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Chapter 47
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Jang Han-soo, the section chief at the Hunter Management Bureau, was taking a brief break while drinking coffee in the break room.
Although he had been swamped with work lately, the situation wasn’t bad.
Kim Ji-a, a hunter who was already well-known, recently gained even more momentum.
Her achievements seemed to have inspired other high-ranking hunters, leading to a surge in their activities.
Not only that, but hunter activity overall had increased.
As a result, things had gotten busier, and incidents had become more frequent.
Still, it was much better than dealing with out-of-control gates at their deadlines.
“Those were awful times….”
The section chief reflected on the past.
It was shortly after the Great Cataclysm occurred.
Before the first returnee from the United States launched their invention, uncontrolled dungeons frequently went berserk.
Inside a dungeon, the number of monsters could be steadily reduced over time.
But when a dungeon went berserk, all the monsters would rush out through the gate at once.
To stop such situations without casualties required a massive number of personnel.
At least 15, no, 20 hunters of the same rank were needed.
Meeting that number wasn’t easy, and there were always significant losses.
Compared to those days, the frequency of high-ranking dungeon appearances had increased, but things were much more peaceful now.
‘As long as high-ranking dungeons don’t go berserk, that is….’
Thanks to people like Hunter Kim Ji-a, the current situation was manageable.
Frankly, dungeon raids in regional areas were always precarious.
There was a global shortage of high-ranking hunters, not just in Korea.
That’s why, even though the workload was exhausting, the section chief appreciated the current atmosphere.
– Buzz….
“Hmm?”
Feeling the vibration in his pocket, the section chief took out his smartphone.
It was a message from a hunter he had recently been closely observing.
He slowly read the message.
“Hello, Section Chief. This is Si-hyun. I’d like to take an E-rank hunter to a C-rank dungeon. Is that possible?”
It was a simple enough request.
Guilds often made similar requests for rookie training.
‘This is perfect timing.’
The section chief quickly came up with an idea.
There was a troublesome dungeon he’d been worried about.
In fact, he had been in the break room trying to clear his head because of it.
Wouldn’t Si-hyun be able to handle it smoothly?
If he politely requested her help, she would probably agree.
He believed they had built enough of a rapport for her to consider it.
Having made up his mind, the section chief called Si-hyun.
– …Hello?
“Hello, Si-hyun. I’m calling after reading your message.”
The section chief exchanged formal greetings with Si-hyun.
Then he got straight to the point.
“The request to accompany the E-rank hunter to a C-rank dungeon is fine. Before that, could I ask you for a favour?”
– …A favour?
“Yes, I don’t think it will be difficult for you.”
The section chief summarized the situation for Si-hyun.
Recently, a large C-rank dungeon had appeared in Seoul.
Two hunter parties, each primarily composed of C-rank members—a total of eight people—were sent in.
However, one party was wiped out, delaying the raid.
He wanted to ask Si-hyun to help clear that dungeon.
“I’m not using your request as leverage to force this. I’m just asking for your help. What do you think?”
– …I see.
There was a pause in the response, indicating that Si-hyun was deep in thought.
The section chief silently prayed that she would agree.
Large dungeons were avoided by most hunters.
Depending on their scale, they were often impossible to clear in a single day.
Moreover, rumours about this dungeon had spread.
Rumours about the party that had been wiped out.
As a result, the dungeon had become an outright no-go zone.
Fortunately, the remaining party stated they would continue the raid if reinforcements arrived.
If Si-hyun participated, they would undoubtedly clear the dungeon with ease.
No, even if she went alone, it would be more than enough.
‘Please, please….’
The section chief stared at the break room ceiling, his eyes bloodshot.
One minute felt like ten.
He downed the rest of his coffee in one gulp.
Then he leaned back again, staring at the ceiling.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he heard her response.
– …I’m okay with it. But it’s not something I can decide alone. Could I discuss it and get back to you?
“Of course! Take your time, and let me know when you’re ready.”
It was a positive answer!
The section chief couldn’t hide his delight, his lips curling into a grin.
Though it wasn’t a complete agreement yet, there was now hope for dealing with the troublesome dungeon.
As the call ended, the section chief left the break room.
Though there was still a mountain of work to do, he felt a weight lifted off his shoulders.
He returned to his office with a smile, glad he had taken the time to build a good relationship with her.
***
Si-yoon, who had been slumped over her desk, slowly raised her head.
On the monitor, the words “Game Over” loomed with overwhelming presence.
Seizing the opportunity, the viewers went wild.
– LOL LOL LOL
– Ahh…
– Dead again
– LOL LOL
– So true, LOL
Mentally drained, Si-yoon blankly stared at the chat while gulping down water.
“Everyone, I’ll take a quick bathroom break….”
After muting her microphone, Si-yoon flopped onto her bed.
She only played games like this occasionally because her viewers loved them, but these kinds of games felt like torture every time.
And lately—
– Just dodge well and aim properly, lol
“Huuuh….”
Her sister joining in on the mental attacks had doubled the emotional damage.
Si-hyun, who seemed calm and composed in everyday life, didn’t show this side of herself at all.
Even the comments on TriTube are always beautifully written.
But the moment it’s a live chat, she gets contaminated by the viewers and turns into this.
‘What if she starts writing weird comments too…?’
It wasn’t like this in the beginning.
She still maintains some boundaries, but I’m scared she might end up just like the other viewers someday.
Is this the so-called Saintess’s corruption or whatever?
Why does the corruption have to start with my stream…?
Feeling wronged, Si-yoon pounded the bed with her fists.
“Let’s just go to the bathroom….”
Letting out a deep sigh, she got up.
When she stepped into the living room, she saw her sister on the phone with someone.
As expected, the TV was showing Momobin’s broadcast.
Sighing again, she went to the bathroom and returned.
