The Snow Maiden's Silent Corridor
In-person interviews had been held together with the other job applicants.
The operator applicants were only me alone. Everyone else had quit during lunch break.
*Probably the operator side just didn't have anyone competing with me.*
The interviewees from the same group as me had been natural enough, and it seemed the people from the next group had already heard that I had scored perfect marks on the practical interview.
It was understandable, as Park Hyeongwoo said—competing in something with no chance of success was just a waste of time.
So the interview had gone by with a tension-free atmosphere, as if the pass was already decided, but simply being in the same space as Yuri had been hard for me.
With Yuri's words as the signal, the interview began.
As a personality interview, it was a simple one-minute self-introduction, followed by the reasons I applied to Flame and other applicants' backgrounds. The interviewers continued with questions.
“Then this time, Lee Minsu applicant.”
Yuri and my eyes met. She had a blank expression. While she was asking the other applicants, Yuri seemed to have found her own composure.
She asked me.
“What is your reason for applying to Flame Guild? Could you tell us?”
I was a little surprised. Yuri's Korean was now perfect.
Of course, she had been excellent not only in magic but also in theoretical scores. Yuri was a prodigy close to genius.
Yuri was from her native Slavia Kingdom. She had a great pride in the Slav language. So even if she didn't know other Korean abilities, she hadn't bothered to learn speaking at all.
*That's why her Korean really sounded awkward.*
Back in academy days, I had deliberately provoked her many times just to hear that awkward tone during conversations.
But when I was lost in reminiscence, I stopped the distractions and answered Yuri's question.
“The reason I applied to Flame is the potential Flame possesses and the guild's direction.”
“Potential. Then, Mr. Lee Minsu, could you tell us the grounds for judging our guild's potential?”
“High-risk AA-rank dungeon Uiryeong Man-Eater. Flame Guild successfully cleared that dungeon alone.”
AA-rank dungeons were generally high-difficulty, usually requiring joint coalitions of multiple guilds. But since Flame had cleared it solo, it proved the guild was extremely excellent as an organization.
The interviewers around Yuri nodded and whispered.
“Uiryeong Man-Eater. As expected, that name comes up. After all, it's the most famous dungeon-clearing case from Flame Guild.”
“Since then, our guild's rank has risen by dozens of steps.”
Uiryeong Man-Eater. The dungeon's name was a combination of the place where it was discovered and the name of the dungeon's boss monster.
In other words, it meant the lair of the Man-Eater in Uiryeong, South Korea.
Even the number of hunters killed by that Man-Eater exceeded thirty. And private damage was much greater than that.
Therefore, the dungeon's nickname was civilians' hell.
Of course, AA-rank dungeons weren't only there, but the symbolism of Uiryeong Man-Eater was immense.
The Academy's All-Rounder Hunter, abbreviated Aca-Hunter. In the third part of that novel, the protagonist's guild's first dungeon they cleared was Uiryeong Man-Eater.
*If it had followed the original story, the protagonist would have cleared that dungeon and become the youngest S-rank hunter...*
Now that the protagonist was dead, the person who had taken that youngest S-rank title was Yuri. She continued.
“But it's not only our guild that has cleared an AA-rank dungeon. It's relatively common for large corporate guilds, and there are also clear cases for other guilds of similar scale. In addition to the potential of our guild, you applied to us for the direction as well. Would you continue?”
“Yes, let me explain. At that time, the Uiryeong Man-Eater dungeon was...”
That dungeon was what was called a defective dungeon. Uiryeong was a small city with no major corporations nearby and a small population.
Meanwhile, Uiryeong Man-Eater had extremely high clear difficulty, so even if forced, it wouldn't have been profitable for the guild.
*It would have been more profitable to clear several easier dungeons instead.*
But Flame had cleared that place anyway. Despite countless civilian casualties, they had substituted for an officially certified guild of another association that wasn't moving. And it was a solo clear.
In that way, Yuri had done what I was supposed to do in my place.
“Before the profits, the hunter does what a hunter can do. That's the core value of Flame. I thought.”
And that statement was also the protagonist's signature phrase from the original novel.
“…I see. Of course, as a company, we don't do unpaid services. The Uiryeong Man-Eater case was also a clear conducted with sufficient expected revenue. Your words were well received. Next applicant.”
The interview question moved to another person, this time Arin, who had come with me. Another interviewer asked Arin, different from Yuri.
“Seong Arin applicant. Seong Arin, your academy grades are very good. As a White Cross Society nun, you could have gone to a guild with a higher evaluation grade than Flame. Then, is there a reason you chose Flame anyway?”
“Hmm. You mean the reason?”
Arin smiled brightly. And her gaze turned toward Yuri.
