I put the sample bottle back in my inventory, checked the message, and headed to the provided residence.
It was a fifty-pyeong apartment.
Way too big for someone living alone.
And there wasn't anything particularly interesting about it. I didn't become a janitor to live well and eat well.
"..."
I waited patiently for contact. It wasn't me who was desperate—U Gil-young was.
No reason for me to get worked up first.
"There's nothing here in terms of daily necessities or food."
The apartment was well-stocked with appliances like a bed and a TV, but there wasn't a single daily-use item.
I stepped out briefly to buy a few necessities and came back.
"Hello."
Two men in black suits were waiting at the door.
"Dr. U Gil-young sent us."
"Is that so?"
It's hard to take that at face value. Just wearing a black suit doesn't automatically make someone trustworthy.
"I need proof."
At my words, one of the men immediately took out his phone and made a call somewhere. Then he held the phone out to me.
― Ah, can you hear me?
"Loud and clear. Who is this?"
Immediately, a hearty laugh came through the phone.
― It's me, U Gil-young.
"The voice coming from the phone seems to be that person. Isn't this a world where you can modulate your voice?"
U Gil-young fell silent for a moment after hearing my reply.
― Was it successful?
It seemed he judged the success just from my attitude on the call. Well, a failed person wouldn't be so calm.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I have nothing more to discuss until you come here in person."
I ended the call and headed for the door.
"We can't let you in like this, Apprentice Janitor Kim Sang-seon."
The two men in suits blocked my path.
"Then I'll wait inside with you."
At my words, the two men exchanged glances.
"Do you even need permission for that? What a pathetic workplace."
I said that and stepped forward. Either way, if I want to enter the house, there's no way they can stop me.
A short while later, the three of us sat in front of a bag of egg snacks and some instant coffee.
"Go ahead and eat."
But no one seemed interested in the snacks.
"If you don't want them, fine."
"Normally, people don't pay this much attention to an apprentice janitor."
That figures. And it seemed they still didn't understand why all eyes were on me.
"There must be a valid reason for the attention."
No more words were exchanged. We just waited for U Gil-young to arrive.
About an hour passed before I finally heard the doorbell. Took your sweet time.
"Kim Sang-seon."
"Director U Gil-young."
I gave a slight nod in greeting. Before he could say anything further, I pulled the sample bottle out of my inventory.
"Here are the results."
Then, I put the sample bottle back into my inventory.
"Now, let's talk about compensation."
U Gil-young responded.
"What you just showed looks like a hairball vomited by our house cat."
Ah, really? I nodded.
"Then you can study it as vomit. Don't know if the results will be the same, though."
U Gil-young chuckled.
"Why take it so seriously? It's a lie anyway. It'll be revealed as soon as you go to the lab."
"That's true. Oh, do you like egg snacks?"
I pointed at the snacks on the table. He shook his head and reached for them.
"You have quite the impatient personality."
I took the sample bottle back out and handed it to him.
U Gil-young took it and passed it to one of the men in suits. That man immediately left the house with it.
"Are you going to check it right away?"
"Of course."
"Trust between us is lacking."
"Blind trust is the fastest way to get scammed. Understand that."
Then, crunch, U Gil-young chewed on an egg snack and gestured to the other suited man behind him.
"If it's proven to be genuine…"
A black case was placed on the table and clicked open.
"The equipment you'll receive in exchange."
A silver, watch-like ornament.
"A reverse-field generator, huh."
It's equipment that generates a protective barrier around the skin.
"This is a special military-grade model with increased output. One coin-shaped magic battery guarantees three hours of operation."
It can even defend against armor-piercing rounds fired from personal firearms. Not only is it unavailable to civilians, it's for special forces even in the military.
"And this is a rapid-recovery agent."
Rapid-recovery agent. Honestly, this is even more impressive than the reverse-field generator.
Even if a limb is severed, a single injection can reattach the severed part, and two injections can fully regenerate a lost limb.
"This is clearly intentional support."
"It shows that the nation cares about your body. Be grateful."
What a joke. They're doing this because giving weapons to a janitor whose body exceeds human limits is risky. In any case, the message is: don't die and bring back the samples.
"I did my first cleaning as an apprentice today."
"Ah, I heard about it. You did well. Congratulations."
I thanked him, took a sip of coffee, and continued.
"I learned a very important lesson."
"Oh? I'm curious what that lesson is."
"The survival of others is crucial. We're the only ones who can rescue survivors trapped in contaminated zones."
U Gil-young almost agreed, then shut his mouth.
"I need force to eliminate threats, not equipment just for my safety."
"…As you know, janitor equipment is normally controlled."
It's mandated by international agreements.
