The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 19

018

It was well past 10 PM.

I was on the bus, heading home from work as usual.

“Should I have done it……?”

As time passed and the initial excitement wore off, regret began to creep in.

‘No matter how I look at it, it was a mistake.’

Looking back, I shouldn’t have reacted so emotionally.

Even if he was my nemesis in a past life, he hasn’t actually done anything to me now. He’s basically a stranger.

I let my pride get in the way when I should have been focusing on unlocking as many skills as possible.

Yeah, so what if he’s my old enemy now? I could have just ignored him.

‘Even if I went back now and asked them to include me again……’

……They probably wouldn’t.

I wouldn’t either if I were in their shoes.

Why would they rehire a cleaner who presumptuously refused when they don’t need to?

‘I don’t know. It’s already done, what’s the point of dwelling on it……’

[Condition met]

[Joint project with another department established]

[Acquired skill: Over-Immersion – Unlocked.]

……?

“W-what.”

I was greatly taken aback by the voice that suddenly rang in my head.

I quickly checked the system window, wondering if I was hallucinating…….

[Acquired skill: Over-Immersion]

I didn’t mishear.

It was definitely unlocked.

‘W-why all of a sudden…?’

I was clueless as to what had happened when my phone started ringing loudly.

It was a call from Kim Min-joo.

I had already heard that Kim Min-joo had also refused to participate in the operation.

To be honest, I didn’t understand it, but I figured she must have her reasons…….

“T-teacher… I’m sorry.”

A dejected voice.

Judging by the fact that she apologized right away, something must have happened.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

I pretended not to know anything and asked calmly.

“The headquarters sent down a mandatory participation list for Cleaning Team 3.”

“Mandatory participation list?”

“Yes. Of course, I’m included too. It seems… you’ll have to participate in this operation.”

“Ah, so…….”

I sighed softly.

Now I understood how things were unfolding.

A mandatory participation list for the operation.

A forced operation execution order issued under the authority of the head of headquarters when there are essential personnel for the subjugation.

That’s why the joint project was forcibly established.

“I’m really sorry. You took the lead and refused for the sake of the team members, but if they go this far, I can’t help it…….”

“No, don’t worry about it.”

Well, this is good.

I was regretting it anyway.

But what’s with the ‘refused for the sake of the team members’ thing?

“Anyway, what’s the date?”

“Pardon?”

“The subjugation date.”

“A-are you going to participate?”

“They sent down a mandatory participation list, didn’t they? It’s an order from above, what choice do I have?”

Kim Min-joo was late to answer.

I could faintly hear her breathing trembling over the phone, so she seemed pretty sorry.

“……It’s Saturday in 5 days.”

“That’s going to be tough……. I understand for now. Let me know right away if anything else happens.”

“Yes. I understand.”

I ended the call and leaned back in my seat.

At the same time, a smile crept onto my face without me realizing it.

I silently expressed my gratitude for the perfect timing and stared out the bus window when.

‘By the way……’

A question suddenly flashed through my mind.

‘Was there ever a case where they issued a mandatory participation list to the cleaning team?’

And specifically targeting Cleaning Team 3?

There’s no real reason to make *us* participate to that extent. Any cleaning team would be sufficient, not necessarily our team.

I stroked my chin and fell into thought with a serious expression for a moment.

‘……Haa.’

I yawned and brushed it out of my head.

I don’t know. What does it matter?

***

After 5 days of being so busy that I didn’t have a moment to spare due to the operation preparations.

Subjugation day. Somewhere in Yeongdeungpo [a district in Seoul].

“H-how can there be so many people?”

Mun So-yeon’s eyes widened as soon as we arrived in front of the dungeon.

Sure enough, the area in front of the dungeon was crowded with reporters who had come to cover the large-scale subjugation and ordinary citizens who had come to watch.

“This level of subjugation attracts attention from all sorts of media. The association wants that too. It’s a kind of marketing. If public interest increases, then sponsorships and subsidies will come in from all over.”

“Then will we be interviewed? Will we be photographed and featured in articles?”

“Wow, if I had known this would happen, I would have put on some makeup.”

“……I should have washed my hair.”

The team members, including Mun So-yeon, were very conscious of the attention around them.

The flashes of reporters, the microphones constantly being thrust at them, and the attention of ordinary citizens. All of this seemed unfamiliar, and they seemed a little intimidated.

And that was the same for Kim Min-joo.

“The leader is pale as a sheet… Why, are you nervous?”

“……Of course. It’s my first time doing something like this.”

“Still, act boldly. If the hunters are nervous, the citizens will be anxious.”

It was a thoughtless remark.

For some reason, Kim Min-joo’s burdensome gaze was directed at me.

“You seem used to it, Teacher.”

“I guess so. But there are a lot of people today.”

I looked around and answered.

The headquarters must have been making a fuss about it.

Well, a large-scale subjugation isn’t a common occurrence.

If it’s a joint project with the cleaning team, it’ll look good, so they’re probably thinking of gathering some subsidies this time.

“Straighten your shoulders. How are you going to handle the subjugation if you get this nervous just because a few people gathered?”

“It’s okay. I’m the type that’s strong in practice.”