“I really admire Guild Master. She's so pretty. At Eins Academy, I was in the same student council as Guild Master. So I applied because I wanted to work with my senior—well, Yuri Guild Master.”
With Arin's light tone, the other interviewers including Maria looked astonished.
But Arin was the precious White Cross Society healer. Unless she suddenly stood up and slapped Yuri's cheek, there was no way she would be rejected.
*And she spoke like flowing water.*
After Arin answered some of the interviewers' questions, the atmosphere in the interview room quickly became cheerful.
Unlike me, she had been what was called a popular kid since she was at Eins Academy. Therefore, she had talent for gaining people's goodwill.
After a few more questions from the interviewers, the interview finally ended.
***
The interviewees gathered back in the waiting room. After a short while, Park Hyeongwoo entered and notified the successful applicants.
“The final successful applicants are the three people being called now. Lee Minsu. Seong Arin. Jang Dong-hyuk. That's all. Thank you sincerely for responding to our Flame Guild interview.”
The unsuccessful applicants sighed in regret. But it seemed there was no major complaint, perhaps because they had even been paid interview fees.
“By the way, Yuri Tarkovskaya. She really is much prettier in person. If she already knew she'd be rejected anyway, why not take a photo? Damn it.”
“Right. I was going to do that too. But of course she would have refused. I've never seen such a beauty before, but I've never seen such a cold expression either...”
The unsuccessful applicants, who seemed to have become friendly, chatted as they left the waiting room.
“Then for the three of you who passed finally, we will contact you separately. I'll send a message about the start date and required submission documents...”
At that moment, Park Hyeongwoo's phone rang. While he was briefly on the call, Arin spoke to me.
“Senior Minsu! Since we've come out together this time, how about stopping by a cafe for a bit? Ah, Uncle Dong-hyuk too!”
Arin said it with a cheerful innocent smile, but Uncle Dong-hyuk shook his head.
“I'm fine. I don't lack tact. I'll go first. You two have a quiet time celebrating your success together.”
And with a knowing look, he lightly tapped my shoulder. The moment when Arin’s expression brightened because Uncle was stepping aside.
After finishing the call, Park Hyeongwoo said to me.
“Me. Mr. Lee Minsu. The guild master wants to meet you separately.”
At those words, Arin's expression instantly cooled. But she immediately smiled.
“Really? I wonder if Guild Master has something special to say to the successful applicants. Should we go together?”
“No. Seong Arin and Jang Dong-hyuk can go as is. I'll contact you as I said. Then, Mr. Lee Minsu, will you follow me?”
“I understand.”
I answered immediately. And just before leaving the waiting room, I left a message for Arin.
“I don't know how long the talk will take. Don't wait, go ahead first.”
“Yes... senior.”
Arin's answer was gloomy, but there was no helping it. I had no time.
*Yuri...*
The moment I became a member of Flame Guild, there would obviously be a time when I would face her alone. Or rather, I had prepared for it.
*It's fine. I didn't have any problem talking with Yuri during the interview earlier.*
The PTSD that had tormented me after I regained consciousness was evidence that it was now recovering. I soon stood in front of Yuri's office.
“You may enter.”
With that said, Park Hyeongwoo left the room. When I knocked, Yuri's voice came from inside the office.
“Come in.”
I opened the door.
***
Yuri and I rode the elevator together.
It wasn't the public elevator I had taken when I first came to Flame Guild Headquarters. It was the exclusive elevator placed directly in front of the guild master's office.
We were heading toward the rooftop together. The moment I entered her office, Yuri had been silent for quite a long time.
Then, after a while, the words Yuri took out were to suggest drinking an herbal tobacco.
And the two of us had been silent in the elevator, even though we were alone.
The scent of Yuri spread in the elevator. A fragrant yet freezing scent to the whole body, a unique perfume made from a special flower that only grows in the Slavia Kingdom. I remembered that scent.
*The perfume. It's exactly the same.*
And suddenly, I recalled a word Yuri had said back then. Herbal tobacco. The herbal tobacco hunters talked about wasn't actual tobacco.
It was a special mana herb that amplified or calmed the unique sensitivity of awakened people. They called it herbal tobacco.
It was harmless compared to tobacco and even beneficial to awakened people, but it was prohibited for minors.
But the academy students at that age wanted to smoke it more. Herbal tobacco was a symbol of the caste for the academy students.
The so-called successful crowd used it as a necessity to show off.
*Even so, Yuri didn't smoke it back then.*
Yuri hated the unique scent of herbal tobacco. And Yuri didn't need showy things, after all. Of course, back then I had smoked it. I had been cool.
After the silent time, the elevator finally arrived at the building's rooftop.
It was the rooftop of a high-rise building worthy of the name Millennium Tower, but the rooftop was very well landscaped.
