Chapter 152:

We kindly ask for your understanding regarding the inconsistency of character pronouns, particularly for the Entities (ex. The Greedy Predator). In Korean, pronouns are rarely used, making it challenging to ascertain a character's gender or identity until later narratives unfold. Update twice a week [SUN] & [THURS] starting August 2024! Also please check out our new Hunter series!

The holiday break, filled with free trips, new battle gear, and hotel buffets, ended unpleasantly because of one thing.

Seora tossed and turned in bed all night, wrestling with thoughts, yet couldn’t reach a conclusion. Even in the brief sleep she managed, the man didn’t appear in her dreams.

Whether in turmoil or not, the night passed, and the sun rose again.

Returning to her squirrel wheel-like office life, she brushed off all the discomfort the moment she stepped into work.

“Chief Yun! Are you dating Hunter Kang Sejun for real?”

The identity of the man at this moment wasn’t important.

With everyone from the management office crowding around and chirping questions, Seora rubbed her temples. Some even went as far as pushing the picturesque sunset-by-the-sea photos from that day, driving her crazy. They were still great photos, even on second glance, though utterly pointless.

‘More importantly, why is Yu Jihyeok giving me those nervous looks wedged between everyone?’

I guess his strange superiors haven’t influenced him. He shouldn’t. I must protect the innocence of the newcomer.

“No wonder you always teamed up for dungeon raids!”

“We’re not entirely sure yet, why make hasty conclusions? Beware of rumors!”

“Ouch, that hurts!”

“I won’t believe it until Chief Yun confirms it. It’d be such a waste of her!”

“…”

Seems like these people are worried about that. What a sturdy group of worrywarts. Sure, compared to others already setting off fireworks, they’re a lot more controlled, but still.

“Uh, well…”

“Wow, perfect timing. Seems like you guys were having an absolutely thrilling conversation.”

The noisy office instantly fell silent. Suddenly, Director Kang Hana from the support office wedged herself among them, her curious eyes fixed on Seora.

“Oh, hi, Director Kang.”

“Congratulations on the promotion, Chief Yun. Congratulations on reaching the top rank, Headbang!”

Please do me a favor and not talk sarcastically to me.

“But seriously, I’m curious. The picture was so charged with atmosphere; are you two really dating?”

“No,” Seora promptly denied to prevent any possible misunderstandings. “We’re just friends. Although they didn’t appear in the photo, Guildmaster Joo Eun’s family and Lee Rohan were also there in Busan on that day!” Seora held up the beach photo in protest.

Kang Hana tilted her head. “How surprising. I thought it was genuine. Look at this, look at Kang Sejun’s intense gaze at you.”

She zoomed in on the photo right in front of Seora. Kang Sejun’s eyes, smiling at her, seemed flushed.

“That’s because of the sunset.”

“Ah, right, that makes sense.” Kang Hana swiftly put away her phone without lingering on it. “Anyway, Chief Yun? Could I have a quick word with you?”

Kang Hana led Yun Seora into Do Junyeong’s office. He greeted them without any sign of surprise as if he was already aware of their conversation.

This made Seora extremely uneasy. “Why would a low-ranking employee like myself be needed in a meeting between two directors?” she asked.

“Low-ranking? You’re a section chief, thanks to your two-rank promotion. I wouldn’t have lost a new employee if it hadn’t been for your leap. Low-ranking? Do you want to be the lowest one?”

Under Kang Hana’s stern smile, Seora quietly took her seat. The intensity of the A-class Hunter even pressed the L-class. Indeed, the corporate world was intimidating. In the workplace, a gangster was more influential than an Awakened.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“We’ve received a request from the Gangneung branch office.” Kang Hana handed over documents to Do Junyeong and Seora. “Apparently, there have been sightings of previously unseen monsters near the Gangneung sea.”

Something resembling a long serpent-like body was captured in the photos accompanying the documents. Partially submerged in the water, it seemed substantial enough to harm a person easily.

