LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 7
[Title: Lately, Are E-rank Dungeons Getting Fewer?]
[??]
Is it just my imagination?
– Nah, you’re just mistaken.
– Our nearby dungeon got cleared all at once yesterday!
– It seems like the higher-ranked dungeons are increasing instead.
└ Are you talking about E-rank dungeons? You’re off-topic.
—
[Title: Recommend a Work Featuring a Silver-Haired Blue-Eyed Girl]
[??]
I’m really into this lately.
– Why are you asking about this in the Hunter Gallery? LOL Go somewhere else!
– Is it for WEGRE?
└ That’s changed recently.
– Have you ever seen a saint that uses magic well? (link)
└ Are you bringing in newborns, you creep?
└ Don’t say that, just read it, it’s fun!
– I’m also really into it lately, so I’ll organize and share.
—
*
The section chief of the Hunter Management Agency, Jang Han-soo, glared at the computer screen.
Data related to the app used by hunters was organized and lined up.
He checks the desired information through administrative rights.
Korea, especially within the gates of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.
A strange change has recently occurred.
A change that might have gone unnoticed if he wasn’t a public servant.
‘Periodically, densely concentrated gates are being cleared.’
The occurrence locations of the gates and dungeons are random.
No one knows where they will appear.
Thanks to an invention by a returnee from America, early observations are merely possible.
Someone seems to be clearing those gates, as if saying, “I’m tired of this, let’s get it done.”
Chief Jang opened a hunter’s data.
Jeong Si-hyun, E-rank hunter, paladin.
The information hasn’t been fully released yet, but she is the second returnee worldwide.
Over the past week, she cleared one D-rank dungeon and thirteen E-rank dungeons.
Considering the average dungeon entries by hunters, those are typical numbers.
She’s trying diligently, just that much.
However.
“Wow, Chief! What’s up with this hunter?”
“Oh, she’s someone who awakened recently.”
A passing team member’s eyes widened as she spoke.
“She did four dungeons in one day, rested for two days, and is repeating that?”
“Exactly.”
“That’s really unusual. Wouldn’t it be better to enter consistently just once each day?”
“Must be some sort of specialty of the paladin.”
“Ah, well, she’s impressive anyway! Out of 13 E-ranked, she cleared 12 alone.”
The team member left, purely impressed by Si-hyun’s achievements.
The chief stared at the monitor once more.
Statistically, it might look average, so he probably wouldn’t have cared.
But seeing such detailed data now makes it seem like
‘I’m just average! So please don’t mind me!’ It’s like she’s claiming that.
Could it be an illusion?
The chief rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.
…
It’s better to give her a call.
He stood up from his desk and moved to the break room.
In the quiet space, he tried to call Si-hyun.
…No answer.
Is she inside a dungeon?
If that’s the case, then it’d be impossible to take calls.
…No, wait.
When he checked earlier, there were no indications of that.
He texted Si-hyun instead.
After grabbing a drink, he returned to the break room.
Then, his phone vibrated.
“This is Jang Han-soo from the Management Division. You called.”
– …You sent a text, right?
Through the phone came a lovely voice.
Her clear and soft voice softly tickled his ears.
“Yes, since you’re Korea’s first returnee, I thought I’d check in regularly. Are you busy?”
– ……A bit.
“Ah, I see.”
Suddenly, the chief was at a loss for words.
It was apparent that she was reacting like ‘I’m not really busy, but I don’t want to be bothered.’
Her tone was too calm to suggest she was truly busy.
“Well then, I won’t take up too much of your time; I’ll keep it short.”
The chief cleared his throat and continued.
“I wanted to recommend an academy admission. If money is an issue, we can also provide student loans, like in college.”
– ……I’m still not sure.
She didn’t seem interested in the academy admission.
The chief prepared to present his next thought.
“Well, how about we assign you a mentor?”
– A mentor?
“I’ll assign a hunter belonging to the management agency. You’ve already been to D-rank dungeons, but isn’t the restriction on E-rank dungeons inconvenient?”
– Hmm… I’ll think about it more.
A little bit, but it had some effect.
The chief let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
For now, he’d leave it at that.
“Alright, then. I’ll contact you again later.”
– Yes, take care.
After the call.
Chief Jang leaned against the wall and rubbed his forehead.
Offering a mentor from the management agency meant they’re treating her specially.
Unless she’s already part of a major guild, there wouldn’t be a hunter who’d refuse that.
But the reply he got was her being bothered and claiming she’ll think about it.
In other words, to her, a mentor is a “necessary evil.”
Indeed, she does have extraordinary abilities, but she seems to prefer avoiding hassle.
Suddenly, the words “hero party” flashed in the chief’s mind.
‘…I shouldn’t force it.’
Provoking rebellion might lead to unforeseen consequences.
Let’s develop this relationship slowly, step by step.
Though it might take a long time.
“Phew…”
A long road ahead.
But he can’t give up.
The frequency of high-ranked dungeons appearing worldwide is gradually increasing.
He needs to secure as much talent as possible.
