Even a Saint Would Struggle Against It? (1)
The chairman of the Changro organization. Age and name unknown. According to the Management Bureau, he is a figure on par with a Ga-rank anomaly.>
A Ga-rank has already emerged?>
Of course I was the one who stirred up the hive, but I couldn't just hand it over and walk away without a fight.>
Kim Rok-hee is quick on the draw. She's already predicted this attack and is doing everything she can to protect Cheong Ha-rin. But no matter how low her rank, taking on this guy one-on-one would be tough.>
Well, the boss is in a hurry.>
Normally, growth events call for patience. That's proper manners.>
Or maybe he just doesn't have much learning ability.>
Or perhaps he's the type who thinks he's insanely strong.>
...Well, with a Ga-rank, thinking that way isn't exactly out of the ordinary.>
“Hey, wouldn't the Byeoksa-bu be able to stop this? Why are you making me do it?”>
I don't know which direction he's approaching from. I'll boost Cheong Ha-rin's strength, but there's a high chance he'll kidnap you instead.>
“Ah, so when that happens, could you ask the Byeoksa-bu to come pick you up?”>
If it's going to happen, just eliminate him right away.>
“Ahaha. Eliminate... me?”>
I looked back for a second, thinking I might have misheard.>
“Eliminate? By my own hand?”>
That's right. Just do it.>
“Right away? No trial?”>
He's too threatening to hold a trial. Wanted posters already say he's either alive or dead—doesn't matter.>
“Umm.”>
“Why? Too weak for your level?”>
“No matter how bad the guy is, killing an anomaly like me feels a little off. Plus, the cross hasn't come off yet. It won't be that strong without it. Plus the risk of capturing the amplified anomaly wavelength when it comes off.”>
[...Pass.]>
Pass?>
What pass?>
[That was a test just now. Even if it looks like an anomaly, the question was whether I should prioritize killing hostile targets that are ultimately human.]>
Was that psychological test too?>
'No way, was the one-year psychological test I heard about after quarantine over? All of it just like this?'>
Well, most anomalies couldn't even pass that.>
But I'm a pretty human-like anomaly, so it went smoothly.>
[Anyway, based on our conversation at the hospital last time, today's trap questions, and the appearance shown at the enhanced branch, the one-year psychological test is considered passed.]>
“Wow, it really was a half-assed test~.”>
[It's a shame we couldn't monitor you for half a year, but from now on, just keep doing things like this. I'll report to the higher-ups properly.]>
“Hoh, thank you, sir.”>
...But didn't this conversation about the Changro chairman's life end here?>
Out of curiosity, I asked Woo Cheon-yeob.>
“So, if the Changro chairman kidnaps me, what should I do?”>
[Do what I said earlier.]>
“Buy time? Or kill?”>
[It's okay if the chairman or Changro members die during an operation. I can cover that however I want. But minimizing civilian damage is the most important part.]>
Another freedom was given to me.>
When fighting approved enemies, the Byeoksa-bu said it's fine if the opponent dies a bit...>
He mentioned the enhanced branch earlier.>
It was clear that the fact he had finished the job without anyone dying influenced this decision.>
[Originally, it was 100,000 contribution points. To gather all of it, you would have to do countless missions. But claiming to gather everything without anyone dying these days doesn't make sense.]>
“Hmmm...”>
[You don't have to worry much about the cross either. It's a criminal, after all. Just pin it on them.]>
“I'll still be careful to avoid unnecessary civilian harm.”>
[But even as an enemy, you can't drink human blood.]>
“Nyheht, I wouldn't eat that even if you gave it to me~.”>
A somewhat free battle situation.>
I asked because I needed to know about the enemy to avoid accidental civilian damage in battle.>
“What is the chairman's Sephirah? Is there any known information?”>
[Beast control.]>
“Trainer, huh?”>
[But it seems he can't control all beasts. If he could, Seoul would've been a wasteland of beasts long ago.]>
I felt my thought was correct and said it with unusual confidence.>
“It looks like you control herons.”>
[Opinions match.]>
It had to be herons.>
Because the herons that kept interrupting me the entire way to the base beneath Ganghwa Island...>
I could say they only snatched me and the kidnappers because they were looking for food.>
But the heron flock that kept interfering the whole way wasn't normal.>
After the warehouse's secret was revealed, the herons all disappeared.>
It was the breeding season for herons to build nests and raise chicks, yet the nest was left behind and they vanished without a trace.>
That's why the villain who kept posting heron photos is now busy bragging.>
[]
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After the army and fixers left, the herons all disappeared. >
Aigoo, what should I film now...>
