Chapter 19, My First Business Trip
Chapter 19, My First Business Trip
"Congratulations. You passed."
The Examiner sitting next to me said curtly.
Only then could I let out a sigh of relief.
I'd just finished the Road Driving Test course and was heading back into the test center.
As soon as I passed the in-course driving test, I'd immediately signed up and taken the Road Driving Test too.
Usually, people enroll in a driving academy, take lessons over several days, and then do the in-course test.
Then they take separate Road Driving lessons and take the test.
But I was different.
Academy?
I didn't go to one.
I'd just watched a few YouTube videos and run simulations in my head. That was it.
"Um... test-taker. Have you ever driven before by any chance?"
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if you'd driven without a license or something..."
"No way, me? Even if I look like this, I'm a civil servant. This was my first time driving on the street."
"Haha, right? The way you handled the corners was like some veteran who's driven accident-free for 30 years. You've got natural talent."
"Thanks for the compliment."
The Examiner smiled as he stamped PASS on my score sheet.
As an Awakener, I do have better reflexes and senses than regular people.
The timing for turning the wheel, the subtle feel of the accelerator and brake, the road conditions coming in through the side mirrors.
Everything felt as natural as part of my own body.
Thanks to that, I had my license in hand in just a week.
Class 2 Ordinary (Auto).
No need for Class 1 to drive manual trucks, and no reason to handle 10+ passenger vans, so this was plenty.
As soon as I got my license, I grabbed it and headed back to the office.
Team Leader-nim jumped up from his seat the moment he saw me, like he'd been waiting.
"Oh, Gyeong-ho-ssi. You really got it? In just a week?"
"Yeah. It wasn't as hard as I thought."
"Wow... you're amazing. Some people haven't even taken the written test after a year."
Team Leader-nim deliberately raised his voice a tone, like he wanted everyone to hear.
Someone in the corner of the office cleared their throat awkwardly, but I didn't bother checking who it was.
Team Leader-nim turned my license this way and that, marveling at it.
"Plenty of people here at the Hunter Management Bureau won't even bother getting a license even though we provide cars. But our youngest is different. You've got the posture for it."
Team Leader-nim rummaged in his drawer and pulled out a car key, plunking it down on the desk.
A shiny smart key.
"Here, take this."
"What's this?"
"What else? It's your car, youngest Gyeong-ho-ssi."
"Huh?"
I'd never owned a car in my life.
The only car at our house is Noona's.
"It's the car assigned to our Civil Complaint Division. You need something that moves to have mobility, right?"
In short, it's for fieldwork or business trips.
"Use it for commuting too. Gas and insurance are all under the Management Bureau, so don't worry."
I took the key in a daze.
Following Team Leader-nim, we went to the parking lot, where a sleek gray Ray was parked.
Not brand new, not old—right in the middle.
But it was spotless.
'Free car, huh.'
Honestly, it didn't feel bad.
If I'd bought it myself, the car price, insurance, maintenance—none of it would've been cheap.
But there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
Team Leader-nim wouldn't just hand over something good this easily.
"Team Leader-nim. The reason you're giving this to me..."
"What reason? It's for our hardworking youngest to get around comfortably."
"Come on, tell me straight."
"Ahem. You're quick on the uptake."
Team Leader-nim cleared his throat and patted my shoulder.
He had a friendly smile, but his eyes were those of a boss giving orders.
"Now that you've got a car, why not take a nice drive?"
"A drive?"
"Yeoncheon-gun in Gyeonggi-do. How about it?"
"..."
Called it.
It was a place I couldn't get to without a car.
Without it, I could've made excuses about public transport, but now with the car handed over, I was cornered.
"Go with one of the General Affairs Department employees. You know the Hunter Support Center in Yeoncheon-gun, right?"
"Isn't there one in every administrative district?"
"Mm-hmm. Things are a total mess there right now. You know about D-class monsters, the Entries? Like tree ghosts."
"Yeah..."
"They're swarming and plowing up all the farms. Complaints are flooding into Headquarters."
Hmm... something felt off as I listened.
The Hunter Support Center assigns work to local hunters and handles minor admin tasks.
For something like clearing D-class monsters, they'd handle it locally—why send someone from Headquarters?
"That center's employees—what are they doing? Just hire hunters and deal with it."
"That's the problem. Their mission assigner position is vacant."
"Huh? Vacant?"
