This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
been thinking about some challenge goals to get the novel some extra exposure for extra chapter or something like that, let me know if you have any good ideas
"Team Leader 5."
"Yes."
"I'm never bored because you make things happen every day far beyond my imagination. Every time I come to work, I can't help but be expectant of what you'll do that day."
"Thank you for your praise."
"You sure are thick-skinned, dammit." The chief sighed deeply.
"But I didn't expect you to surprise me like this on the weekend."
"A boss and subordinate meeting each other even on the weekend. What a close relationship."
"I'm not interested in getting closer to you."
Haha, as expected of the boss, we sure know each other well. I don't want to get close to you either.
I handed him the teddy bear that I bought on the way over.
"It's your daughter's birthday, so I thought it would be rude to just come over empty-handed."
"At least you have some social skills, huh?"
The section chief thanked me and put the teddy bear aside.
"So, what's going on? There's no way you'd normally visit me like this."
"Actually, Team Leader 1 and I went to an amusement park today, and we found this."
"What is this?"
I showed him the monster lure device. It's easier to show than tell over the phone, so I immediately transformed into a magical girl and flew over. I told him the details of what happened at the amusement park.
"...... You think this is the device the Monster Association plans to use for terrorism? Come to think of it, I think I've seen something similar to this before."
"Yes. I found it while playing with Team Leader 1, not by myself but with the two of us. I didn't go there alone."
"Okay, you don't have to emphasize that you weren't alone. I won't make fun of you for not having friends like last time."
The chief furrowed his brow and frowned. A few strands of hair seem to have fallen out.
...You seem stressed, chief.
"Sigh, dammit. It's my daughter's birthday, not mine, and I'm receiving a gift like this...... Dammit."
"It's the fault of those bastards who put this in the amusement park."
"You're right. So, did you only find one, or were there more?"
I only brought back one device. I'd purposely left the other five at the amusement park.
"Six in total. I found the other five, but I left them behind on purpose."
"Why?"
"Because I thought the Monster Association would find it strange if they were to come back to check on the devices and realize they were all gone."
Surely they'll realize that their terrorist plan has been uncovered. And then they'll plant the devices somewhere else—not at the amusement park, but somewhere I don't know. That's a problem. The only reason I know where the devices are is because I've read the manga.
"I've figured out where the attack is going to happen, but I don't need the Monster Association to find out. Those a**holes aren't going to stop attacking just because we discovered their plan. We don't know what they'd do if we foiled this."
"That's true. So, you're just going to let them do it? You know they're going to attack, yet you're just going to watch?"
"Yes, for a reason."
"Tell me."
The chief signaled for me to continue, prompting me to explain the plan I had devised to thwart terrorism. Ever since deciding to stop the Monster Association, I've been strategizing on how to counter their threats. I had already formulated a plan.
After listening to my proposal, the chief pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Sounds good," he said. "We need to ensure there are no civilian casualties."
While he agrees with my plan, his expression remains somber.
"But it means a lot of work for us."
"There's no alternative. If we do nothing, thousands, even tens of thousands, of civilians could lose their lives."
"...Alright, I'll do what I can."
Though it's frustrating, we have no choice. The chief understands this; even if he's irritated, he keeps it to himself.
"The Monster Association won't limit their attacks to just one location. Today and tomorrow, I'll scour Seoul to find more of these devices."
"Using that magic of yours?"
"Yes."
When I mentioned my ability to sense the power of monsters, the chief gave me a skeptical look but refrained from probing further.
Who can argue if I, a magical girl, say so? How many magical girls do you know? Not many, right? No one can question me.
"Alright, get to work. I'll coordinate with experts to determine when these devices will activate. We need to know the date of the terrorist attack."
I know the exact date, but revealing it is out of the question. I wouldn't be able to justify how I obtained that information.
"And I have a laundry list of other tasks—contacting various organizations, making arrangements... sigh. My weekend is booked solid."
"Let's be overworked together. It's our duty, after all."
"Fine, dammit. Let's put an end to these assholes once and for all."
With the chief's support, my plan is set to succeed. Their days are numbered.
I apologized to the chief's family for the sudden intrusion, bid farewell, and immediately headed to the other targeted locations.
There are three in total: an amusement park, a large park, and Hongdae Street. They've selected places where people gather for leisure or relaxation. These are the same locations where Shin Chul-Min and Jung Ha-Yeon faced adversity in the manga. Trials are necessary for protagonists to grow and develop, but this was excessive.
The terrorism depicted in the manga claimed more lives than warranted. Even as I read, I couldn't shake the thought of innocent lives lost to monsters.