*The rooftop.*
Although this wasn't the rooftop, the times I had spent with Yuri on the rooftop of the Eins Academy building suddenly came to mind.
“There, shall we sit?”
Yuri said shortly and took the lead. Yuri and I sat side by side on a bench made of artificial stone.
The season was January, midwinter. Seoul winters were very cold, but Yuri's outfit was light. She didn't feel the cold.
*It's more noticeable that the Snow Maiden feels cold.*
And I, too, although I couldn't use mana, I was a flame mage. And the item that replaced my broken mana heart was also fire-attribute, so I wasn't that cold.
Yuri seemed a little uncomfortable with her posture and changed her leg position. She wore a white business suit on top and a black mini skirt with slightly shiny black stockings below.
Even back in academy days, Yuri had had an adult atmosphere, and the current office look suited her perfectly. It gave a strong impression of a successful young CEO.
She held an herbal tobacco in one hand. Then she looked at me blankly.
“Won't you smoke herbal tobacco together?”
But I shook my head.
“I don't smoke herbal tobacco anymore. It's not necessary now.”
Suddenly, Yuri flinched. Herbal tobacco was a leisure item for people who used mana continuously. It had no meaning for me, who couldn't use mana.
Yuri also seemed to have recalled the fact belatedly. She said in a locked voice.
“Right... I'm sorry. I wasn't attentive enough...”
Before I could answer that it was fine, I saw Yuri's hand holding the herbal tobacco tremble slightly.
And Yuri hurriedly grabbed the necklace she was wearing.
Then she put the herbal tobacco in her mouth and pressed the end of the necklace to it. The end caught fire as if touching a lighter.
It was the familiar necklace.
“That one... isn't it that necklace?”
“Yeah...”
When I looked at the necklace, Yuri hid it inside her suit as if hiding it. The mana stone necklace I, who had been a flame mage, had used to raise my power.
Of course, I hadn't used it after I had devoured the Ki and grown a lot.
And on the White Day of my third year. When Yuri gave me a piece of her mind after I had really given only candy, it was also a gift I had given her by accident.
Of course, Yuri, who had been a cryomancer, naturally didn't carry a necklace condensed with mana of fire attribute. Herbal tobacco either. Since she had to light it, Yuri hated even seeing it.
But now she was wearing that necklace.
The two of us fell silent again. I broke the silence first.
“By the way, why was the guild name Undying Butterfly's Flame Scale? All the people who came to the interview here said it was strange. That's why the guild staff called it Flame.”
I had tried to speak casually to remove the awkwardness, but Yuri's voice remained locked. She answered.
“…To not forget.”
And in that answer, a lot of emotions were conveyed. I had no choice but to close my mouth. Then, it seemed like she said “you” in a voice that was almost inaudible, but I pretended not to notice.
The two of us were awkwardly silent and eventually stood up from the seat.
“It's cold, so shall we go down?”
Yuri nodded. Even in the descending elevator, the two of us kept our mouths closed. And we arrived at the office.
Just as I was about to turn around and say goodbye to Yuri, she bowed her head to me and said loudly.
“I... I have to apologize to you...”
I hurriedly stopped the apology.
“There is no need. I read all the messages. That's enough. We're going to work together from now on, right?”
“Still...”
“It's really okay. That's why I applied to Flame. You don't have to worry about that anymore.”
With those words, I hurriedly left Yuri's office.
***
“Haa... haa...”
There was no time to answer the people from Flame Guild who looked at me strangely. I left Flame Guild and hurriedly took the public elevator.
Without pressing the down button, I leaned against the elevator wall and exhaled rough breaths. I had thought it would be okay now.
But it still hadn't fully healed. My breath was blocked and my heart pounded violently. It felt like I would collapse, so I held the elevator handle tightly and endured.
“Phew...”
And I hurriedly took out the medicine bottle from my pocket. The medicine prescribed by Professor Chaerin. I quickly poured it into my mouth.
I escaped from Flame's office building as if running. The cold air outside seemed to calm the panic a little.
*Still... is it too much?*
Watching others together like during the interview was fine, but being alone with Yuri brought too many emotions and too many memories at once.
Until those emotions and memories faded, I sensed that this would continue for a while. But this much reaction was fortunate.
*Still... I should be able to do my job at Flame Guild without problems.*
I barely returned to my apartment in a daze. I loosened my stuffy suit roughly and lay down on the bed as is.
After calming down a little, I checked my smartphone. A message from Park Hyeongwoo. And there were also new messages from Yuri and Arin.
Just as I was about to check the messages, I felt uneasy. This was my apartment where I hadn't told anyone the password.
There were traces that someone had secretly entered the room.