Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log

We kindly ask for your understanding regarding the inconsistency of character pronouns, particularly for the Entities (ex. The Greedy Predator). In Korean, pronouns are rarely used, making it challenging to ascertain a character's gender or identity until later narratives unfold. Given this is a guest-funded site, the time to backtrack is better used to keep other works' going. On a more important note, refrain from sharing this work on social media to ensure our survivability. Thank you for your cooperation!

— Understood. I’ll dispatch them as soon as the preparations are complete.

“Don’t worry about spreading the rumors. I happen to have someone among my subordinates who can handle that.”

Yun Jaeheon noticed that his subordinates had distanced themselves from him. Among them, he spotted a member with brown hair, and as their eyes met, he restrained a sinister smile. The member’s face turned pale.

“Contact me when you’re ready.”

— Sure. Don’t just worry all the time. Take care of yourself as well.

With a final farewell, the call ended. Yun Jaeheon returned his phone to his pocket and turned his gaze toward the mercenary member who had made eye contact with him.

“Patrick, if our eyes meet, you should come directly to me, understood?”

“Oops. No, sir, it’s just…”

“Is your training not yet complete?”

In the blink of an eye, Patrick stood before Yun Jaeheon and saluted. “Yes, sir! What can I do for you!?” It was truly an exemplary display of a disciplined soldier.

“I believe we need to manipulate public opinion.”

“Well, that’s my specialty. What kind of manipulation are we talking about?”

“Soon, there will be a rumor circulating about Headbang in Korea. Ensure that public opinion solidifies so those who seek to undermine her won’t be able to make a move.”

For Patrick, who was once a wanted hacker and possessed exceptional skills, it was easier than lying down and blowing his nose. He would naturally carry it out if his superior gave him an order, but he found it perplexing.

“Isn’t this beyond the scope of our mercenary group’s concerns? Are you personally getting involved due to the L-class threat in Korea, sir? Well, I mean, Headbang’s appearance was quite astonishing.”

“Of course, I have to get involved. I can’t tolerate seeing those fools tarnishing my sister’s reputation.”

“…Excuse me? Wait, huh? Excuse me!?” Did he hear that correctly? Whose sister? …The branch manager’s sister? “Hold on a moment. I’m completely confused right now. So, who… H-Headbang is your own sister?”

Patrick’s exclamation reached even the members who were looking at him with pity from behind. They all widened their eyes as if they couldn’t believe it.

Headbang, the person who entered the Labyrinth just a few days ago? The person who seemed to bear absolutely no resemblance to Yun Jaeheon?! Was this real?

“Yes, that’s correct. So you better do your best. If, by any chance, you make a mistake, it won’t be just re-education, Patrick.” Yun Jaeheon gave a gentle smile that matched his calm demeanor and patted Patrick’s shoulder. However, Patrick’s face turned pale as if he had encountered the devil himself.

Unbelievable. Headbang was the branch manager’s sister.

The genius branch manager, who could manipulate people with a smile, had a sister whom he cherished above all. To know that that Headbang was the only person who could transform Yun Jaeheon’s calm waters into a storm!

‘This is disastrous. If I make a mistake, I’m truly doomed.’

There was an incident where an Athena official asked if the branch manager’s sister was attractive and if he could be introduced to her. That guy had nearly crossed the Styx River. That official would have vanished across the river if Ali hadn’t knocked out the enraged Yun Jaeheon.

Patrick’s heart pounded as the memory of that incident resurfaced. He had to succeed. No matter what happens, he must shape Headbang into the ultimate heroic image. His life depended on it!

***

It was a dream.

As Seora became aware of her surroundings, she realized she was in a dream world. After all, her mother, Hyeon Jaehui, was there, smiling brightly.

‘Seeing you like this, you really do look young.’

Instead of crying and running into her mother’s arms like a child, Seora stood still and gazed at her.

Her mother, who bore a striking resemblance to her brother, had departed from the world at the age of thirty-six. She was so young, full of life, and in the prime of her existence. That’s why Seora had a question she wanted to ask.

Weren’t you afraid of dying at such a young age?

“…?”

Seora listened to the voice that reached her. Whenever she encountered her mother in her dreams, she would often cry and wake up. So today, she intended to observe quietly.

“I don’t particularly hold any resentment towards you. There’s no reason to.” But who on earth was her mother talking to in this dream? “It’s not your fault that the world has turned out this way. It’s not as if you desire the world’s destruction either.”

“Mhmm, it doesn’t really matter which way things go.”

Unlike her mother, Seora couldn’t hear the voice of the person her mother was conversing with in the dream. She couldn’t see their form either. However, to her surprise, her mother continued to engage in a lively conversation with someone visible to her. The vibrant voice seemed to be singing.

“That’s enough. Saying it doesn’t matter means you could lean toward one side, right? I’ll do it. I can do it very well.” Hyeon Jaehui smiled brightly as she looked in Seora’s direction. “So, would you like to make a bet on whether your heart will lean or not?”

