Chapter 140
Chapter 140
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 140
Sure, there was special overtime pay, but it wasn't nearly enough to justify enduring this annoying extra work. No way I'd do this even if they handed me an S-rank weapon.
"There are already two other L-ranks besides me... Even if we set aside Seong Ja-rim as an exception, there's still Kang Se-jun...!"
"But not only did you make that dramatic leap from F-rank to L-rankyou're the only one who claimed the top spot on the Labyrinth Dungeon contributor list. And on top of that, you're the only civil servant."
Song Han-na patted Se-ra's shoulder.
"Just bear with it."
That was all she said, but Se-ra could see it: the ends of Song Han-na's lips trembling. She brought this disaster on herself. Song Han-na's inner thoughts rang clearly in Se-ra's ears.
In the end, Se-ra slammed her head down on the table.
* * *
The training hosted by the Association wasn't mandatory. It was only for those newly awakened over the past year who had applied.
That said, since it was run in partnership with the country's top five guilds, showing standout results could lead to scout offerswhich was why most people participated.
More importantly, if a hunter committed a crime during a mission without having completed the training, the penalties were harsher. So taking the course right after awakening had become practically a given.
This year, there were around seven hundred participants. With numbers that large, the Management Office and Support Office would handle the sessions separately.
About three hundred hunters showed up for the Management Office's first-day theory class.
"I'm Do Jun-young, director of the Association's Management Office, and I'll be handling today's theory session. Nice to meet you."
He was known as an A-rank hunter, but Do Jun-young appeared in front of cameras more than anyone else at the Association, so even the rookies recognized him. All eyes should have been on him.
Why is everyone staring at me? Director Do is the one running the session.
Three hundred pairs of admiring gazes zeroed in on Se-ra, seated in the auxiliary spot in the large lecture hall. It was utterly overwhelming.
"I'm Yoon Se-ra from the Management Office. I'm just here to assist, so direct your questions to Director Do."
She quickly shoved the responsibility onto Do Jun-young, but those sticky stares showed no sign of letting up. Sensing it, Do Jun-young chuckled softly under his breath. Se-ra felt utterly betrayed.
"The training will run for three days total. Day one is theory, and days two and three will be hands-on dungeon practice. To minimize risks during practice, we'll form small groups, and you'll observe raid strategies from Cheongrang Guild and Noeul Guild respectively. Any questions?"
Noeul Guild was the most aggressive of the top five, while Cheongrang Guild was known for its systematic approachplenty to learn from both. Excitement lit up the hunters' faces.
"To start, I'll explain the Awakener Punishment Act, the single most important law for any hunter's life. Every hunter in the country falls under its regulations from the moment they awaken."
Legal lectures were usually dull, but Do Jun-young wove in real cases to keep the rookies engaged without a single yawn. He taught masterfully.
Se-ra had heard it all when she joined the Association, but listening again brought back fresh memories.
"Awakener punishments aren't handled by regular courtsthey're led entirely by the Association President. Of course, she doesn't rule arbitrarily; everything follows the law. If private vengeance ever came to light, she'd have to step down from her position."
Se-ra nodded along with Do Jun-young's explanation. Without those checks, Park Jin-yong would've already been done for at Song Han-na's hands.
"I have a question. The president handles judgments herself, which suggests she wields considerable unique authority. Yet she rarely joins dungeon raids. Is there a reason for that?"
"The Association President's primary role isn't crime adjudicationit's defending the nation. That's why she rarely leaves Association grounds unless it's a dire emergency. Take the Cheorwon Dungeon we cleared recently as an example."
A few gazes from the rookie hunters listening shifted to Se-ra.
"Cheorwon Dungeon was locked tight back then, and it had a horrific history. There was no guarantee a key would even open it. But what if the president had gone there and a major crisis erupted elsewhere? What if an even worse dungeon opened?"
Ah... The rookies' faces paled at the mere thought of it.
"That's why the president holds her position. Think of her as the last bastion. She's always preparing for the worst-case scenario."
The rookies nodded in understanding. The media never covered this stuff, so of course they wouldn't know.
"Next, I'll cover raid procedures."
