Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: A Brief Farewell (1)
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“Han Yeoreum approached you?”
The next day. As soon as I got to work, I explained yesterday's events to Min Chae-ryeong right away. The whole process of Han Yeoreum inviting me to join the dungeon raid and me accepting it.
“……I have no idea where that girl sniffed it out from, but this is getting pretty annoying.”
“In that situation, I had no choice but to accept. If I'd refused, word about me would have spread everywhere.”
I offered my excuse, and Min Chae-ryeong smirked and shook her head.
“I know. If you'd turned it down, the front gate would've been swarmed with reporters by morning. 'Sudden S-rank candidate appears like a comet,' or whatever. Good call.”
As I could tell from her unilaterally censoring Kang Haneul's statement, Min Chae-ryeong didn't want me drawing media attention. She probably figured it was no good if her pawn caught everyone's eye. It was so typically Min Chae-ryeong.
“But……”
As I was thinking that, Min Chae-ryeong narrowed her eyes and shot me a sidelong glance.
“That's not the only reason you accepted, right? Am I wrong?”
She spoke like she already knew everything, so I shrugged and came clean.
“……Well, since things turned out this way, I figured I'd use the chance to build some connections.”
“Knew it. You're such a schemer.”
“I don't think I'm at the level where I'd hear that from you, Team Leader.”
“Hah. If you couldn't talk your way out, at least you'd be cute.”
She said that, but the smile tugging at her lips didn't look displeased at all.
“Still, you sure you're okay with it? Joining the raid, I mean.”
“Probably.”
I could guess what Min Chae-ryeong was worried about.
Dungeon raids are public events. All raids are managed by the Association, a national agency, and info about the process gets released to the public under disclosure rules. She was probably concerned my info would leak out during it.
“I told Han Yeoreum student I didn't want to stand out, and she said she'd handle that. She promised to let me hide my face and identity completely on-site. The only ones who'll know who I am are the few executives from that meeting.”
“That's not what I'm worried about.”
Min Chae-ryeong slurped up the bubble tea on her desk. Like with the chocolate last time, she seemed to have a sweet tooth.
“Then what are you worried about?”
“You.”
“Pardon?”
“It's an Overrank dungeon raid. Think you can handle it with your skills?”
“Ah.”
Contrary to my expectations, Min Chae-ryeong's concern was more primal and fundamental.
Overrank. A dungeon boasting specs beyond the norm, practically a hellscape.
She was worried if someone like me could dare join its raid and survive. That was her real concern.
“Honestly, I don't buy everything in Kang Haneul's statement.”
Min Chae-ryeong pulled a document from her drawer. Kang Haneul's statement on the double dungeon incident. The uncensored original.
“Summarizing it: 'You fought a defensive battle against the Overrank boss, then spotted a gap and escaped.' But……”
“You think that's a lie, Team Leader?”
“Not total lies, but I figure there's some exaggeration mixed in.”
A wry smile naturally crept onto my face at her words.
'If anything, he downplayed it.'
Maybe I shouldn't say it myself, but back then, thanks to Kang Haneul's ability, I temporarily held my own against Wilhelm. The statement was the result of him deliberately minimizing my role to keep his power secret.
Even so, Min Chae-ryeong must've thought it was headline-worthy, because she censored it on her own. The official version ended up saying I bolted with Kang Haneul the moment I saw Wilhelm—way off from what really happened.
“Come on. You were an E-rank superhuman until recently, and now you're suddenly A-rank or higher, maybe even S-rank level? Doesn't add up.”
It didn't. I agreed completely.
But this world was like a fantasy novel. And fantasy novels are stories where impossible things happen every meal.
“If I may be bold, the original statement Kang Haneul wrote is the pure truth, no exaggeration. You say that, but deep down you suspect it too, right?”
“……”
“You said my sudden growth doesn't make sense, but haven't you seen it with your own eyes already?”
The special countermeasures division promotion exam at the end of February. Min Chae-ryeong had witnessed me go from E-rank to fitting in with the division in just three days. And now, over a month later, what's so weird about me climbing from E to C and then to A or higher?
'In reality, my physical stats haven't grown much since Yeo In-hyuk's bone alignment……'
Will and Luck were the only ones that went up after. But how would Min Chae-ryeong know?
