“Geonwoo, are you okay?”
Geonwoo couldn’t hide his confusion as he saw Han Gayoung enter the smoking room.
“…I’m fine.”
“Ugh, he’s really too much. Even after getting a warning from the Human Rights Committee, he hasn’t changed a bit..”
“…”
It was a perfect continuation of the conversation from his dream the previous night.
He had been reliving the dream all morning.
Not just with Manager Ma and Han Gayoung—every conversation and action of everyone around him was matching exactly.
If this keeps going like this… will the ending be the same as the dream too…?
Death.
A cold sweat ran down his back as the fear he had felt that morning returned.
As Geonwoo suddenly fell silent, Han Gayoung, unable to bear the silence, opened her mouth.
“Oh! By the way, Geonwoo, did you hear the news? A new Gate has appeared.”
“…Don’t tell me it’s in Gwacheon?”
“Yes, Gwacheon. You already knew?”
“…”
An unease crept up from deep within his chest.
“Sunbae, do you mind if I head in now?”
“Oh, already?”
“Yes. Something just came to mind that I need to check. I’m sorry.”
“No, I was just about to head in too. Let’s go together.”
No, I wanted to go in alone…
Geonwoo couldn’t bring himself to say that last part.
There was no way to explain this creeping dread he was feeling.
Murmur murmur.
It happened just as they passed through the company lobby.
People were gathered and murmuring, watching something intently.
“What are they looking at?”
Curious, Han Gayoung dragged Geonwoo into the crowd.
Pushing through the people, they saw a sleek, top-of-the-line sports car parking right in front of the building.
“Wow. That’s a beautiful car. Looks expensive. Who could it be? They didn’t even go to the underground lot. Must just be stopping by.”
Her curiosity was soon answered.
The driver’s door opened—and Choi Woosik stepped out.
“Huh? Assistant Manager Choi Woosik?”
“Choi Woosik…”
Han Gayoung and Geonwoo were both surprised, though for different reasons.
As if already used to being the center of attention, Woosik got out of the car with a smug, confident air.
Walking into the lobby, he immediately spotted Han Gayoung among the crowd and walked up to her.
“Huh? Gayoung, long time no see? Haha, how have you been?”
“We saw each other just yesterday, Assistant Manager Choi.”
“Did we? Haha, it’s just that every time I see you, it feels fresh. And come on, I told you to call me oppa. ‘Assistant Manager Choi’ sounds so stiff between us, doesn’t it?”
Jokingly, Woosik slung an arm over her shoulder.
Gayoung quickly slipped away from his hand and replied stiffly.
“I couldn’t possibly. You’re still my senior, after all. And you changed your car?”
“Yeah. Got tired of the old one, so I just went all in for a change. Some good things happened, too. Haha.”
“What kind of good things?”
“Eh, wouldn’t be fun if I told you so easily, would it? I gotta see Manager Ma anyway, so come with me later. Haha.”
Trying to hide his awkwardness after being shaken off, Woosik stuffed his hand into his pocket and glanced at Geonwoo, who had been quietly following behind.
“But you two came in together again today? You close with Geonwoo, Gayoung?”
Wooshik pointed his chin toward Geonwoo and asked teasingly.
“You know Geonwoo here went to middle school with me, right? He’s always been kind of slow. He tends to mistake pity for affection. So don’t be too nice to him just because he seems pitiful, okay?”
At those words, both Geonwoo and Han Gayoung’s faces stiffened.
“Assistant Manager, how could you say something so harsh…!”
Gayoung raised her voice, angrily.
But Geonwoo—the one being insulted—simply kept walking silently, his gaze fixed ahead.
Seeing his completely unreactive face, Woosik’s brow twitched. Then a smile crept across his lips.
“Oh? So you’ve grown a bit of pride lately, huh, Park Geonwoo? Got a little taste of work, making copies and brewing coffee, and now you’re feeling good about life, huh? Is that it, Geonwoo?”
He clearly didn’t like that Gayoung seemed to be taking Geonwoo’s side.
But even as Woosik’s insults grew more overt, Geonwoo remained silent.
“Hey. Park Geonwoo. Are you ignoring me? Is that how you respond when your superior speaks to you? Huh?”
“Assistant Manager, seriously, what’s gotten into you? Geonwoo, say something, please.”
Caught between the two, Gayoung was flustered—unaware that she was the root of the whole situation.
They reached the office as they were talking.
BAM.
Instead of answering, Geonwoo opened the office door.
Woosik, just about to say something else, fell silent as he caught sight of Manager Ma through the open door.
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Woosik shot Geonwoo a glare before changing his expression and stepping inside.
“Good morning, Manager! Sorry I’m a little late!”
Seeing Woosik, Manager Ma shot to his feet and shouted.
Hey!! Choi Woosik!! Do you have any idea what time it is!? You think this place is your playground!?
“Haha. My apologies, Manager.”
Woosik grinned and pulled a white envelope from inside his suit jacket.
“What’s this supposed to be?”
“My resignation letter. As of today, I’m quitting.”
“What? Resignation?!”
