Chapter 41

Hunter Manpower Office.

The horse is an office building. Hundreds of hunters came and went every day in this six-story building built on the yolk land near the station.

'long time no see.'

Even though it was early in the morning, the lobby was overcrowded with phosphoric acid.

Upon arriving at the window after going through a long line, a female employee asked in a businesslike manner.

"Is this your first time at a human resource office?"

"No, it is registered."

"Your name?"

"This is Jin Tae-kyung."

It was a rookie era. Although I completed the Hunter Training Center with excellent grades, there were few places that needed an F-class Hunter like me, and the contracts offered by several small and medium guilds were at the level of sharp robbery.

So this is where I found it. Although the region was different.

"There is a record at the Ilsan branch. I've put it on the list, so please wait in the auditorium on the first floor."

"yes."

This six-story building is itself a pyramid. The first floor accommodates E and F grades, and the second floor allows you to step in from the minimum grade.

There are people who get angry saying that we discriminate too openly, but it is right to discriminate.

Not once or twice.'

I endured all sorts of filth while enduring on this floor for 7 years. The time to cover cold rice with hot rice has passed a long time ago.

It was the moment when I took a step with that thought.

"Oh, who is this!"

I turned around at the gruff voice and saw a furry man smiling wide at me.

"Taekyung. Jin Tae-kyung, right?"

"Uncle Kkeokjeong?"

Is this man still alive?

Last name is Im. forgot the name I think I heard it when I introduced myself once, 7 years ago, but I can't remember.

However, everyone called him Lim Kkeok-jeong because of his appearance reminiscent of a bandit.

"How have you been?"

"That's where F-rank hunters live. What about you?"

"What is Uncle?"

Lim Kkeok-jeong smiled generously.

"Call me brother. I don't even notice the age difference."

How many years was the difference? It's frayed.

"Brother, how old are you?"

"Forty-five."

What is that brazenness?

However, the life skills he had honed over the years shone through. I managed to force a smile.

"I see. I'll just call you big brother."

"Yes, brother. Hahahaha!"

Loud laughter echoed through the auditorium. Close to a hundred people's gazes attach and then fall.

I'll just pretend I didn't hear and go.'

In a way, it is a shallow relationship. We run into each other every day at the Ilsan office for half a year or so, and sometimes we work together. Just that much of a relationship.

'People are nice… … Sometimes I feel embarrassed when I'm next to you. like now.

"The adlay tea here is amazing. Even the seats in the auditorium are soft."

Lim Kkeok-jeong, who took a mouthful of adlay tea, tilted her chair back.

As you can see, it's not a skill that I went in and out of once or twice.

"Do you come often?"

"Not every day, but occasionally. After getting married and having children, I was able to lose myself. Hehe."

It looks like they started a family while they couldn't see each other. When I congratulated him, Lim Kkeok-jeong scratched his head.

"What a great thing that is."

I'm humbled, but great is great. Hunter, especially as an F-class hunter, working for over 20 years and raising a family.

I thought that maybe the Lim Kkeok-jeong in front of me might be my future self.

'Of course, it's only possible if you're alive to that age.'

Hunter is not a job that will last long.

That's why there are many people who retire as soon as they reach 10 years of pension payment.

"By the way, are you showing off quite a bit now? The first time I saw it, I was completely frozen and couldn't speak very well."

"of course. It's been 7 years."

"Then you've only been to the office since then? Didn't you manage to sign a contract with a small or medium guild on decent terms?

cow cow… … What's the name there?"

"A picnic guild. It was cut the day before yesterday."

Lim Kkeok-jeong laughed hard.

"Hahaha! good job. The name of the guild is also Guri. What is a picnic? It's not like going on a picnic to the gate."

"No, it's not the picnic, it's the local name. It's near the Bucheon picnic terminal, so it's a picnic guild."

"ah… … "

The conversation with Lim Kkeok-jeong after that was quite informative. After all, he was a regular at the manpower office, and he was a veteran hunter with good information and his own know-how.

"The office fee is 10 percent. Well, this is basic, and the batting average here is pretty good."

batting average. This floor slang that refers to the probability of being hired. It was a good news for me, who was aiming for a daily wage right away.

"Even F-rank hunters like us?"

"uh? huh. yes."

What is that awkward expression?

But before he could ask anything more, a voice came from the speakers installed in the auditorium.

– E-class Hunter Lim Hyuk-jun. Hyukjun Lim, please come out to the lobby.

half past six.

The first batter finally came out. And my turn will come back only after all the E-class hunters are out.

"As expected, E-class goes first… … Brother, where are you going?"

"I'll go first."

Lim Kkeok-jeong, no, Lim Hyuk-jun, carrying a large bag full of armor and weapons, laughed.

'Somehow his expression was strange.'

That man, it seems like he really put in a lot of effort while he couldn't see it.

It's only one step, but it's really not easy to get promoted to F-class potential.

"See you again."

"yes. See you again."

