Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 36
"Argh! Screw it! The way it's charging right at us looks like it's gonna kill us deadthis is exactly the special situation Do Section Chief warned us about! Attack now! Strike first!"
Yoo Su-eun grabbed the arm of Han Su-eon, the raid party's ranged DPS, and yelled at the top of her lungs. As if on cue, the enemy stomped the ground hard and leaped high into the air.
Han Su-eon yanked the terrified Yoo Su-eun back and immediately chanted a spell, swinging his hand.
"Attribute conversion, lightning activation."
A brilliant blue light condensed beneath his palm, followed by a crackling zap as lightning sparked. The moment the skill activated, Han Su-eon's blue eyes gleamed ethereally.
His unique eyes secured a clear line of sight. With his field of view dramatically wider than usual, the enemy's form came into sharp focus. The lightning spear in his hand shot toward the designated target.
A spear empowered by the title effect would always strike true.
But the woman swatted it away with the massive, deadly blade in her grip. Currents scattered wildly around her, constricting her body, yet even amid the onslaught, she was grinning.
Ah, in that instant, all four of them locked eyes with the woman. Their bodies stiffened rigid.
Those pure golden irises burned fiercely, undimmed even by the raging lightning.
Within them dwelled a power so overwhelming it could terrify even an S-rank in a heartbeat.
They all realized it. That thing was a monster.
The moment Yoo Su-eun felt the terror of imminent death, a massive golden shield slammed down between the party and the enemy. It was her unique skill 'Final Barrier,' which automatically triggered if shethe one who always prioritized her own safetyfelt fear beyond a certain point.
The shield's immense protective power instantly quelled the lightning, sending the enemy flying back.
"It's stopped."
Do Jun-young and Jung Ho-young were the first to snap out of it once the woman's gaze broke.
This was their chance.
The two drew their swords and charged forward. Just as Jung Ho-young was about to activate his stealth skill...
"Wait! Calm down! C-calm down!"
The booming, gravelly voice echoing around them made everyone flinch. In any other situation, they wouldn't dream of lowering their guard mid-battle, but...
'Korean?'
The all-too-familiar language made their feet halt instinctively. And the English that followed was pure Konglish.
"Huh? You understood me, right?! Then are you guys Korean?!"
The four stared at the woman beyond the shield with baffled looks. One moment she'd been barreling toward them like a homicidal maniac, and now she was bouncing around like an excited puppy out for a walk.
"Yes! Whoa! The gate connected to Korea! What luck! Talk about starting off on the right foot!"
They could almost see a propeller-like tail wagging furiously behind her, making them wonder if they'd been hit by some illusion skill.
"Man, it's been forever since I heard Korean! Nothing beats your native tongue! Oh, rightcan I come over there? I promise I won't do anything!"
The woman tossed aside the weapon she'd been holding. The fearsome blade that had batted away Han Su-eon's lightning outright clattered harmlessly to the ground.
"Wh-what the hell."
Regaining her composure, Yoo Su-eun muttered a curse under her breath, her anger directed at herself for feeling fear toward something like that.
"If you're still not comfy, you can tie me up. It's fine, really. Makes sense you'd be scared meeting someone as strong as me. I get it!"
"Fuck! I'm not scared! Who said I was! You crazy mutt!"
Yoo Su-eun, pricked by her own guilt, bellowed. But it only delighted the bizarre woman more.
"You really understand me? Oh man, I'm gonna cry! Meeting folks from home like this!"
The woman clamped her hands over her mouth, eyes welling up. Do Jun-young, starting to feel confused, rubbed his forehead.
"Folks from home? Are you really Korean? What are you doing here?"
"Got swept up in a gate, duh. Been a while. I thought I'd live out my days here."
"So you've been here a long time?"
"Obviously. I've been here since before the gate you came through even appeared."
Do Jun-young's face hardened at her words.
"Exactly how long...?"
"Curious? That'll be 500 won!"
A chilly silence descended once more. Yoo Su-eun spat another curse.
"That corny joke proves she's Korean, at least."
The suspicion faded, replaced by sheer absurdity.
"Looks like she's one of the Awakeners who got swept into a dungeon and went missing."
Jung Ho-young, who often assisted the Association through Song Han-na, quickly pieced it together.
