Chapter 52
Chapter 52
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 52
His question was straightforward, without any fluff. Yet at the same time, a subtle tension settled over the rooftop.
Se-ra wailed inwardly from behind her unwavering, polite smile.
'Jesus! Jeez!'
Everything had gone smoothly up until Christopher arrivedshe'd tossed her gun into her inventory and seamlessly played the part of an ordinary civil servant. She'd even scattered his suspicions with words he'd surely appreciate.
Do Jun-young wasn't the type to casually spill details about her to outsiders, so there was no way her identity would be exposed.
It shouldn't be...
'Why the hell is "Headbang" coming out of his mouth? And why aimed at Ja-rim?'
Did he research her beforehand since she was coming to Korea? If so, he might have pieced it together after seeing those red cubes blotting out the sky.
But then why suspect Ja-rim of being Headbang?
'Ah! He already knows about Director Do, and as for me...'
Thanks to the Administrator's blessing, her stats appeared solidly F-rank. That left only Ja-rim.
'Wait, hold on. Does that mean he has no idea about the L-rank?'
If so, wouldn't it be better to hide her real identity and pin the Headbang hat on Ja-rim? After all, what America wanted wasn't some unknown S-rankit was an L-rank who could shake the world.
"Hm."
Se-ra glanced at Ja-rim, who widened her eyes in surprise.
'What the hell are you doing?'
Her thoughts came through loud and clear in that look alone. Se-ra replied with an apologetic glance.
'Sorry, big sis. Just play along. It's all for us.'
"Guild Master, I trust in your integrity."
Composing her expression, Se-ra began gravely. Christopher and Do Jun-young looked puzzled, while Ja-rim eyed her warily.
Caught between them, Se-ra launched into her utterly convincing nonsense.
"This person's identity has been kept a strict secret from everyone until now. They operate solely for the safety of the citizens, so they never reveal themselves. Especially not to the media!"
"...Pardon?"
"You, as an American high-ranker and guild master, know full well how much interference outstanding Awakeners face in rescuing citizens once the media gets wind of them, right? All this person wants is peace for the citizens and stability in this era! So, Guild Master, I beg youplease keep this secret."
It was perfect nonsense.
But her face was so earnest that anyone hearing it had no choice but to believe it was true.
She ignored Ja-rim's silent scream from behindher eyes screaming, 'What the fuuuuuck are you talking about?!'
Christopher, completely oblivious, looked enlightened, while Do Jun-young shot her a look that said, What the hell is this nonsense?
Director Do, I'll handle the talking, so please just stay quiet. We have to fool this American Hunter together first.
"As their representative and as a civil servant dedicated to protecting citizen safety alongside them, I trust in the honorable Campbell Guild Master's integrity. Please, keep the secret."
Amid the flurry of glances and expressions, Se-ra concluded solemnly and bowed deeply. Perfect nonsense right to the end.
Not that she'd said anything outright false. Ja-rim really didn't want to see citizens get hurt.
She just hadn't explicitly said Ja-rim was Headbang. It was the mistaken party's fault.
Christopher, fully duped by her brazen performance, covered his mouth in bewilderment, then uncovered it, then swept his hand down his face, repeating the motions.
For a good while. Finally, he clenched his fists tightly.
"Rest assured. I won't breathe a word of this to anyone. If anything, I'm the one who should apologize. I was so oblivious... Forgive my rudeness."
He even looked resolute about it.
As rumored, he was the kind of man who couldn't be omitted from any discussion of faithjust look at his contract with an angel. Since he wasn't the type to chase personal gain, Se-ra had liked him the most out of all the American Hunters.
And so, without a shred of conscience, Se-ra deceived this angel and flashed the brightest, most blooming smile as she landed the finishing blow.
"Thank you, Guild Master! I'll never forget this favor! I'll repay it by protecting the citizens' peace and daily lives!"
But that might have been the problem. As if on cue, fanfare burst forth, and system messages popped up one after another before her eyes.
Se-ra's face, which had flowed so naturally through the act, cracked for a split second at the Administrator's emoji capping off the messages like a nail in the coffin.
"......"
No, wait a minute. What did you just say?
Mask of a Thousand Faces? That was the title tied to acting prowess, wasn't it?
The one even pro actor-Awakeners struggled to get, wailing about what the acquisition conditions could possibly beand now it was popping up here?
'The condition was fooling 10 S-ranks, of all things?'
She nearly lost it. No wonder it was so hard with conditions like that.
