Chapter 27, Dragon's Grave.
Chapter 27, Dragon's Grave.
On the TV screen, dozens of camera flashes were going off nonstop.
A middle-aged man standing on the podium bowed deeply.
Director-General of the Hunter Management Bureau.
This cabinet-level figure was in the middle of a public apology to the nation.
- I sincerely apologize to all citizens for causing you worry. I take full responsibility for the embezzlement incident in the General Affairs Department...
His somber expression, his trembling voice.
It was a perfect apology.
In truth, Director-General-nim wasn't at fault.
It was that crazy Grade 6 Clerk under him who went wild and embezzled the money, but because he's the higher-up, he has to take the heat and bow his head—that's the reality of public service in Korea.
'Well, the head has to take the hits so the ass can relax.'
Director-General-nim's sacrifice wasn't in vain.
Thanks to that one public apology, the hyena-like reporters who had been camping out in front of the Management Bureau for days were all gone.
Even that Hanjeon Daily Reporter and Cameraman who chased me to the parking lot for an interview and laid out picnic mats—they were nowhere to be seen anymore.
"Huu..."
I looked out the office window and let out a sigh of relief.
Peace had finally returned to the Hunter Management Bureau.
The office atmosphere had softened up a lot because of it.
Unlike a few days ago when everyone was holding their breath and just working, now there was even time to sip coffee or chat idly.
In that case, maybe I could slack off a bit too.
I stealthily minimized the Excel window and opened the internet browser.
With familiar hand movements, I logged into the Hunter Gallery.
For a while, the gallery had been plastered with bait about the Hunter Management Bureau embezzlement scandal.
That's why I hadn't come in much.
Tax thieves, smash the iron rice bowls—reading that crap that wasn't even aimed at me made me feel like my lifespan was shortening.
But thanks to Director-General-nim's sacrifice play, that bait had finally simmered down.
Instead, new baits were taking over the gallery.
[Japan's Yamata no Orochi revival signs ㄷㄷ]
[When's Jeju Island Dragon's Grave opening?]
[Three Greats Alliance update.]
Featured Posts are always lineups of the trending baits.
The most noteworthy ones were the Japan and Jeju Island baits, of course.
Especially the Japan 'Yamata no Orochi' bait—it was burning hot.
It was the revival issue of a neighboring country's disaster-class monster, after all.
[Title: If Yamata no Orochi revives, won't Japan sink? lololol]
[Magic power levels going crazy in Tokyo's offshore waters right now lolol]
[If it really revives, won't half the Japanese islands get wrecked?]
[Then do we have to worry about tsunamis here?]
ㄴ Does Yamata no Orochi look like a dick to you? lolol If it revives, the Korean Peninsula blows up with it?
ㄴㄴ Holy shit lolol
ㄴ But catching that would drop insane loot, right?
ㄴㄴ It's a monster they couldn't catch so they sealed it—loot my ass lolol
ㄴㄴ Who gives a fuck if those Japs die lololol
ㄴㄴ For real lolol As long as it doesn't come here.
ㄴㄴㄴ We're fucked too, you dumbass thick-headed bastards lolol
[Title: Japan gov considering requesting S-rank hunters from Korea lololol]
[Can't handle it themselves so they beg right away lololol]
[No pride at all, those fuckers ㅉㅉ]
[Do our country's S-ranks really have to go there?]
ㄴ Go and squeeze a ton of cash out of 'em. Gotta earn foreign currency.
ㄴㄴ Yen is weak these days, not worth much? Demand dollars.
ㄴㄴㄴ They'd give dollars even if you ask?
ㄴ Absolutely don't help. Let 'em handle their own shit.
ㄴㄴ But the rewards would be juicy, right? A Yamata no Orochi raid would have the whole world watching.
ㄴㄴㄴ Hunters with a thirst for fame would wanna go. Like Song Hyun-wook or Lee Yu-na types.
[Title: Recruiting for Yamata no Orochi raid expedition team (unofficial, no manners).]
[Requirements: Minimum A-rank or higher]
[Must have water attribute immunity, or gear/accessories equivalent to immunity.]
[Compensation: Base 1 billion yen + incentives based on contribution.]
[Seeking those willing to risk it all for a big score.]
[No cowards.]
ㄴ 1 billion yen is like 9 billion won?
ㄴㄴ That's worth risking your life for, right?
ㄴㄴㄴ Nah, not going~ A-rank hunters make that much in Korea too~
ㄴㄴㄴㄴ You psycho, how the fuck does an A-rank make 9 billion quick lololol
ㄴ Getting water immunity gear is harder. Gear costs more.
ㄴㄴ Looks like a deliberate no-manners expedition—gear up, go in, get looted and organs harvested too.
ㄴ If you die there, do you get workers' comp?
ㄴㄴ Ask Japan about that.
[Title: Honestly, Yamata no Orochi vs Korean Imoogi—who wins?]
[Yamata no Orochi: 8-headed snake.]
[Imoogi: Loser snake that failed to become a dragon.]
[Dungeon clear?]
