Chapter 72: Balance of the Ecosystem (1)

After a long time, the Director of the Disaster Safety Agency gave me a call.

“Hello, Director.”

-Oh, Team Leader Lee. How have you been?

“I’ve been doing well.”

-I saw you on the broadcast. You looked great.

“Ah, yes.”

-Our Team Leader Lee always works so hard. I didn’t realize you were pushing yourself that much.

The Director laughed as if he were in a good mood.

-Tell me if you need anything in the future. Thanks to you, I actually feel like working these days.

“Not at all. I’m the one always receiving help.”

-By the way…

Director Shin Chae-ho paused for a moment before continuing.

-There’s a bit of an urgent matter. Could I ask you to handle a quick mission?

My schedule for today was completely empty.

It didn’t really matter either way.

“You help me so much, of course I should make time for it.”

-Haha, thank you. You really are a good man, Team Leader Lee.

“You’re busy, yet you still offered to support the 2nd Hunter Training Project, so the least I can do is earn my keep.”

-Ah, that.

The Director laughed as he continued.

-The thing we talked about before. Oh, right. The training project for Hunters from Minor Guilds. I’ve signed off on it, so just so you know.

The training period for the new Guild members who joined Hanul had ended.

The problem was that there were no trainees for the next session.

That was why I had submitted a proposal to the Agency.

-I read through it, and it seemed quite good. Large Guilds run their own training, but it’s not easy for a Minor Guild to set up private training programs. It’s beneficial in many ways for the state to support basic training.

Perfect.

Securing training materials would become much easier now.

Most importantly, by receiving government support, members of Minor Guilds could participate in training with less of a financial burden.

In other words, the Trainers at the Star Center wouldn’t have to sit around doing nothing, and we could maintain the rotation without any issues.

The first step is always the hardest, but once the water starts flowing, it’s easy to row the boat.

“So, what kind of mission should I head out for?”

At my question, the Director spoke up somewhat sheepishly.

-I’m asking for some Bug extermination.

Bug extermination?

I wondered what that was supposed to mean.

In the forest-style park of the Dongshin Apartment complex, giant insects had reportedly been discovered.

“Daddy! Does this mean I can’t do my summer break homework?”

“…Yeah. The Bug… said it doesn’t want to be caught.”

The man, looking pale, spoke while his child whined and cried.

“If I don’t do my homework, I’ll get in trouble. All the other kids are going to catch them.”

“Min-jun, if we’re not careful, Daddy will be the one caught… No, never mind.”

The man was so shocked that he was saying things he shouldn’t even say to a child.

From what I heard, the Director’s grandson had also been through quite an ordeal while trying to catch bugs.

This was the only place nearby where one could catch insects.

In short, the request was to exterminate the giant insect Monsters to ease the worries of parents and support the children’s homework, which aimed to foster their observation and inquiry skills.

‘I mean, they could just skip it.’

No matter how docile a Monster might be, a Monster is still a Monster.

If something went wrong, it could easily lead to casualties.

“We’re counting on you, Hunter.”

“Oh my, is that the Hunter everyone says is good at deliveries? Wow, he looks like he’d be great at carrying luggage.”

“…”

I could hear the people whispering.

I let out a low sigh and turned to Karin, who was standing beside me.

“I’ve been meaning to ask, what’s that?”

“What do you think? It’s a Bug net.”

“No, I know that.”

“They said the kids couldn’t do their homework. Shouldn’t we support children’s dreams?”

Karin was wearing a straw hat and holding a dragonfly net that looked big enough to catch a human.

Thanks to her, the crowd’s interest was exploding.

“Should we go now, Coach?”

“Wait a moment. One more person is supposed to join us.”

“Who?”

“Oh, there she is.”

A luxury car stopped at the park Entrance, and Seohyeonji stepped out.

Wearing sunglasses, a dress, and even a picnic hat, Seohyeonji walked with an air of elegance.

The citizens of the apartment complex recognized her and let out gasps of admiration.

“Wow, look at Seohyeonji’s proportions. Incredible.”

“Look how small her face is. She’s freaking gorgeous.”

Enjoying the whispers of the crowd, Seohyeonji lifted her chin high.

She’s clearly having fun with this.

“What is it? Why did you call me?”

Seohyeonji asked as she reached me.

She blinked as she looked at Karin next to me.

“Oh. Seoyeon is here too.”

