Chapter 304 – Part 2 – Hunter Management Department

The next morning.

Choi Seong-min, who had been waiting in front of the Association, was able to meet Song Chi-hyeon as promised.

“This humble being pays respects to the heavenly Great Hero…”

“You don’t need to do that anymore. You did it yesterday, didn’t you?”

Song Chi-hyeon helped up Choi Seong-min who had knelt down.

“From now on, you can greet me normally.”

“Ah, understood.”

“By the way, you came early? Did you wait long?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Though he said no, Choi Seong-min’s inner thoughts were different.

-Did I wait about an hour?

Reading his thoughts, Song Chi-hyeon smiled gently.

‘To come an hour early and wait. He has the proper attitude of a newcomer.’

Although his exterior and interior were different, Song Chi-hyeon didn’t dislike this kind of lie.

“How do you feel about starting work at the Association today?”

“Um… I feel a bit dazed.”

“Do you know what work you’ll be doing?”

“I heard I’d be a supervisor.”

“That’s right. In a little while, we’ll go into the Association and I’ll appoint you as a D-rank supervisor. Do you like it?”

“Of course.”

But contrary to his answer.

-Don’t supervisors not get to grow?

He was inwardly disappointed.

Of course, Song Chi-hyeon wouldn’t miss this.

“You can speak honestly in front of me. I don’t really like it when people lie out of consideration.”

He had laid out the groundwork for honest speaking.

Even so, if he lied again, he’d receive a cold stare, but Choi Seong-min didn’t make such a mistake.

“I’m sorry for lying. To be honest, while the supervisor position is said to be good, it doesn’t seem to have much merit for me.”

“What’s the reason?”

“I want to focus on becoming stronger than I am now, rather than money.”

“In other words, you want to grow?”

“That’s right.”

Song Chi-hyeon snapped his fingers and smiled with satisfaction.

“That’s exactly the answer I wanted.”

“Pardon?”

Choi Seong-min acted puzzled even though he knew.

“Being a supervisor allows you to earn money stably, but it’s difficult to grow. There’s no time to find separate teams to conquer dungeons. Honestly speaking, it’s a position that only trash without skills go to, looking only at money.”

-Then why are you putting me in such a place…

As if answering Choi Seong-min’s thoughts, Song Chi-hyeon continued.

“To become my direct subordinate, you need to have at least one position in the Association. But currently, that’s the only department where I can place you.”

“Ah…”

“I don’t want to let a talent like you rot in such a place either, but I have no choice. Just bear with it a little. As soon as a position opens up in another department, I’ll transfer you.”

“Will I be able to freely enter dungeons then?”

“It’s not exactly like that, but you’ll have much more time than as a supervisor. You can leave work immediately after working just 4 hours.”

In contrast, supervisors are in charge of monitoring teams all day.

They spend much more time than other departments, but the ratio-based income that falls to them is substantial.

Even so, it was absolutely not a position he wanted to go to.

“When you transfer to another department, you’ll have time to hunt. When that time comes, I’ll introduce you to a team I created.”

“Then until then, I have no choice but to spend time doing supervisor work?”

“Unfortunately, yes. But I can’t exclude you from work or reduce it. Even I can’t touch the Association’s regulations.”

Song Chi-hyeon was not a power holder in the Association.

The real powers in the Association could be seen as Association President Kwak Min-cheol and Secretary Yang Baek-du.

“Still, I have the power to transfer departments, so don’t worry and adapt to the supervisor work.”

“Understood.”

Though it would be reasonable to be dissatisfied with having to postpone growth until transferring departments, Choi Seong-min’s thoughts were sound.

-If the Great Hero can’t help it, then it can’t be helped. I have no choice but to wait.

Not knowing that this was an intentional thought, Song Chi-hyeon smiled with satisfaction and took the lead.

“Let’s go. I’ll show you around the Association.”

Choi Seong-min followed Song Chi-hyeon into the Association’s main entrance.

Soon, magnificent buildings on a site spanning 70,000 pyeong came into view.

“Wow…”

Choi Seong-min exclaimed at the scenery of the grand garden that unfolded.

“Why do all first-time visitors to the Association have the same reaction…”

Song Chi-hyeon relaxed at that genuine reaction, but he didn’t know that even this was an intentional act.

“From here to over there are all Association buildings. How is it? Spacious?”

“Y-yes, it is.”

“That slightly elevated building over there is used by Association President and Great Hero Kwak Min-cheol, and this side is the main building. It’s where the department you’ll be commuting to is located.”

Song Chi-hyeon added various explanations as they walked.

