The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 24

023

The atmosphere in the director’s office was heavy.

Director Seo Min-cheol wore an unusually serious expression, and Kim Min-joo’s face grew increasingly stiff. Assistant Song Hye-yeon, waiting in the back, felt the tension as well.

“It’s my fault. I was the one who rushed us to lunch… If it weren’t for me, the cleaning team would have finished perfectly as usual.”

Kim Min-joo spoke first, her voice trembling.

Her voice trembled enough to make the listener’s ears ring.

Soon, the director said something, but I couldn’t hear it.

Even in the midst of all this, my mind was preoccupied.

‘Public interest in the general public’s dungeon cleaning team is increasing.’

If the responsibility for the accident is publicly attributed to the cleaning team, interest will inevitably rise.

Well, of course, it wouldn’t be positive attention…

“It’s my responsibility.”

Having no other choice, I cut off their conversation.

“…What?”

“Yes, yes?!”

“It was my mistake. So it’s all my responsibility.”

“T-Teacher, what do you mean it’s your responsibility?! What are you talking about!”

“Be quiet. You’re in front of the director.”

At my firm words, Kim Min-joo flinched.

Of course, if this happens, the internet and the media will be busy tearing things apart for a while.

But that’s only temporary.

In the first place, barricade installation is not a legally defined requirement. The government is only ‘recommending’ it in preparation for emergencies.

Fortunately, the students’ injuries are very minor.

Well, anyway, I have to take responsibility for the accident… but the severity is not as great as I thought.

In my experience, this kind of issue doesn’t last a month.

In just one month, people won’t even remember what happened.

Of course, it would be better to have a way to attract public attention without taking this gamble…

Unfortunately, this is not the time to be picky.

Didn’t I regret kicking away the opportunity during the joint project?

Even if I was lucky enough to unlock it then, I can’t expect such luck this time.

I have to seize the opportunity when it comes.

“Are you saying the cleaning team made a mistake?”

“No. It wasn’t the cleaning team, it was my mistake.”

“…Huh.”

Director Seo Min-cheol’s brow furrowed.

Of course, the blame cannot be placed on the entire cleaning team. Even if it’s forgotten by the public in a month, the headquarters won’t forget.

If the entire team is held responsible, disciplinary action is unavoidable. If the cleaning team’s position within the headquarters collapses, future unlocks will be not just difficult, but impossible.

So here, the fault must be attributed to a single cleaner in the dungeon cleaning team.

“Originally, it was my role to place barricades in the cleaned dungeon. I forgot about it and went to eat. So it’s entirely my responsibility.”

“What are you talking about?! I clearly saw you putting up the barricade, Teacher… !”

“Kim Min-joo. Raise your voice one more time.”

I glanced at Kim Min-joo once.

Then I turned back to Director Seo Min-cheol.

“Anyway, for tomorrow’s statement, please say it was exactly ‘Dungeon Cleaning Team, Cleaner Kim Jun-woo’s’ management mistake. Or I can go out myself.”

As I drove in the wedge, Director Seo Min-cheol seemed rather embarrassed.

“So, you made a mistake… alone?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“…What are you thinking?”

“I’m not thinking anything. I’m telling the truth.”

“Even you won’t be able to avoid disciplinary action.”

It was hard to tell if it was a warning or a consolation.

I smirked.

“I don’t care.”

Rather, a skill unlock for one disciplinary action is a cheap price to pay.

“…I understand. I’ll schedule the statement for 9 a.m. tomorrow, so go out there yourself.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“If the story is over, everyone get out.”

I turned around first.

Everyone followed me out of the director’s office.

“What are you doing?”

As expected, Kim Min-joo immediately snapped.

“Ah, well… I thought I put up the barricade, but I guess I forgot. What can I do? It’s my mistake.”

“What are you talking about! I saw you installing the barricade, Teacher. You even told us to wait while you installed it!”

I scratched my head.

I could hear the sound of trouble coming.

“I know you’re thinking about the cleaning team, but this is really not it. Why are you trying to take the blame when you didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Geez…”

Kim Min-joo’s voice was unusually agitated.

She couldn’t possibly know what I was thinking… but even so, I felt frustrated.

Sigh, but I can’t tell her the truth.

Making excuses is a chore, really.

“That’s right. I installed the barricade.”

“Exactly! Someone else must have removed it, so if we just find that person…”

“How are you going to find them?”

“…”

A tightly closed mouth.

Kim Min-joo’s pupils shook greatly.

“If you make a statement tomorrow saying, ‘It seems someone deliberately removed the barricade~’ and then can’t find them? The situation will only get worse by shifting responsibility. In the worst case, both the operations team and the cleaning team could be disciplined.”

I made a desperate excuse, but in reality, I was just saying, ‘Please leave me alone.’

If you find them, it will only make things more difficult for me.

“It’s better to just say a newbie made a mistake and end it. You can’t hold a newbie fully responsible anyway, and at best, you’ll just be making a show of it.”

“But you’ll be disciplined, Teacher. Even though you didn’t do anything wrong…”

“It doesn’t really matter.”

It’s not like I haven’t been disciplined once or twice.

Compared to when I almost got fired for making fun of the association president’s bald head back in my active days, this is nothing.

Kim Min-joo seemed to have nothing more to say.

I immediately turned around and started walking.

“Oh, where are you going?”

