How to Survive as an Extra

Chapter 136

The place in Seoul where the lights went out the latest was District 26.

As a major transportation hub that drew crowds day and night, it was almost never dark, operating nearly twenty-four hours a day.

Then where was the place in Seoul that lit up the earliest?

If one were to ask a passing child, an elderly person, or even a traveler who had never once visited Seoul, the answer would be the same.

The commercial District 7.

District 7 was not only Seoul’s largest supplier of industries related to superpowers, but also its greatest consumer.

As a result, countless people flocked there, and an enormous volume of items was consumed.

Naturally, contracts at the national level were frequent, and if relations were ever to sour with the Production Guild—the leadership of District 7—it would not be an exaggeration to say that the superpowered industry of that nation was finished.

“Rather than finished, it would be more accurate to say it could never recover.”

To mind the Production Guild’s favor was to mind Seoul’s favor, and that in turn led directly to the national power of the Republic of Korea.

Of course, even the administration of that Republic found itself minding the Bureau of Superpowers.

In any case, today was the day of the annual International Superpowered Industry Exhibition, and I had been invited as a VIP.

I had just arrived in District 8.

Why District 8 instead of District 7?

Because all cultural events related to superpowers were originally held in District 8.

“Perhaps it would be accurate to call it an exhibition in District 8 hosted by District 7.”

The exhibition that had once been targeted for the Core of the Earth had also taken place in District 8.

The Superpowered Exhibition would run for two days, with each guild and corporation’s unpack schedule packed tightly.

In the case of Hyeonseong, a corporation friendly to non-awakened individuals, they introduced new everyday products such as smartphones and vehicles enhanced with superpowered technology. Production guilds specializing in items displayed stronger equipment to whet the appetites of Hunters.

Groups researching superpowers and the realms beyond the rifts held presentations to attract investors from around the world, while magical societies unveiled new spells and showcased limitless possibilities.

“In other words, it is a preview of the coming year.”

Whenever an event like this was held, it was Dispel that suffered.

Even now, most of the inner-ward branches from District 2 to District 10 had been summoned to District 8.

The outer branches were naturally excluded, as they could barely manage their own jurisdictions.

The Production Guild had requested cooperation not only from Dispel but also from the Special Affairs Division, and someone like me—lacking in seniority—had received a VIP invitation to serve in the role of protecting the VIPs.

“So this is what they mean when they say even a dog is better off if it belongs to a prime minister’s household.”

Those invited here as VIPs were leaders of the superpowered world.

Not the masters of middling small and medium-sized Hunter guilds, but the true power brokers.

Even at Hero Prep, only a handful of families received such invitations.

The Gwon Clan of Gwon Chihun, one of Dispel’s deep-rooted evils, had not received one. That said everything.

Naturally, Do Minyeong would have received an invitation.

She was Seoul’s esteemed young lady, revered simply for breathing.

“Of course, she did not come.”

There was no way Do Minyeong would set foot in a place teeming with people like this.

There were a few seniors at Hero Prep who might have qualified for an invitation, but someone who truly fit the title of VIP was another matter.

For instance, someone like Cha Yeri, who was openly waiting for me at the entrance to the building where the VIP auction would soon begin.

“What a coincidence?”

“…Is that so?”

The fact that Cha Yeri was here meant she had come representing the Hyeonseong Group.

And she certainly knew I would be coming.

Just as Do Minyeong was revered in District 10, Cha Yeri enjoyed immense popularity in District 7 and within the Production Guild. Information of this level would not have been difficult for her to obtain.

“How could such a coincidence happen? To run into you like this!”

She feigned surprise, as if she had just stepped outside by chance and happened to encounter me.

Unfortunately, I had already sensed her mana weaving in and out of the entrance from several hundred meters away.

Seeing my indifferent reaction, she let out a resigned expression.

“Your daily life must be terribly dull.”

“I dislike frequent changes. For example, when someone interferes in my life at will.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing. More importantly, why were you waiting for me?”

“That is…”

At that moment, another group of VIP invitees approached the entrance.

When they greeted Cha Yeri, she instantly donned an elegant smile.

A born swindler.

I took the opportunity to head inside, but someone in the group called out my name.

“Ah! Are you perhaps Ji Seokhyeon, the probationary investigator from the Special Affairs Division?”

I turned to see a middle-aged man wearing a pleasant smile.

He had the kind of face that would suit round, rimless glasses perfectly.

The image of someone born to a professional career.

“Yes, hello.”

“A pleasure. I am Yoo Inseong.”

Yoo Inseong handed me his business card.

As expected, he held a high-ranking position at a prominent superpowered law firm in Seoul.

He was one of the top superpowered attorneys in the field, whether in skill or in achievements.

At the very least, every major guild had attempted to hire him. To put it plainly, he was the father of Hyun Yuyeol, the president of Hero Prep’s Student Council.

Like his son, he was said to be exceptional at handling matters.

“I heard that you recently dismantled a cult. And that you even subjugated a Demonic Being… Sigh, I have no idea what my son plans to become when he grows up.”

In the middle of exchanging pleasantries, Yoo Inseong abruptly brought up Hyun Yuyeol.

No matter how renowned he was as an attorney, a father was still a father.

Hyun Yuyeol would no doubt manage his own affairs well, but a family of Yoo Inseong’s standing would inevitably have expectations befitting their status.

All I could do was offer an awkward smile.

