The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 367

366. The Final Chapter

“This is a historic moment!”

“The Otherworld phenomenon, which has threatened human society for about 50 years, is about to come to a complete end today.”

“This is a remarkable achievement made by the World Dungeon Suppression Organization, WDSO, approximately five years after its establishment!”

“Currently, almost all executives of WDSO are present at Eclipse, an item management and production research institute under WDSO, where the termination is taking place, including Planning Director Han Yu-bin and Operations Director Kim Min-ju.”

“However, Secretary-General Kim Jun-woo has not yet appeared.”

“Everyone’s attention is focused on when he, the person who has written numerous achievements and legends, the main character and the biggest contributor to this termination, will appear…”

An outer area of Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province.

Thousands of people were crowded around Eclipse, where the termination event was about to take place.

“Association President Lee Ah-young is now making an appearance.”

“Association President Lee Ah-young! You must have prepared a lot for this termination over the years. Could you say a few words before the termination!”

“You are being praised as a hero who led the new era along with Secretary-General Kim Jun-woo and Operations Director Kim Min-ju. How do you feel right now?”

As Lee Ah-young, the president of the WDSO Korea Branch, appeared, reporters rushed in and held out their microphones.

Her escorts tried to stop them, but Lee Ah-young waved her hand to indicate it was okay. After clearing her throat, she turned to face them.

“I’m sorry. We are currently very busy preparing for the termination, so I will arrange another time for a detailed answer later. However…”

The reaction was as expected.

In fact, even they didn’t expect Lee Ah-young to give a kind answer in this situation. Nevertheless, Lee Ah-young continued in a serious voice.

“One thing I can say for sure is that all WDSO executives and employees have risked their lives, prioritizing the safety of citizens above all else. No matter what path we take in the future, that feeling will never change.”

At Lee Ah-young’s words, the reporters who had been rushing to hold out their microphones looked at each other with solemn faces.

Lee Ah-young smiled at them one last time and turned away.

That’s when it happened, just as she was about to enter Eclipse.

“Association President Lee Ah-young! Is it true that you have been in a relationship with Secretary-General Kim Jun-woo for three years?”

A loud voice broke the silence and flew from behind her head.

“…Yes?”

At the voice containing very embarrassing content, Lee Ah-young reflexively turned her head, doubting her ears.

“I heard you guys are fighting over marriage issues and are in a cold war?”

“…”

In the spot where Lee Ah-young looked with surprised eyes, Planning Director Han Yu-bin was standing with the corners of his lips raised.

At the same time, the eyes of the reporters, who were crowded together, were focused on him all at once, and Lee Ah-young barely opened her mouth with a trembling voice.

“…That’s an unpleasant rumor.”

She barely spat out those words, covered her red face with both hands, and quickly ran into the building.

***

“A-Are you crazy?!”

Eclipse, Bank Item Management Room.

Only Lee Ah-young’s excited voice was heard there.

“Why are you saying that in front of the reporters?! Is it something to spread around the neighborhood that you fought with your boyfriend?”

“…It’s frustrating. Everyone else is dating except me.”

“Wh-What did you say?”

Lee Ah-young’s eyebrows rippled at Han Yu-bin’s words, who was sitting indifferently on the chair.

“You too, and Ms. Min-ju too… Now that I see it, even Ms. So-yeon is doing it?”

“…”

It was the first time Lee Ah-young had heard of it.

Well, not that other people’s love lives are so important, but she was quite shocked because Operations Director Kim Min-ju and Cleaning Supervisor Moon So-yeon were far from that image.

But that was only for a moment.

“Is that such a painful thing?”

Association President Lee Ah-young looked at Han Yu-bin with a pitiful expression.

“You know I’m the oldest among us, right?”

“…”

“Do you know how it feels to be the only one who’s single when everyone else is dating or getting married?”

Lee Ah-young held back her words because of the injustice and resentment felt in Han Yu-bin’s words.

The expression on his face as he spat out excuses looked more pitiful than ever.

A moment of awkward silence flowed by.

“This isn’t middle school. Can we stop talking about love and get some work done?”

Eclipse’s chief, Director Chloe, raised her goggles above her head and spoke in an annoyed voice.

“How’s it going?”

“Geez, you’re quick to ask.”

Director Chloe pointed to the large monitor in front of her with a disgruntled voice.

“The Eden Otherworld wave is stable, and all equipment is green.”

“Then…”

“Let’s start the countdown.”

Countdown.

All those times that had taken the lives of so many people and caused so many fights over the past 50 years.

It was finally beginning to dawn on her that they were coming to an end at this moment, in this place.

But…

“Let’s wait a little longer.”

