6. Exploration Team 1 (1)
Ko Kyung-min joined us. His lunch was salad pasta.
Doesn't really match his build...
No, wait. That's the kind of body you have to maintain. It might actually be a fitting diet.
I was lost in such thoughts when Ko Kyung-min, chewing and swallowing his salad, asked,
"So, what were you two talking about?"
"Work stuff. How about you, Kyung-min?"
As always when company folks chatted, the topic naturally drifted to work.
"Work? It's decent enough."
Ko Kyung-min muttered that while poking at his salad pasta with a fork.
"What I like is the structure. Back when I was freelancing, everything was haphazard."
Freelancer, huh. Perfect timing—I'd been curious.
Freelancers in this insane industry?
It meant there were people who actually wanted this job. That felt off.
"Now that you mention it, I'm curious. What's freelancing like in this line of work?"
"...The worst."
His immediate answer led into words that exceeded my imagination.
"Freelancers in this industry make money through bounties."
"...Bounties? You mean those exist? Where?"
"Bounties are on first entries into anomalies. Mirae or comparable powers commission fixer offices, and the offices assign jobs to fixers."
No matter how you sliced it, this wasn't something to say so casually.
As my mouth gaped open, Ko Kyung-min muttered like he was making excuses.
"Of course, that's not all they do, but first entries pay the best. Even if half the entrants die..."
I couldn't hold back my shock.
That's just guinea pigs!
Maybe the brutal office worker life was a comedy compared to the fixer one?
"With so many dying, no real systems build up. Knowledge is precious, so even lucky survivors don't share their know-how. And so..."
I was stunned.
The mood turned like a graveyard at midnight.
Glancing sideways, Hwang Eun-hye stared at her half-eaten pork cutlet with an appetite-killing look.
I wasn't much different.
"Oops. Kinda heavy talk for mealtime."
Ko Kyung-min scratched the back of his head as he looked at us, then changed the subject.
"...Anyway, I really appreciate the structured environment. At least they share manuals, right?"
We nodded blankly. Ko Kyung-min continued.
"But above all, the most important thing is money. Mirae pays the best."
"...Money money?"
Hwang Eun-hye muttered a lame pun.
Ko Kyung-min seemed to think the same. He smiled awkwardly and went on.
"Anyway, you can't imagine how thrilled I was to get Mirae's scout offer. I've always wanted a stable job."
Got it. As I was about to let it slide,
A thought struck me.
If it's stability you're after, there are plenty of other jobs besides this one.
Manual labor, or even a shipyard...
"...Was there no way to join a normal company?"
Ko Kyung-min scowled, like he was saying, You know better than to joke like that.
"A normal company? You know that's impossible."
And until recently, I'd been far removed from this world.
I had no idea what he meant.
"Uh, depending on effort, maybe..."
"It's not something effort fixes. Wait, don't tell me...?"
His panic hit suddenly.
I blinked in confusion, and he rushed on.
"You don't know? 'Even tigers come if you speak of them.'"
"A proverb?"
His excitement matched his earlier fluster.
"No! It's not a proverb! It's this industry's truth!"
His eyes flashed wide as he slammed the table and stood up.
"We'd love normal lives too. But anyone who's encountered an anomaly even once..."
A shout was about to erupt. Hwang Eun-hye, gauging the mood, grabbed his arm.
"...E-excuse m-me, y-your v-voice is t-too l-loud."
Ko Kyung-min looked around. A few people were glancing our way.
He slunk back into his seat. Then he leaned in and whispered,
"...ends up encountering it again somehow. Better survival odds belonging somewhere than facing it unprepared. That's how everyone flows into this industry."
I swallowed hard.
That's why...
I'd wondered how this kill-or-be-killed field kept staffing up, how freelancers even existed...
Way scarier than I thought.
Stunned again. It must've shown on my face. Ko Kyung-min gave a bitter smile.
"Normal life is a pipe dream for people like us. But to survive, we ditch those dreams. Face reality. Even the trash reality of freelancing..."
Did he notice the mood getting too heavy?
Ko Kyung-min shook his head and changed the topic again.
"...In that sense, joining a company is a rare chance. At least you won't die like a dog as often."
Not "won't," but "less often."
It was the sad self-mockery carved by a rough life.
And I had no clue how to respond to that.
"...I see."
As I mumbled through the conversation,
"W-wait, h-hold on."
Assistant Manager Hwang spoke up.
"Th-then, d-does th-that m-mean S-Sung-jin h-hasn't s-seen an a-anomaly b-before...?"
"Pardon? Oh, yeah. First time during the aptitude eval."
"B-but th-then, wh-why d-do th-this j-job?"
The company told me to, obviously. Out of inertia, like any salaryman.
"...My god. So you just did it because you were told to? Is that really what I heard?"
"Cr-crazy. Sc-scary. D-don't c-come n-near m-me."
***
Their shock was, of course, just words.
They didn't run off or collapse crying.
They finished their meals normally.
Sadly, I still hadn't started mine. Every time I tried to eat, one of them would speak up.
...I'm starving.
But now that the chat was done...
"I'm thinking of checking out the facilities in the remaining time. Want to join, Assistants Ko and Hwang?"
No!
This would leave me starving for sure.
Wait, no.
I had a perfect excuse to bail.
"Sorry, my section chief who I'm eating with hasn't shown up yet."
I nodded at the section chief's portion of bean sprout soup, and Assistant Ko asked worriedly,
"...Are you getting bullied at work or something?"
Even I was starting to lean that way.
If he hadn't left his card, I'd have assumed as much.
