Chapter 103
Chapter 103
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 103
"I never thought you'd really take down the Phantom Lord all by yourself."
On the way to the gate, Luan Wei kept muttering that one line. His sidelong glances at Se-ra brimmed with wariness and a strange dissatisfaction.
It felt like he was disappointed she hadn't gotten hurt or died, and it definitely wasn't her imagination.
Se-ra inwardly snorted at how obviously he was fishing for recognition.
"It was possible because the enemy was a phantom type. Mental corruption doesn't work on me."
"That's what's so impressive. How did you resist even a Phantom Lord's corruption, when it's not just any ordinary phantom..."
Thanks to the Administrator's Defense.
"Were the fox's eyes always green?"
Luan Wei wasn't the only one being annoying. At Kang Se-jun's mutter, Se-ra hugged Elizabeth tight.
"Why pick on our Elizabeth? She's not happy about it."
Kkiwoong!
"You call the adult one Elizabeth, and now the summon is Elizabeth too?"
"I borrowed the name from her."
"You really like Elizabeth. But no matter how I look at it, there's something off. Even for a fantasy beast, this eerie aura..."
This is why I hate sharp guys.
Se-ra shot him a glare. The Administrator must not like him either.
Kkiang! The Administrator's paw slashed through the air. With a sharp smack, Kang Se-jun's head snapped to the side. A perfect fox paw print stamped his cheek.
"Pfft!"
The impact was so crisp that Se-ra couldn't hold back her laughter. Her arms trembled around Elizabeth as she clutched her tight.
My love, you're the best, Administrator.
"Khk, heh. Serves you right for, khk, pissing off our Elizabeth, hnghngh..."
"...Either cry, laugh, or talk. Pick one."
The paw print on his cheek showed no sign of fading. It was driving Se-ra even crazier.
Eueueung. Indecipherable sounds of laughter or tears kept spilling out.
The ridiculous sight had Se-ra, Do Jun-young, and even Jung Ho-young bursting into laughter. Luan Wei, watching from behind, scowled.
'He's got a nasty temper, they said.'
They'd said Kang Se-jun had such a bad personality he'd smash a reporter's camera. But up close, he had a softer side.
If anyone dared do that to him, he'd crush the fox's head and sever the necks of those two mocking S-ranks on the spot.
'Top-tier magic, great destructive power, and all-attribute user...'
Plus, if his temperament was milder than rumored, his potential uses were endless. Maybe kill Headbang and win him over.
'To think he'd survive that explosion!'
She'd gone to the trouble of feeding the Japanese healer to the phantom, but it was all for nothing. And that wasn't the only problem.
'If Headbang knows we orchestrated the kidnapping, we're in deep trouble.'
He had to report everything from today's dungeon to the Chairman as soon as possible.
"How many hours have we been in here?"
"About seven hours. The sun must be setting outside by now."
The lingering spirits hidden in the shadows had taken extra time to clear out.
"Let's head out one by one."
"It's over the ocean, so everyone be careful."
Luan Wei exited the dungeon first, followed by the Japanese hunters carrying their still-unconscious healer. Do Jun-young, whose stamina hadn't recovered, leaned on Jung Ho-young for support.
Now it was just Se-ra and Kang Se-jun.
Se-ra spoke as if she'd been waiting.
"I've got something to say once we're out. I'll send you my address, so come by when it's quiet."
The grin he'd worn when the fox slapped him vanished in an instant. In the heavy atmosphere, Kang Se-jun nodded without asking why.
Outside was the sea, so Se-ra unsummoned Elizabeth before stepping through the gate. The ground dropped away, and she plunged into the ocean with a splash.
She relaxed, and her body bobbed to the surface. Her ears submerged, muffling the noisy shouts to hurry the hunters onto the boat.
It had been midday when they entered, but now a red sunset blanketed the horizon.
The sky at dusk was beautiful, but Se-ra's mind was a whirlwind.
When she'd summoned Elizabeth to rip the Phantom Lord's magic from Do Jun-young, the sync messages had popped up.
The dual contract probably referred to her new pact with the nine-tailed fox.
With the Administrator's spirit dwelling in the fox, they were now bound by two contracts.
