episode_0040

It’s late at night, and the store’s lights are dimly lit.

At the other person’s request that excessively bright light was burdensome, we turned on a faint mood light.

It was a warm scarlet light that was not at all suitable for an interview, but it made the other person’s mysterious and exotic appearance stand out even more.

Brown skin.

Unlike ‘Tombboy’ Juri, her skin was not tanned, but real.

In addition, the dark eyeliner became a natural part of the body, like a tattoo.

The clothes are even robes.

A neat design with a pretty white robe, metal accessories, gold O-rings, and gold leaf.

There were many different patterns with symbolic meaning, but there were especially many shapes of birds.

Here, long black hair flows down like silk.

The characteristic feature of the hair is that it shines brightly in scarlet light and maintains the perfect horizontal length as if it was trimmed and cut every day.

I had a hard time looking at the person who came to apply for a part-time job.

After hearing the self-introduced name ‘Karen’, I observed the other person carefully and finally spoke my first word as the CEO who was judging the interview.

“Karen.”

“Yes!”

“Did you just come from Egypt?”

“… … .”

Rather than some sort of discrimination, we had to start from here.

It had an overly strong Egyptian scent and had exotic spices from its appearance, so I had to start from there.

It was rude at first meeting, but the other person has been around a lot and just puts up with it as if they are used to it.

However, each and every unpleasant thing is listed clearly.

“I am a native Korean who grew up in Korea, it’s just that my parents settled in a foreign country.

And this is a hero costume. I expressed my characteristics and abilities in a way that the public can easily understand.”

“Ah… Sorry, that was the case.”

After making amends with an apple,

“The fact that you’re wearing a hero costume means you’re a hero now, right?”

“No, I just hit you.”

“Wow… … Why?”

“ Because I don’t want to.”

He was resolute.

I was silently angry.

I ask because the cheeks are swollen like balloons, and the expression has something to do with it.

“That’s right, I didn’t want to use my skills in that industry anymore.

I didn’t want to make a living with my mutant powers, so I hit him.”

“What… Is it an ability?”

“Well, that’s─”

Tremble and tremble.

He gently looks at me and holds on to my robe.

“Bo, do I have to show it to you?”

“I would appreciate it if you could show it to me, right?”

There were three conditions posted on the poorly made part-time job recruitment poster.

1. Must be a mutation

2. Endure physical labor

3. Preferential treatment if you have support skills

In addition, unstable employment and minimum wage were left to each individual’s discretion.

To be honest, it is not enough to omit abilities in this poor recruitment advertisement and welcome any mutant.

In fact, as long as it’s not a villain, you can welcome it with open arms.

“Qu… … … Good.”

However, the other person puts his or her ass out even though he or she is reluctant to do so, as if he or she is genuinely hoping to be hired.

Suddenly, he took out a thin steel rod from the zipper bag he had brought with him and started assembling it.

DIY something with a total of 6 iron rods.

“Hey… … .”

“Please wait!”

Click here!

Karen sets up a strange structure inside the store.

That was the result of hard work, like assembling a tent.

Tetrahedron.

“After.”

He sighed lightly when he saw the poor results he had created, and then immediately gave instructions to me.

“Now, boss, please come inside this triangle.”

“Yes?”

“The only way to properly demonstrate my abilities is through direct experience.”

‘Something seems very unreliable… .’

When I started making a tetrahedron and tried it out, it felt like I was receiving a pseudo-suggestion.

However, Karen’s eyes were so serious that she listened obediently to what she said.

‘I feel like I’m back in my childhood.’

I was sitting inside a tetrahedron with only a skeleton.

It was like a hideout I used to make and play in as a child. If it had been covered with a tent, it might have looked like a fortune teller.

The space was wide due to the use of a long pole, but I didn’t know why it existed and wasn’t particularly curious.

“After… Then let’s get started.”

Seeing how reluctant the other side was, Karen sighed again and put her hands together in a triangle.

I gathered all my strength into my Danjeon in an attitude as if I was going to use some kind of special move.

“Inhale!”

“… … !?”

When I applied force, the light came on.

Brilliant purple light gathers at each corner of the tetrahedron and shines like a firefly.

Since only the mood lights were turned on, the effect was clearly visible.

“This, this!”

There was something powerful about it.

I was mentally exhausted from just finishing the day, but my mind feels clearer as if I had taken a stimulant.

Maybe it’s because of my mood, but my energy is fresh and I’m back in good condition as in the morning.

In a word, it is full of vitality. It just sits in the middle of a tetrahedron.

“What on earth is this?!”

“Pyramid power.”

“Pyramid Power… ?”

“Boss, have you heard that if you place a battery in the center of the pyramid, it will charge automatically?”

Even before explaining whether it was a habit, he sighed,

“That crazy idea is my ability.

If you put a person inside a pyramid shape, you can strengthen it.”

“Ah… … So this skeleton?”

“Yes.

Originally, a true ‘pyramid power’ would have to make the base square, but just a tetrahedron was effective enough. Although it varies from person to person, it is an ability that clears the mind, restores internal injuries, and brings out more than 30% of the normal physical capabilities.”

“Ah… … … … ”

After listening, I wondered what to make of my face.

I’ve seen all kinds of hero abilities, but I think it’s in the top 5 unique cases.

‘This must be incredibly useful… ?’

But if you look at it objectively, it was huge.

In addition to relieving mental fatigue and recovering from internal injuries, this is a comprehensive gift set needed for a healing center.

Support abilities are highly regarded even among heroes, and are valuable abilities that are always lacking.

Karen even met the preferential hiring conditions by demonstrating an ability called ‘pyramid power’.

