A Porsche and a Bentley

Joseph, the American mage, had been a hunter of the 55th Floor. At least, that had been true until a few days ago. Now he was a hunter of the 57th Floor.

He was the one who had cleared it alongside Kang Minji — though aside from throwing up a few shield spells, he hadn't actually done much of anything.

And that same Joseph had been hauled into TASH Headquarters.

"How was it?"

The people at TASH recorded his testimony and picked it apart. The problem was the testimony itself.

"She went whoosh right in front of my eyes, vanished, then bam — she was back again, waving a sniper's head around."

"…Please give a proper statement."

"I'm telling the truth!"

William Gardner, the TASH Director, had been listening from another room. He pulled off his headphones.

"This is absurd."

"He's always been prone to exaggeration, but today it's especially bad."

The over-the-top embellishment had tanked the reliability of the intel.

"Deputy Director. When are we supposed to get the raid footage?"

"They said they'd send it as soon as they filmed it, so we should have it soon."

Just what was the secret behind an SS-Rank Clear? They were going to have to watch the cam footage themselves.

"If this is our only material for now… Hunter Kang Minji isn't actually Wonder Woman."

Not that he meant to sell her short. The testimony was a mess, but there was no changing the fact that Kang Minji was an extraordinary hunter.

"She's an incredibly desirable talent."

"So you've finally changed your mind. You were skeptical until just recently."

"Hey now, don't be snide. Once you sit in a seat that handles the budget, you get more cautious than you need to be."

Director Gardner looked a little sheepish. Who could have guessed it would be that impressive?

"With her, even the 57th Floor should be easy."

"I'd say the same goes through the 59th."

How much collapse-prevention budget would her mere existence save them? The figure was beyond imagining. And the budget was only a small part of it. The invisible added value they would gain from Kang Minji was far greater.

"The U.S. stock market has been falling lately."

"Because a collapse risk appeared that wasn't there before."

The certainty of we can clear the next floor was enormously important to a nation's image. What if you poured investment into a country and then the Tower collapsed? All that money would turn into worthless paper overnight. And it wasn't just investment. Every metric tied to public welfare and national development bent under the weight of that collapse risk.

"Though it's started to rebound thanks to Hunter Kang Minji."

"Thank God. The Korean Wonder Woman saved my stock portfolio too."

Kang Minji had cleared the 56th Floor as easily as sitting down to a meal. Surely she would clear the 57th just as quickly and wipe the collapse risk off the board.

"She hasn't already cleared it, has she? She seemed awfully pumped after that back-to-back clear."

"Come on. She wouldn't pull a stunt like that."

Just something said offhand. But it was a chilling hypothetical. If she cleared it too early, they would be in genuine trouble — they would be eating a loss on the remaining collapse deadline. If Kang Minji had done that, it would balloon into a major diplomatic dispute.

"Hmm… I'm getting uneasy for no reason."

"I'll check, just in case."

Of course it couldn't be. But the verification process was extremely simple, so they might as well check and put the thought to rest.

The method for confirming whether the 57th Floor had been cleared was simple. You just tried to enter the 58th.

"Well?"

"Entry failed."

Meaning the 57th Floor had not been cleared yet. And if it had? You would still enter the Tower. And in that black space, you would have seen a message like this:

"What should we do about the plan to recruit Hunter Kang Minji?"

"What's there to review? Let's start immediately."

The evaluation was already over, and it had been more perfect than they could have imagined. America had estimated three months for the 55th and 56th Floors. She had cleared them in two days.

"Find out what transfer conditions Hunter Kang Minji is asking for, and accommodate whatever she wants as much as possible."

"The budget hasn't been approved yet."

"I'll speak to the President myself. Get the ball rolling."

"Yes, sir."

It didn't matter what conditions she named. America was prepared to satisfy them, no matter what.

This time it's really coming!

I could feel it. Something huge was coming.

The middle one!

The box opened.

Oh, come on!

…Don't tell me the drop rates are the same as in HunMae?

That couldn't be right. In HunMae you could repeat-clear a floor as many times as you wanted in a single day. In reality, it was once a day!

Who the hell designed this broken-balance game?

I wanted to file a complaint.

"Great work!"

"Master, you worked hard."

"Yeah. You all did well."