"Sigh, it's embarrassing... You know about the embezzlement scandal in General Affairs Department recently?"
"Yeah."
They'd embezzled money meant for contractors.
Heads rolled left and right because of it.
"But the fallout hit Yeoncheon-gun too? The assigner's suspended for investigation, and the center head got fired."
"So I'm going?"
"Yep. Proxy mission assignment plus resolving the monster complaints. It's our Civil Complaint Division's jurisdiction. Go sort out the traffic jam."
"Sigh..."
"And the General Affairs employee is coming along because the embezzlement ringleader's a Grade 6 from General Affairs, right? They're tagging along to take responsibility and assess the situation. She's your same year peer from orientation, I hear?"
If it's my orientation peer, that means Ji-hye.
Team Leader-nim shoved a corporate card into my hand and patted my shoulder.
"Buy something tasty, fill up the gas good. If it runs late, crash overnight. I'll mark it as paid leave for tomorrow."
"Overnight?"
"With the one-way distance plus handling the work, time'll fly. Oh, and."
"There's more?"
"After you're done, swing by the entrance to Yeoncheon Bigok."
Yeoncheon Bigok.
A Dungeon in Yeoncheon.
I was about to ask why, but Team Leader-nim was already shoving me out of the office.
"You'll see when you get there, you'll see. Have a safe trip! Over and out!"
I got kicked out of the office half-forcibly.
Checked my watch: almost 2 PM.
If I left now, I'd barely make it in time to start work upon arrival.
First, I texted Noona.
Had to let her know I might be out overnight.
[Noona]
[I have to go on a business trip to Gyeonggi-do today.]
[Yeoncheon area, so if it's late, I might not make it back.]
Hit send, and a reply came in under a minute.
[Yeoncheon? I heard they have hot springs there.]
[Drive safe. Stop at a rest area if you get sleepy.]
[Eat properly.]
[Love you, my little bro♡]
Sweet as honey dripping off the screen.
She's the kind of noona who'd even give fellatio to relieve her little brother's sexual frustration.
With Noona's cheerleading, the annoying business trip felt a bit lighter.
Packed my stuff and headed to the parking lot.
My car...
Next to the Ray that'd be my legs from now on stood a familiar face.
Ji-hye.
"Oppa!"
Ji-hye saw me and waved with a bright smile.
She looked extra radiant today—was it my imagination?
"I heard from the General Affairs team leader. I'm going with you, Oppa?"
"That's how it turned out. Why are we cleaning up after those embezzling scum?"
"Right? But it'll be fun going with Gyeong-ho Oppa."
"It's work, not fun."
"Come on, think of it as a drive."
"A drive where we might have to overnight?"
"I-I'm okay with that..."
"...Me too."
Ji-hye's face flushed red.
Mine probably was too.
"I-I booked the room already."
Ji-hye naturally opened the passenger door.
Then she paused and looked at me.
A hint of distrust in her eyes.
"But Oppa, you okay driving? You just got your license today, right?"
"I'm good. I drive well. The Examiner even said I was like a racer."
"For real? Not bluffing? Should I drive?"
"Nah, gotta get the feel. Hop in."
Ji-hye kept her skeptical look but got in obediently.
I sat in the driver's seat and started the engine.
A smooth engine hum.
I'd heard Rays have a chronic issue with noisy engines somewhere.
Must be well-maintained.
And thinking of it as my car made gripping the wheel feel different.
"Here we go. Buckle up."
"Yessir~ Just get us there alive, please."
"Even if we crash, insurance got us. Don't worry."
"...Should I just drive?"
Ji-hye buckled up with a playful retort.
Set the destination in the nav: ETA 1 hour 30 minutes.
Not as far as I thought.
Pulled out of the parking lot nice and slow.
"Wow, Oppa drives so smoothly? No sudden stops."
"Told you my senses are good."
"Pfft, show-off. At least no carsickness. Pass!"
Ji-hye reclined her seat a bit, looking comfy.
We chatted about this and that while watching the scenery roll by.
The car left Seoul and hit the outer loop road.
The dense skyscrapers faded, buildings got shorter.
Before long, the view out the window was green mountains and rice paddies.
The air definitely felt different.
Fresh grass-scented breeze slipping through the window crack, not the urban smog.
"Nice air."
"Right? Feels alive after being cooped up in the office forever."
Ji-hye stretched as she said it.
I agreed.
Even if it was to sort out a headache of a complaint, getting some fresh air like this wasn't bad.