Association President Lee Ah-young shook her head and said.

Then she glanced at the entrance.

As she said, the main characters of this event had not yet gathered.

“I know how you feel, but we can’t wait long.”

Director Chloe said, looking at Lee Ah-young.

“We’ve forcibly closed all the dungeons around the world using the Dimension Stone right now, but if we keep maintaining the Eden Otherworld wave, it’s going to overload. If we drag it out too long, the Dimension Stone operation will pause, and dungeons will reappear all over the world again.”

“…”

“No, but, shouldn’t Kim Jun-woo that guy be here, if no one else? Didn’t you talk to him?”

“I did yesterday. I told him I’d like him to come to the termination.”

“What did he say?”

“He said it overlaps with his dispatch schedule and he’ll check his schedule and contact me…”

As Association President Lee Ah-young trailed off, Director Chloe frowned and mimicked cutting her throat with the edge of her hand.

At the same time, Lee Ah-young closed her mouth tightly and pondered for a moment.

She was wondering if she should call him when it happened.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I was a little late! Hahaha!”

“We would have been here earlier if the director hadn’t been fussing over his hair…”

“I-I’m sorry!”

Director Park Geun-tae, Cleaning Supervisor Moon So-yeon, and Cleaning Team Leader Han Sang-hyuk.

The original members of Cleaning Team 3 appeared.

Association President Lee Ah-young smiled without realizing it at the sight of them all dressed in neat suits, not the dirty work clothes they usually wore, and opened her mouth.

“I’ve been waiting.”

“Hahaha! I’m actually coming to a place like this.”

“Wait, Kim Jun-woo that bastard hasn’t come yet? Always missing in action…”

“O-Oppa. There are reporters outside…”

At that moment, Lee Ah-young’s eyebrows twitched at a word Moon So-yeon suddenly spat out.

“S-So-yeon, what did you just say?”

“Ah…”

When Lee Ah-young asked, Moon So-yeon’s face flushed in an instant. And so did Han Sang-hyuk.

Lee Ah-young was quite shocked by the situation she had never even thought of.

“Hahaha! These guys secretly slipped away from me during the last company dinner, and this is what happened?”

“…”

“…”

Director Park Geun-tae laughed heartily and explained instead.

Association President Lee Ah-young was embarrassed, but she nodded anyway.

It’s not uncommon for things to happen like that when you work together.

So, it’s not something she can’t understand.

Of course, those two are quite unexpected, though.

“Yu-bin, did you know…”

“…”

Lee Ah-young said that and turned her head to ask Han Yu-bin if he knew, but she trailed off.

He was looking at the two of them with a blank expression, even more shocked than she was, as if he had an out-of-body experience.

“…You didn’t know.”

Lee Ah-young gave an awkward smile, but Han Yu-bin was still frozen in place with his eyes wide open.

Just as another awkward silence was engulfing the management office.

“I’m sorry! The traffic was so bad that I was a little late…!”

“Hahaha! At least we’re not the last ones!”

Operations Director Kim Min-ju and Hanbyul Group Chairman Ha Seong-il appeared next.

Lee Ah-young smiled and welcomed them, but her expression hardened at the sudden sense of incongruity.

No way…

“W-Why are you two together?”

Association President Lee Ah-young looked back and forth between the two with a worried expression.

At the same time, Kim Min-ju made an embarrassed expression and avoided her gaze.

“Hahaha.”

“…”

Chairman Ha Seong-il scratched his head and let out an awkward laugh.

‘The company is doing well…’

Lee Ah-young didn’t bother to ask or argue about when they became like that.

From the beginning, Chairman Ha Seong-il had shown interest in Director Kim Min-ju.

“Ugh, my head hurts…”

Association President Lee Ah-young threw herself onto the chair as if collapsing from a sudden headache.

“Does your head hurt? My stomach hurts.”

Han Yu-bin also slumped into a chair with a blank expression.

‘Sigh, yeah. I understand you. I understand.’

After looking at him for a moment, Lee Ah-young pressed her throbbing head with her hand and fell into thought.

It’s an important day with so many things to worry about.

“We have to start the countdown now!”

“Oppa, is it really over now?”

“…”

On one side, Director Chloe was saying that they had to start the countdown.

On the other side, the cleaning team’s Moon So-yeon and Han Sang-hyuk couple were being lovey-dovey, making half-baked, lisping sounds that she had never heard before.

And on the other side, he still couldn’t get over the shock of his younger sibling’s love life…

How could she not have a headache?

“Hoo…”

Lee Ah-young took a small deep breath.

Even in the midst of all that, her gaze remained fixed on the door.

In fact, what she was waiting for was not the cleaning team members or the directors.