ㄴ Imoogi becomes a dragon if it ascends?
ㄴㄴ Couldn't ascend, that's why it's an Imoogi, dumbass.
ㄴ Doesn't our country have real dragons besides Imoogi?
ㄴㄴ There's Jeju Island Dragon's Grave. Supposed to be where the dragon king lived.
ㄴㄴㄴ Got exiled or something?
ㄴㄴㄴㄴ What?
ㄴ Yamata no Orochi is weight class bully. 8 heads means 8 skills at once—how do you beat that.
ㄴㄴ But with that many heads, they might fight each other and self-destruct lololol
ㄴㄴㄴ Sealed in the first place cuz they fought internally lol
ㄴㄴㄴㄴ Holy fuck lolololol
[Title: Breaking news lol Japan S-rank hunter Tanaka fails to stop Orochi revival relay]
[Went in cocky alone, got wrecked and ran out.]
[Video's out—his state is indescribable.]
[This is Asia's strongest hunter scene?]
ㄴ Told ya Tanaka's all hype lololol
ㄴㄴ S-rank embarrassing themselves.
ㄴ Orochi must be strong for real. S-rank running away.
ㄴㄴ Pre-revival it's this bad—full revival means no hope?
ㄴ Our S-ranks don't pull that shit. They prepare thoroughly.
ㄴㄴ That fucker probably went in unprepared, dumbass.
I chuckled reading the Japan posts, then moved on to the Jeju Island bait.
Compared to Yamata no Orochi, the firepower was definitely weaker.
The Hunter Management Bureau kept delaying the opening, so from the hunters' perspective, the bait was cooling off inevitably.
[Title: When the fuck are Management Bureau assholes opening Dragon's Grave?]
[Been waiting a year straight.]
[They hiding a honey pot in there or what?]
[Open it quick so we can suck some honey ㅡㅡ]
ㄴ For real lolol Third time canceling Jeju flight tickets.
ㄴ Can't open cuz it's dangerous inside? It's an S-rank dungeon.
ㄴㄴ Hunters go in even if dangerous. We'll handle dying— just open the damn door.
ㄴ Management Bureau guys went in first and swept all the loot?
ㄴㄴ That's reasonable suspicion.
ㄴㄴㄴ Eating it all and opening the scraps lololol
[Title: Dragon's Grave setting is where Halla Dragon King ascended, right?]
[So treasures the dragon king used scattered everywhere?]
[Like a dragon palace or something?]
[Pull out a turtle liver and get immortality?]
ㄴ Rabbit liver, dumbass.
ㄴㄴ Dragon king eats rabbit liver, we're going to hunt the dragon king.
ㄴㄴㄴ Then eat dragon liver.
ㄴ Dragon king ascended? Empty house robbery? Sweet lololol
ㄴ Problem is the guards (monsters) in the empty house are crazy strong.
[Title: My wild guess) Real reason delaying Dragon's Grave opening.]
[1. Something stronger than Yamata no Orochi inside.]
[2. Can't find the entrance.]
[3. Lost the key.]
[4. Actually nothing there.]
[5. Hamburglar inside]
ㄴ 3 lolololol
ㄴㄴ Probably some Grade 9 Civil Servant dropped it in the sewer by accident lololol
ㄴㄴㄴ Hey, don't diss Management Bureau Grade 9s. They do good work (probably).
ㄴ I think 1. S-rank or higher, sealed cuz they can't handle it.
I smirked reading the posts.
Hunters have no clue why the Management Bureau is delaying the Dragon's Grave opening.
'I know the rough story, though.'
As a Grade 9 Civil Servant in the Hunter Management Bureau's Civil Complaints Department, I know the inside scoop.
Actually, the Management Bureau had already secretly sent a few affiliated hunters into the Dragon's Grave.
Not a formal raid, but a reconnaissance team for scouting.
And there, they found national-treasure-class items.
Not just one or two, but a whole bunch.
The problem was, those weren't items you could just pick up and take out.
Sealed with powerful barriers—none of the existing dispel skills could budge them.
Just leave them and open the dungeon?
That'd be insane.
Hunters would go berserk fighting over them, and blood would flow.
But the Management Bureau monopolizing? No way to unseal, so it's pie in the sky.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place.
That was the dilemma of the national-treasure-class items, the Dragon Weapons.
'Frustrating as hell.'
I turned off the monitor and leaned back in my chair.
'Why not just seal off that section separately?'
From the report, the Dragon Weapons were found in a separate area slightly off from the entrance.
A room they called the armory.
Block the passage to it solid, open the rest—problem solved.
Hunters get to raid the dungeon, Management Bureau gets entrance fees.
Research unsealing the Dragon Weapons slowly on the side.
"Hmm..."
The more I thought, the better the idea seemed.
Might as well pitch a proposal to Team Leader-nim.
I straightened up and double-clicked the 'Hangeul 2024' icon on the desktop.
As soon as the blank document opened, I started typing away.
[Dragon's Grave Partial Opening and Special Zone Control Operation Proposal]
Nailed a solid title right off.
