The first thing Seoryeong had to do was recover her body.
After her stitches were removed, she began to retrain herself: burpees, jump squats, basic flexibility exercises. She underwent the health check-ups outlined in the manual, then started practicing fundamental swimming techniques.
Two months of healing her wounds.
Two months of rebuilding her physical strength.
She used the remaining time to study information about Blast Company in more depth.
The company had divisions both domestically and internationally, and the types of work they handled were far more diverse than she had imagined. As she delved deeper into each division, she discovered that the teams were further subdivided into smaller specialized units.
The special security team was part of the overseas division—but unfortunately, very little information was publicly available about them.
When the day of the call arrived, Seoryeong stood once again in front of the empty wedding photo frame.
"I'll be back."
She imagined her husband's face in the blank space where his image should have been.
_I will come looking for you there._
_And when that day comes..._
_This time, you're the one who has to catch me._
That was the only determination she planted in her heart—like a star embedded deep in her body.
---
Seoryeong left the house with only the one-page manual she had received from Chairman Kang.
She slung a large sports bag over her shoulder and looked up at the tall building that felt foreign to her. Previously, she had only ever been in the locker room, the dining hall, and the laundry facilities. She had never gone to the upper floors.
The meeting place was on the tenth floor.
She straightened her bag and went through the revolving door.
Inside the elevator were several young men dressed casually, just like her. They greeted each other awkwardly—apparently having met before.
"I didn't expect to meet Sergeant Kim here."
"Hard to survive on a national army salary."
"That's right..." Another man sighed heavily. "I quit when I saw Lieutenant Park forced to retire from the military. Even now, the house installments aren't paid off..."
The elevator ascended silently, with only the faint hum of machinery audible.
Seoryeong touched the clear glass wall, looking down at the ground growing smaller and smaller below.
When the elevator doors opened, the first thing visible was a large hall.
The men who had been with her exited one by one. Seoryeong followed.
Some of them glanced at her with slightly surprised expressions.
Beneath the high ceiling, chairs were neatly arranged. Most of the new recruits had short hair—some looked nervous and glanced around anxiously, while others sat with confident postures. But whoever they were, they all seemed to lack something: the easy confidence of long-time team members.
There were former soldiers.
Athletes in windbreakers.
People with scarred faces.
Clearly, they came from diverse backgrounds. A collection of people whose only asset was their bodies.
This kind of service company raised many questions.
The atmosphere felt cold and strange.
Seoryeong walked past them indifferently.
She was the only woman sitting there.
Instantly, all eyes turned to her.
Silence enveloped the room.
Scornful gazes. Curious gazes. Condescending gazes. Even hostile ones—all attacking her at once.
But she remained sitting calmly in the corner of the room.
"You—!"
Someone roughly pulled her shoulder, causing her body to slam against the chair behind her.
She looked up and saw a familiar face glaring at her.
"What are you doing here?!"
_How annoying._
"What's our team's helper doing here?!"
The man who had once irritated her in the training facility pointed at her with a sour expression. His face flushed red up to his neck with anger. He hurriedly sat down beside her.
"I thought you had resigned. Left all the work behind." His voice rose. "So why are you showing up here?!"
His volume drew everyone's attention again.
Seoryeong pretended to bend down to tie her shoelaces, then answered softly but firmly:
"That's right—I should just be cooking and doing laundry." She straightened slowly. "But... it turns out it's not that simple."
Her gaze fixed straight on the man.
"Maybe someone has to die."
He looked back in confusion for a moment, then chuckled nervously.
"What...? What nonsense are you talking about?" He shook his head. "Maybe our camp needs a cook, but only people who came to participate in the training are here. You should just get out."
"What's your name?"
"Huh?"
"What's your name?"
Seoryeong glanced at his chest—no name tag. The man's face began to stiffen as he lightly kicked her bag.
"We've met many times, but you still don't know my name?" His voice pitched higher. "When I asked you before, you said you already knew! You said you saw my name tag back then!"
"That was two months ago."
"What—!"
"I can read." Her voice remained flat. "But I didn't say it was worth remembering."
"..."
"So—what's your real name?"
"Damn it..."
"Doesn't seem like a name you want others to call you."
The man bit his lip in embarrassment.
_How old is he really?_
Seoryeong wondered while looking at the person whose emotions were so easily readable. This was no longer a situation where she had to be polite as a regular staff member. This was a situation where if she appeared weak, everything would go wrong.
To get through this training calmly, she couldn't let the insults continue.
Now was the time to draw a line.
"Stop joking."
Seoryeong said it softly, pulling the man closer and whispering in a calm but clear tone. Their faces were almost touching.
"Whatever you want, just do it quickly. Whether you want to sleep with me or punch me until I fall—it's up to you." Her eyes didn't waver. "But why the pretense of being close? Why act like we know each other well?"
"—!"
"I see you want to do something. But you don't dare."
The man's face stiffened.
"I can accept incompetence." Her voice dropped even lower. "But if you want to demean yourself..."
His eyes widened as their faces nearly touched.
"I will play by the same rules as you."
---
*Ding.*
The elevator doors opened.
Her attention shifted to a man who had just stepped out.
"—!"
_Why are they coming here?_
The elevator was full of special security team members—and Lee Wooshin, walking at the front, stretched his neck while closing his eyes.
They crossed the hall toward the stage with quick, purposeful steps, under the gaze of approximately seventy new recruits watching their every move.
Lee Wooshin took the microphone.
His cheeks looked puffed out—as if he was chewing on candy.
"Hello. I'm Lee Wooshin, head of the special security team. I'll be responsible for this basic training."
His flat tone sounded boring, but everyone still listened carefully.
With a height of over 188 centimeters and a large build that made his suit look tight, the microphone in his hand appeared small and almost comical. The previously tense atmosphere immediately calmed.
"Our team will be fully responsible for your training as instructors."
"—!"
Seoryeong bit her lower lip softly.
She had heard from people in the locker room that Blast Company held regular training every quarter: basic training, winter training, extreme weather training, autumn training, and other specialized programs.
She'd often heard complaints from the security team members about instructor duties—but why did she have to encounter Lee Wooshin during *this* training period?
The strange feeling and awkward atmosphere made her increasingly uncomfortable.
"The basic training program will last for ten weeks at a private training camp."
The sound of the candy turning in Lee Wooshin's mouth was clearly audible through the microphone.
Even so, he still looked bored. His eyes scanned the recruits sitting before him without apparent interest.
"The training will cover physical strength, military combat, water survival, and combat simulations—to prepare you to meet Blast Company's standards..."
But suddenly, he stopped talking.
As if something had jolted him.
Their gazes accidentally met.
Lee Wooshin blinked slowly—as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"..."
"..."
Silence enveloped the room.
His previously smooth explanation stopped abruptly, causing the recruits to begin whispering to each other.
Seoryeong could only look at him with an unhappy expression.
After almost two months, she was finally meeting the man who had fired her.
She gave a casual bow as a form of courtesy—even though she felt deeply uncomfortable—then turned her face away.
A faint voice came through the microphone, clear enough to make her heart pound for no reason.
Lee Wooshin covered the microphone with his large hand, then turned toward the special security team. His strong neck showed the cords of muscle as he turned his head quickly.
"Why is she here?"
His question was soft, but loud enough for Seoryeong to hear.
"I told you to check the name list properly, didn't I? Actually, that woman..."
"...Who..."
"...Right!"
They spoke in low voices for a moment.
Lee Wooshin closed his eyes.
Took a deep breath.
His chest muscles could clearly be seen moving up and down beneath his suit jacket.