Chapter 6

“Father, who is this?” Yoon-Hee asked with cold, sunken eyes, laced with a hint of hostility.

Under the unfriendly gaze, Ye-Ji shrank back involuntarily. “Oh, hello. I’m Mr. Administrator’s... I mean, Do-Jun’s colleague,” she replied before Do-Jun could say a word.

“Is that all...?” At Yoon-Hee’s chilly voice, Ye-Ji nodded vigorously.

Yoon-Hee then looked at Do-Jun for confirmation.

“She’s a colleague from the same division. Can we go inside now?” Do-Jun added upon noticing her glare.

Although Do-Jun didn’t mind the cold January wind, Ye-Ji seemed to be shivering. Seeing this, Yoon-Hee sighed and opened the door wide.

“If you’ll excuse me...”

Ye-Ji cautiously entered the apartment, and as she went inside, she saw a fairly spacious living room. And from its appearance, it was a one-bedroom apartment.

“Mr. Administrator, I mean Do-Jun, your place is quite clean,

hehe

,” Ye-Ji remarked as she clung to Do-Jun without hesitation.

Even with a winter coat on, her ample chest was pressed against Do-Jun’s arm.

Yoon-Hee didn’t miss that detail and frowned as she separated them.

“We’re about to have dinner soon, so we won’t be able to entertain you for long. Have a cup of tea before leaving,” Yoon-Hee said coldly.

“O-oh, actually...” Ye-Ji looked at Do-Jun.

Since he had invited her for dinner, she silently pleaded with him to say something.

Realizing her intention, Do-Jun turned toward Yoon-Hee and said, “I invited her to stay for dinner. I hope you don’t mind an additional person joining in.”

At Do-Jun’s words, Yoon-Hee puffed up her cheeks, turned her head with a huff, and stomped toward the kitchen.

At her sudden change in attitude, Do-Jun muttered, “Is this what they call puberty?”

“It’s not!” Yoon-Hee shouted back, seemingly having heard him.

After all, Do-Jun was the homeowner, so she couldn’t just send the stranger away when he had invited her.

***

Everyone was gathered at the dinner table, but it was too quiet.

Ye-Ji sighed inwardly as she quietly watched Do-Jun and Yoon-Hee eat, alternating her gaze between them. In an attempt to break the awkward silence, she decided to speak to Yoon-Hee.

“This is really delicious! You have great cooking skills,” she said.

“Oh, that? It’s a takeout,” Yoon-Hee replied coldly.

“Oh, right.”

Silence once again.

At that moment, Yoon-Hee noticed the large suit-case Ye-Ji had brought with her.

She asked excitedly, “Huh? Is that a suit-case?”

Yoon-Hee showed interest, and Ye-Ji didn’t miss the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. Soon, she was gushing like there was no end in sight.

“Y-yeah! I’m a Hunter, you see! Though I might just be an F-rank...” She indicated the suit-case and continued, “Ah, that’s a supply type, but it’s still from Schwartz Smithy. And... oh!”

She stopped abruptly as she hurriedly covered her mouth, then turned slowly to look at Do-Jun.

He continued chewing his food without even a slight change in expression, but the chopsticks he was holding snapped in his grasp.

“

Eek!

I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’ve committed a grave sin,” Ye-Ji apologized beside herself.

“A Hunter? What do you mean? My father is a civil servant,” Yoon-Hee asked in confusion.

This woman had definitely said she was her father’s colleague, and as far as Yoon-Hee knew, civil servants were not allowed to have a side job.

One could only be one of the other—a Hunter or a civil servant.

Do-Jun finally decided to explain. “She’s doing it as a side hustle. But if she gets caught, she’ll be disciplined. This cannot get out. My friend isn’t careful enough and talks without thinking. If you talk about it elsewhere, it could be a big problem, so can you please help us keep it a secret?”

“Is that true...?” Yoon-Hee asked as she looked suspiciously at Ye-Ji.

Ye-Ji nodded vigorously, her hands still covering her mouth.

Against all expectations, Yoon-Hee jumped up, rushed to Ye-Ji, and grabbed her hand tightly with sparkling eyes.