He couldn’t let capable individuals be wasted.
*
After leaving the restroom, Si-yoon looked at the living room.
Her sister, comfortably sprawled out on the sofa, was deeply engrossed in her phone.
A smartphone floating in mid-air.
It adjusts automatically if her sister shifts positions. It’s incredible.
Can a saint do that too? A fleeting thought crossed her mind.
It’s been about a week since her sister, who used to be her brother, came home.
Her sister, who said she needed rest, had been living a rather regular life.
First, she wakes up before dawn and prays for hours.
At first, Si-yoon didn’t notice.
She just thought her sister woke up early.
But one morning, when Si-yoon woke up to use the restroom and saw her sister quietly praying in the living room, she was shocked and checked the time.
It was just after 5 a.m.
Without even the slightest movement, her sister kept praying until Si-yoon got up to eat breakfast with her.
Curiosity got the better of Si-yoon, and she asked.
“Even though this isn’t the other world anymore, do you still need to pray? You were an atheist before, right?”
“Hmm, it’s a habit, and this is how I gain strength, you know? Doesn’t that mean gods exist?”
She returned as a theist.
Apart from her diligent prayer, she was pretty much the same as she was when she was an atheist.
Next, after finishing her breakfast, her sister would lounge around watching TV or fiddling with her smartphone unless she had plans to go out.
Several times, Si-yoon heard her mumbling weird things.
“I want a status window… new ability!”
Is it related to being a hunter?
Not understanding her words, Si-yoon just brushed it off.
Recently, she created an account with her updated ID.
When they ordered takeout in the evening, it was her sister who started paying.
The menu was always chosen by Si-yoon, though.
As Si-yoon turned to head back to her room, her sister called out to her.
“Si-yoon.”
“Yeah?”
“I think something big is happening.”
“Uh?! What’s wrong?”
Si-yoon was startled and jumped at her sister’s sudden comment.
At her intense reaction, Si-hyun blinked a few times, making an awkward face.
“Ah, sorry! Just saying nonsense.”
“No, when you say it like that, it gets me curious…”
“Um, so you know, there’s this VTuber that’s just so cute.”
“……Huh?”
Si-hyun blushed as she spoke.
“It’s my favorite character, I think they say ‘favorite?’ The way the kid talks is so soft, and just so adorable!”
“Uh, um… can you show me who it is?”
“This one!”
Si-hyun beamed as she offered her phone.
Si-yoon instinctively felt a dread as she stared at the smartphone screen.
And then, she bowed her head.
Her face turned bright red.
She couldn’t lift her head in embarrassment.
“Uh, do you dislike VTubers?”
“No, it’s not that…”
She thought her sister had turned her interest to novels.
If she’d known, she would’ve bought her a computer or laptop.
To get her into gaming.
Si-yoon peered at her sister through a small gap between her fingers.
Her sister’s face was puzzled.
It seemed she still didn’t know who the VTuber was.
That was a relief.
“The voice reminds me of you when you were little. Sometimes they act cute, which is oddly charming.”
“……”
Hearing her pretend to be cute in front of her was… a bit awkward.
“I’m glad you don’t dislike it. Can I connect this to the TV and watch?”
“……Sure.”
So she wanted to connect it to the TV and watch.
Si-yoon nodded slowly.
Thank goodness, it seemed her acting skill paid off.
Honestly, she wanted to tell her to stop.
But seeing that innocent smile on her sister’s face, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
After all, she’s been through so much in the other world for years.
It’s not like she’s been caught or anything. Watching a little is bearable.
But she still had to set a condition.
“But, let’s watch something else on the TV after I finish work.”
“Hmm? Of course. I’m not the only one using it, after all.”
At Si-yoon’s words, Si-hyun smiled brightly in agreement.
From the start, she’s the one mooching off her sister.
Just understanding her new preferences is enough to be truly grateful.
Besides, her sister kindly informs her about the things she doesn’t know.
She helps her do what she wants to do.
If the hero party resembled even 1% of this, it would have been great.
“…I’ll head out to work now.”
“Okay!”
Si-yoon trudged back to her room.
Si-hyun tilted her head, watching her suddenly low-energy little sister.
‘That must be due to hard work.’
Would she look that way the next time she goes to tackle a dungeon?
She thought about being a little more attentive as she turned her head away.
The main screen of TTube appeared on the TV.
Several recommended videos tempted Si-hyun.
Among them, her eyes were drawn to the news section unintentionally.
[Hunter Assaults Civilian. Undergoing Detention.]
Assault by a hunter on civilians.
Recent memories of a stalker popped up in her mind.
Thanks to thorough repentance, she hadn’t seen the man since.
“…That’s dangerous.”
Her pretty, cute little sister might charm someone again.
What if that someone happens to be a hunter?
And what if she wasn’t around? What if she was far away?
Frowning her beautiful face, Si-hyun’s gaze landed on a card on the table’s corner.
A business card from the kind-hearted person number one.
A guild run by a crafting hunter.
She might have to visit while tackling some dungeons too.