“I have awakened.”
Fwoosh!
A blue glow began radiating from his palm.
“Gasp! Awakened?!”
The staff, stunned, quickly gathered around him.
At the center of the crowd, basking in the attention, Woosik strutted toward Gayoung and Geonwoo with the glow still flaring in his hand.
“Gayoung-ssi. You know once I quit, that whole ‘Assistant Manager’ title goes out the window, right? Let’s meet up sometime. Let this oppa treat you to a drink—I’m kind of a big deal now.”
“I’ll think about it. And congratulations. You’ve become a superhuman. Talk about a total game changer.”
“Aw, don’t be so stiff… How about a glass of wine tonight?”
“I said I would think about it.”
Despite his Awakening, her tone remained cold. Woosik’s brow furrowed in irritation.
Then, with a twisted grin, he suddenly sneered.
“What, got plans with Park Geonwoo today or something? Tch. I really misjudged you, Gayoung. You’re just another dumb girl after all?”
He tilted his chin toward the silently standing Geonwoo.
“I’m a awakened now, you know. Officially registered with the Hunters Association! I’m on a whole different level from trash like—”
Geonwoo’s eyes suddenly flashed.
“Watch out!”
Pow!
“Guhk!?”
Geonwoo’s fist smashed straight into Woosik’s face.
With a comical yelp, Woosik staggered back.
But when he didn’t go down, Geonwoo slammed a kick into his side.
“Get down!!”
Thwack!
Crash!
Woosik flew backward and collapsed like a frog.
Awakened of the release type who focused on attack power generally had no enhanced physical durability.
“Ugh…! You crazy bastard, Geonwoo! Do you wanna—Huh? M-Manager…?”
As Woosik scrambled up in a fury, he froze in terror.
“Grgh… I said… you’re too damn… noisy…”
Manager Ma stood where Woosik had just been, fist outstretched.
If Woosik hadn’t fallen, that punch would’ve gone straight through his gut.
The bloodshot eyes looking down on him from above were enough to paralyze him with fear.
It was the look of a predator that had just missed its prey.
Woosik sat frozen, shivering in terror.
And then Geonwoo’s voice rang through the office.
“Run! It’s dangerous!”
“Grrr… I said… shut… up…”
Blood vessels burst in Manager Ma’s eyes as his body suddenly began to expand.
His muscles bulged grotesquely, straining against his clothes until they tore apart.
Rip! Shraakk!
“Raaaghhh!!”
Manager Ma let out a monstrous roar.
“Kyaaah!!”
“Manager Ma turned into a mutant!”
“R-Run…!!”
“Aaaah!!”
In seconds, the once-calm office became a war zone.
“Graahhh!”
Thud!
“Kyaahh!”
A female employee was thrown into the wall by a single blow.
Woosik, still on the floor, stared in disbelief.
“You… saved me…?”
Just like in the dream, Manager Ma had lost all control.
Geonwoo was filled with despair.
‘Dear god… it really was a prophetic dream!’
And before his eyes—chaos erupted once more.
“Gahhh!!”
Boom! Smack!
The slaughter had begun.
Transformed into a mutant, Manager Ma was fast and strong.
If the Hulk existed, he would probably look like this.
Originally just over 160 cm, his height now exceeded 2 meters, and his forearms were thicker than Geonwoo’s waist, with pulsating veins like writhing snakes.
“I should’ve run away sooner. I was so stupid!”
Regret bubbled up within him—he had been far too passive, letting himself be dragged along by a sense of déjà vu.
Just like before, Geonwoo turned to Han Gayoung, who stood dazedly beside him.
Without wasting another moment, he grabbed her wrist and began moving cautiously toward the exit.
But their motion provoked Manager Ma.
“Graaaah!”
Manager Ma picked up the desk beside him with one hand and threw it violently.
Crash! Smash!
“Kyaaah!”
As the desk collided with the ground, its glass surface shattered and scattered in every direction.
Geonwoo, already on edge, managed to dodge to the opposite side of the desk—but he couldn’t avoid all of the flying shards.
“…Kgh.”
Hearing his groan, Han Gayoung, who had kept her eyes tightly shut until then, opened them.
“G-Geonwoo? Kyaaah! Geonwoo!”
Geonwoo had shielded her with his body, wrapping his arms around her and taking the full brunt of the glass shards with his back.
But he didn’t have time to be in pain.
The desk had blocked their only exit.
Worse, Manager Ma was now charging at them with murderous intent.
It was a crisis—one spark away from an explosion.
“Graaah!”
At that moment, a ray of hope burst forth.
“Energy Ball!”
It was Choi Woosik.
Boom!
“Grooogh!”
A sphere of blue light shot from Choi Woosik’s hand and struck Manager Ma cleanly in the back.
The unexpected impact caused Manager Ma to stumble for a moment.
Thanks to that, Geonwoo and Han Gayoung were spared.
This was different from the dream he’d had the night before.
Unlike in the dream, Choi Woosik was completely unscathed and holding his ground against Chief Ma.
Hope flared in Geonwoo’s chest.