“Hello.”

“What is this? It doesn’t look like a Date. What’s going on?”

What else? It’s work.

“Do you have any other clothes besides that?”

“Clothes? Why?”

“Because that looks uncomfortable to move in.”

What exactly was she planning to do in that flowy dress?

I suppose it couldn’t be helped.

If a team member lacks awareness, it’s the Team Leader’s responsibility to handle it.

I pulled out some clothes for Seohyeonji from my Inventory.

“What is this…?”

“Change into that.”

“You want me to change?”

“Yes, yes. There’s a restroom over there.”

“……Seriously, what is this?”

Seohyeonji looked back and forth between me and the clothes with an incredulous expression, then slowly and haughtily walked toward the restroom.

A good while later, Seohyeonji emerged wearing one-piece coveralls.

“Wh-Why are you making me wear this?”

Did I not mention it?

“We’re going to catch some Bugs.”

At my words, Seohyeonji’s face turned pale.

“You’re the best when it comes to catching Bugs, Seohyeonji.”

She did a great job burning those larvae last time, after all.

“You called me out on my day off just to… catch Bugs?”

“Now that we’re ready, let’s go Level Up.”

Leveling up is the best. Indeed.

With a Healer Vending Machine and a fire-breathing shuttle by my side, I felt reassured.

Even if a Bug King appeared, I felt like we could take it down.

Though Seohyeonji grumbled, she followed along well enough for now.

Even if she was following behind listlessly with her arms crossed in dissatisfaction.

Since he had called her out on a day off, she thought he might be trying to cure her boredom.

But what was this? Bug extermination.

The three of them walked through the park forest for the hunt.

It was quite a scenic place.

Perhaps because the apartment prices here were quite high, the park was exceptionally well-maintained.

There was a lake in the center, and the walking paths were surrounded by thickets and lush trees.

Usually, the park forest would be crowded with people, but now it was quiet.

“Coach, is it true that fried insects are really delicious?”

“…”

“I heard they’re a very high-protein food.”

“Try it yourself if you’re brave enough.”

Seohyeonji was baffled to see that Seoyeon had been talking about nothing but food for a while now.

She looked slim, but when she ate, she packed away so much food that one had to wonder where it all went.

‘If I ate like that, I’d turn into a pig immediately.’

Seohyeonji had a constitution that gained weight easily, so she was always on a diet and felt envious of Seoyeon.

At that moment, Seohyeonji saw something.

She rubbed her eyes.

She opened them wide and looked again, but it didn’t seem like she was seeing things.

“Hey, wait a second.”

“What is it?”

“Are we… here to catch that?”

Seohyeonji pointed at ‘it.’

Lee Hyunbin looked at it, the corners of his mouth curling up as he answered.

“Oh, right. There it is.”

At Hyunbin’s words, Seohyeonji muttered weakly.

“You said it was a Bug….”

“Yes, a request came in to exterminate some Bugs that appeared in the park.”

“You’re not calling that thing a Bug, are you?”

What appeared before them was a Honeybee. But this fellow was the size of a human.

‘Disgusting.’

As if that wasn’t enough, it had a muscular, inverted-triangle body straight out of a United States action comic.

‘Totally disgusting!’

Seohyeonji’s teeth actually chattered from the repulsion.

“What’s this? I thought we said the Royal Jelly Gang had taken over this place. Didn’t you hear?”

“I-It’s talking?”

Seohyeonji muttered softly while pointing at the Honeybee.

“Of course it talks.”

“Of course?”

She mobilized all the common sense she possessed.

‘Of course it’s not supposed to talk!’

Unable to say it out loud, she shot another glance at the Honeybee.

It had the face of a brutal gangster.

It looked like nothing more than a middle-aged mobster in a cute Honeybee costume.

‘Isn’t that just a person? Is that a dragon tattoo on his arm?’

Seohyeonji swallowed hard, unable to voice her thoughts.

Then the Honeybee spoke again.

“Hey, young fella. When a person—or a Bee—is talking, you should answer.”

“How old are you that you’re using informal speech with me?”

“I’m 28 days old, so what? You got a problem?”

“A brat like you acting up in front of an adult.”

Was that the problem?

Seohyeonji felt like her common sense was being shattered piece by piece.

“Oh, Coach. Bees are beneficial insects, so we shouldn’t bully them. They say the Bee population has dropped a lot due to environmental destruction. If there are no Bees, there are no humans.”