'Well, not bad, though.'
Titles held special powers, so more was always better. Especially an acting oneit'd be huge for hiding her identity going forward. Since things had come to this, she might as well fool even more people even more thoroughly from now on.
The confidence that she could now deceive the entire world more convincingly brought peace to her heart, and a benevolent smile rose naturally to her lips. Poor, oblivious tenth S-rank victim Christopher just gazed at her in admiration.
He's so innocent.
Forget the me from yesterday who thought that.
The next morning, Se-ra put her new title to full use the moment she arrived at work.
She couldn't be more grateful to have gotten it. Otherwise, she'd have shown her rotting expression right in front of that Guardian Guild Master.
So, why are you here...?
"Hello, Yoon Se-ra! You must be exhausted from yesterdayhere, have some coffee. Oh, and you too, misser, over here."
That was exactly what she wanted to say.
After being dragged off by Song Han-na and force-fed booze until she was stuffed, then rushing straight to the dungeon site, Christopher should be the one half-dead. So why was he at the Association this early?
For once, there'd been no one camping out front, so she'd thought, Ah, he is human after all. Must be out of stamina today!
But why was he in the lobby? And why did his face bloom with such a radiant smile?
"Th-thank you."
A lowly civil servant couldn't refuse coffee from an American S-rank Hunter, so she took it. It tasted different from the usual nearby stuffclearly sourced from somewhere high-end.
"What brings you to the Association?"
Hurry up and finish your business so you can leave. With that intent, she asked, and he smiled shyly.
...Shyly?
"Ah, yes. I have business with both of you. I couldn't ask yesterday amid all the chaos."
"With us?"
Ja-rim, who had been sipping her coffee indifferently, also tilted her head in confusion.
"Oh, it's just a light question! No need to feel burdened."
"What is it?"
"Have you ever thought about coming to America?"
"...?"
"...?"
Hold on. That's not light at all. Super burdensome.
"Uh, this doesn't seem like a travel suggestion or anything..."
"Right! I'd like to ask if you'd consider working as a Hunter in America!"
Totally massive burden. She'd get it if he was offering it to Ja-rim, knowing she was Headbang.
But why to me?
"I think there's a misunderstanding. I'm just an ordinary F-rank civil servant."
"Oh, right. As an Association employee, recruitment would be tricky... I really wanted to bring you into our guild..."
"...?"
What? The more she heard, the more baffling it got.
Civil servants affiliated with the Association couldn't be poached lightly, no matter the country. They served the state. Snatching one meant picking a fight with that nation.
Yet Christopher was saying this, which meant...
"You're not bothered by the fact that I'm F-rank?"
"Of course not! I don't care about ranks. What's far more important is a person's values and character. That's why I'm so thrilled to meet someone as righteous and upright as you, Yoon Se-ra."
*Cough cough.* Ja-rim, slurping her Americano without much interest, hacked violently.
Are your eyes even working right?
Oblivious to Ja-rim's glare, Christopher ranted on.
"But a civil servant... such a shame. Ah, what about you, miss? Any thoughts...?"
"Nope. I don't work with people whose eyes are knot-holes."
"Knot-holes? Sorry, I speak Korean well, but I don't know every word yet..."
"No, you don't need to know that."
Se-ra hurriedly cut in and pinched Ja-rim's back. She twisted in agony.
"Anyway, I'm a civil servant, and she has no intention of leaving Korea either. Thank you, but we must decline."
Christopher, who had been eyeing Ja-rim oddly, expressed his regret.
"Can't be helped. Ah, in that case..."
"Oh no, what do we do? My shift's about to start! I have to go. Thanks for the kind wordstake care. See you."
Se-ra grabbed Ja-rim and bolted. A flustered Christopher called after her repeatedly from behind, but the upper floors were off-limits to non-authorized personnel, so he was quickly stopped.
No matter how big a deal he was as an American guild master, he couldn't come up without permission.
"Whew. Felt like it shaved ten years off my life. An out-of-nowhere recruitment offer, of all things."
"Impressive. He sees you as such a gem he'd drag you to America. His eyes really are knot-holes."
"All thanks to my stellar acting skills, right?"
"Be honest. You studied acting? No way you pull this off otherwise. Fooling S-ranks like that?"
"This is raw talent. I could've conquered Hollywood, but nah, civil servant life. What a waste."
"Devilish talent. Wait, noor is it just demonic because you're a demon?"
Ja-rim finally shut up after taking a smack from Se-ra.