The moment we stepped out of the Tower, Yeohwa and Rangi did a complete one-eighty and sat primly facing me. Yeohwa was drooling. Rangi's eyes sparkled like lanterns.

"Oh my? What's gotten into them?"

"Master, did that drop again?"

"Yeah. Why does it keep being this."

"Do Master Clears really keep giving items? Wow, that's actually broken."

What good was it if they kept dropping? Every single one was just rice cake.

As we were talking, my pocket got heavier. Yeohwa again.

"Yeonhwa, get this one off me."

"Yeohwa, you can't do that! You don't just go around biting Master!"

"You should teach her not to bite other people either."

I had nearly had a heart attack with Rangi. Of course, it had worked out well in the end — the kid was sharp.

But Yeohwa…

Look at that drool. I was the one who brought this one home, but she was a bit dim.

"Yeohwa, Yeohwa. You're not supposed to bite other people either, right? Except that one."

Jo Youchan, who had been turning on the PlayStation with his toes, looked back.

"Are you talking about me right now?"

Snack time. I stretched the rice cake out long. Yeohwa snapped her jaws at empty air, but Lee Yeonhwa had a firm hold of her.

"Master, let me do that!"

"You sure you'll be okay?"

Jo Youchan, who desperately wanted to be loved by spirits, tried so hard it was almost pitiful.

"Alright, Rangi first. Rangi, say aah— AAAGH!"

Yeohwa bit the rice cake in his other hand. Along with Jo Youchan's hand.

"That's it, our Yeohwa — just like I taught you!"

"GRAAAAH! You little— did you get your personality from your contractor too?!"

Rangi, who had been waiting with his mouth wide open, put out his claws and lunged when the rice cake didn't arrive immediately. In the end, Jo Youchan got the rice cake stolen again. Body and soul, he was covered in wounds.

The office filled with the wet, happy sound of rice cake being chewed.

"Master! Since we finished the climb early, why don't we go get something delicious?"

"Something delicious like what?"

"I bookmarked a great place on Instagram."

Lee Yeonhwa had gotten hooked on restaurant-hopping lately. Before, never mind the budget — she had been so buried in training she hadn't had the leisure to enjoy free time, mentally or otherwise. She said this was the most at-ease she had ever been in her life. Mentally and temporally, both.

She said life actually tasted good now, didn't she.

Hearing those words come out of such a young kid's mouth, she really did seem happy even after running away from home. That was a relief.

"Ahem. Master's a busy man."

"Busy doing what, exactly."

"You have to accept my challenge. I've still got next month's cookies left."

She meant the game. I keep telling you you can't beat me.

"Games are bad for your mental health! That's addiction. Addiction!"

Jo Youchan's face went dead serious. I quietly closed my eyes as well.

"Take that back."

"Excuse me?"

"Do you have any idea how gamers in this country feel, constantly persecuted? Being treated like patients over violence and addiction that don't even exist?"

Lee Yeonhwa was flustered by the sudden gravity. I nodded too. Games were absolutely not harmful to the mind.

"Anyway, where's this restaurant?"

"Look, here! It's a super hot cake shop, and you can get in after only a thirty-minute wait."

Lee Yeonhwa, who had always spoken with that old-fashioned flavor, was suddenly saying "hot" and "waiting list." She really did sound like a girl her age. That said—

Wow. I instantly lost all desire to go with her.

A cake shop, plus a wait. How had she managed to collect only the worst possible conditions?

But Lee Yeonhwa's eyes were sparkling just like Yeohwa's. A kid no older than my little sister, standing there in her school uniform looking like that — I couldn't refuse.

I-I may be a man of leisure, but a thirty-minute wait is a bit…

Just as I was stuck, my phone rang. Bzzzt—

"Oh! I need to take a call from the Guild Master. It's definitely an urgent work call."

"How do you know that without even picking up?"

"When you become an adult, you can feel it from the phone's vibration alone."

Lee Yeonhwa's face fell. Yeohwa beside her synced with the emotion, ears and tail drooping in unison.

"Eeeh… you're always busy."

"Who said our Master was a man of lei— ACK!"

Rangi climbed up Jo Youchan's back. Had he synced with my feelings? Or was it just habit? Either way, nice one, Rangi.

"Next time!"

