Chapter 59
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: First Time Seeing a Saintess Who’s Good at Magic Too?
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Section Chief Jang Hansu glanced at the navigation while driving with Sihyun in the passenger seat.
They were almost at the gate's location.
Confirming they still had some time to spare, he pulled over briefly on a quiet roadside.
It was time for a serious conversation.
"Sihyun-ssi."
"...Yes?"
With her seatbelt on, Sihyun simply turned her head to look at the Section Chief.
He calmly laid out the thoughts he'd organized in his mind.
"I assume you know this dungeon is far from ordinary."
Nod, nod.
As Sihyun nodded, he continued.
"If you join in, word about you—the one in the nun's habit—is definitely going to spread."
"...Yeah, it probably will."
"And as you know, I don't actually know much about you. I'm just piecing things together on my own."
The Section Chief paused briefly before speaking again.
"The bigger this gets, the more it'll exceed what I can handle with my authority alone. Even just to keep your information under wraps. How about sharing a bit more with me?"
"......"
"It might be best to open up to a few people, like the Management Division Team Leader."
The Section Chief continued carefully, mindful not to cause any misunderstanding.
"You're going to have to deal with C-ranks soon enough. They're all trustworthy folks."
"Mm......"
"Trust me. I'll keep everything under strict confidentiality and handle your identity disguise to the best of my ability."
He spoke to Sihyun with a serious expression and tone.
Sihyun gazed at his face, lost in thought for a moment.
Since she'd cleared a dungeon with Jia, they had to know she was at least B- to A-rank level.
Though they wouldn't know her exact abilities.
Still, it was true she'd received his help now and then.
Not deep trust, but he seemed reliable enough.
Above all, she appreciated his polite way of asking.
The guys from that other world had all demanded—or rather, forced—it as if it were obvious.
Out of respect for his sincerity, maybe it was fine to give him the bare minimum?
Having sorted her thoughts, Sihyun nodded and spoke up.
"I know that the more I expand my activities, it'll eventually come out about me."
"Yes, exactly."
"I just want to put it off as long as possible. I want to take it easy for a while. So......"
Sihyun fiddled with the veil resting on her lap.
After a short deliberation, she spoke with a resolved expression.
"Today, I'll basically just be observing. But if I have to step in, I'll go all out."
"G-go all out... what do you mean?"
As the Section Chief's eyes widened in askance, Sihyun grinned and replied.
"Hey, if things go south, I might just bolt overseas. Meaning, behave yourselves."
"Hmm......"
Her smile was innocently childlike, but the words carried heavy implications.
The Section Chief closed his mouth, mulling over their exchange.
What exactly did "going all out" entail in terms of power?
Was the overseas flight comment sincere?
Was "behave" directed at him... or at others?
They'd barely traded a few words, yet questions were piling up.
Whether the Section Chief brooded or not, Sihyun pressed on.
"So, once the rear guard sets off today, prepare my way home incognito."
"......What exactly?"
"A way for me to sneak back home today. Car, whatever. That's it! Over and out."
"Ah, of course we'll handle that."
The Section Chief nodded, reorganizing his thoughts.
Her policy was set, but she'd given him no more information than necessary.
Maybe this was the exact limit of their mutual trust right now?
'No, that's not it.'
He shook his head, shifting his mindset.
He reviewed her actions since her return.
At first, she'd refused counseling and mentorship outright.
She'd seemed annoyed just by contact.
But now?
If he made a polite request, she'd comply.
So this conversation wasn't drawing a line with the Bureau.
Rather, wasn't it a step in building solid trust between them?
There was that proverb: "What you say and what you do are worlds apart."
The dungeon's conclusion was still unknown.
But the more solid the follow-up measures—no matter the method—the more it could foster a trusting relationship with her.
Like entrusting him with handling things and granting more trust based on results?
With his thoughts settled, the Section Chief looked back at Sihyun.
She waited with a faint smile.
'Well, it's no different from before.'
His standing policy with Sihyun-ssi:
Respect her intentions as much as possible and build trust gradually.
The more exceptional her abilities, the wiser this approach.
The Section Chief lifted the corner of his mouth and said,
"I'll handle myself accordingly."
"...Pfft. Please do."
The two exchanged glances and shook hands.
Jia, who had joined the vanguard and entered the dungeon, let out a deep sigh.
The dungeon raid itself was proceeding smoothly so far.
Thanks to the standout performances of Dawn Guild's two S-rank hunters and Night Guild's S-rank Master.
Of course, things might change once they entered a sub-dungeon.
But for now, the raid was going off without a hitch.
However.
"What got that guy?"
"......A skeleton mage cast a spell."
There was this woman who kept striking up empty conversations while gawking.
"Whoa, that guy's gear is total trash. Broke or something?"
"......"
She never shut up.
