Chapter 26: I Picked Up a Cockatrice's Egg (1)

Today, I'm finally going to work for the first time while wearing the hero badge I've dreamed of.

"It's my first day at work. I should dress as neatly as possible."

The most important thing in human relationships is the first impression. I shouldn't wear shabby clothes like usual. I need to set an example for citizens now. I opened the closet to find clean clothes.

Creak-!

Inside were shabby workout clothes, but I couldn't find any neat clothes.

"Ah, right. I only have workout clothes. I forgot."

Come to think of it, I've never bought neat clothes like shirts or slacks. There was never a situation where I needed such clothes in the first place. I just repeated working and sleeping every day.

"The neatest clothes I have are stretched-out white T-shirts and shabby shorts. I can't wear those."

Can't be helped. I'll just wear what I've been wearing. I decided to go to work in comfortable workout clothes as usual.

"Kids. Dad's going out. Don't cause trouble and stay quiet."

"Dad, wait."

As I was about to open the front door and leave, Suryeon held me back and asked:

"Aren't you going to your new workplace today?"

"Yes, the Hero Association. I'm going to work today."

"Then why are your clothes like that? On TV, everyone wears something called a suit when going to work."

The smart Suryeon asked a sharp question. As expected of my daughter. I couldn't say that we're too poor to have a suit, so I patted Suryeon's head and said:

"Dad doesn't wear things like suits."

"Why?"

"Because I look cool even without them."

"..."

Then, Suryeon looked at me with contemptuous eyes. If I kept looking at those eyes, I felt like I'd get hurt emotionally. I quickly turned my gaze away and left home for work.

'First day at work.'

I wonder what will happen today? I felt somewhat excited.

***

First day of work. I arrived at the center of Seoul-05 district after a 1 hour 30 minute subway ride. The Hero Association stood tall among buildings that were at least 30 stories high. I took my first step into that place reeking of money.

'I feel nervous.'

Hoo-

I exhaled nervously as I walked through the association's interior. Inside, various heroes' achievements were brilliantly displayed.

'They must have spent a lot of money.'

As I was looking around like a child on a field trip to the Hero Association, a female employee who seemed to be from the association approached and said:

"Are you perhaps Hero Lee Ha-jun?"

Hero Lee Ha-jun. It's a title that makes my heart swell. I answered confidently:

"Yes, I am that Hero Lee Ha-jun."

"Then please follow me this way. I'll guide you."

Guidance is good. I followed behind the female employee. I could see the association's interior in detail as I followed.

'As expected, big companies are different.'

The people working, the association's decorations. Money isn't just flowing, it's pouring from everywhere. As I was following the female employee, she stopped in front of a door and said:

"You can go in here."

"But who's inside?"

"You'll know when you go in."

The female employee bowed to me and left. Her attitude was quite businesslike. I knocked on the door with moderate strength.

Knock knock-

"I'm coming in."

I opened the tightly closed door and went inside. There, a familiar person wearing a black suit was sitting on a leather sofa, waiting for me.

"Oh, the one I saw at the exam site..."

A well-earning A-rank hero, but what was her name? She frowned slightly and said:

"...Han Ji-soo. The person you punched in the stomach."

"Right."

I couldn't remember because I've been so busy with childcare lately. Han Ji-soo stood up, arranging her jet-black bob hair.

"And, the person who will be your supervisor. I've been assigned as your supervisor this time."

"Supervisor...? Heroes have supervisors too?"

"Below C-rank, yes. Think of it as a probation period."

Han Ji-soo said this and handed me a contract that was on the table.

"Read it carefully and sign."

"Hmm, let's see."

I read the contract slowly.

"D-rank heroes are recognized as official heroes after a one-year probation period. If promoted to C-rank during the probation period, immediately recognized as an official hero. After that, can work as an individual hero, not affiliated with the association."

I understood the content roughly after reading it.

"So if I don't get promoted to C-rank, I have to work for the Hero Association for a year."

"That's right. After that, you can stay affiliated with the association, join a company, or work as a hunter, it doesn't matter. This rule applies to everyone."

"Okay, I understand."

I immediately wrote my name on the contract. Han Ji-soo took the contract and put it on the table.

"Good, you're now a hero affiliated with the association."

So...

"Take off those shabby workout clothes right now."

"What?"

"You're going into a dimensional gate right now. Lee Ha-jun, do you know what name you're called by in the association?"

The old, promising rookie.

"There's never been a case like yours, awakening after 20 and experiencing rapid magic power growth. That's why the association is watching you with interest."

"...Is that so?"

