Episode 2: Chapter 11

"Here is your uniform... Detective Park," Ms. Go said evenly, her voice carrying a faint edge of formality that somehow made the new title sink deeper into my bones.

She handed me the neatly folded uniform—a black blazer cut sharp at the shoulders, a crisp white dress shirt, a matching tie, tailored black trousers, and a pair of black Derby shoes. Nestled on top of it all was the polished belt buckle bearing the Bureau's insignia.

I lifted it slightly, letting the office lights catch on the engraved emblem: a door encircled by a perfect ring, eight slender spikes radiating like a sunburst, and beneath it all, a pair of wings spread wide as if ready to lift it skyward.

A mark of legitimacy—one that came with a weight heavier than any blade.

along with the uniform, she handed me a card, upon looking at it, it was a lisence from the bureau, my name imprinted in it. clear.

Park Seo-jun-Junior investigator.

"Am I really not going to be trained?" I asked her, still clutching the uniform to my chest like a shield against the absurdity of this day.

Ms. Go only gave a faint, almost apologetic smile.

"I recommend you look at your license more carefully, Detective Park."

I frowned and flipped open the new license card. My eyes traced each line until they caught on the part that made my breath hitch.

Imprinted in shimmering gold:

A++ Rank Hunter

Abilities:

Classified

Classified

Classified

Classified

A soft laugh escaped me—one that didn't quite reach my eyes.

Ms. Go watched my reaction, her tone patient yet edged with intrigue.

"To be honest, I would strongly suggest you undergo formal training, since you're new to the Bureau's methods. But it seems the President has taken a special interest in your case. When your data was entered into the system, the computer automatically sealed all of your attributes as classified."

She paused, as if weighing whether to say more.

"If you're not aware, only the President's status is hidden by default. We even tried multiple overrides—but each time, the system locked your attributes again. With everything labeled as classified, none of our instructors can tailor a training plan for you, Detective."

"Seems reasonable," I muttered under my breath, flipping the license over once more before slipping it into my pocket. The golden letters still glowed in the back of my mind like an omen I couldn't quite shake.

Ms. Go let out a soft chuckle at my resigned tone.

"Hmhm... it is. Now then—here's your first case, Detective Park."

She handed me a crisp folder. The paper inside felt heavier than it looked, as though the words themselves carried weight.

"You'll be dispatched to conduct an investigation inside the Hell's Gate—under the Olympian Pantheon's territory," she explained, her voice lowering just a notch, as if the walls might eavesdrop.

"There have been multiple reports of a mysterious, powerful humanoid figures deep inside the dungeon. The raid teams sent in so far haven't been able to clear it because of this entities. The survivors claim it's not just a beast—it engages them in conversation during combat, unsettling their minds as much as their bodies."

She paused, letting that sink in before continuing,

"Almost every hunter squad sent in has been out by this single opponent. Whether it's a monster wearing a human mask or a human who's turned monstrous, no one can confirm. Your task is to find out exactly what it is—and if possible, neutralize the threat."

Her eyes met mine, calm yet calculating, weighing if I'd flinch.

"Is there any other information?" I asked, my tone flat but my mind already turning over the little I'd heard.

Ms. Go's brows drew together slightly. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she answered,

"Unfortunately, not much more at this point. The Hell's Gate dungeon only manifested a week ago. The Olympian pantheon already dispatched three full raiding squads—none succeeded in clearing it, and their reports were inconsistent at best."

Her voice lowered, almost apologetic but not quite.

"You'll be the first association personnel assigned directly inside. We need firsthand insight—something more reliable than half-mad survivor ramblings."

She studied my face for any flicker of hesitation, then continued,

"I trust you can handle it. There will be another raid team moving in tomorrow. We'll issue them an official letter of request—so you'll enter as an investigator embedded with the squad. Your priority is to identify this entity, observe its nature, and if possible, eliminate the threat or secure critical data. The raiding squad's task is secondary to yours."

She paused, then added with a faint, knowing smile,

"You're a classified hunter now, Detective Park. Use that advantage well."

"Oh—almost forgot to mention something," Ms. Go said suddenly, glancing over her shoulder at me with that same faint, polite smile.

"Come with me for a moment."

Without another word, she led me down a side staircase. The walls here were quieter—no clatter of armored boots or muffled chatter, only the muted echo of our steps on polished stone. We stopped in front of a side room.

