Please Cooperate In The Execution Of S-Class Official Duties - Chapter 64

Hara managed to explain the situation much better than she’d initially thought.

It might be thanks to Seheon. After spending a few days with him in close quarters, Hara felt like her ability to speak clearly had improved.

The S-class dungeon, and Kwon Wook’s mistake.

Seheon also grasped the situation immediately.

— Please hold on.

Seheon hung up after leaving only those words. Hara let out a deep sigh.

Kwon Wook, who had just come back with the kit, tilted his head.

“Who were you talking to at this hour?”

“Ah, it was Yoon Seheon-ssi.”

“Ahh, he’s still awake at this hour?”

Kwon Wook asked with a surprised smile. Hara justified it in a flustered manner.

“Erm, because I wasn’t there…”

“How would that person know that Hara-ssi isn’t there?”

Now, Kwon Wook’s eyes widened even further.

“Are the two of you living together?”

“No, it’s not like that! I’m just temporarily imposing on him!”

Hara rambled.

Kwon Wook’s eyes narrowed. His smile remained unchanged.

However, even before listening to Hara’s explanations, Kwon Wook quickly handed the emergency kit he was holding to Hara.

“It’s an S-rank kit, so there’s quite a lot of things in there. Put it all into your inventory.”

“Ah, yes…”

“Do you have flame resistance? If not, you should wear the protective suit first.”

This hellfire dungeon was where the S-class hell dragon held its ground. Without flame resistance, it would become taxing on her as soon as she entered.

Hara obediently put on the protective suit that Kwon Wook handed her. Although it was called a protective suit, it appeared more like a lightweight vest. Looking at the options, it seemed like it was made by Bokhee.

“What did Yoon Seheon-ssi say?”

“He said to wait……”

Upon hearing Hara mumble, a troubled expression appeared on Kwon Wook’s face.

“I don’t have time right now though.”

That’s true. According to Kwon Wook, members of Team K, including Minho, were still inside.

Hara quickly estimated the time. From Yeouido to Sangam, it would take at least 20 minutes by car, even taking the early hour into consideration. They couldn’t afford to waste time waiting for him.

“Besides, as I’d mentioned earlier, we can’t take a civilian into an S- dungeon.”

“…Yes, I’m sorry.”

After a moment of contemplation, Hara raised her phone. Seheon picked up right away.

“Anchor Yoon, it’s me.”

— You can’t.

Seheon cut her off firmly before Hara could say anything.

Hara smiled faintly.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be right back.”

— What are you planning to do, going in there alone? 

“Well, Hunter Kwon Wook is going to protect me. I’ll come out after quickly activating my skill.”

— Then even more reason for me… 

“Anchor Yoon, I know that taking into account how it’ll be troublesome for me and putting in effort as a result.”

Seheon fell silent for a moment. Hara quickly spoke during that pause.

“I’m really grateful. However, I’m unable to look after myself in an S-class dungeon either. So I can’t go to a place like that with Anchor Yoon.”

— I can look after my…

“I’ll be back soon!”

After blurting that out, Hara hung up the call like that.

Kwon Wook looked at her with a subtle expression, and when their gazes met, he smiled and pointed towards the gate with his thumb.

“Shall we get going?”

Although her phone kept ringing in her pocket, her phone wouldn’t get any reception inside the dungeon anyways. Hara nodded as she looked at the gate, from which flames were spewing out with a Woosh.

[The constellation, ‘Cupid’ hates this gate]

[The constellation, ‘Cupid’ thinks it would be better if you do not enter]

[The constellation, ‘Cupid’ proposes for your reconsideration]

[The constellation, ‘Cupid’ is worried about his half-an-S-class meteor]

Hara ignored the messages from her constellation, who’d been in an uproar from a while ago.

* * *

After arriving in Sangam-dong, Seheon pulled over nervously and rushed in.

He’d expected it, but Kang Hara wasn’t there. Only the familiar sight of the Sangam Gate, which frequently appeared on the news, stretched out before him.

The Seoul Industry Promotion Agency was shattered and melting, while the broadcasting company buildings and tents were heavily scorched. Piles of luggage and no-entry signs were everywhere.

In the midst of it all was a red, off-road vehicle.

It was undoubtedly Kwon Wook’s car.

Seheon’s brows furrowed. He was a reporter, and so he’d often seen situations like this before.

A rigid bureaucratic society, a sudden incident. Trying to handle it discreetly, but it ended up growing into something bigger.

“She really went in there.”

He was so astonished that a laugh escaped his lips. If his past self had known about this in advance, he would have been the first to cover it on the news.

It was a deplorable and stupid situation, fit to be featured in the newspapers.

Of course, Seheon had a rough idea of why Kang Hara would go in.

The entire nation was paying attention to the enormous dungeon, Sangam. If an incident occurred there, Kwon Wook’s Team K would certainly face a severe backlash.

Given Kang Hara’s personality, she certainly wouldn’t want to see that happen.

‘But just the two of them entering an S-class gate?’

And to make matters worse, Kang Hara was half-an-S-class. If Kwon Wook were to make even the slightest mistake…

He took a step forward, then retreated back. Woosh, flames erupted and disappeared into the air. Sangam Dungeon was a dungeon consisting of hellfire.

“Seheon-ah, get out of here quickly……”

Yoon Seheon stared at the gate in despair.

