Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Running with the Raid Squad!
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“...I've linked up with the Awakener Protection Program at the Management Bureau before. It's not like this is a one- or two-day gig.”
Myeongrim Guild's raid leader office.
The raid leader Jihye muttered while looking over documents at her desk.
When I first met her, she had this rough-and-tumble vibe.
But now she's all serious—kinda suits her as the leader of the first raid team? Yeah, that fits.
“But this time, it's no joke? Yuseong's cooperating and providing gear? Don't they have their own guild? How'd you sweet-talk them into that? And besides...”
Then Raid Leader Jihye shifted her gaze to someone.
It was Officer Bong Seonhwa.
“You're joining as the operator? I can't believe it.”
“You won't underestimate my experience or skills, right?”
“As if I'd underestimate you. Actually, we're short on outside help right now, so that's great. Really great. But you know what I mean, don't you?”
“Uhng...”
The gaze that had been on Officer Bong Seonhwa now turned to me.
She's staring at me with huge round eyes?
What'd I do wrong? This is all too complicated for me—I was just sitting here like a dazed puppy, woof-woof-meow or whatever.
“What's so special about this kid? Isn't she just an A-rank summoner?”
“I can't disclose that much.”
“Hah... Figures. No wonder the condition was an embargo on this raid. Planning some big reveal later?”
I kinda get this one a little.
After I spilled everything I wanted to do, Officer Bong Seonhwa had mentioned it.
- Understood. Time to change strategies.
It wasn't about selling all the rice or anything.
She said the support from the program would shift a bit for me.
- In exchange, you might need to announce your hidden class soon, Miss Chorok. Once your dreams have taken root.
Until now, I'd posted vaguely on Behind, but no one believed me?
I'd been careful not to outright say it was a hidden class, but man, I wanna brag about what I've done!
So we decided to go public.
I think that's way better anyway.
I'll be the super awesome guild master! Hidden class—totally cool, confirmed!
She said that day to boast is coming soon!
“You—your name's Yeon Chorok, right?”
“Eek! Y-Yes!”
She asked so suddenly, I bit my tongue! Ow!
“What...? Nervous? It's fine, it's fine. From now on, just call me sis casually. I'm older, so dropping the formalities is cool, right? Okay?”
It felt like she'd gone back to that first-meeting vibe.
She's usually laid-back, but dead serious about work.
“Our guild master's out on an overseas trip with the second and third raid teams right now, so I have to decide. Let's talk it out nice and easy. Just one question first.”
“Yep?”
“If this were just observation, no problem. But you gotta pull your weight too. That changes things. It gets dangerous.”
Uhng? Dangerous? What's gonna pop out?
I imagined a jungle with elephant monsters trumpeting poooh! and crocodile monsters snapping chomp-chomp!
“You really wanna go, right? Not because someone told you to?”
“Yep!”
Clues to find my buddy, and to build a guild, I gotta smash gates left and right—totally!
Both are things I wanna do.
And I've got Chomper and Twirler to help.
“Good. Then just one more thing? You're a summoner—show me your best summon right here.”
Clack-clack.
Raid Leader Jihye stood from her desk chair and walked over.
“Everyone I work with does a quick strength test. I'll go easy so you don't get hurt. Cool?”
Hurt? Go easy?
She's gonna test it out? If it's my most confident buddy, then obviously...
“Chomper, wanna give it a go?”
Chomper it is.
She hard-carried the emergency gate and saving Seo Ah.
Nod-nod.
Chomper confidently planted herself in front of Raid Leader Jihye.
Wriggle-wriggle.
Twirler got sulky for not being called—her stem's all droopy!
“No, Twirler. I'll let you shine in the dungeon too!”
“Good. Let's test both.”
“Uhng? That's not what I meant...”
—Pewng!
Before I could finish, she shot forward like a bullet, closing in on Chomper.
“You first!”
She threw a straight punch at Chomper!
Whoosh—the punch flew, but Chomper caught it like a baseball, smack! then...
Thwush-thwush.
Countered with a plant punch, bam!
“Not bad blocking—and that counter's got some spice!”
What's with her iron wrists?
She blocked Chomper's thwush-thwush.
“Next up, you—quit hiding like a bracelet and show me what you got!”
But she wasn't done—she charged at me next.
“Uhng...?”
By the time I reacted, Raid Leader Jihye had leaped up.
This trajectory...
This is gonna be a hectopascal kick!
“Eeeeek!?”
I had no clue what to do.
—Shwaaak!
Twirler wriggled and surged up, shooting vine stems at Raid Leader Jihye!
“Whoa! What is this?! Faster than me? Ahaha!”
Dangle-dangle.
Raid Leader Jihye ended up hanging upside down from Twirler's vines.
Even dizzy and flipped, she grinned like it was fun.
“Oh Jihye... What if you'd hurt Miss Chorok? Are you insane?”
And suddenly, Officer Bong Seonhwa was beside me.
