This place was just called, 'Company.'
Of course, it had the grand name of 'Disaster Prevention and Protection of Civilization,' but nobody in or out of the company called it that.
Disasters were never ending and it didn't do anything big enough to really say that it was protecting civilization.
Nonetheless, as a third organization separate from guilds and the government, the company mediated any issues between the two other organizations in addition to taking care of monster invasions, guild inspections, and government audits among many other things.
And today… Today was Orientation Day for all new employees of the company who joined this year.
"Hmm. Are they our field-side people from this group?"
"Yes, Director-nim."
The man called the Director nodded his head at his subordinate's confirmation and looked at the new employees who were separated into two groups.
There was a line in the middle of this quite large hall and chairs were placed on both sides of the line.
Right side body, left side head.
Those were the titles for the two parts.
The 'body' side had the new employees for the departments that use their bodies, such as going into battle.
"…Is that Team 1 over there?"
"Yes sir."
"Tsk."
The corners of the Director's lips went up for some odd reason. He looked as if he was about to sneer.
"Hand me the files."
"Right here, sir."
The secretary handed two files over without even needing an explanation.
"Pffft." The Director chuckled.
"The people for team leader Lee Soo Hyuk's side are quite weird."
Tap. Tap. The Director observed the names of the two new employees assigned to Team 1.
Kim Rok Soo.
Choi Jung Soo.
The Director shook his head after going through the two of their personnel records and interview notes.
"Aigoo, it's going to be hard for Team leader Lee."
The corners of his lips were curled up contrary to his comments.
The secretary peeked at the Director before looking away and starting to think.
'Funny bastard. You were the one who said to put all the good newbies with your damn lackeys. Why are you pretending that you don't know? You greedy son of a bitch.'
This was his superior, but the Director truly was an idiot.
'Do you really think trying to keep Lee Soo Hyuk in check will work?'
Team leader Lee Soo Hyuk.
Although he was only a team leader because he chose to remain one in order to go out in the field, everybody inside and outside of the company knew the truth.
Lee Soo Hyuk was the symbol of this company.
'…But it really will be difficult for the team leader-nim this time.'
After looking at the personnel records, the secretary agreed that the lowest ranking newbies were assigned to Lee Soo Hyuk's team.
'One is focused on martial arts and sword arts while the other is for rear support.'
Each team was assigned two to four newbies.
This was a temporary placement and they were moved or could request to change teams based on a team's flair or style of doing things.
'Team leader Lee should have been assigned a minimum of four newbies.'
Even clueless newbies were necessary based on the amount of work that team did. However, they were assigned the minimum amount of two employees and those two were quite terrible as well.
'He is skilled in sword arts but he doesn't have any exceptional abilities he can use right now.'
Exceptional abilities were talking about strong attacks that could be used against enemies or monsters.
'Employee Choi Jung Soo doesn't have something like that.'
That was the reason he was determined to be a Grade 10 ability user. However, his physical abilities were great and he showed significant potential for growth.
'Haa… The other one-'
The problem was the other person, Kim Rok Soo.
'I think he chose the wrong team.'
The rear support that the 'body' side needed were supports that could be helpful for battle.
However, this newbie, Kim Rok Soo's ability focused on records.
'He would be well-received if he went to guild inspections or government audits teams.
Kim Rok Soo, who was close to the type of talent that the head side desperately needed, was not as useful on the body side.
That was the reason the company suggested he chooses a department on the head side, but Kim Rok Soo was firm on requesting a body side department.
"Hoohoo."
The secretary, who had been deep in thought, heard the Director laugh.
"I'm not sure if the punks in Team leader Lee's team will be able to survive today's training."
"Sir, are you talking about the hazing ritual?"
It was tradition in the company to haze the new employees during orientation.
"Yes. What if they get last place? It'll be terrible for Team leader Lee's face."
'You stupid idiot. Do you really think that Team leader Lee will care about something like that? Then he would have already moved up to become the Chairman of this company and fired your sorry ass.'
The secretary was grumbling internally but responded with a calm expression on his face.
"I hope everybody safely completes the hazing ritual without getting hurt."
"That is true."
The Director agreed with that. However, he clicked his tongue while looking at the two newbies on Lee Soo Hyuk's team.
"Tsk. One looks like a country bumpkin while the other looks completely out of it."
The secretary agreed with that.
His eyes headed toward the person who was wearing a suit that was too large for him.
Choi Jung Soo was looking around while touching the sleeves of his clothes.
"Ahem."
The suit he bought in the thrift store did not look good. He looked around and noticed that the others' gazes were headed toward him and the person next to him.
The gazes were not good.
Their gazes were either wary of them as newbies to 'that Lee Soo Hyuk's team' or curiosity.
Screech. Choi Jung Soo moved his chair a bit to the side and started speaking.
"Ahem, hem."
He was looking at the pale and skinny man who looked less undersized and more like a sharp blade.
Choi Jung Soo's gaze headed toward the man's name tag.
'His name is Kim Rok Soo.'
Kim Rok Soo was the fellow newbie assigned to Team 1.
Choi Jung Soo flashed his unique smile that made him seem like a good person. It was a bright smile that usually reminded people of a golden retriever.
He looked quite harmless, especially because of the loose second-hand suit he had to buy to fit his tall height and wide shoulders.
'Mm.'
Choi Jung Soo flinched after making eye contact with Kim Rok Soo.
'They're like swords.'
Kim Rok Soo was no longer blanking out and was observing Choi Jung Soo with a sharp gaze.
Choi Jung Soo gulped and said whatever came to his mind after seeing that gaze.
"Oh! Are you my one and only fellow newbie on this team? I'm Choi Jung Soo! Nice to meet you!"
"…Kim Rok Soo."
Kim Rok Soo continued speaking after a very long time.
"Nice to meet you."
He then added on.
"Are you the type who speaks informally despite meeting someone for the first time?"
"Haha, hahaha."
Choi Jung Soo's pupils started to shake. He then continued speaking as if it was no big deal.
"Umm, excuse me, Mr. Kim Rok Soo, are we both newbies on the same team? I think that we are the only two newbies for Team 1. So, my one and only fellow newbie? Hahaha."
However, his voice cracked in the process. Kim Rok Soo just stared at him before slightly nodding his head.
Choi Jung Soo held back a sigh after seeing that response.
'Ah, it seems like it'll be hard to get close to this guy.'
He subconsciously touched the scabbard of the sword around his waist out of habit.
"It's different, Mr. Choi Jung Soo."
He heard Kim Rok Soo's voice at that moment.
The voice that was neither loud nor quiet was indifferent. He could not feel any interest toward someone else in that tone.
"Excuse me? What is different-"
"Your clothes."
Kim Rok Soo's dark brown eyes completely recorded Choi Jung Soo.
