Episode 8
“Damn. This just got annoying.”
The man’s name was Jung Yong‑won—a professional hitman hired to kill.
‘He must have been lying in wait!’
I wondered if there had been a leak… or perhaps he was an Awakened with detection skills.
He’d never been caught during dozens of contracts—until today. Unfortunately for him, he’d been tracked and was now being chased by four detectives.
“Move! Get out of the way!”
He dashed into the crowded department store, hoping to lose them in the crowd.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
“Oops!”
“You okay?”
Trying to blend into the crowd, I spotted an emergency exit.
‘There.’
Yong‑won opened and ran through it.
“Stairs! He’s heading down them!”
The detectives immediately followed him as he burst through the door.
“You two go up! Rookie, you’re with me—downstairs!”
“Be careful, Boss!”
“Yes!”
The team leader and rookie began ascending the stairs.
“Rookie.”
“Yes, Boss?”
“If he appears, shoot a Taser first—he’s dangerous.”
“Understood.”
Suddenly, they heard someone rushing down the stairs. Instinctively, they aimed their Tasers upward.
“Ah!”
But the figure descending wasn’t their target—it was a woman with long hair wearing a red top.
“Don’t be startled. It’s police. We’re chasing a suspect—have you seen a man with short hair wearing blue?”
She pointed upstairs desperately.
“Yes! I saw him just a moment ago, running up!”
“Thanks! Let’s go, rookie!”
They rushed upward—but then…
“Wait! Boss!”
The rookie called out urgently, stopping the leader.
“What is it?”
“This woman’s shoes match the suspect’s!”
All three gawked at her shoes.
Her lips curled into a fishy smile—as if she’d been waiting to be found out.
“Heh, rookie’s got a better eye than the boss.”
Swoosh—Thrust!
Before they could react, she plunged a knife deep into the team leader’s neck.
“Krrr….”
Blood spurted everywhere as he collapsed.
“Boss!”
The rookie fired the Taser immediately.
Bzzzt!
The Taser needles embedded in Yong‑won’s body.
“Ha, that’s kinda electrifying.”
But Yong‑won casually tore the needles out of himself.
“How stupid, thinking I’m still a normal person.”
Thud—Stab!
“Kuh…”
He crushed the rookie’s heart in a single blow.
His ability: to copy the physical form of whoever he touched.
“That’ll be enough… Carotid in thirty seconds, heart in fifteen—huh? Already dead?”
He glanced at the two motionless bodies.
‘I’ve probably got a tail on me now—better live like a normal person for a while.’
If a high‑rank Hunter had been dispatched, it would have ended disastrously for him.
As long as I didn’t do anything sloppy, I’d be fine.
“Clean job as always. Heh-heh.”
He glared at his knife, preparing to wipe it clean—but then—
Clank!
At the bottom of the stairs, the emergency exit would have blocked anyone.
Until someone entered.
Yong‑won still hadn’t retrieved his bloody knife. Their eyes met.
He looked at this new person—a young man—and sneered.
“You’re young—just bad luck.”
He stomped off, closing the gap to swing at him.
Swish—
“Uh?”
Thunk! Swish!
“Ugh—”
Suddenly, his legs gave out and Yong‑won fell limp.
“That one was asking for it…—or was ‘she’?”
He had lunged at the moment our eyes met. I was lucky.
Clearly he’d eaten several cores—investing heavily in agility paid off.
“Turning a knife aimed at me? That’s stroll-in-the-park level.”
Now I didn’t have to clean up the mess myself.
No trace of me would be left—only Yong‑won’s fingerprints on the knife.
With a soft sound—
I reverted to his appearance just before he died. I pressed my hand to his heart.
Thump—
My heart pumped hard.
[Failed! Kin Devouring succeeded.]
[You have acquired the Unique Skill: “Form Alteration.”]
That was my second successful devour.
Form Alteration: Copy someone’s appearance by touching them—usable up to three times a day, but you can only retain one “form” at a time.
Not directly combat-related—but useful for gathering better skills down the road.
Thankfully, it didn’t require mana.
I exited through the emergency door. Now, it was time to plan the next move.
With nowhere to use Form Alteration yet, I headed home.
Locked my room door and activated “Form Alteration.”
My skin tightened, bones subtly shifted—my fingers slimmed, waist shortened, pelvis widened.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror: it was the female model I’d brushed past outside the department store.
‘This looks good enough.’
I examined this new form carefully—and called Jeong Ji-ho.
Ring… Ring…
“Uh… why are you calling me?”
Still groggy from sleep. Unlike me, he couldn’t heal quick—so he was resting at home.
“About clubs—do you know them?”
“Huh? Who is this? This number’s wrong.”
Ah, I had forgotten—I was currently using a borrowed phone. Changed my form back before answering.
“Don’t play dumb—it’s me.”
“Oh? Weird… you sounded like a woman.”
“Wake up from your dream. Anyway—is club in your neighborhood?”