About 400 hunters work at the Association, and if you go that way there are various departments.

Next to that is a passage connecting to the Association President’s building they saw earlier, and the Minister’s office is separate.

These were all pieces of information he already knew from his investigation, but Choi Seong-min pretended not to know and listened with constant admiration.

As they passed through the lobby.

“We pay our respects to the Great Hero.”

People they encountered bowed respectfully.

Other people nearby also bowed their heads and showed respect to Song Chi-hyeon.

“Oh, yes.”

With a familiar expression, he casually waved his hand as he passed, and Song Chi-hyeon eventually stopped walking.

“This is the department where you’ll work.”

Seeing the sign that read Hunter Management Department Team 2, Choi Seong-min followed Song Chi-hyeon inside.

“Gasp! G-Great Hero?”

The employees who recognized Song Chi-hyeon’s face all stopped what they were doing and bowed their heads.

In the midst of this, one person came running over quickly.

“It’s an honor to meet the Great Hero!”

“Are you the team leader of the Hunter Management Department?”

“That’s right! I’m Team 2 Leader An Gi-hyeon!”

He answered energetically, then glanced at Choi Seong-min beside him.

He wondered if he should greet him if he was also a high-ranking person like the Great Hero, but it was an unfamiliar face.

“I understand there’s a vacant D-rank supervisor position here. Is that correct?”

At Song Chi-hyeon’s question, An Gi-hyeon quickly turned his head.

‘Could it be that he came to reprimand us for not finding staff quickly?’

In his 8 years of commuting to the Association, he had seen the Great Hero a few times, but this was the first time he had visited the Hunter Management Department.

‘Damn, I wasn’t trying to steal some newcomer work by delaying hiring…’

Since he had something to feel guilty about, he couldn’t help but think he came to point it out.

An Gi-hyeon, who had made assumptions, acted with a servile expression and let out a laugh.

“Y-yes, that’s correct, Great Hero. Currently, one D-rank supervisor position is vacant. But since we have sufficient manpower, there’s no hindrance to work. Still, I’ll try to find someone as quickly as possible…”

“There’s no need for that. I brought someone.”

“Pardon?”

“Introduce yourself.”

When Song Chi-hyeon pushed his back, Choi Seong-min bowed his head.

“Hello, I’m Choi Seong-min, who recently became D-rank.”

“From today, this guy will take the vacant D-rank supervisor position.”

“…”

An Gi-hyeon looked at Choi Seong-min with a blank expression.

‘In other words, a parachute appointment…?’

He knew that Great Heroes had the authority to place people, but this was too sudden.

He had never received any prior notice.

“Well, get along well.”

“Please go safely, Great Hero.”

Song Chi-hyeon waved his hand to Choi Seong-min and left the department.

For a while, awkward silence dominated the Hunter Management Department.

“What’s your name?”

“Choi Seong-min.”

An Gi-hyeon first checked the rankings.

“Combat power of 20,000? You became D-rank this time?”

“That’s right.”

“Then you’re saying you were E-rank last month?”

“Yes. My combat power last month was 3,000.”

An Gi-hyeon’s eyes widened.

“Don’t joke around.”

“It’s true.”

An Gi-hyeon quietly examined his expression, but Choi Seong-min’s face was serious.

‘If what this bastard says is true, then he’s an incredible talent…’

He was the complete opposite type from himself, who was stuck in the Hunter Management Department due to lack of talent.

Looking at him with unpleasant eyes, An Gi-hyeon casually asked.

“You… what’s your relationship with the Great Hero?”

“What do you mean by that…”

“Blood relations or something like that.”

“No blood relations or regional connections.”

“Then you have no relationship at all?”

“Yes… I only met the Great Hero for the first time yesterday.”

“Yesterday for the first time?”

When An Gi-hyeon pressed for details, Choi Seong-min had no choice but to reveal the facts.

“Making a loyalty oath means… you became a direct subordinate, right?”

“Yes, it seems he looked favorably upon my abilities.”

Now he understood.

The reason the Great Hero personally placed a parachute appointment.

‘To be recognized as a Great Hero’s direct subordinate, you need to secure at least one position in the Association. Coming to our department is simply because there was a vacant position.’

Usually, direct subordinates are found within the Association.

But when brought in from outside like this, there was a need to create a position in the Association, even nominally.

“If you’re an outsider… were you perhaps a commoner?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

It was annoying enough that he came in through connections, but he was also a talent that he despised.

Moreover, he was even a case of rising from commoner status.

He possessed all the elements he disliked.

