Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 39
"How long has it been since you signed the contract?"
"Not that long. Not even a full month yet?"
Thinking about it made her feel down again. What had she done to deserve running into two L-ranks in such a short timeand getting their true identities exposed, no less?
"Shorter than I thought. I figured you'd been calling each other nicknames for a few years at least."
"If you put your mind to it, you can get close to anyone, right?"
"You're not teasing me, civil servant sis? That nickname screams 'trying too hard'."
"How can you say that? Don't dismiss my sparkling naming sense. Our Eliza loves it too!"
"See? She's thrilled right now."
Se-ra grinned widely as she gently stroked the administrator's emoticon. Invisible as it was, Ja-rimwho had no cluelet out an impressed gasp.
"Whoa, that's wild. Baskar's contractor is always getting hassled by their administrator every chance they get."
"Hassled? How?"
"Oh, you know, ordering them around with stuff like hunting monsters coming through gates or clearing dungeons. Doesn't Earth's administrator make you do that kind of thing? You said you're actually S-rank, right, sis?"
Se-ra blinked. She'd spilled the truth to Ja-rim before the chicken arrived. Sure, the administrator had warned her to be careful or cheered her on in fights, but...
"Hmm... no, never. They've never forced me to do anything, not even once."
"Whoa, they must really treasure you. Baskar's contractor would blow a gasket if they heard."
Even with hands raised in surrender, the administrator was beaming happily. It was adorable, and knowing they cherished her that much made Se-ra feel oddly embarrassed. She cleared her throat awkwardly and tore into a chicken leg.
Liza, you can lower your hands now.
"Glad you came to Earth."
"Why?"
"You're actually S-rank, right? Probably low skill proficiency holding you back, but give it some timeyou'll hit L-rank easy."
What? Se-ra stared blankly at Seong Ja-rim, chicken halfway to her mouth.
"S-rank or not, administrator contractors are total cheats. You could go toe-to-toe with me right now and it'd be even."
Why drop a bombshell like that while I'm eating chicken?
Her appetite vanished. Se-ra set the chicken down.
"Ha. You could already kill me with sheer intimidation, and L-rank? You'd be a walking disaster. Ooh, epic. Come on, sislevel up already."
"Don't jinx it."
Se-ra shoved a chicken leg into Ja-rim's mouth.
S-rank was bad enoughL-rank? The kind that pinged every Awakener in the country?
Oh, hard pass.
"Hey, returner. Why call me 'sis'? It's embarrassing getting that from someone over a hundred."
Ja-rim's chicken leg dropped from her mouth at the ruthless jab.
"Over a hundred? Over a hundred?!"
"I saw 129. No use denying it, elder."
"On Earth, I'm still a fresh-faced twenty-six!"
"Ollie. I'm twenty-two. A hundred-seven years younger than you, elder."
Se-ra raised both hands, flashing two fingers on each and wiggling them. Ja-rim teared up as she quietly ate her soggy chicken.
Aw, our poor elder. Must be tough getting old, but she's chowing down.
"Oh, one thing I'm curious about. What happened to that contractor you knew?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like, did they get in danger because of the contract or something?"
"From the contract? The administrator bossed them around, sure, but the contract itself? Never an issue."
"Got it. Being a contractor isn't inherently risky, then."
Ja-rim looked like she'd been slapped at Se-ra's words.
"That's all you wanna know? Not curious about the administrator's identity or anything? You could find out."
"Nah, no clue. And I don't wanna grill our Liza about it."
Se-ra eyed Ja-rim like why would you even ask that?
"It screams 'not normal.' What good's knowing? Like I said, my peace and safety come first. Being at the eye of the storm? No thanks."
You're exhausting enough just being here, Se-ra grumbled inwardly.
If it weren't for hotel life, I'd just shoot her...
Ja-rim clammed up at the muttering that seemed meant to be overheard.
Yeah, don't piss off Yoon Se-ra. Annoy Earth's administrator contractor and you get a bullet to the head. Ja-rim nodded vigorously, dropping to her knees.
About two hours with Yoon Se-ra, and Seong Ja-rim had her personality pegged perfectly.
* * *
That night.
A faint glow flickered in the small bedroom of the suite where Se-ra slept. Mimicking a gentle touch, it hovered in the air before lightly brushing her dark hair.
