Everything Felt Too Easy for Kim Seol-bi
Everything felt too straightforward for Kim Seol-bi. It was like she could just say, I'm full now, so how about we hit a dungeon for some exercise? in the lightest tone imaginable. And for her, it really was that simple. The dungeon where I worked was only D-rank, and no S-rank hunter in their right mind would bother with a place like that.
I decided to relax and go with the flow. With an S-rank hunter by my side, what did I have to fear, no matter what happened?
"Huh?"
When we pulled into the dungeon parking lot, Kim Seol-bi's phone suddenly rang, and she let out a surprised voice.
"Hello? Sis, what're you up to? You've been so busy lately, you haven't even replied to my texts."
"Oh~ Did you text me? Sorry, sorry."
The voice coming through the speaker was young and cute. It sounded vaguely familiar, but there was no way I'd know any of Kim Seol-bi's acquaintances. Our social circles didn't overlap like that. And especially not with a girl who had such an adorable voice.
Kim Seol-bi turned to me. "Why don't you head in first? I'll finish this call and catch up. It's my cousin—she's sulking because we haven't talked much lately."
"I'm not sulking!"
The cute voice was putting on a hundred percent sulky act.
"Haha. Take your time. I'll wait inside."
I got out of the car. Working here, I'd always thought hunters drove some seriously nice rides. The parking lot was full of luxury cars. That hadn't changed today, but none of them matched the one Kim Seol-bi had driven me in from the passenger seat. It really hit home—the gap in status.
I headed to the Dungeon Management Office without a second thought. Back when I was coming here to work, my steps had been heavy as lead. But today, they were a hundred times lighter.
The moment I appeared, the guy's eyes widened—he was sitting inside the office. He was like my mentor figure. The one who'd taught me the ropes and whom I'd spent the most time with at work. But honestly, I couldn't stand him. He'd chew me out over nothing and pin his own screw-ups on me more times than I could count. And don't get me started on his endless stories about picking up girls at clubs. They were lame tales, but he'd puff up his chest like he was God's gift and brag nonstop.
"Hey."
"You bastard!!"
He shot to his feet. He stormed around the desk and out into the open, clicking his tongue in disbelief.
"Are you insane?"
"Pardon?"
"You skipped work yesterday, and today you wouldn't pick up your damn phone. Do you have any idea how pissed the director is? You think this job's a game? You wanna get fired?"
"I'm sorry."
I bowed my head. I was planning to quit today anyway, but ditching without notice yesterday and ignoring calls today was undeniably my fault. No amount of excuses could cover that.
"You thick-skinned prick—think a sorry fixes this? I can't cover for you anymore. I'm calling the director. Deal with it yourself."
Like you ever covered for me. I'd seen him dump his mistakes on me plenty, but never once stick his neck out for me.
When I didn't react to his threats, he scowled.
"Calling the director?"
"Yeah, call him. I have something to say anyway."
He was probably hoping I'd grovel more. Like he was doing me a favor by summoning the boss.
"Hah, what a punk."
He sneered and headed inside. Truth be told, I wasn't looking forward to seeing the director's face. Even on normal workdays, it made my stomach churn. Most people at his level didn't hassle grunts directly. But this guy? He had a grudge against the world or something—everything pissed him off. And the second a higher-rank hunter showed up, he'd turn into a total bootlicker. The switch was comical.
Soon enough, a middle-aged man came charging out from the back, face red with rage. He barreled toward me and swung his hand.
"Huh?"
I reflexively grabbed his wrist. If I'd been my old self from yesterday, I'd have taken a slap to the head without a chance to react. But I wasn't that guy anymore. I was a hunter now. One who'd skipped F-rank and hit E-rank in a single day. No regular awakened like the director was laying hands on me.
"Whoa."
The director and his trailing mentor gawked as I casually blocked the swing.
"You little shit..."
The director stammered, yanking at his arm in my grip. But no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't budge.
"Hey! Let go! You gone mad? Hey! What're you standing around for?"
Panicking, he glared back at his lackey. The mentor rushed over, trying to pry my hand off the director's arm.
"You crazy? You lost it? Wanna get canned?"
By the director's temper, I was already done here anyway. Everyone knew threats like that wouldn't fly. I was here to quit regardless, so it didn't matter.
"I was sick yesterday—couldn't check my phone and stayed in bed. Sorry about that."
I explained while holding the director's arm.
"Couldn't pick up today either—had other business. My apologies."
"What the hell?"
The two men grunted, but couldn't overpower me. This is the difference between a regular awakened and a hunter.
"Cut the 'you little shit' crap. I'm quitting anyway. Doesn't that make us even?"
"What?"
The director and mentor stared at me blankly. Their arms went slack, so I let go.
"You out of your mind? You think jobs like this grow on trees?"
The mentor said incredulously. He wasn't wrong. For a regular awakened, snagging a stable gig with good pay like this wasn't easy. Semi-civil servant status, too—with time, promotions would come.
"You little shit..."
The director, who'd tried to hit me, growled through gritted teeth.
"Don't you dare show your face around here again. You're done."
His lip curled like he was thrilled. Hard to believe someone his age could be so twisted.
"Get on your knees and beg, punk! You think the director's joking?"
The mentor smirked as he said it. That's when it hit me. Even without this mess, this wasn't a place to stick around long-term. Imagining grinding away under that stress made my vision blur.
Compare that to today with Kim Seol-bi. VIP treatment everywhere we went. Just because an S-rank was with me.
That's when it came—a chilling voice from behind.
"What exactly is going on here?"
Kim Seol-bi was walking over, call finished. Her stride was like a photoshoot. Every motion an art form.
"Ah..."
The mentor let out a dazed sound. Any girls he'd hooked up with at clubs couldn't hold a candle to her pinky toe. Not that he'd ever scored big-time.
"H-Hunter-nim...!"
The director boomed at the sudden S-rank appearance. His voice carried like a megaphone—same volume whether yelling at staff or sucking up to hunters.
"Aigoo~ Thanks for gracing our humble office again! What brings you here today?"
He wasn't kidding—he was rubbing his palms together. Guess when someone's genuinely ass-kissing, they pull out moves like that. Entertaining show.
"I asked what was going on."
Kim Seol-bi kept her angry tone.
"Pardon? Oh, right. Just disciplining my employee for screwing up. Hey! What're you doing? Apologize to the hunter-nim!"
The director whipped around and yelled at us. The mentor dropped to his knees on cue.
"I'm sorry!!"
He bowed low enough to kiss the ground, then shot me a glare.
"What're you waiting for, punk?!"
The director's antics and the mentor's were just pathetic comedy to me.
"Hahaha."
I didn't just think it—I laughed out loud.
"Huh?"
"What?"
They stared like I'd grown a second head. But they'd dealt with me for a month—they knew I wasn't that crazy. Slowly, they sensed the vibe turning weird.
"Huh?"
"What?"
Their eyes shifted to Kim Seol-bi. She stood with hands on hips, still pissed.
"This is three times I've asked. Think carefully and answer. What. Is. This?"
"S-Sorry!! I committed a mortal sin. I had no idea Sung-gi was your acquaintance!!"
Experience as director paid off—he pieced it together quick. The mentor, though, was still clueless.
"Huh?"
He blinked, glancing between Kim Seol-bi and me repeatedly.
"Acquaintance?"
He tilted his head.
"You? And Kim Seol-bi?"
The guy's reaction was pure gold.