LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 109
“I pumped in some syrup! How’s that?”
“Hmm, not bad. Good job.”
“Hahaha!”
As I nodded, Jason returned to his seat.
He looked like a large dog wagging its tail.
Honestly, he did a good job in the last interview too, so it wouldn’t hurt to have a rematch later since he deserves some reward for that effort.
I turned my gaze back to Evan Harper.
“Evan, whether you evaluate or not, that’s up to you.”
After a brief pause, I continued.
“What I’m curious about is your identity as the first returnee. And, connected to that, why you are interested in me. Those two things, got it?”
“Hmm…”
“There has to be something to come in order to go out, right? What about you?”
“I see. I’ve figured out your personality. Then, let me be direct.”
Evan straightened up and placed both hands neatly on the table.
His gaze sharpened.
“Jeong Si-hyun Hunter. Are you really a returnee?”
“…What did you say?”
“I asked if you are a returnee.”
“They call someone from another world a returnee, right? I announced it like that because you, as the first, are called a returnee.”
“Hmm…”
I gave him an honest answer, and Evan’s expression furrowed.
Wondering what was up with him, I took another sip of coffee.
Evan, who was looking at my face, glanced at the coffee cup he set down on the table and then opened his mouth again.
“You and I are definitely different. You asked why I’m interested. It’s precisely because we’re different.”
“Hmm…, honestly, I don’t get it.”
“Well, since we don’t know much about each other, I can’t share all the information. You understand that, right?”
“…Ah, so you want to evaluate me about that.”
“Exactly.”
In the end, the conversation circled back to this point again.
That damn evaluation. Trust and evaluations about a person can’t be built overnight, after all.
It might be better to wrap up the conversation here.
I had someone waiting for me anyway.
“Well then, continuing this conversation would just be going around in circles. Just one more thing to confirm.”
“Go ahead.”
“Jason said he didn’t want any commotion. So this time he visited Korea quietly. What was the reason for that?”
“Ah, it’s nothing special.”
Evan returned to his expressionless state and spoke in a monotone without any emotional rise.
“I considered the possibility of collaborating with you. I was careful to ensure I didn’t disrupt your progress so far.”
“Hahaha! Evan is such a perfectionist.”
Jason laughed heartily, adding to Evan’s explanation.
Just as Evan seemed to understand my personality, I had a pretty good grasp of his too.
“…That’s a pass.”
I chuckled slightly and stood up.
I still didn’t know if this guy was good or bad, or to be precise, what he was up to.
But at least he passed on attitude.
Since he said he would evaluate me, I should evaluate Evan as well.
“Oh, right.”
“Did you forget something?”
“I’m going on a trip soon. Since I liked your attitude, I’ll specially teach you how to score points with me.”
“Huh?”
Evan leaned forward as if urging me to speak.
“You developed and upgraded the gate measurement device, right? Am I right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then, those special dungeons with failed observations that go wild when they get boring. Can you manage to get some observations on that? If you do, that would be a big plus for me.”
“…It’ll take a few weeks.”
“Perfect. If you have nothing to do, go ahead and upgrade that. Evaluate as you see fit. I’ll do my own work meanwhile.”
As I kindly explained, Evan slowly nodded.
I had given a kind assignment to a perfectionist, leaving only his response left.
If he diligently completed the assignment like students, I would rate him higher.
Evan would assess me as he wanted.
Once we both evaluate each other, we could resume our conversation then.
“I have a promise to keep, so I’m off.”
I waved lightly to Jason, leaving Evan deep in thought.
With that, I stepped out of the conference room.
When trying to hide my identity, that might matter.
But now that the cat was out of the bag, finding out about Evan wasn’t that important anymore.
“…Now, the real deal starts.”
I would shake the whole world up.
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of my footsteps echoed in the empty hallway.
With each step I took,
It resonated through the corridor like a giant bell ringing, both cheerful and heavy.
It was a signal announcing the path I was about to take.
* * *
[Breaking News: Japan’s SS-rank Dungeon Assault Fails! Multiple Hunters Dead in Shock.]
[Worldwide Increase in High-rank Dungeons. Chaos Continues.]
[Jeong Si-hyun Hunter, contrasting her brilliant debut with an unexpectedly quiet progression.]
[“Is she a hidden card or just overly silent?” Opinions vary.]
The global situation continued to change.
S-rank dungeons began to appear frequently all over the place.
Countries with strong national power that have enough hunters began to tackle dungeons by themselves.
However, nations lacking high-rank hunters
gradually crumbled or had to seek support from other countries.
Among them, especially the SS-rank dungeon recently announced by the World Hunter Association.
Though there have been few cases, its notoriety was already tremendous.
Japan gathered S-rank hunters from their metropolitan area to challenge it, but they failed miserably.
This news of failure shocked multiple nations and citizens around the world.
That was because they invested a significant number of high-rank hunters.
They had no idea when or how their own countries might be affected.
This was enough to incite a sense of fear.
So far, Korea had not seen an SS-rank dungeon appear.
But anyone, even an ordinary citizen, could foresee the situation.
One day, it would inevitably happen.
[Title: Dungeons Are Really Intense Lately]
[ㅇㅇ]
Heard news from Japan, looks like there are almost no survivors from the SS-rank dungeon.
