Cheong Harin's Lucky Day (1)

"We might actually make a pretty good team~?"

She called us a team.

"We might actually make a pretty good team~?"

She said we were a team.

"We might actually make a pretty good team~?"

She said we would become a team.

"We might actually make a pretty good team~?"

A team...!

"Kyaaah!"

It had already been four hours since Cheong Ha-rin lay down on the sofa.

The chicken party had ended at 1:00 AM, and the sun would rise in just a little bit.

In an office without a single bed, listening to the squeaking of the old springs, sleep was out of the question.

But just the thought of working with Baek San-a was driving Cheong Ha-rin wild with excitement.

She still had a few lingering questions about her, but her expectations of success far outweighed them.

If I hang out with San-a, maybe I'll get a good Sephira? Then my fixer rank will naturally go ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up? I'll collaborate with famous fixers I've only ever heard stories about? I'll get invited to large-scale government-led operations? And naturally, I'll become a veteran of the office, respected by my cute juniors...!

It was a continuous stream of delusions, almost like dreaming while wide awake.

Just when she was starting to think she might even join the Council of Five...

"Zzzzz..."

Cheong Ha-rin finally drifted off to dreamland.

— Cock-a-doodle-doooooo!!!

The crazy crowing of a rooster that had been forcing Koreans awake at 6:00 AM for over a decade.

As soon as I woke up, I went up to the rooftop and looked toward the distant southern mountains.

"For a giant piece of chicken, it sure has a loud mouth..."

Far off in the mountains, a massive rooster head was poking out.

When I lived in the containment facility, I was deep underground and had no idea, but now that I lived close to the surface, that damn rooster had ruined my sleep more than once.

It's an unwritten rule to sleep for at least ten hours on days I eat garlic-heavy food...

But flying all the way over there is too much of a hassle.

Besides, I figured having something like that around would keep me from getting too lazy, so I just left it alone.

But it really is strange.

There must be plenty of demonic beasts outside the barrier far worse than a rooster, so how is that thing still alive?

"If you command it, I shall go this instant and turn it into fried chicken to present to you."

Cheong Ha-rin—no, Rubina, who had been fast asleep just a moment ago—was already awake and standing beside me.

Looking at the gleam in her eyes, she looked ready to actually do it if ordered.

...But is it even possible for a blood donation bus to catch that monster rooster?

"Come to think of it, I haven't heard the details of your ability. Care to explain?"

Surprisingly, the blood donation bus's ability was optimized for catching roosters.

In fact, against any living creature, it might not have a proper match.

"The needles sink in without a shred of pain. And once they prick, you get to decide whether the target lives or dies?"

"That is correct, my Lord."

But there was one fatal flaw.

"But it takes a whole hour to drain all the blood."

"If I establish my domain, the time will be reduced to a quarter of that."

"That's still fifteen minutes. Do you think an anomaly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is just going to sit around and wait for you?"

"Y-Your words are entirely just."

I could only see a future where Cheong Ha-rin got wrecked trying to show off with the blood donation bus's power.

1. Dying to the anomaly before the hour is up.

2. Dying to the anomaly before establishing the domain.

3. Establishing the domain, but dying to the anomaly before the fifteen minutes are up.

4. Dying the very moment the needle pricks.

...And so on.

"Realistically, your only chance of survival is to just set up the domain and turtle, right?"

"I am deeply ashamed before you, Progenitor..."

"No, no. It's fine. I'm sure it'll come in handy someday. Anomalies aren't just demonic beasts or simple creatures; you can't always just beat them to death."

So using Rubina's ability for defense is the best option for now...

"This 'domain' of yours. What is it based on?"

"I merely need to make contact with something that falls under the category of a vehicle."

"Wait, that's super easy? Does the domain's durability depend on the vehicle?"

"It does, my Lord."

Ah, so the blood donation buses that the fixers and I happily smashed to pieces were all Rubina's domains.

Since there's no limit to the number of vehicles she can connect to, there's really nothing better for holding out. She can just keep running away.

I think I understand why she never got caught by the fixers until now.

It does require fighting in an urban area, but... still, not bad.

Let's move on to the next question.

"What happens to a target you start drawing blood from before establishing the domain?"

"A rubber tube will extend outward from the vehicle that forms the domain."

"Oh? Really? That's actually pretty good."

"As you mentioned earlier, I did not think it to be a very useful function..."

"No, no. If you connect it to me, wouldn't I technically count as being inside the domain?"

"Forgive me... I have not yet tested that."

"Let's do it right now."

The sun wasn't fully up yet.

Once the sun rises, I'll start sweating bullets and get all sluggish, so now is the perfect time to test it.

First, I connected Rubina's IV line to myself.

Since she didn't configure anything, my blood naturally began to flow into her, just as I had predicted before.

This was because I had sealed my blood, meaning Rubina currently had a higher volume of blood.

So, what happens if she establishes a domain now?

I picked a random abandoned van nearby, and the moment she opened the domain—

"Ugh...!"

"Oh."

The direction of the blood in the IV line began to reverse.

And the speed was easily a hundred times faster than before.

I immediately stopped the flow of blood and waited for Woo Cheon-yeob to contact me.

One minute, two minutes, three minutes.

"...Nothing."

If I release my power this way without pulling out the crucifixes, does Woo Cheon-yeob not even detect it?

For someone like me who's pretending to be weak just to get into the city center, doesn't this mean I've gained the ultimate thrall?

"Rubina, you and I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠are a pretty good match~"

Rubina blushed and bowed her head.

"Y-Your grace is immeasurable. I am unworthy of such high praise, and I know not how to contain my gratitude."

She really takes after her host in this regard.

...Is that why the two of them fused?

Someone on the gallery once said that psychological factors also affect awakening, and I flamed them for talking nonsense. I should apologize to them today.

