The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 99

098

As planned, the Suncheon Branch established the operation team training center and dormitories for the trainees.

Veteran hunters from each branch were dispatched as training center instructors on a rotational basis.

Of course, Kim Min-joo was also selected as a senior instructor.

As expected, the effect was as anticipated.

It became a mandatory stop for new recruits, allowing them to fulfill their subjugation quotas through practical training.

Well, even though they were new recruits, the instructor lineup was so solid that there was no room for problems to arise, and thanks to that, the constantly distrustful civic groups quieted down.

Nevertheless, there were still problems to be fixed… but from there on, it would be up to the branch to solve.

“So… how is everyone’s work going these days?”

It was the day of the company’s regular meeting.

The conference room was attended by a total of 10 cleaning team leaders, including Moon So-yeon, Han Sang-hyuk, and Han Yu-bin.

“The Gangneung Branch doesn’t have any major problems. The dungeons aren’t too difficult to work in, so we can work quickly.”

Moon So-yeon answered first.

Following her, each team leader gave their report.

“We don’t have any particular problems either. Well, it doesn’t seem bad to receive part of the contract fee in byproducts.”

“Ah, the Jeonju Branch asked if we could break down the corpses into smaller pieces. But with our current equipment, it’s a bit difficult to break them down to less than 30cm.”

Team Leader Hong Yong-pyo of Team 7 said.

“I’ll get you a special cutter. Is there anything else?”

“There are no other problems.”

I nodded.

“Okay. Are there any difficulties or further suggestions… ?”

In fact, before the regression, I didn’t even bother to listen to the employees’ suggestions….

If I kept suffering alone like before, things would only get bigger, so now I need to check in advance.

More than anything, it would be a loss if they couldn’t handle it and left.

“…….”

“…….”

But somehow, everyone is just blinking blankly.

“Really? It’s okay, you can speak comfortably….”

“Um….”

At that moment, Moon So-yeon carefully raised her hand.

Seeing her hesitant expression, it seemed like a pretty important matter, so I also became nervous.

“Can you… refill the snacks in the break room…?”

“…….”

Sigh.

“…Okay.”

I clenched my fist and shouted a small “Yes!”

How… modest.

“Is there anything else besides that?”

“…….”

“…….”

Silence came again.

I nodded with a faint sigh.

“Okay. Then I’ll assume there’s nothing else… We’ll end the meeting here.”

As soon as I finished speaking, everyone left the conference room.

I stretched my neck muscles and looked around the conference room surrounded by glass windows.

A clean and spacious space that couldn’t be compared to the previous office.

Thanks to hiring an additional 10 administrative staff, it now had the appearance of a proper company.

This change in just a few months was all thanks to the Suncheon Branch incident.

Since that day, strange stories about our company started circulating on the internet, and the number of job applicants increased exponentially.

Thanks to that, we were able to establish 10 teams from the existing 3 teams.

At the same time, rumors spread among the branches that a certain cleaning team company had revived the dying Suncheon Branch, and more and more people from all over the country were looking for us.

According to Director Lee Ah-young, thanks to this, this month’s sales will increase more than 10 times compared to the first month of establishment.

A turning point, literally.

It firmly imprinted the name of Karma Corporation throughout the country.

And the Baekje Guild… well, it went bankrupt.

All guild members became unemployed.

Some tried to transfer to other guilds, but their previous experience held them back.

Unable to do anything, I bought the Baekje Guild, which had fallen to the bottom, at a bargain price. They had no choice.

From now on, they would have to live as cleaners, not hunters… but they couldn’t afford to be picky.

“…Looking back, I think it would have been better to handle it quietly.”

I can’t deny that I felt like I caused too much of a ruckus.

“Well, it would have happened sooner or later even if it wasn’t for you. It’s all their fault.”

Lee Ah-young, who was working next to me, immediately retorted.

Even as she spoke, her eyes were on the monitor and her hands were busy on the keyboard.

“Looks like you have a lot to do?”

“Is that even a question? We’ve been so focused on the Suncheon Branch that we haven’t been able to do our own work properly! Sigh… is this a cleaning service dispatch company or a management consulting company….”

“Still, as a result, didn’t things turn out as I said?”

“…That’s why I’m even more annoyed.”

She glared at me with narrowed eyes.

It’s been resolved well, but she still has so many complaints.

“How are the contracts going?”

“We’ve signed a total of 22 contracts so far. 18 in the provinces, 1 in a metropolitan city, and 3 in the Seoul metropolitan area. At this rate, we might consider converting to a corporation.”

“Well, it hasn’t even been a year yet, so it seems premature to go that far… Let’s keep watching the trend for now. How are the branches reacting?”

“Overall, they seem satisfied. There haven’t been any complaints. Well, everyone’s a veteran, so it’s only natural.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Above all, the employees’ satisfaction is very high. Well… this is also natural.”

“…? Why is that natural?”

My eyebrows went up.

She had a look on her face as if she was asking if I didn’t know.

I didn’t know what to say, so I just closed my mouth.

“By the way, I’m just asking in case.”

Then, Director Lee Ah-young quickly brought up another story.

“You said you wanted to focus more on overseas. Are you going to go out right away?”

“Hmm….”

Even though we are on the rise, it is still not enough.

