Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 47
Christopher collapsed onto the bed the moment he returned to the hotel. He reeked so strongly of booze it was like he'd fallen into a vat of alcohol and crawled back out.
"The Association President is truly insane..."
Who would've thought the liquor she'd prepared was potent enough to get Awakenerseven S-ranksdrunk. She was someone you really didn't want to turn into an enemy.
"You okay, Guild Master?"
"No, I'm not okay. I have a feeling the Association President is going to make me drink every single day..."
The guild members around him instantly turned pale.
But they couldn't refuse. Song Han-na was in a foul mood right now. She was the type who could block them from catching even a single strand of an L-rank's hair until it blew over, so placating her had to come first.
"More importantly, how'd it go? Did you look into Korea's L-ranks?"
He had no intention of spending all his time just knocking back drinks with Song Han-na. In case things went sideways, he needed to scout their locations and info ahead of time.
Two L-rank Awakeners had emerged one after another in Korea. Meeting at least one of them was his goal for this trip.
"I did check, but neither one seems easy."
"Of course. Even just looking at our own side's..."
The guild members fell silent for a moment as they recalled America's arrogant L-ranks. One was at least somewhat reasonable, but the other two... Ugh, it gave them chills just thinking about it.
"No, that's not what I meant. We can't even track down where Korea's L-ranks are in the first place."
"It's only been a day..."
"I think it's going to be tough. Hunter Kang Se-jun's face is well-known, but he's a mage. The fact that no tracking works at all suggests he's got some special spell on his body."
"Ugh. Nothing we can do about magic. What about the other one?"
"That's the real problem. Not only is her name unknown here, but her face hasn't been revealed either. We only know she's a woman and combat-class, so we can't narrow the search."
"The only scrap of info we got is that her eye color is extremely unique."
"Eye color... I see. It's pretty common for abilities to change eye color."
America had an L-rank like that, and there was one among Korea's S-ranks too. It was highly plausible.
"If that's the case, someone around must've spotted her in passing. Now that we have a clue, let's take our time searching."
Of course, finding them didn't mean success was guaranteed. The White House had ordered him to bring them back no matter whateven if it cost billions.
Honestly, Christopher was pessimistic about this mission. Any other country, maybe. But poaching from a place with Song Han-na? Zero chance.
Even in a democracy, the title of the only nation where none of its more than ten S-ranks had ever been lured abroad belonged entirely to the deep roots that Song Han-nathat towering treehad planted in this land.
Even Christopher lacked the confidence to take her on.
'Still, I can't do nothing, so I figured I'd at least ask if they'd be interested. Even that's turning out to be a hurdle.'
Sighing, Christopher flopped face-down onto the bed.
He'd think about it later. The alcohol was making it too hard to focus right now. If Song Han-na had timed this to keep him pinned down, it had worked perfectly.
He sniffled a few tears before soon snoring his way into sleep.
* * *
"Mm, this is a problem."
Morning. Yoon Se-ra stopped short on her way to work and ducked behind a building near the Association.
Christopher and his guild members were staked out right in front of it.
"Kang Han-seo was slurring nonsense from how drunk he was, so I figured Campbell wouldn't have made it out unscathed either..."
Even with dark circles hanging down to his chin, he was standing on two feet this early in the morningnot four. She'd underestimated his willpower.
"They don't know what I look like anyway, so should I just bulldoze straight through?"
Se-ra glanced up at Ja-rim muttering atop her head. Golden irises gleamed with steadfast light through her curly red short cut.
Even a civilian spotting her from a hundred meters away would sense something extraordinary about her. No way Christopher would miss it. She really needed to get some colored contacts.
"We need to come up with another plan."
"Got any ideas?"
"Hmm..."
"Feels like I've seen a scene just like this before. Dj vu?"
The moment she sank into thought, a familiar voice from somewhere made both of them widen their eyes.
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
Kang Se-jun had appeared at some point, peeking out with just his face while keeping his hips pulled back, staring at them pityingly.
"It's the magician."
"Yeah, the magician."
"Has my name stuck as 'Mr. Magician' or something?"
"What's Mr. Magician doing here? You joining the Association?"
"As if. I came for some business and sensed familiar auras here."
Se-jun's gaze swept over the front of the Association.
"But what now? I can't help you girls this time. I don't want to draw attention either."
The handsome Kang Se-jun flashed a gentle smile.
He seemed dead set on using his good looks to befuddle them, but Se-rawho'd already seen far more seductive beauties than him in her dreamswas completely immune. Her eyes sparkled.
'Oho?'
Come to think of it, Kang Se-jun had helped her out the first time Seong Ja-rim appeared too. Right, that's how it went.
She glanced up, and Ja-rim wore an excited face, clearly thinking the same thing. A century of experience didn't fade away.
