Chapter 53
Woo Yeon-Hee didn’t show up the next day, nor the day after. She had initially resisted returning home, but I thought she had changed her mind when she went home and rejected my offer. The contracts full of terrifying phrases such as death compensation and penalty provisions were originally given to young hunters by the guilds.
However, I saw her car approaching the wall.
“I thought you’d be happy to see me.” Woo Yeon-Hee grinned.
“Come in,” I responded.
She remarked, “It’s better to come during the day since this place seems to be haunted at night.”
“If you came back with ridiculous words like mission or fate,” I began lecturing her.
Then, she interrupted me.
“No, I’m here for this.”
She showed me the envelope containing the contract.
“...I’ll be honest with you, I can’t take responsibility for your life. Joining me in the dungeon could mean death because things are really bad now,” I said flatly.
She pretended that she didn’t hear a word I said as she jabbered, “I didn’t know what you like, so I brought some fried chicken. Do you like it?”
“Don’t change the subject,” I replied.
“I do appreciate your words since you’re right. I was only thinking about the way to die without pain before you called me here,” she answered.
However, her face wasn’t that of a suicidal person, and she even looked refreshed with her smile.
“Are you not going to let me in?” she questioned.
Woo Yeon-Hee had not only brought over fried chicken and a contract, but she had also brought her daily necessities and other items.
“I thought I wouldn’t need medication. Oh, and I brought your underwear since you might not have changed yet,” she said.
She had brought clothes, underwear, and men’s skincare products. Based on that, it looked like she had decided to accept the terms of her contract and follow me. She spoke quickly as I stared at her.
“Oops, sorry. I’ll be outside, so let me know when you’re done changing.”
She went out and came back after a few minutes.
“I knew they would fit you well,” she said in satisfaction.
“It didn’t take you two days to just prepare these, right?” I questioned.
She explained, “I actually read the contracts on my way home that night. I thought about returning right away, but my life depends on it.”
“Did you understand the content?” I asked.
.
“I read them countless times, and realized that you’re betting your life on insignias and items,” she replied.
“So, what’s your decision?” I questioned.
“I chose this.”
Woo Yeon-Hee took out the second contract and chose money over insignias or items. It was a realistic decision. She would receive two hundred million won as a contract signing fee, an annual salary of 1.5 billion per dungeon entry, another five hundred million for survival, and her death compensation was three billion, three times the annual payroll.
I had converted the amount of payment the new hunters earned in the past to this era’s currency. Although this contract usually would be provided only for E-class Awakened, I granted it to her due to her class rarity.
“Who’s your beneficiary?” I asked.
“My father,” Woo Yeon-Hee replied.
“Okay, let’s go,” I said.
“Where?” she questioned.
“What do you mean where? Also, don’t you want your contract signing fee?” I asked.
I was honestly surprised that Woo Yeon-Hee didn’t act as I expected. Instead, she seemed to be more conscious of the cash I got out of the atm. While I withdrew money from several cash machines, she seemed to be on the lookout. I loaded my bags with money into the trunk and got in the passenger seat.
Woo Yeon-Hee’s face was slightly rigid. As soon as I got in, I had to stop her from hitting the accelerator.
“Relax. What’s wrong? Do you feel like it’s a criminal fund?” I asked.
In early 1998, two hundred million won in cash was a lot of money—that amount could purchase a thousand or so square feet apartment in Gangnam. Woo Yeon-Hee looked worried about the whole thing.
I reassured her, “Don’t worry, it’s not illicit. But don’t deposit your money at once since tax reports could be troublesome. Let’s go to Gangnam, not the hospital.”
She seemed small and timid, but she didn’t hesitate to step in when she had to speed up. It wasn’t that she had racecar driving skills—it was more like the urgent driving of a concerned person. I thought I might die on the highway before even entering the dungeon.
“Slow down,” I said.
She asked, “Where are we going?”
“My office,” I replied.
“...”
Woo Yeon-Hee slowed down a lot as I ordered.
“You must have a lot to ask, but you’re so quiet. You weren’t like this at school, though,” I remarked.
“Think what you wish,” she replied.
I responded, “You’re waiting for me to speak? That’s a good mindset.”
“I didn’t sign the contract lightly. I received…the money,” she said.
“Okay, I’ll tell you who I am. Hey, hey! You’re speeding up again.”
“Sorry,” she said.
“When did you first get your powers?” I asked.
“In middle school…”
Woo Yeon-Hee added on after a beat.
“After my first period.”
“I was born like this, so I’ve been doing this for a long time,” I responded.
After hearing that, Woo Yeon-Hee stared at me with her eyes wide open. I pointed upfront towards her windshield rather than continue talking to her. The car shook for a bit before it found the lane again.
