Chapter 45
Chapter 45
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 45
The two shared a deep bond.
Baek Hee-won was a renowned shaman known to all who mattered, and no matter how many lives Kang Se-jun lived, he always sought her counsel here.
He had first heard about the Seoul Forest Gate from her, and thanks to her advice, he had saved someone's life. It was also she who told him that killing the monster on the 11th floor of the labyrinth was the foundation for peace.
But she was no god, so she wasn't omnipotent.
There were things even Baek Hee-won didn't knowevents influenced by the god who had begun meddling more directly in this world.
For example, Song Han-na...
'Not something I particularly want to dwell on.'
Kang Se-jun tried to bury that memory by force. His previous life had been truly horrific. He vowed never to let it happen again.
"This is the sixth time."
"Six times. You're impressive for not having lost your mind yet. Or maybe you have something you crave enough to keep your sanity intact."
"I do. World peacesounds like I'm some grand hero, doesn't it? As if I'd ever be one."
"......"
"Do you already know about the monster on the 11th floor of the labyrinth?"
Aaah... A sigh escaped Baek Hee-won's lips. He didn't need to hear it to know.
"Only you would know what's there. I can't fathom the labyrinth. Even my god seems reluctant to speak of it."
Baek Hee-won's gaze drifted to the distant void. The sound of wings flapping, like a bird in flight, reached his ears.
"Still, yes. You've fought so long for that foundation of peace. You've suffered."
Kang Se-jun gave a wry smile. He wanted to hear that after slaying the monster. Only then would all his hardships truly end.
"Once the 11th-floor monster is dead, is that really the end of everything?"
"In the past, didn't I speak of the foundation of peace?"
"......You did."
"Don't forget. Building the pillars upon it is only possible after that monster dies."
A warning not to get greedy for anything else just yet. He nodded heavily.
"I'm looking for someone who can help me. Not Song Han-na or Joo Eun. Especially not Song Han-na... If something happens to her, it won't end with just a disaster."
There had been a life where he was killed by Song Han-na after she became a disaster. And another where he had killed her himself after she transformed that way.
Kang Se-jun clenched his fist tight.
"Isn't there someone more reliable?"
"If I can't see it, it means even my god's reach doesn't extend there. Ah, is that why you're watching Yoon Se-ra?"
"She's special, as you saidsomeone who never appeared before."
"Never appeared before... So what I saw was true?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Baek Hee-won recalled the Yoon Se-ra she had met.
The sole contractor of the System Administrator, whose very existence was barely known. She had wailed about her endless misfortune, yet her luck had brilliantly turned around.
But her footsteps were shrouded in a thick, sticky darkness. A filthy, viscous shadow so repulsive it felt like pure malice.
"Perhaps in the five lives you lived, that girl was murdered. Excluding this one."
"Probably. She nearly died in a dungeon but survived thanks to a dramatic contract with her summon. Some damn hunter threw her into one."
"......"
Baek Hee-won's eyes widened. So that's when Se-ra and the Administrator contracted...
Then why had this life changed? The System Administrator, who knew this repeating life inside out, must have been aware of Se-ra's repeated deaths.
Could it have extended a saving hand because of that?
That being, who desired nothing and was thus crueler than anyone?
'This is getting interesting.'
"Yoon Se-ra might be even more special than I thought."
A pleased smile curved Baek Hee-won's lips.
She hadn't shown it when facing Se-ra, but Hee-won had felt immense pressure. The most terrifying existence in this world wasn't hiding its affection for its contractor at all.
The depth of that affection was staggering, enough to draw a sigh.
"Let me be clear. Her uniqueness will help you reach your goal more easily."
Color returned to Kang Se-jun's face. But Baek Hee-won slammed her small tray down, snapping him back.
"But never force her. Absolutely not, no matter what. No threats, no begging. Never make her do anything she doesn't want."
"I never planned to from the start. Since lives are at stake, of course I'd ask her willingness."
"It's not on that level."
She warned him firmly as he looked puzzled.
"If something happens to that girl, this world will end more surely and horrifically than if it were devoured by the labyrinth. So never force her into anything she doesn't want."
The System Administrator had one constraint: it couldn't directly interfere in this world without its contractor.
What if the Administrator ignored that constraint and causality to rampage?
Baek Hee-won never wanted to witness that with her own eyes.
"So pray she's someone who doesn't wish for the world's destruction. That's all you can do."
Kang Se-jun could only nod at the icy warning.
she didn't know who Yoon Se-ra's contracted summon was, and prying would likely bring disaster. Best not to dig.