“There might be a newly formed gate underwater.”

Gates typically appeared on land. Except for the Level 1 Dungeon incident in Japanese waters, there were no exceptions.

However, the problem lay in the fact that ‘land’ didn’t only exist above the surface. Land extended beneath the sea. Therefore, gates could emerge underwater, making them nearly impossible to conquer. The pressure prevented the accurate tracing of magical waves flowing out, making it challenging to pinpoint their exact locations.

“We conducted magical power measurements from Gangneung to Dokdo, but we found no trace of the gate. It might be in the deeper, unreachable depths of the sea or potentially in the North Korean or Japanese waters that we can’t investigate. We’ve informed them, so they might be conducting their own investigation.”

“Have there been casualties caused by these monsters?”

“Two fishing boats have gone missing. We found wreckage near Jumunjin, but none of the fourteen crew members aboard those ships were found. That’s why they requested our support.”

The situation was clear. Typically, when regional offices couldn’t handle issues, they’d request help from headquarters. Hence, it seemed appropriate for support office members to be dispatched.

“But why discuss this matter with the management office?”

Seora glanced at Kang Hana with the documents in hand. The support office’s purpose was to step in for such matters.

However, that was only Seora’s thought process. Kang Hana and even Do Junyeong were now staring at her.

Why, though?

“Why are you looking at me? I may not be at the bottom of the management office, but I’m just an ordinary section chief. I have no reason to get involved in support office affairs!” Seora exclaimed desperately, but Do Junyeong looked at her with pity. Kang Hana pursed her lips and gently tapped Seora’s shoulder.

“But the support office lacks personnel to handle this issue. Who among the support office Hunters could navigate a gate so deep underwater that even magical detection is difficult?”

“Well, um, that’s…!”

No one, no one at all. The strongest individual in the support office was Director Kang Hana. But even she couldn’t endure the deep underwater pressure.

“And the strongest person in our association is Chief Yun here. Don’t forget, Chief. Usually, the most competent ones are the busiest.”

Kang Hana’s smirk, directed straight at Seora, couldn’t have been more evil…

“Director Kang! Be honest. You’re doing this out of spite for taking away the newbie!”

“Heh, well then, Director Do, I leave the assignment in your capable hands. I always get excited when passing off work to other departments. Ah, what joy.”

With a tune on her lips, Kang Hana brushed off Seora’s desperate plea and cheerfully strolled out of the office.

Seora turned to Do Junyeong, her last hope. When their eyes met, he shamefully lowered his gaze without a word.

“Please take care.”

No one’s on my side.

In this workplace where job titles held more sway than capabilities, the damn hierarchy! Opposition political party or whatever, she should have quit ages ago! Tears clouded her vision.

***

The sky was a fresh, new blue, matching the winter weather perfectly, with fluffy white clouds and the vast expanse of the blue sea beneath. It was a beautiful white-sand beach, a sight that usually brought clarity to mind, but oddly, Seora’s face, facing this breathtaking view, was anything but serene.

“I don’t want to work.”

The beach was closed due to the appearance of monsters.

Seated on a bench meant for tourists, Seora sighed. It was the same sea, yet her feelings here in Gangneung drastically differed from those she had in Busan. Oh, she really didn’t want to work. Her only consolation was the new battle gear she had ambitiously prepared, but even so, she didn’t feel like wearing it right now.

“We can play once it’s over! Let’s have potato pancakes and kalguksu for dinner! We have to eat to live!”

And there was Seong Jarim, all excited about eating, beside her. Seora let out another deep sigh at the thought of the unhelpful reinforcement beside her.

While Seora lamented the unexpected assignment, Seong Jarim was bubbling with excitement.

Having missed out on Busan, Seong Jarim got wind of Seora heading to Gangneung for work and enthusiastically tagged along. Even if Seora told her she would make her work if she followed, she didn’t listen.