“That’s amazing! I actually aspire to be a Hunter, too! I’m still a student, but I’m entering the National Hunter Academy in March. Wow, I can’t believe I’m meeting a Hunter right here, right now!”

“

Eh?

” Ye-Ji was flabbergasted.

Yoon-Hee’s wary and guarded demeanor, like a cat on alert, suddenly changed to something completely different. Now, she was wagging her imaginary tail with excitement.

“T-there is no need for you to praise me like that. After all, I am just an F-rank...” Ye-Ji said, sounding flustered.

“So what? You’re still a Hunter, aren’t you? You passed the exam, didn’t you?” Yoon-Hee didn’t back down.

“Well, yes...”

“So, what type are you? Melee? Ranged? Do you wield magic? Oh! Are you a healer?”

Hah.

Do-Jun couldn’t help but smile at the scene.

***

After dinner, Yoon-Hee smiled happily as she saw Ye-Ji off at the apartment door.

“I had a lot of fun today, Ye-Ji.”

“Me too! Hehe. I’ll come again next time.”

“Ah, I will have to turn down that offer.”

“Eh?! Why?” Ye-Ji asked in surprise.

In response, Yoon-Hee put her hands behind her back, smiled sheepishly, and said, “I just don’t like it.”

***

8:20 AM.

“Good morning.” Do-Jun arrived at the office a bit earlier than usual.

Cheol-Soo hadn’t arrived yet, but his mentor Hyuk-Soo was already typing away at the keyboard as if he had started work a while ago.

“Oh. Good morning, Do-Jun,” he greeted Do-Jun upon seeing him.

“You’re early today,” Do-Jun said after returning the greeting.

“Yeah. With the rate you are going, I felt like you’d catch up to me soon,” Hyuk-Soo replied with a grin. “Coffee?” he asked Do-Jun as he got up from his desk.

“No, no. Let me fetch one for you,” Do-Jun countered.

“Can a mentor not offer his mentee a cup of coffee? Stop being so old-fashioned.”

“If you put it like that, I can’t refuse.”

“Is instant coffee okay? There’s nothing else.”

“That’s perfect.”

The office door burst open at that moment, and Cheol-Soo walked in. He reeked of alcohol as if he had a lot to drink the night before.

“Dammit. What’s with all these Hunters thinking they’re so high and mighty,” he complained right off the bat.

It seemed something had happened, but Do-Jun didn’t say anything.

“Oh! Our junior. You’re here early,

hahaha

!” Cheol-Soo ruffled Do-Jun’s hair as he passed by. “I saw what you posted yesterday, and

wow

, how did you do such a good job? It’s absolutely perfect, perfect!”

Cheol-Soo had been pleasantly surprised after reading the exploration report of the F-rank Fissure that appeared in Myeongil-dong.

Even though it was one of the lowest-ranked Fissures, the data was so thorough it was as if it had been accumulated over several months, without a single spot missed. It was an exceptional pace of work considering the fact that the standard turnaround time for previous subcontracted mapping explorations was at least three months to fill the map to a hundred percent.

Hyuk-Soo placed the instant coffee on Do-Jun’s desk and chuckled, saying, “Now imagine you gave the work to someone else, Chief.”

“Hyuk-Soo, I’m sorry for doubting you.

Hahaha

!”

“Welcome to the team. From now on, let’s work well together,” Hyuk-Soo said as he sat down and extended his hand to Do-Jun for a handshake.

“Thank you, senior.”

***

Click, click, click, click.

Only the sounds of typing and the mouse clicking filled the silent office.

“You are aware that you don’t have work today, right?” Do-Jun frowned as he looked at Ye-Ji, who couldn’t stop staring at him.

In response, Ye-Ji pretended to be distracted and started doodling in her notebook, which looked like someone practicing swordsmanship.

“You know what, do as you please. It’s not like it changes your salary anyway,” Do-Jun said with a shrug and ignored her.

Beeeep.

The printer behind him finished printing a single sheet of paper. Hyuk-Soo stood up and placed the printed paper on Do-Jun’s desk.

“What’s this?” Do-Jun asked.