"Your outfit seems different from what you wore during the interview, Mr. Choi Jung Soo."
Kim Rok Soo's memory had recorded Choi Jung Soo differently from this slightly old-fashioned formal attire.
The nice looking outfit, short and cleanly cut hair that was oiled back potentially for the interview made his innocent and bright personality seem a bit mature.
However, the thick dark brown hair was longer than during the interview and it was naturally scattered, making him look much younger. Furthermore, the clothes were old-fashioned and loose, making his physique not look so good.
"Ah, that…"
Choi Jung Soo was surprised that Kim Rok Soo remembered what he looked like during the interview, but he awkwardly smiled and scratched his head.
"I saw a building crumbling on my way back from the interview. I went there to help out and my clothes ended up a mess. Ah, I'm so upset about all that money going to waste."
Cities were recreated after the cataclysm but some buildings would crumble every so often for all sorts of reasons.
Kim Rok Soo observed Choi Jung Soo with an odd gaze before slightly nodding his head.
"You did well, Mr. Choi Jung Soo."
Choi Jung Soo's expression turned odd after hearing that nonchalant comment.
'He doesn't seem to be mocking me. Is it a compliment?'
Kim Rok Soo had said it too nonchalantly for it to be a compliment.
Choi Jung Soo's eyes opened wide for a moment before he smiled. He looked at Kim Rok Soo, who had similar hair to his own, and started speaking.
"Excuse me, Mr. Rok Soo. May I ask how old you are? Now that we are on the same team, we should get along-"
"Hmph. Same team my ass."
He heard someone speak in a mocking tone from the back.
Choi Jung Soo looked behind him.
He made eye contact with a man.
'He doesn't have a name tag?'
The company had told them to put name tags on but this person was not wearing one. The man was touching the tip of a short spear while looking extremely arrogant.
"What are you looking at?"
"No, that'-"
Choi Jung Soo opened his mouth before closing it. He wanted to say something but it was awkward to say anything.
"Hmph."
The man scoffed.
"Let me give you a word of advice."
The man looked at Choi Jung Soo and Kim Rok Soo from head to toe before continuing to speak.
"Today's teams are temporary. The hazing ritual will soon happen. It is highly likely that we will be assigned to new teams based on the results."
He then scoffed again.
"If you have no skills, you'll be sent to a terrible team. Then you should go to a good team if you have skills, right?"
Kim Rok Soo peeked to his side.
Choi Jung Soo's gaze was slowly getting sharper.
'At least he's not extremely dense.'
The man holding the short spear continued speaking as Kim Rok Soo had that thought.
'Team 1 is the figurehead of this company. I'm curious to see how the teams will change based on the results of the hazing ritual.'
Choi Jung Soo subconsciously tightened his grip in the hand that was touching his sleeves.
This man was clearly looking down at Choi Jung Soo's skills.
"What do-"
What do you mean by that?
Choi Jung Soo was about to talk back.
At that moment…
"Mr. Park Kyung Ho."
Kim Rok Soo turned around.
"Are you not going to put your nametag on?"
The eyebrow of the man holding the short spear slightly rose. Kim Rok Soo's nonchalant gaze observed Park Kyung Ho.
"You were holding a long spear during the interview but you have a short spear with you today."
"…You know who I am?"
Kim Rok Soo, who had been looking at the newbie for Team 2, who had not been wearing his nametag on purpose, tilted his head to the side.
"I only know your name and face."
"You saw me before?"
"I saw you at the interview when you went in after they called your name."
Kim Rok Soo tilted his head to the other side.
"Is there a problem?"
There were no problems.
However, Park Kyung Ho had a weird feeling.
Those oddly emotionless-looking eyes…
This gaze that seemed sharp but completely uninterested…
'…Was it a coincidence that he memorized my name?'
All departments had interviews on the same day so there were hundreds of people waiting there.
It was because the company needed manpower for some things even if people did not have abilities.
'…He wouldn't even have been in the same interview group as me if he was in rear support.'
Park Kyung Ho was feeling oddly iffy and opened his mouth to say something else.
This was a situation where the other person knew who he was but he didn't know anything about that person.
"Everybody, please quiet down!"
An employee, who looked like the moderator, appeared and the orientation started.
"Oh, it's Lee Soo Hyuk!"
"The esteemed Healer of Earth is here too!"
"Isn't that the Director-nim?"
The new employee started whispering.
The team leaders of each department, and the CEO were walking into the auditorium prepared for the orientation.
"That sir is Lee Soo Hyuk-nim-"
The new employees who were holding swords were looking at Lee Soo Hyuk with respect and aspiration.
Lee Soo Hyuk, who slowly walked into the auditorium looking drowsy, seemed bored. No, he seemed tired.
The man who can slash through anything.
The man who had survived multiple life-or-death situations since the early days of the cataclysm and saved many lives.
Lee Soo Hyuk, whom they had all expected to have a high position in the government, was still working in the field as a team leader for the company.
It might be because he was young, but there were many people who were drawn to him because of it.
"Team leader Lee, your newbies seem to be over there."
"I see."
Lee Soo Hyuk's gaze headed to the two new employees for Team 1.
Pffft."
"Hmm? Why are you suddenly laughing, Team leader Lee?"
"No. It's nothing."
They were the two new employees who were staring at him with gazes that seemed almost nonchalant amidst the field of new employees looking at him with aspiration, respect, or even envy.
"It was true."
Lee Soo Hyuk, who had not been one of the interviewers, quietly observed Choi Jung Soo and Kim Rok Soo.
Kim Rok Soo, the punk he had rescued in the early days of the cataclysm.
Choi Jung Soo, who he had a short interaction with while facing an unranked monster in Seomyeon.
For the two of them to grow this much and come here as new employees…
Smile.
Lee Soo Hyuk smiled at the two of them.
"Look at these punks."
However, the two of them, in sync, had turned away from him and looked forward.
"Ha, haha-"
'How entertaining.'
Lee Soo Hyuk couldn't help but laugh after seeing two people, who were polar opposites, reacting the same way.
"Umm, Team leader Lee. Will it be okay?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You know… Director Park messed with things."
Lee Soo Hyuk just shrugged his shoulders as another team leader whispered to him.
"I guess I'll find out after observing what happens today."
The MC shouted and the eyes of the new employees opened wide and a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Okay then, we will have a short test before the official orientation starts!"
"Excuse me?"
"What do you mea-"
Most of the new employees who didn't know about the hazing ritual opened their eyes wide, looked around, and started talking.
Choi Jung Soo thought about the hazing ritual, something he wouldn't have known about if he had not heard about it from Park Kyung Ho just now, and opened his mouth.
"Umm, what do you think the hazing ritual is, Mr. Rok Soo?"
"I'm not sure, Mr. Jung Soo."
"Oh come on, you seem like you know all about it, Mr. Rok Soo."