“Wait, Seoyeon. Does that look like a beneficial insect to you?”

“They say Bees are beneficial, Miss. I heard that if Bees disappear, the ecosystem will collapse and the world might end.”

Seohyeonji looked at the Honeybee.

The Honeybee was clutching a sashimi knife.

‘Beneficial insect. Meaning an insect that brings benefit to humans.’

Seohyeonji looked at the Honeybee again, but no matter how she looked at it, it didn’t look beneficial.

Hasn’t the ecosystem already collapsed?

Seohyeonji thought to herself as she watched the ‘beneficial insect’ smoking a cigarette.

Then Lee Hyunbin gave the Honeybee a warning.

“I’m sorry, but this is private property. You are trespassing and committing property damage. You should hurry back to where you came from.”

“I guess being nice isn’t going to work.”

The Honeybee dropped the cigarette on the ground and crushed it with his foot. Then, he gripped the sashimi knife tightly.

“Hey, listen. I think he’s angry because of you. Shouldn’t you apologize?”

“Apologize? We’re entering combat.”

“C-Combat? Shouldn’t you just apologize…?”

Seohyeonji was reminded of a movie she had seen about the bitterness of organized crime.

A panorama of what happens when you get on a gangster’s bad side played vividly through her mind.

Buzz!

With a flap of its wings, the Honeybee charged.

Lee Hyunbin dodged the sashimi knife and delivered a body blow.

Crack!

Taking the hit, the Honeybee gasped for air and rolled pathetically across the ground.

“Oh, i-is it over?”

Seohyeonji breathed a sigh of relief.

Lee Hyunbin was certainly strong.

At that moment, the Honeybee’s voice could be heard.

“Y-You… you’re pretty good.”

The Honeybee struggled to stand and muttered quietly.

“My apologies, my Queen. It seems I won’t be able to keep our promise.”

After saying something so solemn, the Honeybee detached the pollen baskets from his hind legs.

The pollen baskets were detachable?

Seohyeonji was horrified by the sight.

Thump!

A heavy sound echoed as dust rose from the ground.

“I’ll show you. The true power of a Honeybee.”

The Honeybee vanished.

The Honeybee began to circle around the three of them in Flight.

He was fast. Unlike before.

Seeing the Honeybee flying while leaving afterimages, Seohyeonji shouted urgently.

“H-Hey! Bees are beneficial insects, so maybe we can all just get along…!”

Whack!

The Honeybee, struck by Lee Hyunbin’s back kick, skipped across the ground like a stone on water.

Seeing how easily Lee Hyunbin had taken down the Honeybee, Seohyeonji blinked.

“Seohyeonji, burn it.”

“What…?”

“Honeybees from Rania recover their Stamina quickly. You have to finish it with fire.”

“But, it looks like he won’t be able to get up anyway….”

Before Seohyeonji could finish her sentence, she saw the Honeybee rising.

With a demonic look on its face, the Honeybee snorted blood onto the ground and began to flap its wings once more.

“Hurry!”

“U-Ugh. Egnir!”

Seohyeonji summoned her fire Spirit and unleashed it.

Perhaps because he hadn’t recovered from the damage yet, the Honeybee couldn’t dodge in time and was engulfed in flames.

Realizing his death was imminent, the Honeybee’s expression turned resigned.

As he vanished into the fire, he raised his arm and gave a final thumbs-up.

“No, what the hell was that?! And what is Rania?!”

“Ah, in a place called Rania, Honeybees are usually like that. I was surprised when I first saw them, too.”

“Wait, I’m from that world too. Is there really a Territory with things like that?”

“Of course. There is. The rabbits in that Territory swing Longswords, and the turtles recite magic spells.”

Hearing that, Seohyeonji furrowed her brows.

“Are you joking with me? Where would such a place exist?”

Seohyeonji thought Lee Hyunbin was treating her like a fool.

No matter how young she was when she crossed over, she still remembered the basic common sense of the other world.

“Then it’s over, right? Can I go now?”

“Over? There are more coming.”

“…What?”

Seohyeonji turned around to see two muscular, pig-like Honeybees approaching with a loud buzz of their wings.

“What’s this? Did they take down one of our boys?”

“Even if he was the weakest among us, they must be something.”

‘There are more?!’

Seohyeonji’s eyes filled with horror.