Chapter 38

EP 8 - The Youngest Granddaughter of a Chaebol (1)

A chill seeped through my nose, and I opened my eyes. It was freezing.

I had left the window open, and the cold had settled in the room. Shivering, I crawled over to the window.

My head was heavy, and I felt like I had a fever.

Glancing at the clock, it was 6:30. Outside the window, it was still as dark as night.

However, white snowflakes were sparkling in the darkness.

It was that cold December.

South Korea was enduring a winter colder than ever before.

* * *

Everyone has something unique about them.

We all have something that sets us apart from others. That's why we say humans are special.

However, even though these small 'differences' make us special, we often don't feel satisfied with ourselves.

The most regrettable thing is that sometimes we can't change the parts of ourselves we dislike.

"Achoo!"

In my case, I disliked the sound of my sneeze.

I'll skip the reason.

Because of this sneeze, I can't count how many times I've endured ridicule and humiliation.

Achoo! Achoo! I sneezed three times in a row. Yeo Doyeon, who was taking out porridge from the microwave, giggled and mocked me.

"Hey, cutie. Do you have a cold?"

"Ugh."

Sniff. I nodded, and she added,

"I told you not to sound nasally when you sneeze."

"Can I help it...?"

She was already dressed in a suit, ready for work. She was also wearing a suit to work as a bodyguard.

"Doesn't the suit look good on you?"

"Hey. Here."

I took the chicken porridge Yeo Doyeon handed me. I could see a lot of jujubes and ginseng. She sprinkled some salt lightly and said,

"My mom sent it."

"Oh, really?"

Yeo Doyeon grumbled with a grim face. It wasn't much different from her usual self.

"Try to contact Tongyeong more often. My mom is worried about you."

"I don't have time to eat. We're always together. Have you already had breakfast?"

"You only picked out the meat from what you're eating now."

"Is there a portal in the house...?"

Translation: Are you human?

Of course, the chicken was also generous. I started eating the porridge, feeling exhausted.

This is how my life has been lately.

Yeo Doyeon finishes her breakfast and gets ready for work, and only then do I wake up. Thanks to this, she takes care of my suit as well.

Of course, it's not because I'm lazy.

She folded her arms indifferently.

"You didn't sleep for more than six hours last night, right?"

"You didn't sleep for more than three hours."

"I, damn it, that's what I am."

A Body Reinforcement Mage.

A Physical Awakened.

A Close-Combat Ability User.

An Attacker.

A Tank.

A Forward.

There are various terms used for them. There's no specific name. Each broadcasting company uses different terms.

Anyway, research on superhumans is being conducted 'intensely.' Thanks to this, I learned that Yeo Doyeon is a very special superhuman.

Usually, Body Reinforcement Mages need to focus or concentrate to make their bodies hard.

Moreover,

Some have only strong arms,

Some have only strong legs,

Some are as strong as rubber,

Some are as strong as rock,

Some are not hard but just strong.

The types of Awakened are more diverse than expected.

But in Yeo Doyeon's case, her body is always hard. Moreover, she is also very strong.

I thought it was natural, but it's said to be a rare case. Cheon Hwa said so.

Of course, she needs to consume a lot of mana stones to become strong, but mana stones can be obtained with money and power. Yeo Doyeon absorbs a lot of mana stones.

So sometimes, when I see Yeo Doyeon fight, it's really scary. Her superpowers and martial arts create a terrifying synergy.

"Hey, some water."

Of course, I'm her water shuttle now.

"Aaah, mmm...!"

"Ah, damn it, really!"

Yeo Doyeon knew that if she asked, 'Do you have hands or feet?' I would just shake my prosthetic leg with a nasty look, so she obediently brought the water.

Nom. I chewed the porridge and asked with a muffled voice,

"Is it even possible for someone to sleep for less than three hours...?"

Looking at her with a puzzled expression, Yeo Doyeon smiled.

"I also wonder if I'm human."

*

"Ah, yes, I'm sorry."

- What's the difference between what neighborhood thugs do and what hunters do! Do you know how many buildings hunters have destroyed!?

"Ah, I'm really sorry. However, since the damage was caused while hunting the monster, we can't provide legal compensation-"

- All the buildings were fine! They were just destroyed! Are you ignoring the residents' protests? Can you still call yourself a congressman!?