“After all, you’re the civil servant here! Unlike you, who can’t have fun during official duties, I’m not bound by that!”

…was her logic of a miracle. But there wasn’t a single thing wrong with that statement. Unaffected by the presence of the Gangneung branch association staff who had come along to assist, Seong Jarim happily enjoyed the fried chicken she had brought.

“Um, Chief Yun, are you okay?”

Expressing concern for Seora was none other than Yu Jihyeok. He, who had come along to learn about on-site work, glanced nervously at Seong Jarim.

“Kyaah! It’s delicious!”

No wonder he was anxious. She wasn’t just eating fried chicken; she was also drinking beer. Everyone except for Yu Jihyeok envied her.

“Well, those of us in the L-class don’t get drunk on just beer. It’s annoyingly tempting, though.”

Glaring at Seong Jarim with simmering eyes, Seora grumbled, “Since you’ve come all this way to enjoy, why not try soju and whisky?”

“Oh, no, that’s a bit…”

Seong Jarim, who was having a blast, subtly shifted her gaze. Ah, it occurred to Seora that she had mentioned being bad at drinking. Ah-ha, in that case…

“Seora, you’re quite intimidating right now.”

“You’ve become quite perceptive.”

“No! Absolutely not! I must not get drunk!”

“Why?”

“Because everything I see will disappear, smashes into pieces.”

“…”

“…”

Silence settled in. While Yu Jihyeok looked at her in bewilderment, Seora, who had witnessed so much while being with Seong Jarim, grew unusually serious.

“Don’t even drink beer.”

If Gangneung’s white sand beach collapsed while they were there for work, it would be a disaster. When Seora confiscated the beer, Seong Jarim burst into tears.

“Just one can of beer is fine!”

“Absolutely not! There’s all sorts of danger with an older sister like you.”

In the end, Seong Jarim failed to snatch the beer from Seora. She sniffled and grabbed a can of cola instead.

【Administrator: (⊙_⊙)!!!!】

【Administrator: (⊙_⊙)////】

At that moment, the administrator waved his hand, sporting a surprised expression. Interpreting this signal as wanting to be let out, Seora summoned her nine-tailed fox.

The sudden appearance of a dog-sized fox in the air startled the employees greatly.

“Oh, don’t worry. He’s my summon. He won’t bite as long as you don’t approach.”

The people, who were hastily grasping their weapons, hesitated and slowly let go.

When Seora had completed the Labyrinth raid and exited the gate with the fox, everyone knew of its existence. But at that time, it was a big fox; now, being the size of a puppy, they seemed unaware it was the same summoned creature.

“Pfft! Wha-what? Why all of a sudden…?”

Seong Jarim, who had been sipping her cola with a melancholic expression, spat it out when she saw the fox. Her face resembled someone who had unexpectedly encountered a walking cursed doll.

“He won’t bother you, so stop being surprised whenever you see him. There seems to be something here.”

After wiping Seong Jarim’s damp mouth with a handkerchief, Seora stood up from her seat. The fox began trotting swiftly somewhere.

“Stay here. I’ll call you if I find anything.”

To ensure the employees didn’t follow in case of uncertainty, only Seora and Seong Jarim followed the fox behind.

“Could it be a monster?”

“I don’t think so. If it’s not from the sea but rather the sandy beach area, it’s unlikely. Liza, what have you discovered?”

【Administrator: (*^▽^*)】

“Huh? You look happy? Looks like our Liza found something good!”

【Administrator: ꒪⌓꒪】

The administrator seemed to express that he preferred not to be addressed in such a way, but Seora disregarded it.

After running for a while, the administrator suddenly stopped and began spinning around in place. After a series of playful head tilts, he soon started digging vigorously into the sand, much like a puppy burying a treat.

Observing this scene intently, Seong Jarim said, “Seora, you know, about the administrator…”

“I think I know what you’re thinking, so just leave it at that.”

“Okay.”