Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 75
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Ever since the Cheolwon Dungeonwhich had been a festering wound for twelve long yearsfinally vanished, the area in front of the Association headquarters had been swarming with media like a massive crowd at a festival.
Not just reporters, either. Fans dying to catch a glimpse of Headbang had packed the place too.
"Oh, did you see that? 'The Association must reveal Headbang! We have the right to see our L-rank!'"
"Zzuuungheuh. Gotcha."
"Se-ra, I have no idea what that means."
"Shut up. Do you really want to hear it as an insult?"
Ja-rim, who had been reading the picket signs aloud, clamped her mouth shut with a pout. There was no upside to poking at Se-ra, who had grown even sharper since her chances of resignation had completely evaporated.
The fact that Se-ra was the third L-rank Awakener to appearand that she was Headbangwas known to almost no one within the Association. If they were going to keep up the deception, they had to fool their allies first.
It was all because her debut had been far too flashy.
Of course, she had no intention of hiding it forever.
"When the Labyrinth Dungeon opens, every L-rank in the world will be summoned anyway. It'll inevitably come out then."
It had already been a week since the Cheolwon Dungeon raid wrapped up.
The raid team members, having taken time to rest and heal their wounds, had gathered in the Association President's office for the first time in ages.
And from the moment they arrived until now, their eyes had been glued to Se-ra. Thanks to that, she was dying inside.
"Kang Han-seo kept searching for you on the community forums, but you never replied right up to the end. You're something else."
Yoo Su-eun said curtly. Whenever Han Su-eon or Ja-rim tried to call her out for bullying the weak one, but now that she knew the truth, her attitude had flipped completely.
Se-ra felt a twinge of regret. Back then, it had seemed like she was on her side.
"Really? I haven't checked the community lately, so I had no clue."
"Why? It's plastered everywhere with Headbang's name?"
"."
Asking when she already knew. What a nasty personality.
The jerk who came up with HeadbangI'll track you down and make you pay.
"Headbang. What a cute nickname. Ah, I'm jealous!"
As Se-ra quietly ground her teeth, Yoo Su-eun cackled.
The one coming to her defense was Han Su-eon, who had shown his fondness from their very first meeting.
"Guild Master Yoo Su-eun, aren't you like a Chihuahua? Personally, I think it suits you perfectly."
"Shut your mouth!"
Oh, heavens. It was touching. Handsome and kind really was the best.
Se-ra beamed at Han Su-eon, pouring all her gratitude into the smile. He returned it with a gentle one, as if it were nothing. Ahh, so dazzling.
"."
Her pounding heart went ice-cold at the Administrator's table-flipping emoticon. Ever since hearing his voice, the emoticons had taken on even more presence.
She suddenly wondered. He wasn't actually typing those out on a keyboard, was he?
'The Administrator's a guy, huh? Jealous? Is this jealousy?'
Pretending not to be while clearly embarrassed. It showed. The sweet, comforting Liz acting like thiswhat to do with that gap?
"Ahem, I have something to say."
In the midst of Yoo Su-eun yapping at Han Su-eon, Ja-rim raised her hand. For herwho usually spaced out with a "handle it yourselves, I know nothing" look during these meetingsthis was pretty unusual.
"What is it? Speak up."
"We can reveal my identity now."
Everyone's eyes widened at the unexpected declaration. Se-ra was caught off guard too, as she hadn't heard this before.
"You sure about that?"
Ja-rim nodded at Song Han-na's question.
"Yeah. I've adjusted fully now. Plus, with Se-ra still hiding hers, if I keep mine under wraps too, it'll put the Association in a tough spot, right?"
"Oh, thinking of the Association? That's unexpected."
"They've done so much for me, I gotta pay it back somehow."
They'd booked her a hotel until she adjusted, found her a place to live, and shielded her from the media even when the hate poured in.
The Association had truly done everything they could for Ja-rim.
"And thanks to Se-ra too. She took good care of me for months without ditching me."
Ja-rim grinned at Se-ra.
Her features, sharp and striking under that red hair, made Se-ra realize for the first time that she was actually quite handsome.
"Seong Ja-rim, you're pretty handsome now that I look at you."
Everyone stared in bewilderment at the out-of-nowhere comment, but Se-ra meant it. Dead serious about that handsome face.
"Finally noticing my beauty. I'm hurt."
Yeah, right. Why notice now? Had she dismissed it because Ja-rim was like an elder by a century?
