Chapter 113
Chapter 113
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 113
Got it. I'll release the article as soon as it's ready.
"Don't worry about spreading the rumors. I've got just the right guy among my subordinates."
Yoon Jae-hun glanced at the mercenaries who had backed away from me at some point. His eyes met those of one member with brown hair, and a bright smile spread across his face. The man's face turned pale as a ghost.
"Let me know when it's ready."
Alright. Don't stress too much. Make sure you eat and sleep well.
With that final farewell, the call ended. Yoon Jae-hun pocketed his phone and tilted his head toward the mercenary whose eyes he had metmine.
"Patrick. If our eyes meet, you come running right away. What are you doing?"
"Hic. No, Branch Chief, it's just..."
"Haven't you finished your training yet?"
In the blink of an eye, Patrick was standing before Yoon Jae-hun, snapping a salute.
"Yes, sir! Branch Chief! What can I do for you?!"
It was a perfectly crisp salute that could put any soldier to shame.
"I need you to stir up some public opinion."
"That's my specialty. What should I stir up?"
"A rumor about Headbang is about to spread in Korea soon. Make sure public opinion takes root properly so those bastards trying to drag her down can't even lift a finger."
For Patrick, a brilliant hacker who had once been on the most-wanted list, that was easier than falling off a log. Of course he'd carry out his boss's orders, but it did feel a bit odd.
"It's not even the mercenary unit's problem, so why is the Branch Chief stepping in personally? Is it because she's Korea's L-rank? Fair enough. Headbang did make quite the shocking debut."
"Of course I have to step in. I can't stand the thought of those idiots smearing shit on my little sister."
"...Pardon? Huh? Excuse me?!"
Did I hear that right? Little sister? Whose little sister? ...The Branch Chief's little sister?
"Hold on a second. I'm confused right now. So, you're saying... Headbang is the Branch Chief's biological little sister?"
Patrick's shout carried all the way to the squad members who had been watching him pitifully from behind. Everyone's eyes bulged in disbelief.
Headbang, the one who entered the labyrinth a few days ago? That guy who didn't look a bit like Yoon Jae-hun?! For real?
"That's right. So you better do a good job. If you mess up even a little, Patrick, retraining won't be the end of it."
He flashed a kind smile fitting his gentle features and patted Patrick's shoulder. But Patrick looked like he'd just come face-to-face with Satan risen from hell, his face ashen.
Oh my god. Headbang is the Branch Chief's biological little sister.
The one and only little sister cherished by that genius of a Branch Chief who could manipulate people with a smile. The one person who could turn the calm Yoon Jae-hun into a stormHeadbang!
'I'm screwed. If I mess up, I'm really dead.'
The memory flashed of that one Athena executive who had pestered himIsn't your little sister pretty? I'm pretty handsome too, why not introduce us?and nearly crossed the River Jordan that day. If Ali hadn't knocked out the furious Yoon Jae-hun, he'd have been sent packing across the river long ago.
Patrick swallowed hard. He had to nail this. No matter what, he would mold Headbang into the ultimate heroic image. He'd stake his life on it!
* * *
It was a dream.
The moment she realized it, Se-ra knew this was the dream world. After all, her mom, Go Hyun-hee, was smiling radiantly.
'She looks so young up close.'
Instead of running to her like a child or bursting into tears, Se-ra just stood there, watching her mom.
Her mom, who bore a striking resemblance to her brother, had passed away at thirty-six. Far too young, with her whole life ahead of her.
So she wanted to ask.
Weren't you scared to die at that age?
"...Quiet?"
Se-ra perked up her ears at the voice. Whenever she met her mom in dreams, she always ended up crying herself awake, so today she planned to just observe quietly.
"I don't resent you at all. No reason to."
But who the hell was her mom talking to in these dreams?
"It's not your fault the world turned out like this. Besides, you don't want the world to end or anything. Well, you don't seem to care either way."
Unlike her mom, she couldn't hear the other voice. Couldn't see them either.
