The Giant Mudskipper
After pushing through the sticky mudflats and finally dragging the massive thing onto solid ground, Park Gyeong-wi, who had been waiting, approached. He pulled out a cigarette, stuck it between his lips, and clicked his tongue at the sight of the corpse.
"Tsk, tsk… Look at that. It's completely dried out, like a pollack left in the sun."
He nudged the mudskipper's withered flank with the tip of his shoe.
"It would've died on its own if we'd left it alone. Doing it all at once like this was probably a mercy."
At my words, Park Gyeong-wi nodded, then shifted his gaze to scan me from head to toe.
"What are you going to do about those clothes? You're not planning to get in the car looking like that, are you?"
"This is basically work clothes. I'll just rinse off real quick right here, or I can just head home like this."
I shrugged like it was no big deal.
"Yeah, better to wash up now. I'll leave the mudskipper to Lee Soon-gyeong. Tell the county environmental department to come pick it up when they get here. You head back and clean up."
Typical Park Gyeong-wi. Dumping all the annoying tasks on the rookie. At the same time, it was his way of making sure Lee Soon-gyeong got full credit for the mutated beast report. Thanks to that, the poor guy would be pulling an all-nighter wrestling with paperwork tonight.
But that was his problem. I had my own business to take care of.
I brushed the worst of the mud off my hunting vest and dug through my pockets. Thankfully, my smartphone had survived. I pulled it out and handed it to Park Gyeong-wi.
"We should at least take a commemorative photo."
He made no effort to hide his disgust as he reluctantly accepted the mud-caked phone.
"It's a little dirty, but it should still work."
I grabbed the mudskipper's head with both hands, the bullet hole giving it a ridiculous expression. Planting one foot on its body, I flashed a bright V-sign and grinned at the phone.
"Come on~ It's a once-in-a-lifetime catch, so make it look pretty~!"
I deliberately added a nasal tone. Park Gyeong-wi pressed a hand to his forehead.
"Alright, alright, cut the cutesy voice. It's giving me goosebumps."
Grumbling, he still lined up the shot. Once I struck the perfect pose, the shutter clicked.
Click.
The moment the sound rang out, I dropped the V-sign and let go of the mudskipper's head. I walked over to Park Gyeong-wi and checked the photo. On the screen was a strange but satisfying shot: a mud-covered woman smiling brightly while holding the head of a grotesque monster against the early dawn sky.
"Hmm. Looks good."
I nodded, satisfied. Park Gyeong-wi handed the phone back and started walking toward the patrol car. He paused after a few steps, turned around as if he'd just remembered something, and said briefly,
"Oh, right. Don't go digging around in the corpse trying to pull out mana stones. I hear that's illegal now."
With that, he really left. I stared blankly at the flashing lights fading into the distance, then suddenly realized something.
Wait a second… What about Lee Soon-gyeong?
Well, he'd figure it out. He'd probably hitch a ride back with the environmental department staff. I could just go my own way. Still, it seemed the higher-ups in the government didn't even want ordinary citizens like me making a little extra cash. Tch.
I gave the mudskipper's head a petty kick, then trudged over to a nearby makeshift sink. When I turned the faucet, cold groundwater gushed out through the connected hose. I rinsed the mud and silt off myself like I was taking a shower. The chilly dawn air and cold water made my unfamiliar body break out in goosebumps. And why did these wet undergarments have to feel even more annoying than usual?
After roughly washing off the mud and shaking out my wet hair, I spotted Lee Soon-gyeong walking toward me from the other side. He was staring blankly at the distant patrol car with a dazed expression. When he noticed me, he approached with heavy steps.
I smiled with my still-wet face and teased him.
"Weren't you supposed to catch a ride with the environmental department staff?"
Lee Soon-gyeong let out a deep sigh, then gave a hollow laugh.
