Hunter Contract
“Hoo-hoo...”
Visiting the Association building after a long time, I rolled the C-rank hunter badge they'd given me between my fingers, eyeing it closely. With this, I could collect treasures from gates to my heart's content, right? Just the forest gem shards from last time were a massive haul. Huanglong's perk? If I kept cashing in rewards like that, I'd fill up my collection gauge in no time.
“But hey. Why am I only C-rank? The stream chat was losing it, calling me S-rank.”
“Ahaha... Well, hunters are all about performance.”
“Everyone starts like this?”
“Yes... But starting at C-rank is huge! I began at F-rank...”
F-rank to B-rank? This kid must've worked hard. She looks pretty young, too.
“Anyway, why'd you call me here? It can't just be to hand over this badge.”
“Right! Um...”
Ha-eun sidled closer, speaking in a small, cautious voice.
“The team leader wants to see you...”
“Oh? Then why whisper it like that?”
“It's... unofficial? Like that...”
“Secret talk with that uncle? Sounds sketchy.”
I chuckled, and Park Ha-eun jumped like she'd been shocked.
“U-Unnie!”
“Kidding, kidding. The same place as last time?”
“...Yes.”
Teasing her is surprisingly fun sometimes. That said, her boss rubs me the wrong way. Every time we meet, he gives me that analytical glare—like he's dissecting me. It grates.
Beep.
“T-This way, unnie.”
Following Ha-eun's lead, I stepped into the elevator. As it rose silently, I shot her a side-eye. There was something I'd been wondering about.
“Ha-eun.”
“Yes?”
“Just curious.”
“Yes!”
“Why do you keep following me around?”
She tilted her head, as if unsure what I meant.
“Huh? Well, I was assigned to handle you—”
“Handling is one thing, but you don't need to tag along every time.”
Even if I'm not human anymore, I get how society works. The Association—or the nation—wouldn't just let valuable assets like hunters slack off. And if they wanted someone to keep me in check, they'd assign someone stronger than B-rank Ha-eun.
Yet here she was, sticking by me. Probably her own choice?
“Back in that world, guys came at me all the time. Scheming types with an agenda.”
“I-It's not like that...!”
“Not saying it's bad. And you've done me a solid already.”
Approaching with ulterior motives isn't evil. Desire, greed, longing—every creature has something it craves. Using others to get it is just life. For good or ill.
Besides, Ha-eun helped me settle on Earth. Time to pay it back.
“If you need something, just say it. Gold Dragons repay favors properly.”
Ding!
[Floor 27.]
“We're here. Let's go.”
“...”
I stepped out first at the announcement. Ha-eun followed slowly, lost in thought.
“Pass this case to Team 1. Report to Admin.”
“Yes, sir!”
The office buzzed with staff and hunters rushing about. At the center sat a middle-aged man who glanced my way—same dissecting stare as before. Irritating.
“You've arrived.”
“First direct meeting in a while. Since the last training, right?”
“Indeed.”
I shook his offered hand and sat. His secretary-like hunter immediately brought tea and coffee. Macarons? Do they think I'm some teenage girl like Ha-eun?
Dragons, people. Not sugar fiends. Still... effort's effort. One won't hurt.
“We reviewed yesterday's footage.”
“Nom... I see.”
“Frankly, you exceeded expectations.”
“I'm a bit like that. Ha-eun, want one?”
“Y-Yes!”
“...”
I handed Ha-eun a macaron as she eyed the tray. Reached for another... gone?
“...Bring more.”
“Yes, sir.”
“That said, we'd like to offer you a direct hunter contract.”
“Nom nom. Contract? Compensation?”
“Straight to the point. Here's our proposal.”
Kim Sang-cheol pulled out a prepped contract. Summary: I handle occasional exclusive requests. Other gate clears allowed within legal limits; all spoils mine. In exchange, submit weekly asset lists to the Association for management.
