Chapter 10

The path back through the dimensions was no different from before. The last two doors had not changed either.

One led back to his dorm room, the other to a place unknown.

Previously, he had not found this strange, but now he realized it was a mistaken thought.

When he crossed over to the world that had perished, the two doors led to an underground laboratory and a conference room on the ground floor, respectively. He knew where each door led.

He was curious about what lay behind the door with an unknown destination, but now he had just finished a reconnaissance.

Kyeonghoon put aside his curiosity and set his direction toward the dorm room.

The returned dorm room was cozy. The tension that had lasted all day dissipated, and he began to feel aches and pains.

In this world, he could do strenuous exercise all day without any issues, but in the other world, he was exhausted after just half a day.

He still hadn't fully adapted.

Still, it was better than when he first returned. Kyeonghoon took a light shower and then took out the items from his backpack.

A little bit of the remaining improvised explosive device (IED). Most of the money spent on one explosion was gone.

A half-read magazine and a small gemstone called a mana stone.

Kyeonghoon picked up the gemstone. It was a small gemstone that could fit on a ring, a translucent gemstone that emitted a mysterious light.

Swallow.

Kyeonghoon swallowed while looking at the gemstone. The more he looked, the more he felt an odd urge to eat it.

However, it came from a strange creature he had never seen before, so he couldn't eat it recklessly.

Kyeonghoon put the mana stone and the magazine deep into his desk drawer.

The first reconnaissance was over.

Kyeonghoon checked his phone.

Although he couldn't bring back many items, it wasn't a fruitless trip.

He brought back the mana stone and the magazine, and he killed a mutant rat and leveled up.

Considering it was his first reconnaissance, he thought it was quite excellent.

He didn't reach the Awakened Center he aimed for, but he felt he could get there with one more move.

"I need more information."

Even if he brought back the mana stone, he found it difficult to find a way to use it, and it was hard to learn more from the magazine.

However, he couldn't reveal his abilities.

From the content in the magazine, it seemed that a newly awakened person was best suited to go to the laboratory.

"I can't do this, and I can't do that."

Kyeonghoon sighed.

Of course, he had no intention of saving the world or becoming a hero. He just didn't want to miss the opportunity that came with the changing world.

Moreover, this kind of work suited his personality better.

'Maybe I'll post some information on the internet later? But will it be traced?'

He wasn't an expert in that area, so he couldn't be sure.

Scratching his head, Kyeonghoon decided to do what he could do now.

'Jinhyuk said to come and see the atmosphere. The government must be investigating something, so I might learn something.'

They say a determined mind can even pull out a bull's horn, so Kyeonghoon called the next day to make an appointment.

Kyeonghoon adapted to his strengthened body from exercise and took the KTX to Sejong City two days later.

He did this because the newly established Animal Quarantine Headquarters was in Sejong City.

The Animal Quarantine Headquarters was located in a new, spacious five-story building near the government complex.

Kyeonghoon stood in front of the building, looking at the entrance with a puzzled expression.

The shiny new building and the people passing through the main gate didn't seem to match.

Occasionally, people who looked like civil servants in suits passed by, but most were middle-aged men in makeshift military uniforms and work clothes.

Kyeonghoon could tell what kind of people they were by their appearance and atmosphere.

'Are they hunters?'

He didn't know why hunters were coming and going here, but he followed them inside.

Jinhyuk's team was on the third floor.

[On-Site Response Team]

Kyeonghoon headed straight to the office.

The office was surprisingly ordinary. There was a metal door that looked like an armory inside, but the interior was no different from a regular office.

The team members he saw at the previous site were busy with paperwork.

"Welcome! We've been waiting for you."

When Kyeonghoon entered the office, the team leader was more welcoming than Jinhyuk.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Yoon Tae."

"Kang Kyeonghoon."

The team leader was overly friendly, acting as if Kyeonghoon had already joined the team.

Kyeonghoon had to draw a line.

"I was curious about Jinhyuk's team and came to visit as he suggested."

The team leader's expression changed when Kyeonghoon kept his distance.

"Ha ha, I guess I got ahead of myself."

Jinhyuk also smiled awkwardly, and Kyeonghoon sighed inwardly.

After that, Team Leader Yoon Tae boasted about his team.

The salary was not bad, and even if he joined later, he would be recognized as a special civil servant. He could fully utilize his past military experience.

If Kyeonghoon had been in his previous state, he might have accepted immediately.

However, his thoughts were different now. Kyeonghoon pointed out the drawbacks.

"Jinhyuk told me that there are many deployments."

The team leader glanced at Jinhyuk.

"That's true. That's why we need more people."

The empty seats in the office also showed traces of people. They were likely due to injuries or retirements.

"I've heard a lot about you from various people. They all said good things. You're good at improvising, and your shooting and fighting skills are excellent. Even if you find structured life and social life uncomfortable, you have good relationships with your colleagues..."