“Yeah, haircut’s ten thousand won there. The auntie’s magic—fixes my head shape. But…”
I nodded.
“I didn’t mean that—club like for dancing and drinks, you idiot.”
“Club? No, I wouldn’t know.”
“You know someone else?”
“Yes, other women—have been there.”
“That guy is nuts. Women? They’re like mythical creatures. Wake up!”
Guess who I picked to ask… dead wrong.
“Gonna rest.”
“Hey! Wait!”
Ji-ho called me back.
“When are you starting work?”
“Around a week later.”
First priority: kill Kim Woo‑seok and get that 500 million won.
“A week, huh? Might as well—going out at night won’t help.”
“Yeah. And don’t leave at night—there might be monster reports. I’m hanging up.”
“What an idiot…”
I punched into google:
“How to get a guy’s attention in a club?”
“Ha…”
I sighed deeply.
“I’ve got it on, though.”
Short white tee and shorts—minimum bare-skin outfit to not get kicked out of clubs.
“Still better than a skirt.”
I’d spent my entire 300,000 won on some brand name clothes—saw posts saying VIP rooms only for higher-tier customers.
Why? To lure in Kim Woo‑seok.
“If only I’d stayed in a dungeon… what a hassle.”
Kim Woo‑seok wasn’t hunting inside dungeons—it was at clubs and hotels.
Target: young women.
Not just violence—perverted games exploiting human desires.
Dirt cheap cruelty.
Because of one douchebag, I have to—
In the past life I’d just barreled in, but right now: restraint.
Because Omega skill is within reach.
[Constellation “Lord of Apostasy” asks: is talking to yourself your hobby?]
I ignored the messages and joined the long queue at the entrance of “Race,” the hottest club in Gangnam.
According to Ji‑soo’s intel, Kim Woo‑seok would be here on a Wednesday.
My turn came.
Trying to look calm, I passed the bouncer.
“Wait.”
He halted me.
“You’re alone?”
“Yes. Why?”
He and another exchanged glances.
“Hold on.”
Taking my photo with his phone.
Then called someone.
“Yes. Solo. Around 170 cm. Looks better in real life. Matches the executive’s taste. Yes—let her in now.”
Executive?
So that’s how it works…
Kim Woo‑seok was picking victims from the entrance—club was all in on it.
After call ends, guard said:
“VIP room—interested?”
Why hesitate?
“Sure.”
He’s basically offering me to die.
“This way.”
Guard led me inside.
Booming beat, drunk dancers all over—
‘What’s so fun about this?’
I stared expressionlessly.
To me, these people were just walking meat.
Yet they writhed and danced as if possessed.
Pathetic—they’re the first to go.
I climbed the stairs to the second floor—quieter, more composed. People peered over the railing with superiority like viewing beasts in cages.
“This way. Last room over there.”
Guard led the way.
“Who’s in the VIP room?”
Too obvious arouses suspicion.
“You could never guess.”
Like a big figure—someone like Kim Woo‑seok.
Now—
There, at the door of the final VIP room, a man in a black suit.
‘Where have I seen him…?’
Scar slashed from his eyebrow to his cheek.
This was familiar.
If I recognized him that easily, he was either strong or a notorious piece of trash.
I checked the floating rating.
★★☆☆☆
Two stars—useful skill.
Suddenly—
“It’s Cheol‑woo hyung. She’s the one.”
Oh—Choi Cheol‑woo?
Bingo.
Proxy of constellation “Assassin of Blood Moon.”
That explained it.
He was trash—betrayer type, disloyal to the contract holders.
And now unemployed after I destroyed Bukdu.
Lucky he survived—though a traitor dog without a master earns no market.
Ah… Looks like past me did have some influence.
“I’m gonna go to the restroom real quick.”
The guard looked at me.
“Restroom? Now?”
“Gotta prepare—coming to VIP often joint, right?”
He misunderstood badly.
“Restroom’s that way.”
“Okay.”
As I turned to go—
“Hey—go with her.”
Cheol‑woo ordered the guard.
“It’s right ahead, though?”
“If she runs off, you’re responsible. Doesn’t hurt to keep her close.”
They think my hearing is broken?
They’ve been whispering right from the entrance.
I followed them to the women’s restroom.
“Hey!”
Guard called.
“That’s the men’s restroom.”
Guess habit’s a scary thing.
“I—just got nervous.”
I switched to the women’s restroom.
[Constellation “Lord of Apostasy” says: Now I see why you turned into a woman!]
Shut up.
Ignoring the barrage of messages, I pulled out Ji‑soo’s phone and typed:
— “Could you clean up if I kill someone else during the operation?”
Reply came instantly:
— “We handle your family too—but those are peanuts compared to them.”
Good. The reply was there.
Prep is complete.
[Constellation “Lord of Apostasy” asks: wasting two stars?]
You don’t know.
That useless one-star guy’s skill will become incredibly useful soon.