Not bad on the surface. Spoils usually get taxed to the Association. Asset management is an A-rank perk. Normal hunters would beg for this.
But I'm no normal hunter.
“Why should I?”
It chafed. The Association managing my treasures?
“We have a department for hunter assets. High-earners use it.”
They want to indulge my greed while controlling me via money. Free earnings, but Association oversight.
I get it—I'm too strong with too much cash. But this blatant with someone who's shown zero hostility?
“You seem to have me all wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“I'm a nice dragon. But not dumb enough to let lair intruders roam. You're asking to inspect my lair anytime?”
My thorny words made the secretary hunter's hand twitch toward his waist. Threatened?
Ridiculous.
I drew mana. Sure, I'm laid-back, but endure this?
They see me as a leashed dog. But I owe Ha-eun, and prefer no blood. That's all. I still hoard the Immortal Diamond and other treasures privately. If the Association wants war, I could wipe them out.
...I've toppled nations before. They don't know that.
Thud.
“U-Unnie...!”
Ha-eun, munching macaron, read my face and called out. Kim Sang-cheol frowned at his secretary.
“You.”
“...Sorry.”
Quick actions averted disaster, but tension hung heavy. Storm-before-the-calm silence, broken only by the clock's ticks.
Beep-beep.
New mail received.
“...New mail. May I check?”
Mail? Now? If I were a Red Dragon, this room'd be ash. Do they grasp the gravity?
“Unnie...”
“All Association directives come via mail. Even in situations like this. It must change things.”
“...Fine. Go ahead.”
I shrugged, curious. Watching this? Magic mail?
“Thank you.”
Kim Sang-cheol checked the monitor, face subtly sour. Bad news?
“We'll revise the terms.”
“Revise?”
“Asset management to Park Ha-eun. She's combat but excels at calculations.”
“Ha-eun?”
“M-Me...?! ”
I gaped at her; she blinked in shock.
“You awakened calculation skills, no?”
“W-Well, yes, but unnie isn't—”
“All assets to Park Ha-eun. Association steps back. Report anomalies only.”
Hm, backing down.
“Fine.”
“Eeeh?!”
Dunno who sent that mail, but I planned to poach Ha-eun anyway. She's trustworthy. They folded first.
But I'd push more.
“In exchange, she'll travel with me from now on, my way.”
Dragons have servants too—lair keepers, often monster thralls. Not always violent. Time for a contract.
“She wants something from me anyway. I owe her. And who knows what else?”
“Agreed, then.”
Not thrilled, but relieved no fight, he offered a handshake. Then another paper.
Objective: Gate exploration and clear.
Location: Incheon.
At the urgent clear request, Ha-eun and I headed straight to Incheon. In her car, of course.
“Man, no chauffeur from the Association?”
“Um...”
“Traffic's hell. Ride my back and fly? Or hop in while I'm polymorphed.”
Depolymorph and fly: minutes tops.
“N-No way...!”
“You've never seen my true form. I can stealth-spell too. For a price.”
“That's why not! What if something happens?! And where's the money coming from?!”
Humans and their bureaucracy. Why ditch efficiency for rules?
“Getting prickly? Hate contracting with me that much?”
“N-No, you sounded scary...!”
“Obviously. Dragon contracts need soul-binding.”
To dragons, contracts mark ownership. Mine—hands off. Obligations bind me too, but contractors obey.
I wouldn't bully Ha-eun, though. Plus, I could empower her with my authority. Perk enough to draw supplicants back home.
“Soul contract? Scary just hearing it...!”
“Not asking anything weird. You can cancel midway.”
“Still no! I want strength, but...”
“Aww, Ha-eun doesn't trust me. What's the point of playing human...”
Teasing her the whole ride...
“Guess I'll nap... Huh?”
“...What now?”
“Hold on, this...”
A familiar aura prickled from afar. Too distinct to miss.
“...Association's sneaky.”
“Huh?”
“They sent me here for a reason.”
Lair. Another dragon nested here.