13. New Hire Public Recruitment (1)
Kim Moon-ho had lived a perfectly ordinary life.
A peaceful family, nothing missing, no real ups or downs in his upbringing.
That was true right up until a month ago.
His throat itched. His breath felt cold.
All his senses dulled. The only thing he felt was that tickle at the nape of his neck.
Here we go again.
He scratched at the stinging spot on his neck.
It always happened when the sun was up. Felt just like the atopic dermatitis he'd had as a kid.
Two little puncture marks, like someone had stamped them there. That was the cause.
No sign of it ever getting better.
A month ago, he'd been attacked by a vampire.
Studying late for a certification exam, got fed up with the stuffiness, stepped out for a smoke—and bam.
Almost died.
Under a dead streetlamp, in an unnaturally dark patch, two glowing predator eyes.
Even thinking back now made his neck prickle. If a hunter hadn't shown up right on time, he'd be dead for sure.
...Still, maybe a blessing in disguise.
He looked up at the banner—something he'd never dreamed of seeing just a short while ago.
21st Mirae Co., Ltd. Second-Half New Hire Public Recruitment Exam
A mega-corp like Mirae Co., Ltd. letting a nobody like me pass the paperwork?
He was good at self-assessment. Knew his place, stayed in his lane.
His specs wouldn't get him past the resume stage at Mirae Co., Ltd.—or even smaller firms or mid-tier companies.
Only one reason he'd made it through: that vampire attack had changed his very constitution.
Here's what went down.
A month ago, that night.
"Situation clear! Vampire down... Huh? Senior, there's a civilian caught in this."
"Civilian? Bitten?"
"Looks like it? Hey, you—lift your chin."
The hunter who'd killed the vampire that bit Kim Moon-ho pointed his gun right at him as he said it.
Totally understandable, really.
A handgun in Korea? Weren't we supposed to be a gun-free safe country?
"P-please... don't kill me..."
But he couldn't exactly complain. Simple reason.
"Not our department. Just show your neck."
The gun barrel pressed against his forehead.
Colder and heavier than he'd imagined. Like an ice block on his brow, but worse.
"Do it now, or we shoot."
In the end, Kim Moon-ho showed the hunters his nape...
"Ah, damn. Bitten clean through. What a shame."
A death sentence.
...Or so it seemed, the moment those words left the hunter's mouth.
"Hold up. Hey, how long since the bite?"
"Huh? Maybe fifteen minutes?"
"Then why's he still got his wits?"
"Huh? Uh... well..."
Paralyzed by terror, Kim Moon-ho missed the subtle shift in the air between the hunters.
"Dunno? Maybe our vamp was a runt?"
"...Special trait manifestation, then. Lower the gun."
"Wha? Special trait? That's it? Just like that?"
"Happens sometimes. This guy's insanely lucky."
He didn't catch a word of their exchange, of course.
"Senior, should I get bit by a vampire too?"
"If you wanna risk your neck, go for it."
"Huh, does it work like that?"
"Yeah. Then I'll snap yours myself."
"Ehh, pass!"
The middle-aged vampire hunter smacked the back of the young one's head.
Then turned to Kim Moon-ho.
"Hey, what's your name?"
"K-Kim Moon-ho..."
"Right. Take this card, Kim Moon-ho-ssi. Remember we saved your ass someday—would appreciate it."
"...Pardon?"
And just like that, he survived.
Life got weird.
Really, insanely weird.
For starters, his eyesight improved.
Both physically and... spiritually, let's say.
He'd marveled once feeling hawk-like vision, then twice realizing how unstable the modern world really was.
The world was unstable as hell.
Every night from his rooftop room, overlooking Seoul's skyline, colors of "dangerous things" would pop up here and there.
Next, regeneration kicked in. A kitchen knife slip? Blink, and it was gone.
Did he freak out?
Hide in his room, terrified of this horrifying world and his changed self?
Nope.
He was thrilled.
Me, Kim Moon-ho... I was... truly, truly...
Special.
And soon after.
Something happened to weight down that thought even more.
A visitor: a scout from Mirae Co., Ltd.
No suspicions of a scam. World had vampires—why not corporate scouts at your door?
"Take the upcoming second-half exam. We'll guarantee your resume passes. You're talent, Kim Moon-ho-ssi."
A scout pitching a no-hoper like him to apply? Sure, why not!
And now, here he was.
I'm... special.
His ego swelled massively.
And once I ace this and join the company, I'll be even... more special.
He loved basking in his uniqueness.
