Chapter 145
Chapter 145
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 145
"What should we do about Sung Ja-rim? Should we take her along?"
It wasn't like the thought hadn't crossed my mind, but I'd only managed to snag two train tickets.
"Man, if she hears about this later, she'll throw a massive fit for leaving her behind."
But what could be done? Departure was tomorrow. No matter how much Se-ra she was, she didn't have the confidence to go out and score Lunar New Year train tickets on the spot.
"I'll bring back souvenirs. See you tomorrow."
She hung up the phone, and the fox appeared again. With its ears and tail drooping pitifully, it looked utterly dejected, but Se-ra steeled her resolve.
"I laid out the condition, and youwell, Lizaare the one who refused. How about it? Changed your mind yet?"
The fox wore an expression of deep contemplation. That vivid look on its face was always so astonishing, no matter how many times she saw it.
It's crying. Looks like no matter how much it thinks, it's just not happening. No helping it then. Se-ra shrugged.
"Sorry, but I can't compromise on this."
She shook her head firmly, staring straight at the foxand the administrator beyond it.
She would grant whatever he wanted, anything at all. Except for one thing. She would be selfish about meeting him.
No, simple meetings weren't enough anymore. She wanted to hear stories he hadn't shared with her, build a deeper bond, share emotions.
The administrator couldn't possibly be unaware of these feelings.
"Does this bother you? Feel like a burden? Don't you want to meet me, Administrator?"
The fox sneakily gauged her mood, pawing at the floor. Its tail swished lightlyit didn't seem entirely opposed.
"Then I won't give up either. If you hate it, just say so. I'll back off and live quietly, grateful to the benefactor who saved me."
Kkiuung.
"Sorry. For being so selfish."
Se-ra hugged the fox, rubbing her cheek against its soft fur. Just the touch alone brought a sigh of peace to her heart.
If it felt this good already, how blissful would it be in person? Her chest fluttered at the mere thought.
"I want to meet you soon."
She kissed the fox's forehead, boldly expressing her true feelings. In response, the fox wrapped its tail around her arm instead of answering.
* * *
It went exactly as Se-ra had predicted. When she told Sung Ja-rim about heading to Busan with Kang Se-jun over the Seollal holidays, the woman threw a full-on tantrum, demanding to come along.
"Why aren't you taking me! Take me too! You're going on a date just the two of you! I'll tell everything to Song Han-na!"
She barged into Se-ra's place that morning while Se-ra was packing and rolled around on the floor. But Se-ra stood firm.
"Throwing a fit won't work, ma'am. There are only two train tickets. What am I supposed to do? If you can score one during the holiday rush, go aheadthen I'll take you."
"Can't I just run along the tracks? Then I could make it."
It was an absurd idea, but with Sung Ja-rim, it almost seemed plausible. Se-ra couldn't even argue.
"You'd get caught. Just stay in Seoul. I'll get souvenirs."
"No! Take me too! I wanna go on a trip!"
"I'll treat you to a nice meal when I get back. How about a hotel buffet? Somewhere really good."
Sung Ja-rim quieted down. Her face twisted in conflict.
"Kang Se-jun roped me into this, so we'll make him pay. Tell him to throw in some beer at the buffet."
"Deal!"
With Kang Se-jun absent, the two sealed their pact. In the end, Sung Ja-rim saw Se-ra off in tears.
The moment they arrived at Seoul Station, all eyes turned their way. Sunglasses or not, there was no mistaking Korea's most famous face.
And when people saw it was none other than Kang Se-jun she was meetingalone the crowd buzzed loudly.
"What? Isn't that Yoon Se-ra and Kang Se-jun? Why are they together? During holidays? No dungeon breaks nearby, right?"
"Nope! Oh god, does that mean they're... you know...?"
"Whoa. Two L-ranks meeting? Insane. We're witnessing the birth of a power couple."
Se-ra couldn't miss the whispers. She rubbed her forehead.
"Didn't think of that. Koreans always pair up any guy and girl they seeno 'just friends' in their minds."
"."
No, it wasn't just Koreans. Even the administrator was flipping tables. He knew better than anyone they weren't like thatand had no such intentions.
"If we walked into a hotel together, it'd be front-page breaking news tomorrow."
"I booked separate rooms."
