Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Long Time No See
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"Long time no see, Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon?"
Ye-rin's expression was somehow even more sly and sinister than usual today.
To think she could pull off a look like that.
It might even be considered a talent.
Jeong-hyeon broke out in a sweat as he answered.
He was trying to wrap up the conversation as quickly as possible.
"Yes... long time no see. I need to run a test, so could you let me through the door...?"
Jeong-hyeon tried to close the door somehow, but her foot was firmly wedged in place.
"You're doing a test, huh? Mind if I watch? Between us."
"What do you mean 'us'?"
"Oh, do I really have to spell it out?"
'Please just shut your mouth!'
The two went back and forth for a while, with the door caught between them.
Naturally, Jeong-hyeon was the first to give up.
At some point, he stopped pushing the door and stepped outside obediently.
"You said you had a test to do?"
"I've changed my mind. I'm heading home."
"You're such a tease."
"No, seriously, what's with this vibe today?"
She used to be annoying, but never this troublesome before.
What wind was blowing today?
But Ye-rin didn't bat an eye, flashing a subtle smile.
"You seem like you have something on your mind."
"...I don't. Nothing like that."
"Maybe you're struggling to control your power and looking for a place to let it out."
"No, do you have to phrase it like that? People will misunderstand!"
"Right, misunderstand what?"
Ugh.
Jeong-hyeon finally shut his mouth.
He couldn't fool her.
"Try telling me. If it's something I can help with, I will."
'Huh?'
Come to think of it, she might actually help.
It felt too suspicious, and if he didn't absolutely need it, he'd decline, but Jeong-hyeon was backed into a corner.
Still, he had to make one thing clear first.
"For starters, I'm not joining the Association."
"'Not yet,' you mean."
"No."
"So, 'not yet.'"
A deep sigh.
"The truth is, I'm itching to try a 4-level gate soon. But as an unregistered hunter, no one's taking me."
"Oh my~"
That was a mistake.
A big mistake.
What was with that reaction that sent chills down his spine just from hearing it?
Sure enough, Ye-rin's eyes gleamed like she'd caught him red-handed.
"My apologies. I shouldn't have bothered a busy person when I need to work harder myself. Well then—"
Jeong-hyeon tried to slip away.
Tight—
But his wrist was already gripped firmly in Ye-rin's hand.
To an outsider, it looked like a sweet scene: a sturdy adult man gently holding hands with a woman whose head barely reached his shoulder.
The reality was anything but.
Ye-rin nodded with an innocent smile.
"If it's something like that, you should obviously ask the Hunter Association for help."
"That... Section Chief Cha, you're cleared for 5-level gates, right?"
"Yes, unfortunately, I'm at 5-level clearance. Want to go in together?"
"Absolutely not."
"'Not yet' might be a bit premature."
I will never enter a 5-level gate.
At least not where Ye-rin can see.
As Jeong-hyeon silently vowed that in his heart,
Ye-rin, who had rolled her eyes upward in thought for a moment, spoke up.
"Conveniently, the Association has a party heading into a 4-level gate soon. Want me to pull some strings to get you in?"
It was an unexpectedly normal and helpful suggestion.
From the sound of it, they weren't even her direct subordinates.
For once in a conversation with Ye-rin, Jeong-hyeon brightened and nodded eagerly.
"I'd be incredibly grateful if you did!"
"Hmm~"
Ye-rin lit up with interest.
It felt suspicious somehow, but Jeong-hyeon wasn't in a position to be picky.
Going with Association members didn't seem like it hid any malicious intent.
"But I'm not close with them. I can probably get you in, but after that, you're on your own?"
"Of course! If it's about getting along, I'm practically a social butterfly!"
"You seem like a total loner who's never dated."
"..."
"Oh, my bad."
Ye-rin covered her mouth and laughed as if it were a genuine slip.
To a stranger, it might look innocently pure, but Jeong-hyeon could only grit his teeth.
'That was on purpose... she totally meant that!'
Sure, he'd never dated, but that was because life had beaten him down relentlessly.
If he ever got some breathing room, there'd be no reason he couldn't.
Or so Jeong-hyeon told himself.
"Anyway, I'll pass the word along. When someone from Support—Dan Jong-woo—contacts you, make sure to pick up. Last four digits are 0000."
"Yes! Thank you, Section Chief Cha!"
"No problem."
Ye-rin finally headed to the room she'd originally been aiming for, apparently to get some actual work done.
Jeong-hyeon bowed deeply in gratitude.
Sure, he'd been toyed with, but being in the submissive position was as natural to him as breathing.
'Just wait until I hit A-rank. Oh boy, just you wait.'
Of course, the outward submissiveness and inner thirst for revenge were separate matters.
***
Contact from Section Chief Dan Jong-woo came later than expected.
- 010-0000-0000
A few days after meeting Ye-rin.
Late one evening, a call came from the number she'd given him.
Luckily, Jeong-hyeon was, as usual, studying traits on Hunter Net and Hunter Wiki in the evening, so he picked up right away.
"Ah, hello. Section Chief Dan Jong-woo?"
- ...Yeah, you're Han Jeong-hyeon?
'What the...?'
The first words confirmed his suspicions.
This guy was a bigger asshole than Park Sang-jun.
But Jeong-hyeon was a pro at handling types like this.
"Yes, Section Chief! This is Han Jeong-hyeon."
- Tsk... An unregistered punk wanting into a 4-level gate.
"I'm unregistered, but I'll work really hard! I won't disappoint you."