I snatched up my phone and bolted. It was a call from Uncle Paldeok. But—

A video call?

What was this? I picked up anyway.

"Hey, Hyeonseok. You busy?"

"What would I be busy with. I'm the most free person in the guild."

"For someone who says that, every time I see you you're training the kids."

"That is my job."

"Haha. You even talk like a grown-up now. Take it easy."

So… why a video call? Looking at the background, it seemed like a car dealership. Then Kang Minji suddenly popped onto the screen.

"Hyeonseok! Long time no see!"

"Minji? Ah, right — Uncle Paldeok is in America right now."

"That's right. More importantly, Hyeonseok, what do you think of this car?"

"The car?"

He pointed the camera at some white vehicle. Was he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠trying to buy a new one?

"I don't really know cars."

"Just give me your first impression. Pretend it's yours."

"Hmm… it's pretty cool? Looks expensive."

I was clueless about cars, but I knew that was a Porsche. A car that was practically a symbol of the wealthy — low-slung body, sleek and handsome.

"Hyeonseok, what about this one?"

"Are you buying a car too, Minji?"

What Kang Minji pointed at was a sedan. A heavy, refined black vehicle.

"Which one looks better?"

"To my eye, the Porsche looks cooler."

"That's our Hyeonseok. World's finest taste, as always."

"Whaaat? Really? Think about it carefully!"

"See? I told you. A man knows a man's heart."

I had no idea what the two of them were talking about.

But why are they picking out cars in America?

Were these models they didn't sell in Korea?

"Hyeonseok, go down to the guild's underground parking garage right now."

"Right now?"

"Yeah. Spot E-3."

I went downstairs, and there was a car in that spot. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The same Porsche I had seen on the screen.

"Oh!"

"It's a gift, Hyeonseok."

"What!? I-it's mine?"

The reason they had asked what I thought… was because it was my car?

"You said it was pretty cool, right?"

"Looking at it again, it's not 'pretty cool' — it's an absolutely magnificent vehicle."

The moment I heard it was mine, it looked completely different. Like a camera filter had been applied to my eyes. Could a car even be this good-looking?

"Can I really accept something this expensive?"

"Do you have any idea how much value our Hyeonseok has brought to the guild. If anything, this is overdue."

"Thank you!"

It was the first car I had gotten since becoming a working adult. A Porsche, no less! My very own beloved steed!

"But is the other car in the next spot mine too?"

"Huh?"

"It's all wrapped up with a ribbon like a ceremonial wreath. It says 'To Advisor Hyeonseok.'"

A luxurious ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sedan. But it wasn't the one Kang Minji had shown me. Was this a Bentley?

"Wow, this one is really cool too?"

"W-what are you talking about?"

Just like that, I had two beloved cars.

Director Jeong Sangguk smiled with pride as he looked out the window.

"What if he doesn't like it?"

"There you go again. Senior, an intellectual man like Hyeonseok couldn't possibly dislike a Bentley."

"I just wonder if the choice was a bit old-fashioned. He's a man in his twenties — maybe I should have gone with a sports car."

They had secretly left the Bentley in the underground parking garage at Jingyeok Guild Headquarters. The Porsche in the next spot had been so well put together. He couldn't help worrying it would suffer by comparison.

Over the past few days, Hyeonseok's stature had grown far too large. The number of people coveting him was increasing at an alarming rate.

And this is with his true identity as Master still unrevealed.

It was about time the infinite competition to scout him began.

"We need to start taking active care of Hyeonseok now too."

If he left for another country? It wouldn't end at just a big problem. Losing his position as Director would be the least of it — and this wasn't even a matter of worrying about things like that. As a citizen of the Republic of Korea, it was a catastrophe that had to be prevented at all costs.

Whether as Master, or as an SS-rank instructor, Hyeonseok was already South Korea's future.

"We've been a bit neglectful until now."

"It couldn't be helped. Until now, we couldn't let it show that he was Master."

But things were different now. He had a separate reputation as Jingyeok's advisor, didn't he. They could now claim they were taking care of Advisor Hyeonseok — not Master.

"This surprise car gift was a good call. Come up with more things like this and send them up for approval."

"Yes, Senior."

Now, at last, they could lavish him without looking over their shoulders. He was their Master, after all — a man like the heavens themselves.