Chapter 20, Outdoor Hot Spring
Chapter 20, Outdoor Hot Spring
The assignment officer's chair was an incredibly expensive item.
It seemed like he changed it after getting involved in some embezzlement.
'Should I change my chair too...'
But I don't have the money.
With those thoughts, I turned on the computer.
The fan from the ancient tower blared noisily.
'Hmm. He said just log in, right?'
Once the computer booted up, the [Hunter Support Center Management System] logo appeared.
The one used at Headquarters was the [Hunter Management Bureau Integrated Management System], a completely different program.
Of course, that management system could be accessed with a Headquarters management system ID.
I'd heard that during training before getting hired.
I entered my ID and password.
[Login complete.]
[Welcome, Clerk Lee Gyeong-ho (Grade 9) from Headquarters Civil Complaints Department.]
[Yeoncheon-gun Center mission assignment authority has been delegated.]
Even though it was my first login, it integrated smoothly.
As soon as I confirmed the authority delegation message, I immediately opened the mission creation window.
Nothing complicated about it.
I'd already planned everything in my head.
[Mission Name: Yeoncheon-gun Farm Area D-Class Monster Entry Emergency Subjugation]
[Target: Entries and all discovered monsters]
[Reward: 20,000 won per Entry monster, paid according to grade for discovered monsters]
[Special Notes: Additional 5,000 won upon submission of spoils (Entry roots)]
Entries' weakness is their roots.
Cut the roots, and they lose their power, turning into mere logs.
In other words, bringing the roots is proof you've definitely finished them off.
That adds up to 25,000 won per head.
Not a bad rate for D-Class monsters.
'Let's see... set the target range...'
I moved the mouse and changed the issuance target from [Yeoncheon-gun affiliated] to [Entire Gyeonggi Province].
Yeoncheon-gun hunters alone wouldn't cut it.
There probably aren't many hunters in Yeoncheon-gun right now anyway.
They would've all scattered to other places for work.
Once I hit the batch issue button, notifications would go out not just to guilds and clans based in Gyeonggi Province, but also to Hunter Management Bureau affiliates and freelance hunters registered at each support center.
"The day I get to press this has finally come."
At Headquarters, I mainly handled Civil Complaints Department work, so I never had a chance to touch the mission issuance system.
But now that I was doing it, it wasn't a big deal.
Pretty intuitive, actually—made things easy.
I double-checked for typos and confirmed the amounts one last time.
'Alright. Perfect.'
I hovered the mouse cursor over the [Issue] button.
Ttak-kak.
With a crisp mouse click, a loading bar spun on the screen.
And shortly after.
Ji-ing— jing—
Ji-ing—
My phone in my pocket vibrated.
At the same time, Ji-hye's phone, who was sorting documents next to me, and all the other staff phones in the office started buzzing in unison.
It was the integrated alert.
"Oh, it really comes right away?"
Ji-hye showed me her phone screen, amazed.
The mission details I'd just written were neatly displayed.
Now all that was left was waiting.
About 30 minutes passed.
The once-quiet parking lot in front of the center started getting rowdy.
Peeking out the window, all sorts of SUVs and trucks were kicking up dust as they pulled in.
From modified off-roaders to Porters loaded with gear in the beds—everything.
"More people than I expected at this hour..."
One of the staff members gaped.
Hunters working outside Yeoncheon-gun had seen the alert and rushed over.
To protect Yeoncheon-gun.
It was only natural for the local staff to be moved.
I stood up and headed outside.
Ji-hye scurried after me.
Already, about 20 hunters had gathered in the front yard, murmuring.
They all looked like pros.
One with a greatsword on his back, another with an axe at his waist, one carrying a shotgun.
"Hey! Who posted the mission?"
A burly guy shouted.
I stepped forward and raised my hand.
"Me. Lee Gyeong-ho from Headquarters."
"Headquarters? What's a Seoul bigshot doing here?"
"I'm acting as assignment officer. Situation's urgent, so straight to the point."
I raised my voice, scanning the hunters.
Gave them exactly the info they wanted, no fluff.
"You've seen the details. Emergency Entry subjugation."
"Finally, we can avenge Granny Jaedeok's radish field."
"Process on sight. Spoils are Entry roots. Bring 'em in for an extra 5,000 won per head. Other monsters, bring the whole corpse."
