Translator: Azure, Flameu
Editor: Yunan
Tap tap tap.
Do-jun, who was writing an official report regarding the Rift Tour, felt a piercing gaze watching him from the side. As he turned his head, he saw Cha Yeji lying down on her office desk, staring in his direction.
Do-jun sighed.
“…Ms. Yeji. As I’ve said, I’m sorry.”
“Meanie.”
“Sigh.”
“How could you leave me behind without even saying a word?”
Cha Yeji pouted.
She had always been late, but on that day, she arrived at the office at exactly 8:40 AM.
She was waiting excitedly since she thought she’d be complimented by Do-jun.
But when he still hadn’t arrived after 20 minutes, she wondered and asked another employee.
Only then was she informed that he was included in facilitating the Rift Tour for the Hunter Academy students.
“Moreover, you guys had pork belly (samgyeopsal) for lunch?!”
Thud.
Kwon Hyuk-soo, who was working on his desk, flinched in shock.
With an indulgent smile, he said to Cha Yeji.
“H-hunter Cha Yeji. We never abandoned you, actually…”
“PORK - BE - LLY! I heard you had it for lunch.”
The lunch that they had seemed to be an important point for Cha Yeji.
Kang Chul-soo jumped out of his seat and approached her.
He made a fine attempt to calm their only treasure in the department - a B-class hunter.
“Then, Ms. Yeji, would you like to have pork belly for dinner tonight?”
“C-Chief, it’s not like that. What I mean is…”
Cha Yeji sighed.
To be honest, she envied the relationship the three have.
Because they are real co-workers who share the same job as civil servants.
‘I wonder what it feels like to be a civil servant too…’
Do-jun and Yeji’s eyes met.
And then she started to imagine her life if Do-jun was her junior at work.
‘I would’ve been so happy.’
She’d teach him how to do this and that.
And then she’ll tell him it’s okay whenever he makes a mistake.
Cha Yeji blushed as her imagination flew towards outrageous boundaries. She immediately snapped back to reality by means of sheer will and second-hand embarrassment.
“A-Anyway. Please don’t forget that I’m also a member of the Rift Management Department.”
“Haha, there’s no way we’d forget you, Ms. Yeji.”
Was it because of the B-class Joint Rift Inspection with the Hunter Management Agency scheduled next week?
Kang Chul-soo’s attitude was even more pathetically compromising to everyone.
“What is this…? After all that, now it’s canceled?!”
Kwon Hyuk-soo, who was looking through the newly-received official documents, muttered frowning.
Kang Chul-soo immediately jerked his head and dashed towards the monitor at his statement.
Title: Daehyunsan Park B-class Joint Rift Inspection Meeting Report (Modified)
After reading the official document from the Hunter Management Agency, Kang Chul-soo’s forehead wrinkled.
“These bastards!”
Kang Chul-soo returned to his desk and started to make several phone calls.
After a while, he left the office screaming.
Cha Yeji trembled and slipped back into her seat again.
“Sir, didn’t they say they’d cooperate with us on this as an exception?”
“…Well. It’s not the first time this has happened. In the past, there was a rumor that the Hunter Management Agency would provide Hunters with equipment free of charge, but it was also suddenly revoked.”
“Can they even do that?”
“They’re pretty much saying they are the boss.”
Kwon Hyuk-soo clicked his tongue.
＊ ＊ ＊
Click. Creak–
Do-jun opened the door and entered the house.
He couldn’t see Seol Yoon-hee anywhere, who would’ve already come running to him as usual.
No, there she was.
Peek.
Seol Yoon-hee stuck out her head from the wall and looked at Do-jun.
She then spoke carefully.
“W-Welcome home, Father.”
“…Huh? Why are you talking so formally all of a sudden?”
“I’m sorry. I’m very sorry.”
“What’s wrong? This isn’t like you.”
There was only one reason why Seol Yoon-hee’s attitude towards him changed.
The ‘Rift Event’ that happened this morning.
And there, she saw Do-jun’s overwhelming power.
Seeing Do-jun, who she thought was an ordinary person, overpower a dragon in one blow, she felt fearful.
“I-I’m sorry I’ve been so presumptuous…”
“Sigh… I’d feel uncomfortable if you keep doing that. Just act as usual.”
In Seol Yoon-hee’s mind,
Memories of the past flashed before her eyes.
- When I graduate and become a Hunter, I’ll stand by your side and protect you!
- Father, it's dangerous. Stay away from it.
- From now on, I’ll train you every weekend. I’ll teach you the basics step-by-step.
Sliiide.
Seol Yoon-hee slowly sat down on the floor, holding onto the wall.
It was embarrassing. Too embarrassing for her to get up.
She couldn’t control herself, and her face was burning up.
“Aarrghh…”
Do-jun couldn’t understand why Seol Yoon-hee was acting that way.
At that moment, Izaas, or Yongyong, walked in from the living room.
「Master, this humble dragon greets you good evening.」
“…Uh, sure.”
A mini dragon that is slightly bigger than the palm of his hand lowered his body and stuck his head to the floor.
After bowing down, he got up and approached Do-jun, wagging his tail.
“Why are you acting like this?”
「T-that’s not it. You said…」
- Act cute.
「That’s what you definitely said!」
“Oh, that’s right. Yeah. Looks good.”
「…Tsk.」
Yongyong turned around and jumped towards the sofa.
Do-jun helped Seol Yoon-hee, who was still brooding over the past, to stand up.
She trembled slightly at first, but she didn’t totally reject him.
“Why is your face so red?”
“T-That’s…”
“Is it a cold?”
Do-jun raised his hand to check on Seol Yoon-hee’s forehead with a worried look.
And her face seemed to be getting hotter.