Se-ra was already asleep and missed the message, but the administrator conveyed their sincere words to their contractor anyway, folded with care.
The light, stroking her hair, soon vanished.
But the administrator's senses lingered, catching the voice from the other bedroom just fine.
"Administrator. I saw plenty on Baskar, but I won't bring it up here. This isn't Baskar."
Ja-rim gazed into the air, as if she knew the administrator was there.
"Even if your contractor asks, I'll know what I can and can't say. At least until you permit it."
Ja-rim's golden eyes drifted to the past.
A hundred years. Spending a century off-Earth wasn't easy.
She clenched her fist.
"...But, Administrator, if I slip and say something I shouldn't, could you just wag a carrot at me instead of killing me? I'll shut up on my own, so please don't kill me..."
No reply came. She knew non-contractors didn't get responses, but the anxiety gnawed at her.
"Baskar's administrator always wanted to smash me with a rock... Please don't do that, Earth Administrator..."
Once was enough for that trauma.
Ja-rim knelt and prostrated herself, pleading mercy, mercy.
Unaware the baffled System Administrator had returned to Se-ra's side, she prayed through the night.
* * *
"Fucking hell."
A curse slipped through Se-ra's gritted teeth.
Ja-rim, whistling beside her, shuddered and tried to edge away.
But she couldn't escape Se-ra's icy glare.
Until morning, Se-ra's mood had been peak. Maybe a good dream all night, plus the lounge breakfast was flawless.
But spotting the cameras and reporters camped out in front of the Association on the way to work shattered it all.
"You knew they were waiting and didn't tell me? Huh?"
"No idea what you're saying, Se-ra ya."
"I have to plow through that because of you?"
Se-ra smacked the back of the flashy L-rank Awakener's head.
"Ow, ow! Ack! Why does it hurt? I'm higher rank! Gah, is this that legendary mom smackdown...?!"
"Want a full-body version?"
Ja-rim went silent instantly.
"How the hell do we get through that? One look at your eyes and everyone knows you're no ordinary person."
Striking red hair and even more eye-catching golden irises.
Less like glittering jewels, more like smoldering flames. She'd supposedly earned the title 'Eyes Drenched in Madness' on Baskar, changing then. Whatever madness that was, those colors screamed suspicious to anyone.
No hat could hide that without making it worse.
'Do I even have to go in?'
Since it's like this, maybe text the director I'm holing up at the hotel for a bit? Room service bliss awaitswhy struggle to clock in?
'Why didn't I think of this sooner?'
Se-ra's mood lifted; she chuckled and pulled out her phone.
"I can help with that."
But a familiar voice, right on cue, made her whip her head around in a daze.
The still-handsome regressorthough less so after that sculpted dream guyKang Se-jun stood there with a leisurely smile.
Why are you popping up here...?
"Feeling lonely? Where's the mage who should be at Daegwallyeong? What, a ghost? Did the mage die?"
"Looks like you've started trash-talking already? Dungeon's cleared, so I'm back. Plus."
Kang Se-jun glanced at Ja-rim.
"...I've got questions."
"Whoa, whoa. Felt a killer vibeit's you! Whoa, check out this scary aura. Terrifying!"
"Hey, elder. You sensed him coming?"
Se-ra's no way got a bright nod and grin from Ja-rim.
"Yep!"
Oh god, this damn mutt! You should've said something sooner!
Left: returner. Right: regressor.
Nightmare positioning.
Thankfully, no flanking by two L-ranks.
Kang Se-jun took point, heading into the Association first.
"Kang Se-jun! Met the new L-rank Awakener? Why visit the Association?"
"Who is it? Just one hint!"
"Kang Se-jun!"
Reporters, necks craned for his arrival, swung cameras to the fresh goldmine.
Handsome faces perfect for shots filled viewfindersuntil he became their last subject.
"Argh! Ack! C-cameras!"
"Nooo! My memory card!"
Every camera exploded with pops, just for capturing him. Amid wails and blasts, Kang Se-jun strolled inside.
Collapsing reporters made it pure cinema.
'Novel hero? More like movie star.'
But Se-ra couldn't applaud. Happy hotel life? Gone, thanks to Mr. Regressor's "help."
Bad Kang Se-jun... Just you wait.