Then, a mischievous thought crossed her mind.
‘Dodge well and aim properly, huh?’
Let’s see if she can say the same thing after trying it herself.
I won’t suffer alone! She needs to understand how I feel!
Grinning, Si-yoon approached her sister, who had just finished her call.
The game only costs a few bucks and doesn’t take much space.
Her sister’s work laptop could easily handle it.
“unni, unni.”
“…Yeah?”
Si-yoon called her sister in an excited tone.
When Si-hyun looked away from her laptop, Si-yoon pointed at the TV.
“Do you want to try that game?”
As Si-hyun turned to look at the TV, Si-yoon quickly started talking.
“I’ve played it before, and it’s surprisingly fun! The game isn’t expensive, so if you’re interested, why not give it a shot?”
“You’ve played it?”
Si-hyun’s eyes widened.
She couldn’t imagine her sister playing a game like that.
“Why is that surprising? Is it weird for me to play?”
“No, no, that’s not what I meant.”
When Si-yoon puffed out her cheeks, Si-hyun quickly waved her hands in defense.
“Isn’t it super hard? It must have been tough for you.”
“Yeah, it’s insanely hard….”
I was just playing it a while ago. Si-yoon swallowed the rest of her words.
“Aren’t you curious after watching it? You should give it a try.”
Si-yoon continued to lure her sister in.
If she experiences how hard this game is, maybe the corrupted Saintess will return to her original state.
She won’t be able to type nonsense like “Just dodge well and aim properly” anymore.
She’ll realize how impossibly difficult it is.
Just imagining it made Si-yoon smile with satisfaction.
But then.
“Hehe… Look at this.”
Si-hyun turned her laptop to let her sister see.
She scrolled down from the open document and pulled up her game library.
‘What is she showing me?’
Si-yoon quietly watched her sister’s actions.
Her sister scanned the library and clicked on a game.
It was the very game Si-yoon had recommended.
‘She’s already played it…?’
Her eyes widened as she instinctively checked the playtime.
Playtime: 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Still within the refundable time frame.
Si-hyun clicked on the achievements next to the playtime and displayed the list.
She then raised her head slightly and puffed out her chest with a triumphant expression.
“What do you think? Isn’t it impressive?”
“Uh, uh….”
Her sparkling eyes seemed to beg for praise.
Si-yoon rubbed her eyes in disbelief—or maybe to reject the reality.
She looked at the laptop screen again.
Achievement completion: 85%.
The very reason Si-yoon was struggling in her stream right now was because of these achievements.
Si-yoon instinctively began scrolling through the list on the laptop.
‘Oh my… What is this?’
Aside from the grindy “perform X number of times” achievements, everything else had been unlocked.
In short, it was completely milked dry. In just an hour and fifty minutes.
‘I’ve been at this for hours….’
It was a flawless defeat.
Her sister was someone who had earned the right to say, “Just dodge well and aim properly.”
She had the skills to mock others through the chat.
She was on a different level from the other viewers.
Si-yoon pulled her gaze from the laptop and looked back at her sister.
Si-hyun was beaming, eagerly awaiting praise.
Despite feeling her cheek muscles twitch, Si-yoon forced herself to open her mouth.
“…A-amazing! Sis, you’re really good at games!”
“I used to play a lot back in the day!”
At her younger sister’s compliment, Si-hyun flashed a bright smile, placed her hands on her hips, and proudly puffed out her chest.
Her confident posture exuded an air of triumph.
Unconsciously, Si-yoon’s gaze shifted toward Si-hyun’s display of confidence.
She looked down at her own chest.
Once again, a sense of defeat washed over her.
“…You’re good at everything, aren’t you, unni? Is there anything you’re not good at?”
“Huh? That’s not true. There are things I’m bad at.”
Si-hyun’s response was met with a deeply sceptical look from Si-yoon.
Under her younger sister’s piercing gaze, Si-hyun tilted her head in thought before responding earnestly.
“Even in this game, I got hit by everything I didn’t know. I just don’t forget once I’ve seen something.”
“…….”
“Hmm, aside from games? I’m bad at cooking, cleaning, organizing… Oh, and I’m clueless about clothes and styling too.”
Si-hyun rattled off the list.
Si-yoon listened intently.
And then.
‘I see it, the perfect opening!’
Si-yoon placed a firm hand on her sister’s shoulder.
Startled, Si-hyun looked at her as if to ask what was going on.
“unni.”
“…Yeah?”
“When there’s something you don’t know, isn’t it right to learn?”
“Well, y-yeah, that’s true.”
Sensing something unusual, Si-hyun’s eyes began to twitch.
With a sly smile, Si-yoon continued.
“Clothes and styling. Let’s learn together.”
“…Alright.”
Their expressions flipped.
Si-yoon patted her now-dismayed sister’s shoulder and returned to her room.
Sitting in her chair, she leisurely savoured the joy of victory.
She briefly entertained the thought that it might just be a mental victory, but she brushed it off.
Si-yoon resumed her stream at a relaxed pace.
《Sorry for the delay! Let’s start again.》
That day, a mentally restored Momobin successfully cleared the game and completed her achievements.
***
Right after dinner.
Si-hyun sent a message to the student she was tutoring.
– Areum, do you have time the day after tomorrow?
– Yes! I have plenty of time!
Satisfied with Areum’s energetic response, Si-hyun nodded and sent another message.
– I’m planning to go to a large C-rank dungeon with some people from the Wings Guild. Let’s go together and observe.
The number “1” next to the message instantly disappeared.
Areum had read it.
But a reply didn’t come immediately.
“Hmm…?”
Tilting her head in curiosity, Si-hyun fetched a drink from the fridge.
Only then did a reply arrive.
– Okay…….
It was an incredibly lacklustre response.
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