CH 37

“Aagh!! Aaaaargh!!”

Hunters Association South Korea Branch, S1 Team Office.

S1 Team, filled by elite Hunters, was openly supported by the country. It was the nation’s face that never went missing from TV whenever it was public service announcement season. Unlike the guild Hunters, it was filled with civil servants with limited income, but their honor and benefits were incomparable to other Hunters. However, the income of those as talented as the S1 Team was not much different from other Hunters.

Of course, there was a tiny, tiny difference.

“Finger Techniqueeeee!!” The leader of the S1 Team, the only S-class among civil servant Hunters, and a famous star who was proud to know all Koreans, from 90-year-olds to 1-year-old children. “You trash bastard!” Daylight Robbery, ranked 3rd in popular Hunters selected by famous domestic magazines because of his smooth face and superb image-making, cried out, cursing Finger Technique in broad daylight.

‘There he goes again.’

Bae Soheon, who had been watching him all along, leaned on the sofa and shook his head. This wasn’t the first or second time Daylight Robbery, Yoon Saryeo, screamed. 

As much as everyone recognized the S1 Team’s ability, there were just as many tasks. Everyone knew that civil servant Hunters were short of manpower.

The low-ranking Hunters were dissatisfied because they couldn’t become civil servants, but the country was dissatisfied because they couldn’t bring in high-ranking Hunters. High-ranking Hunters were essential to clearing a gate with a high level of difficulty, but they were usually picked up quickly by guilds with good terms. The state could not offer the same conditions as the guilds. Ultimately, the Hunters who chose to become civil servants could be counted on one hand. There was a lot to do, but there was a manpower shortage. Therefore, they were constantly suffering from chronic work stress.

“Senior, what’s wrong with the team leader this time?”

“I don’t know. Finger Technique usually drives him crazy.”

How many times had Yoon Saryeo gone mad? The team members who used to be quiet and stiffened whenever he threw fits had now become used to his appearance. Whether this should be considered good or not, Bae Soheon witnessed the scene with a bitter face.

“Senior, I heard that the association headquarters are processing this gate, but it hasn’t been ranked yet.”

“Yeah. That’s why the summoning order has been given to Hunters of B-class or higher.”

“Then, is that person coming too? I mean Finger Technique,” a rookie who had just been assigned to Team S1 asked with a flushed face.

“Finger Technique? Do you know that sometimes, in novels, the main character hides his power for whatever reason? It would be easier to bring over a mountain god from Mount Nam than to bring over Finger Technique.”

“That serious? But shouldn’t Finger Technique come if the requirement is B-class or higher? They’re a Korean Hunter, after all.”

“That’s true in theory, but…” The theory differs slightly from reality, especially when you’re a powerful gangster.

Finger Technique belonged to an ordinary axis in terms of personality, unlike a highly-ranked Hunter, but she turned into a couch potato when it came to the terminal’s call. Plus, she was very expressive. She was the type to openly say, “I have a complaint,” all over her face.

“I don’t know. Finger Technique might not come.”

“What? Really?” Choi Doona, a rookie who had never seen Finger Technique, opened her eyes wide. 

Initially, it was natural for Hunters to respond to the nation’s call. This was because, in the end, only they would lose if the country went bankrupt for failing to suppress the open gate. Of course, the world’s top Hunters would be welcomed wherever they went, regardless of whether their own country had gone down, so it might be slightly different.

“It’s difficult to force Finger Technique or those Hunters from Daybreak. All we can do is beg them not to leave this country.”

“Still, Daybreak always responds to calls, right?”

“Yes. They’re based in this country. Besides, despite having a bad temper, the leader isn’t a bad person.” That person had a different side and knew the food chain concept best. “Anyway, I don’t know if they’ll come. It all depends on the team leader.”

“As expected of our leader. I heard he’s on a personal messages relationship with Finger Technique. That’s so cool.” Choi Doona’s bright eyes were pinned on Yoon Saryeo, who had his head slammed into his desk. Bae Soheon chose to keep quiet this time as well.

“Ah!” Yoon Saryeo, who had been banging his head on the desk for a while, raised his head. Mysteriously colored eyes flashed through his ghostly disheveled hair. “Yes! As long as I didn’t go!” He even talked to himself now.

‘Go where?’

Bae Soheon looked at Yoon Saryeo, who was talking to himself and giggling, with sad eyes. His stress seemed to have reached its limit lately and eventually peaked with Finger Technique.

‘I’m glad I’m not a team leader.’

He sighed in relief, recalling that he’d almost assumed the role of team leader of the A1 Team. Anything ordinary is good. You only live once, so live a long and ordinary one!

Bae Soheon turned his head away from the rampaging chief and turned his head to the file he was writing. This gate, which was supposed to be a wave, had been changed to a 100% dungeon, so they had to decide the order of entry into the dungeon. In theory, high-ranking Hunters had priority to enter, but since most Hunters belonged to guilds, the order of entry was guild-based. Some guilds had requested the first entry this time, so they had to reorganize the order differently from last time…

“Bae Soheon!”

Before he could finish his thoughts, a loud cry hit his ears. Bae Soheon looked up in surprise. Shit. Daylight Robbery’s face wore that Daylight Robbery-like smile.

“Come to my room for a minute.” 