Inside, I caught sight of the two idiots immediately—perched on a bench like restless schoolboys.

"Oiii! Seo-jun-ssi!" Jae Min called out, waving so dramatically that even Ms. Go's shoulders shook with silent laughter.

Clutching my uniform jacket to my chest, I gave them a restrained nod in return.

"Where the hell have you been? We've been rotting here for—what, an eternity now?" Jae Min groaned theatrically, throwing his arms up for emphasis.

Eunseok, who was leaning back with his arms crossed, flicked a glance at him and sighed.

"Don't mind him. It's only been five minutes. He just can't stand sitting still."

But as my eyes took them in properly, my stare lingered—armor polished to a mirror sheen, new cloaks draped sharp over their shoulders, engraved insignia catching the overhead lights. They were practically glowing with self-satisfaction.

Jae Min caught my look immediately. He sprang to his feet and struck a pose like some wannabe model on a cheap magazine cover.

"Well? What do you think? Handsome, right? This is top-tier gear, custom-fitted—told you I'd get an upgrade once they saw my stats!"

"Wow, way to go, Jae Min..." Eunseok deadpanned, though a grin tugged at his mouth as he stood up too, turning slightly so I could see the same crest on his cloak. He even tugged the collar a bit, smug as ever.

Ms. Go laughed lightly, hands clasped behind her back.

"I see you two are enjoying your rewards to the fullest"

"So that's the reward they got for taking down the rampage?" I asked, my voice half-curious as I followed Ms. Go's graceful steps down the corridor.

"It is indeed," she replied, a small, approving nod accompanying her words. She stopped in front of a large iron door, heavy bolts and runic seals lining its edges.

"This is the Association's armory," she continued, her tone brightening a little as she turned the handle. "As the Vice President mentioned before, you'll receive your reward here. You're free to choose any weapon or piece of armor you like."

With a subtle gesture, she swept her hand toward the open doorway.

Stepping inside, I had to pause for a breath.

Rows upon rows of weapons lined the walls, each one gleaming under carefully placed lights—blades, polearms, bows, even relics that pulsed faintly with stored magic. Beside them, suits of armor rested behind glass, their plates polished to an immaculate shine. Small iron plaques were fixed beneath each item, neat letters declaring their tier and historical origin.

I let my eyes wander, each name and stat line catching my attention like I was scrolling through a game inventory.

A sword near the entrance shimmered faintly with an enchantment that could probably split an ogre in half. A bow and quiver of arrows glowed just enough to hum under my skin, each arrowhead tipped in something ancient and definitely not legal on the open market.

It was all too much—and yet, none of it tempted me that strongly.

I already had my own weapon. A good one—more than good enough.

So why take something that would only draw more eyes to me than I already wanted?

I stepped deeper into the armory, running my fingers along a rack of knives, feeling the polished wood and cold steel beneath my fingertips.

I stopped mid-step, eyes catching on a pair of combat daggers displayed on a simple wooden rack. Compared to the other flashy weapons, these two looked painfully ordinary—no runes, no glimmer, no fancy etching.

But the tier plate below them told a different story: high stats, top durability, special function: Adaptive Utility Blades.

Curiosity bit deeper than caution.

I stepped closer, fingers brushing over the textured handles. Each one had a small, almost hidden button near the guard.

With a deliberate breath, I picked up both daggers and pressed the buttons at the same time.

A sharp hiss, then a sudden metallic snap.

From the ends of each handle, a coil of fine black wire shot out, the tips stabbing the stone floor with a loud thud and a small crack.

Wires.

I crouched, testing the tension. Strong—probably strong enough to restrain a beast if used right.

So they're not just blades... they're hooks too.

This'll do.

"I'd like to take this," I said, glancing at Ms. Go as I held up the pair of daggers. She tilted her head, studying my choice with a faint trace of surprise.

"My, my... this is an A-grade dagger. Are you certain about this, Detective Park?" she asked.

I didn't bother with an explanation—just gave a quiet hum in reply and stepped past her, drifting deeper into the armory.

The place was overflowing with options: heavy plate sets for bruisers, sleek tactical gear for scouts, ornate enchanted mail for the flashy types. All shining under the ceiling lights, almost begging to be picked up.