"I don't know, Mr. Jung Soo."
Choi Jung Soo frowned at the stoic Kim Rok Soo's response. Kim Rok Soo sighed after taking a look and was about to open his mouth when the emcee started speaking.
"You all know where this is, right?"
"Ah."
He couldn't help but gasp.
The auditorium that the orientation was taking place…
This place was quite far from the company.
"Is it possible-"
Choi Jung Soo looked at Kim Rok Soo who calmly opened his mouth to speak after noticing the gaze.
"If it is a hazing ritual, it is probably a search."
He looked at the auditorium entrance and added on.
"This is one of the destroyed lands."
Destroyed land.
That was the term given to an area where civilization had not been restored properly after monsters had rampaged through it.
There were quite a lot of places like that within Korea.
"As you all know, this is one of the destroyed lands."
The MC gently addressed the talkative new employees.
"I'm sure you all saw it on your way here, but an auditorium has been built and a few new buildings are being built outside.
There was only one thing that could mean.
"Thankfully, this is an area that has returned to human territory."
Monsters lived in the destroyed lands.
The humans who lived in new central cities based around the shelters were slowly recovering the destroyed lands around the city.
This land with the auditorium was one of those places where humans had pushed the monsters out and were reconstructing a city.
"The ones on the 'Head' side will be tasked to go through documents related to the reconstructions."
The MC then looked toward the 'Body' side.
"As for all of you here, you will be doing a treasure hunt."
The mission given to the new employees…
"…A treasure hunt?"
Choi Jung Soo looked confused while Kim Rok Soo's eyes clouded over.
"Everybody here is talented and has all sorts of abilities but we cannot send you to complete missions right away."
That meant that they could not be placed in battle right away. That was why they were going to give them a different sort of 'mission' to check out their abilities.
The MC sternly but gently continued speaking.
"There used to be many important public institutions around this auditorium."
The traces of a city and its records were important for a city reconstruction.
"Since we have already pushed monsters out of this area, you will move based on your teams to find something that might be helpful to the city reconstruction."
Choi Jung Soo heard a mumbling voice.
"Hmm. They want us to search?"
"How boring."
The person who was saying that it was boring was a familiar voice.
'Was his name Park Kyung Ho?'
A bitter smile appeared on Choi Jung Soo's face.
'I personally didn't want to fight starting the first day.'
A search was much better. He did not want to see blood from the first day, regardless of whether it was human or monster blood.
The emcee continued speaking.
"We will rank you all in the treasure hunt based on the value of the item you bring back. The judging will be by the team leader-nims of the different teams who have gathered here."
The new employees turned to look at their team leaders.
Boom.
The emcee stomped his foot and gathered their gazes again.
'Mm.'
Choi Jung Soo flinched after seeing the stiff look on the emcee's face. He finally saw that the emcee's hands that were covered in scars. This person also seemed to be part of a battle squad.
"The most important thing is safety."
The emcee sternly spoke to the new employees of the Body side.
"You cannot go into any buildings that look as if it may crumble. You will be removed from the ranking if you get hurt. Basically, it means that you are disqualified."
Her emphasized and emphasized it again.
"You can return empty handed so please keep safety as the number one priority."
'Safety.'
Kim Rok Soo reaffirmed that word in his mind as he slightly nodded his head.
'Safety is important.'
Of course, he had no idea what that clueless looking guy next to him, the person he would be moving as a pair with today, was thinking.
"The time limit is until 2pm today."
It was currently 10am.
"Then please safely work hard. See you all at 2pm safe and sound."
The emcee raised his hand.
"And go!"
BEEEEEEEEEP—
They heard a buzzer go off somewhere.
"We're starting right away?!"
"Then do we need to go to our department? I thought we needed to look at documents?"
Search and office work. The new employees who had received their respective duties were basically all talking, causing chaos inside the auditorium.
Choi Jung Soo slowly got up.
"The person who is the quickest is going to win! Let's go!"
"Yes, let's hurry!"
Many of the new employees had gathered with their teams and were headed out of the auditorium.
"Uhh…mm…"
The moment Choi Jung Soo wondered what he should do and turned toward Kim Rok Soo…
"Stupid fools. Can't they tell?"
Park Kyung Ho chuckled and spoke to the other newbie on his team.
"Shall we go? Just trust me."
"You seem to have a plan?"
"It is obvious what you should do in such a test."
Shh. Park Kyung Ho turned to look at Choi Jung Soo.
"Well, I guess there are some people who are completely clueless."
"Okay, okay. Let's go, let's go."
A woman in the rear support squad who had a nametag that said that her name was Choi Soo-In, apologized to Choi Jung Soo with her gaze before pulling Park Kyung Ho out of the auditorium.
"Mm."
Choi Jung Soo looked to the side.
"What should we do, Mr. Rok Soo?"
He turned his head to see Kim Rok Soo quietly sitting on the chair with his eyes closed.
Tap. Tap. His index finger was tapping on his knee.
"Excuse me, Mr. Rok Soo?"
Kim Rok Soo finally slowly opened his eyes.
"Let's go, Mr. Jung Soo."
He then stood up.
'He's taller than I expected.'
Choi Jung Soo's eyes opened wide at the taller than expected but feeble Kim Rok Soo. His clear and dark black eyes looked into Kim Rok Soo's dark brown eyes.
"Umm, Mr. Rok Soo? Where are we going?"
Choi Jung Soo shrugged his shoulders.
"We can't just go out without thinking it through. I think we need to set a target before we start searching.
He slowly pointed to Kim Rok Soo's watch.
"4 hours is pretty short for searching. I wonder if we should narrow our search radius and focus on a specific area, Mr. Rok Soo."
Kim Rok Soo's eyes clouded over.
Unlike this guy's good-guy appearance that made him seem as if he would be happy about everything, his suggestion was quite smart.
"Your suggestion is true too, Mr. Choi Jung Soo."
4 hours. It might seem like a long time, but…
It was an extremely short period of time to search the remains of a destroyed city rampaged through by monsters.
This was especially true because it was a place that was barely starting its reconstruction. It was extremely likely that most of, no, all of the new employees had visited this area for the first time since it was destroyed.
A place they were visiting for the first time.
A city that was completely destroyed where they could not tell what was what…
They were supposed to simply find some unspecified 'important items' in such a combination?
It was highly likely that they would return empty-handed.
"Mr. Rok Soo."
Choi Jung Soo immediately continued speaking once it sounded as if Kim Rok Soo agreed with him.
"Then how about we pick a direction?"
"No, Mr. Jung Soo."
"Excuse me?"
"We will do a large area search."
"No, that-"
That's difficult?
Choi Jung Soo scowled. Kim Rok Soo had just agreed with his suggestion but said the opposite and wanted to do a large area search.
It was highly like to amount to nothing.
