The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 20

019

Multiple Zone Dungeon.

It’s classified as a Green-grade cave dungeon.

The dungeon itself isn’t particularly dangerous.

However, its unique multi-zone structure and the rule that you can’t leave until it’s completely cleared demand a high level of caution.

“Honestly, I was a little scared before coming in…”

While dealing with the first zone’s boss, the ‘Pentagram Balrog,’ Moon So-yeon cautiously spoke.

“It’s more peaceful than I thought.”

I nodded in agreement.

Two hours had passed since the subjugation [dungeon clearing] began.

Everyone was tense when we first entered, but once we started working, they seemed relieved that it was no different from usual.

“No matter how large-scale the operation is, we’re just playing a cleanup role. We probably won’t even see the main subjugation team until it’s over.”

“Sigh, I wanted to watch the subjugation. This makes the joint project pointless.”

“Hey, are you even a Hunter? We just need to do our job well.”

Team Leader Park scolded Han Sang-hyuk.

He was right.

Of course, a fierce battle might be raging on the front lines right now… but what does that have to do with us?

The cleanup team just needs to do its job well.

“Alright! If the dismantling is done, let’s start the chemical treatment.”

Team Leader Park stretched in front of the fragmented monster remains.

“Not a single monster should decompose until the subjugation is complete. After the chemical treatment, don’t forget to cover them with plastic and vacuum-pack them!”

“My ears are going to get calluses [become desensitized to the constant nagging]~.”

“Bear with it this time. We’re not the only ones working. If we make even a small mistake, something really big could happen. So, we need to check everything meticulously.”

Team Leader Park’s voice was serious.

Here, we can’t take the dismantled monsters outside. Of course, we can’t just leave them as they are either.

So, to prevent the corpses from decomposing, we dismantle the monsters, soak them in chemicals, cover them in plastic bags, and then vacuum-pack them.

Thanks to that, the work became much more cumbersome… but it was just cumbersome, nothing more difficult.

“But when are we going to eat?”

“Hey, how long has it been since we got here that you’re already talking about food?”

“Should we have a snack or something?”

“Oh? There are snacks?”

“I brought some chocolate bars from home, just in case. Here, Jun-woo, have one too.”

“Ah, I’ll take the strawberry flavor.”

The atmosphere was becoming lighter, as if the tension was slowly easing.

Chatter continued, but even amidst that, there were no mistakes in the work.

Nothing to worry about.

Just do what we always do.

Everyone seemed to think so, and I had no objections either.

That’s how it was for 5 hours since the operation began.

Everyone looked a little tired, but still okay.

8 hours.

Moon So-yeon seemed to be feeling the fatigue, and so was I.

10 hours.

During the dismantling work, Han Sang-hyuk dozed off and hurt his hand. Fortunately, it wasn’t a serious injury.

15 hours.

A small issue occurred in the previously worked area. The plastic bag vacuum-packing the monster had burst.

Re-processing it significantly slowed down the work speed, and we began to fall behind the subjugation progress.

And 18 hours into the operation.

「Ah, cleanup team, cleanup team. The gas level is rising in the dungeon, please check.」

In the end, a problem erupted.

“S-Sorry. We’re really behind in the current zone.”

「Behind? What zone are you in right now?」

At the Hunter’s question, Team Leader Park quickly counted on his fingers.

“We’re in… zone 5 right now.”

「5? We’ve already subjugated zone 10! You’re five zones behind?」

“Sorry. We’ll take a one-hour break and proceed as quickly as possible.”

「What nonsense are you talking about? What are you going to do with the monsters that are behind if you take an hour break? The gas levels are still rising; are you just going to leave them like that?」

The Hunter’s voice rose, forgetting his place.

No, if our work progress is delayed, shouldn’t they adjust on their end?

I couldn’t stand it anymore and snatched the radio, opening my mouth.

“Everyone is too tired right now. It’s impossible to continue any further, so please request Kim Min-joo Leader to suspend the subjugation temporarily.”

I was also extremely annoyed by the excessive fatigue.

If we couldn’t finish quickly, I at least wanted to rest a little… but…

「……That’s not possible. It will delay the schedule.」

An absurd answer came back.

“So, you’re saying we should proceed as is? I’m telling you, we can’t continue in this state.”

「Isn’t that the cleanup team’s problem? You have to figure it out somehow.」

I barely managed to hold back a curse that was about to burst out.

Right, we’re in the middle of an operation.

Getting angry during an operation is unprofessional.

Soothing myself, I continued in a calm voice.

“Then at least send Hunters who aren’t on rotation right now. At our current state, we’ll only continue to fall behind.”

「……That’s not possible.」

“Hey, you son of a bitch. Change the team leader right now.”

Unprofessional my ass.

You’re not just touching my nerves; you’re blowing them up?

「…….」

But the radio remained silent.

And that was the end of any further communication.

Thanks to that, I could feel the blood rushing to my head.

It is the role of the operation planner, the team leader, to organize the personnel and teams to be deployed in the operation.

The operation team is organized into 60 people, divided into three rotating teams. But we, with a total of only 4 people, were organized into a single team.

Naturally, as time passed, fatigue accumulated, and the work speed could only slow down.

