Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Inspection, Busy Schedule
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Supernova.
A star that rises so brightly, it almost seems like it might explode.
Recently, two supernovas had appeared in the awakener industry.
One was Molrangmol, steadily growing into a major corporation, and the other—
“Wow...!”
—was the being sparkling with wide-eyed wonder in front of Seo Ha.
Just standing near her made one’s heart pound uncontrollably.
It was Han Saebyeok, the exclusive model for Molrangmol.
“So amazing!”
A radiant smile spread across the soft, pale cheeks of the dawn.
Was she actually interested in this kind of thing?
How unusual. Girls her age typically had zero interest in monster research.
They might go for cute Molrangmol merch, sure.
“Want to see something else?”
“Yes, please.”
Her red eyes sparkled.
...She’s so cute. Adorably so.
No wonder people went crazy for her.
Even Seo Ha, who hadn’t paid much attention to Han Saebyeok before—
“Um... unnie?”
“Uh, yeah. Come here.”
—felt her heart ache just facing the girl.
‘I thought she was cute, but...’
The real thing was on another level.
Photos couldn’t capture the full extent of her beauty.
And right now, Saebyeok was fully geared up.
“Hemeko,” or whatever they called it.
Her hair, makeup, and outfit formed a perfect harmony.
There was a new photoshoot today, right?
The president had mentioned she might drop by the lab during a break.
‘I didn’t think she’d actually come.’
Ding!
Seo Ha operated the screen, and the machine whirred to life.
A sharp needle plunged into the dark surface of the Molrangtori with a *pok*, injecting something inside.
“What’s it doing right now?”
“The tip of the probe is coated with Sperkuni epidermis. We’re injecting it into the Molrangtori.”
“Uh... Sper...kuni?”
Saebyeok tilted her head.
Oops, mistake.
She was just a 15-year-old girl, after all.
Seo Ha needed to explain it more gently, in simpler terms.
As she racked her brain for an easier way—
“Ugh...! It’s so hard! So hard!”
“You’re always so stubborn. Why not just leave it to us?”
—jeers came from behind.
From her subordinates, who had abandoned research to ogle Saebyeok.
Zap!
“U-ugh...!”
“L-leave it to us...! Leave it to us...!”
What the—?
She shot them a glare, but they resisted fiercely.
They’d totally become Saebyeok’s die-hard fans.
What if she hadn’t come to Molrangmol?
She couldn’t fathom why they’d all balked when she suggested transferring together.
With a wry smile, Seo Ha turned her attention away from them.
In a way, this was part of the perks.
If they were enjoying the best welfare ever, they’d better deliver results.
If not, heads would roll.
Ahem. Seo Ha cleared her throat unnecessarily and spoke.
“There’s this monster called Sperkuni that only appears in American gates. Interestingly, its epidermis has live cells that detect mana.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. So we add special ingredients to it and inject it like this into specific elements, and it perfectly maps out the internal mana structure.”
“Wow... Who discovered this?”
Saebyeok’s mouth fell open in awe.
Seo Ha replied with immense pride.
“I did. Well, precisely, I developed this technique.”
It was the technology that had made her the top researcher.
HXZ Guild had scouted her right after she announced it.
“That’s incredible.”
Saebyeok beamed warmly.
What was this...?
It felt good, yet oddly peculiar.
Like a superior pleased with a subordinate’s achievement.
Probably just her imagination.
“Anyway, we use it to check the Molrangtori’s internal mana structure, and now...”
Vrrr!
An image began forming on the screen.
“We can view it in 3D like this.”
“Ah... So those three mana strands mixed together?”
Several mana threads tangled chaotically.
Precisely four, but the last one acted as an adhesive.
It had fully melded with the three, making it hard to distinguish.
“Roughly, yeah. One’s from the Pudding Slime, one’s from the summoner, and the last... I actually don’t know.”
“...Pardon?”
“It’s an unidentified monster.”
There was a similar specimen.
It matched Shadow Kkami’s mana profile by 95%.
But that 5% difference.
Five percent might seem minor, but it was impossible to ignore.
Much like genes.
Humans and chimps differ by about 5% genetically.
Just 5%, yet no one thinks they’re the same species.
So the monster mixed into the new Molrangtori was entirely different from a standard Shadow Kkami.
“There are still unidentified monsters out there?”
“Yup... Especially since our Molrangmol summoner is S-Rank.”
‘Our’ Molrangmol.
Even saying it felt awkward to Seo Ha.
“Right?”
“They seem able to summon nonexistent monsters. If they use those, of course they won’t be in our database.”
“Ah... That’s an amazing ability, huh?”
“Exactly. I want to meet them. Honestly, it’s not just curiosity... it’s respect.”
She wanted to seriously research that power.
She could churn out hundreds of papers easily.
“Unnie! So what’s the mana structure used for?”
Saebyeok’s energy spiked as she asked boldly.
‘Does she like research?’