"Ah, I'm sorry, Deputy Mayor."

- Tsk! I, really...! No, listen, Representative Han. You keep trying to cover it up. This time, it won't go over. No compensation for building damage means no more support!

Click.

The Deputy Mayor, who was acting as the mayor of Yeongdeungpo, simply hung up the phone.

Sighing softly, I gestured to Lee Hojeong, and he came running. I muttered calmly,

"The residents are holding up signs because a few apartments were destroyed. This guy is really bold. Maybe he's a rookie."

"Is he aiming for the next mayoral election?"

"Probably trying to win the mayor's seat by appeasing the residents, even though he knows he won't get the money. We can't let that happen."

How can he cause trouble for hunters' activities and then try to get into politics?

"2nd, go to the cabinet and bring a few things to the prosecution. Cut him off immediately."

"There will be a gap in the administration, ah. I'll look for a suitable person from those who have been district mayors in Seoul. Will it be enough if they just listen well?"

"Yes. Get my confirmation and send a fax to the martial law commander."

Since I promoted Lee Hojeong from secretary to assistant, I have a couple of interns under me, so this matter will likely be resolved soon.

I replaced the uncooperative Deputy Mayor and reviewed the budget execution report of the orphanage that had just started operating. Yang Ilho had neatly organized the document, making it easy to read.

Many things have changed.

Or, I have changed many things.

A Special Abilities Investigation Department was created in the Supreme Prosecutors' Office,

A Monster Response Bureau was established in the National Police Agency,

And even a proposal to create a Special Abilities Management Department was posted on the presidential petition board.

Special Abilities Management Department, Hunter Management Department, Superhuman Management Department, or something like that. If such a department is created, I would be the first minister. Many people have been shouting, 'Make Han Seungmoon the minister!'

Being a minister would be nice. Riding in a limousine, receiving protocol, being called Minister Han, taking daily photos with the president, and having all the hunters in the country under my control.

But the hunters are already under my control.

I shouldn't be blinded by unnecessary power lust. As much as possible, I should be practical and safe.

So, I moved public opinion and the National Assembly to prevent this.

Those who were concerned about me having too much power also smiled and shook my hand.

...The stronger you become, the more enemies you make.

And I am already strong.

There's no need to be greedy.

So, I made the guild a 'quasi-governmental organization' under the Monster Response Bureau of the National Police Agency.

I made an organization that will be more important than the military in the future

a 'quasi-governmental organization' under the

'National Police Agency' of the

'Ministry of the Interior and Safety'

'Monster Response Bureau'.

The conclusion was perfect.

First, the National Police Agency can't touch the guild. That's because I'm there. In other words, it's free from the pressure of public authority.

Second, although hunters are now subject to the Kim Young-ran Act, we receive a massive amount of national budget from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. To be precise, I secured it.

A powerful person without a clear position.

Thus, I became a powerhouse in the shadows. It's a character that seems like it could come out of a movie.

However, this is the cause of my overwork.

There is no clearly defined position, but as I control various organizations, I end up doing everything.

Moreover, I can't delegate important tasks to others. I'm barely managing with the help of Yang Ilho and Lee Hojeong.

During the process of designating the guild as a quasi-governmental organization, I secured a business delegation. I repeatedly contributed and withdrew capital to maintain the shareholding ratio while laundering money.

To avoid the attention of the Board of Audit and Inspection, I adjusted the budget to less than 100 billion won by eating meat with the Minister of Strategy and Finance and the Minister of the Interior and Safety.

I created a team to clean up monster corpses. I created a team to dissect monster corpses. I created a team to analyze monster corpses. I worked on how to connect well with Cheon Hwa's research institute.

Most importantly,

I hung up on the kids who were messing around with saving people.

It was exhausting to do such things.

It feels like my lifespan is being shortened by realizing social justice. Anyway, I was building defensive power in my own way, like Cha Jaegeun.

And I was meticulously crafting a system to deal with monsters.

However,

I received shocking news.

"Representative, you have some gray hair...?"

Yang Ilho, who was passing by, said.

I was startled and turned my head. Yang Ilho ran over and held out a mirror, running his hand through my hair to find the white strands.