Because of his choice to save Choi Wooshik, the future had changed.
“Gayoung, are you okay?”
Ah. Right, this is who he was.
Even now, Choi Woosik didn’t spare a glance for Geonwoo.
All he cared about was Han Gayoung’s well-being.
And when she reacted in surprise, he even allowed himself a smug little grin. Truly a simple-minded man.
“Grrk!”
But the situation offered no time for break.
Manager Ma’s attention shifted from Geonwoo and Han Gayoung to Choi Woosik.
He turned and charged straight at the man who had just attacked him.
“Grahhh!”
“Uwah! E-Energy Ball!”
Boom!
“Grrrh!”
But Manager Ma’s momentum didn’t slow at all.
Overwhelmed, Choi Woosik began to retreat step by step, throwing energy balls non-stop.
Even so, Manager Ma took every magical hit head-on and kept charging.
“Energy Ball!”
Boom!
“Energy Ball…!”
Boom!!
“Energy—!”
Thud!
“Gahk!”
Just one blow.
Choi Woosik flew backward, coughing up blood, powerless.
The difference in power between a newly awakened psychic and a berserk mutant was stark.
Psychics had to slowly adapt to and strengthen their powers from the moment of awakening, but mutants unlocked their full physical potential in an instant.
The side effect? Their brains deteriorated, their humanity disappeared, and the instincts of a savage beast took over.
Crash, thud!
Geonwoo wasn’t thinking straight.
His trembling hands fumbled desperately at the desk blocking the office door.
If this keeps up, we’ll die again!
The memory of the catastrophe from his dream overlapped with reality, and sheer terror took over.
Only one thought filled his mind.
We have to escape first!
At some point, Han Gayoung began helping him move the desk.
But the desk was the solid oak one Manager Ma himself had used.
It was incredibly heavy.
Creak…!
After pushing with all their strength, they finally managed to move it just enough to open the door.
Relief appeared on both their faces.
But only for a moment.
“Gayoung-sunbae!”
Shove!
“Kyaaah!”
A sudden shove sent Han Gayoung tumbling out of the office.
She landed on her butt in the middle of the hallway, then quickly turned to look back.
Geonwoo stood inside, looking down at her.
“……”
“……”
Their eyes met in the air.
Then a line of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
“…Kgh.”
Her gaze dropped slowly downward.
A large, thick hand—Manager Ma’s—had pierced through Geonwoo’s stomach and extended from his abdomen.
Spurt!
The dark-red fist yanked itself free, and a spray of crimson blood followed.
“……!”
Time seemed to slow.
Before her eyes, Geonwoo’s body collapsed.
And yet—even as he fell—he reached out and firmly shut the office door.
Through her eyes, she watched the door close between them, dividing the office and the hallway, and through the gap, saw the faint, pained smile Geonwoo gave her.
This time… I saved her.
Clunk!
The door shut with an ominously loud sound.
Drip. Drip.
Geonwoo’s blood ran down the surface of the door.
Time sped up again.
Han Gayoung’s reason snapped back into place.
“……Aaaaaah! Geonwoo!!”
She screamed from outside the door.
Geonwoo smiled as he looked at her.
He felt sure that the reason he had those prophetic dreams… was for this exact moment.
Yeah. I’m glad at least one person lived.
His eyes slowly closed.
But then—
“GRAAAAH!!”
“…!!”
Manager Ma let out a roar.
Crash!!
The tightly shut office door crumpled and exploded outward.
The enraged Manager Ma had lost his prey and, in fury, kicked the door with such force that it shattered.
No… No!!
Even as consciousness slipped away, Geonwoo could see Manager Ma’s rough hand grabbing Han Gayoung’s throat and lifting her up.
“Gk… Geonwooo…”
Snap.
No…!!
The moment her neck snapped, Geonwoo’s consciousness faded completely.
And then—peace.
A sound echoed in his head.
[You have failed to meet the conditions.]
[Resetting the day.]
[Tuesday, September 1, 2020 – 7:00 AM]
Ba-da-da-da-bam! Wake up! It’s morning!
“Uaaagh! No…!!”
Geonwoo screamed.
“What?! What’s wrong?!”
The door burst open as his sister, Sora, rushed in with a panicked expression.
Beside him, the alarm clock blared loudly as he shot upright in bed.
“Huff, huff…! Gah…! Uurgh…! Blergh!!”
“Kyaaah! Oppa! Why are you suddenly throwing up?!”
Overwhelmed by nausea, Geonwoo bent over and began vomiting.
Sora could only stare in shock at his tear-streaked, snot-covered face.
“What’s wrong with you?! Oppa! Oppa!!”
“Huff… Haa, haa…”
After puking and sobbing for a while, Geonwoo slowly looked around.
White walls, a yellow desk and chair, a brown wardrobe.
The same scene he saw in the morning.
Then—
A single bead of cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
[Mission: Eliminate the mutant.]
[Reward: Tomorrow]
The notification rang out in his mind.
“…What the hell is this…?”
Geonwoo muttered in stunned disbelief.
Suffering