The theory session continued. Fueled by their burning desire to thrive long-term as hunters, no one slacked offsure, someone might doze once in a while, but everyone stayed attentive.
And since it was all practical, essential knowledge, they perked up their ears, determined not to miss a single word.
The session finally wrapped at five p.m. As he invited final questions, one hunter tentatively raised a hand after glancing around.
"I'm Yoo Ji-hyuk, D-rank hunter. Um, could I ask Yoon Se-ra Hunter something?"
All eyes snapped to Se-ra. Do Jun-young nodded it was fine, so she replied.
"Sure, go ahead."
If he'd called me Headbang, I'd have said nobut he used my name, so I'll play along.
"Can low-rank hunters like us really make it in this world?"
Yoo Ji-hyuk's question turned the faces of every D-rank and belowespecially E- and F-ranksdeathly serious. D-ranks could luck into a guild spot, but E- and F-ranks got looked down on everywhere. Their weakness made mere survival a struggle.
That's why Se-ra who'd risen from F-rank past S-rank to L-rankwas an object of envy and aspiration. They coveted her luck, saw her survival as hope.
"As you all know, I started out as F-rank."
Everyone hung on her slow-opening words.
"Even after awakening, my stats were barely above a regular person's, so trying to live as a hunter was pure recklessness. After joining the Association, I faced death multiple times. If luck hadn't been on my side, I'd be gone."
Do Jun-young's expression darkened as he listened quietly. Without the miracle in the werewolf dungeon, Se-ra would've died. He was the only one here who knew that.
"Let me be frank: for low-rank awakeners, operating as a hunter in this world really is recklessness. Survival rates are abysmally low. You'll feel it yourselves once you enter the dungeon for practice."
"Ah..."
"But remember this: rank isn't everything. There's F-ranks who survive to the end, and S-ranks who die way too young. That's the world you're living in."
Yoon Se-ra, who'd lived as a weaker-than-average F-rank. Her mother had been the nation's first S-rank, yet died less than a year after awakeningCheon Hee.
Coming from her, those words sank deep into everyone's hearts. Not lip service, but hard-earned truth.
"Don't judge everything by rank. There's nothing more foolish."
"Yes...!"
Yoo Ji-hyuk nodded vigorously, his eyes shining with pure admiration as he gazed at Se-ra.
* * *
Practice would take place in rank-4-or-below dungeons. To keep things manageable, groups of ten to fifteen would enter alongside a major guild raid team to learn firsthand.
Today was a rank-5 dungeon on Seoul's outskirts. As Se-ra stepped out of the car in front of the gate with the rookie groupmostly D-rank and belowshe froze in surprise.
Amid the waiting Cheongrang Guild members stood a familiar face.
"Guild Master Han Su-eon?"
It was none other than the guild master himself.
"Long time no see. Director Do, Ms. Yoon Se-ra."
"I was under the impression Cheongrang's third raid team would be joining us."
Do Jun-young looked just as caught off guard, clearly unaware of the visit.
"I heard you two were handling the newbie training, so I came by. Don't worrythe rest of the raid team is all third squad, as planned."
True enough, the hunters standing rigidly behind Han Su-eon were all C- and D-ranks. Including anyone too skilled would've thrown off the balance and hindered the training.
"It's been a while, Guild Master."
"You've been through a lot in the Labyrinth. Well done."
Han Su-eon dipped his head with a faint smile.
"After such grueling battles, shouldn't you rest a bit before jumping back into work?"
As if I'd wanted this... Se-ra smiled with a touch of pathos.
"If I don't move around, my body stiffens up. Besides, Monic took care of all my injuries anyway."
Monic Libery. At the mention of the world's top healer, the Cheongrang raidersand even the rookiesperked up their ears. Conversations like this weren't something you could buy.
"Glad to hear it, but stilldon't push yourself too hard."
"Thank you for your concern."
After the warm exchange, everyone gathered at the gate. The Association had scanned it the day before and confirmed no major threats, so they were cleared to enter right away.
"Attacks can hit the moment you enter the gate, so stay sharp, everyone."
The rookies steeled themselves at Do Jun-young's words. This wasn't just sightseeing. If they didn't want to die in their hunter careers ahead, they had to open their ears wide and absorb every lesson available.