Alright. Let's do this.
Kim Moon-ho stepped into the Mirae Co., Ltd. new hire exam hall...
And bumped shoulders with someone.
Drunk on his specialness, he shot the guy a glare.
The man wore a hi-vis vest. Janitor? Kim Moon-ho eyed him with fresh disdain for the weak.
"Hm?"
But he flinched back at the rippling energy around the man.
Not normal.
The man who'd bumped him had a brutal face, scarred across, muscles bulging even under baggy clothes.
That alone wouldn't have startled him.
What... the hell? Is that even human?
Colors shimmered around the man.
Brighter, more intense than the urban dangers he'd seen.
Almost got wrecked!
Kim Moon-ho deflated. Humbled.
"Sorry."
"Ah, yeah. Me too."
Quick apologies? The man nodded curtly and stepped aside.
No trouble.
...Dodged a bullet.
Kim Moon-ho sighed in relief and entered the hall.
It was a training center auditorium. Packed with people. All rivals.
But fine. Weird bump earlier, but he was still special.
Where's... my seat...
He checked his admit card, found it.
Here.
Both sides empty. Nice, some breathing room.
That thought didn't last. Soon as he sat, both seats filled.
What the...? He scanned his new neighbors.
With smug, superior eyes, of course.
Left: a woman grinning nonstop. So airheaded—how'd she pass docs?
"Oh! Hiya! Here for the test-yo?"
She spoke first. Rival. He answered curtly.
"...Yeah."
"Woo! Buddies then-yo! Vitamin?"
She shoved one at him. Head full of flowers. Weren't they all enemies here?
"No thanks."
He shook his head dryly. She looked disappointed.
"Aww, bummer. Thought I'd make a new friend..."
Even her mutter was flower-field sweet. Pitied even by a cold city guy like him.
Herbivore type. Exam starts, she'll get eaten alive.
Mirae Co., Ltd. was a shadow corp—its entrance exam wouldn't be easy.
Should I give her a tip?
Wait, no.
He gauged her color. A bit deep, but no spread, no shine.
Nothing special. No need to care.
He turned right.
...Huh?
Weird...
No color?
His special eyes—what he called his spirit sight—showed everyone their unique hue.
At least, by his judgment.
But this guy? Blank. Never seen that before.
"Um..."
What was this? Human... for real?
"Hey?"
Ah, that? So unremarkable?
But still...
Shouldn't a living person have some color?
"Sir? Something wrong?"
The man leaned in. Kim Moon-ho startled, mumbled.
"N-no... just... your vibe, uh, seems good."
"...Pardon?"
The man frowned.
For some reason, Kim Moon-ho felt fear. Then the left girl chimed in.
"Yup! You look super healthy-yo! Vitamin?"
"Ah, sure. One then."
"Here-yo!"
...Weird vibe. These two acted like old pals.
No, stop overthinking. He steadied himself.
Calm down. Nothing big.
Yeah. From what he'd seen, more color outflow meant better, right?
Has to be nothing. Better be.
Tension lingered anyway. Neighbors chattering, people milling, deep colors spotting everywhere...
Can't focus.
Peak hit right before the exam started.
A woman sat in front. Sharp, icy face—but strikingly beautiful.
And her color... overflowed.
Like it'd suck you in, slice you up just approaching, limbs torn apart—like that.
He gasped, held breath, sweat poured, body shook...
"Hey, you okay?"
"Uh, ugh?"
"Aigoo, what's wrong all sudden? Hey? Hey?"
Blurred vision, someone spoke. Right-side guy. Slapped his cheek, shook shoulder.
Front woman glared. Breath... breath... blocked.
Felt like a bug.
"What's up-yo?"
"Dunno, he just stopped breathing..."
"Oh no! 'Cause no vitamin?"
But why... how could they stay so calm?
That... you don't... see it?
Trouble.
Infiltrating the exam hall disguised as a reserve hire to prevent any containment breaches—and I spot one of the sure-pass candidates panicking.
"Ah, ahh, aaaah..."
And the cause...
She's glaring like a killer.
I waved at Deputy Choi Soo-jung in the front row, shooting daggers.
Downward flap-flap: Fix it somehow.
Choi frowned, gave me a why me? look, then turned back forward.
Right then, the candidate—Kim Moon-ho-ssi—gulped a huge breath.
"Hahk, hahk..."
I said it with genuine sympathy.
"Whoa, overly tense, huh? Vitamin deficiency for sure."
He stared at me like I was a monster.
Honestly, kinda hurt.