Civil Servant Hunter's S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 10
"Wow. I was worried you might be having some dark thoughts, but look at that goofy grin. So annoying."
Gong Hae-yeon clucked her tongue and grabbed Se-ra's soft cheeks, stretching them out long.
"Aaack! It hurts!"
"Yoon Se-ra, you're really okay, right?"
Se-ra's eyes snapped open from the pain, and Hae-yeon's face was right in front of her nose. Was it because she was such a beauty? It carried an intimidating presence.
An E-rank making an S-rank feel intimidated. Is she hiding her rank too?
"Ahem. No problems at all. ...Thanks for worrying about me."
Feeling embarrassed for no reason, Se-ra grumbled her response. Hae-yeon, who had been watching quietly, nodded as if she understood.
"Good, then spill it. Why are you in such a great mood? I need to know that!"
But her assault wasn't over.
With her cheeks stretched like sticky rice cakes, Se-ra finally let out a scream.
* * *
"It hurts. Gong Hae-yeon, why is a mage like her so heavy-handed?"
Finally escaping Hae-yeon's clutches, Se-ra stood in a quiet corner of the hallway, rubbing her stinging cheeks. If Team Leader Jung Tae-seok hadn't called her away just then, her cheeks would've been drooping like steamed rice cakes. Se-ra sniffled.
"It's a prejudice that mages have poor physical abilities. A prejudice. You still don't know that?"
Jung Tae-seok, standing beside her, chuckled. Se-ra's heart grew even more bitter.
I know that, but I didn't expect an E-rank to stretch an S-rank's cheeks like dough...
"So, why did you call me? Is something up?"
If it was about dispatch duty, he'd have started with that, but he'd called her to an empty hallway. Curious, she asked, and a flicker of embarrassment crossed Tae-seok's face.
"Well, the Association President said to prioritize your opinion."
"On what?"
"Right now, that bastard Park Jin-yong is here at the Association."
The unexpected answer made Se-ra's eyes widen round.
"Park Jin-yong? Didn't Director Do beat him to a pulp? He can move already?"
"Seems like Cheongrang Guild pulled some strings."
Se-ra snorted at the response.
"Ah, healers. As expected of an A-rank hunter. Even after throwing an innocent person into a dungeon, the guild heals him up. Ah, so enviable."
F-ranks have it rough enough to die of resentment.
'I really wish the Cheongrang Guild Master would kowtow in front of all those S-ranks watching.'
Se-ra ground her teeth inwardly.
"No, no. They just healed his legs enough for him to walk. The Guild Master told him to apologize to you first."
This was another surprise.
"We were supposed to all meet up when Director Do returns, right? Is that off?"
"They said they couldn't just skip the apology until then. Kneel and apologize, but if you don't accept it, he'll keep kowtowing here until the face-to-face."
"Oh, that's surprisingly decent..."
"You saw it too, Se-ra. What Director Do is really like."
Do Jun-young, known as an A-rank hunter but actually an S-rank.
Even the Cheongrang Guild Master couldn't handle the anger of another S-rank hunter.
"The Guild Master seems pretty pissed too. It's not like he's expecting you to accept the apologyhe just wants that guy kowtowing here for days. We're watching him anyway."
Se-ra pondered for a moment. Whether to accept an apology from the likes of Park Jin-yong wasn't even worth considering. But she did want to watch him kowtow...
Would that guy truly regret it?
And would he show his true feelings in front of S-ranks?
No way in hell.
"I'll meet him. Just the two of us. If a strong person is there, he'll just fake it, and I don't want that. I want to hear what his real intentions are."
Worry flashed across Jung Tae-seok's face. It was the look of someone about to say what if something happens alone with him.
Instead of answering, Se-ra opened her inventory and pulled out a gleaming weapon alongside Heat.
"I'm really fine. My body's weak, but my items aren't."
"That's...?"
Recognizing the S-rank Crimson Flail, Tae-seok's eyes shook violently. Se-ra tapped the mace against her palm and flashed a bright smile.
"The Association President gave it to me for protection. I'm curious. Who's strongerthis or an A-rank hunter."
If he acted out like last time, she wouldn't hold back this time. At her bold declaration, Tae-seok silently gave her a thumbs-up.
* * *
'Wow. He's not straying from expectations at all.'
Se-ra deliberately called Park Jin-yong to a conference room without CCTV. That way, she could see his true colors without restraint.
And as expected, once he confirmed no cameras, Park Jin-yong dropped the act as soon as Tae-seok left. His glare screamed he wanted to kill her right then.
'Is he naive, or just stupid? Falling for such an obvious ploy.'
Se-ra clucked her tongue.
"You said you had something to say. We're both busy, so let's make it quick."
"Something to say? You don't seriously think I'd kneel to trash like you, do you?"
"Of course you will. What's weird about that?"