"Cheong Ha-rin is going to get her abilities evaluated next week. When she goes, make sure you never show them the domain establishment or the blood-drawing. Ah, not that you shouldn't use them in an emergency, though. Use them as you see fit then."

I'll keep this trump card hidden for now and only use it when necessary~

"But then, will there not be nothing left to show them?"

"You can still use the blood-drawing needles for offense. She used to swing a sword, so that should be enough for now. Even if she learns a bunch of new tricks, she won't be able to use them properly anyway. Cheong Ha-rin might get disappointed, so make sure you comfort her when the time comes."

"I shall do so."

The ability evaluation was an all-day affair.

To think she went in the morning and only returned after Auntie Lok-hee had already clocked out.

As I was browsing the gallery, Cheong Ha-rin walked in with a tearful face. I immediately ran over and patted her on the back.

"I wanted to be of more help..."

"What's wrong with Da-grade?"

"But San-a-nim, you're Ga-grade. It's a bit embarrassing for you to drag a Da-grade around..."

"Why would I drag my housekeeper around?"

"If I had at least been evaluated as Na-grade, I could have helped... Huh? Housekeeper? What do you mean..."

"I'm not even a registered fixer in the first place. I'm just the office pet."

Cheong Ha-rin shook her head in disbelief.

"Not registered...? Did you just choose not to register? Or did you get on the bad side of the Administration? Did those bastards strip you of your license, San-a-nim?"

"No, no. It's all a misunderstanding. Calm down."

"But you're saying things that make no sense...!"

It seemed like explaining my true identity to her, or even trying to convince her, was going to be a lost cause.

It felt like the best approach was to just let her believe whatever she wanted to believe.

Just how badly did she want to serve me as her boss?

Did she get pushed around a lot by the boss back at the Cheong Clan Alliance?

"Well, you can think whatever you like. But I won't be going out on operations if I can help it."

"Why..."

"Because Auntie Lok-hee, who's on dispatch, and you, my housekeeper, will be more than enough."

Cheong Ha-rin's face fell.

Did she really want to work with me that badly?

Making me soft like this...

Well, whatever. I do need to slowly recover from my gallery addiction anyway.

And I need to throw Auntie Lok-hee a bone now and then, so maybe once a month...

"Fine. I'll tag along on operations at least once a month. But since I'm just a pet, I can't apply for missions or register the results, so you and Auntie Lok-hee will have to handle that. Got it?"

"Y-Yes! I love it!"

"And when it's just the two of us, I don't care what you call me. But when we're outside, don't call me 'Boss' or use honorifics. I don't want any unnecessary misunderstandings. If you break this rule~?"

I drew a finger across my throat, and Cheong Ha-rin nodded frantically.

"Yes, yes! I'll engrave it in my bones!!"

Looking at what people say on the Fixer Gallery, they usually hate it when their boss tags along.

What a bizarre office this has become.

I mean, why won't she believe me when I say I'm not the boss in the first place?

"C-Can I go to the convenience store for a bit?"

"You don't need to ask permission for things like that."

"R-Right. I'm in a good mood, so I was thinking of grabbing a can of imitation beer..."

"Ah, then get me an imitation soda on your way back."

"Yes!"

After Cheong Ha-rin left, I floated up in the quiet office and stretched my limbs.

Well, is this the start?

Even if I just slack off at the office, the auto-farming of contribution points begins!

I'm in a great mood, so I should write a post on the gallery.

Right after, Woo Cheon-yeob contacted me. There was no need to explain the situation separately.

He wasn't the type of person who wanted my explanations anyway.

He investigated on his own and understood it on his own.

However, there was just one thing he didn't seem to know: that her ability was connected to mine.

"So, in other words, half of Cheong Ha-rin is your thrall, and we do not need to worry about control. Is that what you are saying?"

"Yes."

"There is no guarantee that she is like you. Her thirst for blood has not even been properly evaluated yet."

"B-But... she's a pitiful person. She's lived without luck her entire life, and she's only just starting to see the light..."

"A pitiful 'anomaly', you mean."

"She's half human..."

"Half anomaly."

Ugh, look at this stubborn man.

Time to normalize Woo Cheon-yeob.

"What if I need Cheong Ha-rin to get to the city center?"

"......"

"With Auntie Lok-hee and Cheong Ha-rin, we'll be duplicating contribution points!"

A long silence represented his thoughts.

As expected, when the trip to the city center is on the line, his mind changes.

"Banishing device, go go?"

"Do you remember that once you are banished, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠permanent re-entry is impossible?"

"Of course. I've been good and haven't caused any trouble for half a year, right? Since she's my thrall, she will never disobey my orders. I'll even feed her demonic beast blood if necessary, so don't worry~"

"Very well. I will send the item, so handle the wearing of it yourself."

"Oh? The Wall-Facing Division Chief isn't going to manage it personally?"

"It is easiest to leave her as an ordinary fixer. And thanks to the trap you set, I cannot go there anyway."

Gasp.

Did he already notice that I dragged Auntie Kim Lok-hee in on purpose?

He really is a scary man.

"Even if I'm fine with it, she's still technically awakened as a Qlippoth."

"I have already registered her as a Sephirah awakening in the Administration's database."

"Wow. The power of a Byeoksabusa is truly insane."

"Be grateful."

"Ah—Woo Cheon-yeob, the god of normalization, the giving tree who hands over a fixer office and boss status just for Baek San-a."

"I am hanging up."

Click.

I stared at the terminal, the corners of my mouth curling up.

"Was that a bit too much?"

Looking at the messages that arrived immediately after, it didn't seem like it.

Ah.

There's no need to worry about that.

I didn't expect it to happen this fast, though...

My unlucky housekeeper had already brought in some work.