Only when it is stabilized to a certain extent can we check the exact indicators and promote the business.

“It would be nice to have something to solidify our position.”

“Solidify?”

“Something big enough to establish ourselves as irreplaceable. Well, for example… preventing the headquarters from falling apart.”

“…….”

Her expression is not good.

“…Can you please not say ominous things? I’m busy enough as it is now?”

Director Lee Ah-young shuddered.

I laughed it off because it was just a joke.

‘…Falling apart?’

But at that moment, something flashed through my mind at the words I had uttered.

I immediately checked the calendar and calculated the date several times.

Ah… damn….

“…What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

Lee Ah-young asked with a frightened expression, but I didn’t have time to answer.

I was so distracted by other things that I had completely forgotten.

Big deal or whatever….

‘Shit….’

The day was already approaching.

The memories of that desperate day before the regression resurfaced in my mind, and I quickly took out my phone.

“I’m sorry to contact you so suddenly. Could you… summon all the operation teams across the country to Seoul in a month?”

The association president’s reaction was bewildered.

「What are you talking about all of a sudden?」

“I think something’s going to happen….”

「What is it?」

“…….”

I hesitated to answer because I didn’t know where to start, and the association president spoke first.

「I don’t know what’s going on, but summoning all the operation teams across the country is impossible. It’s not that I don’t want to do it, but that’s the law.」

Of course, I know.

In preparation for emergencies, it is legally prohibited for more than 15 operation teams to gather in one place.

But….

“Isn’t it possible to summon everyone in a crisis situation?”

「What kind of crisis situation are you talking about?」

“…….”

If I say that I actually regressed and that a dangerous dungeon will open around this time….

Shit, I wouldn’t believe it either.

「You’ve been overdoing it with your business lately, so you must be tired. Don’t do that and take a few days off. Resting is also work.」

“…Okay.”

I couldn’t explain this, so I had no choice but to put down my phone.

As I was organizing my thoughts for a moment, the memory of that time when I received A rank and was full of arrogance was faintly replayed in my mind.

***

Seoul, Seocho Station area before the regression.

Kaaaaaak―!!

Kugugung―!!

Kwang, Kwang―!!

The middle of Seoul was already in chaos.

Monsters were constantly pouring into the city center from a suddenly appearing regen dungeon [A dungeon that reappears after being cleared, often with increased difficulty].

“Maintain formation!! If you scatter, you’ll all die!!”

I shouted at the operation team 1 hunters.

But they no longer had the reason to listen to me.

“Uaaaaaack!!”

“Kkeueuk!”

“Cough…!”

Each monster is at the boss level.

It was only natural that their minds were shaken by the unprecedented situation.

‘Shit….’

I gritted my teeth.

Then I turned to Team Leader Lee Soo-yong.

“Team Leader! We’ll be annihilated if we continue like this. We have to buy as much time as possible and retreat, then join up with other teams in the rear!”

“…….”

But the bastard who was supposedly the team leader of Operation Team 1 was already out of his mind.

“Team Leader! Team Leader!!”

“…Let’s, let’s retreat.”

The moment he barely made a sound, I shouted.

“Retreat! Everyone retreat! Hold them back as much as possible and fall back to COEX [Convention & Exhibition Center]!”

“Yes, yes!”

“Ha Dong-soo! Focus on protecting the priest classes! Jo Won-jae, back up from behind with the mage classes! Everyone else, follow me!”

“Understood!”

Operation Team 1, called the elite, retreated without even entering the dungeon.

I, as the youngest A-rank, found it hard to understand what was going on.

I had been the leader in red-grade subjugations [High-difficulty dungeon raids]. Although young, my dungeon experience was above that of most team leaders.

But this is not a dungeon.

Just a disaster.

A disaster itself that has no use for operations or planning.

I don’t remember much after that.

I fought with the determination to die, and teammates with the same determination died all around me.

I didn’t sleep or eat, and I only blocked monsters for three days.

Even so, we still haven’t reached the dungeon entrance.

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the entire city of Seoul collapsed.

Only then did Chief Seo Min-cheol, who realized the seriousness of the situation, belatedly request support troops from the guild and branches across the country, and we were able to gradually regain the areas taken from the monsters.

Finally, when we reached the dungeon entrance again.

The dungeon disappeared naturally.

It’s over.

But no one shouted for joy or sighed in relief.

We didn’t win, we just barely survived.

The ruins of collapsed buildings.

The streets of Seoul were stained red with a mixture of torn monster corpses and hunter corpses.

“…….”

I stared blankly at the bodies of my colleagues.

Some of them were juniors who followed me well, and some were seniors who helped me a lot.

There were also colleagues who gossiped and friends who had been preparing for the hunter exam together since high school.

I stood there blankly for several hours.

“Um….”

Someone spoke to me.

“…What is it?”

“I’m from the dungeon cleaning team… Where should we start cleaning?”

“…Are you also affiliated with the association?”

“Yes, yes. That’s right.”

I looked at him and asked dryly.

“Where were you until it got to this point?”

“Yes? But we are non-combat personnel….”

I waved my hand and cut him off.

I know. It’s just a pointless outburst.

I just didn’t have the mind to think rationally.

I know it’s not their fault.

But even so, I couldn’t help but feel angry.