As Se-ra tilted her head, Park Jin-yong shot to his feet. The chair toppled backward with a loud crash. His massive muscles twitched savagely, as if to intimidate her.
So what?
"What, trying to threaten me? Go on, try it. I'm curious what you'll do."
Se-ra stroked the mace openly on the table, watching him act like he might lunge at her any second.
"Wonder what the Association President's S-rank weapon feels like."
She'd already swung it once but pretended otherwise, cradling the mace like a baby. Park Jin-yong's face froze pale blue for a moment.
"S-rank? That's... an S-rank weapon?"
"Can't even recognize an S-rank weapon as an A-rank hunter? And this one's famous online... Large guild raid leaders should know these beforehand."
It wasn't mockeryit was genuine pity.
Even C-rank Jung Tae-seok recognized it instantly, but an A-rank hunter didn't. It said everything about Park Jin-yong.
"Well, take a good look then. In a way, I got this thanks to you, so I'll let you see it."
Even she found herself annoying.
Her bright smile and haughty taunt were utterly infuriating.
Look at that. Even the Administrator is praising me. Feeling proud, Se-ra shrugged her shoulders.
"Ugh. Just looking at it fills my heart with joy. Thanks to you, I got to hold an S-rank weapon. What to do with all this gratitude."
Bet your inventory doesn't have anything like this.
Can't kill me, got wrecked by Do Jun-young, pissed off the Guild Master, and that F-rank you ignored is now bragging about her S-rank weapon thanks to you.
Park Jin-yong's face flushed beet red, like it might explode.
Ah, this feels refreshing too.
"Do it again. In case you don't know, even as a civil servant, self-defense is recognized. I'm not scared anymore."
"Urgh!"
"Of course, if it happens again, you'll really be done for."
Se-ra's eyes, stroking the mace playfully, turned to Park Jin-yong. Unlike her youthful face, her dark eyes fixed on him were frozen cold.
"Not gonna apologize?"
That was it.
Her eyes just weren't smiling.
Yet Park Jin-yong couldn't fathom why he suddenly felt such pressure.
She's just an F-rank, a nobody, the bitch who humiliated me...
To his shock, his body froze stiff.
"N-no! Fuck! Why the hell should I?!"
Realizing it suddenly, he burst out in a fit.
"It all started because a wretch like you ran your mouth! What did I do wrong? The gate closing wasn't my fault! You should be the one kneeling!"
Unhappy about flinching even briefly, he jabbed a finger at Se-ra, his face twisted in rage.
At his pathetic display, Se-ra snorted.
"No fault? My fault? No regret for throwing a person into a dungeon."
She'd expected no apology, but not this brazen. Talking more was a waste.
"Then this meeting's over. We'll meet again with the Cheongrang Guild Master later."
She waved him off dismissively, making clear she was the superior here.
His face reddened further, but he could do nothing. Breaking the table would reach the Guild Master's ears.
"The Association won't back you forever."
All that was left was cheap threats.
As his gaze flicked to the mace, Se-ra nearly laughed. He wanted to sneak up and club her from behind to steal it, lacking the eye for it...
'Go ahead. That'll be the moment I've been waiting for.'
Lipping a smirk openly, Se-ra flicked her finger at him lightly.
"Goodbye."
At the insulting gesture, Park Jin-yong slammed the door so hard the building shook as he stormed out.
"So crude. What did the Cheongrang Guild Master see in that guy to make him raid leader? Makes me doubt her judgment too."
The Administrator's emoticon popped up then. Seeing how excited it looked made Se-ra smile too.
"Administrator, aren't you enjoying this too much?"
Se-ra looked at her fingers. These neat, extended fingers could now be called weapons even without holding one.
Now, the question.
"When will that dullard Park Jin-yong notice the wound on his face?"
At the last moment, she'd lightly flung some mana at him.
Curious how much her power differed from his.
And the fool hadn't noticed her attack even as he left. The gap between S-rank and A-rank was that vast.
'This should be enough to get revenge if Park Jin-yong sneaks up on me.'
With the Administrator's blessing too, low chance of getting caught.
Come again. Try to kill me.
Then I'll unleash all the fear and rage from being trapped alone in that dungeon.
Se-ra clenched her fist tight.
* * *
Leaving the Association, Park Jin-yong headed to Cheongrang Guild headquarters.
The Association civil servants tailing him were annoying, but he couldn't shake off those under the Association President's orders.
All this fuss over touching one worthless F-rank trash!
He glared ferociously at the civil servants. No intention of dragging them around, he planned to hole up quietly at his lodging.
But he faced an unexpected situation. Han Su-eon's secretary, waiting for him, led him straight to the Guild Master's office.
Park Jin-yong broke into a cold sweat. The expressionless Han Su-eon at his desk scared him more than the monitoring civil servants ensuring he didn't flee.
"Did you apologize properly?"
His shoulders twitched at the icy voice as he clasped his hands together.