spots.
Even eating jjajangmyeon with Elpinire yesterday, it felt like just Jeong Chan-woo under her.
As I looked around, something felt off; I walked to the wall.
"What the?"
Something weird here.
I cautiously reached for the wall.
My hand touched—but passed right through.
I stuck my head in without hesitation.
And yep.
"Figured as much."
Beyond was that familiar room.
The one Seong Yu-mi always teleported me from.
So that's why she hid it—secret wall passage.
I pulled my head out and turned at the presence behind me.
Jeong Chan-woo stood there, papers in hand, eyes wide, staring.
"……You noticed?"
"Mana felt off here."
"Impressive you caught that."
Thud, thud.
He set the papers on his desk and gestured to the many empty seats.
"Sit anywhere."
I nodded and plopped into a nearby chair.
"Where's Seong Yu-mi Hunter?"
"Senior's stepped out briefly. She'll be back soon—any empty seat's fine."
His reply was all business as he started typing, checking papers.
Chin in hand, I watched him work.
10 minutes, 20.
An hour passed, and he hadn't budged.
I yawned hugely and faceplanted on the desk.
"Not what I expected."
"What did you expect?"
"Figured the Awakening Association'd be hectic with villains and all. But it's dead."
"……."
Click.
His fingers froze on the keyboard mid-sentence.
He turned serious eyes on me.
"Don't say that."
"Huh?"
"Stuff like that always……."
Beep—!
Villain group sighted at Saebit Aquarium, Gangnam-gu. Estimated threat level: B-rank.
Jeong Chan-woo frowned faintly at the broadcast.
"B-rank villains…… Han Mir Hunter, maybe try some real action……."
"……."
"Han Mir Hunter?"
"Jeong Chan-woo Hunter. How many aquariums in Gangnam?"
"One, far as I recall."
"……Shit."
I shot up, grabbing my coat.
"Hurry!"
We gotta move.
Because.
'She's there…….'
Out celebrating school founding day.
My first signature's owner.
* * *
The Tutorial Tower is equal for all.
No bias by age or gender—awakening chances open to everyone.
Even the twisted get a shot.
"Ahh……."
That's why villains exist.
Uncontrollable power handed to the unhinged.
"You poor, pitiful children……."
A man with gills like a fish toyed with the aquarium glass.
He gazed at the fish beyond with eyes full of pity and sympathy.
Oblivious, they swam freely on the other side.
"Just wait a bit. I'll give you back your freedom."
He whispered, forehead to the glass, then turned.
Terror-stricken civilians knelt, hands behind heads.
Among them, a girl in outing clothes.
"I hate humans who experiment on and gawk at fellow creatures."
Step, step.
He approached the civilians.
Stomped hard on the bloody, crumpled security hunter on the floor.
Grinned with mad eyes.
"So I vowed not to show you respect."
Humans like you ain't worth it.
He slowly raised a hand.
Then rolled his eyes downward in a flash.
"Gasp……!"
The girl who met the villain's eyes.
Shuddered as he smiled at her.
"N-no!"
Squelch!
Something pierced.
Han Song-hee squeezed her eyes shut at the villain's thrust.
But no pain came.
Instead.
"Ah……."
Only icy water's touch.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked beside her.
Water gushed from the thick aquarium glass.
"Let's all return to the water together."
Crack, craaack.
Ominous sounds from behind; she turned slowly.
The massive aquarium glass spiderwebbed entirely.
It was crumbling.
Water flooding.
Glass shattered from the hole first.
Han Song-hee, closest, about to be swept away.
Smoke - Muyeong (Mist Shadow)
A vast mist spread wide.
"You okay? No injuries?"
"H-huhuhueng……."
It blanketed the cracking glass seamlessly.