For now, he had to trust the promise that, in exchange for selling magistones to Suhorang Guild on her behalf, she'd consider his request.
"Oh, and one more thing I want to ask."
"What?"
"You... do you know about the System Administrator's existence?"
"......!"
At the unexpected words, Baek Hee-won's eyes widened for the first time that day.
* * *
"I don't want to go to work."
"You never did anyway."
"I really, really don't want to now."
In the hotel room she shared with Ja-rim, Se-ra lay sprawled on the plush sofa, not moving a muscle.
It had started that daythe one she met Baek Hee-won with Jeong Ho-young. Ever since hearing her resignation wasn't confirmed, all motivation had vanished.
As if manifesting the fortune, neither Song Han-na nor Do Jun-young would accept her resignation. Song Han-na had even started avoiding her entirely. It was truly depressing.
She should've just bolted when Seong Ja-rim discovered her identity, S-rank weapon or not. To think she still couldn't quit even on the day the American hunter arrived.
That's right.
Today was the day that problematic hunter from America was arriving.
"Wahhh. I never should've become a civil servant. I should've just been a normal hunter. Fell for the Association President's sweet talk. Wahhh."
"I've been wondering. Weren't you originally F-rank? Why become a civil servant?"
Ja-rim poked her head in. Se-ra shoved her away in panic, nearly smashing their lips together. Ja-rim wailed in pain, clutching her nose after the shove.
"F-ranks are rare among civil servants. Must've been toughwhy bother?"
Even as she twisted her apparently fine nose this way and that, Ja-rim wouldn't drop her curiosity. Se-ra sighed.
It was unusual, true. Most F-ranks like her, with stats barely above average human, lived normal lives. She was the only one working as a civil servant raiding dungeons.
"I needed a job to survive, and the Association President happened to ask if I wanted to join."
"Don't Association civil servants have to pass the Awakener exam? Nepotism?"
"No? I took the proper exam. Physical was iffy, but I passed the written with flying colors."
Se-ra kicked Ja-rim's side playfully, as if saying who do you take me for?
"Well, not 100% on my own merit. I got in through a special track."
"Like what?"
"Something only the Association hasmost people don't know about it."
"What?"
"Preferential admission for family of S-rank hunters."
"......Huh? What?"
Ja-rim stared blankly for a moment, question marks practically floating above her head.
But Se-ra, with no intention of saying more, rose from the sofa where she'd been lounging. She couldn't delay any longer.
"Come on, let's go. I hate it, but a lowly civil servant who barely passed via special track has to do as ordered from above. Ahh, I hope the guy from America is at least reasonable."
"Wait, Se-ra! What track? Family of an S-rank hunter? You don't mean"
"Hurry or I'll drag you by the scruff."
"Wait! You have to satisfy my curiosity! What does that even mean? Tell me properly!"
"Nope."
* * *
Fortune smiled on Se-rathe American hunter visiting Korea turned out to be utterly reasonable.
Christopher Campbell, an S-rank counted among America's elite, was beloved for his kind and gentle nature. A top-five S-rank in the U.S., leader of the major guild Guardian, yet so humble he was hailed as a role model in the hunter world.
Yet Do Jun-young's expression soured as he faced him.
"Long time no see, Director Do. First since the last WDO regular meeting. I hope you've been well."
"Busy latelynot exactly comfortable. And with Guardian's Guild Master here, I'll be even busier for a while."
"My apologies."
"Tell that to the Association President directly. She's waiting."
Leading Christopher and his guild members to Association HQ, Do Jun-young sighed inwardly.
He didn't dislike Christopherquite the opposite; the man had excellent character. The issue was his closeness to the U.S. government.
America couldn't properly control its L-rank Awakeners. They were too strong. So they clung to S-ranks, and Christopher fit perfectly.
Strong, popular, and he'd do anything "for the people" with total devotion.
Thus, Christopher arriving with an official U.S. government title was a real pain.
'I hope Yoon Se-ra's okay.'
Thinking of his subordinate, whose complexion worsened by the day, only deepened his unease.
He'd turned down her resignation that very morning, feeling terribly sorry and worried sick. If only Song Han-na had approved, she'd have bolted free by now.
Heading to his office, he instinctively glanced toward that subordinate's desk, but she was hidingor gone. Clicking his tongue, Do Jun-young entertained Christopher while awaiting Association President Song Han-na.
Meanwhile, what was the employee in question, Yoon Se-ra, doing?
'They didn't tell me the guy from America was Campbell.'
Her gaze shook from behind the partition. Her resolve to glare daggers at whoever came wavered.
That angelic, smiling beautiful face drilled right into her eyes.