Chapter 6

Chapter 2 – Hunter Specialized Company Rodri

The next day, I was tightening my tie while wearing a suit I had bought a long time ago.

Who would have thought I’d wear this suit again?

Looking at my awkward reflection in the mirror, I recalled the job offer I received yesterday.

Rodri.

A new company specializing in Hunter training.

Though it was a new company with little information, I decided to join after hearing the offer over the phone.

“Monthly salary of 300, plus bonuses depending on the situation. How does that sound?”

Of course, I immediately accepted.

How could I resist a monthly salary of 300 with no experience?

When I asked how they knew about me, they said it was a recommendation from a professor who had thought highly of me.

I thought that woman’s influence was still lingering, but they say perpetrators forget their victims easily.

It seems she’s finally forgotten about me and stopped badmouthing me to other companies.

Still, thanks to that, my doubts were cleared, and I quickly accepted the offer.

With rent due tomorrow, I didn’t care which company it was.

‘There’s another reason, though.’

The incident with the Returner Orzia yesterday.

A Dimensional Gate appeared in the middle of Hongdae, causing quite a stir on TV.

That incident reminded me of something I had aimed for a long time ago.

A world where Returners can return peacefully.

An old dream I once had.

‘It’s a vague dream from the past.’

It’s not very realistic, and it’s a broad thought, but it was still a dream.

My sister’s face, now gone, was enough to make me want to create such a world.

‘I don’t think I can achieve it now, though.’

I walked out of the house.

Still, it’s okay to dream a little, right?

Of course, as soon as I stepped out, I changed my mind.

‘I want to go home.’

I underestimated Seoul’s rush hour.

I experienced hell in the overcrowded subway.

‘Do they expect me to go through this every day?’

I’d rather bite my tongue and die.

Thinking that, I stepped outside, loosened my tie, and caught my breath.

Checking my phone, I saw I still had some time, so I decided to cool down and take it slow.

‘While resting.’

I opened a chat app.

It was a chat system linked to Road of Academy.

Even if I couldn’t play the game, I could chat with people who were online or using the app.

Noticing a familiar nickname, I started a conversation.

[ Doremipasolo: Hi, Juk-sim. ]

[ Juk-sim: Waves hello. ]

[ Doremipasolo: What are you up to today? ]

[ Juk-sim: Says I’m going to buy Pochi chips with sparkling eyes. ]

Sounds tasty.

Maybe I’ll buy some too when I get back.

[ Doremipasolo: You’ve been enjoying convenience stores lately, huh? ]

[ Juk-sim: Says there’s a lot that suits my taste, so it’s fun. ]

[ Doremipasolo: You’ve been going out a lot recently. ]

More of an extreme homebody gamer than me.

Juk-sim.

Always chats like that, but it’s become familiar now.

The only Challenger rank in our guild, and even reached rank 1.

Though Road of Academy is an RPG, it has a ranking system, and his rank greatly contributes to our guild’s ranking.

By the way, I don’t even know his gender.

I never asked, and I’ve never heard his in-game voice.

[ Juk-sim: Asks why I’m up at this hour. ]

[ Doremipasolo: I got a jobㅅㅅ ]

[ Juk-sim: Says a skull will fall on my head if I lie. ]

Why a skull?

After exchanging a few more words with Juk-sim, who didn’t believe I got a job, I safely arrived at Rodri Company.

Rodri Company, surprisingly, occupied an entire building for a new company.

Well, if they’re focusing on Hunter training, they’d need a lot of space.

‘These days, Hunters do YouTube too.’

It’s natural for anyone to want to be popular, and that includes Hunters.

Many Hunters do internet broadcasts.

Since Hunters can use special abilities, it’s easy to attract attention, and the more popular they become, the more money they make.

‘Not all Hunters are good-looking, though.’

As Hunters, they train their bodies, so they’re in good shape, and their unique aura easily captivates people.

That’s why many Hunter training companies encourage promising Hunters to increase their visibility through YouTube or TV appearances.

‘Whoever started this Hunter company must be rich.’

As long as I can make money, that’s all that matters.

The building is big, so at least they won’t run off without paying.

‘The elevator.’

After looking around the large first-floor desk, I found the elevator.

I was told my workplace would be on the 3rd floor, in the Hunter Training Support Department.

From the description, it didn’t seem much different from what I learned in university.

