-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: First Section Welcome
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The house I returned to was surprisingly ordinary.
All my stuff was still there, just as I'd left it.
Maybe because there was still some time before the eviction deadline kicked in.
Familiar...
Yet just as painful a space.
I flopped down onto the bedroom floor and stared up at the ceiling.
The debt was gone.
But that was it.
Nothing left in my hands still. Empty.
Flat broke.
No debt, but no house either.
Not even enough cash for a goshiwon room.
Just barely enough to cover a meal or two for a day.
"...".
Maybe I should pick up some day labor.
No, screw that—wouldn't climbing the tower be better?
'The Management Bureau made Heavenly Murder Star sound like the greatest trait ever.'
I could feel it.
The fact that they wanted to keep me on the hook.
Just that my lingering small-time mindset...
Was the only thing making me hesitate.
'It wasn't just about wiping the debt.'
Back then, all I could think about was offing myself, so I hadn't realized.
But now that I was back in the real world, clearing the tutorial didn't change the dead-end feel one bit.
Looking at it cold and hard.
I'd escaped a suicidal existence.
But it was still a hopeless life, no question.
Sure, three months of training had toughened up my body.
But what good was that if day labor ground it right back down?
Instead...
"Better to head into the tower."
I muttered it without thinking and jolted in surprise.
Enter the tower?
Where I could straight-up die?
'But I didn't get so much as a scratch in the tutorial.'
Two voices started duking it out in my head.
One screaming, You cool with dying?
The other yelling back, Then is this living?
The one hitting home harder right now...
"Yeah. Is this living?"
Overwhelmingly the second one.
I wouldn't be diving into the tower every single day anyway.
Didn't have to climb high floors every run.
Three or four times, tops.
Clear some low floors till I scored decent loot.
Hit that tax-exemption threshold.
Sell the items, pocket the cash.
Smooth sailing from there on out, right?
The second that thought clicked.
I dug into my pocket and fished out a business card.
Kang Min-ah.
The card from that Talent Management Team staffer earlier.
-Ring.
The signal barely rang once before...
-Yes, Talent Management Team, Kang Min-ah...
She picked up.
We'd already met, so no intros needed.
I cut straight to it.
"I'll do it. The contract."
-Pardon, pardon?
"I'm signing. But I've got one condition."
Get me a room, please.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"What a shame..."
"Our first rookie in ages."
"Yeah..."
"Should've pushed a little harder?"
"No way. Absolutely not."
"But..."
"It's life-on-the-line work. Can't strong-arm anyone."
"Tch, even if he seemed like a lock?"
"Coercion backfires hard. No exceptions."
"Fair enough..."
The woman who'd been glaring at the paperwork with regret bowed her head.
Talent we couldn't afford to lose.
All it would've taken was slapping a name on the dotted line!
But the team leader stood firm.
Coercion: hard no.
"Still, he's the real deal. Can't let him slip."
"Right?"
"Gotta find some way to win him over."
"Money?"
"Dunno. Guy with his talent won't budge for cash."
"Then what?"
"Sincerity, first and foremost."
"Sincerity!"
"Let's approach with genuine heart."
"Genuine heart!"
Easy to say, but what the hell was sincerity? True heart?
How do you even show that? Get real?
Right as she was about to yank her hair out...
-Ring ring ring.
A flat bell tone echoed through.
"Yes, Talent Management Team, Kang Min-ah..."
Her face flipped the instant she heard the voice.
"Yes, yes?"
Kang Min-ah, who never got rattled.
As her expression shifted, the team leader eyed her gravely.
"Yes. Yes. Yes."
Just a loop of affirmatives on the line.
"Yes. Of course. Absolutely. Whatever it takes."
Kang Min-ah hollering unconditional yeses.
"We'll come fetch you right now!"
She hung up and shoved the spread-out docs into her bag.
"Team leader!"
"Who?"
"Lee Tae-pyeong!"
"What?"
"He's in!"
"H-He is?"
"Yes!!"
The team leader shot up, hot on Kang Min-ah's heels.
"Hold up—condition. What's the condition?"
"Team leader, conditions aren't the point right now."
"Huh? Then what is?"
"He wants a room, first off."
"A room?"
"Yeah. Remember? The full-lease scam victim."
"Oh!!!"
The team leader's shocked face twisted into pure bafflement.
"...Seriously, that's it?"
She'd been prepping a mental list of grand demands.
A room. Not even a full house.
On the cusp of a hunter contract, no less.
The most ridiculous request she'd ever fielded in Talent Management.
But Kang Min-ah didn't care.
"Yes! So hurry up already!"
She raised her voice, prodding the team leader.
"Uh, r-right."
"This is our moment to show it. Sincerity and heart!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Babel Tower Climber Dormitory.
