Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 59
"Oh, Yoon Jae-hun? He's super famous. Must be pretty strong, huh?"
Sung Ja-rim, who had been listening quietly, slipped in a comment, and Gong Hae-yeon poked her head forward.
"Don't you remember? Hunter Yoon Jae-hun has been active since eight years ago."
"No clue. Honestly, I've forgotten all the domestic S-ranks except for the big boss here."
She'd lived over a hundred years on another planet, so it was no wonder she'd forgotten.
"He's with Athena, the overseas mercenary guild. There was a ton of buzz when he became an executive at the youngest age ever."
"Ah, that S-rank who does overseas work. The one who said he'd come running if something happened in Korea."
"Yes, exactly!"
The Cheolwon Dungeon, sealed with a lock barely obtained through one hunter's sacrifice.
Sung Ja-rim, who had heard about it from Song Han-na, glanced at Se-ra's reaction. But Se-ra didn't seem particularly bothered. She just thought,
'I see. So my brother finally made up his mind. He's resolved to devour that dungeon this time.'
That was all. It had been Jae-hun's long-held dream, so there was nothing special about it now.
'Can he do it?'
She had been only ten at the time, so she couldn't accurately remember the terror of that day. She couldn't even gauge how horrific it had been.
That's why she was worried. Jae-hun was the type who wouldn't hesitate at any risk to smash that dungeon.
"I'll be right back."
At that moment, a text arrived, and Se-ra stood up alone, leaving Ja-rimwho had been showing interest in Jae-hunbehind. It was a message from Song Han-na telling her to come to the Association President's office.
"Judging by your face, you've already heard."
The moment she entered, a voice laced with amusement reached her. Se-ra let out a deep sigh.
"Do you know how shocked I was when I saw it on the community forums? Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
"Because if I did, you wouldn't have come to work."
"."
Sharp as ever. Se-ra clicked her tongue outright. Song Han-na laughed as if she were enjoying it.
"Don't worry. Jae-hun made it clear he won't make contact with you in public."
"Yeah, I figured. He'd hate it even more if I got exposed to the press."
No one was unaware that Yoon Jae-hun was the son of Hyeon-ui, who had died in the Cheolwon Dungeon. He drew so much media attention that Jae-hun desperately shielded Se-ra from any exposure.
He was an S-rank whom even reporters couldn't touch recklessly, but Se-ra was just an F-rank working as a lowly civil servant.
She was the perfect fragile prey for ruthless exploitation, so Jae-hun obsessively protected her.
"He booked a hotel far from where you are, so relax and take it easy."
"That's a relief."
"Right, right. But you're siblingsif you don't even meet, won't that be disappointing?"
"Huh?"
Right on cue, someone knocked on the door.
In that instant, Se-ra couldn't help but sense it. Beyond that door stood someone as overwhelmingly powerful as Song Han-na or Joo Eun.
"It's been a while, Madam President."
That was the first time she'd ever felt Jae-hun's power.
"Long time no see, little sis."
Yoon Jae-hun, who entered, exuded a far heavier presence than in the community photos. His softly smiling face had matured even more since she'd last seen him, making it a bit unfamiliar.
But some things hadn't changed. His face, resembling their beautiful mother, was still the same.
"Have you grown a bit taller?"
Se-ra burst into absurd laughter at his gesture of measuring with his hand.
"Why are you still saying stuff like that from our teens? I'm an adultI'm not growing anymore."
"No, I swear you have. Or maybe not? Has your vibe just matured?"
Unlike Se-ra, who took after their dad, Jae-hun resembled their mom with his striking transparent brown eyes fixed on her. Even knowing he didn't have special eyes like Sung Ja-rim's, Se-ra felt a twinge of guilt.
'Come to think of it, my brother was always quick on the uptake. G-gotta be careful.'
'Got it. I'll stick with Elizabeth.'
My blessing: Work hard.
If he found out she'd nearly died and reawakened, Jae-hun would flip out, so better to keep quiet.
"Glad you look healthy. I was really worried when I heard you'd been attacked again."
Jae-hun sighed deeply and ruffled Se-ra's hair lightly.
"So, where's that bastard now?"
His face changed in an instant. The smiling expression held no warmth at allit was chilling.
Whoa, smiling but this scary? He'd always had a cold edge, but seeing him after so long gave her goosebumps.
"In p-prison."
"When's he getting out?"
"Uh."
"He got twenty years, so plenty of time left."
Song Han-na interjected as she'd been listening, and a wrinkle formed between Jae-hun's fine brows.
"I see. Twenty years Guess I'll have to wait a bit."
Neither Song Han-na nor Se-ra asked what he'd do with that wait. That ominous smile didn't bode well for their mental health.
"I heard an L-rank hunter among them saved you when things nearly went south. I'd like to thank him, but I can't reveal our connectiontricky."
Ah, Kang Se-jun. Se-ra rolled her eyes instead of answering. Well, he did help. Thanks to him, she'd become an L-rank who shot someone with a slingshot in the dead of night.
"Later. By the way, he's joining the Cheolwon Dungeon raid team too."
"Got it. That's good. With an L-rank on board, I'm all for it."
"We'll gather the raid team soon for a meeting, so heads up."
"Sure."
One moment his eyes burned with madness talking about Park Jin-yong, the next he was uncharacteristically fidgeting and glancing at Se-ra.
Se-ra snorted.
