Please Cooperate In The Execution Of S-Class Official Duties - Chapter 63

Such was the case with a bureaucratic society. Whenever something happens, those involved are the ones who must bear the responsibility.

All the members of Team K were either A-class or B-class hunters. If such personnel were to get injured or die, it would become a significant issue. Kwon Wook will probably have to shoulder a big part of the responsibility.

However, the issue that Hara was concerned about was slightly different.

— The damage is extensive.

— Right now, Raeyoung and a few others are injured…… There are still people inside there.

Even after she hung up, Hara was still slightly conflicted. Is it right for her to grant this favour?

Normally, she’d better not grant it. Hara knew of several cases where someone that haphazardly offered help in such situations would end up facing disciplinary action along with the person they tried to assist.

However, human emotions weren’t easily severed apart. Especially if her assistance could help to save someone’s life.

Even if it means taking responsibility……

— It’s okay. Hara-ssi will soon be promoted to an S-class. If anything happens, I will definitely take responsibility.

Kwon Wook reassured Hara’s uneasy feelings with these words, “I’m really thankful, truly.” He kept expressing his gratitude.

The skill Kwon Wook required was ‘HAPPYYOURDAY’. She could use it at an S-class level when Seheon is around, but without him, it’s C-class.

It wouldn’t work completely on the dragon, an S-class monster. A portion will probably remain hidden, just like what happened with Kwon Wook.

However, they couldn’t bring Seheon, a civilian, into an S-class dungeon.

Hara alone was sufficient enough to take on Kwon Wook’s request. She had indeed raided event dungeons with Seheon before, but an S-class dungeon was a place where even A-class hunters were prepared to risk losing their lives in.

If something happened to Seheon in the S-class dungeon……

‘No…… that can’t happen.’

She was still feeling apologetic.

Moreover, Kwon Wook had also requested of her.

— I’ll take responsibility, but it would complicate matters if Yoon Seheon, a civilian, becomes involved. 

That was a valid point.

[The constellation, ‘Cupid’ dislikes the decision made by the user, ‘Kang Hara’]

Be quiet. I don’t like you either. With that retort, Hara changed her clothes.

After some contemplation about what to do with the ostrich egg, she placed it on the bed gently. The ostrich egg shimmered in protest.

She didn’t have any other choice. What if it shatters because she brought it along to the dungeon? With Yoon Seheon around, it should be fine.

Hara tried to soothe herself in this way and left the room. Seheon’s closed door caught her attention.

She tiptoed quietly, afraid of waking him up with unnecessary noise, and slipped out.

She hailed a taxi early in the morning and said, “Please take me to Digital Media City Station,” and settled down quietly.

“Isn’t that near the Sangam Dungeon?”

The driver asked in an unpleasant tone.

“Is that impossible?”

“If you enter within 2 km of the dungeon and get into an accident, the insurance won’t cover it.”

“Oh, then please drop me off about 2 km away…”

Gosh… Then are you going to walk? You say it like it’ll be easy, but how are you going to walk 2 km? It’s so cold at night these days… The driver grumbled as he started the car.

It’s not like he’d take her all the way, but he was being unusually talkative.

After alighting from the taxi, Hara called Kwon Wook as she walked. She told him that she’s still on her way because the taxi driver said the insurance won’t cover anything if he drops her off too close. So, she’s currently walking over.

Upon hearing this, Kwon Wook promptly offered to go over and pick her up.

She could use her flight skill, but she didn’t know what would happen in the dungeon…… So, she had to save her mana.

“Hara-ssi.”

A red, off-road vehicle that she’d seen before pulled up next to Hara.

With a nod in greeting, Hara got into Kwon Wook’s car. With a bright smile, Kwon Wook extended a hand, but Hara waved her hand.

“I’ll fasten the seatbelt myself. It’s okay.”

“Ah.”

Kwon Wook leaned back into his seat awkwardly.

Though he might have meant well, the rather anxious Hara just wouldn’t easily accept Kwon Wook’s kindness.

The car soon started moving.

“Let me briefly explain the situation. First of all, take a look at the map of Sangam Dungeon’s interior.”

Kwon Wook opened up the map that he’d sent to her in advance on his phone.

Sangam Dungeon was a lava region. Not only were flames rampant, the intense heat made the environment itself extremely challenging.

“Do you see Zone 5-2? That’s a safe zone. While resting theorem some of the members encountered the dragon. They thought it would be fine since they were in the safe zone, so they held their breaths—”

Kwon Wook paused there and took a deep breath.

“I, who was in a different zone, had inadvertently intruded into the dragon’s zone.”

Typically, the S-class dungeon’s raiding team is divided into two groups. While one group rests, the other group targets the nearby region. As the safe zone was the designated rest area, the two groups were separated most of the time.

“Recently, there have been increasing discussions about the Sangam Dungeon’s raid. Because the dragon had laid eggs. When those eggs hatch, there will be an increase in the number of S-class monsters, so some suggested that we close this dungeon as quickly as possible.”

“As such, the greed to conquer a little more arose. In the process, I’d accidentally intruded into the dragon’s nesting area. It truly was a mistake,” Kwon Wook lamented, clearly feeling regretful.

And the dragon, who’d been patrolling nearby the safe zone, sensed the abnormalities in its nest and invoked regional domination.

Hara had also experienced a similar situation once, so she was well aware of it. When Georg unleashed regional domination, the safe zone vanished completely.

“Fortunately, Raeyoung was in the safe zone, so she managed to evacuate the people, but… she’s heavily injured.”

“How heavy are her injuries?”

“That’s…”

Kwon Wook groaned. It seemed like he was feeling terrible as everything occurred because of him.

