The Unintended Hero of the Rubble
"Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo saved many people with his judgment alone."
I stared with my jaw dropped at the office building that had begun to collapse in an instant. Just a moment ago, it had been perfectly fine. But suddenly, tremors erupted from within, monsters burst out, and the building was being torn to shreds.
"W-what? There weren't any warning signs at all!"
"M-monsters?"
The field staff nearby, who had just finished evacuating the people, were reacting the same way.
"Where the hell did those come from?!"
"As expected of Assistant Manager Shin...! How did he even know!"
"W-we need to call the hunters, first! If it weren't for Assistant Manager Shin, we would have been in real trouble!"
No, that’s not what happened, you people. But regardless, they were right about needing to call the hunters. We’d evacuated everyone in the immediate vicinity, but if we left it like this, the monsters would be roaming all over Seoul. The field staff and I frantically searched through our contact lists.
"This is bad... Gwanak-gu isn't my branch's jurisdiction, so it's hard to find hunters who live nearby. Is there anyone we can call?"
"I've already contacted the duty officer for the Dungeon Management Team at the Gwanak Branch. Let's evacuate too!"
Usually, connecting with hunters is the job of the Dungeon Management Team. Since situations like this happen very rarely, the team keeps a duty officer on standby. Hunters are also obligated to stop Dungeon Breaks in their residential areas, even when they aren't on a dungeon raid. In cases like this, they are supposed to come immediately upon receiving a call. However, those obligations are relatively loose. Especially today, being the weekend, it seemed like it would take time to get a hold of both the Dungeon Management staff and the hunters. It looked like we would have to accept a certain amount of damage. Still, since we had evacuated the people in the area, we could at least minimize the loss of life.
"Yeah, let's go."
I ran with Kim Hee-yeon toward the field staff's vehicle.
The monster that had suddenly appeared was a massive Monster Bird. Beneath its giant wings, which were thrashing about as it got caught in the building's debris, I could see a few hatchlings.
"Did only the nest appear as a dungeon..."
It was a phenomenon that had only happened a few times in history. It’s called an Instant Collapse Gate (ICG). It refers to a dungeon where the scale is so much smaller than 1 that a Dungeon Break occurs almost simultaneously with the gate's appearance. (The smaller the dungeon, the shorter the time it takes to break.) In this case, it meant the dungeon had been no larger than the nest of that monster. Since it was smaller than scale 1, it was only natural that the break happened instantly.
On the other hand, it’s surprisingly common for gates to appear inside buildings. The location of a gate's appearance is random. Even for the Association, it’s impossible to place gate detectors on every inch of land in Korea and monitor them 24/7. In cases where a gate appears inside a building like this, the discoverer reports it to the Association. Then, the Association takes over the building or house to proceed with the raid. Usually, monsters don't burst out the moment a gate appears. It’s inconvenient to have to vacate your home for a while, but the mere fact that a gate has appeared doesn't mean the building will collapse. In this case, those two situations overlapped, leading to the collapse of the office building. Since it blew up before the Association could even do anything, the related paperwork was going to be a headache. I just felt sorry for the Gwanak Branch staff.
"We're heading out!"
The field staff member started the engine and slammed on the accelerator as soon as we got in. Kim Hee-yeon and I were also buckling our seatbelts in the back. I felt bad for the people who had to handle the paperwork, but I had to worry about my own survival first. Fortunately, the monster was still struggling, pinned under the building's debris, so it seemed like there wouldn't be any problem escaping.
But then,
"Huh? Someone is approaching the monster over there!"
"What? We definitely evacuated everyone..."
Just as we were about to distance ourselves from the monster, we saw a woman running toward it and stopped the car. It was definitely too early for the hunters we’d called to have arrived. It hadn't even been ten seconds since I finished the call with the Gwanak Branch staff.
"W-wait a second. That person is..."
But looking closely, that woman was someone I had met before. The shimmering bright blonde hair and the blue eyes clearly visible against her pale skin. Even though she was wearing casual clothes, I couldn't possibly fail to recognize her, especially with the sparks flying around her. The Seoul Headquarters Director, [Thunder God] Lena Park.
"That's the Seoul Headquarters Director?"
"Why is she here..."
I was staring blankly at Lena, but only for a moment. Lena leaped high toward the monster. It was just a single jump, yet she soared so high it was almost as if she were flying. A rapidly rotating current of electricity began to wrap around her body.
KWA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GAK!
Lena released the current, frying the monster instantly. The Monster Bird, which had barely managed to crawl out of the debris, became electric-grilled chicken along with its offspring.
"I-it seems it's been taken care of."
"I'll have to call the Gwanak Branch again."
The field staff made the calls, and I got out of the car. A savory smell was wafting through the air outside.
"Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo?"
"Director. How on earth are you here..."
"That's the question I want to ask. Why were there monsters inside an office building?"
Lena, who had spotted me, asked with a confused expression. It seemed she had just been passing by, discovered the situation, and rushed over.
"It appears to be an Instant Collapse Gate."
"You mean an ICG?"
"Yes."
I briefly explained the situation. Lena nodded with a serious expression.
"So it was a coincidence. But then, why was there no one nearby? If an ICG had occurred inside a residential area like this, you wouldn't have been able to know in advance."
"That is..."
"T-that's because Assistant Manager Jiwoo noticed it and evacuated everyone, Director!"
