Chapter 10

[『Emergency Quest』 has arrived.]

Emergency Quest.

As the name suggests, these are bizarre missions that suddenly appear and disappear just as quickly.

Lee Seong-han was also aware of it.

Living as a Hunter, how could he not know about such things?

He had experienced it a few times before.

Though not as desperate as this scale.

[Run away.]

“Run away? Inside a hospital?! These damn bastards. You should say something that makes sense. I’m going crazy, seriously.”

Lee Seong-han held his forehead.

It was because of the piercing headache.

He really didn’t want to be hospitalized again.

[The quest area is limited to ‘Inside the National Army Capital Hospital.’]

[If you leave, you will be immediately summoned to ‘Kang Jin-young.’]

[You cannot inflict physical harm on ‘Kang Jin-young.’]

Playing hide-and-seek in the National Army Capital Hospital?

If I run outside, I’ll get teleported to the seeker?

It’s a death game where getting caught means the end. I’ve only seen this kind of thing in anime.

Lee Seong-han found the situation so amusing that his eyes turned red.

He imagined it.

The image of Kang Jin-young catching him. Lee Seong-han was worried about the National Intelligence Service (lifetime position) if he failed.

If that meant being pampered under the table.

He desperately wanted to refuse.

Home.

Desk.

Home.

Desk.

If anyone repeats that, they’ll definitely turn into a corpse.

Is this a surprise from the Tower before returning to duty?

“Oh, right. You’ve gone mad trying to screw me over.”

Just because I killed one Hatchling. Ugh, these damn brats.

He thought of a countermeasure.

If even Kang Jin-young was neutralized by [Mental Barrier], then countering with a mental series would be impossible.

Snap!

Kang Jin-young’s eyes twitched.

“My body feels weird. Suddenly, it’s hot… and my stomach is swelling up.”

Kang Jin-young hadn’t moved since pouncing.

As if [Time Stop] had been cast.

The quest exerted influence through powers beyond cognitive abilities.

Kang Jin-young slowly tilted her head.

It was the gaze of a beast that had found its prey.

“Really, just once. I’ll do it just once.”

[The target’s ‘???’ grows stronger.]

Her whole body trembled, and then her gaze changed.

A filthy aura emanated from her eyes. Like honey dripping down.

[The quest time limit is 180 minutes.]

[The quest will begin once ‘Kang Jin-young’s’ restraint is released.]

…

…

…

[Activating Auto Combat.]

Lee Seong-han had no alternative.

He quickly swung his sword.

An A-grade item received from Kang Mi-young.

Its cutting power and durability were incredible.

[Due to the caster’s traits, all of ‘Kang Jin-young’s’ stats increase by 6x.]

“Mother****er.”

I’m screwed. Lee Seong-han immediately ran. If caught, I’m dead.

* * *

“Alright, everyone, back to your rooms. This is an order.”

“Thank you for the signature!”

“Go on now.”

Kang Mi-young herded the hospital staff back.

She quietly walked to a secluded area of the Capital Hospital.

A vending machine placed against a red brick wall.

An officer in frog-patterned military uniform saluted stiffly.

As if addicted to caffeine.

He was holding all sorts of coffee.

“Loyalty!”

“Loyalty.”

“Wow, Major. Where did you find such a fancy vending machine?!”

“Got it from a consultation.”

She had obtained the free vending machine from a consultation with Baek Min-ho a few days ago.

“Those faking illness. You should cut them down.”

“No.”

“Come on. Don’t be like that. Here, the cards are dealt. The cards are dealt!”

Click-click-click-click-

A spacious poker table. The card machine dealt the hands.

“First, soldiers don’t make private compromises with civilians. Especially not with those who see patients as money.”

“Major, you’re not exactly normal for playing blackjack with such a person.”

“…It’s the only way to avoid terrible memories.”

Oops, shouldn’t have brought that up. Is this why they say not to gamble with patients?

Baek Min-ho, dressed in full uniform, whispered to himself.

“Hit?”

“No more cards. The hand is good.”

“Confident, aren’t you? Let’s go!”

Baek Min-ho and Kang Mi-young’s ‘mental consultations’ were always like this.

Extreme prescriptions and stimulating gambling and games.

She covered her mental pain with pleasure.

A kind of avoidance mechanism.

It wasn’t the right approach, but even strong medical drugs had no effect.

In fact, the mental symptoms became clearer.

“Vending machine always free. Levi’s, TPO, Starbucks. Any other drinks provided free of charge. Basic condition. I’ve got 20. 20! Just fold already.”

