Chapter 41
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: [Lee Ji-hee (21)]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[Job: Unemployed]
[Education: General High School Graduate (Arts/Physical)]
[Family: Mother, Father]
[Experience: Restaurant Part-Time 1 Year]
'So this is me now?'
The paper, which looked just like a resume, had a photo of someone who vaguely resembled me pasted on it, and behind that was an ID card.
Ji-ui, Ji-hee. The pronunciations were similar, so I figured I could answer naturally even if someone called the new name.
"Please wear this."
"I never would have guessed it had a camera with a design like this."
It was a choker like something a celebrity might wear. I hooked the clasp to secure the camera around my neck and checked my reflection on my phone once.
Hmm, just looks like someone who's really into fashion.
"As long as your heart is beating, the camera will keep recording. It will probably capture every conversation you have with Hunter Shin Ji-ui in the office and everything that happens during the awakening process."
Station Chief Lee Go-eun sat down across from me and reached out toward me.
"Then, from now on, I'll apply the perception interference skill."
Crackle.
White electricity sparked from Station Chief Lee Go-eun's hand. Accompanied by a crackling sound, a dazzling light swallowed me up. I cautiously opened my eyes only after the noise gradually faded.
"All done."
"It's... done? I don't feel any different..."
No matter how I looked, I still saw the same me as before.
"It's because it's you. To people extremely close to you, you'll look the same, but to others, you'll appear vaguely unfamiliar."
"I see."
"It lasts six hours. Today, you'll probably just do the awakening consultation and pay, then part ways, so time shouldn't be an issue."
As Station Chief Lee Go-eun shook her hand, glittering powder scattered into the air.
"Alright, time to head out. I've put the money for Han Cheol-min in with the resume."
Station Chief Lee Go-eun stood first and opened the door for me. I pulled my cap low over my head and stepped outside.
'The photo made my face look bigger.'
The building housing Han Cheol-min's office was a concrete structure that looked like it would collapse if I kicked it. Even with white paint slathered over it, the signs of decay were everywhere.
Next to a snack bar preparing for the lunch rush was the small entrance to the building.
The moment I opened the door, a tall, narrow staircase appeared. As Inspector Hwang Su-won had said, the second floor housed a tax accountant's office, and one more flight up revealed a sign blinking: 'Cheolsae Job Agency.'
I wasn't great at lying, but I'd try to make it as natural as possible. From now on, I was Lee Ji-hee, a twenty-one-year-old unemployed mess with her head all jumbled from anxiety about the future.
I took a deep breath, hypnotizing myself, and stowed both phones in my inventory.
"Um..."
I cautiously opened the door and peeked my head inside. A woman with her feet up on the desk, fiddling with her phone, glanced at me and jerked her chin toward the sofa right by the window.
'What a warm welcome.'
Only after sitting on the sofa did I get a better look at the office. An empty desk by the entrance, the desk facing the window where the woman now sat, and the innermost one hidden behind a partition.
That last one must be Han Cheol-min's spot.
"What brings you here?"
"Awaken me, please."
"What? This is a job agency, kid."
"I know all about it."
Flutter.
I tossed the flyer and cut straight to the point. The woman stood from her seat and strode toward me. When I looked up at her, our eyes met—hers blazing fiercely. She smirked with one corner of her mouth.
"Pretty bold, huh. Fake awakener or real unawakened?"
"F-rank. Fake."
Pssht.
At that moment, water shot from the woman's fingertip. I dodged instinctively, and it splattered against the window behind me, trickling down.
'She just uses skills like that.'
I glared at her, and she lit up with interest.
"Oh, nice reflexes."
"Anyway, are you going to awaken me or not?"
"Got some money?"
"I got severance pay."
"Don't know how much, but yeah, severance should cover one dungeon run."
Creak.
The woman stood and turned her back to me.
"Wait here about ten minutes. More like you will show up, and I'll explain to everyone together."
If they had set appointments, it meant a full market had formed.
As I clutched the fake ID tightly, the door opened, and in came a couple with a young child, followed by two young men.
'Wait, that guy...'
"Ha-in, hurry up already."
"I'm not late, why the rush~?"
'That jerk from before!!'
The idiot who threatened me and the theater staff and got dragged out by security! I should have recognized him when he was being a jerk, but now he's brokering too? What a piece of work.
The jerk didn't recognize my face at all and just grinned foolishly, bowing to the woman. Barely remembering his name, he ushered his clients to the sofa with obsequious smiles.
