Chapter 8
“How did you know?”
It was well past 11 p.m.
Just as I was about to step outside after finishing the last dungeon cleaning of the day, an unwelcome face appeared and approached me out of nowhere, asking the question.
“…What’s this about?”
What is going on here?
Why is she even here?
“See? I told you that guy is her ex.”
“Yeah, we should probably steer clear of this mess, right?”
“…Let’s do that.”
Team Leader Park glanced at me nervously before quietly leading the team away.
At the same time, I could still feel their stares burning into the back of my head.
“Why aren’t you answering me? How did you know?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I mean. Don’t act like you don’t.”
Tch. I clicked my tongue softly.
It seemed she had gone ahead and gotten that checkup.
But why come find me afterward?
“I just guessed. I didn’t actually know anything, so don’t think too much about it.”
“Guessed?”
“Yeah. I read something on the internet and wanted to sound smart to a hunter, that’s all.”
Kim Min-joo’s eyes narrowed.
“So, you’re saying…”
“You told me to support the sword with my left hand, right?”
“…And?”
“Back then, I wasn’t even holding a sword, and I never once mentioned using one. So how did you know? Was that a guess too?”
“…”
Damn it.
That was a slip-up. I really should’ve just kept my mouth shut.
What do I do now? Stick with the guess excuse?
No. With her personality, she won’t let it go until she gets the answer she wants. She’ll keep coming back if I try to brush her off.
Giving her a half-baked response will only make this worse.
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll just come back tomorrow and—”
“During the Blue-grade dungeon appearance at Sadang the other day.”
I cut her off reluctantly.
“I noticed it while cleaning up the monster corpses. The sword marks.”
“…Sword marks?”
“The cuts were rather irregular. That means they weren’t the result of a single fixed technique but a series of moves improvised to adapt to various situations. It’s a method that only someone with significant combat experience could pull off. Basically, for someone your age, you’re exceptionally skilled.”
Whatever else I might say about her, her potential as a hunter was undeniable—S-grade or possibly even higher.
“But there was one cut that stood out among the others. A diagonal slash from the top right to the bottom left. It’s a technique typically used by right-handed fighters. Normally, this would be followed up by a horizontal or upward slash to the right. But while the initial slash was deep, the follow-up strikes were noticeably shallower. That’s how I knew your left hand wasn’t pulling its weight.”
“…”
“And then there’s the next issue. ‘Vega’ is known for its rapid attack speed. Other than that, it’s not particularly threatening, so countering its speed is the key. But there wasn’t a single sign that you’d attempted a counterattack. Someone of your skill level would’ve known to try, so why didn’t you?”
Kim Min-joo looked visibly flustered.
The expression of someone caught off guard, as if a secret had been exposed.
“The only explanation is that your body couldn’t keep up with Vega’s speed. Because…”
“…There was strain on my shoulder in that instant.”
I nodded.
“Yeah. It’s probably a subtle issue you wouldn’t notice in everyday life. But in situations requiring quick, reactive movements, it would’ve shown. Especially for someone like you, who relies on precision and control.”
Swordmasters.
Officially, there were no strict class distinctions among hunters, but they used informal classifications based on skills and specialties.
So, when it came to swordsmanship, Kim Min-joo would know better than anyone.
Even so, there was a simple reason I could give her this advice despite not being in the same class as her.
Because I was the world’s first All-Class, SSS-Rank hunter.
“For hunters who wield swords, many techniques involve imbuing weapons with special powers or greatly enhancing their physical abilities through buffs. Unlike hunters who rely heavily on their skills, sword users need solid fundamentals. That’s why you should take a few days off and go back to basics. With your current condition, you won’t be able to function properly during hunts anyway.”
“…”
She didn’t respond.
It looked like my words had gone in one ear and out the other as her thoughts wandered.
Well, what did I expect? She’s the type to dismiss anything coming from someone like me.
“If that’s enough of an answer, can I go now? I have work tomorrow.”
“You… you’re…”
Kim Min-joo suddenly spoke up, looking as though she had just confirmed a hunch.
Her gaze sharpened as she stepped closer to me, a determined glint in her eyes.
It looked like she was about to lash out and call me disrespectful.
But the words she said next caught me completely off guard.
“You’re a freelance hunter, aren’t you?”
“…What?”
“I’ve heard there are a few in Seoul. A-grade freelance hunters. The top-tier rankers in the country, but they rarely show up except for ultra-high-risk dungeon raids. If not a freelancer, then maybe a private guild hunter. Right?”
“What the hell are you talking about? I’m not a hunter.”
“…What? Then what are you?”
“Can’t you tell? I’m a janitor.”
I answered while casually cleaning out my ear.
Her intent was obvious.
If I had been some big-shot freelancer or a private guild member, she’d have followed me around, hoping to gain some scraps of benefit.
Sorry, but no chance.
I have no intention of ever seeing you again.
“If you understand, could you move aside now? I need to catch the last train before it stops running—”
“…Anyway, thank you.”
“…?”
What did she just say?
Did I mishear her?
No way… Did she just thank me?
I was so taken aback that I completely forgot to close my mouth.