If superhuman mark bearers, who already have extraordinary strength, were to carry firearms, the government would find it extremely difficult to control them.
So, even now, modern tech and advanced materials are being used to produce swords, bows, spears, and shields for mark bearers.
"Yes, I know. That's why I asked for an exception."
With my current body, I could wield a tow cannon like a machine gun. I need more and stronger firepower.
"…We'll have a careful discussion with the relevant authorities regarding your request."
The reply was disappointingly bland. "Careful discussion," huh.
"I expect a quick and positive answer."
It might take some time, but Korea isn't the only country in the world. Let's see if they can keep that "careful discussion" going once competitors appear.
"For now, be satisfied with the equipment provided."
"Understood."
Anyway, having means to protect myself isn't a bad thing.
"I hope the research results are positive."
Ultimately, everything is determined by value. I can collect samples in contaminated zones. But if the collected samples turn out to be insignificant, my abilities lose value. To keep receiving weapons, the samples must be highly valuable.
"Same here. Oh, here's my phone number. Don't call me directly from now on—contact me if anything suspicious happens."
With that, U Gil-young left with the men in suits.
"I need to have dinner now too."
Checking the time, I got up and scratched my head.
"Damn it. I didn't buy any food."
The essentials I bought were detergent, scrubbers, shampoo, and soap. No food. I wondered whether to grab a convenience store meal when my phone rang.
― You two, want to eat out? The fridge is completely empty.
It seemed Han Se-hee invited me and Oh Min-hyeok via messenger.
Eat out, huh. Honestly, I was too exhausted physically and mentally to shop for ingredients and cook.
Since they're apprentices too, their assigned residences weren't far.
― I'm fine with it.
Soon after, Oh Min-hyeok replied, and I agreed as well.
Once decided, Han Se-hee quickly arranged the restaurant and time.
"Here we are!"
The place was a barbecue restaurant everyone could eat at without complaints. The two had arrived first, and I was slightly late.
"Sorry I'm late."
"No worries. It's just a meal together."
After a brief greeting, we started grilling meat in front of the pan.
"What did you all do before this? I was a nurse."
"Oh, then you're good at giving injections too?"
She answered casually, as if it were nothing.
"No problem. Though I spent two years in the operating room, so my touch might be a bit off. You rarely give injections there."
Operating room nurse, huh. No wonder she could immediately recognize that the multi-armed monster was holding a human vocal cord.
"I was just a high school student. Should've studied less, maybe. Oh, and you both can speak casually with me—it's awkward otherwise."
Oh Min-hyeok was a high school student, supposedly top of his class. But what good is that? He suddenly became a janitor due to mark manifestation.
"In a way, we're both high school graduates."
He made an "oh" sound.
"You got a job right after graduating?"
"Just a day-to-day life, earning to live."
I remembered doing anything I could to make a living with him.
"Oh, by the way, we can't use guns, right? Some Oslo Convention thing."
During the meal, Oh Min-hyeok asked as if he'd just remembered something.
"There are reasons. Can't go into details."
"Would that apply to us too?"
Hmm… They'll provide ample ammunition, but probably not many guns.
And besides…
"Have you fired a gun before?"
Both immediately looked down at the grill. Oh Min-hyeok was a high schooler, and Han Se-hee was a girl. They obviously hadn't. The most dangerous bullets are the ones flying at your back.
Sadly, I couldn't give them guns.
"Oh, Min-hyeok, any gear in mind? There were quite a few in the catalog."
"There was one shaped like a baseball bat. Seems safest to pick something familiar, so that's my choice."
I made a questioning sound.
"Catalog?"
"It was in the bedroom… didn't you see it?"
I spoke with U Gil-young right after arriving, so I hadn't checked the bedroom.
"As apprentices, allowed gear is limited. As you get promoted, options expand."
High-level janitors (grade 3 and above) get custom equipment support.
"Of course, still can't violate the Oslo Convention."
Oh Min-hyeok glanced at me again. Well, curiosity is normal at that age.
Can't satisfy that curiosity.
"Stop staring, just eat."
"Yes…"
We demolished five servings of pork belly, three of neck meat, soybean paste stew, and cold noodles, celebrating small victories along the way.
"Eat a lot. Mark bearers need high caloric intake. About five thousand calories is easy."
"You know a lot about that? Fast learner, I guess. Here, eat up."
Han Se-hee served Oh Min-hyeok, quite considerate.
He replied while taking meat.
"The kids are so interested. You can see it from subscriber counts on famous janitors' social media channels."
"Good that I don't have to worry about dieting…"
Han Min-hee, about to put meat on the grill, froze.
"What… this isn't a prank, right?"
On the plate of meat, a piece that looked like a human finger had been placed.
What kind of lunatic would pull a sick joke like this?