Ch.52. Snow Woman Yuri Tarkovskaya (2)

I entered the personality interview with other job applicants.

I was the only Operator applicant. Everyone else had given up during lunch hour.

‘They probably didn’t have the confidence to compete with me for the Operator position.’

The interviewees who were in my group naturally dropped out. And it seemed like people in the next group had already heard that I’d scored perfectly on the practical interview.

As Deputy Manager Park Hyungwoo said, it made sense they’d quit rather than waste time competing for something hopeless.

So while this was essentially a tension-free interview since my acceptance was practically guaranteed, just being in the same space as Yuri was difficult for me.

With Yuri’s words, the interview began.

As expected of a personality interview, it started with a simple one-minute self-introduction, followed by questions from the interviewers about my motivation for applying to Flame.

“Now, let’s move on to applicant Lee Minsu.”

Yuri’s eyes met mine. Her expression was blank. During the time she’d been questioning other applicants, it seemed she had regained her composure.

She asked me, “Would you tell us your motivation for applying, Applicant Lee Minsu?”

I was a bit surprised. Yuri’s Korean was now perfect.

Of course, Yuri had been a near-genius student with excellent grades in both magic and theory.

But Yuri had strong pride in her native Slavian language from her home kingdom of Slavia. While her other Korean language skills were fine, she had never bothered to learn proper speaking.

‘That’s why her Korean was really awkward.’

During our student days, I often provoked her just to hear that awkward way of speaking.

But this wasn’t the time to get lost in memories. I stopped my wandering thoughts and answered Yuri’s question.

“I applied to Flame because of the guild’s potential and its direction.”

“Potential, you say. Could you elaborate on what you see as our guild’s potential and the basis for your assessment?”

“The AA-rank dungeon, Uiryeong Mantiter. Flame Guild successfully conquered that dungeon. AA-rank dungeons are typically so difficult that multiple guilds form alliances to attempt them. But Flame succeeded alone, which proves the guild’s excellence.”

The interviewers around Yuri nodded at my words and whispered among themselves.

“Uiryeong Mantiter. Of course that would come up. It is our most famous dungeon conquest after all.”

“Our guild’s rank rose by dozens of levels after that conquest.”

Uiryeong Mantiter. Dungeon names combine the location where they were discovered with the name of the dungeon boss monster.

In other words, it was the lair of a Mantiter discovered in Uiryeong, Korea.

That AA-rank monster, the Mantiter, had killed over 30 hunters. And civilian casualties were far higher.

That’s why the dungeon’s nickname was “Civilian Hell.”

Of course, AA-rank dungeons weren’t exclusive to that location, but Uiryeong Mantiter held great symbolic significance.

In part 3 of the novel “Academy’s All-Around Hunter,” or “Akahunter” for short, it was the first dungeon conquered by the protagonist’s guild.

‘According to the original story, the protagonist was supposed to conquer that dungeon and become the youngest S-rank hunter, but…’

Now that the protagonist was dead, Yuri was the one who claimed the title of youngest S-rank. She continued speaking.

“However, we’re not the only guild that has conquered an AA-rank dungeon. It’s relatively common for corporate guilds, and even guilds of similar size to ours have conquest cases. You mentioned our guild’s direction as part of your motivation as well. Would you care to elaborate?”

“Yes, I will. At that time, Uiryeong Mantiter was…”

That dungeon was what they called a “bad dungeon.” Uiryeong was a small city with no major corporations nearby and a small population.

Meanwhile, Uiryeong Mantiter had an extremely high difficulty level. Forcing a conquest wouldn’t have been cost-effective for most guilds.

‘Rather than conquering that place, running through other easier dungeons multiple times would be more profitable.’

But Flame conquered it anyway. Despite numerous civilian casualties, they acted when other officially certified guilds wouldn’t move. And they did it alone.

That’s how Yuri was doing what I should have been doing, in my place.

“Putting what hunters can do before profit—that’s what I believe is Flame’s core value.”

And that saying was also the protagonist’s catchphrase from the original story.

“…I see. Of course, as a business, our guild doesn’t provide services for free. The Uiryeong Mantiter conquest was also undertaken with sufficient expected returns. I’ve heard your thoughts, Applicant Lee Minsu. Next applicant.”

The interview questions moved on to another person. This time it was Arin, who had entered with me. A different interviewer questioned her.

“Applicant Seong Arin. Your academy grades are very impressive. Moreover, as a nun of the White Cross Society, you could have joined a guild with a higher rating than Flame. Yet you chose Flame. May I ask why?”

“Hmm, you want to know my reason?”

Arin smiled brightly. Then her gaze turned toward Yuri.

