“It’s been a while, Hunter Han Jeonghyun?”
Yerin’s expression seemed even more cheerful and sullen today.
It’s amazing how one can convey such feelings with that face.
Perhaps that’s within the realm of talent.
Jeonghyun replied, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
It was a response meant to quickly end the conversation somehow.
“Yes… It’s been a while. I need to do some testing, so… Could you open this door…”
Jeonghyun tried to close the door somehow, but the stubborn foot was firmly wedged.
“You need to do some testing. Let me watch a bit. Between us.”
“What do you mean between us!”
“Oh, do you have to put it into words like that?”
‘Please shut your mouth!’
They struggled for a while with the door and the foot in between.
Of course, Jeonghyun was the first to give up.
At some point, Jeonghyun released the force pushing the door and obediently went outside.
“You said you had to test?”
“I changed my mind. I’m going home.”
“How stubborn.”
“No, what’s the concept behind all this?”
She used to be someone who wouldn’t make things awkward, even if she was a bit bothersome.
But today, what mischief has come over her?
Yet Yerin didn’t bat an eye and subtly smiled.
“It seems like you’re troubled about something.”
“…No, I’m not. Nothing like that.”
“Are you perhaps looking for somewhere to vent your frustrations?”
“No, do you really have to say it like that? You’ll misunderstand!”
“Alright, never mind then.”
Jeonghyun eventually closed his mouth.
You have to deceive someone close to deceive others.
“Go ahead and tell me. If there’s something I can help with, I’ll help.”
‘Huh?’
Come to think of it, that’s right.
If it’s Yerin, can’t she help?
Though he would avoid seeking help if he didn’t absolutely need it, Jeonghyun was in a desperate situation.
But he had to be firm about what he was sure of.
“First of all, I have no intention of joining the Association.”
“Yet,” you mean.”
“No, I don’t.”
“So, not yet.”
A deep sigh.
“I actually want to enter the Level 4 gate soon. As you know, I’m an unregistered person. There’s no one who will accept me.”
“Oh~”
He said that wrong.
Very wrong.
What kind of reaction is it to send shivers down your spine just by hearing it?
Sure enough, Yerin’s eyes sparkled as if she had caught onto something.
“I’m sorry. I caught a busy person without thinking about their efforts. Well then—”
Jeonghyun hurriedly tried to avoid her.
But his wrist was already firmly gripped by Yerin’s hand.
Externally, it was a scene of a sturdy adult man being gently held by a small woman.
But the reality was quite different.
Yerin smiled brightly, nodding her head.
“If that’s the case, you should obviously seek help from the Hunter Association.”
“Um… Director Cha is level 5, right?”
“Yes, unfortunately, I’m level 5. Would you like to join with me?”
“I absolutely refuse.”
“It’s still a bit early for ‘yet.'”
‘I will never enter the 5th level gate. At least not where Yerin can see me.’
While Jeonghyun was firm in his resolve.
Yerin, who had been contemplating with her eyes for a moment, spoke up.
“There happens to be a party going into the Level 4 gate soon at the Association. Should I try to get you in there?”
Surprisingly, it was a normal and grateful suggestion.
Moreover, judging by what she said, it didn’t seem like they were her direct subordinates.
Jeonghyun nodded his head exceptionally, reflecting on his conversation with Yerin.
“If you do, I’d be really grateful!”
“Hmm~”
Yerin’s eyes lit up with interest.
It seemed suspicious, but Jeonghyun wasn’t in a position to hide such things right now.
It didn’t seem like there were any ulterior motives hidden within the Association people he would be with.
“However, I’m not really close with them. I’ll try to get you in, but you’ll have to take care of the rest yourself, okay?”
“Of course! If I just befriend them, it’ll be a piece of cake, right?”
“It seems like you’re a bit of a loner.”
“…Oops, that was a mistake.”
Yerin covered her mouth and laughed as if it was a genuine mistake.
To an outsider, it might seem like an innocent smile, but Jeonghyun had no choice but to endure it.
‘She’s onto something… She’s definitely onto something!’
To be honest, he had never been in a relationship, but that was probably because he had been struggling in life.
If he had the leisure, there was no reason he couldn’t pursue a relationship.
That’s what Jeonghyun thought.
Anyway, I’ll pass on the message. If you receive a call from someone named Jiwon and Dan Jongwoo, make sure to answer it. The ending number is 0000.
“Yes! Thank you, Director Cha!”
“Don’t mention it.”
With that, Yerin headed towards the room she originally intended to enter, where Jiwon was waiting.
Deeply bowing in gratitude to her, Jiwon had experienced being ridiculed before, but to him, the position of power felt familiar, almost as natural as breathing.
“Just watch me climb to A-rank. It’s easy, right?”
Of course, there was a difference between surface-level animosity and inner desire for revenge, but that’s another matter.
***
The contact from Manager Dan Jongwoo came later than expected.
– 010-0000-0000
A few days after meeting Yerin.
Late in the evening, Jeonghyun received a call from the number he had been informed about by Yerin.
Fortunately, Jeonghyun was studying attributes on the HunterNet and Hunter Wiki as usual in the evening, so he was able to answer the phone immediately.
“Oh, hello. Are you Manager Dan Jongwoo?”
– …Uh, are you Han Jeonghyun?
“What?”
And with the first few words, Jeonghyun sensed something.
This guy was more than just your average troublemaker.
But Jeonghyun was a pro among pros in handling situations like this.
“Yes, Manager! I’m Han Jeonghyun.”
– Tsk… Talking about entering Level 4 Gates without being registered.
“Although I’m not registered, I assure you, I can work hard! I probably won’t disappoint you.”
– That’s expected, kid… Anyway, I’m only doing this because I was asked to by Director Cha. If you mess up, I won’t hesitate to drop you.