"Se-ra, what are you thinking right now?"
After months together, she could apparently read her mind.
Se-ra flashed a wide, innocent smile, claiming she wasn't thinking anything. Anyone could tell it was the face of someone who'd just had a very rude thought.
"Got it. If you're okay with it, we'll make an official announcement from the Association soon."
Ja-rim straightened up proudly, as if she hadn't just been glaring at Se-ra.
"You all heard that, right? My identity's about to go public. No more pretending not to know me if you run into me. Praise me happily. Brag everywhere that you know me."
The mood turned awkward in an instant. Yoo Su-eun muttered curses about some mutt or other.
"Finally, I want to sincerely thank everyone who fought so hard in Cheolwon."
But everyone froze like statues at Song Han-na's follow-up action.
Song Han-na herself was clasping her hands together and bowing her head. Song Han-na!
"What? Why am I hallucinating and hearing things? Did I get poisoned without knowing?"
Yoo Su-eunwho was said to have awakened as a Healer because she valued her body so fiercelywas smacking her own ears hard enough to hurt. The others' faces weren't much different.
But Song Han-na's expression was utterly serious, without a trace of a smile.
"I'm glad we could all reunite here safely, without losing a single one. Thank you for your hard work."
Her hands on the desk were clenched tight.
Even Yoo Su-eun fell silent at the sight.
No one there was unaware that Song Han-na had lost her closest friend, Hyun Jae-hee, in the Cheolwon Dungeon. Nor that the Association they sat in now had been built on that sacrifice.
How much she must have hated it.
That dungeon, lingering in place for twelve years without vanishing.
How badly she must have wanted to go.
Back to that dungeon, where her friend's blood hadn't even cooled yet.
All those emotions seeped through her tightly clenched fists.
Se-ra silently patted her shoulder.
"Soon, we'll distribute rewards to all of you who successfully conquered the dungeon. Look forward to it."
Government rewards came through the Association upon successful raids. Naturally, higher-rank dungeons meant bigger payouts.
This one had been upgraded from Rank 2 to Rank 1, and it'd gone uncleared for twelve years, so the rewards would be enormous.
The two greediest in the roomYoo Su-eun and Yoon Se-rastarted drooling.
'I've been secretly clearing dungeons without getting paid! This is exciting! Finally, official rewards for me!'
An idea flashed: Now that her identity was out, maybe she could mention the past dungeons and claim back pay.
She'd poke Song Han-na's side once everyone left. She'd happily fork over Se-ra's share, no doubt.
Her face lit up with a huge grin at the thought of money.
But that smile didn't last long.
"Yoon Se-ra."
As the meeting ended and everyone rose to leave, Kang Se-jun called her in a heavy voice.
What followed was like a bolt from the blue.
"Could you give me some time alone? It's really important."
"?"
"?"
Everyone's expressions turned subtle.
Ah, on the surface, nothing weird about it. But the nuance... it felt off, somehow.
All heads swiveled to Se-ra with dropped jaws and "oohs." She caught the weirdness too and cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Wh-what's it about? If it's not urgent, maybe a meeting room or...?"
Se-ra shot him a fierce look.
Say yes to that. Then everyone'll think, oh, L-ranks gotta talk shop. Say it quick!
But Kang Se-jun either missed it or ignored it, averting his eyes and rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly!
"Talking here would be... a bit inconvenient."
"."
"."
The onlookers' gazes grew even stranger.
Why was he talking like he was about to confess or something!
LookYoo Su-eun and Eun In-jae were poised to pull out popcorn, Joo Eun was chuckling "Ah, young love," Yun Jae-hun and Song Han-na were glaring at Kang Se-jun with not-smiles, and Do Jun-young was... huh?
'Why's Do Team Leader wedged in there...? Kang Se-jun's face is gonna get pierced.'
His blank stare at Kang Se-jun was razor-sharp. This situation sucked.
"Is it urgent?"
"Yes. I want to talk now that I've made up my mind. No more delaying."
"."
Se-ra saw it.
That one line convinced everyone: Aha, Kang Se-jun's about to confess to Yoon Se-ra!
She was going mad. It absolutely wasn't that, but she couldn't explain properly in her position. So frustrating.
"Let's go."
Staying longer felt like tempting fate, so Se-ra trudged out of the Association with him. Seven pairs of scorching stares bored into her back.
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