"That's also why I, an A-rank hero, was assigned as your supervisor. And because of what you showed in the exam, I'm also slightly expectant."

To think she has expectations for me. I felt like I might start having strange expectations too.

"I hope that performance shows up in real situations."

Han Ji-soo said this with a faint smile. Watching that, I thought to myself:

'I made a good choice joining.'

She's pretty, and the company benefits seem quite good.

***

Wearing the activity clothes provided by the association, I entered the dimensional gate alone with Han Ji-soo. Looking around, I gave my impression of this dimension:

"It's a forest. A very dense one at that."

The scent of soil and green leaves permeated my nose. It's a dimension Choryeon would like. If I bring her later, she might go crazy with environmental activities. Han Ji-soo walked through the forest with me, explaining about the dimension:

"This dimension is managed by the Hero Association for trainee heroes to use. It's mainly used for combat practice with magical beasts."

"Combat with magical beasts."

I remembered encountering a werewolf before. Back then, I almost died because I had no power and could only run away. But now, high-purity dragon magic power circulates in my heart. If I were to fight it again, I feel like I definitely wouldn't lose. While I was thinking this to myself, Han Ji-soo stopped walking and called my name.

"Lee Ha-jun."

"Yes?"

"I'm going to give you a mission now. And until you complete the mission, I'll just be watching."

Han Ji-soo explained in her characteristically stiff tone. She pointed to a hill visible in the distance.

"There should be an egg at the top of that hill. Bring it back."

"An egg. That's my specialty."

I even brought dragon eggs. A mission to bring another egg should be very simple. But Han Ji-soo said seriously with a hardened expression:

"It won't be as easy as you think. There's a magical beast guarding that egg."

"What kind of magical beast is guarding it?"

"A cockatrice."

Cockatrice. It's the name of a magical beast I've heard of before. I've heard that if you're hit by its attack, your body turns to stone. According to rumors, a hero who was petrified had to watch his childhood friend receive a very intense confession from another man while in that state. Of course, it's considered an urban legend, but the fact remains that cockatrices have a very dangerous ability.

"If I remember correctly, it's not something a D-rank hero can catch, right?"

"Who said to catch it? I said to bring the egg."

Basically, avoid the cockatrice and bring the egg. That seems to be how the mission should proceed. It seemed a bit difficult, but I walked towards the cockatrice's nest on that hill without hesitation.

"By the way, what happens if I get the cockatrice’s egg?"

"I'll give it to you, since you won't be able to get it anyway."

Seeing her respond like that from the start, it seems this mission was designed for failure. But I had no intention of failing at all.

'I'll definitely get it.'

Whether to sell it for money or cook it myself. I can't miss this chance to get a cockatrice egg for free. I slowly headed towards the cockatrice's nest. And as I reached the top of the hill, the beast's huge form gradually came into view.

'A magical beast that's a mix of chicken and lizard. Cockatrice.'

Looking closely, it's not unlike a dragon in some ways. I thought that maybe this cockatrice might also be a product of dragons' shameful history, like Earth's dinosaurs. Anyway, I carefully approached the egg it was brooding over, trying not to be noticed. At that moment:

Kiyoyooo-!!

Noticing my approach, the cockatrice started to cry out. It suddenly screamed and turned its head, glaring at me with sharp eyes.

"Oh crap, I don't even have a weapon. Should I just hit it with my fists?"

I pondered where to hit to make the cockatrice hurt. I clenched my fists tightly, waiting for the cockatrice to approach. But my efforts seemed to be in vain.

Ki, kieeee-

The cockatrice started trembling as it looked at me.

'Why is it suddenly acting like that?'

The trembling beast then suddenly abandoned the egg it was brooding and ran away from the nest, screaming loudly.

Kieeek-!!

I was prepared to fight hard, but suddenly I was left standing alone in the nest.

"What's this?"

An incomprehensible situation. I walked over and picked up the two cockatrice eggs, cradling them. I got the spoils without even fighting.

"Why did it run away, even abandoning its own children?"

The cockatrice fleeing as if it had seen something it shouldn't. Did it see an illusion of a dragon? It suddenly screamed and ran away.

"...I don't know what happened, but I succeeded in the mission."

It feels unsettling, but it's a success for now. I checked the cockatrice eggs, my reward. They were sturdy and full of content. I thought it might be good to sell one and cook the other.

'I should make rolled eggs for dinner tonight.'

I'm not sure if the dragon kids will eat it deliciously, but it should be fine.

'If they don't eat it, I'll eat it myself.'

I achieved a very good result on my first day of work.