"Excuse me, Mr. Rok Soo?"
"I remember it all, Mr. Jung Soo."
"Excuse me?"
Kim Rok Soo closed his eyes again.
Numerous images flashed through his mind.
These records of incidents were things he needed in order to participate as rear support for a battle squad as he didn't have any proper battle abilities.
He recorded as many things as possible.
"I know the map of this area prior to its destruction."
Kim Rok Soo and Choi Jung Soo made eye contact.
"The subway routes, government offices, local businesses, and residential areas… I know them all."
"…Excuse me?"
Choi Jung Soo blankly asked back.
"Did you live here in the past, Mr. Rok Soo?"
"Pffft."
Kim Rok Soo chuckled at Jung Soo's clueless face and shook his head.
"My ability is called Record. It is related to memories."
Pat.
Kim Rok Soo gently patted Choi Jung Soo's shoulder before heading toward the auditorium door. Kim Rok Soo and Choi Jung Soo were the only ones left in the auditorium now.
"I memorized the area nearby since they said that there was a company auditorium out here."
Kim Rok Soo motioned with his head to Choi Jung Soo who was not moving.
"Shall we go?"
"Wow."
Choi Jung Soo gasped in awe.
"Wow. That's amazing, Mr. Rook Soo. You just happened to see them all in advance."
Kim Rok Soo responded nonchalantly as if it was nothing.
"I need to do this to-"
He stopped talking at that moment.
'I need to do this to survive.'
He then continued speaking.
"I must do it like this."
"I see."
Choi Jung Soo could see Kim Rok Soo looking around once he exited the auditorium.
There was just a bunch of wreckage outside the auditorium.
Kim Rok Soo then spoke in a casual tone.
"City Hall is 3km away in the 3 o'clock direction. It is quite far but why don't we start there and walk in an oval-shape back to the auditorium?"
"Yes, that sounds good, huh?"
Kim Rok Soo walked to the back of the auditorium and came back with something.
"…You have a lot of luggage, Mr. Rok Soo?"
That something was a backpack.
Kim Rok Soo, who was carrying this backpack that had quite a lot of things dangling from it as if it was nothing, calmly spoke.
"I am weak so I need a lot of things in order to survive."
The corners of Choi Jung Soo's lips oddly curled up after hearing that.
"Is that sword all you have, Mr. Jung Soo?"
"Yes, Mr. Rok Soo."
"Then let's go."
"I like this."
Choi Jung Soo quietly mumbled to himself and quickly followed behind Kim Rok Soo.
There were people watching them as well.
On top of a building barely maintaining its shape not too far from the auditorium…
The people there were looking down.
"Wow. Team 1's newbies seem a bit special, don't they? Look at that bag and how they are starting last."
Team 3 leader looked at Lee Soo Hyuk and laughed mischievously. Lee Soo Hyuk shrugged his shoulders while Team 3 leader sighed and started walking.
"I will be heading out first then. "Haaa, why do we even do this hazing ritual? The team leaders suffer more than the newbies."
"I agree. But it's nice to see many sides of the newbies, don't you think?"
Team 4 leader followed behind him while responding.
"Half of my team's newbies just recently awakened their abilities. I'm worried. They might make a fool of themselves. Haaa, I'll be heading out too then."
Team 5 leader left as well.
"Then me too."
The other team leaders followed one by one as well. Each team leader was headed in the direction that their newbies headed in.
The team leaders would follow the newbies today to figure out their disposition and chances of cohesion while guaranteeing their safety.
"But Team 2 leader-nim."
"Yes, Team leader Lee?"
Team 2 leader and Lee Soo Hyuk, the Team 1 leader, had not left yet.
"Are you sure that all monsters have left this area?"
"Yes, Team 2 leader-nim. They have not noticed any monsters in the past week."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Shaaaaaaaaaaa-
There was a gust of wind.
Lee Soo Hyuk pushed back his hair that was fluttering in the wind and closed his eyes.
"There's a lot of wind right now."
"There sure is. I wonder if it is going to rain."
Team 2 leader watched the grey clouds in the distance getting closer and scratched her cheeks as if it was going to be annoying.
"We should stop the search immediately if it rains."
"I agree."
"Shall we go together, Team leader Lee?"
She looked at Lee Soo Hyuk, whom she had no idea what he was thinking, and asked.
"It looks like both the newbies of Team 1 and Team 2 are headed in the same direction."
"…They must be heading for City Hall, right?"
"Yes. It seems that way." Our team's newbie, Mr. Park Kyung Ho, is originally from here. He said that his father used to work in City Hall. He probably headed that way."
Team 2 leader smiled brightly but her face was full of concern.
"Mr. Park Kyung Ho did decide on a good direction, but, mm."
City Hall was the first place in this city where they had pushed the monsters out.
That was why it was okay to relax.
However…
"Both of the newbies on my team have good abilities but basically have no real experience. I'm worried."
"Then we should go."
Lee Soo Hyuk started moving and Team 2 leader set aside her concerns and followed behind him.
"I don't think anybody would think that this is City Hall."
Choi Jung Soo was following behind Kim Rok Soo while gasping about the building he was slowly starting to see.
This City Hall was pretty large with the main building and multiple annexes. The annexes were either all destroyed or had disappeared without any traces while the main building was about half destroyed, making it difficult to tell that this was City Hall.
'Ah, this was a large building.' That was about the most anybody would think about it.
"…And it looks like there is someone else who knows that this is City Hall."
Choi Jung Soo walked in front of Kim Rok Soo with an awkward look on his face. Kim Rok Soo watched Choi Jung Soo walking forward with a hand on his scabbard before slightly frowning.
"What the hell? How did they know about this place?"
Park Kyung Ho grumbled in such a loud voice that it was hard to think that he was talking to himself.
He then walked over to Choi Jung Soo.
"We are going to search here so why don't you go somewhere else?"
"Ah, Mr. Kyung Ho."
His companion, Choi Soo-In, tried to stop him, but Park Kyung Ho was still looking at Choi Jung Soo and Kim Rok Soo with a disapproving gaze.
'I wanted to learn under Team leader Lee Soo Hyuk-nim.'
Park Kyung Ho had become an ability user half a year ago. His ability was given quite high marks and he was immediately designated as a Grade 4 user.
This was quite a good start.
After that, he trained and practiced quite a bit to come into this company and his efforts paid off when he was hired on the first try.
That was why he had been pretty certain that he would be in Lee Soo Hyuk's team.
Lee Soo Hyuk was one of the first multiple ability users.
Only the warriors among warriors were said to be in his team.
That was why it only made sense for that position to be his.
'But these two are going to be under him?'
He especially did not like Choi Jung Soo, who was clearly not a rear support member and would be in the battle squad.
"Mm. We were planning on starting our search here as well."
Choi Jung Soo scratched his head.