“Karen, you’re so amazing─”

“Not awesome at all!”

“Ex.”

When I tried to compliment her, Karen responded with a red face.

I cut off my words and shout loudly into the night.

“Pyramid power, isn’t this the ultimate in non-science!”

“Non, non-scientific?”

I was taken aback by the word non-science.

I adjust my posture, sit down, and look around.

“… … Karen, are you not satisfied with your abilities?”

“Of course! Who likes abilities like this!

I feel a sense of shame every time I abuse and explain foolish pseudo-scientific abilities!”

He complains and complains.

I think it’s much better than my team kill ability that puts allies to sleep, but I have a feeling that if I argue, I’ll only sting a beehive, so I stay silent.

“In the first place, the abilities of heroes who dominate modern society make no sense!

Using Taoist arts to create your own alter ego, summoning a massive dragon, or controlling space and time at will is complete nonsense! Please don’t underestimate the laws of physics! Common sense is collapsing!”

There is a series of bewilderment at the sudden enthusiasm.

Still, the point was clear.

“Karen, you seem to like science… ?”

“Yes!”

The face immediately brightens at the word ‘science’.

Karen put her hands together as if praying and recited them excitedly.

“Beautiful chemical formulas in which various atoms are intertwined according to rules, a universe that expands endlessly even if you learn it for a lifetime, and quantum mechanics, a microscopic world that sometimes overturns existing common sense!

Yes, in the past the world was governed beautifully and regularly. The charm of science!”

He spoke passionately.

Then, suddenly, it becomes droopy as if it’s wise man time.

“But then a hero appeared in the world.

A group of unidentified mutants. Even the monster that caused all kinds of strange things… .”

“Hey… Karen, who says that, is also a mutant.”

“Well, that is the question of my life!

Why on earth was I born a mutant? Why a mutation that has no warning and cannot be discovered scientifically… Worse yet, the ability is a pseudo-science called ‘pyramid power’?!”

I am truly in despair.

He flutters his robe and flops down on the sofa as if watching a musical play.

“That’s why I hit the hero… .

No matter how much I feel my mission to save citizens, I can no longer tolerate the pseudoscience called ‘Pyramid Power’… It’s embarrassing to make preparations like this while others are fighting.”

“There is nothing more painful than continuing out of a sense of obligation even though you don’t like it… .”

“… … Thank you for your understanding.”

When I comforted him with sympathy for his illness, his heightened emotions calmed down a bit.

In the meantime, he sneakily escapes from the tetrahedron.

‘It’s a shame. If you use your abilities, your reputation will improve.’

Seeing that he hated his own abilities so much, I thought it would be difficult to force him to use them.

However, even if that were not the case, the arrival of a valuable talent called a mutant was an auspicious event in itself.

“Well, I got the proper copies of the documents.”

“? Isn’t it basic?”

By the way, I didn’t know that if I was interviewing at this small store, I would bring my ID photo and fill out the interview documents myself.

To be honest, mutants themselves are valuable human resources and this position is in dire need, so an oral interview was enough, but Karen prepared meticulously as if she were joining a company.

Perhaps it was because of his meticulous nature, but I felt the will to work at this small corner store.

It felt like there was a bit too much enthusiasm, but a plus was a plus and by no means a factor in deducting points.

“Lastly, I will check, but is it really okay to pay the minimum wage?

Even if I can give you more as a bonus later, I can’t give much right now because of my debt.”

“It’s okay.

Since I left the Hero Association, I need to find another job quickly.”

“With Karen’s skills, you would make several times more money than here… .”

“Ugh… I’m tired of rolling around on the concrete floor.

I like working in a gloomy shop with no sunlight.”

‘hmm… If you learn, it’s not an easy job here either because of the complaints.’

Anyway, if you have come this far, the answer has been decided.

Since the answer is clear and the interview preparation has been completed perfectly, you can quickly come to a conclusion without any further consideration.

“Karen.”

“Yes.”

“Congratulations on passing the .”

Decide to hire right away.

Karen, who had now become an employee at the store, bowed her head politely with an excited voice.

“Thank you, boss!”

***

Karen went to work the next morning.

“Karen, in addition to registering and making payments at the counter, please be in charge of serving guests in the lobby.”

“Does this mean I only need to be in the lobby?”

“Yes, since you don’t know how to work in a store, you are basically dealing with customers.

In fact, we are planning to build a small beverage bar inside the store, but we may have to serve lobby customers in the future.”

“Well, that’s no problem.”

When he answered loudly, “Leave it to me,” he smiled happily.

Although he was a strange science enthusiast, his appearance gave the impression that he would do a good job.

“Anyway, that robe stands out too much.”

“Ah! sorry… I don’t have any formal clothes other than plain clothes.”

However, since it may give guests a strange illusion, we should provide a uniform instead of a robe.

“Anyway, how do I serve customers? When a customer comes in, I will take the first step.

Karen, this is your first day, so please watch closely.”

“Yes, boss!”

Jingling jingling!

“Ah! At this moment, a customer─”

“Huhuhu, hello Jiwoo♥”

flinch!

As soon as I heard the voice, my whole body trembled.

I creaked and turned my head, and there he was, standing there as expected.

He flutters his long hair that drags on the ground and gives off a deadly smile.

“Oh, it’s been a while since I saw you… … … … Senior Son Ha-young.”

Retired hero.

Former S-rank ‘temptress’ Son Ha-young

“Huhuhuhu♥”

“… … .”

“… … ?”

Grumbling…

A trickle of sweat flows down.

An incident we experienced together before came to mind.

As the first customer for employee training, a legendary legend came to visit me.