Of course, the only person she was waiting for was one person, and unfortunately, that person had not even contacted her until the termination was imminent.

‘Why isn’t that bastard coming!’

The moment an ominous thought suddenly popped into her head, an uneasy feeling stirred deep within Lee Ah-young’s heart.

What if Kim Jun-woo doesn’t come?

What if he hasn’t found certainty?

What if he hasn’t forgiven himself?

Then, can her relationship with him continue?

‘…’

For some reason, Lee Ah-young’s eyes began to turn red at that suddenly rising uneasy feeling.

“Ah, I can’t wait any longer. We’re going to start the countdown now…”

At that time, Director Chloe approached her with a nervous expression.

“What, are you crying?”

“…”

As soon as she saw her face, she raised the corners of her lips in a smirk.

“Why all of a sudden? Don’t tell me it’s because that person didn’t come?”

“That’s not it.”

“What do you mean it’s not. Everyone, look here. This person is crying because her boyfriend didn’t come?”

“…”

Director Chloe started to tear her apart as if she had found the most fun toy in the world, thinking this was her chance.

Lee Ah-young jumped up and down, saying that wasn’t the case, but no one else seemed to want to listen to her.

“Oh my, the association president was also a woman.”

“Jun-woo was wrong.”

“I don’t think Secretary-General would do that.”

“…Die, just die, everyone.”

Everyone said something, and the management office became noisy like a marketplace.

The place was nowhere to be found with any sense of tension.

Childish pranks that were neither adult nor child, just everyone laughing and getting angry without thinking, forgetting something important for a while.

“The reporters outside would be in an uproar if they saw this.”

Someone’s voice was heard.

“It’s a somewhat historic day, is it okay for WDSO’s top executives to be doing this? Not like kids.”

Eclipse, Bank Item Management Room.

Everyone in that place, without exception, turned their eyes to one place.

And then silence. Everyone was frozen in place as if they had seen a ghost.

“I’m sorry. I was a little late.”

The man who appeared there smiled slightly as he looked at them once.

“Everyone has worked so hard to get here.”

With those words, he made eye contact with Lee Ah-young, but he didn’t bother to say this and that out loud.

It was enough to answer just by looking at each other without saying anything.

After a few seconds, the man turned his gaze back and looked at everyone in the room with grateful eyes.

The cleaning team members he had first met in this world.

The disciple who followed him recklessly.

The successor who had the worst first impression.

The best source of money.

The bat who knew how to value his life.

If even one of them hadn’t been there, today might not have happened.

The man, who knew that fact well, bowed politely to them without saying a word.

The people who felt that way straightened their posture and bowed back in the same way.

“Then…”

He raised his head and finally spoke the last words, like the main character.

“Let’s start the countdown.”

***

It has been three years since the Otherworld Incident was officially terminated.

Contrary to expectations that many things would change and change after the termination, the world remained frighteningly the same.

The only change is that everyone at WDSO is now walking different paths.

Kim Min-ju, who opened a small kendo gym as she wished.

“Now, take the upper stance and head!”

“Head!”

With the clear voices of the children, Min-ju’s kendo gym was very prosperous.

In fact, most of them are children of group executives and affiliates who want to look good to Hanbyul Group Chairman Ha Seong-il.

And it’s called a kendo gym, but they guide the children to and from school, teach them, and sometimes have snack parties…

During vacations, they take the children to the sea or valleys to play.

And her boyfriend, Chairman Ha Seong-il…

Well, he’s busy, so they don’t meet often, but they still have a drink once a quarter.

“Secretary-General, no, Brother. If you look at this business, it’s very promising… I hope you do it…”

Ha, this bastard. I don’t know if he hasn’t given up on me yet, but he keeps talking about various new business-related stories…

In fact, it’s quite annoying.

“Aaaaaaah!! What is this!! PPT [PowerPoint presentation]? Excel? It’s easier to kill monsters! Damn it! I’m not doing it!”

I knew it.

Han Yu-bin was scouted by Hanbyul Trading’s Planning Division and worked there, but he said that office work was not for him, so he smashed his computer and ran out, suddenly going abroad for volunteer work?

Cough, what is he doing that doesn’t suit him.

Everyone was shocked, but it’s better to do that than nothing.

Han Sang-hyuk and Moon So-yeon got married last year.

“Wah, wah.”

Holding a child.

…Speeding. They were so relaxed when cleaning. Tsk tsk.

They have now opened a small cafe and are living well together.

It seems that 50% of the sales are raised by our members.

“Drink! Get wet!”

“Ah, no, why are you drinking alcohol at a cafe…”

“I’m the chairman of Hanbyul Group! How much does it cost to rent this place for a day? How much does it cost!”