"So this time, you two will have to handle it yourselves..."
Why hesitate then? Se-ra sprang into action right away.
"Kyaaah! It's Kang Se-jun! Korea's first L-rank Awakener!!!"
With a voice packed full of power to start things off, it was Seong Ja-rim's turn next. Grinning like a flower in full bloom, Ja-rim shoved Kang Se-jun with L-rank strength.
Far, far awayplenty far enough for the hyena pack staked out in front of the Association to see clearly.
"Whawhat are youyou guys...!"
He panicked, but it was already too late.
"Over thereit's Kang Se-jun!"
"Guild Master! It's Hunter Kang Se-jun!"
"Ch-chase him!"
The Guardian Guild members and the cameras that had come to film them all rushed this way in an instant.
Kang Se-jun shot them an incredulous look, but the two womenwho didn't have a hair of conscience between themwaved at him with dreamy smiles on their faces.
"You devils!"
Whatever Kang Se-jun yelled behind them, Ja-rim scooped Se-ra up in her arms and bolted toward the Association.
Bye for now, Mr. Kang Se-jun! We're casting off the shackles of this world to chase our happiness! You be happy toooo!
Flash, crash!
"Argh! Kang Se-jun's lost it!"
"Aaaah! My camera!"
Angry thunderbolts and a chorus of screams erupted behind them, but the two paid it no mind. Commuting after sacrificing one person felt utterly refreshing.
"Phew. Mr. Magician sure knows how to help out a ton. Good boy, such a good boy."
As the deafening thunderclaps kept shaking the sky, the staff peeked out the windows wondering what was going on. Instead of explaining, Se-ra just plopped into her seat with a beaming smile.
Surprisingly, the lightning stopped quickly. Seeing Song Han-na arrive right after and grumble, it looked like Se-jun had gotten an earful from her and quit.
"Looks like I need to tell the President upfront to give up on one L-rank. Lightning protests right in front of the Association? And with all those Guardians clinging to him, maybe Kang Se-jun wants to head to America."
It probably wasn't sincere, but if Kang Se-jun heard it, he'd feel deeply wronged.
'Or maybe? I don't know if he wants to go to America or not.'
He'd said he didn't want to be spotted, so he probably didn't...
'Seong Ja-rim said she wouldn't go.'
Se-ra glanced sideways. Ja-rim was gleefully surfing the internet on her phone, delighted at how much Korea had developed in five years.
On the day the American hunters' visit was decided, she'd said it.
'America or whatever, not my problem. I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay right here. More precisely, by your side.'
It was a total proposal line.
In reality, it just meant she'd stick around out of curiosity about the Administrator's contractor, but stillthat kind of heart-fluttering line was supposed to come from a handsome guy. Se-ra was deeply dissatisfied at getting a confession from a non-hottie grandpa over a century old.
Se-ra went "Tch" and smacked Ja-rim's arm.
"Pfft."
Se-ra stopped tormenting Ja-rim's arm and flopped straight onto her desk because of the Administrator suddenly throwing up a hand.
"What? What is it? Laughing right after hitting me? You wanted to smack me that bad?"
Ja-rim sniffled from the side, but Se-ra was too busy laughing to reply. Look at that vivid heart.
'Administrator, does this emoticon mean you'll stay by my side forever?'
Her mouth corners melted helplessly at yet another heart explosion. Ah, seriously. How could anyone be this cute?
'It's a promise. Never leave. Stay right by my side, okay? I hate losing someone precious.'
The terror of loss was unmatched. Nothing scared her more.
But the System Administrator was the strongest being in the worldabove even the adultsso it wouldn't disappear.
That was enough. That was all she needed.
Flopped on the desk, Se-ra reached out a hand. Her fingertip tapped the Administrator's emoticon. It was just the system, so it shouldn't feel like anything, but oddly, her fingertip felt warm.
As that warmth spread and seeped into her heart, Se-ra smiled contentedly.
* * *
Kang Se-jun sighed and swept back her hair. Yoon Se-ra was a handful on her own, but teaming up with Seong Ja-rim created synergy that was no joke.
'Baek Hee-won said Seong Ja-rim was just as peculiar as me, so I came to figure out what she meantand I get this kind of interruption.'
Kang Se-jun eyed the people standing before him with clear annoyance.
Christopher Campbell. The man bowed his head as their eyes met. His face already looked wrecked from the hangover, but now it was downright ashen. That was because Kang Se-jun wasn't bothering to hide his displeasure at all.
Still, compared to his guild memberswho were too terrified to even move properlyChristopher was faring better.
"It's an honor to meet you for the first time, Hunter Kang Se-jun. I'm Christopher Campbell, leader of the Guardian Guild in America. A pleasure."
Kang Se-jun knew him well too. They'd crossed paths several times before his regression.