- That's a given, idiot. Cha Section Chief begged so much that I'm squeezing you in, but if you screw up, I'll ditch you on the spot.
'Is this guy insane?'
Abandoning a fellow hunter in a gate was taboo, to put it mildly.
Forget morals—in a place where the only ones you could trust were the hunters you entered with, who would hunt with someone like this?
Whether he meant it or not, saying it so casually was bad enough.
And regardless of Dan Jong-woo's influence, wasn't he dissing Cha Ye-rin too?
'Trash-talk Ye-rin all you want, but that's my job.'
Jeong-hyeon had endured endless torment from her, but he couldn't stomach being disrespected by this jerk too.
A vein pulsed on his forehead for a moment, but he suppressed his anger.
"Ah... Of course. I'll make sure I don't drag you down."
- Good. Anyway, my subordinate will send the location and party info. Memorize it all.
"Got it! Thank you!"
- At least you answer well, you punk. Too bad it's not the office; I'd love a subordinate like you. No one bosses like me.
Unless he was completely unhinged, no subordinate would agree.
Jeong-hyeon pitied the "subordinate" he'd mentioned, but that was just how office life worked—suck it up.
But after hanging up,
When he saw the gate reservation info via Association email was for the day after tomorrow, even Jeong-hyeon couldn't hold back.
"This psycho asshole for real?"
Ye-rin had said "soon," but with no contact for days, he'd assumed plenty of time. Calling late on the day before, practically evening?
At least it was a gate he knew, which was some small comfort.
'Destroyed Encampment of the Tadan Orcs.'
A textbook, low-risk 4-level gate.
As long as you avoided large packs wandering around, it wasn't too dangerous for a properly specced party.
But it held a unique significance for Jeong-hyeon.
'Finally made it to Tadan Orcs.'
For one, the gear he wore was made from Tadan Orc leather.
Monsters below this level were usually just raw materials or mass-produced junk, not gear-worthy.
Orcs were top-tier for general workshops.
Just 4-level overall, but outsiders saw them differently.
In other words, despite the twists and turns, Jeong-hyeon had finally reached this level.
'Alright, getting my foot in the door is something.'
Having a record of entering a 4-level gate made a world of difference.
Showing it would prevent the blanket rejections before, making future hunts easier.
Jeong-hyeon clenched his fists.
***
Dan Jong-woo's party was more stacked than expected.
One D-rank 4-level tank and one melee DPS.
One C-rank 3-level healer.
Dan Jong-woo was a C-rank 3-level mage himself.
No specific element, just mana sensitivity trait.
Jeong-hyeon's eyes went to the last member.
A young-faced guy was shrinking awkwardly.
'Honestly didn't expect a B-rank.'
His name: Kim Young-hun.
1-level, but held a B-rank spear skill trait.
Reliable mid-range DPS, rare enough to be welcome.
He'd joined the Association response team but lacked experience, so he tagged along various departments.
High rank but seemed timid—questionable in combat—but B-rank power wouldn't vanish.
The real issue was elsewhere.
"Hey, Han Jeong-hyeon?"
Not even "hey" or "sir" or "Hunter," just his plain name.
Dan Jong-woo, pudgy despite being a hunter, called him curtly while making him wait. No way that felt good.
"Yes?"
"When your boss calls, you say 'Yes, sir?' not 'Yes?' Do I have to teach you manners?"
Total boomer.
Jeong-hyeon had suspected from the first call.
'Never thought a classic boomer like this still existed in this day and age.'
And he treated Jeong-hyeon, not even his subordinate, like one already.
"Anyway... tsk, we're letting you tag along, but you didn't think you'd actually hunt with us, right?"
"What do you...?"
"Just play porter and hang back! No common sense, punk."
Why had he so readily accepted Ye-rin's intro to another party?
Maybe he should've suspected from her unusually generous offer.
"What about shares—"
"Shares? Porters don't get shares. I'll toss you a million won daily. Plenty for an unregistered."
This guy was beyond redemption.
Jeong-hyeon glanced around, but the other staff averted eyes, not wanting involvement.
After a moment's thought, Jeong-hyeon nodded.
He'd come this far; no backing out.
Disgusting as it was, he could at least log the 4-level entry.
But if an opportunity arose, he wouldn't let it slide.
"Understood..."
"Alright, talk's done. Gonna smoke. Chat among yourselves."
A hunter who smoked?
He hadn't committed crimes, but villain in every other sense.
Once Dan Jong-woo left, the party's tension eased.
Then, the melee DPS, Lee Sua, approached Jeong-hyeon.
"You've been through it. Section Chief's no joke."
"No... whatever. I'm unregistered; it happens."
"What do you mean 'it happens'? Anyone can see Jong-woo’s an assh— Sorry, habit."
Jeong-hyeon smiled it off.
It felt refreshing, honestly.
That title alone evoked the woes of office life.
Boss-bashing was the flower of corporate life, after all.
Especially with a boss like Jong-woo—no need to elaborate.
Sua had glanced at the door at first, but now the floodgates opened.
"Honestly, even Jong-woo wouldn't go that far usually, but you came via Section Chief Cha Ye-rin, right? That's why."
"What's that mean?"
It piqued Jeong-hyeon's interest too.
The C-rank healer Jeong Daeyun, who'd been listening quietly, jumped in.
"So, here's the story..."
Existing party members, plus outsiders Young-hun and Jeong-hyeon, were instantly hooked.
Gossip about Jong-woo finally united the party.