Systematic training systems for Hunters, strategies for dealing with Dimensional Beings, and material support.

As I got into the elevator, pressed the 3rd floor, and hit the close button, I heard hurried footsteps.

The owner of the footsteps clearly wanted to catch the elevator, so I quickly pressed the open button.

There stood a woman in a suit with silver hair.

“Thank you.”

Her silver hair flowing down made me think she might be a goddess.

‘Not a regular person, a Hunter? Some Hunters’ hair changes when they awaken their abilities.’

Or maybe a Returner.

Returners aren’t common, but this is a Hunter training company.

With a building this big, it’s not strange to have a few Returners employed.

As I stared at her, I quickly looked away.

If I kept staring, I might really get sued this time.

But then, for some reason, she started staring at me.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I glanced at her and said,

“I like men.”

“Ah, I see.”

Why is she convinced?

Does she think I look like I like men?

My ultimate move didn’t work.

I was expecting a reaction like Ayu’s, but she just smiled slightly.

“Don’t worry. Our company doesn’t care about that. By the way, I was staring because you’re new.”

Does she have mind-reading powers?

If she’s a Hunter or Returner, she might actually have that ability, so I quickly changed my thoughts.

“I started today. My name is Kang Ha-chan.”

“Nice to meet you, Ha-chan. I’m Baekseolhyang.”

As she smiled and replied, the elevator dinged and stopped at the 3rd floor.

I said, “Well then,” and left, and she waved lightly.

‘They said the company was just established. Does she remember everyone’s face?’

With a 10-story building, there must be quite a few people working here.

Looking back at the elevator, it went all the way to the 10th floor and stopped.

Usually, the top floor is the chairman’s floor, right?

“Hmm, probably not.”

Believing it wasn’t what I expected, I started my first day at work.

—

Rodri Company, 10th floor.

Only special guests could enter this floor, and the one who got off was Baekseolhyang, who had just met Ha-chan.

She stretched her long legs under her skirt and walked slowly, soon leaning her head against a door.

‘What do I do? I met him and talked.’

Her calm face was gone, and her ears turned bright red as she panicked.

Meeting the person she had longed for made her heart race uncontrollably.

How many years has it been since she last saw his face?

She couldn’t tell.

But it seemed he didn’t remember her.

That’s understandable.

She had changed so much.

“What do I do? Did I say anything weird? I introduced myself, but did I stutter?”

Anyone who knew her would be shocked to see her acting like a pure girl.

Unable to control her pounding heart, she pressed her face with her hands when the door creaked open.

There stood a tall woman in a suit, bowing to her.

Seeing her, Baekseolhyang’s face instantly returned to normal.

The blush from earlier was gone, and the always composed woman was back.

“Eun-hyeon, did you handle what I asked?”

“Of course, who do you think you’re asking?”

Remembering her encounter with Ha-chan on the way up, her ears turned red again, but she skillfully hid her emotions and sat on the sofa as if it were her own home.

The room, which looked incredibly luxurious, didn’t fit a new company at all.

“Take good care of him for a while. Without making it obvious, okay?”

“Yes, I’ll make sure you don’t have to worry.”

“But make sure to send him off strictly at quitting time. Don’t call him on weekends. I can’t live without him.”

Eun-hyeon bowed again and agreed.

The woman’s words were like absolute commands.

“So, any recent news?”

“A Returner appeared, and during the process, Returner Cheonma Cheon Hong-ryun and Kang Ha-chan were confirmed to have intervened.”

“Cheonma, Cheonma.”

She began tapping her cheek with her index finger.

Returner Rank S.

A Returner who turned Incheon’s Jung-gu into a wasteland in an instant due to dimensional travel.

But she shut down the Dimensional Gate herself and cleared the corruption in an instant.

That alone was enough to place her among the few S-rank Returners worldwide.

‘Why did she move again after showing no signs of activity?’

Ha-chan, whom she had seen today, appeared in Baekseolhyang’s eyes.

She stretched her red lips with her finger, her eyes glowing with a cold light.

“Cheonma, it’s been a while. I should meet her again.”

“Shall I arrange a meeting?”

“Yes, do that.”

“Understood, Chairman.”

Chairman of the World Returner Association.

The Iron-Blooded Empress.

S-rank Returner Baekseolhyang.

Her nickname in Road of Academy was “I Know.”