“To buy a suit to wear for the statement.”

I can’t go in a protective suit.

***

Late at night, Operations Team 2 office.

“This isn’t right.”

Kim Min-joo, who was sitting at her desk, shook her head violently.

Teacher is worried that things might get out of hand and harm the cleaning team.

So he’s trying to take all the responsibility on himself.

I understand his heart.

Given Teacher’s personality, it might be the obvious choice.

But still, this isn’t right.

‘Everything is strange from start to finish.’

Okay, let’s say someone removed the barricade, whether deliberately or by mistake.

But how could it be that at that one time when there was no barricade, and at that time when there were less than 30 minutes left until the dungeon disappeared, the students just happened to crawl in?

I’m sure of it.

Someone intended this.

Someone knew that if a problem arose with the cleaning team, Teacher would take responsibility and moved accordingly.

‘If this continues, Teacher will…’

Thump, Kim Min-joo slammed her desk.

She felt pathetic.

Hadn’t she promised to deal with the guys who were interfering with Teacher?

But what is this?

Instead of being helpful, she’s just standing by and watching.

“Um… Team Leader.”

At that moment, Hunter Choi Jong-hoon, who belonged to Operations Team 2, carefully opened his mouth after watching Kim Min-joo’s expression.

“I heard the story. Honestly, we don’t think this is right either.”

“That’s right. There’s clearly a culprit, but Cleaner Kim Jun-woo is taking the blame alone…”

Several team members chimed in, following Choi Jong-hoon.

The rumor had already spread throughout the association.

“Shouldn’t we… help you?”

“I agree. We received help before, so it’s not right to pretend we don’t know.”

“I agree too.”

The expressions of the dozen or so team members were all serious.

Kim Min-joo, who was looking at them, nodded.

“How many people are out on operations right now…?”

“Three in Seocho, four in Gangnam. A total of seven.”

“Bring them all back. Put an all-stop on the remaining operation schedules after this time.”

A heavier voice than ever before.

“From now on, mobilize all personnel in the team… We’re going to catch the real culprit.”

“Yes!”

The team members were also excited by the voice that was gradually regaining strength.

“We’ll proceed even if we can’t meet the quota. If anyone has any objections, speak up in advance.”

“Hey, we all know we’re a doomed team, right?”

“It’s a team that could explode at any time, so who cares about performance!”

“No objections.”

Kim Min-joo smiled.

Teacher was right.

They’re all crazy bastards.

“Then, Operations Team 2… everyone mobilize.”

Soon, the operations team leader’s order was given.

***

“It’s not Hye-yeon’s fault. Just think of it as bad luck.”

Support Team, Hunter Management Office.

Song Hye-yeon was lying on her desk, not having left work until late.

Deputy Director Lee Ah-young patted her shoulder.

“Haa…”

Even so, Song Hye-yeon’s mood showed no signs of improving.

To have this happen only three days after starting her job as an aide.

She was just too unlucky.

‘Should I not have done it?’ Song Hye-yeon sighed again.

“So, what have you decided to do? Who made the mistake?”

When Deputy Director Lee Ah-young asked cautiously, Song Hye-yeon hesitated to answer.

“…Cleaner Kim Jun-woo. He’s going to make a statement himself tomorrow.”

“Really? That’s unexpected. Even the association president’s line makes mistakes.”

“…That’s not it. Cleaner Kim Jun-woo said it was his responsibility… but he didn’t make the mistake.”

“Hmm…?”

Deputy Director Lee Ah-young’s eyebrows twitched at Song Hye-yeon’s inconsistent words.

“Team Leader Kim Min-joo said she saw him putting up the barricade. Kim Jun-woo also said that was the case. But he said that if we try to find the culprit, both the operations team and the cleaning team will be in trouble…”

“So you’re saying… he’s taking the blame alone even though he didn’t do anything wrong?”

“It seems like it…”

“What the… there’s someone like that in a dump like this?”

“Well, maybe not…”

She trailed off, making the end of her words vague.

At the same time, Song Hye-yeon’s gaze kept turning to the floor.

Of course, it might be a lie that Team Leader Kim Min-joo saw him putting up the barricade. She might be trying to hold onto the association president’s line at all costs.

But as a result of working next to her for three days, she is definitely not the type of person to lie about such a thing.

So it’s certain that it’s not Cleaner Kim Jun-woo’s fault.

But if I admit this…

“Come to think of it, I think someone living somewhere said that if there’s even a slight problem with the cleaning team, Kim Jun-woo will be the first to run away…”

“T-That’s!”

As expected, Deputy Director Lee Ah-young’s dagger flew and pierced her.

“I thought you even made a bet while making a confident statement…?”

“T-That’s… high-ranking people are generally like that… so I just thought he would be like that too…”

Song Hye-yeon’s face turned bright red.

Perhaps because she looked so cute, Deputy Director Lee Ah-young placed her hand on her head.

“Anyway, you’re saying Kim Jun-woo isn’t that kind of person, right?”

“Maybe… not.”

Deputy Director Lee Ah-young smiled slightly at her still insincere attitude.

‘If it comes to this, I’m even more curious about what kind of person he is.’

If everything Assistant Song Hye-yeon said is true, then it was an opportunity for Deputy Director Lee Ah-young as well.

She was already feeling disillusioned with this organization that was so stagnant that it had rotted.