"The main building is quite large so why don't we split it in half and half to search?"
"Why should we do that? We were here first so the respectful thing to do would be for you to go somewhere else."
"Ah, that…"
Choi Jung Soo could not hide the awkwardness he was feeling in this situation. The supporter in Team 2 was feeling the same way. She knew it would be great if Team 1 left but Park Kyung Ho's attitude was quite shameful to watch.
"I understand."
Kim Rok Soo moved next to Choi Jung Soo at that moment.
"We will look through the annex before going somewhere else."
Park Kyung Ho scowled at the stoic response but did not say anything else. He quickly turned around and headed for the City Hall building.
"Let's go, Miss Soo-In."
"O, okay."
She bowed toward Choi Jung Soo and Kim Rok Soo.
"I'm sorry. But this is a competition, so I trust that you will understand. It is true that we got here first."
"Ho."
Choi Jung Soo gasped before turning his head.
"Will it be okay, Mr. Rok Soo?"
"Who knows, Mr. Jung Soo."
Kim Rok Soo responded as if he didn't care much for it and looked around.
"To be honest with you, I was not expecting to find anything in City Hall."
"Excuse me?"
"The government or a guild would have gone through City Hall first."
"…Then?"
"There was a famous architect's office around here. I heard that he was preparing the model for a new City Hall."
"…Excuse me?"
"The judicial scrivener and tax accountant office buildings seem to have maintained their form as well so we can look around it."
Choi Jung Soo looked at Kim Rok Soo, who seemed to be in his early to mid twenties like himself, and blankly asked.
"…How do you know such things?"
"There will always be records somewhere."
Kim Rok Soo didn't even look at City Hall or the annex before walking around it.
"Wow."
Choi Jung Soo gasped in admiration before following behind him.
"Wow. Seriously…"
He gasped in admiration a few more times before quietly mumbling to himself so that Kim Rok Soo could not hear.
"I should be good friends with this guy."
Kim Rok Soo suddenly stopped walking at that moment.
'Hmm?'
Choi Jung Soo flinched, wondering if Kim Rok Soo had heard his mumbling. He slowly walked over to Kim Rok Soo, who was standing stiff while looking down.
"Umm, Mr. Rok Soo. What I said was-"
"…Let's go to City Hall, Mr. Jung Soo."
"Excuse me?"
Choi Jung Soo found this comment to be odd and stood next to Kim Rok Soo.
'Mm.'
He then flinched for a different reason from earlier.
Kim Rok Soo's gaze was even sharper than before. He was cowling while looking down.
Choi Jung Soo looked down as well.
"Huh? The bugs…?"
Ants and other bugs were moving in a long line.
He had seen ants do this before, but it was his first time seeing all sorts of bugs doing this.
Kim Rok Soo's gaze slowly moved and Choi Jung Soo's gaze followed.
"…That is-"
The bugs were all leaving from around City Hall in this long line.
The bugs were running away.
"What the heck?"
Choi Jung Soo felt an unexplainable sensation. His back became cold.
This was anxiety.
He was anxious because he felt as if something, something bad, was about to happen.
"Mr. Rok Soo, why are all of the bugs running away from City Hall?"
"It's not all bugs, Mr. Jung Soo."
"Excuse me?"
Kim Rok Soo's eyes thoroughly scanned the area around City Hall. He recorded everything.
He recorded what was here and what was not.
He used the records as the foundation to figure it out.
"Spiders."
"Excuse me?"
"The spiders are heading toward City Hall."
Choi Jung Soo's jaws dropped.
"…What is about to happen here? D, didn't they say that there were no monsters in this direction?"
Kim Rok Soo felt as if he might know what was going on, but he did not respond as he was not certain.
Instead, he lowered the backpack he was carrying.
Boom.
The backpack was placed on the ground with a thud and he opened the zipper.
"Ho-!"
The anxious Choi Jung Soo looked at Kim Rok Soo in disbelief after seeing what was inside the backpack, but Kim Rok Soo took a few things out before putting the backpack back on his back.
"We are heading to City Hall, Mr. Jung Soo."
"…I suppose so, Mr. Rok Soo."
Team 2 had two new employees just like Team 1.
Park Kyung Ho and Choi Soo-In. Of the two, Choi Soo-In seemed to be someone with a healing ability.
'I can't tell whether a monster has appeared or not. But I need to go look.'
Choi Jung Soo tightened his grip around his scabbard.
"Let's go Mr. Rok Soo, hurry!"
He immediately started walking toward City Hall.
"One moment please."
Chhhh.
Choi Jung Soo turned his head after hearing Kim Rok Soo's voice and a noise.
"The two of us might not be enough."
The item in Kim Rok Soo's hand was burning.
"…Is that really a signal flare, Mr. Rok Soo?"
"Yes, Mr. Jung Soo."
Kim Rok Soo responded calmly before shooting the signal flare into the air.
Paaaaat-!
A flame shot up into the air and created a ray of light.
The light was extremely visible under the grey clouds that were now in the sky.
Choi Jung Soo looked toward Kim Rok Soo who spoke as he walked past him.
"I'm certain that there must be company employees watching us from a distance, Mr. Jung Soo."
"…Watching us?"
"Why would the team leaders who have so much work on their plate show up for orientation?"
Kim Rok Soo was looking around even as he ran toward City Hall.
'I can't see them with my current abilities.'
He could not feel whether there were other presences around them.
However, he was certain.
'Team leader Lee Soo Hyuk is nearby.'
Kim Rok Soo did not put much meaning to the hazing ritual.
The reason behind it was simple.
Judging just on the item they brought back?
Would Team leader Lee Soo Hyuk accept that?
The Lee Soo Hyuk that Kim Rok Soo knew was not that kind of person.
Then why were the team leaders here?
'Safety. And the process.'
They came to see the process the newbies use to get things done and to keep them safe.
That was the reason Kim Rok Soo had immediately fired the signal flare.
"Wow."
Choi Jung Soo gasped in admiration while looking at Kim Rok Soo, but Kim Rok Soo did not have time to pay attention to something like that. He had a bad feeling about this.
"But Mr. Rok Soo. You seem to have no hesitation at all?"
"What do you mean by that, Mr. Jung Soo?"
"No. It's just that… You're immediately trying to head to City Hall. It might be dangerous."
"Then why are you going, Mr. Jung Soo?"
Choi Jung Soo was able to respond to Kim Rok Soo's question right away.
What reason could he have?
"I just have to go."
He was going because he thought that he needed to go.
"It is the same with me, Mr. Jung Soo."
Choi Jung Soo chuckled at Rok Soo's response before looking at his back and asking another question.
"Mr. Rok Soo, may I ask how old you are?"
There was no response.
He was completely ignored.
However, Choi Jung Soo still smiled. Unfortunately, that smile quickly disappeared.