I looked at the mirror with trembling eyes.

There were a few white hairs above my forehead.

Moreover, there were no gray hairs in my family on either side.

In other words,

"Aah, no...!"

This was purely due to stress.

*

That evening, after finishing work, I went to a meat restaurant with Yang Ilho and Lee Hojeong as usual. Yeo Doyeon had gone to hunt a monster.

We usually eat dinner together,

...but sometimes,

It feels like I'm keeping a couple from going home and forcing them to have a dinner meeting. I sat down, handed out wet towels, and started the conversation.

"Hey, guys?"

Yang Ilho and Lee Hojeong turned to look at me with tired faces. Is this what it's like to be a boss who reads the mood of subordinates?

"Hey, are you, ah, not happy eating with me...?"

"Excuse me?"

"Initially, I shouldn't ask such questions and just send you home, but I'm not forcing you to have dinner with me, right...?"

"Are you sleepy, sir?"

"How did you know?"

"From my experience, the reactions of being drunk and being sleepy are similar."

"But?"

"...Sir, you look a bit like a delinquent when you're drunk."

*

Yang Ilho was rubbing his side while sitting at the meat restaurant. It was because Lee Hojeong had elbowed him earlier. She tied her hair back roughly and said to me,

"We're saving money to buy a house. But thanks to you, we're saving a lot on meals, so don't worry about it."

"...Are you eating with me because of the money?"

"Um, friend fee?"

Lee Hojeong started grilling the meat casually with a playful smile. Yeah, since I'm making them work overtime, I should at least pay them a friend fee.

We chatted about various things while chewing on the beef for a while.

"Ah, I was a bit relieved today."

"Why?"

"They say that now 0.1 people die per second."

"Huh, if you die, you die. How do they even come up with such statistics?"

"1.3 million people died in the past five months."

"...Ah."

"Considering that 3 million people died in the first month, it's a significant decrease."

Lee Hojeong mentioned this while looking at her smartphone.

"Hey, the Ministry of National Defense just released an official statement. They say the rescue operations in the outskirts of Seoul are almost complete?"

"It's a lie. I heard from the minister that only a little over half is done."

"Ah, is it just a media play?"

"They are trying to create a safe atmosphere to revive the economy. But with monsters continuously appearing... "

Yang Ilho spoke up again.

"Ah, I have a senior who joined the Special Prosecutors' Office for Hunters in the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. An Awakened killed someone again."

"Is it one of the uncaught experimental subjects?"

"It's just a case of negligent homicide. A woman killed her husband right after awakening. She grabbed his shoulder while he was doing the dishes, and electricity passed through..."

"But why do they call it the Hunter Investigation Department?"

"There are many Awakened who resist hunting monsters. To instill the idea that 'Awakened must hunt monsters,' they naturally become known as hunters. It's probably in the media guidelines too. They're told to use terms like 'hunter' and 'hunter' frequently."

"Recently, the body of Yoo Hoyeop was found."

"Ah, the national MC..."

We continued eating while naturally talking about someone's death.

These days, we're all a bit desensitized to death because we deal with it through documents all the time.

We weren't the only ones. The news also talked about death naturally.

- The story of actress Lee Songha and her manager is gathering public sorrow. The manager threw himself to save Lee Songha...

"Is that kind of thing really news these days...?"

"They say it's better to broadcast that than to report that 26 people died in a gas explosion in Seocho last night."

"Where did you hear that, Representative?"

"I've been managing the image of hunters lately, so I've been drinking with the CEOs of broadcasting companies. Maybe because the CEOs are all dead, the executives are acting as CEOs, and it's quite interesting."

While chewing on the beef with Yang Ilho, I was peeling a chicken leg when Lee Hojeong suddenly answered a call.

"Hello? Seokho?"

Lee Hojeong continued with a shocked voice.

"......Sihoe? Hey, you're Sihoe? What's wrong? Yes!?"

Sihoe is the fourth younger brother of Kang Seokho. Lee Hojeong handed us the speaker phone with a worried look.

Kang Sihoe's anguished cries could be heard.

- Gasp...! S, save me...! I'm scared...! Ah...! Ah! Ahh...!