“I greatly admire the Guild Master. She’s beautiful, isn’t she? I also worked with her in the student council at Ains. So I applied because I wanted to work with Senior—I mean, Guild Master Yuri.”

At Arin’s casual tone, the other interviewers, including Maria, looked dumbfounded.

But since Arin was a precious White Cross Society healer, unless she stood up right now and slapped Yuri’s cheek, there was no way she would be rejected.

‘And she speaks so fluently.’

As Arin answered a few questions from the interviewers, the atmosphere in the interview room quickly became warm and friendly.

Unlike me, she had been what you’d call popular since our days at Ains. She had a natural talent for winning people’s favor.

After a few more questions from the interviewers, the interview finally ended.

***

The interviewees gathered back in the waiting room. Shortly after, Deputy Manager Park Hyungwoo entered and announced the successful candidates.

“The final successful candidates are the three people I’m about to name. Lee Minsu. Seong Arin. Jang Donghyuk. That’s all. I sincerely thank everyone for participating in Flame’s interview process.”

The rejected candidates sighed with disappointment. But they didn’t seem too upset, probably because they’d been given generous interview fees.

“Yuri Tarkovskaya is even prettier in person. Since I knew I’d be rejected anyway, I should have asked for a photo. Damn.”

“I know, I should have done that too. But she probably would have refused. I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman in real life, but I’ve also never seen someone with such a cold expression…”

The rejected candidates, who seemed to have become friendly with each other, chatted as they left the waiting room.

“For the three successful candidates, we will contact you separately. I’ll send you messages regarding your start date and required documents…”

At that moment, Deputy Manager Park’s phone rang. While he was taking the call, Arin approached me.

“Senior Minsu! Since we’re out and about, shall we stop by a café? Ah, Uncle Donghyuk can join us too!”

Arin said with an innocent smile, but Uncle Donghyuk waved his hand.

“I’m fine. I’m not that oblivious. I’ll go ahead. You two enjoy celebrating your acceptance together.”

Then he lightly patted my shoulder, as if he understood everything. Just as Arin’s expression brightened at his offer to leave us alone, Deputy Manager Park finished his call and spoke to me.

“Um, Minsu. The Guild Master would like to see you separately.”

At those words, Arin’s expression momentarily turned cold. But she quickly smiled and said,

“Really? I guess the Guild Master wants to say something special to the successful candidates. Should we go together?”

“No. Seong Arin and Jang Donghyuk may leave now. I’ll contact you as mentioned. Now, Minsu, would you follow me?”

“Understood.”

I answered promptly. Just before leaving the waiting room, I left a message for Arin.

“I don’t know how long this will take, so don’t wait for me. Go ahead.”

“Okay… Senior.”

Arin’s response was dejected, but there was nothing I could do. I had no time to spare.

‘Yuri wants to…’

The moment I got accepted to Flame, I knew—or rather, I was prepared for—the inevitability of facing her one-on-one.

‘It’s okay. Nothing happened even when I talked with Yuri during the interview just now.’

This must be evidence that the PTSD that had been tormenting me since regaining consciousness was now recovering. I soon found myself standing in front of Yuri’s office.

“You can go in.”

With those words, Deputy Manager Park left. I knocked, and Yuri’s voice came from inside the office.

“Come in.”

I opened the door.

***

Yuri and I rode the elevator together.

Not the public elevator I had taken when I first came to the Flame Guild headquarters, but a private elevator directly connected to the Guild Master’s office.

We were heading to the rooftop together. When I entered her office, Yuri had remained silent for quite some time.

After a long while, she finally suggested we go smoke. And now, even though we were alone in the elevator, we remained silent.

Yuri’s scent filled the elevator. A unique fragrance that was pleasant yet somehow made your whole body feel cold. It was a perfume made from special flowers that grew only in the Slavian Kingdom. I remembered that scent.

‘Her perfume. It’s the same.’

And suddenly I recalled what Yuri had said. Smoking. When hunters talked about smoking, they weren’t referring to cigarettes.

They meant a special magical herb that could either amplify or calm the sensitivity of mana, the special power that awakened individuals possessed. That’s what they called smoking.

It was harmless compared to cigarettes and actually beneficial for awakened individuals, but it was prohibited for minors.

But the more you’re told not to do something, the more tempting it becomes at that age. For academy students, smoking was a symbol of caste. It was essential for the so-called cool crowd showing off.

‘But Yuri didn’t smoke back then.’

Yuri disliked the distinctive smell of the herb. And she didn’t need to put on airs anyway. Of course, I smoked back then. I was trying to be cool.

After passing through the silence, the elevator finally arrived at the building’s rooftop.

Though it was the rooftop of what could be called a skyscraper, it was beautifully landscaped.