“What kind of damn bastard is coming in like this.”

“Pardon?”

“Hey, newcomer.”

An Gi-hyeon’s eyes and tone changed.

“Life’s pretty good now that dungeons opened, isn’t it? Rising from commoner status, and coincidentally catching the Great Hero’s eye to become a direct subordinate.”

“…”

“Let me give you some advice – don’t think you can take it easy just because you came in through connections. As long as you’ve entered our department, I, the team leader, am the law, understand?”

“…”

“If you don’t handle work properly, even the Great Hero can’t cover for you. Got it? I have absolutely no intention of giving you any favors, so don’t feel secure.”

“Of course.”

“Just say you understand, bastard. Don’t act arrogant saying ‘of course’ and such nonsense.”

“…Understood.”

“Hey, Kim Jun-taek!”

“Yes! Team Leader!”

At An Gi-hyeon’s call, an employee named Kim Jun-taek came running hurriedly.

“Did you call for me?”

“You take charge of this bastard. Don’t let him stand around dumbly just because it’s his first day – teach him everything he needs to learn.”

“Everything?”

“Yeah. He must have some ability since he came in through connections, right?”

Seeing the team leader’s bitter smile, it seemed he had some scheme, but.

‘It probably doesn’t matter much.’

Choi Seong-min wasn’t too worried.

He was confident when it came to learning.

“Follow me, newcomer.”

Kim Jun-taek guided Choi Seong-min to his seat.

“This is the seat you’ll use. Oh, I’m Kim Jun-taek. I’ve been working in the Hunter Management Department for 4 years and I’m a D-rank hunter.”

“I’m Choi Seong-min. I’m also D-rank.”

“Of course you would be. Being in Team 2 means you’re D-rank.”

“Pardon? Then everyone here is D-rank?”

“That’s right. Though Team Leader An is C-rank by himself.”

When Choi Seong-min still looked puzzled, Kim Jun-taek smiled and explained.

“Right, you just entered today so you don’t know well. First, let me introduce the Hunter Management Department…”

The Hunter Management Department has Teams 1 through 3.

“Team 1 consists of C-rank supervisors, Team 2 of D-rank supervisors, and Team 3 of E-rank supervisors.”

Teams are divided by rank like this, and Team 2, being D-rank, is in charge of E-rank dungeons.

“Usually you’ll supervise places one level lower, like Worwolf dungeons or Big-eared Monkey dungeons.”

The work supervisors do was simple.

When requests come in from outside to enter dungeons, they’re dispatched to supervise the dungeons.

Then they stick with party members, monitor acquired items through system messages, and distribute profits according to the ratio system.

‘Nothing particularly difficult.’

But there was one thing he was curious about.

“What does the team leader do while we’re supervising?”

“The team leader sits at his desk and processes various approvals.”

“Doesn’t he go on dispatch?”

“No. He doesn’t really go on dispatch. Though it seems like he goes occasionally when he needs money.”

“Hmm…”

Compared to employees who go on dispatch all day, the team leader position seemed very free and comfortable.

Suddenly, an interesting thought occurred to Choi Seong-min.

“I’ll tell you about the work supervisors need to do. First, you need to grasp and update all item market prices by comparing with this chart…”

Choi Seong-min nodded and listened to explanations about the work for about 2 hours.

“I’ve taught you everything I need to teach… did you understand?”

“Yes. I understood.”

‘He understood after hearing it once?’

Kim Jun-taek looked at him with suspicious eyes and handed over a prepared chart.

“It’s an item price chart. For the remaining time, memorize this.”

“I’ve memorized it all.”

“Huh? You memorized all of this?”

“Yes. If you don’t believe me, test me.”

Kim Jun-taek, who couldn’t believe it, called out several items and Choi Seong-min accurately matched the prices.

It was the same even when he asked several more questions.

“You really did memorize it all…”

While he was at it, he also asked about other work processes, but Choi Seong-min accurately understood and knew everything.

“Huh… if the team leader finds out about this, he’ll faint.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, Team Leader.”

Just then, An Gi-hyeon was passing by and joined the conversation.

“I’ll faint if I find out what?”

“Well, the thing is, Team Leader.”

Kim Jun-taek immediately explained the situation, and An Gi-hyeon showed his expected surprised reaction.

‘He grasped work content that usually takes a month in less than half a day?’

He had told him to teach everything to give him a hard time, but he digested it all.

But there was another situation that surprised An Gi-hyeon.

“Being a supervisor doesn’t seem that difficult.”

The newcomer he thought was well-behaved had annoyingly gotten cocky.