Chapter 45

The two had a close relationship.

Baek Heewon was a spiritual shaman everyone knew, so Kang Sejun always came here to get advice no matter how many times he regressed.

The first time he heard about Seoul Forest Gate was from her; thanks to her advice, he saved someone’s life. She was also the one who’d told him that he could build a cornerstone of peace only if he killed the monster on the 11th floor.

But she wasn’t omnipotent because she wasn’t a god.

There were things that even Baek Heewon didn’t know about, the things that gods interfered with that could have a more direct impact on the world.

For example, Song Hanna…

‘It’s not something I want to think about.’

Kang Sejun tried to cover up the memory by force. The previous life was truly terrible. He would never repeat the same thing.

“This is the sixth time.”

“Six times. It’s good not to be crazy so far. Or there’s something you yearn for so much that your mind won’t collapse.”

“You know, world peace makes it sound like some kind of a hero. I can’t be a hero.”

“…”

“Do you already know about the mysterious monster on the 11th floor of the labyrinth?”

‘Aah…’ A sigh escaped Baek Heewon’s mouth. Even if she hadn’t heard of it, she knew.

“You’re the only one who knows what’s there. I can’t fathom the labyrinth. My God seems to find it difficult to mention.”

Baek Heewon’s eyes turned to the distant air. One heard a bird flapping its wings.

“But, yes. You have fought so long for the cornerstone of peace. Good job.”

Kang Sejun smiled bitterly. He wanted to hear those words only after he killed the monster. That’s when all the suffering would be over.

“Is it true that everything ends when the 11th floor monster dies?”

“Didn’t I use the word ‘the cornerstone of peace’ in the past?”

“… You did.”

“Don’t forget that you can only build a pillar if you kill the monster.”

Don’t be greedy about anything else. He nodded heavily.

“I am looking for someone to help me. Not Song Hanna and Joo Eun. Especially Song Hanna… The day she goes wrong, it won’t just end in disaster.”

There was a life where he’d been killed by Song Hanna, who had become a disaster. There was also a time when he’d once killed her, who had transformed into that, with his own hands.

Kang Sejun clenched his fists.

“Is there anyone else who’s more certain?”

“I can’t see anything. I think something beyond my reach is about to happen. Aha, so are you keeping an eye on Yoon Seo-”

“Because she’s never appeared before. Because she’s special.”

“Never appeared before… Was what I saw true then?”

“What do you mean?”

Baek Heewon recalled Yoon Seora, whom she had met.

The sole contractor of the system administrator whose existence was not even known. The child who’d cried so hard, saying her bad luck was pouring out, but in reality, had wonderful luck opening up.

But her footsteps were covered in pretty thick darkness. So dirty and sticky, ugly darkness, to the point where even evil could be felt.

“Maybe in the five lives you’ve been through, the child was murdered. Except for this time.”

“Probably right. She said she nearly died in a dungeon but survived through a dramatic contract with an Entity. I heard one damn hunter had thrown her into a dungeon.”

“…”

Baek Heewon’s eyes widened. ‘I see. That’s when Seora and the administrator made a contract…’

So, why has this life changed? The system administrator must be aware of this repeated life, so of course they must also be aware of Seora’s repeated death.

Is that why they offered a helping hand?

Is it true that the one who wants nothing is cruelest than anyone else?

This is so much fun.

“Yoon Seora might be more special than I thought.”

A happy smile appeared on Baek Heewon’s lips.

When she sat face to face with Seora, she hadn’t shown any sign, but Heewon had felt a lot of pressure because the most feared being in the world hadn’t hidden any affection for their contractor.

The deep affection was enough to make her sigh.

“Let me be clear. Her specialty will help you reach the goal you want more easily.”

Kang Sejun’s face glowed. But Baek Heewon woke him up by hitting her table with a bang.

“But you should never force it. Never. No matter what. No threats or begging. Never force her to do something she doesn’t want to do.”

“I didn’t mean to do that from the beginning. It’s a matter of life at stake, so it’s only natural to ask the other person’s intention.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

Baek Heewon firmly warned him, who was puzzled.

“If that child goes wrong, the world will be destroyed more surely and more terribly than if the labyrinth ate it. So, never force her to do something she doesn’t want.”

There’s one limitation to the system administrators. They can’t directly interfere in the world without going through a contractor.

What happens if an administrator starts running amok, defying constraints and causality?

Baek Heewon never wanted to see it with her own eyes.

“So pray that she’s not someone who wants the destruction of the world. That’s all you can do.”

Kang Sejun just nodded at the cold warning.

I don’t know who Yoon Seora’s contracted Entity is, but it may cause big trouble, so let’s not bother to know.

For now, I have no choice but to believe in the promise she had made to consider my request in exchange for selling magic stones to the Guardian Spirit Guild instead.

“Oh, and I have one more question.”