Seora was taken aback. Did their eyes meet? No, that’s not it. What she saw was not her.

Behind her, was someone standing there?

The moment she thought that, a firm hand grasped her shoulder. It was a touch that felt familiar, as if she had experienced it before, sending shivers down her spine.

<I didn’t expect to find you here, not in the usual place.>

A voice filled with static. Seora slowly lifted her head. Her gaze met the beautiful green eyes she had seen twice before in her dreams. The man smiled awkwardly.

<Even if I don’t want to show it, in the end, it flows toward you.>

“You… Have you met my mother?”

This was not just a fantasy but a vivid recollection of something that had truly occurred in the past.

Seora grabbed the man by his collar. His white shirt opened up as she clenched her fist, revealing his pristine white chest. Although his appearance was flawless like pure white jade, his exposed body bore the marks of painful scars.

“Who are you?”

<We have met not just twice, but three times already, yet you never mention the word ‘fate.’ Secretly, I had hoped for it.>

“Who are you!?”

<Since there is a third encounter, there may be a fourth. Remember that moment. It is time for you to wake up now.>

“Where are you going!?”

<Wake up swiftly. The place you are sleeping is not safe at all.>

The man tightly held onto Seora’s arms and forcefully pushed her backward. Damn it, not again!

Even as Seora stumbled backward, she never took her eyes off the man. There was a hint of sorrow in his demeanor.

<Since Hyeon Jaehui is no longer alive, I have no choice but to tell you. Remember, in the end, she emerged victorious in the bet.>

Those were the last words she heard. She abruptly awoke from her slumber before she could even process what was happening.

‘Not again!’

Seora blinked rapidly, her head throbbing. It was a situation similar to her previous two dreams, but this time it felt even more unsettling, unlike anything she had experienced before.

The fact that the man appeared in her dreams couldn’t be a mere coincidence. It seemed to be something inherited from her mother’s time, perhaps a twist of fate itself.

The problem was, she had no clue what that twisted fate could be.

If he appeared in her dreams again next time, whether she grabbed him by the collar or confronted him in any other way, she was determined to uncover the truth and put an end to it. That mesmerizingly beautiful face suddenly felt incredibly eerie. And those dreadful scars, they were indeed real… That guy was seriously strange, wasn’t he?

【The sole contractee for Planet—Earth’s system administrator is currently located within the Labyrinth.】

However, Seora’s contemplation was quickly interrupted.

【Synchronization is in progress.】

【Synchronization progress — 51%】

She was taken aback by the consecutive messages. Did the synchronization progress have anything to do with her entering the Labyrinth?

Moreover, the rate of progress was different from before. Previously, it would increase by 10-15%, but this time it had only advanced by a mere 1%.

What could be the reason for this difference?

【Administrator: ｡･ﾟﾟ۹(>д<)۶ﾟﾟ･｡】

At that moment, the administrator sent a crying emoticon, questioning why she had woken up just now. Seora couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease.

【Administrator: (>д<)︻┻┳══━】

The message was a clear warning to prepare for an imminent attack. It meant that the dreaded red dragon, rumored to lurk in the dungeon’s depths, was finally about to reveal itself.

Seora’s eyes, previously filled with confusion and unexpected events, quickly regained their focus. The mysterious man from her dreams or any other distractions were no longer the immediate concern.

“Yun Seora? Why can’t you sleep? What’s the matter?”

Seora urgently addressed Monique Ribery and Ali Russo, who were on watch duty.

“Wake everyone up. The dragon will be here soon.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t sense anything.”

“It’s what my Entity conveyed to me. I’m certain of it.”

As Seora hurriedly moved about, others began to awaken from their slumber. It was natural for most of them to find it hard to believe that the dragon would actually appear, except for Seong Jarim and Kang Sejun.

“Move swiftly. If Seora says so, then it must be true.”

“If you wish to avoid a miserable fate, it’s best not to doubt Yun Seora’s words.”

Even though Yun Seora had only recently achieved the L-class status, what was the basis for this unwavering trust in her? It was somewhat perplexing, but the fact that both Seong Jarim and Kang Sejun raised their hands in support of Seora was enough to sway the opinions of the others. The eight of them swiftly organized their positions and prepared for battle.

“How long have we been inside the Labyrinth?” Julian inquired, and Kang Sejun raised his hand. A clock made of crimson mana materialized in the air, ticking away slowly.

“It’s been 127 hours and 14 minutes.”

Nearly five days had passed. During that time, the raid team had navigated through the dungeon, contending with waves of snakes. Although the responsibility of clearing out the snakes primarily fell upon the DPS, everyone else had to lend a hand as well, depleting their mana reserves in the process.

“They are likely plotting to wear us down and then consume us. Intelligent creatures always make things challenging.”

All heads turned toward Kang Sejun’s remark.

Under the blood-red sky, where the passage of time felt distorted, a vast multitude of snakes was once again gathering on the horizon.