But…

You won’t suspend the subjugation, and you won’t help us?

This, seriously. No matter how I look at it, they’re doing this on purpose, right?

‘I’m so tired I could die, but they’re making me move…’

I forced my closing eyes open and moved towards the inner zone.

***

Zone 10, where the subjugation had just ended.

Teams B and C, who were off-duty, were gathered there, taking a break.

As I walked into the middle of them, Team Leader Lim Dong-bin spotted me and immediately jumped up.

“What are you trying to do! You said you’d take care of it! Can’t you see the gas filling up?!”

His voice was full of anger.

He started scolding me right away, raising his voice.

“And, if you have time to come here, shouldn’t you be working? This is clearly slacking off. It’s dereliction of duty [failure to fulfill one’s obligations]!”

“…Where is Kim Min-joo Leader?”

Unfortunately, I had no business with him.

I lightly ignored him and asked, but Lim Dong-bin didn’t seem to have any intention of answering either.

“What are you going to do knowing that? Seriously… Don’t you think the cleanup team is being brazen right now? I’ve told you several times not to interfere with the subjugation, but if you come out like this, I’ll be in trouble too!”

“Isn’t it natural after working for 18 hours without rest? Are we machines? We’ve reached our limit…”

“So, what, you’re saying you can’t do it anymore?”

At that moment, Team Leader Lim Dong-bin’s eyes changed.

“Damn it, this is really bad. Is this all because of one cleanup team…? The operation is going to be ruined.”

Then, as if hoping the surrounding Hunters would hear, Team Leader Lim Dong-bin muttered loudly.

As expected, the Hunters’ gazes immediately turned towards me.

“Seriously, what is this…”

“Dereliction of duty, disobedience, abandonment of operation during subjugation.”

“……?”

“You guys probably don’t have a good sense of it because you’ve never been subjugated… but this is not something to just let go. I will definitely hold you accountable for the cleanup team’s actions. You don’t think this is unfair, do you?”

Team Leader Lim Dong-bin glared and threw a warning at me.

I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“……Are you laughing?”

“I thought it was strange.”

I wondered why they were trying to get us to participate, even writing down the required participation list…

They brought us here with the intention of doing this from the start.

‘They’re trying to find fault and give us disciplinary action somehow… He’s brilliant at this kind of thing.’

Well, the operation team can’t keep looking at the cleanup team’s every move. I think they wanted to break our momentum by giving us some kind of disciplinary action…

It’s not something a team leader should do, no matter how I look at it.

“……Hey. It seems like you’re trying to go wild because you have something to believe in right now. Abandonment of operation, abandonment of operation. Even the association president can’t cover this up. Do you understand?”

“I understand. Okay, let’s say our team abandoned the operation. What are you going to do now? Are you going to continue the subjugation with the gas filling up?”

Lim Dong-bin adjusted the channel on the radio he was holding.

Ah, after checking the transmission once.

“This is Team Leader Lim Dong-bin. Are you busy right now?”

「Team Leader? I’m a little… Hey! Duck your head! …I’m a little busy!」

The receiver was none other than Kim Min-joo.

“A problem has occurred. The cleanup team has abandoned the operation.”

「……What?」

“There are only 5 corpses that haven’t been processed. At this rate, everyone will suffocate before the subjugation. From now on, I will direct, so hand over the leader position to me.”

「Wh-What are you…?」

“Hand over the leader position! It’s not a situation that a rookie can handle!”

I was sincerely impressed.

Seriously, who is calling who a rookie?

Anyway, even in this situation, he’s still trying to steal the achievements.

I don’t know if I should call this amazing…

“You thug. You haven’t changed since then.”

“What? What did you just say……?”

“Hey, Kim Min-joo.”

「Teacher? Is what the team leader saying true? The cleanup team abandoned the operation?!」

Her voice was agitated, probably because she was in the middle of a battle.

“Don’t you think… it’s impossible right now, that everyone is going to die like this?”

「……?」

There was a brief pause in the answer.

In the meantime, Team Leader Lim Dong-bin, who couldn’t wait any longer, made the first move.

“Ah, you’re so frustrating, you moronic bitch. Tell me to hand over the command quickly. What’s taking you so long! I gave you the leader position once, and you really think you’re something?”

「……Okay. I’ll hand it over.」

Only then did Team Leader Lim Dong-bin smile.

But that smile didn’t last long either.

「To Cleanup Worker Kim Jun-woo.」

“I should have done that from the beginning…… Wait, what?!”

「Current Subjugation Team Leader Kim Min-joo hereby transfers command to Cleanup Team 3 Cleanup Worker Kim Jun-woo, effective immediately.」

Crack.

The sound of the radio on the other side being smashed could be heard.

“Hey, hey! Hey, Kim Min-joo……!”

Team Leader Lim Dong-bin buried his face in the radio and called her urgently.

Of course, there was no way an answer would come back.

“Well… everyone heard, right?”

I turned my head towards the Hunters who were waiting.

They also had the same expression as Team Leader Lim Dong-bin.

An expression that they couldn’t understand what was happening.

But from now on, they’ll have to act accordingly.

“From now on, I will command this operation.”

It’s been a while since I’ve felt like I’m back in my prime.