…He’s very drunk and a sight to see.

“This year is a great harvest. Hehe.”

Director Park Geun-tae retired and is farming on a small scale in his hometown. I don’t get in touch often, but he sends me crops every year without fail.

He sends different crops every year.

…This year, I’m just eating blueberries until I’m full.

And Ah-young…

And what am I doing?

Seoul, Cheongdam-dong. Hanbyul Department Store.

This is the largest department store in Korea and home to dozens of luxury stores.

Celebrities, politicians, and business people often appear here, and it is their own space where shopping for tens of millions of won a day is a piece of cake.

And I’m here…

“Jun-woo! Are you done cleaning the 3rd floor hallway?”

“Yes, I’m done now and I’m going to the 4th floor.”

“That’s good. Empty the trash cans on the way.”

“Sure, why not.”

“Oh, Jun-woo! Throw this away too on the way!”

“After that, tell me how to mix the chemicals. Director Park used the chemicals too strong last time and said he broke the sink.”

“Yes, yes, I understand.”

…On-site cleaning.

‘Empty the trash can before cleaning the 4th floor, go to recycling…’

I walked up the stairs, repeating the order of business in my head.

Chijik―

「Hey, Jun-woo…」

At that time, Chief Hwang’s radio suddenly rang.

“Yes, Chief. What’s wrong.”

「Something happened. The department store branch manager is very angry… Come to the management office right now.」

Those words were conveyed in a very subdued voice.

I let out a small sigh while holding the radio, and soon turned around and started walking back the way I came.

The service space behind the space where customers come and go.

And the cleaning management office located there.

“Are you out of your mind right now?”

As soon as I arrived there, the branch manager’s excited voice was heard first.

“I told you not to overlap with the customers’ lines, didn’t I! Especially when VIPs come, I told you not to crawl out!”

“B-But… In order to meet the schedule, the lines may inevitably overlap…”

“Schedule my ass, schedule to die! What schedule do you need to clean!”

“…”

“Hey, Chief Hwang. I signed a contract trusting Director Kim, but it’s going to be difficult if you come out like this!”

The branch manager poured out overly emotional words and actions towards Chief Hwang.

Apparently, one of the VIPs who came in the afternoon filed a complaint.

Well, I understand that the situation is inevitable because one VIP customer here brings in a huge amount of sales…

“Ah, damn it. That’s enough. It’s not the first or second time, so I can’t use you guys anymore, so don’t come out here from tomorrow.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Didn’t you hear? I’ll tell Director Kim, so don’t come out from tomorrow!”

“H-How can there be such a thing! How can you suddenly do this to a clearly contracted item…!”

“If you’re going to argue, go to Director Kim and argue, and I don’t have anything else to do, so get out now!”

The branch manager left those words behind and passed me and left the management office.

And in the place where he disappeared, only a heavy silence was left.

“H-Hyung [older brother/male friend]… What are we going to do.”

At that time, Mr. Kang opened his mouth with a trembling voice.

“If you say the contract has been terminated, Director Kim won’t leave us alone…”

“Haa…”

Chief Hwang also swept back his hair with a troubled expression.

Hanbyul Department Store is our most important customer.

If such a place is terminated, even if it is unilateral, it is not just a headache.

Well, in fact, our crew will all be fired.

‘Hmm…’

I looked at our five or so crew members for a moment and fell into thought.

And before long.

“Sigh…”

I let out a deep sigh and opened my mouth.

“Well, don’t worry too much. I’ll figure it out somehow.”

“…What?”

“What does that mean?”

In an instant, their eyes turned to me.

I smiled as I took out my cell phone from my pocket.

“I have a lot of experience with this kind of thing.”

With those words, I turned around and moved my steps.

“Yes, there are some problems with the cleaning team here too.”

“Okay. I won’t cause an accident.”

“What am I talking about? I said I know! Cut it off!”

Anyway, you’re worried about nothing.

“Really, let’s end our cleaning life wisely for the last time!”

◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ ◈

Hello, this is Dalbit.

First of all, I would like to sincerely thank the readers who enjoyed my lacking work.

I wanted to write a work that everyone could enjoy, but I think there were many times when I couldn’t meet the expectations of the readers because I was lacking a lot.

However, the readers’ support. Even the harsh criticisms were valuable driving forces for me, and I was able to run safely to the end thanks to all the readers.

It was a very honorable time to be able to serialize on Series. Thank you once again for being with me during that not short time.

The novel is complete, but the webtoon is being serialized every Thursday, so please pay a lot of attention!

I will come back with a more grown-up look and a more prepared work.

Thank you for being with me.