It started when he left the auditorium. The speaker began pouring out people's names as if they were determined.

E-class who-who, 昭 who, E-class… …

Hell, am I the only one in F-class here?

It was the moment when I was about to get nervous.

– F-class Hunter Jin Tae-kyung. Taekyung Jin, please come out to the lobby.

floated!

"Jin Tae-kyung?"

A man in a white linen shirt was waiting in the lobby. He handed out the contract with a calm face.

"I came from the Peace Guild. Please read and sign."

Is this kid's tone really annoying?

I alternately stared at the contract and the man's face.

"The settlement ratio is 8:2."

"After the raid, we will take 20% of the amount Jin Tae-kyung will receive after a fair amount distribution according to the contribution."

"What about the basic allowance?"

"thirty."

"Is it three o'clock?"

Has this child's tongue been cut in half?

"Gate Rating."

"Class E."

"refuse."

"The position is full. Jin Tae-kyung plays the role of a porter."

Unbeknownst to me, the corners of my eyes trembled.

What did this bastard just say?

"Have you packed?"

"Is there a problem?"

"of course."

The shirt man gave a high-pressure look.

"What is it?"

"I don't have a pen."

After a moment of silence, he took the pen the shirtman handed him and scribbled his signature on it. The basic salary is 300,000 won and the settlement rate is generous.

I was shocked at the word E-class gate, but it doesn't matter because I'm a porter. After skinning some of the monsters, wearing a backpack, we parted happily.

'Peace Guild. I like the name.'

I wanted to sign it from a while ago, so I almost squeezed my fingers.

"Well written."

"Where are you going now? Are you going by van?"

"I have a van parked outside."

"Oh, is that it? It looks good. The air conditioner seems to be full."

"I guess I was the last one? There are already several people… Huh?

"uh? Tae Kyung!"

Lim Kkeok-jeong, who was waiting to put his luggage in the trunk of the bus, smiled broadly.

"You are going too. Great!"

"Iknow, right. Do you think I have a relationship with you?"

"Hahahaha!"

"Ahahaha!"

"… … Let's go."

Perhaps because of the heat, the man in the shirt looked aged.

the bus departed The shirtman in the passenger seat closed his eyes after saying that he would arrive in 20 minutes.

Lim Kkeok-jeong introduced me to those who were hired with me.

"Okay, hello everyone. This is my younger brother."

Now I see, everyone knew each other.

I nodded my head.

"hello. This is Jin Tae-kyung."

"Oh, nice to meet you."

"Your young friend is tall. I think I will fight well."

There were a total of three new people, at least old men in their late 30s or early 40s. Lim Kkeok-jeong explained in a warm atmosphere.

"These guys are all E-class. I knew for a long time. Because it's been over 10 years."

"Well, that's about it. Time flies."

That means they are at least 10 years old.

I don't have the experience to hear the fledglings anywhere, but these people are completely… … .

'Dead person party.'

These people do their part wherever they go. In an urgent situation, it is much better than the halfway D-class.

"By the way, what is the rank of your young friend?"

come to come rating survey.

I answered carefully.

"It's F-class."

"ah. okay? What about your career?"

"Seven years are full."

"hmm. okay?"

lukewarm atmosphere. It would be difficult if it was like this from the first raid.

I quickly wiped my mouth.

"I will not participate in battle at all and will participate as a porter. Don't worry… … Three people stare at me blankly.

"What do you even explain? Do we eat them?"

"Okay, if it's been 7 years, you'll know enough to know."

"It was enough if it was recommended by Kkeokjeong-hyung. Team leader Choi thought it was okay, so he would have said okay."

suggestion? Chief Choi?

I don't know exactly, but I know the picture that goes roughly.

Lim Kkeok-jeong recommended me. shirt man. to Chief Choi.

"Muh, what are you talking about!"

Lim Kkeok-jeong's face flushed red.

Seeing that, the three men giggled.

"It's all Tina. How did that older brother get married?"

"Originally, good deeds are good only when they are revealed. What are you hiding like that?"

"then. Do you think so too?"

I nodded coldly.

"sure. Thank you for caring."

"Hmm, it's me, I just stabbed it once. The decision was made by Team Leader Choi."

this is so… … .

I thought it was one of the many acquaintances that passed by after stopping by for a while, but when I met Lim Kkeok-jeong, he was more naive and affectionate than I thought.

'Is that why the conditions were generous?'

Seeing them as team leader Choi and team leader Choi, I think that the friendship between them must have played a part in my contract terms.

"I will do my best."

"No, the decision was made by Team Manager Choi!"

The party responded to Lim Kkeok-jeong's awkward excuse.

Then I decided to do it. The shirt man who opened his eyes before he knew it. No, Team Manager Choi told us.

"Because we have arrived now."

As I turned my head, I saw a four-meter-high Gate that was getting closer and closer.

At its center, a magical vortex was swirling that would suck us in.

'E-level gate.'

This is the first raid after returning.