RCMT-Chapter 6

Ch.6 The Regression Of Calamity-Level Monster Tamer

Gate Management Agency.

An organization established 3 years ago when Gates came into being.

The problem was that no one wanted to work there.

Why?

‘Why else? The work is damn hard and dangerous, but the pay is just regular civil servant wages.’

Moreover, during this period, the frequency of unpredicted Gate occurrences was steadily increasing.

The resulting personnel shortage.

‘The current staff are definitely being ground down. There must be quite a few resignations from people who can’t hold on anymore.’

They’d be in a situation where they’d want to borrow even a cat’s paw.

That’s why I thought Seo Gyeoul would naturally accept my proposal.

But she didn’t.

Because there was something that exceeded my predictions, a regressor.

“I don’t know why you’re making such a proposal, but we have no information about Mr. Kang Si-woo.”

“…Pardon?”

“Even if Mr. Kang Si-woo is an Irregular, at this point you’ve only cleared one low-level Gate. Moreover, to sign a contract with our Gate Management Agency, the minimum condition requires you to be at least Level 20—”

“No, no, Ms. Seo Gyeoul…”

It was Seo Gyeoul’s perversely meticulous nature.

‘Is hiring one part-timer really something to be this stubborn about?’

I pressed my hand to my forehead, then reassessed the situation.

“First of all… I don’t want to contract with the Gate Management Agency.”

“Then what did you mean by what you just said?”

“Literally a part-time job… I’ll just say it straight. I want to make a deal with Ms. Seo Gyeoul.”

“What? With me? Then it’s even more impossible. As a public servant, I cannot make personal deals—”

“Wait, wait… Will you hear me out to the end?”

I was going to do it with you, but now I’m losing confidence whether I can.

‘I can do it. I can do it. I can do it. To obtain [that thing], I must succeed.’

If I talked with Seo Gyeoul just a bit more, I felt like I’d burst with frustration, but I calmly suppressed the anger in my heart and continued speaking.

“The number of unpredicted Gate occurrences has been surging lately. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“On the other hand, the Gate Management Agency’s personnel is inversely proportional. It’s getting harder to carry out missions, isn’t it?”

“……”

To my question, Seo Gyeoul answered with silence.

It was an affirmative silence.

“I’ll help you. As you know, I’m a promising Player. Given just a little time, I’d have no trouble clearing mid-level Gates.”

“But I cannot give you compensation.”

“If that compensation is material compensation, then yes.”

“…?”

Seo Gyeoul was from a more distinguished family than expected.

Her father was a high-ranking civil servant, and her mother was serving as a research institute director.

The sense of duty to not lose honor and her extremely principled nature resembled her father, while her outstanding talent as a Player was inherited from her mother.

And among those, I had business with her mother.

“In exchange, please introduce me to Ms. Seo Gyeoul’s mother.”

“…??”

Baek Mi-ran.

Currently, she was the director of the ‘Incomprehensible Magic Beast Research Institute,’ called the Republic of Korea’s think tank and the world’s best and largest.

***

Inside Seo Gyeoul’s personal vehicle.

As she said, we were on the way to the Player Management Department for the special test.

“……”

“……”

The car interior was filled with awkward silence.

Because there had been some confusion in the communication process.

To be clear, I have normal tastes.

I’m far from having the same taste as ‘Mr. Cao’ from Romance of the Three Kingdoms!

Anyway, I had to break out in a cold sweat to correct the misunderstanding.

But I couldn’t help the aftermath.

“…You have a habit of speaking without context.”

“I apologize. That wasn’t my intention at all.”

“I sincerely hope so.”

It must be my imagination that the wariness in Seo Gyeoul’s eyes doesn’t disappear despite my apology.

Yeah, of course.

“……”

While gripping the steering wheel and starting the engine, Seo Gyeoul muttered to herself for a moment, then gave an answer to the question.

She seemed to be checking her schedule in her head.

“Anyway, what you mentioned is possible. However, I can’t guarantee whether my mother will meet with Mr. Kang Si-woo. She’s an extremely busy person.”

“I made the request knowing that.”

I was prepared for that much.

I couldn’t not know that she was a very busy person.

But I was confident.

I was confident I could make Director Baek want to meet me.

Perhaps feeling unnecessarily sorry seeing me answer as if readily backing down, Seo Gyeoul added.