"Cut and dry, huh."
"Cash on the spot? No delays like last time, right?"
The key question dropped.
I nodded.
"Confirm and deposit right there on delivery. I guarantee it with my authority."
"Graaah! As expected from a Headquarters guy!"
The hunters cheered.
And just like that, their eyes changed.
The glint of beasts scenting prey.
"Go, go! Get there late, and they'll all hide!"
"Hey, Kim! Start the engine!"
The hunters bolted toward the road in a stampede.
Some hopped in cars, but most just ran on foot.
Speeds no normal person could dream of.
Only possible for hunters with enhanced physiques.
"Let's go too."
"Yeah, oppa."
Ji-hye and I climbed into the Ray.
The center staff, snapping out of it late, fumbled into official vehicles and chased after.
I smirked at them in the rearview.
Now the civil servants finally looked like they were working.
The site the hunters headed to was 10 minutes by car from the center.
It was already a mess when we arrived.
The radish field was trashed, dirt mounds dug up everywhere.
Entry bastards' handiwork.
"Smash 'em all! If you're gonna pull radishes, do it without wrecking the damn field!"
Pulling radishes to eat was fine, but they were pissed about the destruction.
Hunters scoured the field with eyes bulging.
Entries camouflage as normal trees usually, then lift roots to move when prey passes.
Super skittish too—hide at the slightest human presence.
Tricky to spot unless you're a hunter with sharp senses.
Kwa-jik!
Then, a sound from the tree-packed direction.
A middle-aged hunter dual-wielding axes, chopping wood.
He swung at the air, and a seemingly normal tree screamed as it toppled.
"Kkieeek!"
An Entry.
It tried lifting roots to counter...
Too late.
The axe in his other hand nailed the base perfectly.
Seogeok!
With the sound, a thick root snapped clean off.
Over in a flash.
"Wow..."
Ji-hye, watching from the car, let out an exclamation.
My eyes widened too.
D-Class or not, one-shot that clean?
Zero wasted motion.
"That guy's... no ordinary hunter, huh?"
A center staffer who'd followed overheard my mutter and rolled down the window to explain.
"Oh, that's Mr. Park. Yeoncheon-gun's one and only A-Class hunter."
"A-Class? Wait, why's an A-Class in a backwater like this..."
"Local born and bred. Retired to farm, but helps out when the village needs it. Thanks to him, Yeoncheon stays somewhat peaceful."
As expected.
A-Class was a whole different league.
Mr. Park kicked things off, and the other hunters got fired up too.
Monster screams and hunter shouts echoed everywhere.
A total one-sided slaughter.
By sunset, it was wrapped up.
Ji-hye, the center staff, and I returned to the office.
Hunters rolled in one after another, truck beds piled high with spoils.
The foot-runners had roots strapped to their backs.
Severed Entry roots piled up like a mountain in the front yard.
"Alright! Time to settle up!"
I plopped down at the computer.
Ji-hye and the staff counted outside; I input and transferred.
"Kang Min-su-nim, 6 roots confirmed. Depositing."
"Park Seong-jae-nim, 25 roots... whoa, you took most of 'em solo. Deposit complete."
Tadak, tadak.
Every Enter key press triggered deposit chimes.
The system was smooth.
License number, quantity check, approve—done.
Settled 15 hunters in under 20 minutes.
"All in? Check it!"
"Oh! It's in! Damn, instant cash for real."
"Good work! Call us if there's more!"
Satisfied, the hunters checked phones and left grinning.
I leaned back in the chair, eyeing the empty lot.
Something this simple.
Farmers bled dry for a week over no assignment officer stamp.
"Seriously no sense."
Ji-hye nodded at my words.
The nearby staff just gave awkward bitter smiles, embarrassed.
Anyway, the fire was out.
Entries wiped, so it'll be quiet for a bit.
If issues pop up again...
Well, guess I'd have to come back.
Word was a new assignment officer and center chief would be appointed within a week—hold out till then.
"Alright, we'll head out."
I bid the staff farewell after wrapping up.
Then Team Leader-nim's words popped into my head.
Go check out Yeoncheon Bigok after work.
"Excuse me, do you know where Yeoncheon Bigok is?"
"Oh, Bigok?"
The staff exchanged glances and smirked oddly.
"Follow this road straight—signs are up."
"Got it. Thanks."
