The special exhibition ‘Warriors of the Korean Peninsula’ held at Ilsan K Convention Center.
An ominous current began to flow through the venue.
“So why are you suddenly picking a fight with me, huh!?”
An irritated voice kept ringing out.
“Hunters can’t visit an exhibition on their day off? Was there a law like that in South Korea?”
The owner of the voice was Red Mage Tower Lord Shin Sodam.
Her black tank top, flare skirt, and sandals gave off a fresh, lively vibe.
Standing opposite her was a woman in a neat suit.
“You only need to answer a few questions.”
Hunter Surveillance Bureau investigator, nicknamed ‘Mad Dog’ Bae Minji.
Bae Minji continued in a stiff, businesslike tone.
“Shin Sodam-ssi, I already showed you the official cooperation request.”
“So what? Cooperation isn’t mandatory, is it? I’m not in the mood for Q&A, so please leave.”
“We’d like to settle this without raising our voices. If you refuse to cooperate, we may have to issue a warrant.”
“Oh~ What happens if voices get raised? You keep poking at someone who’s just standing here? Fine, if you’re mad, wanna throw hands? Huh? Mr. Civil Servant?”
The Hunter Surveillance Bureau’s ‘Mad Dog’ Bae Minji and the Red Mage Tower Lord Shin Sodam, famous for her explosive temper.
Their voices echoed loudly through the exhibition hall.
Soon Bae Minji spoke.
“It seems you don’t understand the situation at all, so I’ll explain from the beginning again.”
Bae Minji pointed at the artifacts in the hall.
“Seven days ago, during the Villain Alliance’s raid on Deus Ex Machina’s munitions factory, a large number of ruins and artifacts buried beneath the factory zone were discovered. Quite the coincidence, isn’t it?”
“So what?”
“The owner of Deus Ex Machina is A+ rank No. 2, ‘Mrs. Luddite’…… In other words, the suspicion is that Mrs. Luddite knew about the ruins yet still built the munitions factory on top of them. That’s why the Hunter Surveillance Bureau launched an investigation.”
Shin Sodam’s lips trembled.
“No, so. Then go question Mrs. Luddite. Why are you throwing a tantrum at me? If someone got slapped in Jongno, look for the culprit in Jongno. Why cause a scene in Ilsan? Huh!?”
“The reason is…… Shin Sodam-ssi, I believe you know it better than anyone.”
“Are you trying to apply collective punishment to A+ rank hunters? Why, just call Junseong and old man Igeuk too? Call everyone. The great civil servant can summon them all. But……”
A haze rose around Shin Sodam.
“Why are you only throwing a tantrum at me?”
“I’ll say it directly. The suspicion is that Shin Sodam-ssi is participating in a certain suspicious plan.”
Bae Minji smiled and continued.
“For example……
A coup d’état?”
“Ha, seriously……”
Shin Sodam rubbed her face.
When she lowered her hand, her expression was fiercely twisted.
“My patience is reaching its limit. How long do I have to listen to this nonsense?”
A red mana wheel formed above Shin Sodam’s head.
The smile vanished from Bae Minji’s lips.
“When a hunter uses or attempts to use power in a civilian area without Association approval…… a Hunter Surveillance Bureau investigator may exercise discretion for summary judgment. Have you perhaps never heard of it?”
“If you act recklessly, you have to be prepared to get beaten by the other party. What, you’ve never heard of such a law?”
“Yes, there is no such law. Shin Sodam-ssi.”
A tense standoff with no retreat continued.
Soon Shin Sodam spoke mockingly.
“I’ve heard the rumor. That the Hunter Surveillance Bureau has a ‘hunter who catches hunters.’ What was it…… their ability only activates against other hunters?”
“A+ rank hunters are specialists in monster combat. But when it comes to fighting other hunters, I’m no slouch either.”
“Really? Civil servants are usually the type who only act tough against the weak, right?”
“You’ll find out faster by experiencing it yourself.”
In Bae Minji’s hands were now a whip and handcuffs.
Shin Sodam lifted the corner of her mouth.
“Oh? Then let’s experience just how different this time.”
“I have no personal feelings, so please understand.”
This side is 100% personal feelings, so keep that in mind.
A red aura surged around Shin Sodam.
Woooong— Woooong-woooong-woooong— Woooong—
As red mana wheels formed one after another, the air inside heated up instantly.
The situation was on the verge of exploding.
Yet the surrounding visitors’ reactions were indifferent.
“Are those people actually going to fight?”
“No way…… It’s probably some filming.”
“Wow! First time seeing Shin Sodam in person! Gotta brag on Mystar!”
“The flame details are insane. They must not be using CG. But where’s the filming crew?”
They couldn’t imagine a Hunter Surveillance Bureau official and a famous Association figure actually fighting in a civilian area.
Then Bae Minji’s appearance began to change.
HUUUUGE—
Her pitch-black hair and pupils gradually turned reddish.
……As if trying to imitate Shin Sodam.
Right when both women’s mana was surging violently—
“Okay, okay! Time, time! Stop, stop! Both of you, calm down~!”