Baaaaang—!
They heard a loud noise from the east side of City Hall.
"Wow, shit! What is this?"
Park Kyung Ho frowned while opening a crushed drawer.
"Why is there nothing here?"
They had started from the center of City Hall's main building and moved east. The inside of the building was in better condition than they had expected. Of course, it was not bright since the electricity had gone out, but they were at least able to see enough.
If it wasn't so cloudy and it was a bright day today, they might have been able to search better.
Anyway, Park Kyung Ho's face had been bright when they started their search in this still standing building.
"It's all empty."
However, every drawer was empty as Choi Soo-In mentioned.
"Haaa, why is it like this?"
"Do you think that someone else already went by?"
"We were the first-, ah!"
Park Kyung Ho gasped and then frowned. Choi Soo-In's face did not look good either. She sighed.
We were the first of the new employees to come here, but it is highly likely that other organizations have already been here.
"Haaaaaaaaa. I guess it is hopeless."
Park Kyung Ho ruffled through his hair before standing up.
"Damn it!"
Bang!
He kicked a drawer before walking over to Choi Soo-In on the other side.
"Let's go somewhere else."
"Yes. Let's do that."
Choi Soo-In slowly spoke to Park Kyung Ho who was touching his short spear with a disappointed look on his face.
"I guess we shouldn't have been so mean to Mr. Choi Jung Soo and Mr. Kim Rok Soo if it was going to be like this."
"…Haaa."
Park Kyung Ho did not say anything else. He changed the topic instead.
I think that other organizations would have already searched all government offices."
"Right? This treasure hunt was apparently harder than we expected."
She smiled and then added on.
"I think Mr. Jung Soo should still be outside searching through the annex. I should tell them about it."
"Do whatever you want."
Park Kyung Ho grumbled before starting to walk toward the door at the center of the first floor.
"Let's quickly get out of here."
"Okay. Huh?"
Choi Soo-In lowered her head at that moment.
"Hmm? Why are there so many spiders-"
Park Kyung Ho also looked at where she was looking.
"What the?"
There were all sorts of large and small spiders in multiple lines moving toward them.
No, they were moving past them.
"Why are there spiders all of a sudden-"
It was at that moment.
Shhhhhhh—
Park Kyung Ho heard an eerie noise behind him.
"Miss Choi Soo-In!"
He immediately moved toward Choi Soo-In and hid her behind his back.
Crack! Crack!
"T, that is-"
On the east side of the first floor… Something was approaching them from this end that they had yet to visit.
Choi Soo-In subconsciously shouted.
"W, why is there a monster?!"
Something close to 2 meters tall was coming toward them.
They could see red eyes in the darkness.
There were eight eyes.
Park Kyung Ho realized it as soon as he saw those eight eyes.
'This is a spider.
And that bastard has seen us as well.'
"…Huff."
The monster spider's red eyes flashed and it approached them just as he gasped.
Crack, crack, craaaaaaaaaack-
It was moving very quickly.
The monster was large enough to fill the wide hallway.
The monster was not flustered.
A hunter never becomes flustered because of the prey.
"R, run-"
Park Kyung Ho could not continue speaking.
The monster was already close to them.
The spider extended a leg as if it was a spear.
Park Kyung Ho hugged Choi Soo-In and rolled on the ground.
Baaaaaaaaaang-!
The ground broke with a loud noise.
"Ugh!"
Park Kyung Ho, who barely managed to dodge the attack, could see the ground that was destroyed by the spider's leg stabbing through it. His pupils were shaking.
"Mr. Kyung Ho, what should we do?"
"…That…"
Choi Soo-In subconsciously asked after seeing the look in Park Kyung Ho's eyes.
"…Do you not have much real battle experience?"
"…That-"
Park Kyung Ho had repeatedly trained his ability and his physical body since awakening half a year ago. He only had a few real battle experiences through the Mountains and Streams Guild's Academy.
He was lucky and had many situations where he was protected during the initial stages of the cataclysm that he had not seen monsters very much. Well, he had many instances of running away after seeing monsters in the distance.
The monsters he had faced were all monsters that were under control.
"I had some real battle experience in the Academy-"
Park Kyung Ho had thought that those few times were enough. He had even gone up against a Grade 3 monster.
"I, I've never seen such a mon-'
That was why he knew.
'That bastard is a 4, no, a Grade 3 monster.'
Monsters became stronger the closer they got to Grade 1.
Park Kyung Ho had faced a Grade 3 monster before.
However, that was tens of trainees fighting against one Grade 3 monster under the guidance of an instructor. There was no need to feel any pressure or fear for his life as he learned how to safely deal with a monster in a safe situation.
He had never faced a monster with just one other person, no, honestly speaking, just himself since he was the only battle team member.
"The Academy is not real experience! That's training too!"
Choi Soo-In shouted in a sharp voice before dragging Park Kyung Ho's body up.
Baaaaaang!
The spider's leg was attacking again.
"Run! We can't deal with it!"
She peeked behind her to escape. She then frowned.
"Fuck!"
The spiders were filling up the whole pathway.
Choi Soo-In and Park Kyung Ho would have to get past this wall of spiders if they wanted to run away.
That wasn't all. Spiders were filling the cracked windows as well. They were making the room darker.
'Will it be possible?'
They could just walk past if they were regular spiders.
However, the spiders' eyes were red.
They were all like that monster spider's eyes. He had a bad feeling about it.
"Let's go!"
Park Kyung Ho shouted toward Choi Soo-In.
"The spider wall-"
"Do you have any other suggestions?!"
They had no other choice.
"I'll hold them back for now so go first!"
"Excuse me?"
Choi Soo-In could see Park Kyung Ho turn toward the monster spider while holding his short spear.
"Go out and send a rescue signal!"
"I got it!"
Choi Soo-In started moving toward a window that was not completely covered by spiders yet.
She was a healing-type supporter and didn't have any practical buffs. That was why the first thing she needed to do was to secure a path out.
Baaaaaang!
However, it was not easy.
The monster spider moved quickly.
Its target was Choi Soo-In.
"No!"
Park Kyung Ho charged at the spider with his short spear.
Crack, crack.
Currents slowly started flowing out of his spear.
Tap. Park Kyung Ho kicked off the ground before sending the short spear flying toward the spider's leg.
Baaaaang!
However, the spider's leg was firm.
"S, shit!"
The current-filled short spear was easily parried away.
The currents didn't seem to work on this spider.
"Miss Soo-In!"
The monster spider was already in front of Choi Soo-In.
Shhhhhh—
The mouth underneath the monster spider's eyes opened. It looked as if it would swallow Choi Soo-In.
"Fuck!"
Park Kyung Ho quickly stood up and charged toward the spider. He seemed ready to body slam it if his spear wouldn't work.
Crack.
He heard a different noise at that moment.