It seemed he had thoroughly investigated.

"I can't easily adapt to corporate life."

It wasn't the corporate life itself but the injustice within it that he couldn't tolerate. However, there was no company without injustice, so it was the same as not being able to adapt to corporate life.

"This place is semi-civil service, but there are many on-site deployments, which is good."

Kyeonghoon bowed his head at the continuous persuasion.

"I'll think about it more."

He wanted to refuse outright, but there was still more to learn.

Team Leader Yoon Tae nodded at Kyeonghoon's answer and stepped back.

"Ha... ha... I'll look forward to your answer. Since it's almost time for lunch, Jinhyuk will show you around."

"Understood."

The two left the office, and Kyeonghoon sighed.

"Ha ha, it was tough, right?"

"You really pushed hard."

Jinhyuk glanced around and answered quietly.

"I had no choice. Two people quit this month. They were injured and just quit. We're short on people."

Kyeonghoon understood. If he were an ordinary person, he wouldn't have survived in such a place.

The people working here must feel like they're going to war every time they go on-site.

"Are you okay?"

"It's about saving people. No matter how hard it is, I have to do it."

Saving people.

After saving lives in the military, it became Jinhyuk's goal and motto.

"I still haven't repaid the life I owe to you..."

It sounded cool, but to Kyeonghoon, who saved him, it was just a creepy statement.

The two found a seat in a coffee shop on the first floor.

The coffee shop had glass walls, so they could easily see people passing through the lobby.

Kyeonghoon saw hunters passing by through the glass.

"There are a lot of hunters."

"Right? I was also surprised."

"How did that happen?"

Jinhyuk took a sip of coffee.

"Last time, I said the Animal Quarantine Bureau was formed by merging several departments, right?"

"Right."

"Among them, the harmful wild animal control department was also merged into the Animal Quarantine Bureau."

"Oh, the hunting association?"

"Yes."

"Why was it merged?"

"Because not only livestock and pets can mutate. When wild animals mutate, it's much more difficult."

Livestock and pets live near people, so even if they are dangerous, they are easy to catch. However, wild animals are hard to find and catch.

"Mutated wild animals are caught with the help of hunters. It's not easy because many hunters are pulling out, but currently, there's no other option. We can't deploy the military yet."

Kyeonghoon had to agree. Of course, he would prefer the military to be deployed, but to people who don't know the other world, the military is the last line of defense.

"Moreover, the researchers want more diverse samples, so they prefer wild animals."

Jinhyuk pointed with a straw.

People in white doctor's coats and lab coats were passing through the lobby.

"It seems they're under a lot of pressure from above. They want to go on-site too. Hmm... They must be frustrated because they haven't found anything yet."

A middle-aged man was followed by younger men and women.

Kyeonghoon's eyes followed one of the women.

"Brother! Is there a woman you like?"

"No, no."

She was quite pretty, but he wasn't infatuated. He felt a strange sensation as she passed by, but it quickly disappeared.

At the same time, Jinhyuk seemed to remember something.

"Ah, right. How about registering as a hunter first?"

"Hunter?"

"If you find it awkward to join our team right away, you can register as a hunter and start your activities. You can carry guns and swords in your car, and you can earn money by catching mutants."

Kyeonghoon tilted his head.

"Isn't that complicated?"

"No, it became much simpler when we merged. Moreover, with my recommendation, you'll pass quickly."

It seemed like a decent idea. He wasn't sure if his current pistol could be registered, but it was necessary for registering knives and swords.

Kyeonghoon decided to register as a hunter as Jinhyuk suggested.

As Jinhyuk said, the registration didn't take long.

Fortunately, the long sword could be registered. The modified K-5 couldn't be registered due to gun laws, but the long sword with engravings and the dagger could now be carried in his car.

Kyeonghoon couldn't register the modified pistol, so he bought a cheap hunting rifle. It didn't seem effective against mutants, but it could temporarily stop them.

Soon, a message on his phone notified him that hunters were to gather at Chiaksan.

Although not explicitly stated, it seemed that mutants had been found at Chiaksan.

Kyeonghoon decided to participate as a trial.

He had to hide his abilities, so he wouldn't be much help in this mutant hunt, but he was sure he could learn from others.

If there was something to learn, he would follow wherever it led.

In the dark forest at the foot of Chiaksan.

"Damn it, why did you get so angry? If you had just listened, this wouldn't have happened."

A middle-aged man was grumbling while filling a hole with a shovel.

"We've been doing this for over five years. We've always worked well together, so what's this all about?"

He clicked his tongue, looking at the half-filled hole. Two human legs were sticking out of the part not yet covered with soil.

He continued talking while filling the hole with more soil.

"If we had both quit when the strange creatures appeared, this wouldn't have happened."

Although he spoke regretfully, the corners of his mouth were turned up.

"But, I wouldn't have gained this power