But fear not, protagonists; I'm in the business of safeguarding the citizens. So I'll wear my blue collar and get my hands dirty when necessary.
So, you'll have to work for me in the future. Promise me?
"Found them all."
I reported by Sunday evening, having located a total of 30 monster lure devices. The majority were concentrated in Hongdae, likely harboring the most sinister intentions due to its dense population and spaciousness.
"Sons of B**ches."
Villains lived up to their name, wreaking havoc and chaos upon innocent people. In a world teeming with awakened individuals and monsters, there was no shortage of deranged villains. I will crush them slowly until the protagonists reach their full potential. After all, I live in this world too, desiring safety and comfort like everyone else.
I promptly texted the chief the locations and numbers of all the devices. After a while, I received a brief reply: [OK]. Undoubtedly, he was swamped with tasks, juggling numerous contacts despite it being his daughter's birthday and the weekend. He would have to sacrifice his leisure time for work, except for sleeping.
I'm no exception.
"I need to get my team back to work as well."
Not only my team, but the entire Awakened Crime Division, would harbor resentment towards the Monster Association for a while to come.
Upon returning to work on Monday morning, I wasted no time briefing my teammates on the situation.
"What kind of souvenir did the team leader bring back from her vacation?" Shin Yu-Sung clutched his head and grumbled in frustration after hearing my explanation.
"I thought we had already apprehended most of the Monster Association in Busan. Do we have to deal with them again?"
"Yeah, the chief will provide further details later, but for now, let's keep this information to ourselves. It would be troublesome if it leaked and reached the ears of the Monster Association."
We don't have to go against the flow of the story; instead, we'll leverage it to thwart terrorism and apprehend the culprits.
"I'll be stepping out for a moment, so ensure you follow the chief's instructions."
"Understood."
"Good"
"See you later~"
I waved as I exited the office. Now, I had a meeting scheduled with someone—an extra in the original plot—but I required his assistance in an upcoming attack.
Retired S-Rank hero Kim Min-Seok has been happy lately. After retiring as a hero following a mysterious incident, he wandered aimlessly. Once among Korea's elite as one of the three S-ranked heroes, that status is now a relic of the past. Once a successful figure, he now runs a humble meat restaurant.
Surprisingly, his eatery flourished. Despite his retirement, his reputation as an S-ranked hero didn't disappear. Known for his abrasive demeanor, Kim Min-Seok still drew a steady stream of patrons, who came not only for the food but also for a glimpse of the former hero.
As he grilled meat for his daily visitors, he found a sense of fulfillment.
'Perhaps business suits me better.'
While his earnings were less than his hero days, the satisfaction he derived was immeasurable. Customers recognized him with warmth, praising his culinary skills and expressing admiration. Former fans turned employees expressed their enthusiasm to work alongside him.
Kim Min-Seok felt that people liked him much more than when he was a hero.
'The strategy of utilizing fanservice was good.'
Kim Min-Seok, a former S-ranked hero, grilled the meat himself. His kind smile and friendly demeanor became a trending topic on social media, and many customers came to visit.
He has now opened three restaurants under his own franchise.
"I wonder what I was lacking in the past that made me such a jerk."
Reflecting on his transformation, Kim Min-Seok pondered his past behavior. What had compelled him to belittle others merely due to his power? He realized that true happiness lay in being liked by people rather than feared or revered.
"Come on, guys, let's give it our all today!"
"Yes!"
"Fighting for the boss too!"
"Hahaha! Okay, let's keep up through tonight's shift with that momentum!"
Kim Min-Seok shouted to his employees as he prepared the meat in the morning. The employees smiled and greeted him cheerfully. This lifted his spirits, and he began to work faster.
"Hey, Boss, there's someone outside."
"What? It's not even time to open yet."
"Maybe they're here to see the boss. There are a lot of people like that."
There were many people who came not to eat meat but simply to see Kim Min-Seok. Kim Min-Seok didn't take it as a big deal, as it was something that happened often.
"I see. I'll go talk to them."
Whenever someone came, he would tell them that he wasn't open and to come back later, take a picture with them, and send them on their way. Thinking it was someone like that now, Kim Min-Seok opened the door and faced the person who was standing in front of the store.
"I'm sorry, but we're not open right at the momen-"
"Oh, so it was true that you were running a meat restaurant?"
It turned out that the person who came to Min-Seok's restaurant was not a fan of his.
"Hey, Min-Seok, it's been a while. How are you?"
It was Shin Hye-Rim, the woman who had forced him to retire.
"Kyaaaaahhhh?!!!"
When he saw her waving and greeting him, Min-Seok screamed and fell to the ground.