But her mom couldshe kept chatting happily. Her lively voice sounded almost like singing.
"That's enough. Not leaning either way means it could tip one way or the other, right? I'll handle it. I can do it really well."
Go Hyun-hee turned this way with a brilliant smile.
"Want to bet on whether your heart tips or not?"
Se-ra flinched.
Did our eyes meet? No, no. She's not looking at me.
Was someone standing behind me?
The moment that thought crossed her mind, a firm hand gripped her shoulder. A familiar touch she'd felt somewhere before sent chills down her spine.
I never expected to see you here, of all places.
A voice laced with static. Se-ra slowly lifted her head. Her eyes met those beautiful green ones she'd seen twice in dreams before. The man smiled awkwardly.
No matter what, it always flows back to you.
"You... have you met my mom?"
This was an illusion, yet not. It had definitely happened in the past.
Se-ra grabbed the man's collar. His white shirt tore open, revealing his pale chest. She'd thought him flawless porcelain, but his body was covered in painful scars.
"Who the hell are you?"
We've met three times now, yet you won't call it fate. I was hoping you would.
"Who are you?!"
Since there's a third, there might be a fourth. Until then. You need to wake up now.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Wake up. Where you're sleeping isn't safe at all.
The man gripped both her arms tight and shoved her backward. Damn it, not again!
Gritting her teeth, Se-ra kept her eyes locked on him even as she fell. He looked somehow sorrowful.
With Go Hyun-hee gone, I have no choice but to tell you. Remember it. In the end, she won the bet.
That was the last voice she heard. Before she could even ask what nonsense that was, Se-ra jolted awake.
'Again!'
Her eyes snapping open, Se-ra clawed at her hair. It was the same as the previous two dreams, but this one left her far more unsettled.
The man's appearance in her dream was no coincidence. It stretched back to her mommaybe even fate.
The problem was she had no damn clue what kind of screwed-up fate it was.
If he showed up again, she'd grab his collar or shoot him until she got the truth.
That pretty face that could deceive anyone suddenly felt deeply ominous. And those horrific scar marks... Was that guy seriously messed up?
But Se-ra's thoughts didn't last long.
The consecutive messages startled her. Why was synchronization advancing just because she entered the labyrinth? What connection did the Administrator have with it?
And the progress was different from usual. It used to jump 10-15%, but this time only 1%.
What caused the difference?
A gun. Prepare to attackit could only mean one thing. The damn red dragon of the apocalypse, presumed to be holed up in the dungeon, was finally about to show.
Her eyes, rattled by the sudden events, sharpened with calm in an instant. Creepy dream guy or whatever that wasn't the issue now.
"Yoon Se-ra? What's up? Can't sleep?"
Se-ra urgently spoke to Monic Libery and Ali Russo, who were on night watch.
"Wake everyone. The dragon's coming soon."
"What? I don't sense anything."
"My god said so. It's certain."
As Se-ra bustled about, the others woke up.
Of course, they couldn't believe the dragon was comingexcept Seong Ja-rim and Kang Se-jun.
"Move fast. If Se-ra says so, it is so."
"If you don't want to die like a dog, don't doubt Yoon Se-ra."
She'd become L-rank most recently, so why this rock-solid faith in her?
It was a bit puzzling, but with two backing her up, it was enough to sway the rest. The eight quickly dismantled their camp and readied for battle.
"How long have we been in the labyrinth?"
At Julian's question, Kang Se-jun snapped his fingers. A clock made of red mana floated in the air, ticking slowly.
"127 hours and 14 minutes."
Five days had passed already. The raid had pushed forward, dealing with waves of snakes every day. They couldn't leave it to the dealers alone, so everyone pitched in, but stamina drain was inevitable.
"It plans to wear us down then devour us. Smart ones are the worst."
Everyone turned at Kang Se-jun's words.
Under the blood-red sky where time felt meaningless, on the horizonanother massive swarm of snakes was surging toward them.
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