Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Time to Make a Decision. (1)
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It was time to make up my mind.
After enjoying a relaxing weekend, I headed to the guild for work, only to be hit with something completely unexpected.
"These are all job applications?"
"Yeah. They poured in over the weekend. Looks like your outings everywhere really paid off in terms of promotion. The association even ran an article about the dungeon raid."
"There was an article?"
"Yep. I spent the weekend in meetings because of it."
"Then about Sun-young..."
"Don't worry, I didn't mention her. I just said I went with one of my disciples. I even told her dad not to say anything since we're grooming her in our guild."
"I see."
That was a relief. Public attention online was a double-edged sword. For every bit of praise, there were just as many trying to tear you down, and I didn't want her getting hurt. Especially if word got out that she was an orphan...
"Anyway, since we need to expand the roster, I tweaked the job posting over the weekend. Not just one healer—we're aiming to form two or three teams."
"Going all-in, huh."
"Exactly. We've decided to grow the guild's size first."
"That explains the flood of applications."
"Even I thought it was a lot. I handed them off to HR for initial screening, but go check them out later."
"Got it."
Looks like a ton of them. Time for some housecleaning, maybe. Normally, you'd start from the top, but I couldn't touch Yoo Soo-jung right away. Better to begin with the team leads.
"Once we hire the new blood, we'll need to shuffle personnel around."
"You'll handle that fine, so I'm leaving it to you."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I kept this week's school schedule open just in case, so sort that out too."
"Understood."
Oh yeah, that too. At this point, with applications pouring in, do I even need to keep doing those school visits? But I'd promised those schools, so I had to see them through.
"Busy week ahead. Good luck."
No big deal. I bowed my head in acknowledgment and left the guild master's office. HR first, I guess. It was a bit of a hassle, but the elevator to the guild master's floor only connected to her office and mine on the vice master's floor, so I headed down to the first floor.
"Oh, Vice Guild Master-nim."
I was thinking of grabbing coffee on the way when I ran into an HR staffer picking up an order from the cafe. Name tag says Park Kwan-young. Good thing they all wear them—couldn't remember everyone not in the original story.
"Errand run?"
"Yes! But please, speak comfortably."
His eyes sparkled a little too eagerly, which was kinda off-putting. Fine from students, but an adult guy? Creepy.
"Can't do that. Looks heavy, though. Hold on. One iced Americano, please."
"Right away."
"Wait for me?"
"Yeah. I was heading to HR anyway. Let me help carry."
"Ah, no need."
"That's gotta be over ten cups. Tough lugging it alone. There's one empty spot—put mine there and we'll take 'em together."
He fidgeted, insisting it was fine, but I snatched the two cup carriers anyway. Americano doesn't take long. Six-cup carriers, and she planned to haul four? Now I see it's over twenty total. I had the barista slot my coffee into the empty spot, and we headed to the elevator.
Park Kwan-young still looked anxious as we rode up to the third floor, stepping into the bustling HR office. Phones ringing, keyboards clacking. I figured it'd be tucked away deeper, but it was right off the elevator. I'd only ever bounced between the guild master's and vice master's offices, so I'd been curious about guild life. Turned out it was just like any corporate office.
"Kwan-young, why so la... Vice Guild Master-nim?"
"Everyone, keep up the good work."
Everyone else hustled, but one guy in his forties slouched at his computer, clicking away until he spotted us. Name tag: Section Chief. The noisy room fell silent as eyes turned to me.
"Well, well. Welcome. Guild Master gave me a heads-up. But what's with the coffee...?"
"Grabbed some on the way since you all work so hard. Ran into Park Kwan-young downstairs and came up together."
"The vice guild master himself... How thoughtful."
Hmm. If he knew how much effort it took, wouldn't he have sent help? Making one guy carry over twenty coffees? Overkill. But section chief level, figures.
"Conference room?"
"Sure."
"Lee Dae-ri! Bring those screened resumes!"
"Yes, sir!"
Lee Dae-ri joined us, coffees in hand, and we filed into the back conference room. Not huge—maybe seats for six. Round table, no head seat, so the chief sat across from me. Lee Dae-ri handed out files and shut the door on his way out.
"We prioritized profiles from B- and C-rank hunters."
Makes sense. A-ranks had options beyond a mid-tier guild like ours. Not that many around anyway.
"Background checks?"
"Ongoing."
"You know why I'm asking?"
"For the Disposal Squad, of course."
Bingo. Just fishing, but he's in on it too. Guess all the managers and chiefs are tangled up.
"Pay special attention. Send me reports."
"Naturally."
Good thing I'd read all those novels, corporate ones included. Felt a bit awkward, but no red flags.
"Oh, and send the current Disposal Squad roster too."
"Pardon?"
"Guild Master's forming new teams. Personnel shifts are inevitable—might as well consolidate them into one this time."
"Ah, got it."
Got it? He had no clue what I was really thinking, just grinned and nodded along. Main business done, but I had him narrow down more candidates before heading back to my office to ponder.
Best way to clean house: lump 'em together and handle at once. But forming a new team just to deal with the Disposal Squad? That'd be messy too.
Meant I'd have to do it myself.
Seo Ji-hyun handled them early on with barely any power, so shouldn't be too hard. Hell, even Guild Master Yoo Soo-jung met her end around chapter 20 because of them. Lee Seo-woo had more impact, though.
They weren't anything special—just trash Seo Ji-hyun swept up once she learned the truth. Their combat power couldn't have been that high. Mid-tier guild, after all.
Still,
Now I had to take lives for real.
I'd steeled myself for it. Killings weren't rare in the novel's world. How do you control people with powers? Government tiptoed around the Hunter Association already. The law hinged on the morality of the powered.
Conventional weapons still worked on them, but against superhuman physiques and abilities? Not enough. Hence the association and hunter cops.
Anyway, it was part of my guild purge plan. I'd mapped it out. "Murder" meant dungeon "accidents." Clear the dungeon, claim raid failure. Image hit, sure, but hunters knew the risks.
This guild didn't matter much to me anyway. I'd milk Yoo Soo-jung and her dad Yoo Ji-hyeok a bit more, but that was it.
Seo Ji-hyun mattered more. This whole plan was for her.
So for her sake—for Ji-hyun—I had to decide. Get blood on my hands directly.
...How precious did I think Ji-hyun was, for an ordinary modern guy like me to go this far? Even though we'd part ways eventually.
What if I didn't want to go back to my old world?
My head was a mess.