It made perfect sense, so Se-ra brushed it off like any other sync notice. Besides, she wasn't in a position to dwell on it.
She hadn't let on, but peeking into Do Jun-young's nightmare had left her stomach in knots.
But the next message yanked her back to reality.
Forgotten memories unlocked.
Before she could even wonder what that meant, a voice echoed.
Noa long-forgotten memory resurfaced.
"Do you want to grow strong and get revenge? Or just live quietly, like you vanished from this world?"
Sometime in the unknowable past, someone had asked her that. Who was it? What did it mean? And why had she forgotten this conversation?
"..."
One thing was certain.
Back then, she'd received comfort so profound it brought tears of joy.
It was undoubtedly a good memory.
She didn't know why she'd forgotten it, but now that it was unlocking, the rest would come soon. She wanted to remember that happiness again.
* * *
There were injuries, but the raid had gone far better than expected.
Kang Se-jun's chest tightened as the gatethat had tormented him countless times in his previous lifedissolved into thin air so easily. The reality of how much had changed hit him deeper than ever. He stood on the deck, unable to tear his eyes away until the last wisp vanished.
It was all thanks to Yoon Se-ra, who had unmatched counter abilities against phantoms. Gripping the railing, Kang Se-jun thanked her once more from the heart.
And that wasn't all. The Japanese hunters, witnessing Headbang's prowess up close for the first time, regarded her with awe.
Taking down the Phantom Lord soloan opponent even most L-ranks struggled withwas truly miraculous.
"We sincerely thank you for your help. We'd love to invite you to Japan and show you proper hospitality."
Murasaki's proposal carried a subtle hunger. With her identity exposed, she was eager to make a move before anyone else could.
Luckily, Se-ra didn't need to step in. Do Jun-young blocked her path.
"I'm sorry, but with the Labyrinth Dungeon raid approaching, Yoon Se-ra needs rest. We'll be heading back."
That had been his reason for tagging along from the start.
Murasaki looked deeply regretful and tried to persuade them, but a subordinate followed orders.
Se-ra reaffirmed her status as an Association civil servant, then boarded the familiar yacht back to Busan.
"Maybe I should buy a yacht too."
As Se-ra lounged on the sunbed, the Administrator sent an emoticon whining to go outside. Once summoned, it bounded around excitedly before flopping belly-up beside her.
Who'd guess this fox is the System Administrator's true form...?
Kang Se-jun was desperately hunting for the Administrator's whereabouts, oblivious even with it right under his nose. He'd probably regret it later.
Se-ra flicked the snorting fox's damp nose, now asleep. It twitched.
"Isn't the sea breeze chilly?"
Do Jun-young handed her a cup of hot tea. Her improved stamina from higher rank kept her warm, but she accepted gratefully.
Winter was closing in.
"Last year around this time, I was bundling up in coats and parkas. This year feels way more relaxed. Now I get why you only wear suits even in the dead of winter, Director Do."
"Best cost-performance."
Puhaha. Exactly. His body was pure value.
"By the time we finish the Labyrinth, it'll be midwinter. Wonder how long it'll take."
The Labyrinth's difficulty dwarfed any other dungeon. Unlike regular ones cleared in an hour or a day, no one knew when you'd emerge from a Labyrinth.
Yoon Jae-hun had once taken half a month, leaving Se-ra on edge.
This time, it'd probably be the reverse. After that ordeal, she felt sorry for him. Hopefully he wouldn't worry too much.
"I'd like to be back before December ends."
"It'll be tight. Worst case, we ring in the New Year inside."
"..."
His response came with a dissatisfied frown.
"What? You want me to spend my birthday outside the dungeon?"
Do Jun-young flinched. She'd suspected, and yep, that was it.
"Wrapping my gift in Christmas paper?"
She teased with a grin, but his face crumbled sadly. Wait, why?
"Th-that was a joke. Why are you like this?"
"That nightmare I saw... you saw it too, didn't you, Yoon Se-ra?"
"Huh? Nightmare? What did you see that you'd drop birthday talk for that...?"
Of course she'd seen it. All of it.
But confessing would make him burst into tears right there, so Se-ra slyly dodged.