“What is it?”

“Do you know about the existence of a system administrator?”

“…!”

At the unexpected words, for the first time today, Baek Heewon’s eyes widened.

***

“I don’t want to go to work.”

“Then don’t.”

“I don’t want things to be more intense.”

The hotel room with Jarim. Seora was lying face down on the soft sofa and didn’t budge.

It was from that day. The day she’d met Baek Heewon with Jung Hoyoung. All her motivation had been lost since she’d been told that it was unclear whether she’d be able to resign or not.

Song Hanna and Do Junyoung never accepted her resignation letter as if they were fulfilling the fortune telling. Even Song Hanna had now reached the point of avoiding her altogether. It was very depressing.

I should’ve just quit when Sung Jarim caught me for being an S-class. I can’t believe I can’t quit until the day the Hunter comes.

That’s right.

Today was the day the Hunter in question came from the United States.

“Uhuhuhuu. I shouldn’t have been a civil servant. I should’ve just been a regular Hunter. This is because of the temptation of the association’s president. Huhu…”

“I was curious. Still curious, actually. You said you were originally an F-class, so why did you become a civil servant?”

Jarim’s face popped out. Seora, who almost hit her lips, freaked out and pushed Jarim away. Jarim, who had been hit in the nose, cried in pain.

“Even among civil servants, F-ranks are rare. It must have been quite difficult, so why bother?”

Seora sighed as Jarim asked while feeling her nose to ensure it was okay.

In fact, it was unusual. F-class, and most people like her, who had little difference in ability from ordinary people, lived a normal life. Seora was the only one who went in and out of dungeons as she became a civil servant.

“First of all, I had to work to make ends meet. And the association’s president asked me if I wanted to join.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Aren’t the association officials supposed to take an Awakened test? Did you get hired by the power of someone higher?”

“No? I took the test well. It was exhausting, but I still passed the written test.”

Seora pushed Sung Jarim’s waist with her feet, asking Do you see me as such a person?

“Well, I didn’t just pass the exam 100 percent. I went through a special screening.”

“Is there such a thing?”

“It’s a system that only exists in the association, so people who aren’t interested probably don’t know about it.”

“What is it?”

“S-class Hunter’s family preferential screening.”

“… Mm? What?”

Sung Jarim, who had been silent for a while, issued a question mark.

But Seora, who had no intention of telling more, rose from the sofa where she was lying down. I can’t procrastinate anymore.

“Come on, let’s go. I don’t want to go, but the lowest-ranking civil servant who barely passed the special screening should do what the higher ups say. Oh, please, I hope this guy from the U.S has common sense.”

“Wait, wait a minute. What system? S-class Hunter’s family? You? No way.”

“If you don’t come sooner, I’ll grab you by the back. Come on.”

“Wait a moment! You have to answer my questions! What the hell does that mean? Please say it properly!”

“No, I don’t have to.”

***

Fortunately for Seora, the American Hunter who visited Korea was someone with lots of common sense.

Christopher Campbell, one of the top S-class in the United States, was a person who received great support from Americans for his good-natured and friendly personality. He was ranked in the top 5 of the American S-class, and although he was a guild leader who led a large guild, Guardian Guild, he was very humble and was called the model of the Hunter world.

However, Do Junyoung’s face as he faced him was not very good.

“It’s been a while, Director Do. It’s the first time since we met at the last regular WDO meeting. How have you been?”

“I had a lot of work these days, so it wasn’t very comfortable. Besides, now that you, the leader of the Guardian Guild, are here, I’m going to be even busier for the time being.”

“Please forgive me.”

“Tell that directly to the association’s president. She’s been waiting.”

Do Junyoung sighed inwardly as he led Christopher and his guild members to the association headquarters.

He didn’t hate Christopher. Rather, he liked him because he had a good personality. However, if there was one problem, he was close to the US government.

The United States did not have proper control over its L-class Awakened. L-class is too strong. So they were trying to grab the S-classes somehow, and Christopher was just one of their taste.

He was strong, popular, and dedicated to doing anything for the sake of the people.

So Christopher, who came under the official title of the US government, was a really annoying figure.

‘Will Yoon Seora be okay?’

It got more complicated when he remembered his subordinate’s face, whose complexion was getting worse daily.

He was very sorry that he had rejected her resignation letter this morning, which wasn’t his only worry. If only Song Hanna had allowed it, she would’ve rushed out in search of freedom.

Coming up to the office, he glanced at the subordinate in question without realizing it, but she didn’t seem to be hiding. Do Junyoung clicked his tongue, dealt with Christopher moderately, and waited for Song Hanna, the association’s president, to come down.

Then what is the employee Yoon Seora doing now?

‘You never said Campbell was the one coming from America.’

The gaze lurking beyond the partition shook.

A beautiful face smiling like an angel stuck in her eyes.