Fire. He had certainly lit a small fire while he was within the Yeouido Dungeon. He’d lit it and extinguished it. He thought he’d overcome it in his own way, but apparently not.

But when he actually faced the gate, his steps faltered. Even though he could start a small fire, he couldn’t gather the courage to step inside. It was a moment when the many times he’d went camping seemed ridiculous.

At that moment.

Tsuzutsu—

With a small sound, someone walked out from within the gate. Seheon’s eyes widened.

* * *

The interior of the dungeon was truly hellish.

Hara immediately understood what the term ‘hellfire’ meant as soon as she stepped into the dungeon.

Sweat was pouring down incessantly. Flames licked around the edges of the lava-scorched ground. With just a slight misstep, she’d be sucked into the lava swamp, and meet her end before she could even scream.

“I guess it’s not just an S-class dungeon for nothing…”

“The environment itself is treacherous.”

Perhaps because he found it hard to breathe within the Sangam Dungeon, Kwon Wook spoke briefly. Despite this, he found the way Hara kept casting backward glances amusing, and spoke.

“Are you worried? Worried that Yoon Seheon might actually come in?”

“Even so…”

“Haha, this is an S-class dungeon. On the other hand, Anchor Yoon Seheon is a civilian.”

Although he’d told Hara to wait, Kwon Wook was certain that Yoon Seheon wouldn’t enter. He’d encountered plenty of people who talked big but didn’t follow through. Or even liars.

However, he couldn’t directly tell Hara that that man wouldn’t come. So instead, Kwon Wook asked her a different question.

“After all, your relationship is based on a contract, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But why would he follow you here? Or… are you, perhaps, hoping that he’ll follow you?”

Although he phrased it teasingly, Hara responded seriously.

“It’s not like that. He’s a good person, so I’m really worried that he might actually come in.”

“Oh, because he’s a good man.”

Kwon Wook echoed Hara’s words casually.

Hara frowned at him.

“Why do you say that?”

“Me? Why?”

“……Never mind……”

Hara trailed off. Kwon Wook chuckled lightly and quickly changed the subject.

“The field boss is the S-class hell dragon ‘Gertrude’. You’re roughly aware of it, right?”

Gertrude was a fire elemental dragon. Unfortunately, Kwon Wook was disadvantaged against it.

Kwon Wook was a hunter who primarily used wind-based abilities. His signature skill involved generating strong gusts in a certain direction with the flick of his fingers. However, it was difficult for him to deal significant damage to the fire elemental Gertrude due to its elemental resistance.

Recently, Bokhee, who had been reading comics, had taught him a method that uses blades made out of compressed air. However, even this sort of technique couldn’t deal fatal blows to Gertrude, given its incredibly tough scales.

In the first place, there weren’t suitable hunters in Korea that could deal with fire elemental monsters.

“There it is.”

[You have entered the territory of the field boss, Gertrude (S)]

[Special effect of Gertrude’s territory: Intimidate (distant) is triggered]

[Special effect of Gertrude’s territory: Greater Intimidate (close quarters) is triggered]

Tingle. Their shoulders stiffened. As soon as the system messages popped up, Hara swiftly activated her Multiplication skill.

[Measuring the status of the user, ‘Kang Hara’…]

[The user, ‘Kang Hara’ overcomes Gertrude’s Intimidate (distant) and Greater Intimidate (close quarters) with tenacity]

The skill, Multiplication, will last for 30 minutes.

Hara barely managed to shake off the field boss’s Intimidate and focused.

In the distance, she spotted Gertrude crouched on the rocky mountain. Well, saying crouched was an understatement; it was practically half the size of the mountain.

Both of them hid in a small crevice in Zone 5-4 and stole glances at Gertrude from a distance.

“Do you see it? By the way, Sangam Dungeon was formed on December 21st last year.”

“Just a moment.”

[Activating ‘#HAPPYYOURDAY(C)’]

[Please select a target to view]

[Viewable target: Kwon Wook (S)]

[User: Kwon Wook (S) (Characteristic: Heartless prayer)]

Stamina: 79 (+3)

Agility: 84

Strength: 67 (+12)

Skill: 45

Mana: 88

Luck: ??

[Skill list]

– ???

– ???

– ???

– Make a wish SSS+ (1/3)

Helps you to realise your wish. (Wishes beyond the limits of the constellation, such as life, time, and dimension, are impossible)

[Equipped Gear]

– ???

– ???

– Flame Ring (38/50)

“Hmm?”

Kwon Wook raised an eyebrow. Hara held the rock tightly and looked up at Kwon Wook.

“Kwon Wook-ssi, I have a question for you.”

“Yes?”

“Did I do something wrong?”

“……What are you…?”

“Uhm……”

Hara scratched her cheek awkwardly. Talking about this kind of thing was completely unfamiliar to her.

Kang Hara had always been in a position where she was the one being interrogated or rebuked by another. She had hardly ever questioned someone else. Even if someone had clearly done something wrong to her, she often brushed it off with, “They probably meant well.”

But she couldn’t bear to do so right now.

*Status abnormality: Rationalisation, Deception

[In the midst of evolving the quest ‘Sacrificial Prayer’…]

Hara looked at that status window silently before turning her gaze towards Kwon Wook.

“I guess you probably won’t tell me. Right?”

The face of Kwon Wook, who’d been smiling all along, suddenly stiffened.

* * *