Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 49
Even up to that point, Christopher had no clue that he'd let an L-rank Awakener slip right by under his nose.
"We've been staking out the Association for days now, and we've got nothing to show for it."
Christopher sighed, scratching his forehead.
He'd stubbornly kept showing up here despite Song Han-na's harassment, hoping another L-rank like Kang Se-jun might pop into the Association at some point. But to come away completely empty-handed?
The only intel he'd gathered was that the Association's civil servants all looked unusually exhausted. Like that tall guy who'd just gone inside, for example.
Christopher shook his head, oblivious to the fact that the man with bloodshot eyes was the very L-rank he'd been desperately searching for.
"No word from the other guild members out inquiring around?"
"Strangely, no. Unusually so. You'd think someone with such distinctive eye color would catch people's eyes, but nope. They're not all just staring at the ground while walking."
"Exactly. People pass by and your eyes meet at least once, right?"
Christopher and his guild members tilted their heads.
They'd researched Korea thoroughly for this mission, but that didn't mean they knew every little cultural quirk.
They had no idea that in Koreaespecially Seoulpeople who approach saying "You have such a nice face" actively avoid eye contact to dodge unnecessary chit-chat.
Without knowing that, hunting for an L-rank by eye color was about as feasible as finding a pearl in a sand dune.
"Still, just in casetell everyone to keep at it. I'll check out some other spots today."
"Yes, sir."
The Guardian Guild members scattered to the four winds.
Christopher glanced up at the Association building, shook his head, and soon vanished into the crowd. His stomach churned from the heavy drinking the night before.
* * *
Thanks to discovering a new way to dodge Christopher's eyes, Se-ra could now commute a bit more smoothly than before.
Of course, when Ja-rim flatly refused to wear contacts and smashed them with one hand, Se-ra shamelessly deployed the Happy Operation. While Ja-rim splashed around in the pool raving about how great it was, Se-ra lounged on a sunbed, slowly savoring her orange juice.
Thanks to another fulfilling, fun day, her face gleamed like a freshly boiled egg as she climbed into bed to sleep.
In a situation where she couldn't even quit, nothing made a working stiff happier than slacking off, napping, and vacations.
"If tomorrow's like today, I'd have no regrets."
Se-ra clasped her hands in prayer, then soon drifted off with soft snores.
But the day wasn't over yet.
Late at night, a message blared like a siren straight into her ears, jolting Se-ra awake. An ominous alert popped up urgently, as if pressing right in her face.
Still groggy, she thought she was hallucinating. S Hotel? No waythe place she was staying right now?
"Lizzy, are my eyes playing tricks on me?"
She's crying. Se-ra cursed under her breath, kicked off the covers, and bolted out of the bedroom.
What the hell! Good luck with draws? No such thing as bad luck?! She wanted to grab Baek Hee-won, drag her to Taebaek Mountain, and shake her while yelling "Look at this!"
Screw drawing the short straw this felt like the king of all bad luck!
"More than that, what the hell is this timing? Lizzy, this never happened before."
Se-ra now knew the Administrator couldn't predict or control every Gate manifestation. But giving a time limit like this? First time she'd seen it.
"Ten minutes. That's a relief, at least."
No time for details.
She rushed into Ja-rim's bedroom. Ja-rim's eyes snapped open, and she instantly drew her weapon. In the dark room, two massive blades glinted ominously.
"It's me, calm down."
Se-ra raised both hands against Ja-rim's surging killing intent. Living together, she'd faced this threat several times alreadyit was a habit from rolling desperately on that damn planet of hers. Poor girl.
"...Se-ra?"
"Snap out of it. A Gate's about to pop."
Ja-rim lowered her weapon hesitantly, eyes widening.
"The hotel rooftop. No time. Move."
"Rooftop? I don't sense anything. The Administrator told you?"
"Yeah. Don't know the type, but if it's a rift dungeon or Dungeon Break, we're in trouble. A Gate in a hotel, of all places."
The two raced to the rooftop without delay, but it was already too late to use the mana detector.
"Ugh, this sucks!"
The portal tearing open in midairlinking to another worldglowed a vivid green, of all colors.
"Even Lizzy said she can't control Breaks."
"Ja-rim. Can you hold it alone?"
"Not for long. Flat ground, maybebut a rooftop? If the monsters jump off the building all at once, they're gone."
"Then we buy time."
Se-ra pulled her sniper rifle from her inventory and activated her skill.
"Field Domination."
Her red eyes locked onto the target area. Coordinates: the Gate.
A red cube firmly enclosed the Gate.
The monster trying to emerge sensed something amiss and let out a long wail. Despite the spine-chilling eeriness, Se-ra didn't flinch and aimed her rifle.
"What are you doing? Even you can't fully block a Gate!"
"Not blocking it completelythat'd kill me. But buying time? Possible."
Her skill was Field Domination. In this world, names held great power, so Se-ra had always pondered it.
What was a 'field'? Literally, a track or arena, but sometimes a battlefield.
Battlefield.
Then dominating it meant keeping enemies from breaking outto protect her allies.
'I can do it. Skills bend to my will anyway. If I believe I can, then I can.'
Se-ra took a deep breath and pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced the cube, igniting a massive blaze inside.
Flames roared like a storm, swallowing the Gate whole. No monster would escape. Any that tried even one step would be incinerated.
Through the skill, she felt the monsters screaming and retreating into the Gate. It was responding to her will.
"...Spatial ability users really are something else."
Even Ja-rimwho'd survived a century on a planet with dimensional shiftscouldn't hide her awe at the sight.
But the cost was steep.
"Ugh!"
Se-ra's face paled as mana drained in a rush. Even with the Administrator's blessing, controlling a whole Gate was impossible. She'd downed a mana recovery potion, but it'd burn out faster than it refilled.
"You stay here and hold. When my mana runs dry, the monsters'll break out. I'll call for backuphold till then."
"And you?"
"Contact the Association and evacuate civilians."
"Hey, in your condition!"
"I have to. I'm an Association civil servant who protects citizens."
Se-ra smiled at Ja-rim.
"I can do it. You can too, right?"
Ja-rim's eyes wavered at the bloodless smile. But they couldn't switch roles. If Se-ra's power failed, the monsters would tear her apart first.
...She knew that, but it still frustrated and angered her.
"Don't get hurt. Don't push yourself. I'll hold somehow, so watch your back."
"Thanks."
Se-ra dashed off the rooftop and dialed a familiar number.
"President, Dungeon Break on the S Hotel rooftop. Ja-rim's holding the Gate right now. I'll focus on civilian evac from here."
Do Section Chief is nearby. I'll contact him now.
As expected, Song Han-na cut straight to what mattered. Se-ra appreciated her calm.
"Hurry, please. Ja-rim can't handle it alone for long."
Be careful, Se-ra. Sigh. You sure you don't need an exorcism? Fine. Move into my place for a while.
"..."
Of all the burdensome offers. Se-ra pretended not to hear and shouted.
"Gotta start evac nowhanging up! Send guides quick!"
She hung up abruptly and shuddered. Even with the Administrator, she had to block getting dragged to Song Han-na's house at all costs.