“Wow, a drop pollutes the lake. You can’t keep cheating. Stop peeking at the bottom.”

“Oh my, you’re so sharp.”

Kang Mi-young gritted her teeth with red eyes.

“Daily 10 free gacha tickets.”

“Huh… old things always rot. Fine, I’ll accept. 21. Take the vending machine and money.”

“You’re insane!”

And so, she stuffed her pockets with canned coffee.

“…By the way, where is that girl and what is she doing?”

Kang Mi-young tapped her forehead.

It was because of her younger sister, Kang Jin-young. Since childhood, she had been clever and monopolized their parents’ love.

Even Baek Min-ho, who had a bad temper, had a bad feeling about her from the start.

There was a possibility Kang Jin-young already knew and approached him.

Though he was a soldier by nature, she didn’t want him to die without seeing the light.

-“Lee Seong-han, you say?”

-“Yes, what did you think of him?”

-“…It was like he re-enlisted. The military is his calling, his true calling.”

Hearing the explanation of him being an Irregular and listening to field reports, he was indeed an unbelievable talent.

In terms of LoL tiers, he’s Grand Master.

In terms of gacha games, he’s a 0.000084% SSS-tier character.

And that’s with paid pulls!

He even makes good mixed coffee.

Aces paperwork.

Gets along well with the field staff.

And doesn’t stir up unnecessary trouble.

‘We need to nail him down.’

That was the dominant evaluation. Though there were a few who were jealous, there are always people who get annoyed when others do well.

Kang Mi-young agreed.

‘Losing such talent would be a national loss.’

She had already contacted the higher-ups.

‘By the way, Kang Jin-young. I didn’t mean to drag that bitch into this. Should’ve handled it alone. She’s had a good sense for people since she was young, after all.’

Thinking of her sister, her expression twisted strangely.

National Intelligence Service.

They’re practically enemies with the Hunter Management Bureau.

Both are public servants, and both have Awakened personnel, making it even more so.

As Kang Mi-young’s face twisted, the officer changed the topic.

“By the way, do you think he has a girlfriend? I heard you’ve been meeting him often lately.”

“We’ve been meeting often, but romance is something where men and women meet freely—”

Lieutenant Min cut her off.

“Yo-yo-yo, this is what you’re doing, right?! I saw it in a video.”

Lieutenant Min, who assists Kang Mi-young, made a gesture related to intercourse with both hands.

Kang Mi-young’s face turned bright red.

“This is a public place. Refrain from obscene actions.”

“No one’s around anyway?”

Lieutenant Min, finding it boring, squinted his eyes and cynically handed over the personnel documents.

“Hunter Service Studies graduate? Good academic background. This is rare!”

“Unauthorized access to personal information is illegal. Stop it.”

“Major, you’re the same, right? You brought this document for yourself to read, after all.”

Lee Seong-han’s personal information.

From his birth year to major life events, everything was written.

“By the way, about the girlfriend.”

“What do you think, Major?”

Kang Mi-young took a sip of canned coffee.

“I… don’t care.”

“I’ll bet on ‘he has a girlfriend.’ Such a warm appearance, outstanding personality, and excellence. Someone like that must have one! Mhm!”

“I’m not interested.”

“Oh? Then, can I try to seduce him?”

Kang Mi-young’s face twisted.

“No. I can’t waste talent on a third-rate like you.”

A murderous tone filled with venom.

Lieutenant Min flinched in surprise, then smiled strangely.

“Ohh, the romance business?!”

“Romance? I’m already thirty. Past the age for romance.”

“What are you saying! Your skin is flawless, not a single wrinkle. You even got ID-checked trying to buy soju at a convenience store, right?!”

“That was—”

Ring-ring-ring-

Ring-ring-ring-

“A call. No consultations today.”

“Should I step out?”

“No need. You already know everything. Like this vending machine.”

Kang Mi-young answered the phone. A loud crashing noise echoed from afar.

“What’s going on?”

-There’s a beast trying to devour an Irregular right now.

“A monster? What’s its name?”

-Kang Jin-young. Kang Jin-young. Your sister! She’s about to ruin my money flow!! Come and clean this up!

Crash-boom-bang!

“Ma-Major! Over there!”

“Mana storm?”

Something unusual was happening.

[Magic is gathering at the ‘National Army Capital Hospital.’]

[Gate: National Army Capital Hospital has opened.]

Kang Mi-young set the canned coffee down on the floor.

“Let’s move.”

“Ah, understood!”

An Irregular.

“Let’s see if you can do it properly.”

A bright flash covered the area.

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