“However, I’ll leave word with my mother that I’m indebted to Mr. Kang Si-woo. Whether she gives permission or not will still be my mother’s choice though. She’s someone who’s unpredictable…”

“I’m grateful even for that much.”

That much was Seo Gyeoul conceding a lot.

First, she didn’t ask why I wanted to meet Baek Mi-ran. Probably out of consideration for me.

And the biggest reason is this.

She finds her mother difficult.

Perhaps that’s why?

Seo Gyeoul attached conditions.

“However, if two conditions aren’t met, I won’t make this deal.”

“Please tell me.”

“First, receive a final grade of A+ on the Player test.”

‘That’s quite a demanding condition.’

A+ Rank is right below S Rank.

And until now, only the Three Venerables have received S Rank.

That’s why ordinary people treat S Rank as the realm of impossibility.

So asking me to bring back an A+ Rank means bringing back the highest grade among realistically achievable grades.

“I know it’s difficult. However, if the deal goes through, you’ll be deployed immediately to the very frontlines. If you don’t have that level of talent, I’ll merely be someone who incited murder.”

“You’re right. I acknowledge it.”

“…You’re confident.”

It’s sound logic.

And though demanding, that’s only for other people.

Because.

‘My past grade was A+.’

So unless I’d gotten weaker, this was as good as already fulfilled.

‘Plus with Geri and Freki, it’s as good as a done deal. Then I just need to fulfill the next condition.’

There couldn’t be anything more demanding than the first condition.

Right, I thought so. But.

“Second, establish a Guild even if you’re alone.”

“…Pardon?”

I was a bit surprised by this condition.

What Guild all of a sudden?

“Didn’t I tell you? Only selected Players can conquer the corresponding Gate.”

“No, if I use loopholes, it’s sufficiently—”

Honestly, there are many methods.

Most conveniently, putting my name on the Gate Management Agency as an intern—I could think of at least five loopholes right off the bat.

But Seo Gyeoul cut off my words while expressing her opinion as if not considering such things at all.

“No, we’ll use legitimate and proper methods. We will only select Gates of difficulty matching Mr. Kang Si-woo’s Guild Rank, and we will pay compensation for Gate clearing normally.”

“……”

“The deal between us is merely a private matter. That said, I won’t treat the promise lightly, so you don’t need to worry.”

‘I’m speechless.’

Right, I’m not worried at all.

There’s no way such a stuffy principled stickler would lie.

I barely operated my mouth that wouldn’t move from disbelief and accepted the proposal.

“…I’ll accept the conditions.”

“Good. The detailed contract terms beyond that will be written up and delivered from our office once Mr. Kang Si-woo fulfills the conditions.”

“Yes, understood.”

My stomach felt queasy.

I turned my head and looked out the passenger window.

To be honest, I was fed up…

***

Near the Tower, Special District.

Player Management Department Building 3.

This place opens twice a year.

Because regular Player tests occur twice a year, in the first and second half.

But today.

It became bustling with unexpected news.

“There’s a special test today?”

“Did an Irregular appear?”

“You know that unpredicted Gate Break that happened in Gangdong-gu earlier? There’s a rumor someone cleared it.”

“What’s that person’s Class?”

“Seeing they were holding two daggers, seems like a Thief… but who knows. Could be a hybrid like a battle mage.”

The low-level civil servants of the management department didn’t stop chattering about the protagonist while busily preparing the Player test.

Because it was a very rare occurrence and an event where small bonuses fell to them.

“But you know… there’s insider information that the Gate was mid-evolution.”

“What?! Then that means at minimum an Indigo Gate! So it’s not just any Irregular?”

They had to diligently exchange information like this.

That way they could deliver accurate information to the ‘contacts,’ and wouldn’t they come looking for them again?

The contacts being ‘Guild scouts.’

“Hey, Clerk Oh. Aren’t you thirsty? I’ll buy you a coffee. Let’s go.”

“Clerk Park, there’s a place up ahead that makes good thick soybean paste stew, isn’t it about lunch time?”

Scouts decide whether to observe the test with such gathered information or discover Players elsewhere.

And today.

Building 3, Audiovisual Room 1.

Normally only a few scouts would come to this place, but dozens of people were seated.