Aww, the heron meme went crazy. >
Are you a heron fan? >
Go away to the beast photography gallery~ >
HeronsAreNotNice >
This is an anomaly spy lol >
Herons are the only ones he can control, so the story would get easier if confirmed... but is it really only herons?>
'If he uses a trick like me, it gets exhausting right from the start.'>
“Unless it's confirmed that he can control other beasts too, you shouldn't rush.”>
[That's right. So don't push yourself too hard. If you die, I'll have a problem too.]>
I didn't want to come off as arrogant, but I had to say it.>
“Have you heard the saying that cats have nine lives?”>
[I've heard it.]>
“I'm more like a gaaahaaang... something like that.”>
[...?]>
“A real gaaahaaang... I can't even describe this well.”>
[My fault for trying to keep up. Let's drop it for now.]>
“Ah, no! You're talking seriously.”>
[An anomaly, right?]>
Like a serious human.>
Well, whatever.>
No matter what kind of worst matchup I get, I'll last a few days. When the guy comes, I'll just play with him as he comes.>
* * *>
“Here. Take this.”>
I received the monitoring choker from Woo Cheon-yeob long ago, but because incidents kept happening, I could only give it to Cheong Ha-rin now.>
“What is this?”>
“GPS for missing persons. I have one too.”>
It wasn't a lie—Woo Cheon-yeob's official GPS only, no exile function.>
He didn't think I needed that, either.>
When I lightly tapped her neck, Cheong Ha-rin obediently put it on without any explanation.>
“I'll register this on my terminal now. That way, like last time, I can easily find you if you get kidnapped.”>
“T-them, can I also register San-ah-nim's location?”>
“Yes. I like it that way too. Let's do it.”>
“Hehehe...”>
What was so good about that?>
Was she thinking it was a couple choker?>
“So, you were stuck to Auntie Rok-hee the whole day yesterday. What did you do?”>
“Ah, uhh, training...”>
“Ahaha. Combat training? Is there a vacant lot nearby?”>
“No. We went outside the barrier together. Basic physical training and beast-catching training, and then...”>
“Then?”>
“Then suddenly people swarmed in and I signed autographs... took photos...”>
“What? You turned into an influencer! Should I get SNS too?”>
“Y-yes? Me? I don't do that...”>
I immediately turned on my terminal and showed her the Fixer Gallery status.>
Cheong Ha-rin probably didn't realize she was the new gallery owner.>
... ─[[ Fixer Gallery ]]─ ...>
‘Gallery Owner’ search - last 24 hours - total 19,019 posts>
“There are over 100,000 posts a day. Today, 20% of them are about the housekeeper.”>
Cheong Ha-rin shook her head with a look of disbelief.>
“R-really? How is that possible?”>
“Your face is sold everywhere, housekeeper. That's why it's exploding in popularity.”>
“My face?! When...?!”>
“You've been famous since the aptitude test. Your appearance is probably why~.”>
“Umm...”>
Cheong Ha-rin didn't react strongly to the news.>
Surprisingly, she seemed confident about her looks, but maybe not.>
While scrolling through posts about herself on the terminal, she muttered with a mix of irritation.>
“What is this...”>
[]
: >
Trying to make a new person the gallery owner while ignoring this noble lady? >
I, Sawayo, cannot accept this~ >
Where on this white chick is there anything to like? >
I can't understand it at all~ >
“White chick?! The one who can't even speak properly!”>
Cheong Ha-rin must have been experiencing ego searching for the first time.>
Well, getting this popularity for the first time, so getting angry at the first ego search is only natural...>
But “chick” is a pretty cute nickname, isn't it?>
There might even be a virtual singer in Japan themed after chick bread.>
While Cheong Ha-rin was poking at it, she muttered...>
“...Still, people say no in the comments. Thank you...”>
You can't accept it >
Honestly, a real female college student is better than a fake high-schooler lol >
lmao >
Accept generational change >
It's basically an honorable death >
Well, young energy can't be beaten, right? >
Old lady is out~ >
Know when to exit~ >
Shoo~ >
But how does loli work? >
? What are you saying >
Loli is loli~ >
Kidnapping >
Block this arm right now >
The gallery owner controversy seemed to have ended like that, but no.>
Sawayo was quite irritated and posted another one.>
[]
: >
One-on-one battle, Sawayo! >
Compare the contribution points of the next mission you clear and the higher one becomes the gallery owner~ >
By the way, I'm about to be sent on a Ga-rank mission soon~ >
Come on, show me your skills~ >
? >
Being special-grade but so ugly... >
That's why my special dislike was triggered >
Still, the only special-grade who communicates is you lol >
You even give out a lot of laughter lol >
Still, competing with special-grades on contribution points seems too unfair... >
Sawayo) Hmph >
Sawayo) If you're going to compare yourself to me, you have to do at least that much~ >
OnePunchMan🔸) Did he rent out the gallery owner? >