“N-no, it’s not a cold! Uh, I’ll prepare dinner in a minute!”
She accidentally bit her lips too hard and suddenly dashed into the kitchen full of conflict and emotion.
‘Cute.’
Do-jun smiled.
After taking a shower, he changed clothes in his room.
Upon finishing, he came out of the room and sat on the sofa, looking at Yongyong watching TV.
- How could you do this to me?
- Let’s break up. I’ve had enough. I’m so sick and tired of this.
- You jerk! I went through hell just to support you all this time, and now that you passed the bar exam, you go to another girl?! Do you even feel a sliver of conscience?! Huh!
Yongyong got up from his seat and moved near the TV.
He seemed to be totally immersed in the show.
- Thank you for everything.
「Wow, what a total jerk.」
“……”
Do-jun just turned his head and tried to ignore Izaas’ remarks about the TV show.
Before he knew it, dinner was set on the table.
“A-Are you done taking a shower?”
“Yes, but you prepared so much. It must’ve been difficult.”
The four corners of the table were struggling to contain all the different assortments of dishes in it.
Do-jun was impressed by her growing cooking skills and sincerity.
Drool.
Do-jun sat down.
He frowned upon seeing Yongyong on the table.
Yongyong’s eyes glistened and drooled as he saw the table full of delicious food.
「Thank you very much for…」
Suddenly, he felt it.
Yongyong slowly turned his head.
And at the end of that gaze was Do-jun’s chilling glare.
「…the meal?」
“So, are you going to eat at the table?”
「I have human rights. No, I have dragon rights too…」
At that moment,
Seol Yoon-hee smiled.
She brought out a large bowl.
Specifically, it was a dog bowl.
“I bought it on my way home from school. Since we’ll be living together, I thought we might need it. Hehe.”
She placed the dog bowl on the table.
Yongyong stiffened as he saw the dog bowl in front of him.
Seol Yoon-hee then put braised short ribs in Yongyong’s exclusive bowl.
“Eat a lot, Yongyong.”
「…Wha—」
“Hmm?”
Izaas trembled.
He couldn’t stand it anymore.
If the other dragons found out about this,
They’d be laughing about this forever.
‘…But why?’
One braised juicy short ribs.
And the brown sauce that dripped down from the meat.
‘Why is my body… on its own…’
When his teeth bit into the ribs, and the sweet juicy meat touched his tongue,
Yongyong felt a thrilling electric current flowing through his body.
And…
Chomp!
“Yongyong is eating so well.”
Seol Yoon-hee smiled while stroking Yongyong’s head.
The fear she had earlier seemed to have completely disappeared.
‘How come it’s so delicious?!’
He only ate raw meat from monsters every day.
And he thought it was already the most delicious food in the world.
But now, that perception of him has completely changed.
Gobble! Gobble!
Do-jun smiled as he watched Yongyong eat.
＊ ＊ ＊
The next day.
At 5 PM.
Do-jun witnessed a different atmosphere of the office than usual as he returned from exploring an E-class Rift.
The employees huddled around in Kwon Hyuk-soo’s area.
“Wow! So a B-class Hunter is signing a contract with us this time?”
“Oh my god… is this B-class Hunter satisfied with an annual salary of just 300
million won?”
The staff were all very excited.
And the center of it all was Kwon Hyuk-soo, who was smiling broadly.
“Haha. This guy was my classmate in high school. He said he made enough money now, so he’s willing to sign a contract with us.”
“I can’t believe there’s such a Hunter! Unbelievable! Hoho. Anyway, thanks to Mr. Hyuk-soo, Chief Kang’s life will now prosper. This time, the transfer of the B-class Great Rift management rights will surely now be granted!”
The happiest person in the room was…
As expected, it was Kang Chul-soo.
“Hyuk-soo! How would I live without you! No, our Hyuk-soo is very fond of people. And there are only good people around him, right? A strong friendship between guys! Nowadays, not one B-class Hunter is like that. But who was the one who brought him? It was our KWON! HYUK! SOO! No other officer would’ve made that happen!”
Do-jun sneaked into the crowd.
Kwon Hyuk-soo smiled brightly as he found Do-jun and said.
“Ah, Do-jun! Well…”
He was so happy his smile reached his ears.
Kwon Hyuk-soo, who explained without holding back his excitement, showed joy like a child which Do-jun had never seen before.
“Congratulations, sir. I heard you were classmates?”
Do-jun smiled brightly.
If they signed a contract with a B-class Hunter, they could now discuss with the Hunter Management Agency the transfer of the Daehyunsan Park B-class Great Rift management rights, which was previously rejected by them.
“He and I were very close back then in high school. I lost contact with him after he became a Hunter, but after seeing the announcement, he was willing to come because of me...”
“So Hyuk-soo, did he apply?”
“First off, he wanted to meet and talk about it today. Oh, would you like to come with me, chief?”
“Sounds good! I’ll treat you to a big one today. Tuna! I’ll buy you guys tuna.”
Chief Kang Chul-soo laughed loudly, disheveling Kwon Hyuk-soo’s hair.
“Oh, would you also like to come with me, Do-jun? Some of his fellow Hunters are coming. It’s good to keep them close and get acquainted with them.”
“Can I go too?”
“Of course, you’re my close junior. Oh, and chief, he said he’ll be the one to treat us for dinner. It’s been a long time since we’ve met, so he said he’d pay for it. He also said he’d text me the meet-up place.”
At that moment, Kwon Hyuk-soo’s smartphone vibrated.
- Location: XXX-XX, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu
Somehow... I feel suspicious...
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for the new chapters!
ReplyDeleteThat dragon pet seems more adorable here than in the manhwa haha.