"Those mid-tier guild hunters suck at fighting."
"......"
And with utterly pointless remarks, no less.
Jia kept her eyes fixed straight ahead, refusing to turn.
Every time the woman killed the tension with her solo chatter, Jia itched to snap back.
"Ooh, our oppas are killing it! Right, right?"
"...Yes, Dawn Guild lives up to the name."
"Wanna join us, Jia-ssi? I'll put in a good word."
"...I'll think about it."
"Great!"
Jia had unwittingly replied just like Sihyun would.
The woman hadn't meant much by it anyway and went back to watching the fight.
This had dragged on for half a day since entering the dungeon.
And whenever mob pressure overwhelmed the front line and monsters slipped through,
"Eek?! Kyaa!"
She'd scream bloody murder, hurting Jia's ears,
"Attack! Dodge! To the side!"
And offer zero help.
Jia silently shook her head.
Of course, if that was all there was to her, she wouldn't have made the raid team.
She was Dawn Guild's affiliated hunter—Korea's one and only A-rank support specialist.
She didn't lift a finger in combat and required constant protection.
But her preemptive enhancement skills boosted the vanguard hunters' prowess,
And her post-battle skills healed everyone's wounds spotless.
Her skill potency was second to none.
Watching her, Jia couldn't help but think of Sihyun again.
Her heals and buffs were leaps better, of course.
Just being around her felt reassuring, mentally healing.
Even in heated battles, support came right on cue every time.
And that wasn't all—she excelled in hands-on combat too.
Though Sihyun was just that much of an all-rounder.
Still, once you'd experienced it, comparisons came naturally.
The gap was depressingly wide.
'Miss Sihyun... Wonder if she's started her academy lecture by now?'
While shielding the support woman from another undead swarm,
Jia quietly swallowed a sigh.
After that round of combat wrapped up,
Jia discreetly eavesdropped on the S-rank hunters' talk.
"Those just now were absolutely not A-rank dungeon monsters."
"They're coming out stronger and stronger."
"...Hmm, something feels off."
As Night Guild's Master muttered, Jia nodded instinctively.
Protection duty was fine for now, no major issues.
But the deeper they pushed into the dungeon, the clearly stronger the monsters got.
It felt like crawling into the gaping maw of a crocodile waiting to snap shut.
"You should probably put on the veil now."
"...Yeah, got it."
At the checkpoint, the car eased forward on the signal.
As the Section Chief suggested, she slowly lowered the veil while scanning the surroundings.
Soldiers started appearing one by one.
The Section Chief handled the brief procedures, and the car reached the gate vicinity.
"For now, Sihyun-ssi, here's my take."
"Yes, go ahead."
Once parked among the other vehicles, he unbuckled and spoke.
"The Management Division Team Leader is trustworthy. I'll share what I know with him first. Anything above that depends on how things play out."
"Okay."
"And today, you're not D-rank hunter Jeong Si-hyun—you're a hunter seeking naturalization in Korea. I'll take full responsibility."
"...I see."
"Finally, route today's compensation through hunter Kim Jia. That'll be safer."
"Sounds good."
She nodded in satisfaction.
He'd phrased things a bit vaguely on purpose,
But every proposal from the Section Chief hit the mark.
It'd be great to keep building their relationship this way.
She had zero interest in hunter fame or records anyway.
Not like being an admired professor by students.
......Would adding a dungeon like this to her resume make her a cool prof?
No, think later. Plenty of time.
Anyway, the responsibility bit might be overkill,
But with that level of sincerity, she should respond in kind.
"Section Chief Jang Hansu."
"Yes, need anything else?"
"Hehe, not that."
She chuckled lightly before continuing.
"This dungeon today. If I use my power, I'll bring everyone back alive and well—unless they're dead before I get there."
"......"
What? She hadn't said anything weird, but the Section Chief looked baffled.
"...Excuse me?"
"Hahaha! That's the spirit. I trust you."
"No, I'm serious."
"Yes, I sincerely trust you."
The Section Chief turned to exit the car first.
She grumbled lightly and moved to follow,
When he suddenly spun back around.
"Yeah, this isn't enough. Sihyun-ssi, any specific reward you want?"
"...Dunno?"
"Name it. I'll do my utmost."
"Anything...... Ah! Then."
She clapped her hands softly as she answered.
"Get me Momo Bin merch. All varieties!"
"...Merch?"
"It's sold out everywhere. Can't get it even if I want."
If he got hooked while hunting it down, bonus—he'd become a Momo fan too.
She kept that thought to herself.
"Hmm.... Understood! I'll look into it and get it for you no matter what."
The Section Chief replied with a resolute expression.
He looked ready to manufacture it if needed.
'......Huh, this might actually be a solid idea.'
Money could make it happen, right?
Dungeon first, though.
Felt like a fresh new goal had popped up.