Chapter 57

News of the theft of Key, the most critical special item, was immediately reported to the WDO.

All countries with locked dungeons entered a state of emergency, and one of them, the United States, requested Christopher’s return.

The day had finally come for him to leave.

“It’s a pity that I couldn’t see the other person until the end, but meeting at least one L-class was a great honor.”

Before leaving for the United States, Christopher visited the association. He should be happy to be liberated as he suffered from Song Hanna the whole time, but his face was full of regret.

By the way.

“Hunter Yoon Seora! I’m so glad to see you again before I leave!”

Why is he bringing that sad face to me, who is an F-class? Surely not because I’ve, uh, turned down his incomprehensible offer of recruitment?

When Seora revealed her displeasure without hiding it, he hurriedly waved his hand.

“Ah! I don’t mean anything else. I understood Hunter Yoon Seora’s intention well enough at that time. And of course, the lady in the back as well.”

Christopher carefully pointed to Sung Jarim with both hands. Because he only knew her by the nickname of Headbang and never heard of her real name, he still called Sung Jarim “lady”.

“Oh, then I’m glad… Is it my misunderstanding that you look at me with regrets in your eyes?”

“No! Of course not. Haha. Was it obvious? I’m a little embarrassed. I have a chance to get acquainted with the right person, but I have to leave right away. It’s a real shame.”

Christopher smiled shyly. Some might think he’s a gentleman who asks for a date, not just to build a friendship.

The administrator burst into a rage when Seora’s thought was conveyed.

[Administrator: (╬◣д◢)]

[Administrator: (╯`□´)╯︵┻━┻]

[Administrator: ( `Д´)︻┻┳═＝━]

The person beside her, Sung Jarim, murmured, “… The right person? As expected, this guy has holes in his eyes…”

“It’s a little embarrassing to be painted in gold when I didn’t do anything special. It was what I should do since I’m a Hunter.”

She wanted to appeal that it wasn’t really a big deal, but it had the opposite effect.

“It’s admirable that you take that for granted!”

It didn’t seem like there would be good to say more. Seora finally smiled hahahaha and shut her mouth.

“If I come to Korea again, can you meet me then? I would like to see you again. That time, let’s have more conversations that we couldn’t have.”

“…”

What’s this? It was very vague whether he really just wanted to make friends or if he was asking for a date.

When the administrator started rioting again, Seora coughed in vain.

“That… You see…”

“I don’t mean to burden you! It’s just that I want to get to know Hunter Yoon Seora a little more.”

That’s a huge burden. Walk alongside Christopher, who is also famous in Korea? Oh, I wanted to say no.

However, the powerless F-class could not shout, “I don’t want to!” against the Guardian Guild’s leader.

Seora nodded, hoping he wouldn’t come to Korea that often, “Not at all! I don’t feel burdened at all…!”

Unlike Seora, whose smile didn’t reach her eyes, Christopher blossomed into a bright smile as if he were about to ascend to heaven.

“Thank you! Well. T-then, may I ask you one more question? Do you have any intention of coming to America for a trip…? Even if it’s not this year, maybe next year, or the year after?!”

“No, I don’t. I’m very busy with work. There is no such thing as a travel plan or anything like that. I have no intention of doing it.”

I can’t give you any more room than this. Seora raised her hands and strongly denied it.

“Is that so… I wanted to be a guide…”

Oh, that was a real spec. With a benevolent expression, Seora crossed her arm with Sung Jarim beside her.

“Thank you for your words, but I think it will be difficult because I have a long-term mission.”

I don’t have time to do that because I have to take care of the—fake—Headbang.

At the silent emphasis, Christopher nodded as if he had attained enlightenment. Still, he said his final goodbyes with a face full of regret.

“If you ever come to the United States, by all means! Please contact me. Wherever you are, I will meet you!”

In the end, he only left the association after clasping the square business card in Seora’s hand. The administrator sent an emoticon telling her to throw it away immediately. Still, she put the Guardian Guild’s leader’s business card in her inventory because she couldn’t just throw it away.

Well… Following Han Suwon of Clear Blue, Christopher of Guardian- Oh, and Jung Hoyoung, who’d once given it to me to use when needed…

Oh. Does that mean I have three guild leader’s business cards? Can I get the title of guild leaders’ business card collector? Ha ha ha ha ha.

“Finally, ten long days have come to an end.”

Seora stretches herself out. It was really eventful. Running into Christopher, Dungeon Break occurring, and now she was about to get a headache from Key theft. Seora sighed unconsciously.

“That’s right. I even got found out as Headbang all of a sudden. I’ve had a hard time.”

“…”

Sung Jarim was left speechless.

“Oh, I’m sorry. But it’s better than being in trouble for being an L-class, right, Sister Jarim?”

“Ahh! I’m begging you, don’t call me sister! I’m scared when you call me that!”

“Complaining is useless.”

Seora patted Jarim on the forearm. Even though there was finally nothing to be aware of, she still looked tired.

***

After seeing the Guardians off to the airport, Do Junyoung visited the office of the association’s president. Song Hanna, who was smoking a cigarette while looking out the window, was stiffer than usual, so he could not speak easily.

“It’s our fault that we lost the Key. You know that, right?”

“Yes.”