I gave an awkward smile.
"No way. He even left his card to cover lunch. Anyway, I have to stay here. We can tour together later..."
"Hmm... Got it. What about you, Assistant Hwang?"
"I-I h-have m-more w-work t-to d-do..."
Assistant Ko took it coolly.
"Fair enough. Then let's grab a meal sometime later, you two."
Assistant Ko left. Hwang bowed her head soon after, mumbling, "Th-then, s-see y-you n-next t-time...!" and scurried off.
Finally, I could eat.
The bean sprout soup looked more like porridge than anything.
This is more drink than food.
Well, at least it's quick...
As I ate with that thought, the cafeteria started emptying out.
Most people had finished.
When's the section chief coming...?
Does smoking take that long? Nah.
"Hey, Oh Sung-jin!"
Someone called out amid my thoughts.
Not a welcome face.
"Assistant Manager."
I nodded curtly, and he plopped down beside me with a grin, slinging an arm around my shoulders.
"Long time no see? Feels like forever already."
He was my old mentor. Slightly lower pedigree than me, mostly into office politics.
And the guy who firmly believed the rumors about me in our department...
The one who wouldn't listen to explanations and lashed out from pride.
What was the point of talking? This jerk was at the center of my workplace harassment.
Couldn't say why, exactly.
He'd flaunt his mediocre degree, but surely not that petty.
Anyway, bad vibes. Awkward chat.
Don't wanna talk. His attitude is just...
Rude as hell.
"Heard you got shipped somewhere? Still here, so not a branch office, I guess?"
As expected, he patted my shoulder while spewing fake encouragement laced with venom.
"Field division, right? Off to a construction site? Suits you. Good luck. I figured you'd quit like the others."
"Yeah, well. Got promoted to assistant manager this time."
"Huh? Assistant? Why?"
"They promoted me."
"Hmm... Really? Doesn't fit. 'Oh Assistant' sounds better than 'Oh Manager.' Not that you don't suit it or anything..."
Lies, nonsense, malice-twisted face.
The classic weakling strongman vibe of the inferior.
Normally it'd annoy me, but...
"Whatever. Relax your face. C'mon, I wouldn't say that."
Surprisingly...
Not that bothered.
More amusing than unpleasant.
Seeing people die desensitized me?
Dunno. Maybe.
"Of course. You helped a lot."
As I brushed it off calmly, he scowled.
Like he hated things not going his way.
"Anyway, Oh. Do your best there. Our department had that mess. Play dirty there too?"
That "mess" was him dumping his screw-up on me.
We'd sorted it, but it still made me sigh.
"Why no answer? Offended?"
Petty, sure. But he'd nag if I didn't reply...
"Doing alright. Nice seeing new faces."
"...Yeah? Your rep says otherwise. Pfft. Nah, forget it."
I set down my spoon. Stared at my ex-mentor.
Or rather, past him. But he took it as a glare.
His face twisted, then he grinned and ruffled my hair roughly.
"Touched a nerve? Sorry. But still, you're not like..."
"Who the hell are you?"
"Huh?"
My ex-mentor turned.
Section Chief Jo stood there, eerie smile on his lips.
"Wh-who are you?"
"Don't need to know me. Who are you to hassle my guy?"
"Pardon? That's a bit much..."
Section Chief Jo snorted. Then he yanked the assistant manager's ID from his pocket like grabbing a collar.
"Lemme see that ID. Huh? Assistant Manager? What kinda... moron are you?"
"Uh... uhhh..."
"Your department know you act like this?"
My ex-mentor's face flushed red. Fists clenched—he was pissed.
Busted.
Not my problem, though.
"Wha? Gonna hit me? Mad? Sorry then. But can you handle it? I'm game."
Ex-mentor sank. He wore a not-laughing-not-crying face.
"N-no, sir."
"Good. Then scram. Don't ruin my appetite."
Section Chief Jo waved him off, and my ex-mentor fled.
The chief took his spot.
"Thanks."
I bowed my head. He grumbled,
"Thanks my ass, you idiot. Stop acting dopey. Your face is mine."
His face was half-turned. Embarrassed, shy, whatever.
Middle age is sentimental.
"...Sorry."
"You're field division now. Gonna keep fumbling with clueless punks forever?"
"Yessir..."
I grinned and scratched my head. He sighed, shaking his head.
"Hopeless. Whatever. Eat."
Pretty cool. Maybe our chief isn't so bad...
"What's this? Bean sprouts? I don't eat those. No sense. Zero sense."
He set down his spoon.
Then say you won't eat it.
...Cancel the cool thought.
***
After eating.
"Right. Got work this afternoon."
"Work?"
Section Chief Jo clicked his tongue.
"Support request from Exploration Team 1. They want us to handle one anomaly. One of their parts got wiped—no manpower."
Wait.
Exploration Team 1...
'I'm Kang Mi-young, head of Exploration Team 1, in charge of your training and evaluation today!'
...Kang Mi-young's division.
My mood sank. A sinking feeling. Unexplainable fatigue hit.
Simply put, uneasy. Going to the department of someone I liked right before she "died"—natural, maybe.
Did it show? Section Chief Jo subtly encouraged,
"Space cadets. We're swamped too—why request support?"
Not the reason, but it helped.
Must've shown again. He grinned, shrugged, and continued.
"What can ya do? It's our job. Head up and prep right away. ...Wait, you get your gear?"
...Gear?
I hadn't gotten any. Not a single piece.
I shook my head, and he huffed.
"Damn it, why say now? C'mon, go get geared up first."