The overwhelming power that had terrified even Yoo Su-eun must be the result of her desperate struggle to survive in this dungeon. Pity crossed Jung Ho-young and Han Su-eon's faces.
"I'm Do Jun-young, section chief of the Korean Awakener Management Association's Management Division. Until we clarify the situation, the Association will secure your person. We'll guarantee your safety until we determine you're not a threat."
It was the first time they'd encountered a missing person alive. There was so much they needed to learn.
"Take me with you? Awesome! Thank you so much!"
The woman beamed at Do Jun-young's words, her face lighting up. It was a joyful smile, yet strangely heartbreaking, leaving Do Jun-young unable to look away.
She seemed like someone whose long-held wish had finally come true.
The woman, who introduced herself as Jarin, meekly handed over her weapon and crossed the gate in restraints. The moment her thrilled face fully emerged on the other side...
The astonishing message, seen for the second time, shook the vision of every Awakener in Korea.
And Yoon Se-ra was no exception.
An L-rank Awakener's birth. Wasn't this just like when she first met Kang Se-jun? Everything unfolding the exact same way.
Biting her nails anxiously, Se-ra stared into space.
'Ms. Elizabeth. Don't tell me this time too, it's the same old re...?'
She couldn't even finish the word.
Please, no. God, please no.
As if hearing her desperate plea...
Se-ra sighed in genuine relief at the Administrator's reply. Yeah, one was already cheat-level; two would end the world.
'Not a re... then what the hell is it this time?'
Ugh, always dodging the important stuff.
At least there was one silver lining: another source to pry info from. Se-ra whipped out her phone and scrolled through her contacts.
The name she sought: 'Absolute Damage.'
The regressor who'd looped five times and knew tons. She'd planned to pay him to block her number, but now fate had forced her hand to call first.
Se-ra hammered out a text and hit send. The reply came soon after...
[No idea. There was never a new L-rank at this point in any loop.]
Her phone slipped from her limp fingers.
The regressor didn't know about this L-rank?
[Stay low-key. An L-rank might notice something's off about you.]
'Oh, shit.'
Se-ra's face drained of color. The Association would definitely reach out to an L-rank, which meant her chances of crossing paths skyrocketed!
'What is this, mountains beyond mountains?'
She'd barely crested one frigid peak, only to face a blazing volcano next.
Beautiful resignation-by-quitting was right there by her side, so why was she stuck climbing fiery slopes?
Fuming with injustice, Se-ra thunked her head on the desk, sniffling nonstop.
Even then, she had no clue. The very L-rank in question was already heading straight to the Associationto her.
Unfortunately, the flames had already licked at her doorstep.
* * *
Se-ra thought to herself.
'I really gotta go jump in the guillotine.'
This wasn't just bad luck anymore. She'd been tossed onto the autobahn straight to the pinnacle of misfortune.
How else could she end up facing another L-rank at the Association!
'Or is this place the epicenter of bad luck?'
Se-ra hunched down as low as possible. One stray hair spotted by that terrifyingly powerful L-rank, and she'd be done for.
'As strong as the regressor.'
Two top powerhouses popping up in Korea out of nowhere? Balance completely broken. Even the unchallenged global number one, the Heavenly Dynasty, would have to bow.
"Whoa, first time back at the Association since my Awakening! And with S-ranks escorting mefeels kinda weird."
Unlike Kang Se-jun, this L-rank was sniffing around like an eager puppy, forcing Se-ra into deeper panic and cover.
"Hey, what're you doing?"
Gong Hae-yeon shot her a baffled look from the side, but Se-ra ignored it.
"Not escortingwatching her. Ugh, this mutt! Behave!"
"Ow! Hey! Why're you so mean to me? Huh? It's natural to fear sooomething as stroooong as meeeee!"
"Shut this mutt's mouth! I'm ripping it off right now!"
Yoo Su-eun shrieked, yanking Jarin's cheeks with both hands. Han Su-eon snorted disdainfully and looked away, while Do Jun-young massaged his temple.
Jung Ho-young just gawked blankly, making Se-ra question how these four even functioned as a team.
"Aigoo, our little Su-eun. Was she that scary? Well, can't blame you."
Song Han-na appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Yoo Su-eun by the scruff like a kitten and hoisting her up.
After patting the Chihuahua's rear reassuringly, Song Han-na scanned the new L-rank with a smiling, appraising gaze.