Chapter 143
Chapter 143
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 143
Yoo Ji-hyuk, are you coming to? Here, drink this first.
As soon as he drank the potion, his bodycovered in woundsbegan to heal noticeably. Now, if a healer took a look, he'd be fully cured in no time.
Th-thank you... thank you...
I'm sorry. I should have blocked it before then, but I couldn't.
As the training escort, this was a major blunder. Of course, since it was hunter training, they had announced upfront that fatalities could happen during the process, but feelings don't always follow logic.
Don't get up. Just rest. We'll move you like this.
After landing on the ground and releasing the cube, the waiting healers rushed over and began treating Yoo Ji-hyuk. His complexion improved almost immediately.
Director, it might be best to end the rookie hunters' training here.
Do Jun-young agreed with Se-ra's assessment. Chasing those escaped monstersespecially ones taking orders from a magical beastwas too much for rookies. On top of that, the attack had produced casualties.
The raid team and I will handle tracking the monsters.
But Yoon Se-ra, your body is still...
This much is fine. Besides, these monsters match up better with me than with you, Director Do. I'll go.
A swarm of flying butterflies would be far easier for Se-raa space manipulator and sniperthan for a swordsman like him. Of course, it wouldn't handicap an S-rank, so this was just an excuse. Se-ra wanted more real-combat practice with the cube.
Any injured among the raid team members?
N-no, everyone's treatment is finished.
The Noeul raid team buzzed with excitement at the news that Se-ra would join them in battle. Just training together today was an honor; fighting side by side was a dream. When would they get another shot like this?
Wow. Looks like they prefer fighting with you over me. Check out how pumped they are.
Of course, when Eun In-jae clicked her tongue, they quickly schooled their expressions. Still, the looks of admiration lingered.
It's 'cause I'm that awesome. Forgive them, Guild Master.
Your personality seems a little different lately. Am I imagining it?
You're imagining it.
Se-ra flashed a bright smile, drawing a scoff from Eun In-jae. She'd clocked it from the start, back when she hid her identity perfectly. Such a shady character.
Um, over here! Me toomy injuries are all treated now. Take me with you!
Yoo Ji-hyuk, mid-treatment, shot his hand up in a panic. Everyone stared at him in bewilderment.
Yoo Ji-hyuk, even treated, pushing further is too much for a D-rank like you.
Do Jun-young voiced his concern, but Yoo Ji-hyuk shook his head firmly.
We're not studentswe're hunters. I want to fight monsters that threaten our lives for real. If I bail over an injury like this, I'll just keep running away forever.
Yoo Ji-hyuk's eyes held no trace of defeat. Do Jun-young had no reason to stop him then. He wasn't some gentle teacher spelling everything out nicely.
Anyone else want to stay?
After exchanging glances, half the rookies raised their hands; the other half, who had been injured, shook their heads. Do Jun-young made the call.
I'll escort the rest out of the gate. And...
I'll tag in instead. This training's a collab with Noeul anyway, right? No biggie. Blood-sucking butterfly swarms, huh? Perfect for shaking off some rust.
Eun In-jae swung her arms loosely. Her face lit up; the earlier skirmish hadn't even winded her.
Then, Guild Master Eun In-jae, Yoon Se-raI'm counting on you for the rest.
Do Jun-young led the remaining handful of hunters out of the gate. For the serious fighting ahead, Se-ra and Eun In-jae geared up properly with weapons and armor.
Huh? Where's the jacket?
Eun In-jae perked up when Se-ra donned protective gear instead of her signature jacket.
It got wrecked bad in the labyrinth fight, so I dropped it off for repairs.
The Jacket of Revival? Someone's actually fixing it?
Yup. They sounded confident, so we'll see. I warned them I'd hold them responsible if they botch it, so should be good.
Uh... right...
Eun In-jae pitied the repairman facing an L-rank's threats. Se-ra didn't give it a thought. They had pressured her first to wear the thing she'd made, after all.
Guild Master Eun In-jae, with your experience, will lead the raid. Rookies, follow my orders above all else, no matter the situation. Survival is your absolute top prioritykeep that front and center. Let's go. Mages, activate your detection skills.
Yes, got it.