Scouts from large and medium Guilds who flocked after hearing rumors.

Civil servants who flocked out of curiosity after hearing that the famously meticulous ‘Seo Gyeoul’ was bringing someone.

And even other stakeholders scheduled to collaborate with the government.

It looked like waiting for a famous person’s lecture. Perhaps that’s why.

‘Ugh, so damn many people gathered, how annoying…’

Clerk Kim, a technical civil servant, was currently full of irritation.

He had to conduct an unplanned Player test, so from his position, it was natural in a way.

He had the most core role in the first test.

Because he was in charge of managing and operating the artifact, [Talent Detector].

‘Ugh, these idiots… Do you even know how much Magic Stone it costs to operate the Talent Detector once?! There’s a reason regular tests only happen twice a year, tsk tsk… these ignorant bastards.’

He grumbled inwardly while installing Bluestone Corporation’s Talent Detector.

Anyway, as a civil servant, he had to do what he was told, so he had to prepare the test without a hitch.

‘Confirmed Magic Power core stability… checked unique talent input/output… now I just need the Player to arrive.’

As Clerk Kim finished preparing like that, murmuring sounds were heard from the entrance of the audiovisual room as if on cue.

Soon the door opened, and everyone’s gaze fixed on one young man.

“This is Mr. Kang Si-woo, today’s special Player test subject.”

A cold-looking beauty introduced him to the stakeholders.

She was Officer Seo Gyeoul, so famous among public servants that you’d be a spy if you didn’t know her.

She guided Kang Si-woo to the stage along the path.

Clerk Kim, who had finished all preparations, observed him closely.

‘Different from what I expected?’

He heard he was a special Irregular.

So he thought he’d have a massive build or a particularly developed body part.

But aside from having slightly slender and refined features, he was close to Passerby 1 you’d see walking down the street.

Seeing that appearance, Clerk Kim felt strangely anxious.

‘…We’re not making a wasted trip, are we?’

Actually, there was a situation he detested to the point of loathing.

When they ran the expensive Talent Detector but the subject’s talent was terrible.

‘No way… he’s supposedly an Irregular, could it really turn out that bad?’

“Beginning the first test.”

When Clerk Kim muttered inwardly, Seo Gyeoul announced the test’s start.

Then Kang Si-woo spread his hand over the artifact.

Giiiiing―――

The machine operated while emitting light.

“……”

“……”

Silence came to the audiovisual room.

Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the electronic board.

On the screen, a die with letters A through F written on it was rolling around.

Ttegureu― ttiring!

The die stopped with a cheerful alarm sound.

[ C ]

“Hmm…”

“Ah, that’s ambiguous…”

“Might not even need to contract…”

Sighs poured out from here and there.

Because it meant the Talent’s Rank, the unique ability gained upon Awakening, was C Rank.

“Damn it…”

Clerk Kim also spat out a small curse.

The scouts could just not contract, but for him, his most detested situation had occurred.

C Rank wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t good either.

What mattered was that they caused all this commotion and prepared the test for this one brat.

As Clerk Kim spat out all kinds of curses inwardly.

Ttegureureu―

The die on the electronic board began rolling once more.

“Uh…?”

“What, it’s rolling again?!”

“…A Double Talent awakener!”

“What?!”

The crowd became noisy.

Even if C Rank, it’s different if they’re a Double Talent awakener.

At minimum another C Rank, no, even D Rank would be jackpot.

‘What? Double Talent? Does that make sense?’

Clerk Kim had only heard about it while managing this place since joining, but had never seen such a case.

Double Talent was that rare a case.

And it also possessed excellent utility.

Skills that could be used freely regardless of Magic Power Stat.

That was ‘Talent.’

“……”

“……”

The hall was dyed in silence once more.

Gulp.

It was quiet enough to hear someone swallowing.

Ttegureureu― ttiring!

A frivolous alarm sound came from the electronic board and echoed throughout the hall.

[ __ ]

Strangely, the die showed a blank with nothing written on it.

“…!!”

“…Hup!”

People let out silent cries.

There are a total of six die faces.

The alphabet also goes from A to F, a total of six.

But showing a face made of blank space meant.

“…S Rank.”

Because it meant having talent surpassing A Rank.

Clerk Kim opened his mouth and stared at Kang Si-woo for a long while.