Screech.
The monster turned its head.
The large spider's red eyes were all looking in the same direction.
It was a different window covered in spiders.
About half of the glass in the window was broken and the frame was crushed.
Craaaaaack-!
That window was destroyed.
Spiders blasted off of it.
'Fog?'
Choi Soo-In's eyes opened wide.
'No.'
This was not fog.
White smoke squeezed through the window.
Bang!
The window was destroyed completely and someone jumped in.
"Mr. C, Choi Jung Soo!"
The person who jumped in was Choi Jung Soo with his sword in his hand.
"Shite, it's so damn big!"
Choi Jung Soo was shocked at the larger than expected monster that his satoori burst out.
"H, how did you come here-"
Choi Soo-In tried to talk to Choi Jung Soo out of shock and delight, but she didn't have time to look at him.
Shhhhhhh—!
The monster revealed its teeth toward Choi Soo-In again. Its attack had less hesitation and was moving faster.
"No!"
Park Kyung Ho was shocked at Choi Jung Soo's appearance but moved toward Choi Soo-In again.
Park Kyung Ho could see someone else climbing through the window at that moment.
'Huh?'
That person then charged toward the spider.
Baaaaang!
"Ugh!"
"M, Mr. Rok Soo!"
Choi Soo-In gasped before looking at the back of the person in front of her. Rok Soo was groaning.
Choi Soo-In could see the large iron board in Rok Soo's hand. It was a bit lacking to be called a shield, but it was enough to temporarily block the monster spider's attack.
"Are you okay?! No, Mr. Rok Soo… How did you come-"
"Miss Choi Soo-In."
"Yes?"
"Are you a healing-type supporter?"
"Ah, yes, yes!"
"Then please support right away."
"Excuse me?"
Choi Soo-In was still unable to think straight and asked instinctively, while Park Kyung Ho was just blankly staring at Kim Rok Soo. However, there was a voice that called out to him.
"Mr. Kyung Ho!"
It was Choi Jung Soo. Park Kyung turned his gaze. He could see Choi Jung Soo, who was charging toward the spider with a sword in his hand.
Choi Jung Soo wasn't moving as hastily as he had done earlier, but rather was looking extremely calm and skilled.
Choi Jung Soo and Kim Rok Soo both looked younger than Park Kyung Ho, but the expressions on their faces made it seem as if they were used to such situations.
Choi Jung Soo shouted toward Park Kyung Ho. He remembered the core component of what Kim Rok Soo had told him outside the window that was being covered by spiders.
"The body!"
Park Kyung Ho then heard Kim Rok Soo's calm voice.
"That monster's name is the 'Red Eye Spider,' and its weakness is the lower part of its body."
"Y, you know about this monster?"
Choi Soo-In asked and Kim Rok Soo calmly responded.
"This monster usually appears in South America. It might actually be the first time this monster has appeared in Korea."
"Excuse me?"
Choi Soo-In wondered how Kim Rok Soo would know about something like that, but his firm gaze made her quickly gather her ability to support Choi Jung Soo and Park Kyung Ho.
She needed to immediately use her ability if someone got seriously injured.
"Mr. Rok Soo, won't it cast a web if it is a spider?"
Kim Rok Soo kept his eye on the monster as he responded to Choi Soo-In's question.
"I don't believe that it is fully grown yet, Miss Soo-In. An adult would be close to 5 meters tall and its rank would be divided between Grade 2 and Grade 3 based on the limits of its abilities."
Choi Soo-In's eyes opened wide after hearing about its rank.
She felt fear.
'No wonder the pressure was no joke! But why are the two of them so calm? Mr. Park Kyung Ho and I are still so scared.'
Choi Soo-In hid her shaking hand.
"Furthermore, this Red Eye Spider can only cast a web once it becomes an adult. It can only control spiders or use its legs to attack until then."
"But why would a South American monster be here-"
"I don't know the reason, but… I presume that the egg must have been here. This monster's egg is said to be small. That must be why the first search squad did not find it. It is probably also the reason they determined that there were no monsters."
Baaaaang! Bang! Baaaaang!
Kim Rok Soo closed his mouth after hearing loud explosions.
He then looked forward.
He could just barely see enough thanks to the light coming in from the broken window.
'He's doing well.'
Kim Rok Soo's eyes clouded over while looking at Choi Jung Soo.
"Ugh!"
Choi Jung Soo must have been struggling against the monster as he was groaning, but he was still dealing with the spider's attacks quite well.
'Mr. Rok Soo. Please look for an opening and give me a sign. Then I will attack at full force. Please take everybody and run at that point.'
The corners of Kim Rok Soo's lips slowly curled up.
"I'm certain now."
"Excuse me?"
Choi Soo-In blankly asked back, but Kim Rok Soo did not hear and just mumbled to himself.
"That spider is a beginner."
It didn't know anything about how to fight, which attacks to launch, nor even what powers it had.
'It's like Park Kyung Ho.'
The current roaming around Park Kyung Ho's short spear…
Kim Rok Soo's calculations were now complete.
"Now!"
Choi Jung Soo heard Kim Rok Soo's shout. He immediately changed the direction of his sword.
Shaaaaaaa-
A white aura started to gather around his body.
It wasn't complete yet, but this power was something that held his, and his family's, everything.
It wasn't even an imugi yet, but the aura that would one day become a white yong slowly appeared.
Choi Jung Soo picked up the sword with the white aura infused in it. He then took a step.
'Attack it.'
Attack that monster.
Hold it back.
'Make time for them to run!'
That was the goal of this battle.
'Huh?'
Choi Jung Soo's eyes opened wide at that moment.
He could see someone charging toward the monster.
Kim Rok Soo.
He was running toward the monster while holding the iron board in his hands. He then smashed it into the monster's face with everything he had.
Choi Jung Soo saw Kim Rok Soo's eyes at that moment. Kim Rok Soo shouted.
"Both of you, attack!"
The direction of the sword changed.
Choi Jung Soo shouted toward Park Kyung Ho.
"Throw your spear!"
Once Park Kyung Ho saw the charging Kim Rok Soo and the white aura-infused sword wielding Choi Jung Soo… The moment the two of their voices and gazes stabbed into his mind… He realized what he had to do.
Crack, crackle-!
As much current as he could gather was forced into the small spear.
The moment Kim Rok Soo smashed the spider's face with the iron board…
Choi Jung Soo parried the spider's legs that were trying to attack Kim Rok Soo and let them flow by as if they were streams of water.
Screeeeeeeeeech-!
It made the monster's two front legs and its body slightly lift up.
Choi Jung Soo's sword started to move again.
The white aura followed the sword and created a long diagonal line.
From the bottom to the top…
The path of the sword that rose up slashed the spider's body.
Slash.
Unlike the sturdy legs that even the currents couldn't damage, the body was weak.