The raid team set off once more.
With an L-rank and S-rank hunter on the trail, they caught the magical beast quickly, vast terrain or not. And soon after battle recommenced, Se-ra fully got why Yoo Ji-hyuk had insisted on sticking it out.
That day, Yoo Ji-hyukacknowledged for his unbreakable grit by a certain adult specimenre-awakened, jumping from D-rank to B-rank.
* * *
You really cleaned up big time this round. Nice work, Director Do.
In the Association President's office, Song Han-na grinned ear to ear after receiving Do Jun-young's report at the end of the multi-day training.
Se-ra handled way more than I did.
Stripped that magical beast soul and all? Impressive.
Personally, I'm bummed I missed the show.
You know you're just as bad a pushover as Jae-hun, right?
Do Jun-young averted his gaze smoothly. A faint blush colored his cheeks.
The standout was Yoo Ji-hyuk, right? Chosen by an adult in the dungeon. Finally, a solid talent after so long.
Yes.
And he was blown away by Se-ra's fighting. Thanks to that, the Association's suddenly swimming in recruits.
Do Jun-young was genuinely surprised by the file Song Han-na passed him. All Awakeners who had submitted job applications to the Association.
The Association was a national agency, but its civil service hiring differed from other sectors. High mortality rates and the need to master Awakener-related laws meant they always took applications in January, then tested just those applicants.
Strong Awakeners usually flocked to guilds, leaving most applicants D-rank or lower. This time, though, the standouts were plentiful.
Yoo Ji-hyuk was one of them.
His guts in the dungeon were solid. If he aces the exam, I'd say hire him.
Support Division's got eyes on him. Director Kang Ha-na stopped by earlier, griping that Management's hogging all the talent and insisting they need him.
Management's director was S-rank; the newbie staffer had just awakened to L-rank. Toss in a B-rank healer, and it'd throw off the balancethat was Kang Ha-na's heated pitch from Support Division.
Too bad for Director Kang Ha-na, but the slot opened in Management first. Herethe promotion you asked for. Unanimous approval, no objections.
The second file Song Han-na handed over listed this year's promotees: one in Response Division, two in Support, two in Management. The biggest names? None other than Gong Hae-yeon and Yoon Se-ra.
Gong Hae-yeon moves from 7th to 6th grade. Yoon Se-ra gets a special jump to 5th.
You couldn't keep L-rankers at the bottom forever. Hence the two-grade special promotion. Come February, Se-ra would take the Section Chief position.
Sure, Section Chief in title onlyher influence outside dwarfs mine. Some folks griping about you still hiding your rank wanted to bump Se-ra straight to director this time.
Will you do it?
Don't act like you'll quit on the spot if I do. I blocked your retirement; think Se-ra would let you bow out?
Do Jun-young made no secret of his disappointment.
She's the type who hates busywork, so Section Chief suits her perfect. Plus, with Gong Hae-yeon and Se-ra both moving up, Dungeon Management Team needs a hands-on staffer. We'll hire one during this recruitment round. You deal with Director Kang Ha-na's gripes.
Yes, understood.
Do Jun-young nodded, looking drained already. Director Kang Ha-na's complaints always spilled out over drinks. Song Han-na, well aware, cackled merrily.
You too, Director Dostuck as Association lifer with me till Se-ra resigns. Hang in there. Man, a Section Chief with the top brass in her pocket. How cool is that?
Do Jun-young cracked a laugh at Song Han-na's deadpan delivery.
As Song Han-na said, she'd love nothing more than handing the director spot to Yoon Se-ra right now. But she'd loathe the hassle. Better she stay planted to keep her out of it.
Do Jun-young was always ready to handle anything Se-ra disliked.
* * *
A promotion?
Se-ra was thoroughly unenthused upon hearing the news. A single-grade bump? Fine, it was about due. Her peer Gong Hae-yeon had just hit 6th grade, after all.
But this was a full two-grade special promotion. Sure, the Association's sky-high death rate meant looser promotion rules and special jumps weren't rare...
'Promotion means harder work!'
What good was a raise if it came with that much extra load? Never show your skills at the office. Tears rolled down Se-ra's cheeks. Farewell, sweet entry-level days...
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