The Unwanted Promotion

“Deputy Shin Jiwoo. I am appointing you as the team leader of the newly established Special Dungeon Management Team.”

As soon as he arrived at work, Shin Chi-hyun boarded a helicopter and pored over the data regarding GN-493688. It was a dungeon that everyone had deemed impossible to clear. Even Shin Chi-hyun’s composure had shattered when he heard the news of the successful raid on his way to the office.

“They say Deputy Shin Jiwoo is also heading to the site.”

“It isn’t even official work hours yet, and he’s already heading to the site… That means he was already here early.”

“It appears so.”

Shin Chi-hyun was someone who arrived at work relatively early. Yet, Jiwoo was already on his way to the field. With time still remaining before the official start of the workday, it meant Jiwoo had arrived early to assess the dungeon’s situation. It was as shocking as the news of the dungeon clear itself. It was truly rare to find an employee with such passion for their work.

“…To think he was such a ruthless bastard.”

The dungeon clearing process was unbelievable. No matter how he looked at it, it was a strategy that could only be explained by someone who knew the nature of the boss, Kinteon, perfectly. Furthermore, the way he boldly sacrificed the trash to achieve his goal showed the qualities of a monarch. He would need to carefully examine exactly how he had managed to produce such results. It meant Jiwoo’s level was already beyond Shin Chi-hyun’s own.

“…I have no choice but to acknowledge it.”

After reviewing all the updated data, Shin Chi-hyun leaned back and closed his eyes. His reputation within the family would undoubtedly plummet because of this. He might be ignored even more, and his position could even be in jeopardy. But Shin Chi-hyun did not feel resentful. He was a very rational person, and he knew how to acknowledge what needed to be acknowledged. Instead, he had to think about how to utilize Jiwoo.

He was one of only two Association employees, including himself, from the family. If they worked together, they could aim for even higher places.

“We will proceed as planned.”

“Understood.”

Jiwoo’s position had been created in preparation for the off-chance that the dungeon was cleared. He hadn’t truly expected him to pull it off, but this was enough to warrant recognition. GN-493688 would not have been cleared even if Shin Chi-hyun had been in charge. Considering the ability to resolve such a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dungeon, the title of ‘Deputy’ was absurdly low for Jiwoo.

“…However, isn’t this too fast? Deputy Shin Jiwoo hasn’t even been with the company for a year yet.”

“That is true. But there is no one else I can trust. No one else with this kind of skill.”

The family thought Shin Chi-hyun had been promoted to Deputy Director due to the family’s influence. But the reality was completely different. The Patriarch would never have empowered a hunter who was at best an A-class. In fact, Shin Chi-hyun was often attacked within the Association. The Association was essentially the only place in Korea where the family’s reach did not extend. There were almost no employees who liked someone from the family. Shin Chi-hyun had proven his worth through his own skill. Both in the family and in the Association. And because Shin Jiwoo possessed a similar kind of grit, he could be trusted.

“I suppose that is true.”

Shin Chi-hyun’s secretary nodded as if convinced. Receiving reports as information arrived, Shin Chi-hyun finally reached the site.

“Deputy Shin Jiwoo. I am appointing you as the team leader of the newly established ‘Special Dungeon Management Team.’”

Shin Chi-hyun went straight to Jiwoo and spoke. It was his own way of showing recognition.

“…Excuse me?”

Jiwoo furrowed his brow and asked back. It was the expected reaction. After all, it was strange for a deputy to become a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠team leader.

“You are aware that dungeons exceeding existing levels are being observed recently. More meticulous dungeon management is required. Furthermore, new research related to this is constantly being updated. The ‘Special Dungeon Management Team’ will be a department that encompasses the management and research of those dungeons of the highest grade and above. Several people were candidates for the leadership position, but after seeing this incident, I have judged that you are the most suitable.”

“What… is it really okay for you to decide such a massive thing, Hyung… no, Deputy Director?”

“Your name was already among the final candidates. And if I report this GN-493688 incident as well, the Director and the Association President will surely approve. And to begin with, the Association President’s opinion was already leaning toward you.”

“Why on earth would the Association President?!!”

“There is no need for false modesty. It is all a rational choice.”

Jiwoo was jumping up and down, but Shin Chi-hyun continued without concern.

“The team will be formed soon, and you will be granted the authority to select a few employees to bring with you. Of course, it is not something for right this moment, but you can start preparing from now.”

“No, I don’t need anything like that! I don’t want it!”

“If you are worried about your career, there is no need to feel burdened. It has already been proven that you have more skill than employees with higher seniority. Of course, it is a special favor, but it is a performance worthy of such a favor. You can also look forward to next year’s salary negotiations.”

“No, I don’t need anything like salary!”

“So you didn’t do this for money or performance… You even have a sense of duty. That aspect is truly worthy of being called a person of the family. That is why you are even more suitable for this position.”

“This guy isn’t even listening to a word I say!”

“The site seems to be cleared. Then, I shall see you at the family estate.”

Shin Chi-hyun turned around and jumped back onto the helicopter. The helicopter then returned toward the Association headquarters.

“Congratulations, Jiwoo-nim! You’ve been promoted!”

“Congratulations. As expected…!”

“For Shin Chi-hyun to say that… this dungeon was definitely something else. Well, c-congratulations.”

“Come on, let’s clap!”

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—

Everyone who had heard the conversation burst into applause.