“Ah! My son is currently a third-year in the Investigation Division at Hero Prep. His name is Yuyeol.”

“Yes, the Student Council President.”

“I thought you might know. Yuyeol often praises you.”

That meticulous Hyun Yuyeol had praised me?

“What did he say? That you are quite intelligent… That you are surprisingly mature for your appearance, almost to the point of seeming out of place…”

“That does sound like something the President would say.”

“Ah! By the way, I heard the news. You are pursuing the Phantom Thief?”

“Yes, somehow.”

At the mention of the Phantom Thief, Cha Yeri glanced at me.

The irony of a former Phantom Thief pursuing one, perhaps.

“This is a personal wish of mine, but I hope you catch the Phantom Thief. Lately, copycat crimes have been rampant, and legal professionals like us have barely had time to breathe. It is good to have work, of course, but superpowered crimes tend to leave more fatalities than injuries…”

Yoo Inseong trailed off.

The companions beside him seemed to suggest he was speaking for too long.

“Ah, it seems the auction is about to begin. Let us speak again at leisure next time. Ha ha.”

With that, they entered the building.

Once they disappeared into the large hall where the auction would be held, Cha Yeri spoke with a mocking tone.

“I suspected it, but you are truly chasing the Phantom Thief. Then you must know who the Phantom Thief is, do you not?”

“I do not. More importantly, why were you waiting?”

“Obviously because I want to sit next to you.”

“What?”

“Everyone invited here is a VIP. There are no assigned seats.”

“You were really waiting just for that?”

“Why?”

“There is nothing for us to do together. And if someone misunderstands seeing us together?”

“We are both cadets of Hero Prep. What does it matter? It would be stranger if we acted awkward. And if I do not do this…”

In an instant, she leaned close and whispered in my ear.

“We would not be able to stay together, would we?”

…

Before I realized it, she was smiling brightly, spinning once in place.

“Is it not better to sit with someone pretty like me than to sit alone looking gloomy? I put quite a bit of effort into dressing up today.”

…

Before she could say anything more absurd, I hurried inside.

“Wait, let us go together!”

“No. I did not come here to play.”

***

The International Superpowered Industry Exhibition.

The first schedule for those invited as VIPs was an auction.

More precisely, it was a charity auction in which items donated by VIPs would be sold, with the proceeds given to childcare facilities in the outskirts.

A quintessential event of the upper class.

Although it was a charitable auction, no one submitted a shabby item.

The item itself represented the donor’s face.

Hyeonseong, represented by Cha Yeri, had donated an extraordinary piece.

Namely—

“I am sure you are all aware of what occurred at the outpost. The mural discovered there, and the unidentified monstrous creature. The item we present today is that very nameless monster.”

It was the skull of the Basilisk we had hunted at the outpost.

As the massive skull appeared, the previously composed VIPs erupted in applause.

Preserved and polished by expert hands, it looked like a trophy fit for the lobby of a grand estate.

I spoke quietly to Cha Yeri beside me.

“Was that your idea?”

“No.”

I had not truly thought it was.

In this case, it must have been the decision of the Hyeonseong Group’s chairman, Cha Myeonghan.

“The chairman’s idea.”

“Yes.”

In the original work, Cha Myeonghan was a benevolent figure whom no one in Seoul disliked.

After the previous exhibition incident, he had generously compensated all victims.

However, when it came to matters involving his granddaughter, Cha Yeri, he became terrifying.

An excessive overprotectiveness, perhaps.

Cha Yeri disliked that about him and avoided clashing with him.

As for me, he was someone I absolutely must never meet.

The auctioneer continued.

“In all my years as an auctioneer, I have never seen such a beautiful skull. Beyond the craftsmanship involved, the reason the skull could be preserved with so little damage was that the cervical spine was severed with perfect precision.”

The auctioneer scanned the audience before his gaze landed on me.

With a polite gesture, he pointed in my direction.

“Before we begin the bidding, I would like to give a round of applause to the individual who made this masterpiece possible. Ji Seokhyeon, probationary investigator of the Special Affairs Division.”

In an instant, all eyes turned toward me.

Applause broke out around the hall. At Cha Yeri’s whisper—“This is when you stand and give a light greeting”—I found myself rising and bowing.

Why was this necessary?

More than anything, Cha Yeri was watching me with a mischievous smile.

She was clearly enjoying this.

“Now then, we shall begin the bidding for this skull. The starting price is ten million won…”

The auctioneer conducted the bidding with practiced ease.

The final winning bid exceeded four hundred million won.

An astounding sum, yet reasonable for an item that was one of a kind in the world.

Above all, it would serve perfectly as a boast—jokingly claiming it was a dragon’s head—to guests visiting one’s estate.

As an aside, after a thorough investigation by the Bureau, the rest of the Basilisk’s corpse had been sold off.

A few days ago, I had received my share of the proceeds. Meanwhile, artisans in District 7 were still busy researching the Basilisk’s materials.

How long would it take before they were crafted into proper items?

Unfamiliar materials would not be easy to handle.

Regardless of the time required, once completed, they would undoubtedly become formidable items.

Lost in such thoughts, the next item was presented.

Until now, the pieces had been unfamiliar. This time, however, it was something I recognized at a glance.

“That is…”

“So, you like something like that?”

Cha Yeri sounded intrigued at my unusual display of interest.

Then she added casually,

“Shall I buy it for you?”