A gap appeared on that body.
"Park Kyung Ho!"
Park Kyung Ho was already running with the short spear in his hand when Kim Rok Soo shouted.
"Ahhhhh!"
He screamed before throwing the short spear.
Crackle, crack!
The current-infused short spear flew toward the spider.
SCREEEEEEEEECH—!
The spider screeched and did whatever it could to move its legs.
Tang!
"N, nooooo!"
The short spear was struck by the spider's leg and changed directions.
Choi Soo-In shouted, almost in a scream. However, her eyes soon opened wide.
Tang-!
Choi Jung Soo's sword was not finished yet.
The sword slightly touched the short spear that was about to change trajectory. The white aura gently wrapped around the short spear and changed its direction.
It was directed back to its original target.
The white aura and the current-infused short spear reached their original target.
Puuk!
The short spear was stabbed into the spot that Choi Jung Soo's sword had slashed.
Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaackle—!
"Roooooooooooooooar—!"
The current pulsed through the monster spider's body and the monster screamed.
"W, we got it."
'We took down the monster…!'
That subconscious thought made Park Kyung Ho turn his head to look for Kim Rok Soo.
"We need to quickly run away."
Kim Rok Soo was helping Choi Soo-In up and trying to run.
"Why do we need to run when we took down the monster-"
"How can you be sure that there was only one egg?"
Park Kyung Ho flinched at Kim Rok Soo's retort. He got chills on his back. If there was another, no, if there were a lot more monsters?
His mind was becoming chaotic.
"Mm!"
Choi Jung Soo groaned and pulled out his sword at that moment. Park Kyung Ho was shocked and turned his body in the same direction.
Shhhhhhh-
The spiders were scattering after losing their master, revealing the hallway.
Two people appeared through the opening.
Park Kyung Ho subconsciously started talking in shock.
"T, team leader Lee Soo Hyuk-nim-"
"Aigoo, I guess my team member sees Team leader Lee before he sees his own team leader?"
Park Kyung Ho flinched after noticing Team 2 leader while Team 2 leader checked on the condition of her team members before nodding her head.
"You somehow managed to survive."
She pointed to the door down the hallway behind her back.
"We will take care of the rest, so go back to the auditorium."
Choi Soo-In and Park Kyung Ho slowly and awkwardly started walking in the direction Team 2 leader pointed toward. Their footsteps slowly quickened before they stopped and turned around. The two of their gazes stopped on Kim Rok Soo and Choi Jung Soo.
Kim Rok Soo and Choi Jung Soo started heading toward the door after receiving their gazes.
"He,y Jung Soo."
The two of them turned their heads.
"Rok Soo."
Lee Soo Hyuk put on his unique relaxed smile while looking at the two of them.
"You both grew up so well."
Choi Jung Soo put on a mischievous smirk while Kim Rok Soo scoffed and made a comment.
"We would have caught it faster if you helped us out in the end."
His comment made Team 2 leader flinch while Lee Soo Hyuk walked up to the two of them.
"Once you get there, wait for me."
Pat. Pat.
He patted the two of them on the shoulder before walking past them.
"I'll buy you some food."
He said that single sentence before walking toward the east side of the building where the monster spider had appeared.
He was holding his sword that could slash through anything at any time in one hand.
"Then me too."
Team 2 leader smiled awkwardly and was about to follow behind Lee Soo Hyuk when she stopped and addressed the two of them.
"Sorry. I told him that we should watch for a little longer. But we would have intervened if any of you were in danger. Plus, Team leader Lee is someone who would let himself get hurt before he lets any of his team members get hurt."
"I know that, ma'am."
"Huh?"
"I know he is like that, ma'am."
Kim Rok Soo responded and Choi Jung Soo commented as well.
"I know that very well too!"
Team 2 leader looked at the two of them as if they were odd before following behind Lee Soo Hyuk.
Kim Rok Soo was being supported by Choi Jung Soo as they walked toward where the new employees of Team 2 were waiting for them.
Choi Jung Soo nonchalantly asked a question.
"You know Team leader Lee-nim, Mr. Rok Soo?"
"What about you, Mr. Jung Soo?"
"I guess both of us know him."
Choi Jung Soo supported Kim Rok Soo, who was walking forward despite his shaky legs, and made another comment.
"By the way, Mr. Rok Soo. Don't you think we can speak informally to each other now?"
"Sure."
"Oh! Then I'm going to speak informally now! Hahahaha!"
Choi Soo-In was watching the two of them before poking Park Kyung Ho in the side to ask him a question.
"I heard that only warriors gather in Team 1. Doesn't that seem true?"
"…."
"Not the Elite, but warriors."
"…Haaa."
Park Kyung Ho bowed toward the approaching Choi Jung Soo and Kim Rok Soo instead of responding.
"Thank you very much."
"Yes, thank you very much. We really only survived thanks to the two of you."
It was a sign of gratitude.
"Well, it was nothing."
Choi Jung Soo flailed his hand as if it was nothing while Kim Rok Soo stared at Park Kyung Ho for a moment before walking past him as he made a comment.
"It's fine as long as you survived, Mr. Kyung Ho."
Kim Rok Soo could see that Choi Jung Soo was staring at him. He was about to scowl, wondering why Choi Jung Soo was doing this, when Choi Jung Soo looked away and quietly made a comment.
"That's right. It's fine as long as they survived."
Kim Rok Soo stopped scowling and he silently walked next to Choi Jung Soo while being supported.
"I'm hungry."
Choi Jung Soo commented and Kim Rok Soo responded.
"Tell the team leader to buy you something expensive."
"Should I?"
"Do whatever you want."
"Okay, I will!"
The two of their footsteps were neither heavy nor light as they headed toward the auditorium.
It was simply the same as usual.
Surviving in this destroyed world and surviving these monsters was something they had already been doing for a long time.
Slash.
Although it was hard to tell whether this had happened naturally or if someone had put them here purposefully, this area was full of numerous insect-type monster eggs. Lee Soo Hyuk was slashing through the things in here.
Team 2 leader, who was burning up everything while standing next to him, commented in her usual tone.
"Team leader Lee-nim, the newbies in Team 1 seem to be quite talented. I think that they will survive a long time."
'Survive a long time.'
These words were the greatest words of blessing and praise of talent in this company.
"I'm not sure."
Lee Soo Hyuk had a bitter smile on his face.
Kim Rok Soo and Choi Jung Soo…
Team 2 leader was probably praising them after seeing their calmness and boldness.
However, Lee Soo Hyuk's viewpoint was different.
Although they were calm during the battle, the fact that they were punks who charged in to save people immediately after seeing the situation had not changed.
"…They need to survive a long time."
He would make it that way.
Lee Soo Hyuk firmed his resolve.
He hoped that it would be that way.
He truly hoped for it.