“It’s the schedule for the Hunter rank evaluation exam. Since you now have an assigned Hunter, it’s good to keep track of these things.”

The Hunter rank evaluation was something every Hunter had to undergo once a year. The evaluation was divided into different sessions, and depending on the results of the evaluation, a Hunter’s rank could go up or down.

Therefore, it was an especially important day for the Hunters.

So basically, it’s an evaluation of one’s value,

Do-Jun thought.

In Korea alone, there were hundreds of guilds, all desperate to recruit high-ranking Hunters.

The rank evaluation season was when the transfer of organizations among Hunters became most prevalent—so much so that the day of the rank evaluation was also called the opening day of the transfer market.

“This is our chief’s top concern,” Hyuk-Soo explained.

“Is he worried that contracted Hunters might suddenly join another guild if their rank goes up?” Do-Jun asked for clarification.

“Exactly. That’s why he drank himself silly yesterday. One of our D-rank Hunters left the division. Chief tried to convince him to stay with the division over some drinks but failed.”

Just then, Cheol-Soo shouted, “Hey, you asshole! I can hear everything!”

“

Haha

, you have such good ears, Chief!” Hyuk-Soo said with a laugh.

“Fucking hell,” Cheol-Soo muttered and turned his chair away, clearly not wanting to hear more.

“Anyway, Hunter Ye-Ji also has to take the rank evaluation, so it would be better if you accompanied her for her session. Let’s see, her first session is... next week,” Hyuk-Soo said, checking the sheet.

Do-Jun took the printed schedule and read it over, then noticed the dark expression on Ye-Ji’s face next to him.

Seeing this, Do-Jun asked, “Are you thinking of leaving us as well, Hunter Ye-Ji?”

“N-no! I-I’d prefer it if... you could extend my contract.”

“That’s not something I decide.”

“

Hmph

.”

“Anyway, it would be good if your rank goes up during the evaluation. Not only would it make explorations easier for me, but your salary will also increase.”

Ye-Ji glanced through the detailed schedule and announcement for the Hunter rank evaluation that Do-Jun handed her, then let out a sigh.

“I’m still an F-rank,” she said, sounding deflated.

A body that could not possess mana.

The Hunter rank evaluation exam checked levels and stat measurements, followed by a practical evaluation. The total score of these exams determined a Hunter’s rank.

The absolute amount of mana was the most crucial factor for this evaluation. There was also physical enhancement through mana stones, also known as Mana Injection.

Ye-Ji could not possess any mana due to her low stage in Scholar’s Swordsmanship, meaning that she had to start at the lowest grade in the level and stat measurement stage. This made it impossible for her to aim for anything above E-rank.

“You never know until you try,” Do-Jun encouraged her.

“I know myself better than anyone. I... was born to be an F-rank.”

Do-Jun couldn’t understand why Ye-Ji was so self-deprecating.

Was the barrier to E-rank that high?

No, it couldn’t be. Do-Jun thought there must be another reason, but he chose not to bring it up.

At the end of the day, she’s just a Hunter contracted with our division,

he thought.

She was nothing more, nothing less, and thinking that way made it easier for both of them.

Whether Ye-Ji was F-rank, E-rank, or D-rank, it didn’t significantly affect Do-Jun’s work.

“Then I will remain at F-rank with you,” Do-Jun told Ye-ji.

“What?”

“You’re the only Hunter assigned to me. Your rank determines the rank of Fissures I can explore,” he explained.

“B-but... you can explore higher ranked Fissures if you just... find another Hunter, can’t you?”

“That’s true. Are you suggesting that I do that? I could post a listing to look for another Hunter.”

Ye-Ji just fiddled with her hands and didn’t say anything.

“Right now, you are the only Hunter for me,” Do-Jun said.

At those words, Ye-Ji’s face flushed red.

Honestly, Do-Jun couldn’t care less about Ye-Ji’s rank. If it were low, he would work accordingly; if high, the same.

But Do-Jun wanted to, even if very, very slightly, offer her some help.

Ordinary is best,

Do-Jun thought to himself.

Just enough to ensure this routine remained undisturbed and to the extent that it didn’t hinder him from living his new life quietly.

He would give her his advice.