Professor Park Ahjeong stepped between them.
She spoke to Bae Minji.
“Relax. If civilians get caught up, this time it won’t end with just a demotion, you know?”
Bae Minji quietly put away her whip.
Soon Park Ahjeong looked at both women and said.
“First, there are too many people here. Let’s go somewhere quiet. Shin Sodam-ssi, would you come with us?”
“Why should I.”
Park Ahjeong smiled and gently took Shin Sodam’s arm.
“Come on— don’t be like that. My friend is originally a bit cold, so she gets a lot of misunderstandings. I’ll apologize on her behalf~.”
“W-what strength……!?”
In the end, the three of them left the exhibition hall corridor, avoiding the visitors.
Only then did Park Ahjeong speak with a serious expression.
“What on earth is going on? You both know very well that nothing good comes from a public fight between an Association hunter and a Surveillance Bureau investigator.”
Bae Minji slowly opened her mouth.
“……I’m investigating people around Mrs. Luddite. Recently, Deus Ex Machina has been connected to many major incidents.”
“Hmm, I understand that part. But why Shin Sodam-ssi all of a sudden? Other than both being A+ rank hunters, there shouldn’t be much connection between you two.”
“Precisely, it’s related to the Red Mage Tower Guild’s involvement. Not only that, the Gray Mage Tower Guild has built quite a close relationship with Mrs. Luddite’s side as well.”
“If it’s the Gray Mage Tower Guild…… is ‘Gray Mage Tower Lord Son Boyeong’-ssi also involved?”
The Gray Mage Tower is a guild specialized in metal manipulation magic.
Soon Bae Minji nodded.
“Metal. What guild could be more suitable to cooperate with Mrs. Luddite, the leading figure in the machinery industry? Melt iron with fire and supply it, then use that molten iron to make machines. Upon investigation, it seems they have a very close back-scratching relationship.”
Shin Sodam’s shoulders twitched at those words.
But only for a moment.
“You’re talking nonsense without knowing anything……”
Shin Sodam continued in a voice that seemed to boil over.
It’s just a business relationship, okay? Do you think I’m doing it because I want to? The guild old farts decided it arbitrarily—what am I supposed to do about it?
Shin Sodam clicked her tongue and turned her head.
Then.
“Huh?”
A familiar silhouette caught Shin Sodam’s eye.
The back of a man hurriedly running out the exhibition hall exit.
“Uh…… uh!? Th-that bastard……!”
How could she forget that back view.
The strange bad relationship that started at Lethe Tower and continued all the way to Maslow’s Tower.
It was Cha Hasang.
“I finally found you. You…… bad bastard……!”
Shin Sodam hurriedly tried to chase after Cha Hasang.
But Bae Minji blocked her path.
“Where are you going? You still haven’t answered my questions, Shin Sodam-ssi.”
“Ugh, move!”
Shin Sodam shoved Bae Minji aside with her shoulder.
“Hey, Cha Hasang—! You, you bad bastard! Stop right there!?”
Shin Sodam ran frantically toward the exhibition hall entrance.
Bae Minji took out her whip and handcuffs and said.
“Ahjeong, sorry but I’ll go first. Seems like the number of people I need to catch has increased to two.”
With those words, Bae Minji also left the exhibition hall.
Watching the two women’s backs, Professor Park Ahjeong chuckled softly.
“He was more interesting than I thought. Having two tenacious pursuers attached to him.”
But Park Ahjeong soon corrected herself.
No, including me, maybe three.
Then, a delicate voice came from behind Park Ahjeong.
“Excuse me, aren’t you Professor Park Ahjeong?”
Park Ahjeong turned around.
There stood a female student beautifully dressed in a flowing one-piece dress.
A familiar face.
It was Kim Yerim, who had taken Professor Park Ahjeong’s class last semester.
“Oh my, Yerim student, seeing you here? What a surprise~.”
“Hello, Professor. Did you come to see the exhibition?”
“Yes, yes~ That’s right. But Yerim student is also very interested in history~ Or did you come on a date with your boyfriend?”
Kim Yerim flinched and said.
“N-no, not a date. It’s just……”
Kim Yerim hesitated as she continued.
“Um…… did you perhaps come with Cha Hasang sunbae?”
“We didn’t come together, but we did meet here. Don’t tell me your boyfriend is Hasang student?”
“Not yet…… Ah, no! That’s not it.”
Kim Yerim’s face turned bright red.
Soon Kim Yerim spoke in a creeping voice.
“Um…… do you know where Cha Hasang sunbae is……?”
Park Ahjeong pointed to the exhibition hall entrance.
“Oh dear, Hasang student just went out the entrance. Didn’t you see him when you came in?”
“Just now? Ah, Professor! Then I’ll go first! Thank you~!”
Kim Yerim bowed 90 degrees in greeting and hurriedly ran off.
Kim Yerim ran toward the wide-open exhibition hall entrance.
Professor Park Ahjeong stood there blankly for a long time.
Soon.
“So this is what they call……”
Professor Park Ahjeong grinned and said.
“The popular alpha male~.”