Had zero to do with Civil Complaints work, but no complaints anyway and I was bored.
[1. Overview]
[For the efficient operation of the currently stalled Jeju Island 'Dragon's Grave' dungeon...]
[2. Current Status and Issues]
[Delay in full opening due to inability to unseal special items (Dragon Weapons)...]
[3. Solutions]
[Zone Separation: Dragon Weapon discovery zone (hereinafter Zone A) and general hunting zone (hereinafter Zone B) physical isolation...]
[Management Bureau direct security team stationed at Zone A entrance & S-rank barrier stones installed...]
My fingers danced.
Like I'd been possessed by a spirit, words flowed smoothly.
I sweated forcing a connection between Civil Complaints duties and Dragon's Grave opening, but packaged it logically and convincingly.
'This is perfect.'
Added tables, roughly sketched charts.
Pouring my soul into it, the document hit over 5 pages before I knew it.
Then, the lunch bell rang.
"Ah, already this time?"
Hadn't finished the conclusion yet.
Clock said noon sharp.
Staff started getting up one by one around me.
"Gyeong-ho-ssi, not eating?"
"Ah, yeah! Coming right now."
I roughly saved the document and stood up.
Even Mt. Geumgang tastes like food after—proposals need fuel too.
Finish it later and show Team Leader-nim.
Light steps toward the cafeteria.
"Ah, that hit the spot."
Today's menu was chicken stew.
Spicy and delicious.
Patted my full belly and headed back to the office.
Sipping an iced Americano in one hand, strolling leisurely down the hall.
The moment I opened the Civil Complaints office door.
"..."
I froze on the spot.
People were crowded around my desk.
Not just any staff either.
Civil Complaints Team Leader-nim, Dungeon Management Team Leader-nim, even HR Team Leader-nim.
All the team leader-level bigshots peering at my monitor with serious faces, murmuring.
'What the—?'
My heart dropped.
A million thoughts raced through my head.
Did I fuck up?
Did they catch me on the payroll Lupin shit?
Or...
'No way they're making me the scapegoat for the General Affairs embezzlement?'
Yeah, that must be it.
Chop off the powerless Grade 9 tail.
Secretly transfer the embezzled funds to my account and pin it on me—classic move.
"Um... Team Leader-nim?"
At my voice, the team leaders all turned their heads in unison.
Their gazes stabbed into me.
I swallowed hard involuntarily.
'Just spare me... I'll do whatever you say.'
Groveling in my mind, when our Civil Complaints Team Leader-nim shot up from his seat.
Then strode over and yanked me into a bear hug.
"Our Gyeong-ho's here?"
"Y-Yes...?"
Team Leader-nim's face beamed with a bright smile.
He patted my shoulders and laughed cheerfully.
"I just can't figure out why our Gyeong-ho is so damn good at his job and hardworking! You're a treasure, a real treasure!"
"Y-Yeah...? What do you..."
Clueless and bewildered, then Dungeon Management Team Leader-nim pointed at my monitor.
"This—it's by Chief Clerk Lee Gyeong-ho, right? [Dragon's Grave Partial Opening Proposal]."
"Ah... that one?"
The doc I'd left open before lunch.
Forgot to turn off the monitor.
"Yeah, I was bored... uh, just doodled it up on a whim..."
"Doodled? Haha, humble too."
Dungeon Management Team Leader-nim let out an exclamation.
"The content's super practical and realistic. Our side could back it up immediately—it's that straightforward."
"Exactly. Approaching from a civil complaints angle actually reveals the solution. Impressive."
Even HR Team Leader-nim joined in, thumbs up.
I stared at them in a daze.
"At this rate, Dragon's Grave opening could happen way sooner than expected. Quell hunter complaints, boost Management Bureau revenue."
Dungeon Management Team Leader-nim said excitedly.
Then stared straight at me and asked.
"Gyeong-ho, how about turning this into a proper formal proposal?"
"Huh? Formal proposal?"
"Yeah. Flesh out a detailed execution plan based on this draft."
I waved my hands in panic.
"No, I'm in Civil Complaints... Isn't that Dungeon Management's job?"
A Grade 9 newbie butting into another department's business, an S-rank dungeon project?
Recipe for getting chewed out later.
But my worries were unfounded.
"Pfft, what nonsense! Civil Complaints can pitch ideas like this too! Right?"
Our Civil Complaints Team Leader-nim pushed my back encouragingly.
"With your skills, Gyeong-ho, you can do it! You got this!"
The other team leaders watched me with expectant eyes.
Saying 'I can't' in this vibe would make me a traitor for real.
I let out a small sigh and nodded.
"Then... I'll give it a shot."
"Yes! That's the spirit."
"We'll back you 100%—go wild!"
The team leaders clapped and cheered.
And just like that, I unwittingly took full responsibility for the Dragon's Grave opening project.
A mere 1-year newbie Grade 9 Civil Complaints Civil Servant.
Now in charge of producing Korea's biggest S-rank dungeon.