But that wasn't my style.

I moved along the rows until something plain caught my eye—a brown, slightly oversized trench coat hanging on an old brass rack, looking out of place among all the polished steel and enchanted fabric.

It reminded me of something a Victorian noble might toss on for a late-night stroll.

I stopped in front of it and checked the plaque. One effect stood out: High Mentality Shield.

Aside from that, its stats were simple—solid durability, good resistance, no unnecessary enhancements.

I let out a small breath, almost a chuckle at my own predictable taste.

Yeah. This will do just fine.

Ms. Go let out a soft laugh behind me. "Detective Park, you truly have unique taste. Most hunters would have lunged for the dragon scale cuirass or the mythril mantle."

I shrugged, slipping the trench coat off its rack. "I'm not most hunters."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "I'm genuinely surprised to see a minimalist thriving in times like these."

She gestured toward a side door. "The changing room is right over there, Detective Park."

I gave her a small nod and headed inside, closing the door behind me.

Peeling off my ragged executioner's cloak and the same clothes I'd slept in yesterday felt like shedding an old skin.

Yeah... I hadn't exactly showered before I got dragged here. But I did before leaving my house! So, technically, I'm not that filthy.

I pulled on the crisp shirt and black trousers, slipped into the blazer, fit in the black shoes and finally shrugged on the trench coat.

Simple, sturdy, and quiet—just how I like it.

I tightened my necktie as I stepped out of the dressing room a few minutes later. The crisp suit settled neatly beneath the loose drape of the brown coat, fitting together better than I'd expected.

"My, my... you look positively noble," Ms. Go said, clasping her hands together and resting her cheek on her knuckles, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Here are your weapons, Mr. Holmes," she teased, placing the twin daggers carefully into the inside pockets of my coat.

I let out a playful sigh, a faint smile tugging at my lips.

we walked out of the armory, my shoes clacking from heel to toe as i went outside.

"Um... why is he looking like a European model, Ms. Min Young?" Jae Min asked, his voice dripping with a mix of envy and awe.

Ms. Go Min-Young—let out a soft laugh, her eyes flicking to me fondly. "Hunter Park seems to have a minimalist attitude for someone surviving in an apocalyptic world," she said, amusement clear in her tone.

"I like it this way," I snickered back at the two of them, my hands slipping into the deep pockets of the coat as if they'd always belonged there.

"Let's get out of here," I said, already striding for the exit, the soft click of my shoes echoing through the polished armory floor.

I glanced back just enough to catch Min Young's gentle smile and gave her a slight bow in thanks before stepping fully into the lobby with the other two tailing behind.

The moment we emerged from the armory, the buzz of hunters around the lobby shifted—eyes flicked to us, some whispers rose and fell like restless wind. I ignored them, tugging my coat a little closer around me.

"So where are we going?" Jae Min piped up beside me, all too casual, as if we weren't the new center of attention.

A faint flicker pulsed in front of my eyes—

[You have returned to the main plotline]

Right. I've been busy securing my own business while this idiot was off doing main character things. I remembered the flood of system notifications that had bombarded me back in the president's office, every pop-up as annoying as a mosquito in summer.

I'd muted it on the spot. Still the best decision I've made today.

Looking around, I can't see any sign of Ilhoon anymore. I guess they finally moved out, they're probably off on a dungeon raid by now.

"Oh, by the way, tomorrow we'll be entering another pantheon's Hell's Gate," Jae Min announced out of nowhere as we pushed through the main lobby and neared the large glass exit that doubled as the main entrance.

"Another pantheon? Is that even allowed?" Eunseok asked, frowning as he jogged to keep pace with us.

"If you have clearance, yeah. We're lending a hand to the Olympian pantheon. Apparently they've already sent three squads in, but most came back half dead—or didn't come back at all," Jae Min explained, far too casually for the grim news he just dropped.

My steps didn't slow, but my mind snapped to attention.

As the sunlight spilled over us outside the building, I quietly flicked on my Plot Review skill. A transparent screen pulsed open in front of my vision—lines of the original storyline scrolling down like a living manuscript.

We were still within the bounds of this chapter, so nothing I'd done should have warped tomorrow's sequence too much.

Until a certain scene caught my eye mid-scroll. My feet kept moving, but my eyes narrowed at the text highlighted before me.