“Is this guy for real?”
To abandon fellow hunters at the gate was practically forbidden.
Despite the potential consequences, Jeonghyun couldn’t help but feel irritated at being dismissed by someone like him.
Though she had endured torment from Yerin, being disregarded by such a lowlife was almost unbearable.
For a moment, veins bulged on Jeonghyun’s forehead, but he managed to suppress his anger.
“Ah… of course. I’ll work hard not to let you down.”
– Good. By the way, my subordinates will send you the location and party information. Memorize everything.
“Understood! Thank you!”
“You’re good at answering, kid. If only you were as good in the workplace as in Gates. I wouldn’t have to deal with just one superior, would I?”
Unless you’re out of your mind, it’s hard to imagine any employee thinking that way.
Despite momentarily feeling sorry for the person mentioned as “subordinate,” that’s just how social life goes; you have to endure it no matter what.
However, after hanging up the phone, Jeonghyun couldn’t help but feel incredulous upon realizing that the gate reservation information received via association support email was for the day after tomorrow.
“Is this guy insane?”
Although they had planned to go hunting soon, there was no contact for several days, Jeonghyun assumed his schedule was flexible. But to only contact him the evening before, and through a gate he didn’t even know… that was somewhat troubling.
“The Ruined Campsite of the Tandan Orcs.”
It’s considered a fairly standard and moderate difficulty Level 4 gate.
As long as you don’t provoke the large groups, it’s not very dangerous for a party with decent specs.
But for Jeonghyun, there was something different about the emotions surrounding it.
“Finally, to the Tandan Orcs.”
First of all, the equipment he was wearing seemed to be made of Tandan Orc leather.
In fact, monsters at this level are mostly consumed as simple materials or commodities and are not used to produce equipment.
Furthermore, Orcs can be considered top-tier monsters that can be found in ordinary workshops.
In terms of overall level, it’s only ‘just’ Level 4, but it doesn’t look that way from an external perspective.
In other words, despite the twists and turns, it meant that Jeonghyun had finally reached that level.
“Yeah, at least I can dip my toes in.”
Having a record of entering a Level 4 gate makes a huge difference.
If he presents that record, they probably won’t block his as aggressively as before, making it easier for him to go hunting again.
Jeonghyun clenched his fists with determination.
***
Dan Jongwoo’s party was more luxurious than expected.
One D-rank Level 4 Tank and one melee DPS.
One C-rank Level 3 Healer.
Dan Jongwoo himself was also a C-rank Level 3 Mage.
And Jeonghyun’s gaze fell on the remaining one.
He still looked awkward with his youthful face.
“Han Jeonghyun over there?”
No title like “Miss” or “Sir,” not even “Hunter,” just Han Jeonghyun.
With Jeonghyun being quite muscular for a hunter, and Dan Jongwoo, who was quite skinny, calling him familiarly, there was no room for complaint.
“Yes?”
“When your superior calls, you should respond with ‘Yes, sir?’ not just ‘Yes?’. Do I really have to teach you things like this?”
He was seriously old-fashioned.
‘I had somewhat suspected it from our first conversation.’
‘I never thought there would still be such a typical old-fashioned person in today’s world.’
And on top of that, Jeonghyun wasn’t even his subordinate.
“Well, anyway… sigh, we’re going along with it somehow, right? You didn’t seriously come here thinking we’d hunt together, did you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean…”
“Oh, just do the porter’s job and have fun in the background! You fool!”
Why would Yerin willingly introduce him to someone like him to party?
Perhaps Jeonghyun should have been suspicious from the moment she started making oddly good offers.
“So, about the distribution-”
“Don’t talk nonsense about distribution. Do porters get a share? I’ll give you 1 million won as a daily wage. Since you’re unregistered, that should be enough, right?”
This was truly an unbearable jerk beyond comparison.
Even when Jeonghyun glanced around discreetly, all the other employees seemed eager to avoid involvement in anything troublesome.
Jeonghyun, who had been contemplating something for a moment, finally nodded.
There was no way to back out now that he had come this far.
Even if it was dirty and dangerous, at least he could secure a Level 4 gate access record.
But if an opportunity arose, he certainly wouldn’t just let it pass.
“Understood…”
“Alright, then we’re done here. I’ll smoke a cigarette, so if you have anything to say, say it.”
A hunter smoking a cigarette?
That meant he hadn’t just avoided committing crimes; he had reached the level of being a villain in a different sense.
Only after he left did the atmosphere of the party finally relax.
At that moment, another hunter named Sua approached Jeonghyun.
“You’ve been through a lot. Our manager is really something.”
“Oh, no… it’s fine. Since I’m unregistered. It could happen.”
“What could happen? Anyone can see what kind of jerk Jongwoo is – oh, sorry. It’s become a habit now.”
Jeonghyun smiled as if to reassure her.
Honestly, it felt refreshing.
It was the kind of relief that couldn’t be solved with just such a title in the workplace.
Isn’t it said that gossiping about your boss is the flower of office life?
And with a boss like Jongwoo, it would be painful to say the least.
At first, Sua had been glancing towards the door where Jongwoo had left, but now the conversation started flowing smoothly.
“To be honest, even though Jongwoo is a jerk, he’s not that bad. He came in through Director Cha Yerin’s introduction, right? That’s why it’s even worse.”
“What do you mean?”
And as Jeonghyun, the topic was quite interesting.
The one who told the story was none other than C-rank healer Jung Daeyoon, who had been silently listening.
“So, how did that happen…”
With both those who used to go hunting with Jongwoo and outsiders like Yunghoon and Jeonghyun, the story became something they couldn’t help but immerse themselves in.
Finally, by gossiping about Jongwoo, the party became united.