"Have a blast."
"?"
Have a blast?
What, smash monsters in the dungeon?
Ji-hye next to me looked like she knew something.
Her face flushed suspiciously.
"Let's go, oppa. I know the way."
"Uh? Oh, yeah."
Back in the Ray.
Followed Ji-hye's directions down the road.
Sun fully set; surroundings dim on the sparse rural streetlights.
After about 20 minutes, a brightly lit building appeared ahead.
"There it is."
I gaped at what Ji-hye pointed to.
Pictured a dungeon entrance— nope, a grand hanok hotel.
Huge sign at the entrance: [Yeoncheon Bigok Hot Spring Tourist Hotel].
"Uh... this is the dungeon?"
"Yeah. The terrain itself is dungeon-rated. Hot springs bubble up."
"Oh..."
Then it clicked.
Noona mentioned a great-spring spot near Yeoncheon.
This must be it.
Tensed up thinking dungeon, but hot springs?
Now I got why Team Leader-nim suggested it.
Company card perks—work off the fatigue!
'Team Leader-nim, loyalty forever.'
Parked and got out.
Air felt different.
Steamy sulfur-scented night air tickled my nose.
"But don't we need a reservation? Places like this are booked even on weekdays."
"No worries."
Ji-hye grabbed my hand tight.
"I... booked it."
"Wait, you booked here?"
"Yeah. Hurry—check-in's late already."
Ji-hye dragged me to the lobby without waiting.
Checked in in a daze, got the key.
The staff smiled: "Have a good time."
That smile matched the center staff's smirks.
Our room was a detached annex.
Opened the door—subtle hinoki scent.
Plush bedding in the center, steam rising from the open-air bath beyond the veranda.
Private hot spring attached.
"Wow... this room looks crazy expensive."
I couldn't help blurting it out.
Could I really indulge like this?
On the company card?
It's taxes, right? Totally fine?
Heading to the veranda to check the bath, rustling from behind.
"Oppa."
Turned—and froze.
Ji-hye was undressing.
Jacket already on the floor; she was pulling off her white tee.
"Ji, Ji-hye?"
Stammered her name in panic, but she didn't stop.
Pale skin emerged.
"Gotta wash... sweated buckets."
Seu-reuk.
Jeans slid to her ankles.
Just bra and panties left.
I swallowed hard.
Ji-hye was shy but bold as hell.
Then she unhooked the bra.
Perky breasts with pink nipples bounced free.
She ditched the panties and approached.
"What're you doing...? You gotta strip too, oppa."
Ji-hye tugged my shirt hem, whispering soft.
Head down, forehead thunked my chest.
She was crazy tense too, obviously.
"Stripping alone... too embarrassing. Hurry."
Her whiny tone got me nodding.
Shed the suit vest, unbuttoned the shirt.
Pants and boxers off quick.
Naked as her now.
Ji-hye's eyes flicked down.
And stuck.
My dick was swollen to bursting.
Her gaze made it twitch bigger.
Ji-hye's eyes went wide in shock.
"Oppa... why's it so huge?"
"Th-that's... 'cause of you..."
Her tits, nipples.
That pink-glowing pussy—how could it not?
But I couldn't string words together.
What guy could say it outright?
Still, Ji-hye didn't bolt.
Stepped closer, squatted right in front.
"'Cause of me... it got like this?"
"Y-yeah..."
"..."
Her hand trailed up my thigh cautiously.
Then gripped the throbbing thing firm.
"Eut. Th-that spot's sensitive, so gentle..."
Caught off guard.
Never imagined her grabbing my dick like that.
Ji-hye clutched it, fiddling carefully.
"So... hot."
She murmured soft.
Then leaned in, sniffing close with her nose.
Didn't stop.
Bent lower, burying her face in my crotch.
Every breath made me jolt.
"Hasn't been washed... smells, right?"
"No... I like it. Oppa smell."
"R-really...?"
"Gonna get addicted..."
Ji-hye looked up.
Shy and lusty—indescribable expression.
Then her tongue flicked out.
Hot tongue tip grazed the glans.
Whoa...
Almost came.
"Oppa. Let me wash you."
"Huh?"
"Wash and... relieve it a bit. Too hard... must hurt."
Ji-hye took my hand.
Head down in shame, but her grip was firm.
Couldn't refuse.
No reason to.