"Do people care? Whatever, you agreed to the trip, so no big deal. It'll blow over quick."
Without fuel, rumors die fast. Se-ra ignored it and boarded the premium car Kang Se-jun had reserved. Whispers erupted the moment they stepped inwho knew how the news had spread.
"Song Han-na sent a text."
Se-ra, midway through removing her sunglasses, shot him a puzzled look. A gate in Seoul? That would explain itshe'd send Kang Se-jun alone and head to Busan solo.
Peeking at his phone screen with that in mind, she clamped her mouth shut.
[You're dead.]
"."
"."
The short, punchy message reeked of murderous intent.
"Auntie must've heard we're on the train... No word travels faster than gossip, huh?"
"Nothing came to you?"
Se-ra checked her watch. No calls, no texts.
"Nope."
"Such devoted niece love."
"Even so, reacting to baseless rumors like this... I'll text her it's not like that before she gets more suspicious. No need to worry about your life. Can't have our generous trip sponsor getting hurt."
Kang Se-jun glanced sidelong at Se-ra as she sat beside him, saying nothing. Even as she tapped her watch to contact Song Han-na, he stayed silent. His cheeks oddly flushed as he looked away.
"Huh?"
But then Se-ra tilted her head while tapping. It wasn't just herphones buzzed throughout the premium car. Safety alerts.
[Grade 3 general dungeon occurred in Busan's Gwangalli. Those nearby, exercise caution.]
"."
Se-ra stared blankly at her watch before fumbling for her phone to double-check. No change. She looked at Kang Se-jun.
"...Kang Se-jun? What the hell is this? Did you trick me? Are we heading to deal with a gate?"
Grade 3? A Grade 3 dungeon? In Busan, where we're going? Are you insane, regressor?
"Lured by a goooorgeous suite, now slaving away over Seollal?"
Se-ra clenched her fist. If he said yes, she'd toss him off the moving train. Kang Se-jun raised both hands in innocence.
"Calm down. If it was that, we'd have arrived before the gate spawned. But we're still en route."
Still, she didn't drop her suspicion. Why not? He was a regressor, living his sixth loop after five prior ones. Not suspecting him would be weirder.
"For real. Don't misunderstand. And you forgot? There's a resident S-rank in Busan."
"Oh."
There was one S-rank hunter Se-ra, focused on Seoul for association HQ duties, hadn't met yet. Yeongwon Guild's Busan branch chief.
"A Grade 3 is no sweat for Yeongwon Guild. No reason for me to drag you all the way there for that."
True. Not even Grade 2 or 1a Grade 3, Kang Se-jun could solo. No way she'd haul a holiday-fanatic civil servant along. Especially not Yoon Se-ra.
"See? People know about the Grade 3 in Busan, but no one's panicking."
Indeed, alert recipients looked tense but weren't causing a scene. Just a general dungeon, not a break.
Finally, Se-ra relaxed.
"Whew, thought I was on holiday overtime. Yeah, no way you'd scam me."
She patted his shoulder with a grin.
"Sorry for the misunderstanding. Nearly pulled a real-life Busan chase scene."
"."
Kang Se-jun paled. Visions of a train pursuit flashed in her mind. Zombies would be betterat least not another L-rank. Yoon Se-ra? Terrifying.
"Gonna nap till we arrive. Sung Ja-rim showed up crying at dawn; woke up early."
"She didn't follow."
"Ah, settled it with you buying hotel buffet."
"What?"
"Beer too, for the record. You're so generous, Kang Se-jun."
"What?"
"Man, sleepy. Night."
Se-ra pulled her coat over her face and closed her eyes. Kang Se-jun bombarded her with questions"Hey? Yoon Se-ra? What? Who's buying what?"but she ignored her completely.
But Se-ra didn't know. What awaited her in Busan. Had she, she wouldn't have slept peacefullyinstead, she'd have dragged Kang Se-jun into a real Busan chase.
"."
Several hours later, they finally arrived in Busan.
Se-ra stared silently at Kang Se-jun; he averted his gaze, neck craning awkwardly.
The explosive tension made premium car passengers hold their breath, trembling.
Not just that, though.
Before them loomed Busan Station, swallowed by a crack dungeon.
With this, Yoon Se-ra (Special: Civil Servant Who Can't Quit) was locked in for Seollal special duty.