“I don’t understand why you chose the second contract. What are you thinking, Woo Yeon-Hee? From my understanding of your relationship, I really didn't think you were going to leave any money behind for your family when you die,” I said.
Her relationship with her family was the worst.
“The Escape Insignia doesn’t come easily. If you become my employee according to that contract, you won’t receive any,” I continued.
“You won’t throw me away, right?” she questioned.
“Of course,” I answered.
“That’s all it matters. You’re my teacher now, I'm counting on you,” she said.
***
“Was there any trouble?” I asked the security guard in the lobby.
“No. What happened to your shoulder? Are you alright?” The guard asked back.
“I traveled for a while because my business has been bad and got hurt. It’s all good. Thanks for asking,” I replied.
While I was waiting for the elevator, I saw Woo Yeon-Hee watching me through the mirror. Her face still remained stiff. Our eyes met through the mirror, and she spoke like she couldn’t help it.
“What do you mean by ‘since birth?’ I don’t get it,” she said.
I answered readily, “I was born as a baby with adult maturity.”
She didn’t ask if that was possible since she could feel others’ emotions. She must have been attempting to understand.
“I’m different from you, Woo Yeon-Hee. I’ve been trying very hard to hide my true identity from my family, and I'm still doing it now,” I continued.
“But…”
I interrupted her, “Yes, my parents are aware that I’m different from others in terms of physical strength and mental capacity, but that’s it. What can I say? Should I tell them that I was born with the strength to fight monsters?”
We arrived at the office floor. After going through a security system with fingerprint recognition, the light turned on. Woo Yeon-Hee wasn’t surprised by what she saw and walked to the target with the daggers stuck on it. She tried to take one out but was too weak to do so. She turned her head away in embarrassment.
“I don’t want to be a burden. Dungeons are dangerous places.”
Woo Yeon-Hee’s tone was quite serious.
“I hope you actually mean it,” I replied.
She looked me in the eye. “I’m sincere.”.
“You’ll have to keep that mindset. As soon as you become useless…”
Woo Yeon-Hee said the words I had been about to say, “I’ll be abandoned.”
She was calmly accepting the tragedy.
“You don’t need to try proving your determination now. Come here and sit,” I said.
As Woo Yeon-Hee sat down at the table, I brought my notes over. Then, I showed her the page with the mutt drawing.
“You said you wanted to see the monster,” I said.
“Did you…draw this?” she asked hesitantly.
“Don’t ask me silly questions. They’re just as large as me, and dozens of them will jump at you,” I responded without answering her previous question.
“Do they walk?” she asked.
“They walk, run, and fly,” I replied.
“Fly?” Her eyes widened.
I explained, “They jump, but from our perspective, they look like they're flying in. Can you fight against these things? It’s just a small picture here, but you won’t be able to even move when you actually face them.”
“Yes, that’s why you should help me prepare for it,” she answered.
It would’ve been better if she had the physique of a female warrior—tall, with a strong build. However, her head only reached my chest, and she looked so frail that it seemed like a tiny poke was enough to cause her heavy injuries. Even her determined expression seemed cute.
“You don’t have to fight, and you shouldn’t,” I continued.
“Huh?” she questioned.
“It’s all over when that moment comes. It would mean that I’m either dead, surrounded or missed some of the monsters. However, I should prepare you enough such that you can at least shoot arrows. Well, despite the fact that I didn’t recruit you for that.”
“I…” she hesitated.
I looked squarely into her eyes. “What did you expect? Did you think you’d be trained as a military special forces soldier? You won’t be able to use any skills even though you are learning them now.”.
Woo Yeon-Hee’s face went blank as if all the tightness in her body suddenly loosened.
“My ability is empathic healing, right?”
She said it right.
“So, let’s give it a try. Let’s see if you’re going to be just a healer or whether you have any potential as a damage dealer,” I said.
I had been waiting for this. After all, I had received a challenger box when I became the first Awakened and when I found the dungeon for the first time. So, what would happen if I created a party for the first time?
[You have invited Woo Yeon-Hee to the party.]
At the time my sixth sense was activated, Woo Yeon-Hee also looked at the air. She must have received another message.
“Repeat after me. Accept,” I said.
Her trembling mouth opened carefully.
“Accept.”
[Woo Yeon-Hee has joined the party.]
[Congratulations. You have created a party for the first time among the Awakened.]
First! First! First!?I loved that word so much and almost screamed with joy. I stared at the air while clenching my teeth.
[You have received a bronze box as your first-time reward.]
A challenger box had been given to those who became the first Awakened and those who first discovered the dungeon. On the other hand, a bronze box was provided to those who first formed the party. I could understand that. I was grateful for getting one since forming a party was not that much of a challenge. Or maybe…Having Woo Yeon-Hee join my party could be considered a risk.
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