Episode 003
As soon as Sol-ah’s feet touched the floor inside the kindergarten, still wrapped up in Banana’s arms, she darted straight to the big window like she was possessed.
Since this building was designed for Awakeners, it was reinforced with all kinds of high-tech defenses. Now that she was inside, she didn’t have to worry about safety.
“It’s a fight! A real fight!”
The kids who’d come in earlier were already glued to the window, ready to watch the rare spectacle.
“The Guildmaster should really hold back when he’s outside the dungeon…”
Uncle Banana took off the bear costume and gently dabbed ointment on Sol-ah’s cheek, muttering as he did so.
There was no way Geum Seonghwan was going to stay calm after seeing his daughter with a scratch on her face.
Outside, Geum Seonghwan stood in front of the dragon, already back on the ground.
Each time he clenched and opened his fists, visible sparks crackled across his whole body.
One of the monsters had slipped through the defense line—right under his nose—and attacked the kindergarten. His daughter’s kindergarten.
He was furious. Beyond words. Absolutely livid.
If he’d been even a second later… if something had happened to Sol-ah… he didn’t even want to imagine it.
The dragon let out a roar as it regained consciousness.
ROOAAAR!!
Too bad for it—that was gonna be its last breath.
Geum Seonghwan’s eyes flashed white in sync with the sky.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!
The whole world seemed to shake.
CRACK!
A massive bolt of lightning slammed down onto the ground.
“W-Whoa…”
It was like the sky had been ripped in half—brilliant white lightning lit up the whole area like a fireworks show.
RUMBLE RUMBLE!
Another thunderclap echoed. It was beautiful. And terrifying.
That was Geum Seonghwan’s signature move: [Lightning Strike].
He could roast an A-rank dragon into crispy fried chicken in a split second.
Everyone watching was speechless.
“Woooaaah! He did it!”
The kindergarten door opened, and the kids who’d been watching cheered and rushed outside.
No one even tried to stop them from climbing all over the still-steaming dragon corpse like it was a jungle gym.
“Sol-ah!”
Geum Seonghwan dropped from the sky like a meteor and ran to her.
Whomp. She was instantly pulled into a tight, warm hug.
“My baby, were you scared? Are you hurt?”
Just a minute ago, this man was a raging thunder god in the sky. But now, holding his daughter safe and sound, all that fury melted away.
‘Is this really the same guy?’
Sol-ah finally realized something she’d forgotten.
‘Oh… right.’
Her dad was insane. Like, certifiably nuts when it came to her.
He didn’t just say he’d protect her—he meant it. With deadly results.
If anyone even looked at Sol-ah the wrong way, they were done for.
The dragon that got fried like a nugget? That was just a warning.
Sol-ah gulped.
‘…Yeah, I’m just gonna stay out of trouble.’
As long as she didn’t get caught up in anything weird, she’d be fine.
As long as she kept playing her role as “Geum Sol-ah,” all would be well.
But…
There was one big secret she could never, ever tell.
The truth?
Geum Sol-ah had been possessed.
Her real name was Jo Yoo-hwa. Age 29. A researcher with a PhD, working at the Future Talent Technology Development Center.
Here’s the summary:
No money.
No house.
No friends.
No family.
Well, she used to have a family.
“…They passed away?”
She got the news the winter she turned 28—on the day of her PhD graduation, right before leaving for a study abroad program.
She’d been on her way to the ceremony with her parents… when the car flipped.
Her parents didn’t make it. But somehow, she survived.
Though really, calling it “surviving” was a stretch. All she had left was a ruined life and a mountain of debt.
But life didn’t completely abandon her.
Even though she’d spent years studying to become a professor and had no real social life, a helping hand reached out when she needed it most.
“Yoo-hwa, if things are rough, why don’t you come work here? There’s an opening in a project I think you’d be perfect for.”
That was Ryu Ji-seung.
He’d gone to grad school at the same time as her—a senior she only really said hi to now and then. Rumor had it he was the son of the chairman of the World Peace Foundation.
She was caught off guard by his sudden kindness, but honestly, Yoo-hwa didn’t have the luxury to question it.
“Thank you, sunbae.”
At the time, she would’ve been grateful just to get a job flipping burgers.
“The Future Talent Technology Development Center…?”
But the place Ryu Ji-seung brought her into wasn’t some small-time gig. It was a government research facility, hard to get into even with connections and experience.
How someone like him managed to land her that job, she didn’t know. Maybe he just put in a good word because they needed someone fast.
Either way, Yoo-hwa needed money. And the center was her best shot.
Even if it was a toxic hellhole full of backstabbers.
“Dr. Jo, organize this for me, will you?”
“Yep, sure thing.”
“Is this what you call organized? Do it again.”
“Sorry.”
“…Again.”
“Sorry…”
“Oh, wait, you were right the first time. We’re gonna go eat—can you organize these too while we’re gone?”
By year one, she hadn’t done any real research. She was basically the department’s glorified intern.
There were countless moments where she wanted to quit—but Ryu Ji-seung kept her going.
“Yoo-hwa, you look down today. Are they messing with you again?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“Tell me. I’ll go yell at them.”
“You’ll get in trouble too. But thanks for caring.”
They’d meet during lunch breaks. He always had a gentle smile, kind eyes, and soft words that made her feel like someone finally had her back.
He was the only bit of color in her black-and-white world.
“You still studying hard?”
“Yeah, in my spare time.”
Even though she wasn’t learning much directly, she picked up bits and pieces just by being in the center.
She’d started writing a new thesis based on what she overheard.
No matter how crap her situation was, she wanted to make a name for herself.
“Proud of you. Knew I had a good eye.”
It was thanks to him that she kept pushing forward.
“Keep it up, okay?”
His voice alone gave her the strength to get through another garbage day.
“…Huh? Dr. Jo, are you coming into the meeting too? Why?”
“I’m just taking notes…”
“You don’t need to be in the meeting to do that. Don’t take up space—go clean the lab or something.”
Honestly, if it weren’t for Ryu Ji-seung, she would’ve flipped a desk and quit already.
The project she was assigned to was related to Hunters.
They were studying the relationship between Hunters and their powers.
It was super similar to what she’d studied for her PhD.
Sure, her thesis hadn’t been well-received by the academic community, but she still believed in it. She was determined to finish what she started and make the world notice.
That’s why she clung so hard to the project—why she studied like crazy to keep up.
“Hello?”
That day started out like any other.
Her team was off at a meeting, and she was left alone in the lab.
— Hey, Dr. Jo. On my desk, there’s a file I printed and clipped together. Can you bring it to the conference room?
She got the call from her boss and went to look for the file.
And then—
“Copycat Project No. 5…?”
She found a document she’d never seen before.
It was a confidential research file about a secret project.
As she flipped through the pages, her blood ran cold.
“No way… this can’t be real…”
The Copycat Project was an unapproved, unethical program.
No government oversight. Illegal from start to finish.
It involved brutal animal testing, human trafficking, kidnappings…
It was a horrifying, top-secret project being quietly conducted within the center—cruel, bold, and downright evil.