If they reattempt, is it possible to clear it?
– Gotta do it, right? Hahaha
└ Seriously, lol.
– If the dungeon goes wild, it’ll really be wiped out.
└ Just imagining it is terrifying. D:
└ Isn’t it nations getting taken down instead of cities? D:
– They still have many high-rank hunters, don’t they? They should manage just fine. Hehehe
[Title: Honestly, This is a Bit Scary for Our Country Too]
[ㅇㅇ]
It’s just that SS hasn’t shown up yet, but how many S-rank dungeons are popping up right now? D:
– Won’t Jeong Si-hyun Hunter and Kim Ji-a Hunter duo take care of it for us?
└ It’s been too quiet lately, which is a bit concerning…
└ But those two are basically unaffiliated hunters. Isn’t there a chance they could leave for overseas?
└ The management bureau will handle it well;;;
└ How does the management bureau control strategic weapon-level hunters? LMAO
– For now, guilds can hold on by forming unions. But it’ll get messy if more show up, I guess?
└ True, that’s frightening.
[Title: Oh, Hot News Just Came In]
[ㅇㅇ]
S-rank dungeon appeared in Incheon yesterday.
Heard that Jeong Si-hyun Hunter and Kim Ji-a Hunter duo wiped it out immediately? Hahaha
– Just like that, they shine!
– Damn, I had faith, LOL
– Hurry and get rid of the other dungeons too!
– Ugh, if those two don’t return I’m done.
– What the hell, LOL. Clearing an S-rank dungeon in a day? LOL
– For real, LOL. I feel so safe now!
Recently, citizens cheered at the unexpected news of the two who had been quiet for a while.
The community was in an uproar.
However, the next day.
[Breaking News: Jeong Si-hyun and Kim Ji-a Hunters, After S-rank Dungeon Clear, Suddenly Headed to Japan!]
[“Traveling to Japan at this time?” Jeong Si-hyun and Kim Ji-a Hunters, an unexpected choice.]
[“Why Japan of all places?” Jeong Si-hyun Hunter, drawing heated reactions with her surprising actions.]
No one saw this coming.
Those hearing the news for the first time were in disbelief.
However, those who had already left were gone.
The citizens’ reactions were intense.
[Title: They’re definitely coming back, right?]
[ㅇㅇ]
Is this just a vacation? Just a vacation? It has to be a vacation, right?
Please tell me it’s so…
– Wow, both are unaffiliated so it’s pretty scary.
– Nah, it can’t be. No way.
– Seriously, it’s not some hunter broker in Japan, right?
└ Ji-a wouldn’t do such a thing!
– In this climate… What on earth is the management bureau doing?
└ How do you stop the ‘measuring impossible grade’ when she says she’s going?
└ I’m just praying that this isn’t a stealth mission.
└ LOL, seriously, they did leave honestly.
[Title: Then what was that S-rank dungeon in Incheon all about?]
[ㅇㅇ]
Are you saying they just went for a trip and happened to wipe out the dungeon near the airport?
– What the hell, LOL.
– Hahaha.
– This is ridiculous, LOL.
– S-rank dungeons are just convenient wipes? Hahaha.
└ For real, if that’s true, the level is just different. LOL.
– What’s most frightening is how convincing this post sounds. D:
└ Agreed, haha.
└ Honestly, it’s plausible. LOL.
└ On the contrary, that means they’ll be back, right?
Reactions varied widely.
But the meaning contained within was similar.
Wishing for the return of Jeong Si-hyun Hunter and Kim Ji-a Hunter as soon as possible.
To free them from the fear of high-rank dungeons.
Si-hyun’s plan to stoke the citizens’ anxiety successfully kicked off.
Now, the real beginning had started.
* * *
Meanwhile, for Si-hyun herself.
After arriving safely in Japan, she moved smoothly to her accommodation without any incident.
From the start, she booked an intentionally ordinary place, fearing that if she had too good of an experience, she’d only seek greater luxuries thereafter.
The joy of travel, in her view, was in the fun of gradually discovering new delights.
Someday, she would enjoy a top-notch lodge, but for now, this was sufficient.
…And then, she discovered an unexpected variable.
‘…There are two beds.’
Two twin beds.
So far, so good.
One to use for herself and the other for Ji-a and Si-yoon.
It might be a little selfish, but it couldn’t be helped.
But then came the kicker.
‘Wait, the beds are in the same room…?!’
At this rate, it wouldn’t matter whether she used one bed alone or shared it.
She had picked the kitchen-living room combo as the prettiest from the list sorted out by the management bureau.
Other parts… She must have checked too carelessly.
There was no one she could point fingers at.
It was entirely her mistake.
“…Hold on a minute, I wasn’t the only one looking at the accommodation photos, right?”
When sorting the list, she distinctly recalled asking for opinions from her companions, Ji-a and Si-yoon, and deciding together.
If that was the case, there were two possibilities.
Either everyone glanced at it carelessly.
Or someone knew and feigned ignorance.
“…”
Si-hyun turned around immediately to face her siblings and Ji-a.
The two were looking at her, holding their mouths with their hands, trying to suppress laughter.
“Both of you, put your hands down.”
With an expression of disbelief, Si-hyun demanded.
The two slowly lowered their hands.
Both burst into quiet giggles.