episode_0010

With a way to fight now available, I prepared to head back to Dal Sung Park to either give the gangsters a lesson or explore the labyrinth.

As I put on the pants I had thrown aside and a jacket, I heard the doorbell ring again.

“… Seems like we have a lot of visitors today.”

I stood in front of the door, puzzled by the fact that the doorbell, which usually rang once a month, had rung twice today.

“Who is it?”

“Jinsoo! It’s me!”

Although the voice sounded familiar, the phrase “It’s me!” raised my guard.

Moreover.

“A woman coming to our house?”

It was an unthinkable scenario.

During my university days, rumors spread that I edited adult videos, leading to me being treated as a criminal by women.

As an adult, I stayed holed up in my house editing videos, so I didn’t know any women.

And now a woman was coming to our house?

Furrowing my brow, I approached the door and peered through the peephole.

Closing my left eye and focusing, I saw the face of a woman.

High-arched eyebrows.

A high nose.

Graceful lips in a pinkish hue.

The name of the woman, who made the word “beauty” come to mind involuntarily, was Ji Soo.

“Jisoo? Ji Soo, is that you?”

“Yes. Would you mind opening the door?”

Why is Bae Ji Soo here?

Could it be… that she found out?!

While a psychic using their abilities is unavoidable, using them illegally constitutes a crime.

Even copying and playing with her private parts would be a crime.

Should I open the door? Should I not? I hesitated, but she already knew I was inside.

Not opening the door would be even more suspicious.

Quickly checking the room for anything unusual…

“A spirit has been summoned!!”

“Hey! Dismiss the summoning!! Go back quickly!!”

After getting rid of the ten fire spirits in a hurry, I opened the door.

The warm morning sunlight streamed in slowly as the door opened.

“I’ll just be here for a moment~”

As Bae Ji Soo entered, a feminine scent slowly filled the room that had been filled with a dull smell.

A beauty entering a room where only a real estate agent ajumma had entered before!!

But I didn’t get excited.

Honestly, I calmed myself with a crazy mental strength.

“Hmm? The air feels warm?”

“I turned on the heater. So, what brings you here?”

Trying to hide my excitement, I awkwardly asked, and Bae Ji Soo casually took off her heels and sat in my chair as if it were her own.

“It’s been a week since you registered, Jinsoo.”

“Already?”

“Yes, it’s been that long~ Anyway, I came to check on you. Just to make sure you haven’t become a criminal or anything.”

I’ve heard of this before.

When you register with the Psychic Association, they come for surprise inspections.

The duration and the person sent vary depending on your abilities, but the more likely you are to be involved in a crime, the more closely they manage you.

But my known ability is [Separation].

Using a cheap ability like finger separation magic for any crime? Really?

Frowning and tilting my head, Bae Ji Soo chuckled.

“From your face, it doesn’t seem like you’ve dipped your toes into the world of crime yet.”

“I did enjoy a bit of sexual assault though.”

Awkwardly smiling and nodding, Bae Ji Soo took out a lock from her pocket and tossed it to me.

“What’s this?”

“Try unlocking it.”

“But I don’t have a key?”

“You have abilities, right?”

“Oh, right!”

My ability is [Separation].

When I separated the part where the lock was attached, the lock opened in its locked state.

“I didn’t know you could use it like this.”

“Did I tell you for no reason?”

“Shall we try robbing a bank?”

“Do you have the ability to dodge bullets or fireballs?”

“You’re a scaredy-cat, so you wouldn’t steal anyway.”

“They say the first time is difficult, but the second time is easy.”

“… I’m not sure what you’re implying.”

This is serious.

I showed them an illegal usage method that I didn’t even know.

Is this a strategy to push a good person onto the path of crime due to poor performance and then catch them?

As I scratched my cheek and handed over the lock again, Bae Jisoo took out a neatly folded letter from her pocket.

“Jinsu, would you like to work at the Association?”

“The Association?”

“Yes. The higher-ups have a very positive view of your abilities.”

“You said you were in a hurry for money. I searched and found that you didn’t have a separate job. Does the Association pay well? Is the work that dangerous?”

Bae Jisoo, who spoke so quietly that the word “dangerous” was barely audible, chuckled and crossed her legs.

“If you want, you can come under me and work together.”

“Start at 9 am, finish at 5 pm. If you’re on duty, it’s 24 hours from 5 pm to 9 am the next day. Duty allowance and performance bonuses are in addition to the salary.”

“Just a moment.”

I interrupted her, extending my palm.

“It’s too sudden, so I don’t quite understand. Are you saying I become an employee of the Association of Superpowers?”

“If Jinsu wants to?”

“Is that… possible?”

“An order has come down from above. That letter is proof.”

Trembling, I unfolded the letter, and there was the stamp of the Chairman of the Superpower Association.

I don’t know if this is authentic or fake, but she has no reason to lie to me.

An employee of the Superpower Association.

In other words, in simple terms, it’s like the police.