"It's a bit cramped, but yes, yes, everyone sit down~"
"Yeon-woo, sit up straight."
A familiar voice rang out. I slowly turned toward the sound...
'The downstairs couple... and Yeon-woo.'
The moment I saw Yeon-woo, my mind went blank. The downstairs wife corrected her child's posture, then stared blankly at the jerk with a haggard face. Her husband, sitting beside her, wore the same dying expression, alternating glances between his daughter and the office.
My ominous premonition crystallized into a single sentence.
'They came to restore their crumbling family fortunes.'
Clueless that it's a rotten rope.
"Everyone here must want to awaken and become hunters, right?"
The woman who had bared her teeth at me earlier now spoke to the group with far friendlier tones.
"The principle of awakening is actually pretty simple. You just need sincere desire to awaken! Not vaguely, but really thinking, 'If I don't awaken right now, I'll die!' That boosts your chances."
"So how will you awaken us?"
"We'll go to a D-rank dungeon near Daerim Station. Of course~ we'll have a skilled C-rank awakener with us, so safety is guaranteed!"
Thunk.
Then, the young man at the end leaned toward the woman. His bloodshot eyes and sunken cheeks showed how hard he'd been living.
"Can a normal person go?"
"Of~ course there's a way."
The woman winked obnoxiously before staring him down.
"You want to awaken, right?"
"Yes? Uh, yeah... I think becoming a hunter would make life better than now."
The woman's gaze shifted to the downstairs family.
"Your family wants to awaken too, right?"
"Of course. Absolutely."
The downstairs couple nodded repeatedly, as if her words were gospel. The wife gripped Yeon-woo's shoulder. The child glanced at her mom, then unwillingly nodded.
Yeon-woo looked exactly Ji-yu's age. Small round nose, gentle eyes without double lids. The kind of ordinary kid you'd see often at the neighborhood elementary school.
Perhaps sensing my gaze, Yeon-woo stared at me before quickly looking away as if afraid of being seen.
"So, could everyone hand over their IDs and the fees you've brought? We'll see what services we can offer based on the amount~"
"Resumes are even better!"
People rummaged and handed over papers and money envelopes. I smiled brightly at the grinning jerk and passed him the forged ID, documents, and money envelope.
"This is the agreement. Skim it and sign at the bottom, please."
They pulled out a few sheets of agreements, placed them on the table, and vanished behind the partition.
Let's see what nonsense they're protecting.
[Agreement]
1. All issues related to safety are the individual's responsibility.
2. Do not disclose this contract to others. If disclosed, services will be permanently denied, and this applies to all similar businesses.
'What total scum.'
It was saying indirectly that breaking secrecy would block all paths to awakening. Setting such unfavorable terms when awakening itself was uncertain.
I tucked the papers under the choker and, by the time they returned, had signed 'Lee Ji-hee' on the line.
"Checking the fees... Yeon-woo gets two tries, and Gi-jin-ssi and Ji-hee-ssi get one each."
"Wow!! Hear that, Yeon-woo? Two times, two!"
"Oh man, all that hard work paid off..."
"You're sending this kid into a dungeon right now?"
The words burst out without any filter.
I'd thought one of the parents was going, but Yeon-woo? Are they completely insane?
The noisy office fell silent like cold water had been poured. The downstairs couple's mouths opened and closed as they searched for words.
"None of your business, is it?"
The downstairs wife spoke first. Her eyes brimmed with venom and desperation, making rational talk impossible. Hard to believe this was the same woman who had looked at me with such emotion yesterday.
'Hitting back here could cause misunderstandings, so hold it.'
I pulled my cap lower to hide my face more and avoided her gaze.
"You're here to awaken yourself..."
Her voice trailed off like a dying ember.
Grind.
I'd clenched my teeth without realizing; they ground together with a friction sound.
Hold it in. Can't mess up this early. At least get into the dungeon safely.
"Alright, here's your IDs back~ We'll keep the resumes and dispose of them properly!"
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, the jerk chirped cheerfully as he returned the IDs. Shoving mine into my pocket, I subtly rolled my eyes toward Yeon-woo.
Yeon-woo was fussing with her tangled hair using her fingertips. Despite the sweltering weather, she wore long sleeves and pants, sweat beading on her forehead.
Clap!
The broker woman clapped to draw attention, narrowing her eyes as she spoke slowly.
"Tomorrow at 5:30 PM, we'll all head to the dungeon together, so be here by 5 sharp! We leave exactly on time, so don't be late!"