Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 11
"So that's why you're back? I clearly told you to meet the victim in person, kneel down, and apologize sincerely. And if they didn't accept it, to stay there until they did."
"."
"Your answer?"
Han Su-eon looked at Park Jin-yong. When he met his eyesnow tinged green from his abilityPark Jin-yong's body began to tremble uncontrollably.
"I-I did it. I followed your orders perfectly!"
"Did the victim accept your apology?"
That damn victim! Park Jin-yong was frustrated.
I'm the victim here. I was the one who got beaten half to death by that monster just for putting that insolent F-rank in a little danger!
The gate closing wasn't my fault, so why was the guild master painting him as the perpetrator!
"Hunter Park Jin-yong, you already know I hate lies, right?"
But he couldn't say any of that to Han Su-eon. Vowing to crush that arrogant F-rank once and for all, he bowed his head.
"I did it, and th-that F-rank definitely accepted it!"
"I said I hate lies. If that's not true, you'll pay the price."
Han Su-eon dropped his gaze back to the documents.
Only then did Park Jin-yong relax. Even if that F-rank denied it, it didn't matter. He could just claim it was retaliatory lying.
No matter what, he was the leader of one of the guild's raid teams. Everyone would believe him over her.
"So how did you get that wound on your cheek?"
At Han Su-eon's follow-up question, Park Jin-yong's eyes widened.
"Wound?"
"It looks pretty deep. Didn't you know? It's on your left cheek."
Park Jin-yong hurriedly touched his cheek. Pain shot through him the moment his rough fingertips made contact. It hurt so much he couldn't believe he hadn't noticed until now.
"Huh? When did this...?"
As a high-rank hunter with heightened senses, how had he not realized he was injured until he touched it?
"The blood hasn't clotted yet, so it must be recent."
"Y-Yeah, you're right."
"...We're done here, so you can go. And as I said, you must never breathe a word about Do Jun-young's true identity anywhere. If you want to live."
Do Jun-young. At the name of the terrifying monster masquerading as an A-rank, Park Jin-yong forgot all about the wound.
Memories of that horrific daywhen he couldn't even fight back and just took the beatingflooded back, turning his face ashen.
Park Jin-yong stumbled out of the guild master's office.
"Didn't even know he was hurt..."
Han Su-eon stared intently at his retreating figure.
It's right under his eye, so he should've noticed... That means a powerhouse strong enough to fool an A-rank hunter's senses inflicted it.
"High chance it was an S-rank or above."
But he couldn't have met Association President Song Han-na or Do Jun-young, who was on suspension. And if it had been another S-rank, he would've mentioned it.
That left only an unknown figure he didn't recognize.
"Yoon Se-ra, Yoon Se-ra."
The victim who had nearly suffered a tragedy but returned unscathed by sheer luck.
What kind of luck had she truly encountered in that dungeon?
"I'll find out when I meet her."
Han Su-eon alternated between thinking of Park Jin-yong's wound and the name Yoon Se-ra, then shook her head and returned to her documents.
There was more than one mess caused by Park Jin-yong that needed cleaning up.
* * *
Do Jun-young had finally finished his suspension and returned to the office.
The waiting staff erupted in applause, cheering like a hero had come home. As always, Do Jun-young just curtly told them to get back to work and headed into his office.
Our section chief never changes! Everyone burst into laughter.
Hahaha. Amid the laughter and applause, Se-ra slipped quietly into the office.
"Have a seat."
As if he'd expected her, Do Jun-young showed no surprise as he brewed two cups of coffee and set them on the table.
Se-ra sat on the sofa, studying his expression. Despite the suspension, he looked exactly the same as when she'd last seen him at the hospital.
It seemed like just a nominal punishment, as Song Han-na had said, but Se-ra still bowed politely, her conscience uneasy.
"I'm sorry, Section Chief."
"Pardon?"
"You got suspended and docked pay because of me. I have no face to show you."
"Didn't you hear anything from the Association President?"
Do Jun-young's face twisted slightlynot in displeasure, but in puzzlement.
"It was all just for show. It won't affect me much. The suspension was more like a vacation, so don't worry about it."
"I-I heard, but still, feelings are..."
As Se-ra awkwardly scratched her cheek, Do Jun-young, who had been watching her quietly, nodded.
"If it puts your mind at ease, I'll accept your apology. Let's end it here."
He said it so bluntly, but that's why he was a boss you could trust.
Se-ra smiled so brightly her dimples showed.
"Thank you, Section Chief."
"Better than 'sorry,' at least."
When Do Jun-young smiled back, Se-ra felt much lighter.
"I heard you met Park Jin-yong. Are you okay?"