An ominous feeling prevailed. Sure enough, the door was locked as soon as he entered Daylight Robbery’s room. It meant that there would be a story that could never be told outside. Bae Soheon swallowed.

“You go.”

“What?”

“I want you to go to Busan.” Yoon Saryeo manipulated the terminal and sent Bae Soheon a conversation with Finger Technique. Jiiing. The terminal vibrated lightly and displayed the received message.

Finger King ◀ [Daylight Robbery]

Hey, you’re so full of yourself ◀ [Daylight Robbery]

Hey, don’t ignore me!! Aaahh!! ◀ [Daylight Robbery]

[Finger Technique] ▶ What

[Finger Technique] ▶ I’m on my way to a vacation in Busan now

Although he only received five messages, Bae Soheon knew.

“Finger Technique is in Busan right now.”

He was so, so, so fXcked right now.

“And we don’t know the difficulty level of this gate. It can be a special, advanced, anything.”

So thoroughly fXcked.

“Without Finger Technique, the country might be ruined. So go and get her.”

Because the moment he got entangled with the one nicknamed “Finger Technique”, his philosophy of life was just a handful of ashes.

***

“Ah, so…that’s why you’re here in Busan now.”

“Yes. Sorry for interrupting your meal time.”

The sound of seagulls chirping is awesome. I was chewing on a Subway sandwich while looking at the untimely guest.

“…”

“…”

A fierce silence fell. I’d thought of calling IRL and going up when the time came, but I never thought they’d come for me already. Oh, of course, he didn’t come because he wanted to. Seeing his familiar face, I thought he was from the S1 Team.

“All right, so…you’re saying you really need me at this gate.”

“Yes. Finger- I mean, Coincidence-nim has already destroyed a special gate alone before. This gate’s rank is unknown. We believe that the country’s survival depends on this operation.”

Rustle. The paper wrapped around the sandwich showed off its presence. I agonized as I crumpled the sandwich into my empty stomach. How should I answer this?

I’d already decided to receive compensation from the Association Headquarters and the Dimension Society, but if I pushed it a bit further, I might also get it from the government. They’d even known that Coincidence was my secondary character, so there shouldn’t be any problem.

As I gulped down the orange-flavored carbonated drink like water, I stared intently at the Hunter who had come to see me. Then he opened his mouth as if he’d been waiting,  “If you respond to the gate suppression this time, we will pay you the same as the last time. First of all, we promise to transfer the ownership of an A-class or higher artifacts, a tax-free auction house, and various benefits for by-products of this gate.”

“Ah. Please sort it out and send it to me. But can I ask you something?”

“Please feel free to tell me.”

“I thought Daylight Robbery would come for sure, but someone else did,” I hinted, breaking the cookie into two pieces. It’s a little strange. I really thought he would come.

Only a few at the association, Dimension Society, and government officials knew the identity of Finger Technique. The country needed me, and I had to have a minimum link to do the Hunter job, so it was inevitable. However, I did not want to reveal my identity to the public, especially my mother.

So, three promises had been made for compromise.

First, they would cooperate in hiding my identity as Finger Technique.

Second, contact was only through one person.

Third, I would not emigrate while the above promise was kept.

And in the process, the only person who contacted me was ‘Daylight Robbery’, the strongest and most instructive of the very few Hunters who knew my identity. His rank was high, and his age was appropriate. He was the right person.

“It shouldn’t be difficult for him to come because he has acceleration characteristics. Did he pass out from anger?” I continued to ask, chewing on the cookie. Yeah, I read and ignored his messages, so did he get upset and have a stomachache? How could one live with that temper?

The Hunter, who was asked the sudden question, broke into a cold sweat. His pale complexion looked like a ghost from a horror movie I’d seen last night. “No. The chief was considerate in his own way, so he sent me so that you wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.”

“So it’s more about having to be thoughtful than being thoughtful for him? He truly made a lot of money from his nickname and name value.” It seems like he wants to be a bit more considerate of people, like doing a Daylight Robbery. I guess he’s got a reason to do image management. “Anyway, you did a great job coming this far. I was also curious about this gate, so I thought about going in.”

“Ah, is that so?” The man’s face flushed, although I hadn’t said I’d go immediately. “I have prepared a car in front, so you can get in. Please tell me where you are staying, and I will check out for you immediately.”

“That’s difficult. And I can’t go right away.”

“Yes?”

“I said it was a vacation, but I wasn’t really here to play.” What kind of person is the madam of my house? Would it really be a vacation if she was the one who proposed the idea? “I came to my relative’s house. I’m out to play with my cousin right now, so I have to babysit,” I said what I had to say confidently and firmly. I will call IRL and go there with him anyway, so why should I suffer now? The main character of the party is supposed to appear at the end.

Jiggling, jiggling.

There was the sound of a shop door opening. Maybe because it was a quiet time, the sound was deafening.

“Sister, are you done eating?” My younger brother, who came to his seat while dragging his slippers, looked at the Hunter sitting before me and made a strange expression.

Likewise, the Hunter also looked at my cousin and looked as if his mind had gone to Andromeda.

Why, you ask? Because I only said ‘my cousin’ and never said it was a child. For your information, my cousin is 18 years old this year.

Author's Thoughts

A fun trivia. The word “coincidence” in Korean are the first two letters of Woo Yeonhui’s name, which is “woo-yeon”.