Whoa, when'd she get here? Officer Bong's pretty amazing too.
“Ah, sorry. Sorry. I just wanted to check how strong Chorok's summons are. The surprise factor, y'know? Should've been nicer. My bad.”
“And you call that...”
So.
She wanted to see how strong my buddies are?
Then we showed her good, right?
I was a bit startled, but she's a hunter who knows nothing, so fair enough.
“It's okay, Officer Bong. Just a little surprise.”
“But Chorok, can you get me down? I can't get loose.”
“Twirler, let her down?”
Wriggle-wriggle.
Instead of dropping her, Twirler crossed two stems into an X.
No? Whaa?
—Squeeeze!
“Guh...! This actually hurts... Did I tick her off?”
Even as I tried to calm her, Twirler squeezed harder.
Something feels off about this picture...
Reminds me of that meme from High School Grad Job Gallery that got nuked after going viral.
“Even if Miss Chorok forgives you, her summon doesn't seem to. Reflect a bit.”
“If the guardian and summon both say so, can't argue. Sorry again, Chorok. For real.”
“Yeah... I'm fine. More importantly, can I join the raid?”
She tested us because she was worried if I could handle it, right?
This should be enough?
“I spar with our guild's summoners' pets all the time. Yours are way better. Not just pass—super pass!”
Still dangling, Raid Leader Jihye thumbs-upped me.
So I can do the gate raid?
Yay! Awesome!
...A few weeks later. Gate entrance.
This gate was found somewhere in Yongin, they said?
Tons of people around with super shiny or mega badass weapons.
“Final checks—double-check everything! If you forget something inside the gate, I'll drag you back for a knuckle sandwich. You know my fist, right?”
“Yes, ma'am!”
Raid Leader Jihye was at the center, and everyone responded like thunder to her words.
Guess she's pretty respected.
“Five minutes—checks done, we move out!”
All these folks are Myeongrim guild members...
I didn't know gate raids had this many people. First time for me.
Feels super official?
Me being here in the middle—exciting and heart-pounding!
“Oh right. Officer Bong said you'd relay from outside? With this.”
Tap-tap. I tapped the wireless earpiece in my ear.
It's the operator comms device, apparently.
Spreads info to everyone nearby without yelling, so she gives constant updates?
“Yes. Regrettably, due to the Bureau's stance and personal matters, I can't join the dungeon raid directly. I regret it too.”
“Yeah... Circumstances, got it. Still, this makes it feel like you're with us. That's enough.”
“Wishing you a safe, flawless raid.”
“Yep! I'll come back without a scratch!”
Chomper thud-thud trailed behind me.
Twirler's quietly in flower-bracelet form right now.
I finished prepping and headed to the group.
“...We've done intros, so remember: Summoner Yeon Chorok's joining us. No one's gonna mess up, but if you call her 'kid,' you'll get the knuckle treatment too—watch it!”
“Yes, ma'am!”
Raid Leader Jihye's looking out for me?
She's chill and seems decent.
Lucky my first raid party's good people.
“Alright! Prep time over. Raid starts now!”
“Woooaaah!”
“Yeeaaah!”
I joined the cheers. Hehe.
Raid time for real.
[Multiple monsters reported ahead of First Party. All personnel, stay alert.]
A little later.
Inside the gate, Officer Bong Seonhwa's report came through the comms.
“Probably the swamp ahead. My gut's pointing there too.”
Raid Leader Jihye pointed at the swamp ahead.
Our party's the First Party.
She's the party leader too.
“Can't see 'em there, so they're hiding?”
I squinted at the swamp but saw nothing, so I asked her.
“Likely. Either skirt around or lure 'em out... But going around feels off.”
Sure enough, straight through the swamp or detour via the dense, creepy forest nearby.
Bugs buzzing whiiiine in there for sure.
“Any good ideas...”
I muttered.
I wanna blitz this raid too.
Wriggle-wriggle.
Then Twirler poked my wrist with two stems.
“Huh? What's up, Twirler? You got this?”
Wriggle-wriggle.
This time she drew an O with her stem. Confident?
“Twirler says she has a way. Cool to try?”
“Ooh, anything goes. Faster breakthrough the better. No complaints?”
“No, ma'am!”
“Good. Twirler, how?”
Wriggle-wriggle.
She pointed her stem at the swamp.
“Get closer?”
Creep-creep.
No telling what'll jump out—super slow approach.
“Be careful.”
Worried, Raid Leader Jihye stuck by my side.
“So, what now?”
—Shwaaak!
Like with Raid Leader Jihye before, Twirler's stems spread and stabbed the swamp like poking holes in instant ramen.
Poke-poke-poke.
“Uhng? Trying to stir 'em up?”
As I started to ask Twirler...
—Splash!
—Splash!
—Splash!
The stems plunged into the swamp shot upward!
“Whoa, jackpot! These are lunkers!”