Chapter 107 …
The Civil Servant Who Hid Their Power Is Too Good at Possession
Honestly, my head was spinning.
By rough estimate, there were about 50 staff members in front of me, dozens of cameras, and at least ten lights.
Yet, in this state of mine, Shin Kyung-tak turned what could have been a “crisis situation” into an opportunity.
“Hahaha! Our investigator is showing every bit of tension! There were comments saying the same thing: ‘like a puppy, all over their face, strong but can’t hide expressions, like a big dog hiding its strength.’ Hahaha, this is the funniest part: a big dog inside Teto-nyo’s body!”
The assistant MCs laughed along.
Even the staff in front chuckled.
Why? Why was it funny?
My brain was too fried to comprehend the situation clearly.
Seeing that I was in an unusual state, Pi So-won asked, concerned,
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
I answered quickly, and Pi So-won sighed.
Soon, Shin Kyung-tak continued the broadcast naturally.
“You’ve earned the nickname ‘Taekwondo Girl.’ How do you feel about that?”
“Well, actually, I’m not really a girl… but thank you for calling me that… I’m not a girl, I’m a civil servant…”
Even I wasn’t sure what I was saying anymore.
“Hahaha! You’re completely broken!”
“What should we do? I think our investigator needs some grease applied,”
The assistant MCs jumped in, trying to salvage what was becoming a broadcast disaster.
‘…Damn.’
“You used to be a national Taekwondo representative, right?”
“Oh, that… I was in the reserves and only competed once at the end…”
Finally, a question that brought me some clarity.
I worried about how I’d answer the next question—but fortunately, it moved on to the next step.
“After awakening, you had to quit Taekwondo. How did that feel? I heard that even Team Leader Pi So-won had to give up being a shooting national representative after awakening.”
“Who told you that?”
Pi So-won’s cold voice made the temperature on set drop by a few degrees.
“Uh… that… the person sitting over there.”
Even Shin Kyung-tak, usually so composed, hesitated and pointed toward Director Hong Jae-gyeol and the Hunter Management Bureau head, sitting among the staff—even though it wasn’t their turn.
As soon as they heard it, Director Hong waved his hand.
“I just answered because the writer asked. Just the facts!”
“…I’ll request a meeting later.”
“No! No way!”
Shin Kyung-tak snickered at Hong’s exasperation.
“Wow, you two have such chemistry. How long have you been working together?”
“Eight years,” Pi So-won replied.
“Ah, that explains it. MC Song and I worked together on a previous show for ten years—why don’t we have chemistry?”
“Me? It’s not chemistry. I’m just parasitic, sticking right next to the national MC like a cicada on an old tree.”
The assistant MC smoothly took over, softening the atmosphere.
‘…Wow, that was a close call.’
But such close calls kept coming.
“When you caught the bus terrorist, Investigator Lee Yoo-ji risked her life. There’s a story behind it, right?”
“Oh, it’s not that big… the terrorist attacked the driver, so I had to take the wheel…”
“Is that all? Up top, they ordered a drone strike. Our youngest almost died there.”
Pi So-won interjected, speaking directly to the bureau chief.
The chief furrowed his brows, and even Director Hong looked awkward.
“A drone strike?”
I tried to salvage the situation as best I could.
“Yes! And even knowing that, I went in! If we didn’t catch them in time, we’d die! I went in with that mindset!”
My voice cracked at times, so I wasn’t sure if I managed to stabilize the situation.
“You went in?”
“Well, the reserve unit was guarding around the perimeter anyway…”
I continued, recalling the rough coordination with Hong Jae-gyeol.
“But still, I doubt you expected the situation to escalate to inhaling funny powder, right?”
“Ah… I didn’t expect that, but luckily we had prepared items from the workshop.”
…Why do I sound like this? Focus, me.
No matter how rambling I got, Shin Kyung-tak never let the GoGoShow fail.
“Yes! That bubblegum item! There was already so much discussion about it! It seems like investigators dealing with funny powder criminals should be supplied with this from now on.”
The Hunter Management Bureau head responded with a soft expression.
“Yes. Recently, we switched the equipment supply to that workshop. From now on, we’ll do our best to improve the quality of our supplies.”
At that moment, my eyes caught a wolf-like expression, ready to pounce.
The look said: ‘I believe it’s roughly handled.’
Yet, my trembling feet betrayed slight anxiety.
‘Serves them right.’
But whatever—this much said, there shouldn’t be any major problems.
I couldn’t completely mess things up with the Hunter Management Bureau.
Especially if it were me caught in the middle—if a shrimp on a whale’s back exploded, the whole shrimp would turn to dust.
‘I don’t even want to think about it.’
“Wow, I’m excited. I heard there are items for regular people in the Sun & Moon workshop. I’m trying to buy some too. By the way, Investigator Lee Yoo-ji, usually F-class, kicking C- and D-class criminals is trending. How is that even possible?”
“Probably by stabilizing the rotational axis? Extending my legs? It works.”
What are you saying? Focus, Lee Yoo-ji.
‘I want to run away.’
“Hahaha! A former national athlete! You speak like Bob Ross, sir! Recently, violinist Han Su-ah won second place at a competition in Germany and shouted out to Investigator Lee Yoo-ji—it was a big deal. Have you seen the video?”
“Ah… no…?”
There’s a video too?
“Then I’ll read it to you.”
The assistant MC began reading clearly from the cue sheet.
“When playing Bach’s unaccompanied works, I feel as if I’m standing alone in a meadow. It’s a little frightening, yet exhilarating. At times, I feel like an immense power resides in me. That’s dangerous—because the moment I wield that power, Bach strikes it down with God’s hammer. Knowing that, I still have to jump in. Courage that plunges oneself into the whirlpool. Hoping the failure doesn’t become mere frustration, but allows me to enter Bach’s heart. At those times, I remember Investigator Lee Yoo-ji who saved me. She had that courage. Even if failing, even if dying, fight to the end. That mindset.”
“…!”
I was momentarily at a loss for words.
When the assistant MC finished, many others on set were also silent.
“Truly… you risked death to do that. How is that even possible?”
“Haha… it’s possible,” I said, smiling faintly.
“We must save them. That’s my job, and the reason the Hunter Investigation Bureau exists. It will always be that way. It’s hard, but when the moment comes, there’s no room for thought.”
Suddenly, a scene flashed in my mind:
Mom saving Choi Woo-jin.
Pulling him from the crushed vehicle.
Mom probably didn’t think either—she just jumped straight into the dungeon.
“I just thought: I have to save them.”
The set went quiet at my words.
I thought it had gotten too heavy—then, the assistant MC quietly asked Pi So-won,
“You feel the same, right?”
“No. I have one thought,” she said.
“What thought?”
“I’m going to crush all these f***ers.”
…Heavy? Hardly.
A beat later, laughter erupted on set. The startled PD and writer frantically started scribbling on their sketchpads.
Behind them, Hong Jae-gyeol’s long sigh could be heard.
“That madwoman…”
I saw his lips move.
I agree, a thousand times over.
Pi So-won is a madwoman!