No? It’s one step above the police.

When I registered, I saw Bae Jisoo hitting the back of a police officer or using her abilities to get ahead.

If the police are the people’s stick, then the Association’s employees are the superpowers’ stick.

As it was a job dealing with superpowers, it would be very dangerous.

“How much is the annual salary?”

“We calculate based on performance rather than annual salary, like superpowers obtaining treasures in a labyrinth.”

“If it’s not too rude, may I ask about Jisoo’s recent income?”

“Of course. Anyway, we are civil servants, so our income is transparent. Just a moment?”

She manipulated her phone and nodded as if she had found something.

“You received a little over 3.8 billion last month, after tax.”

“I understand.”

Money is everything!

I visited a nearby Association with Bae Jisoo and filled out a labor contract.

“Hehe! Am I going to have an annual salary of 30 billion now?”

When I was envisioning a happy future without money worries, Bae Jisoo sat across from me.

“Then I’ll explain about the salary.”

“Yes!”

“Since Jinsu is Grade F, you’ll start with a basic monthly salary of 300.”

“… What? How much?”

“300 a month.”

“You said Jisoo received over 3.8 billion?”

“Oh! Jisoo, right. Jinsu just finished military service. You can add ‘Mr.’ to your superior, right?”

So that’s it.

It’s different when going in and out of the bathroom.

“…”

As I sat there absentmindedly, Bae Jisoo chuckled.

“It’s a joke. And my basic salary is low too. About 100 million a month?”

“It’s 30 times mine.”

“You’re in your second year. Plus, I’m Grade B.”

“Who would want to join the Association with Jinsu, who is Grade F?”

“… That’s true.”

“In the end, the basic salary is just the basics. It’s money that comes out just by breathing.”

In other words.

“If you work your ass off, you can earn a lot of money.”

“This sucks.”

“Welcome to the hell called the Association~ Oh. Can I speak informally now? I’m only 2 years older than you, right?”

“You damn devil.”

“What did you say?”

“Bae Jisoo Team Leader is beautiful and kind.”

“Haha. I’ll count on you from now on~ Jinsu?”

It was a damn Association.

The next day.

I woke up as usual, sat in my chair, checked my email, and was about to start working when my phone buzzed.

“Who is it…”

In a daze, I unlocked my phone and my head tilted in surprise.

“7 missed calls and 18 messages?”

Who the hell is looking for me like this?

Oh, right.

“I got a job.”

“Jinsu, are you late on your first day?”

“Jinsu? You’re not still sleeping, are you?”

[Wake up and call me immediately.]

[Hey, you bastard!! Answer the phone!!]

Hmm. This is screwed.

Scratching my head, I called Manager Bae.

Ring, ring.

The call connected before the dial even rang twice.

“Good morning, Manager.”

[Good morning~ What the hell! What time is it now?!]

“It’s already 10:37.”

[Are you kidding me?! You’re a member of the association now!!]

“I guess it didn’t feel real. Since I’m already late, can I take a day off in advance?”

[Are you kidding me?! Get here right now!!]

The call abruptly ended with a loud shout.

“Ah~ Our manager is full of energy since the morning.”

Sighing, I got dressed and left the house.

Back when I was a freelancer, my income was unstable, but now as a full-time employee, I earn a stable monthly income of 300.

Taking a taxi leisurely, I arrived at the association building and Manager Bae ran towards me as soon as I entered the building.

Am I really that lucky?

Which boss comes down to the first floor to greet a junior employee?

“You! Are! Crazy!”

“Put your act together and speak properly!”

The boss grabbed me by the collar and shook me.

Then, I was dragged, not figuratively, but literally dragged to the 7th-floor office.

Before Manager Bae pushed open the glass door, he quickly raised his hand.

“Manager.”

“What?!”

“Even if I’m late, I don’t think it’s right to show other team members that I’m being dragged like this.”

“I also have dignity as a human being.”

“Does a dignified person come to work late and take a day off in advance?!”

“Ah~”

“Don’t laugh!”

Fortunately, Manager Bae let go of my collar, and I straightened out my severely stretched T-shirt.

“But your outfit. Is that appropriate? Don’t you have any clean clothes or a suit?”

“Do you think I can afford that? Such expensive clothes.”

“Ah. After work today, go buy a suit immediately.”

“We are ultimately an organization that uses power. Even if it’s clothes, we should dress neatly so we’re not called thugs.”

“Thugs also wear suits. And what you’re doing is no different from a thug.”

“What did you say?”

“You’re pretty, Manager.”

As I tidied up my clothes, Manager Bae stood next to me.

“Oh, but Manager. If you don’t have money to buy a suit, can I go around like this?”

“Buy it on credit, you crazy person!”

“You’re too much.”

Sighing, I forcefully opened the door.

Four pairs of eyes were on me.

Just as Manager Bae was about to say something, my mouth opened first.

“Attention!!”

“Is this lunatic again?!”

The chill on the back of my head wasn’t due to the mood.