Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 73
Both Kang Se-jun and Sung Ja-rimwhy did all these humans have to come charging in like this? Was this just how the strong ones talked?
"You're really just going to drop something that important out of nowhere?"
"No need to be so shocked. It's just a casual scouting offer."
"A branch chief of Athena's scouting offer is always shocking!"
If word of this got out, it would flip the community upside down two or three times overa total bombshell. Yet Jae-hun looked utterly unfazed.
"You know snatching an L-rank isn't child's play, right? Mess this up, and your auntie might come after you with a beating."
"Of course I know. That's why I'm risking my neck asking."
"Don't joke around!"
"I'm not joking. It's real. Look."
A short, blunt text message appeared on Jae-hun's proffered phone.
Bring me Bangkakshi...
"It's an order from our captain."
"How does your captain overseas even know that nickname?"
"She's a community addict."
"She checks the Korean server too?!"
"Subscribing to every server like a newspaper is her hobby."
Don't say it so brightly like that...!
The first thing she learned about the veiled mercenary captain Ali was that she was a community addict. This was absolutely not the kind of info she wanted to know.
"Truth is, even without this, I was planning to take you once this job wrapped up. The captain gave permission since you're my one remaining family. Said we'd recruit you for desk work at least."
That much, at least, made sense.
"Of course, right now the captain just thinks my little bro's Bangkakshi is a 'yeah, got it' kind of thing. She has no idea it's the same as Headbang."
"Headbang's bad enough, but... anyway, she's something else. Telling someone to drag an L-rank from another country, and saying it so boldly."
Maybe because she was L-rank herself, she had zero hesitation.
Se-ra pictured Athena's captain Alitanned skin and white hair, or so the rumors went.
Just like Athena's divine spear, domineering in every way. Honestly, she'd love to see her at least once.
"I'm not going. You already knew that, right, oppa?"
But not enough to join Athena just to meet her.
"Figured as much. If you were a normal F-rank, I might've had to think twice."
"You get me."
Se-ra flashed Jae-hun a bright smile.
"If I up and left Korea for Athena now, it'd be a huge blow to Auntie."
After Se-ra's parents died, Song Han-na had forged an unshakeable association over twelve years of fury-fueled resolve. She had as many supporters as enemies.
Se-ra had zero intention of betraying someone who'd sacrificed everything for her family now.
"Like you've seen, even as an L-rank, I still show F-rank stats. So I plan to keep working as a lowly civil servant and make good use of it."
"Got it. If that's what you want, go for it."
"What about you, oppa? You were going to come back to Korea after your revenge, right?"
"That was the plan, but now I'm thinking of sticking with Athena. Eight years together builds a bond. We've crossed life and death together more times than I can count."
Ah. Se-ra had to work hard not to show her disappointment.
Truth be told, after so long apart, she wanted to stay together now.
But she wouldn't stand in the way of Jae-hun, who had finally broken free from revenge and found his freedom. It was time for him to walk his own path. He'd lived for vengeance far too long.
Se-ra quietly let her unspoken regrets drift away with the water.
"Se-ra, now that you're L-rank instead of S-rank, there's one thing you need to know."
"What?"
"Labyrinth Dungeon."
The heavy topic rose to the surface just from uttering it. Jae-hun's face hardened, clearly uneasy.
Labyrinth Dungeon.
The most dangerous and least known of all dungeons worldwide.
The very first dungeon to appear on Earth.
Twelve years ago, a new island suddenly rose in the central Pacificsomewhere that had never existed before. Like it dropped straight from the sky. Scientists rushed to investigate, only for it to turn tragic fast.
A barren rock with no trees, grass, or lifesave for one thing: a bright red door leading into a dungeon.
No sooner had the investigators arrived than monsters straight out of novels and movies poured from that door.
The first dungeon's first breakout.
Modern firearms were useless. Countless soldiers died there.
Thankfully, awakeners began appearing worldwide right after, barely saving the world from doom. But life could never return to pre-dungeon days.
Soon, second and third dungeons popped up. Unlike the others that vanished after clearing all monsters, the first one in the Pacific endured.
The survivors of the first raid returned with this:
"There's another door inside. A massive one we couldn't open no matter what."
With so much unknown, fear peaked.
The silver lining? They soon learned it didn't open randomly. When the time came, a system message went out to every awakener on Earth.
The Pacific dungeon was uniquenot single-use, but layered with multiple floors.
And so it was named the Labyrinth Dungeon.
"As you know, L-ranks mainly handle Labyrinth raids. I've gone in a few times myself."
It was the world's sole unmeasurable rank.
Beyond 1st rankcalled EX-rank.
Thus, L-ranks and top S-ranks always raided it when the time came. Like any dungeon, failure to clear in time meant a dungeon break.
"You might have to join them someday too."
It wasn't mandatory. No one could force an L-rank. But they'd face silent condemnation.
Though L-ranks were thick-skinned enough not to care.
"Honestly, I hope you never have to."
Se-ra understood Jae-hun's sincere wish. She was precious family, after all.
"It's not opening right away. We'll think about it when the time comes."
"Don't you know?"
"Know what?"
"Words have a way of coming true."
His dead-serious tone without a hint of smile sent chills down her spine. Se-ra smacked his forearm.
"That could make it come true!"
"Oh, right. Sorry."
And that's it if you apologize?!
Face paling, Se-ra frantically called the administrator.
'Liza! Liza? Say something. Is the Labyrinth opening soon? No, right? Yeah?'
Oh god. Had anything good ever happened when he avoided her gaze?
No! Not a single time!
'No! No! Keep it closed. Don't open it! Don't you dare open iiiiiit!'
But he fled without answering.
This is bad. Way too ominous!
Her resignation was already toastnow her peaceful days too? This had to be someone's conspiracy. No other explanation for targeting her like this.
'Baek Hee-won, youuuu!'
No such thing as bad luck? She'd shove hers right in Baek Hee-won's face next time they met. Vowed to put her on the chopping block for sure.
* * *
What a long, long day.
Se-ra flopped onto the bed with her weary body and let out a deep sigh. With the big issues resolved, she'd soon leave this hotel suite she'd shared with Ja-rim.
"Kinda sad. They clean for you, bring food with one order, gym, pool, sauna... I could live here forever."
No need for a suiteeven a standard room would do. Sell the house and move in? Selling dungeon loot would rake in steady cash too.
The administrator agreed it was a great idea.
Se-ra's hand, drumming the blanket, reached toward the emoticon floating before her.
"Elizabeth."
"Administrator."
"That voice I heard after beating the boss in Cheorwon. That was you, right, Administrator?"
It hadn't even been a full day since slaying that damn magical beast. Se-ra hadn't shown it, but her heart pounded harder than usual.
The joy of revenge and relief of pulling a rotten tooth had faded, leaving only the thrill of finally hearing the administrator's voice.
"A voice I've never heard until now..."
Unlike his hyper, prankish emoticons, that voice was a gentle breeze. Warm, affectionateenough to make tears well up unbidden.
"No one's around now... could you let me hear it again?"
Sung Ja-rim in the other room was snoring loud enough to hear from here. No interruptions.
"Or... are you saying it's not good to hear it too often?"
Se-ra shot up at the sudden voice. That pleasant baritone tickled her ears so much she scratched them without thinking.