"Well… I'll manage somehow. Haha…"
His resigned look made him seem a little pitiful, like this wasn't his first time dealing with this kind of thing. But I had no reason to get involved in the world of civil servants. I plopped down in a sunny spot where the sunlight was starting to reach. Then I turned my smartphone back on, opened the familiar community app, and started writing a post.
Even before my body changed, I'd posted hunting reports here whenever I caught pheasants, rabbits, or the occasional mutated beast. But after the change, weirdos kept latching onto my posts and bothering me. So I'd started writing in a more deliberately middle-aged guy style.
[Title: Caught a big one in the Dohoang-ri countryside~~^^]
I attached the photo Park Gyeong-wi had taken and began typing the body.
[Author: JangYeopsa]
[That thing turned into a total dried pollack~ lol Didn't even get a proper bite before I reeled it in! Gotcha!]
After skimming the short post, I hit "Post" with satisfaction. There was still time before the environmental department staff would arrive. I rolled my stiff shoulders and stretched my back. Watching the eastern sky turn red, I waited for my wet clothes to dry.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lee Soon-gyeong pacing near the entrance to the mudflats with his phone to his ear. From the way he kept saying "Yes, yes" politely and giving detailed directions, it seemed he'd gotten in touch with the environmental department. At least he was trying to do his job properly.
When he finally finished the call and stood there looking troubled, I felt a mischievous urge and called out to him.
"So, how much are they offering?"
I'd expected someone like Lee Soon-gyeong, who clearly had zero interest in fishing or hunting, to fumble the answer. But he replied surprisingly straightforwardly.
"Ah, the environmental department said they'll give about a million won as a reward."
The moment I heard the amount, a deep sigh escaped me without thinking. I started venting at him like I was annoyed.
"Are you kidding me? If that thing had been a goby, Grandma Park and I could've ended up as corpses by now, and they're only giving that much because it's a mudskipper? D-rank Hunter dispatch fees are probably higher than this. Shouldn't they at least tack on one more zero? This world really runs too conveniently, doesn't it?"
I crossed my arms and sneered on purpose. Lee Soon-gyeong lowered his head, unsure what to do with my complaints.
"Complaining to me won't… get you anything…"
Yeah, that weak response really suited him. I grinned and gave his shoulder a light pat.
"I know. I was just talking to you because I thought you might be bored."
With that, I started inspecting my firearm to prepare for heading home. I roughly wiped the mud off the gun with my sleeve and began the most important step—checking the chamber. I removed all the remaining rounds and double-checked that the chamber was empty. Safety procedure complete, I slung the empty gun over my back and walked to my truck.
"Good work today~"
I waved at Lee Soon-gyeong as I opened the door. He just stared at me in silence. Being the newbie, he had to suffer a bit to grow. That was just how it was. Probably?
Leaving his pitiful back behind, I drove toward the police outpost under the rising morning sun. When I stepped inside, the other officers who had pulled an all-nighter nodded silently at me. I stood in front of the firearm logbook and accurately recorded the four rounds I'd used today along with the remaining ammunition. Once the paperwork was done, one of the officers silently took my gun and ammo box. They disappeared into the back where the heavy gun safe was kept, as if this was all routine.
After returning the firearm, the tension that had been stretched tight all night finally snapped. A deep breath and a huge yawn escaped me before I knew it. The cold dawn air and the struggle in the mudflats had left my muscles stiff, and now a heavy drowsiness was seeping into my entire body.
Today I was supposed to go to the mart with Nureongi and Bbi-bbi…
Should I go right now? Or… maybe head home, catch a little sleep, and go out around lunchtime. The guys would probably like it better if we grabbed a nice lunch in town before coming back.
While I stood there in the middle of the outpost lost in thought, Park Gyeong-wi's voice suddenly cut in.
"Not going home?"
His casual remark snapped me back to reality. I lightly patted my cheeks to wake myself up.
"Ah, yeah, I'm going. Good work today~!"
I gave a quick bow to the remaining officers and headed back to my old truck.