"You don't have to look at me like that. I know you came back for that damn dungeon, whatever. And honestly? I'm not scared of anything anymore. Not one bit."
"Of course, it bugged me a little once, but not now. Right now, I'm totally fine."
"."
"Do I look scared to you?"
Se-ra looked straight at Jae-hun and flashed a bright smile.
It was true. Even knowing the dungeon where her mom died might burst open, she felt no fear. If anything, her heart raced with a thrilling anticipation that surprised her sometimes.
It wasn't tension or dread. It was excitement.
"So don't worry about me and focus on raiding the dungeon. And while I didn't ask for it, I've got something like a bodyguard now."
"Bodyguard? Who?"
"Not Kang Se-jun, another L-rank awakener. I'm kind of backing him up right now."
Se-ra tugged her lips into a smile. It was a face full of exhaustion, smiling yet not reallya look like an overworked office drone. Jae-hun couldn't even bring himself to casually ask what was wrong.
While he'd been merc-ing for eight years, his little sister had started working and become the perfect office lady.
Jae-hun quietly patted the shoulder of his sister, who used to cry out 'boo-hoo, I wanna quit'.
* * *
Athena's Yoon Jae-hun Returns to Korea. Chances of Conquering Cheolwon Dungeon?
Can Yoon Jae-hun End 12 Years of Grudge?
Cheolwon Raid Team with Yoon Jae-hun Set to Depart Soon.
"Your brother, right? He's really famous. More mentions than Kang Se-jun."
The internet, news, newspapersarticles about Yoon Jae-hun flooded in all day without fail.
Lounging on the hotel bed and scrolling her phone, Ja-rim tugged at Se-ra's clothes.
"Kang Se-jun only showed up recently, but your brother's been an active S-rank for eight years. And mostly overseas, which is rare."
"He never worked in Korea at all?"
"Right after awakening at twenty, Athena reached out wanting to recruit him. He accepted, the President approved, and he left immediately."
"Whoa? Athena contacted him directly? Aren't they super picky?"
Picky they were. Athena's leader, Captain Ali Russo, was infamous for ignoring anyone not strong enough. They selected members through notoriously grueling trials. Accepting someone without them was almost unheard of.
Yet Yoon Jae-hun had pulled it off. That was a big reason his return drew so much attention.
"It is unusual. He was strong, but not like the undisputed number one in Korea."
Se-ra didn't know why Ali had scooped up Jae-hun right away. He hadn't told her. She just knew he had exceptional skills.
"I don't know much about my brother's abilities since he only worked overseas and there are no raid videos. All I know is he uses a sword in combat."
"Didn't you check his info when you met him?"
"What's the point? And I've never had good experiences looking at that stuff, so I don't want to."
For example, Mr. Regressor. Or Ms. Hundred-Year Returnee.
As Se-ra eyed Ja-rim intently, she hurriedly looked away.
"A-anyway, the Administrator hasn't said anything? About that key thief or whatever."
"Hmm. Yeah."
As Ja-rim changed the subject, Se-ra gazed into space.
She'd been like this for a while now. Whenever the Administrator seemed sad or down, something bad happened about 90% of the time, so it made Se-ra uneasy.
"No words, but it feels off. If even Elizabeth can't tell me, there must be a problem."
It had been the same when Regressor Kang Se-jun appeared, and when Returnee Sung Ja-rim showed up.
'Elizabeth, it's not another one like that, right?'
The vehement denial suggested not. But the problem was his response when she'd asked, 'What's the chance the Cheolwon Dungeon won't open?' It hadn't been positive at all. If there was even a 10% chance it would, they had to prepare.
"Cheolwon, Cheolwon Dungeon."
The damn dungeon that killed Korea's first S-rank, her strongest mom. The enemy that slew most of the first-generation awakeners.
If that thing broke free, could the current awakeners win?
Could she herself hold back from charging in to kill it?
"We're staying in Seoul the whole time, right?"
Ja-rim's eyes widened at Se-ra's out-of-the-blue question.
"Yeah. Song Han-na told me to guard you tight. Said she'd have my head if anything happened to you."
"Hmm She's probably the most anxious about this whole thing."
Yoon Jae-hun only had destroying that damn dungeon on his mind, and Se-raunknown S-rank that she wascould handle it better than expected.
But Song Han-na didn't know that, so she was probably losing her mind with worry. Honestly, that tugged at Se-ra a bit.
"Se-ra, in my opinion, that sister seems trustworthy. Can't you tell her?"
"I have thought about it."
Back then, maybe not, but now? It seemed okay to tell Song Han-na and Yoon Jae-hun. Just.
"If they find out I reawakened because I was thrown into the werewolf dungeon, won't they both get super mad?"
Song Han-na was already on the verge of madness from anxiety, and Jae-hun burned with vengeance.
In that situation, yelling 'Haha, I actually reawakened to S-rank the moment I felt the fear of death!'?
It'd be a miracle if those two didn't storm the prison where Park Jin-yong was locked up, gasoline in hand.
"Yeah. Pretend I didn't say that."
Ja-rim, who had briefly gauged Song Han-na and Jae-hun's power, withdrew her words with a bright smile. Wise choice.
"I'll tell them after this all blows over."
Of course, they wouldn't just accept it then either, but it was better than spilling now.
And while spilling, she'd bring up quitting again.
This time, they'd accept her resignation, right? Please.