“And, um… this might sound rude, but if it’s okay with you…”
While I stared blankly at her, Kim Min-joo fidgeted with her hands, struggling to get the words out.
***
“A vacation? Out of the blue?”
At the Seoul Headquarters, in the Operations Team 1 office.
The man seated at the desk looked baffled at Kim Min-joo’s request.
“Yes. The support team also recommended that I rest for a while.”
“Is it because of that shoulder issue from the checkup?”
“Yes.”
“For crying out loud, taking a vacation just because of a sore shoulder. Back in my day, we couldn’t even dream of that.”
“Well, it’s just…”
Kim Min-joo trailed off.
This man sitting before her was Lee Soo-yong, the current leader of Operations Team 1.
Wasn’t he the guy parachuted into the position just last month?
For someone only five years older than her, he was already pulling the “back in my day” card.
“I was thinking of using the time for some self-improvement.”
“Self-improvement? What are you talking about? Are you planning to go on a trip with your boyfriend or something?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Kim Min-joo pressed her lips together tightly.
Why did he have so much to say about her vacation plans?
Does she have to explain everything just to take her own leave?
“I’m planning to learn swordsmanship.”
“…What? From where? Are you joining a dojo or something?”
“No. Just private lessons.”
“Private lessons? From who? Are there still martial arts masters around? Or is this about your boyfriend?”
Sighing discreetly, Kim Min-joo responded calmly.
“A janitor.”
“…What?”
“A janitor from the dungeon cleaning team.”
“A janitor…?”
“Yes.”
“You’re telling me… that a hunter is going to learn swordsmanship from a janitor? If you’re that desperate, why not join a proper fencing academy?”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Oh, wait. Is it that janitor who told you to get your shoulder checked?”
Kim Min-joo’s brow furrowed.
How did this man know about that?
‘Ah… It must’ve been the support team.’
Only then did she realize her mistake.
A few days ago, while visiting the support team to pick up some additional medication, she had casually mentioned the incident to a nurse she was friendly with.
What she thought was a light conversation somehow made its way to her superior.
Feeling betrayed, she frowned slightly.
“For crying out loud, that guy too. A janitor, giving advice to a hunter? And now he thinks he can teach a hunter swordsmanship? Completely overstepping his bounds—”
“He didn’t say he’d teach me.”
“What?”
“He hasn’t agreed to teach me yet. I asked him once, but he refused.”
“…You’re joking, right? He didn’t agree, so what are you going to learn? Wishful thinking?”
“I’ll keep asking. Until he says yes.”
Lee Soo-yong slumped back in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Kim Min-joo sensed that this ridiculous conversation was finally coming to an end.
“…Fine. Do whatever you want.”
“Thank you.”
Thirty minutes of discussion, and she finally got the approval.
In that time, she had thought “Forget it, I won’t bother” more than a hundred times.
Clearly, that was what Lee Soo-yong had been aiming for.
“Oh, there’s a large-scale operation in a few weeks. It’s a big one, so we’ll need all hands on deck. Make sure you’re back by then.”
“…Understood.”
“Get out.”
Lee Soo-yong waved her off as though shooing away a bug.
Without a word, Kim Min-joo gave a curt nod and left the office.
***
The door slammed shut with a loud thud.
“Ridiculous. The organization’s going backward, I tell you.”
As soon as Kim Min-joo was out of earshot, Lee Soo-yong let his displeasure show.
A hunter learning from a janitor? How absurd does that sound?
What would people think if they heard about this? What would they think about hunters? About this team?
Especially if the leader of Operations Team 2 caught wind of it…
“Ugh, just imagining it makes me sick.”
He shuddered and ran his hands over his face.
An organization has hierarchy.
Ranks, levels, and structure.
Lower ranks and higher ranks, juniors and seniors.
This hierarchy is what defines an organization’s dignity. Without it, the organization loses its dignity.
And as the leader of the elite Operations Team 1, he couldn’t allow such a thing to happen.
“A janitor, huh…”
As he let out a deep sigh, an idea struck him.
His eyes lit up, and he immediately reached for the phone in front of him.
After a few rings, the call connected, and his voice became firm.
“This is Lee Soo-yong, Team Leader of Operations 1. Is the Director in?”
「Yes, they’re here. May I ask what this is regarding?」
“Put me through immediately. I have something to report.”
***
[Unlock Condition Met]
“…Huh?”
As I was pouring cleaning solution onto some stubborn dungeon bloodstains, a voice suddenly echoed in my head.
[Increased Attention from Dungeon Cleaning Teams within the Association]
[Skill Acquired: One Counter – Unlocked]
‘…What the hell? Why now?’
Startled, I blinked a few times.
Why did this get unlocked all of a sudden? I hadn’t done anything to meet the condition yet. Was it a system glitch?
‘Well, whatever.’
The important thing was that it was unlocked.
Who cares how? The result was what mattered.
“What’s with the grin? Creepy as hell.”
“…It’s nothing.”
“Then pour more solution already! Stop zoning out all the time!”
Despite Han Sang-hyuk looking at me like I’d lost my mind, I ignored him and happily got back to cleaning.