I was trying to brush it off, but Kim Hee-yeon, who had been quiet, suddenly shouted.
"S-stay still, Assistant Manager. That's not what happened..."
"And who are you?"
"I'm Kim Hee-yeon, Assistant Manager of the Seocho Branch Dungeon Management Team 3!"
I tried to stop Kim Hee-yeon, but she ignored me and answered loudly. Since when were you this sharp? Are you standing at attention because you're in front of the Director?
"Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo was visiting my house, and suddenly we felt tremors. And then Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo immediately evacuated everyone in the building!"
"N-no, that's not it at all...!"
Other people might not know, but you shouldn't be saying that! When did I tell everyone to evacuate? I just said we should go outside just in case, didn't I?
I frantically tried to correct the misinformation, but Lena's expression had already changed.
"To think he even noticed an ICG... How did you do it this time?"
"It's not like that! It was just a coincidence!"
"Are you telling me to find out for myself? As expected, you're interesting."
"What are you talking about!"
"I saw the company newspaper recently. It had a lot of criticism about the current Association, didn't it? Problems in the personnel department, including Deputy Director Shin Chi-hyun. Research teams that can't produce proper results. It said we should doubt the ability of research teams that can't grasp what even a single employee can figure out. Of course, Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo isn't just a simple employee."
"I've never said anything like that!"
How on earth did that reporter write the article? When did I ever criticize the research team! Those people are working hard too!
Lena nodded to herself and pulled out her smartphone.
"I understand. Surely the clues about the ICG are hidden here as well. I'll have to call the research team to get to the bottom of this."
"..."
No, I don't know anything. And if they were going to figure it out by coming here, why didn't they know until now? That just proves you guys are incompetent!
"Haa..."
"D-Director!"
As I let out a hollow sigh, the field staff rushed over. They, too, began showering me with praise before I could stop them.
"To think he knew in advance and evacuated the citizens... If it weren't for Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo, the casualties would have been immeasurable. These people could have died without any prevention, but he saved them with his foresight..."
"I-I think we should give Employee Shin Jiwoo another award!"
Kim Hee-yeon shouted at attention at Lena's mutterings. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? You're the one person who shouldn't be doing this! You were there from beginning to end, when did I ever do that!
"This isn't something that can just end as an achievement for an Association employee. Many people were saved by the judgment of Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo alone."
"I'll tell you in advance, I don't need anything."
"Are you saying you didn't do this expecting a reward for saving people? Your character is as excellent as I've heard."
"..."
I couldn't continue the conversation and just kept opening and closing my mouth.
"First, call the carcass disposal team. Since this area will be thoroughly researched, keep access restricted for a while. Where is the Gwanak Branch staff?"
Lena began ordering the field staff around. The staff member handled things quickly, making calls here and there. Soon, people from the Gwanak Branch arrived, and the scene was cleared. But come to think of it, this field staff member was originally here while managing a different gate. Why are they working so hard here?
"I've already told them over there! Since it was just before the raid anyway, there's nothing for me to do. You're truly amazing, Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo!"
What an ace employee. Now that I remember, they worked this hard during the Ma-Gwangsan incident too. I sighed and stepped away from the scene. Since I was caught up in an incident on my day off anyway, there was no reason to stay longer. Kim Hee-yeon, who was by my side, followed me closely.
"No, but Assistant Manager, why did you say that to the Director? When did I ever do that!"
"I-isn't it similar? And Jiwoo, you knew everything, didn't you?"
"I didn't know! Does that look like the behavior of someone who knew?!"
"B-but wouldn't this help you get promoted faster? Then the Director will think you're even more amazing. Didn't I do well?"
What do you mean you did well? I don't even want that. You're usually only good at messing up work, so why were you so quick-witted today? Kim Hee-yeon, who had perfectly performed a service I didn't even need, smiled as if she were proud.
"Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo?"
"Director."
Lena, having finished her work, approached me as if she were about to head home too. Looking at her attire, it seemed like it was her day off as well.
"Oh, but Director, how did you come to be here?"
"I was just passing by on the weekend. Did you say Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo was at Assistant Manager Kim Hee-yeon's house?"
"Y-yes. That's right."
"Hmm..."
Lena narrowed her eyes and glanced at the two of us.
"I see. Well, that's your private life. But I heard you've been close with Deputy Director Shin Chi-hyun recently."
"That's not true at all. I hate Shin Chi-hyun."
"Is that so? I heard that Assistant Manager Shin Jiwoo has also stepped into Shin Chi-hyun's faction..."
"That's a groundless rumor. I didn't even want to be the team leader of the new team."
"...Is that so? I understand. I'll contact you again soon."
Saying that, Lena walked in the opposite direction. Please don't contact me. I'm going to quit. It seemed my inner thoughts didn't reach Lena at all.
"Phew... I'll head back too. I suddenly got caught up in a huge event. Assistant Manager, get home safely."
I should go home too. I don't know, I'm just too exhausted right now. It seemed like the visit to Kim Hee-yeon's house had to end here. Just as I was about to leave, Kim Hee-yeon grabbed my sleeve.
"J-Jiwoo, wait a second, but I..."
"Yes?"
"M-my house is gone. I left my wallet inside too. I have nowhere to g-go..."
"...Ah."
Now that I think about it, this person's house had collapsed.
"C-can't you take me with you?"
Kim Hee-yeon was looking up at me with eyes like a baby kitten. My head started to ache.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
[System Sync Failure Detected]