Unlike the aspirant dorm inside the Management Bureau, this was a whole building dedicated to it.
Stood out like a rigid government office from the outside.
But inside? Pure luxury hotel vibes.
The big difference from a hotel: ironclad security.
No civilians stepping foot here.
I was still technically a civilian myself, so I tagged along with the Talent Management Team leader and Kang Min-ah.
Not much for me to do.
Just the two staffers hustling.
"Apologies, but we can't open Zero Section for a first-time resident."
"I get that. But this gentleman's a special case."
"We have to stick to regs..."
"Has to be Zero Section, period!"
Kang Min-ah thumped her chest in frustration.
"...Second Section at most."
"Seccccooond?! You messing with me...!"
After a few rounds of back-and-forth, the manager threw up both hands.
"Fine. First Section it is. But we'll need the team leader's signature..."
"Obviously!"
Kang Min-ah still pulled a dissatisfied face regardless.
"Hey, I won't be staying long-term. Any room's fine..."
I piped up hesitantly, but the team leader shook his head sternly.
"No can do."
"...".
"We have to escort you to the absolute best."
"Ah, yes. Thank you..."
The best? Kinda overwhelming.
I was planning to mooch and bounce...
"Sorry for the wait."
Kang Min-ah—who'd been scowling up a storm moments ago—
Came back dangling a single card key.
Gleaming gold.
"Ta-da! Your exclusive First Section card, Mr. Lee Tae-pyeong!"
"Th-thanks..."
I took it awkwardly.
"Sucks it's not Zero, but a talent like you? Zero Section'll open up in no time."
"Hm, what's Zero Section?"
"Top-tier hunter territory."
Come to find out, the dorm was tiered by sections.
Third Section.
Second Section.
First Section.
Zero Section.
Four tiers total.
Third Section: open to every hunter.
Private rooms, training areas, the works.
Where fresh tower climbers crash.
Second Section: one step up.
For hunters clearing the tower on the regular.
Nicer digs, better perks all around.
Standard fare up to here.
First Section? Whole other league.
Personal secretary assigned for all your errands, for starters.
Handle most everything through them—that's the killer feature.
Honestly? Not clicking yet.
A secretary...
'This feels way overkill.'
Who am I, anyway?
Not some webtoon pro. Just the assistant guy.
Assistant.
Used to helping out.
Not so much the other way around.
But.
Say 'First Section's too much,' and Kang Min-ah'd lose it.
Picture her yelling, 'Exactly! Zero Section's the only fit for Mr. Lee Tae-pyeong!' and charging the manager.
Truth be told, Third would've been luxury from my angle.
Second? Pushing it.
First? Can't even fathom.
Zero then? God knows.
'Kinda curious...'
Against Kang Min-ah's hopes,
I'd mooch First Section and ghost.
Anyway.
After that, smooth as silk.
While I reviewed contract terms and signed,
All my lease-house junk got shipped to the dorm.
Not that there was much.
"Rest up good today!"
"Hope it's to your liking, Mr. Lee Tae-pyeong."
Kang Min-ah and the team leader departed, beaming.
'Alright, room check first.'
Slid the gold card at the elevator.
-Ding!
Chime hit, screen flashed FIRST.
Elevator shot up quick.
Zero on the penthouse level.
First right below.
High living, huh.
Room was a breeze to find.
My three letters already plated on the door.
Gold nameplate.
'Over the top. Way over.'
Stepped inside.
Couldn't shut my jaw.
"This ain't a room—it's a damn house!"
Yeah.
I'd figured maybe a smidge better than aspirant dorms.
Aspirants got new-build studios, so this'd be a new two-roomer, tops.
But this scene? Nowhere close.
Movie-set huge...
Vast expanse.
Entrance to living room felt eternal.
Rooms? Who even counts.
"Insane..."
Living room the size of a playground.
Bathroom dwarfed my old bedroom.
"Dream?"
Thud.
Legs buckled; crashed onto the sofa, pinched my cheek.
Ouch.
"Temporary digs like this?"
No way.
Could hole up here for life.
Finally wrapped the tour—took over an hour, space was that massive—
And my gut rumbled.
'1F lobby, 2F cafeteria, 3F...'
3F+? Meh, not now.
Food first.
Hit 2F.
Doors parted, flashed the gold card; staff led me to a table.
Company cafeteria vibe?
Fancy as hell for one.
Buffet setup, plus à la carte spots.
Nothing missing.
All gratis?
'Heaven. Pure heaven.'
No eyes on me.
Piled plates high.
Hate back-and-forth; load up once.
Five plates on my lone table.
"Ahem."
Stuff face, then seconds.
Ease the gut with eggs first.
Crispy bacon and scrambled eggs, heaped on a spoon, shoved in—
"Huh? Mr. Lee Tae-pyeong?"
Someone called my name.