Hara looked at Kwon Wook silently. She thought he was indifferent, but he seemed to be burdened by a huge sense of guilt when the accident involved someone close to him.

“What about the people in the dungeon?”

“They’re still safe. The dragon was rather angered, but we’ve set up a base camp just in case. It’s not in the safe zone. You know Minho, right?”

Yoo Minho was an A-class defence-type hunter. When he sets up his defence formation, monsters affected by his skill will lose their sense of direction and charge in random directions.

However, Minho’s skill would only last for around 5 hours.

“It’s been about 4 hours since the other hunters were transported. I’m planning to go in within the next hour to rescue them.”

“Oh, then I…”

“Hara-ssi, you’re… though I hate to put it this way, you’ll be coming along for avoidability’s sake. I’m sorry.”

“What?”

Kwon Wook chuckled with a wry smile.

In other words, the Sangam Dungeon was a place where many people’s interests intertwined. In the first place, given the density of high-rise buildings in the area and the numerous media and broadcasting companies, an S-class dungeon break would have a severe impact.

Everyone was just waiting for the day that the dungeon would close. But now, if this incident occurs, criticism would spread about what was the use of dispatching high-level hunters.

“When that happens, Tada! The dungeon raid will end immediately! We’ve identified the dragon’s weaknesses! …That’s what I meant.”

“Ah.”

Hara nodded.

Such things were quite common. It was a method often used by the Hunter Agency to manipulate public opinion. Whenever a problem arose, they diverted the people’s attention to another story.

Before they knew it, the off-road vehicle they were in arrived at the entrance of the Sangam Dungeon.

Sangam-dong, Seoul Industry Promotion Agency. It was the place where the square of broadcasting companies intersected with large buildings. The statue, which was symbolistic of broadcasting companies, had long since been shattered, and a massive gate ripped open the space above it.

Team K’s vehicles and equipment were all near the gate, but there were hardly any people around, probably because they were injured.

“I’ll give you our team’s emergency kit.”

Just then. Woong, Hara’s phone vibrated, and she picked it up with wide eyes.

Anchor Yoon Seheon.

— Yes, because you weren’t at home.

“Ah……”

Although it was dawn, it seemed like he’d been awake for a while. Hara hesitated for a moment. It was because she didn’t know what to say.

— Where are you?

“……Uh.”

The next moment, Kwon Wook, who’d headed to the car to grab an emergency kit approached while saying, “Oh, here’s the kit!” and paused.

And Seheon, heard those words.

— Is that Kwon Wook-ssi?

Wait, what? How did he recognise his voice so quickly?

* * *

The reason Seheon woke up was none other than Yuri.

Perhaps because of her job or something, Yuri mostly went to sleep only when the sun was rising. And she’d often call or text Seheon in the early hours of the morning.

Since Seheon disliked being awakened at night, he usually activated the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode and ignored Yuri’s messages.

But was it because of Hara? Seheon had forgotten to activate the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode before falling asleep.

It wasn’t exactly an unusual occurrence for someone to be occupying his guest room, but the back of his neck had been strangely itchy, making it difficult for him to fall asleep.

Amidst this, Seheon answered Yuri’s call irritably.

“What is it at this late hour?”

— Oh? You picked up. Oppa, I can’t sleep… 

“I can’t sleep because of you. I’m hanging up, as I have a guest over.”

— What kind of guest are you having at this time of night? You’re lying…

“My girlfriend is here.”

It wasn’t a lie. As he said this, Seheon even felt a slight sense of amusement.

Yuri took a gasp of air on the other side of the phone. It seemed like she was about to say something, but Seheon hung up without hesitation. He knew Yuri would call again, but he switched his phone to the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode and ignored it.

However, sleep eluded him. Eventually, Seheon sighed and got up, making his way to the living room. If there wasn’t anything urgent, he would be heading to work tomorrow, so he intended to lay out his clothes in advance.

But, the door to the guest room was open.

Seheon swears that he wasn’t having any strange ideas. He was just worried that the rustling sounds he made might disturb his guest’s sleep, so he approached the door to close it.

At that moment, the entrance next to the guest room caught his eye. A pair of shoes belonging to Seheon, as well as another pair of shoes that should have been placed beside them, belonging to Kang Hara.

There should’ve been two pairs, but he only spotted one.

Where could she have gone?

Seheon opened the door to the guest room cautiously. No one was there. Could she have gone to a convenience store? He waited for about half an hour, but Hara didn’t return.

He felt restless. He made a call, worrying about whether she would answer or not, but fortunately, Hara picked up quickly.

“Because you weren’t at home.”

— Ah……

She probably just went out briefly, but was it even right for me to make such a call? Due to his inner conflict about calling her, Seheon felt embarrassed at Hara’s awkward response.

What gives me the right? Just because we’re in a contract relationship, I’m acting like her real boyfriend. Does she dislike it?

“Where are you?”

Pushing his thoughts aside, Seheon managed to speak up again. After making the call, he couldn’t just hang up after listening to her say “Ah…”

But Hara barely managed to respond.

— ……Uh.

Was she uncomfortable, as expected? I shouldn’t have asked, right? Seheon rubbed his chin in embarrassment.

At that moment, he heard someone else’s voice through the call.

— Here’s the kit!

It was a familiar voice. Seheon asked reflexively without his realisation.

“…….Is that Kwon Wook-ssi?”

— Oh, but……Ah.

Did she have such a relationship with Kwon Wook? Seheon was momentarily puzzled.

Fortunately, Seheon’s instincts quickly overcame his confusion. Kit. The only kits that hunters would mention were emergency kits. It was a must-have item when entering a dungeon.

And the reason why that kit is being prepared at this hour of all things…

“Are you, perhaps, entering the dungeon right now?”

— …How did you know?

His head was going to ache badly.