From her view, Ahn Su-ho was a mysterious E-rank who'd suddenly started skyrocketing. That's why she didn't dismiss Kang Haneul's statement as nonsense and started watching me closer.
“……You've got confidence in spades, huh. Hard to believe this is the same E-rank hothead from that interview two months ago.”
Min Chae-ryeong smirked and narrowed her eyes at my bold words.
“So? You're saying you're good enough for the dungeon raid now?”
“Yes. Not quite S-rank like Han Yeoreum said, but enough to not drag anyone down and maybe land a solid hit—”
-Bang!
At that moment, Min Chae-ryeong kicked off her desk and lunged at me, cutting me off.
“Wait—!”
Catching the sudden attack, I immediately activated Morning Star's Breath. I'd practiced to trigger the artifact anytime for ambushes like this.
-Whoosh!
I jerked my head aside, and her hand blade grazed where my head had been. I tried to back off, but sensing she wasn't pressing the attack, I grabbed her hand—now brushing my cheek—and asked her.
“……What the hell was that?”
“Sizing you up. You've definitely gotten more usable.”
Min Chae-ryeong shook off my hand and scanned me up and down.
“Speed's from the artifact, but your movements are way smoother now. No panic on the surprise attack, eyes tracked my strike to the end. Back when you just promoted, you moved like a total newbie. What happened in the meantime?”
She smiled like a parent proud of their kid's growth, and I shook my head vigorously as I answered.
“A lot happened.”
“Fair enough. You've had plenty going on.”
Succubus incident. Failed Kang Haneul kidnapping. Double dungeon mess. And the spar with Han Yeowon.
All the major events over the past two months, plus daily training without a single skip, had fueled my growth.
“Still, doesn't seem like you're Overrank raid-ready yet…… But you seem so sure, you'll handle it yourself. Need any help? Supplies or whatever.”
“Not yet. If I do, I'll let you know.”
“Good. Don't hesitate—just say the word.”
With the report mostly done, I headed out of the team leader's office. I'd thought about mentioning Ji Ye-won's mission right before leaving, but held off. No point now—she'd left that morning.
“Ahn Su-ho. Come here a sec.”
“Yes, Tae-ho Senior.”
Lee Tae-ho called me as I exited. He showed me the duty roster at his desk and asked.
“You know the Chairman's on a week-long overseas trip starting tomorrow?”
“Yes. Some conference in the US. Saw the intranet notice yesterday.”
“Right. Then you knew your partner Chae So-yeon got pulled for his security detail for the week?”
“……First I'm hearing of it.”
“Figured.”
His mild scolding wasn't aimed at me. Lee Tae-ho sighed, eyeing Chae So-yeon's back as she wrestled the copier across the room.
“I taught you to notify your partner first about any work stuff. She's still the same.”
“Uh, maybe she didn't even know she was getting pulled?”
“Doubt it. I drilled checking notices into her back when we were partners.”
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, she always checked the roster and notices without fail every morning. All thanks to Lee Tae-ho's training? Meaning old Chae So-yeon skipped even that?
I gave him a sympathetic look, and he chuckled shortly.
“Water under the bridge now. Current problem for you, though.”
“……You enjoy teasing that much?”
“Not sure about fun, but my life's gotten way more peaceful and enriched lately.”
Chae So-yeon's ex-partner grinned at me. First impression was cold robot senior, but hanging out revealed Lee Tae-ho's sneaky playful side. Maybe getting away from Chae So-yeon was reviving his humanity.
“Anyway. With Chae So-yeon pulled, your duties'll change too. You'll probably team up temporarily with someone else whose partner's out.”
“That's worrying. Still awkward with the other team folks.”
“They feel the same. Almost two months in, but to them you're still the new guy. Make the most of it—bond with the other team. Looking at the roster, your temp partner'll be one of these……”
-Vrrr!
Then my pocket smartphone buzzed low.
“Call?”
“No, text I think. One sec……Huh?”
The name on the screen left me flustered.
📱 Message from Ji Ye-won ▷ Got time right now by any chance? ▷ Wanna see your face one last time before I go ▷ At the academy front gate now “What's up?”
“Well……”
At Lee Tae-ho's question, I looked sheepish and asked his permission.
“Mind if I step out for a bit?”