OnePunchMan🔸) Wasn't it changing every time... >
Sawayo) No~ >
Sawayo) Sawayo is the eternal gallery owner~ >
“Special-grade?!”>
Cheong Ha-rin, who had been watching, jumped up in surprise.>
She was probably shocked by Sawayo's rank.>
“Why? You were surprised it was special-grade?”>
“Euh... Yeah. Special-grade? Just an odd person?”>
“There are a lot of those. Even more in overseas communities. In our country, the special-grades who use the gallery often are only Sawayo.”>
“C... If you're special-grade... I can't do anything...”>
I winked playfully.>
“Why? I have one.”>
“Eh... eh?”>
“And I heard from Auntie Rok-hee. Bad guys might start moving soon to target the housekeeper.”>
“Ah, y-yes, I heard!”>
“The boss there is on par with a Ga-rank, so if I catch him, who knows? The recent Ganghwa base heist was 2,000 contribution points.”>
When an operation clears a mission before the Management Bureau announces it, the bureau sets the contribution scale afterward.>
Then, according to the set standards, a minimum guarantee is provided.>
It's called guaranteed contribution by grade.>
This Ganghwa base was judged Na-rank, so the minimum was 100...>
But considering it was a special case that resolved an abandoned mission in one hit, solo, 10 times the standard was given.>
Typical missions get 200 to 300 on average, so this is huge.>
Plus he surrendered the Sephirah 'Hexahedron' he had, adding 1,000 more contribution points, totaling 2,000.>
“With the Ga-rank minimum guarantee of 1,000, you could win if you're lucky. And Sawayo's next mission is Ga-rank, right?”>
Special-grade missions have varying contribution and pay, but from previous cases, minimum 20,000.>
So, it's good that Sawayo didn't get a special-grade mission.>
“Anyway, you have to keep training. Who knows when enemies will suddenly attack.”>
“Y-yes!”>
“Oh, right. If you suddenly feel like drinking blood, that won't happen, right?”>
“Eh? I have to drink blood?!”>
“With blood donation and awakening, maybe? You need blood, right?”>
“B-but should I drink human blood?”>
“No no no~ It's a human misconception that you can only drink human blood.”>
Well, there are vampire-like beings that really can't survive without human blood, born from human fear...>
But I'm not one of them.>
Cheong Ha-rin probably isn't either.>
Blood relatives follow their parents' tendencies.>
“It's about time, so if you suddenly feel thirsty, drink this.”>
I handed Cheong Ha-rin a glass bottle of concentrated blood I kept.>
I purified it myself, 100% pure beast blood.>
“It won't go bad, so don't refrigerate it. Keep it with you so you can drink anytime.”>
When she opened the lid and sniffed, she flinched in surprise.>
“W-what? No fishy smell at all?”>
“With the housekeeper's power, it can't be too fishy, right?”>
“Slurp.”>
Cheong Ha-rin licked the tip of her tongue, and her eyes grew huge.>
After that, her tongue wagged like a water-drinking puppy, and before long she was holding the bottle to her mouth and gulping it down.>
“Kyah. The taste and throat feel better than any drink... I don't know what to call this...”>
This is weird.>
Even if she's half-beast, she couldn't drink this much, right?>
“Have you ever drunk blood before?”>
“Ah, it might sound strange, but I'm pretty used to beast blood... When I joined the Cheong Clan Alliance, I lived outside the barrier. If water ran out completely, I had no choice but to drink.”>
In the past, humans did sometimes get water from animal blood.>
People outside the barrier live lives close to primitive compared to modern civilization, so her answer isn't strange...>
Beasts are born from exposure to anomaly wavelengths, and their blood shouldn't be drunk freely.>
Why is the drug being circulated by the Changro organization so dangerous then?>
It's just a specific substance extracted from beast blood, and that substance turns people into beasts.>
'Has her beastification already progressed quite a bit?'>
That's why her physical abilities were higher than a Ra-rank fixer.>
What?>
Does that mean I didn't turn her into an anomaly spy... I just saved her from the risk of losing her sanity by turning her into a real beast?>
No reason to feel guilty anymore?!>
“Housekeeper.”>
“Neng?”>
“I really want to drink salty carbonated water right now.”>
“Ah, s-sure, I'll bring it!”>
“Right now. Hurry.”>
“I'll be right back!”>
After sending Cheong Ha-rin away, the quiet office at night.>
A few minutes later, an unexpected visitor came.>
“Hello. Hada. Hello.”>
A bit taller than a human, long neck and long beak.>
Round glowing eyes in the dark and vertically closing corneas.>
“I. Am. The chairman. Chairman of Changro. I came to trade with you.”>
The awkward speech and odd sentence structure—don't underestimate it.>
The Sephirah pressure, though not as strong as Woo Cheon-yeob's, was enough to prove he was Ga-rank.>
“Shall we move to a seat? You'd be surprised if someone saw this appearance~.”>