Business trips like this might be okay sometimes.
The nav announced we were nearing the destination.
Yeoncheon-gun.
Farthest north in Gyeonggi-do, the vibe was totally different.
Quiet roads, hardly any people.
Felt like a peaceful rural village.
"There. Hunter Support Center."
Ji-hye pointed to a modest single-story building.
Tiny and worn compared to Headquarters' grandeur.
Maybe half our Civil Complaint Division office size.
Parking lot was empty—felt bad parking there, it was so desolate.
Out front hung the standard 5-day rotation sign every government office has.
"No cars in the lot. Okay to park?"
"Of course cars go in parking lots. Let's go."
Parked the car and headed inside.
But unlike the quiet outside, as soon as we entered, loud shouting hit us.
"What the hell? When are you gonna handle this?! Can't you hear me?"
"Sir, please calm down. We're going through procedures right now..."
"Procedures my ass! My radish field's totally trashed!"
A grandfather in hiking clothes was yelling and pointing furiously.
In front of him, a young-looking Employee was shrinking, bowing his head.
Total malicious complaint...
No, just a really pissed-off complainant.
"What's going on?"
"Probably the Entries..."
I listened in on their conversation.
"I applied last week! Those tree monsters come down every night and wreck my fields! My whole year's crop is gonna rot!"
"S-Sorry. The assigner's not here, so we can't get approval..."
"Then get that assigner out here! I'll drag 'em by the collar if I have to!"
"H-He's not here right now..."
"Then get the center head!"
"The center head too..."
Situation clear.
D-class monster Entries.
They're raiding farms, causing damage, but the center can't act without an approver.
From the farmer's side, it'd be blood-boiling.
Your crops, raised like kids, trampled by monsters, and bureaucrats yapping about paperwork.
The Employee looked like he was about to cry, at a loss.
Other Employees were around but buried in their monitors, pretending not to see—didn't want to get involved.
Familiar atmosphere.
Saw it sometimes in Headquarters' Civil Complaint Office.
But here it was worse.
No leadership, whole system paralyzed.
"I'll handle it."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
Ji-hye grinned and stepped forward.
The grandfather was still fuming, bullying the Employee.
"Sir, excuse me a sec."
Ji-hye cut in, and he whipped his head around.
Face red, he scanned her up and down.
"What, miss? You a government drone too? Scram if you're gonna make excuses!"
"Yes. Government employee."
"Yeah? What's your excuse, missy?"
Grandfather looked ready to swing his cane any second.
Amid that, Ji-hye calmly pulled out her ID.
The Hunter Management Bureau Headquarters access badge around her neck.
"From General Affairs Department at Hunter Management Bureau Headquarters."
"From Civil Complaint Division at Headquarters."
At "Headquarters," Grandfather's eyes widened a bit.
The cowering Employee behind perked up too.
Like he'd met his savior.
"Headquarters? From Seoul?"
"Yes. Here to support Yeoncheon-gun Center operations. I'll handle the Entry sightings you mentioned right away."
I stepped forward a bit, putting strength in my voice.
Grandfather still eyed us suspiciously, but softer than before.
"Headquarters" seemed to work.
"Not just talk? Last time they said hunters in a few days—nothing. I'm about to burst."
"This time's different. I'll approve personally, dispatch hunters. And I'll check the site myself."
"Yourself?"
"Yeah. Can't just sit by, right?"
I said it confidently.
Grandfather finally cleared his throat awkwardly and lowered his cane.
"Hmm... Folks from Seoul might be different. My radish field's a total mess."
"Terribly sorry. Due to staffing shortages at Yeoncheon-gun Hunter Management Center, smooth operations have been impossible."
"Tch... They'll come down again tonight. If this ain't fixed, I'll lie down right here. Pitch a tent and camp out."
"No worries. We'll wrap it by tonight."
My assured answer shifted the lobby air.
Murmurs from the watching Employees.
"Here to take over duties. Where are the related documents?"
"Ah, yes! Over there... in the inner office..."
"Guide me. And print the current damage reports and Entry suspected spawn map too."
"Ah, got it!"
The Employee scrambled up and led me.
Followed him to the inner office.
Ji-hye came along behind me.
"Oppa, that was kinda cool just now? Not like usual you."
"Shut up. Let's work. Finish quick and eat."
"Yessir~ Got it~"
Ji-hye saluted playfully.