“I heard that Seora asked Kang Sejun to track down the murderer. What’s the result?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“There was no good news. Seeing that the traces were cut in the air, he said that they were not an ordinary person.”

Song Hanna clicked her tongue. If it was impossible for Jung Hoyoung and Kang Sejun, then no one in the country could find that damn thief right now.

“I don’t know what that thief bastard wants, but the dungeon of Korea should never be unlocked. Even if it’s unlocked, the damage must be prevented.”

Although Cheorwon Dungeon is Level 2, it remained a fear for Koreans. It was a terrible place that had caused the most casualties in the country.

The public couldn’t be reminded of the fear of that day. It was necessary to prevent casualties in Cheorwon.

“When it becomes known that the Key is stolen, those who want to bring me down will start to complain. We have to stop that too. You understand, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

The association had many enemies. Those who were anxious to bring down Song Hanna, who had been in power for 12 years, would not miss this opportunity.

That is absolutely unacceptable. I must defend this position to protect everyone from those eager to satisfy their greed.

Therefore, the association must also quickly find a way to prevent the worst.

“Call Yoon Jaehun.”

Song Hanna decided to turn over a card she hadn’t pulled out in eight years.

“Tell him to return home now.”

After Song Hanna and Joo Eun, Yoon Jaehun was ranked 3rd in Korea’s unofficial rankings.

It was time for him, the best in Korea in terms of potential, to come back.

***

Hard combat boots pounded the hallway. Every time he passed, mercenaries in battle uniforms saluted with respectful faces.

“Leader, this is Yoon Jaehun.”

“Come in.”

A heavy voice rang when he knocked on the door located in the deepest part of the headquarters.

It was a voice that made anyone nervous just by hearing it, but the room spread out beyond the open door was messy that did not match the pressure.

In the center of the cluttered room was Ali, the leader of the mercenary guild.

Laying her legs loosely on the desk, she swung the papers away with a sullen face. A piece of paper fell on the books lying on the floor.

“This is a request for cooperation from your country. They want you to go according to the contract because Korea has an emergency.”

It’s not even funny. Ali let out a smirk.

“That’s the terms of the contract, so I don’t want to change my mind now, but I really don’t like how they dare cover up their incompetence with my cubs.”

Ali took out the cigar in her mouth and flicked the ashes over the request form. Even an official letter sent directly by Song Hanna, president of Korea’s association, was no more valuable to her than an ashtray.

“Song Hanna, Song Hanna. I’m so happy to think that the people who praised her loudly will be shut up. Don’t you think so, Jaehun?”

Jaehun sighed at the giggling voice, but there was no rebuttal.

Ali Russo was one of the world’s best L-Class Awakened. Even Song Hanna was nothing compared to her.

“By the way, there are two new L-classes in Korea, right? It’s fun. It’s fun. Thanks to this, all kinds of places are going crazy. These days have been fun.”

In particular, it was really fun to see the L-classes running wild. It would have been a better sight if they had invaded Korea right away. It was a bummer.

“The time has come for Song Hanna to step down too.”

“I don’t think so. I heard neither of them is interested in the association’s president position.”

“What?! Eh, that’s not fun. You should have the guts to be the leader if you’re an L-class. How useless. I was going to ask you to see what they have while you’re there.”

“Do you have any intention of recruiting?”

“If they are worth it. Isn’t it always fun to collect strong people? Like you.”

“I’ll keep an eye out for the right person.”

Jaehun politely bowed his head. If it were another guild, he wouldn’t have dared to do such an adventure, but this place was different.

The Mercenary Guild Athena was a stateless guild that did not belong to any country. All they follow is Captain Ali, the leader with a spear and a shield.

The specialty had allowed him to be conditionally recruited here, so L-class would be possible as well. It would be better for them to come here than to be stuck in one country called Korea.

“It’s a locked dungeon in Korea. You must think of many things.”

“…”

Jaehun’s face hardened. The mask, which had been pretending to be carefree, was broken, and the emotions he was holding back surged.

The day his parents were taken away, and his sister’s heart froze. That terrible day.

His fists were full of strength at the fiery sight that crossed his eyes.

“Jaehun, you are no longer a 16-year-old child. You’re different from then. You can overcome it.”

“… Yes.”

“Don’t be afraid, for I have the power to protect your sister.”

Seora. When he remembered the younger sister he had left behind in his home country, the strength of Jaehun’s fists was released.

He couldn’t save his parents, but he would definitely protect Seora. Just for that reason, he voluntarily entered this Athena. A guild that only went to the most dangerous dungeon in the world.

“Go and solve the problem with your sister. Oh, if she’s interested in coming here, just bring her. I’ll give her a desk job.”

“Can I do that?”

Jaehun raised his head suddenly. He hadn’t expected Ali, whose hobby was collecting strong players, to make such a proposal for his sister, who was particularly weak among F-classes.

“She’s your only family. Why should you live far away?”

He blinked blankly at the blunt kindness, and then burst into laughter.

They called her a monster without blood or tears, but she cared for her family like this. That’s why the loyalty of this mercenary group was close to madness.

And it was the same with Jaehun, one of the executives.

Jaehun saluted his captain with a serious face.

“Yoon Jaehun, head of the Asian branch of Athena, was ordered to be dispatched to Korea. I’ll be back.”

“Go ahead.”

A short answer determined his return in three years.