‘The rooftop, huh.’

Although it wasn’t this rooftop, memories of time spent with Yuri on the rooftop of Ains Academy’s building suddenly came to mind.

“Shall we sit over there?”

Yuri spoke briefly and took the lead. We sat side by side on a marble bench.

It was January, the middle of winter. Seoul’s winters are very cold, but Yuri was dressed lightly. She wasn’t affected by the cold.

‘It would be stranger if a snow woman felt cold.’

And I too, although I couldn’t use mana, I was a fire mage. And the item that was replacing my damaged mana heart was also fire-attributed, so I wasn’t particularly cold.

Yuri adjusted her position as if she was uncomfortable. She wore a white formal jacket on top, with a black mini skirt and slightly sheer black stockings below.

Yuri had always had a mature aura even as a student, so her current office look suited her well. She exuded the vibe of a successful young CEO.

She held a smoking herb in one hand. Then she looked at me intently.

“Would you like to smoke with me?”

But I shook my head.

“I don’t smoke anymore. I don’t need it now.”

For a moment, Yuri flinched. The smoking herb was a recreational item for those who constantly used mana. For me, who shouldn’t use mana, it had no meaning.

Yuri seemed to belatedly realize this fact and said in a subdued voice,

“That’s right… I’m sorry. I wasn’t being thoughtful…”

Just as I was about to say it was okay, I noticed Yuri’s hand holding the herb was trembling slightly.

Then she hurriedly grasped the necklace she was wearing.

She put the herb in her mouth and touched the necklace to its end. It lit up as if she had used a lighter.

It was a familiar necklace.

“Is that… could that be that necklace?”

“Yes…”

When I looked at the necklace, Yuri quickly tucked it inside her top as if hiding it. It was a mana stone necklace that I, as a fire mage, had used to boost my firepower.

Of course, I stopped using it after I grew significantly by monopolizing the awakening energy. And on White Day in our third year, when Yuri scolded me for only giving her candy, I impulsively gave it to her as a gift.

Naturally, Yuri, being an ice mage, didn’t wear that necklace with fire-attributed mana condensed in it. She also disliked smoking herbs because they needed to be lit, which she hated seeing.

Yet now, she was wearing that necklace.

The two of us fell silent again. I broke the silence first.

“By the way, why is the guild named ‘Phoenix’s Flame Ring’? Everyone who came for the interview thought it was strange. That’s probably why all the guild staff just call it ‘Flame.'”

I spoke nonchalantly, trying to ease the awkwardness, but Yuri’s voice remained subdued. She answered,

“…So I wouldn’t forget.”

Her answer carried so many emotions that I too had to close my mouth. Then Yuri said something that sounded like “you” in a barely audible voice, but I pretended not to hear.

After sitting awkwardly for a while, we finally stood up.

“It’s cold, shall we go back down?”

Yuri nodded. In the descending elevator, we both remained silent. And then we arrived at her office.

Just as I was about to say goodbye and turn around, Yuri bowed her head to me and exclaimed,

“I… I need to apologize to you…”

I quickly stopped her apology.

“There’s no need. I read all your messages. That’s enough. We’re going to be working together now, right?”

“But still…”

“It’s really okay. That’s why I applied to Flame. You shouldn’t worry about that incident anymore either.”

With those final words, I hurriedly left Yuri’s office.

***

“Haa… haa…”

I didn’t have the composure to respond to the Flame Guild staff who looked at me strangely. I left the Flame Guild and quickly got into the public elevator.

Unable to even press the down button, I leaned against the elevator wall and exhaled roughly. I thought I would be fine by now, but I clearly wasn’t fully healed yet. My breath was short, and my heart was pounding violently. Feeling like I might collapse, I gripped the elevator handrail tightly to steady myself.

“Whew…”

I hurriedly took out a pill bottle from my pocket. Medication prescribed by Professor Seong Chaerin. I quickly swallowed the pills.

I escaped from Flame’s building almost like I was running away. The cold air outside seemed to help calm my returning panic attack a little.

‘Still… too much for me.’

It was fine when I was with others like during the interview, but being alone with Yuri brought too many emotions and too many memories all at once.

I had an intuition that this would continue to happen until those emotions and memories diluted. But this level of reaction was actually fortunate.

‘Still… it won’t be a problem for working at Flame Guild.’

I somehow made it back to my rented room in a daze. I loosely undid my uncomfortable formal suit and collapsed onto the bed.

After calming down a bit, I checked my smartphone. There were new messages from Deputy Manager Park, as well as from Yuri and Arin.

Just as I was about to check those messages, I sensed something was off. In this room where I had never shared the password with anyone, there were signs that someone had secretly entered.