"No big deal. He didn't apologizein fact, he got all cheekybut he didn't attack me or anything."
"He told the Cheongrang Guild Master that he apologized and you accepted it. As expected, a lie."
Since she'd anticipated it, Se-ra just snorted. A flicker of anger crossed Do Jun-young's face.
"Does the Cheongrang Guild Master believe that?"
"He's always neutral. He wouldn't take Park Jin-yong's word at face value without meeting you first."
"Even though he's his own guild member?"
"Even then. If anything, he's stricter with his own people."
Oh, that was unexpected. She'd thought he was cut from the same cloth, keeping around trash like Park Jin-yong.
"Then why appoint a guy like that as raid leader?"
"He may be a scumbag, but he's skilled. You can't sideline someone who's never caused a major incident like this before."
Ah, fair enough. It was the right call as guild master.
"Tomorrow, the Cheongrang Guild Master and Park Jin-yong are coming to the Association. Will you meet them, Yoon Se-ra?"
"Yes, I will."
She was dying to see how obsequious Park Jin-yongwho'd been so rude to herwould act in front of the Association's heavyweights. Mocking him openly would feel pretty good.
"When you meet them tomorrow, curse them out until you're satisfied. It won't be enough, but still."
Se-ra burst out laughing. But her laughter stopped dead at his next words.
"At least they'll kowtow, so it'll be somewhat worth watching."
Pardon? Wait, what...?
"For real? Even the Cheongrang Guild Master...?"
"Of course. It's warranted, isn't it?"
As Do Jun-young's fist clenched, radiating menace, Se-ra shut her mouth.
I see. Both Song Han-na and Do Jun-young are dead serious. Forcing the man called the emperor of the magic world to kowtow.
These scary S-ranks...
"He hasn't done anything wrong, so you don't have to make him. Though with someone like Park Jin-yong, I'd honestly want to see it... But you said no, right?"
Do Jun-young looked distinctly displeased, but he wasn't lying about this.
"No. That's why I don't personally dislike him much."
Since Do Jun-young had a keen eye for people, Se-ra decided to trust him.
'The other S-ranks must be disappointed. Like the Noeul Guild Master.'
Se-ra thought of Eun In-jae, the Noeul Guild Master who'd been chanting nonstop in the S-rank community for Han Su-eon to kowtow. She had no idea what grudge they held.
Not that she wanted to see it herself.
Just getting tangled up with the Cheongrang Guild Master was bad enough. She passed on more.
* * *
But today, Se-ra learned that not everything goes according to plan.
The day the Cheongrang Guild Master and Park Jin-yong were due at the Association.
Two people had arrived first.
"Man, it's been ages since I was at the Association!"
"It gets nicer every time I visit. Can't even compare to our HQ. Hey, wanna swap HQs?"
"Take it up with the Association President. If she says yes, what's to stop it? She's the one even the government backs off from."
"You're just saying no in a fancy way. Like that greedy woman would ever agree."
A tall woman in a short cut wearing something like a hanbok, and a petite one gawking everywhere.
The mismatched pair were all too familiar to the Association.
Noeul Guild Master and Suhorang Guild Master, no less.
As the Association office erupted in chaos at the sudden VIPs, Se-ra quietly clutched her head.
'Did they really come to watch Han Su-eon kowtow!? No, he's not doing ithe's not!'
This was too much. Who actually shows up for this!?
She'd seen it early in the S-rank community, but these two were legitimately insane.
And the obnoxious Administrator was munching popcorn.
Se-ra couldn't say a word to him, just wailed internally.
'Blessing! Blessing!'
This was the moment she needed it more than ever.
"Hey, Section Chief Do!"
Do Jun-young, who rushed out after hearing the news late, stared at the two waving cheerfully at him with an indescribable expression.
Se-ra, watching from afar, genuinely pitied him.
"I told you not to come."
He rubbed his face, his voice full of pathos.
"How could we miss such thrilling entertainment? Especially when I've been so bored lately. Perfect timing!"
"Go home. What you want won't happen."
Noeul Guild Master Eun In-jae drooped her eyes.
"What? Why! After something that huge!"
"It just won't. Don't complicate thingsgo home."
"Nooo! Su-eun wants to watch!"
Suhorang Guild Master Yoo Su-eun, who'd been listening, started throwing a tantrum. Se-ra had never seen the ever-calm Do Jun-young openly recoil like this.
Unfortunately for him, it only egged the lunatics on.
"In-jae nooo! In-jae wants to watch too!"
"Su-eun can go after seeing it!"
"In-jae won't leave till she sees!"
"Su-eun's sticking right here too!"
"...Guild masters."
At the utter mayhem, Do Jun-young finally covered his face and bowed his head.