“Yeah, sure. Well, just in case… from the moment you enter the dungeon, don’t think about anything and just focus on the subjugation. Don’t worry about us.”

Kim Min-joo nodded slightly at my request.

“Still, please turn on the walkie-talkie just in case.”

“Why? Don’t tell me you’re going to ask for help?”

“…….”

It was a joke, but she couldn’t laugh.

She was so different from the Kim Min-joo in my memory that I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“If you can’t do it and you think you’re all going to die, then tell me. Well, that probably won’t happen.”

“……Yes.”

Of course, it was just a joke.

It’s ridiculous to get help from the cleaning crew in such a large-scale operation.

Of course, Kim Min-joo didn’t take my words seriously either.

Still, she smiled slightly, as if her tension had eased a little.

Soon, all the participants gathered in front of the dungeon.

Roughly 60 people were busily making final checks before the operation.

“Okay! Let’s do a check ourselves. Do you all have your medicine and equipment?”

Team Leader Park opened his mouth as if he couldn’t lose to the operation team.

“Hydrogen peroxide, dilute hydrochloric acid, saline solution. We have 10L of each.”

“Vacuum compressor and EVA film compression pack [Equipment used for cleaning hazardous materials]. Three Level C protective suits per person. We also have goggles, and we’ve checked the purification canisters.”

“We have plenty of food and water!”

Han Sang-hyuk answered last.

“Good! It’s going to be hard work, but if you all do as you usually do, there won’t be any problems. Let’s get hyped up and go.”

Team Leader Park’s loud voice seemed to attract attention, and I could feel the hunters’ unpleasant gazes.

Some of them were even laughing on purpose so that we could hear them.

Well… they must be thinking that the cleaning team is putting on airs.

“Oh, you’re finally here. Please take good care of us today, Leader Kim Min-joo.”

“……Please take care of me.”

At that time, Team Leader Im Dong-bin appeared from among the subjugation team.

The smile naturally disappeared from my face.

Kim Min-joo, who received the greeting, didn’t look good either.

“Is he participating too? I thought he wasn’t participating because Min-joo unnie [term for older sister] is the leader.”

Mun So-yeon was bewildered and whispered to me in a low voice.

“Well, it’s not a frequent occurrence. If the team leader is participating in the subjugation, the team leader usually serves as the leader. But it’s not always the case, and if there’s a hunter with sufficient qualifications, they may appoint someone else as the leader.”

“That’s Min-joo unnie, right?”

“……I guess so.”

Of course, I admit that Kim Min-joo has the qualifications to be a leader… but the main reason why Team Leader Im Dong-bin didn’t take on the role of leader is different.

That bastard doesn’t know how to command in the field.

He’s been planning operations, so he has no experience as a leader, so he’s always been hitchhiking on subjugations.

Well, with the team leader title, he always gets the leader position right before the subjugation is completed and steals the achievements.

Tsk, what a gangster.

“Don’t be too nervous about your first leader position. I’m here too! If there’s even a slight problem, just leave it all to me. Got it?”

“……Yes, I understand.”

A reluctant answer.

Team Leader Im Dong-bin’s brow furrowed slightly, as if he didn’t like Kim Min-joo’s reaction.

He clicked his tongue softly and then turned his head towards us.

“Well… please take care of the cleaning team as well.”

“……Yes.”

“I’ll tell you in advance, the cleaning must not be delayed. If the gas starts to be released, it will affect the subjugation…….”

“We’ll take care of it.”

Team Leader Im Dong-bin’s expression eventually turned cold.

I could feel the murderous intent in his eyes as he glared at me.

But he changed his expression right away, as if he was conscious of the surrounding attention.

“……Okay, everyone seems to be here, so let’s do one last review. Leader Kim Min-joo?”

Team Leader Im Dong-bin pushed Kim Min-joo as if nothing had happened.

Kim Min-joo paused for a moment and then slowly opened her mouth.

“Everyone knows, but I’ll say it one more time.”

A voice full of strength.

“The subjugation will be carried out in three teams: A, B, and C. Team A will subjugate the first area, then Team B will proceed with the subjugation of the next area, and then Team C. Please repeat this cycle until all subjugation is complete.”

“Yes!”

I was a little surprised.

I wondered if she was the same person who had been so nervous until just now, as she was quite confident.

“As you know, this operation is being carried out jointly with the cleaning team. They’re such veterans that there’s nothing we need to worry about. But if, just if, there’s an unexpected situation… ask the cleaning team for help.”

“……?”

What is she saying?

A question mark appeared above everyone’s head, including mine.

A confused atmosphere.

Team Leader Im Dong-bin, who couldn’t stand it, rushed to fix it.

“Ha, haha! Leader Kim Min-joo is nervous. She meant to ask the operation team for help, right?”

“……Pardon?”

But she looked like she was asking what he was talking about.

Team Leader Im Dong-bin sighed with a frustrated expression and gestured as if to just proceed.

“Anyway, everyone, please review the operation one last time…….”

Kim Min-joo said that and slowly approached the dungeon entrance. And she took out a sharp black sword from her inventory.

The Black Wave Sword, which was her best friend even in her past life.

“If you’re ready, let’s start the operation.”

The sword-wielding woman declared the start of the operation.