Maybe she’d awakened Saebyeok’s inner scientist.
If she wanted to become a researcher, Seo Ha would hire her on the spot.
So what if she lacked knowledge?
Just having her around boosted motivation.
And knowledge could be taught.
The world might mourn losing model Han Saebyeok, but that wasn’t her problem.
“Unnie...?”
“Ah, sorry. What’d you say?”
“What’s the mana structure used for?”
“This pitch-black mana you see now. We’re going to remove the unknown monster’s mana from the Molrangtori.”
“Why?”
“So it turns into a standard Molrangtori. Then even regular people like you, Saebyeok, can use it.”
At first, it was just a vague research task, but progress showed it was feasible.
Thanks to the president’s full support with Molrangtori and materials.
Especially having unlimited access to slime balls, the base for Molrangtori.
Back at Hwaryeon, limited materials slowed things down.
Here, she could experiment freely.
“Is that possible?”
“Hmm... Can’t guarantee it 100%, but yes. At latest, within a month.”
“A month... A month. Then I’ll look forward to it!”
With expectations like that, she’d have to deliver success news within a month, if only for Saebyeok’s sake.
Ding!
“One sec.”
A sudden notification.
Saebyeok checked her smartphone.
Seo Ha—and the researchers behind—instinctively knew.
It was time to part with Saebyeok.
“Shooting’s about to start, so I should head out.”
“Mmm... Can’t be helped.”
Disappointing. Insanely so.
But she couldn’t hold back the ultra-busy Saebyeok.
As everyone swallowed their regret,
Saebyeok handed Seo Ha the shopping bag she’d been carrying.
“This is...?”
“Unreleased photobook. Limited edition we’ll sell... I’m giving it specially to the researchers.”
“Is it okay to give away something so rare?”
It felt burdensome.
These were impossible to get even at markup due to shortages.
“Can’t I? The president said to pass them out as a bonus. ‘Please take good care of us,’ he said.”
If that was the case, she’d accept.
“You heard? Come get yours...”
Crash!
“Kaaaaah! President! I’ll bury my bones here!”
“Thank you... Thank you...”
Always so over the top.
But whatever.
It was nice.
**
**
**
[Molrangmol welfare is the best lol][Posted by: Yeonhwa Researcher]
(Selca with Saebyeok (my face mosaiced))
(Hand-signed special Han Saebyeok photobook)
Never expected welfare like this lol
Glad I joined
- Holy shit so jealous
- Isn’t the interview brutal? How’d one person pass?
ㄴ(OP): Yeah. No idea how I did
- HanSaebyeokNo1Fan: Knew it’d be like this fuck. That asshole who said you wouldn’t meet Saebyeok even if you passed, show yourself
ㄴlolololololololol
ㄴSo that’s why you didn’t apply?
ㄴHanSaebyeokNo1Fan: I did fuck
ㄴAnd you failed lolololol
ㄴHanSaebyeokNo1Fan: Yup
- MonsterPhD: What’re your specs? I failed the research spot ㅠㅠ
ㄴ(OP): Too much to list... Worked at one of the Big 5 Guilds before
ㄴMonsterPhD: Fucking elite..
ㄴBig 5 Guild research is killer? And this person’s on Hunter Gallery?
**
**
“So, our president? Enjoy your secret inspection?”
Ha Young asked the moment we entered the waiting room, grinning mischievously.
“Inspection? I was just curious and stopped by.”
“Mmm. Of course you were. A president’s bound to wonder how employees are working.”
“Okay. No bonus for you this month, Ha Young unnie.”
“W-wait? Saebyeok. No, President!”
Brushing past Ha Young, I headed to the back of the changing room.
Needed to change for the next shoot.
Swish.
Skirt, naturally.
I had no memory of wearing pants during model shoots.
The sad truth: I’d fully adapted to feminine clothes like skirts and stockings.
Not just adapted—I now picked them first for outings.
Human adaptability was truly lamentable.
But it was unavoidable.
Having become hugely famous, I had no choice but cute, girly outfits.
At least my factory and rooftop room remained my sanctuaries, same as before.
Though even that was under threat.
Baekya’s animal pajamas had fully infiltrated my daily life.
Rustle!
Sighing in resignation, I neatly pulled on the sheer white stockings.
“So, how was it?”
“...What?”
“You know, maybe one of those researchers has weird intentions.”
“Hmm... Didn’t seem like it. They all felt dedicated.”
“You never know. You’re too pure with people, Saebyeok.”
“But Kkami said the same.”
Nyaaang!
Kkami meowed from the shadow at my feet.
Whenever I went out, I carried Kkami like this.
As a bodyguard for emergencies.
“Then it’s fine.”
Rustle!
I drew the curtain and stepped out of the changing room. Ha Young straightened my outfit.
“Let’s hurry to the shoot. Finish quick and head to the next one.”
Shoots, check research progress, more shoots.
So damn busy.
Is this how corporate presidents always are?