“No…! That’s not it!”

Shin Jiwoo shouted urgently, but his voice was buried in the sound of clapping, and nothing could be heard.

“Just hurry up and clean this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠place up!”

“…That is all.”

Shin Jung, the second-in-command of the Shin family, finished his report to the [Dignified Patriarch]. From Shin Jung’s perspective, this was information the Patriarch had no need to be curious about. However, once he had received the order, he could not fail to carry it out.

“Coincidence, or inevitability. What do you think it is?”

“…Pardon?”

“Even you are lacking.”

The Patriarch said this while lying in a massive bathtub. It was an incomprehensible rebuke, but Shin Jung lowered his head.

“That the Evil God has appeared once again…”

On the other hand, the Patriarch was submerged in the water, recalling a very distant past. The days when the Korean peninsula was still devastated. The days when the Patriarch and the first-generation hunters fought, risking their lives. Compared to those days, the hunters of today were far too complacent.

Nowadays, hunters claimed that the difficulty of dungeons was rising, but the Patriarch’s opinion was different. The dungeons in the early days of gate generation were far more monstrous. To be precise, the difficulty of dungeons, which had lowered as they entered the 2000s, was simply regaining its former level. This GN-493688 was even a type of dungeon the Patriarch had experienced in the past. Furthermore, he had even created the banquet hall of the most recent family gathering by recalling that memory.

Kinteon. A giant like a nightmare. The Kinteon the Patriarch had faced in the ‘Giant Temple’ dungeon was not the last Kinteon. However, the boss of this GN-493688 seemed to be of the same species as the one from back then. A transcendent being who indulged in greed until it was full and brought about its own destruction. Although a long time had passed, the Patriarch still could not forget the moment he faced that giant.

“I feel the passage of time. Perhaps that is why I am becoming interested in that child.”

“Are you speaking of Shin Jiwoo?”

“There are things that only a child can see. The lowly things that those with power do not even look back at. Now, the value of old things feels different.”

It was similar to what ordinary humans called the importance of history. The people of the family only sought to become stronger after awakening, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they did not look at history. And those who ran forward without knowing the source would never reach the end. As time went by, the Patriarch felt the absence of those who explored old things. No matter how much they had accumulated, these young brats did not even look up to such things. Perhaps that was why the Patriarch felt interested in the existence of Shin Jiwoo.

“The reason I was able to survive in that place was because I did not lose my dignity. If I, too, had been terrified like them and lost my faith, I would not exist here.”

The concepts that symbolized the [Dignified Patriarch] were ‘Dignity’ and ‘Patriarch’. The reason he possessed such dignity now was because he had survived. No, he had been able to survive because he possessed dignity. The Patriarch had always moved forward according to his faith. Even when his colleagues ran away, blinded by the fruit in front of them, the Patriarch kept what he believed in. In the end, the Patriarch was right, and those who did not follow the Patriarch disappeared. That was why the Patriarch considered ‘Dignity’ important.

“Strong blood produces strong possibilities. But that child is the only mutation.”

And the Patriarch also considered blood important. From the perspective of the Patriarch, who had made history from the early days of gate generation until now, awakening was mostly hereditary. And those educated by the strong had no choice but to be strong. That was why the Patriarch created the ‘Family’ to maintain power. And as he thought, the people of the family had always become outstanding awakeners. But Shin Jiwoo was the one and only mutation among them. He was not someone who awakened weakly, but someone who did not awaken at all. It was something that could not happen as long as the direct bloodline was flowing clearly. He was a singularity.

Usually, people would ignore him as a non-awakener, but in the family, being a non-awakener might be something worth paying attention to.

“Perhaps there is something more to it. How should I handle Shin Chi-hyun?”

“There is no reason to discard a usable pawn.”

“Understood.”

Shin Jung bowed to the Patriarch and then vanished from the space. Left alone, the Patriarch gazed at the leisurely flowing ripples. A storm was brewing.

“Jiwoo-ssi! You worked hard! I heard the news!”

“Team leader already? Does that even make sense, no matter how you look at it? Tsk.”

“That’s amazing, Deputy Shin. I thought you weren’t an ordinary talent from the start. Hahahahaha!”

The news had already spread to the office. The team members’ reactions were all different. Certainly, there were more people jealous this time, and fewer people congratulating him. If someone said a first-year was becoming a team leader, I’d be the same. Then don’t just sit there, you guys do something yourselves.

“Thank you.”

I didn’t have the energy to respond, so I just gave a rough greeting and sat down. Shin Chi-hyun, that crazy bastard. How could he just suddenly stick me in as a team leader of a newly established department like this? I heard it would start on a small scale. Then, if the results were good and the necessity was proven, they would upgrade the scale and promote it to a full department level. If that happened, I would suddenly become a department head. I really had to stop that at all costs. I had to somehow mess it up properly before then and quit.

‘Is it better this way? No, it’s not good.’

I tried to think positively, but it was hard this time. Still, the only consolation was the fact that as a team leader, I would have a lot of responsibility. If I caused a big incident, it would all be my responsibility, so I might be able to go in one shot. ‘I’ll take full responsibility, so proceed!’ If I do that, I’ll really take responsibility and step down.

“Ugh… my head hurts.”

Is it about 4 years left now? I hope I can leave this land within that time. Perhaps because I had been running around the site since dawn, my head felt even dizzier. I should drink a cup of coffee…