Why Is Everyone in This Dating Sim Trying to Kill Me?!

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Perfect Timing (3)

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「Hunters」

—The most influential media outlet in the Gate Era.

Despite bearing such an arrogant moniker, no one dared to deny it or claim it was false.

Simply put, modern Korea, no matter what anyone said, had overcome the Gate incident in the shortest time possible through the Velvet Academy and the Hunter Administration, making it a nation the entire world watched.

Therefore, it was no exaggeration to say that Hunters, Korea's leading media outlet, spearheaded global public opinion.

Rrrrrrr—

"Yes, yes, I've transferred the call. What? That's an issue we've already confirmed on our end."

"Oh, you want us to take down the article? For articles already published, please submit a complaint using the appropriate form, and we'll review and process it."

"We cannot assist you with contact with the Utopia Party!"

Inside the office, phone bells rang haphazardly.

Around them, various metrics and graphs floated as holograms, rising and falling in real-time.

Amidst this chaotic situation, only one team remained calm.

"Deputy Choi, that exclusive you mentioned. You said it would arrive soon, but when is it coming?"

The woman, wearing glasses, sat in her chair with her arms crossed, glaring at the man.

Her voice was tinged with deep irritation.

"Uh, j-just a little longer, and it'll be here soon…"

The man's voice, as he bowed his head low and replied, dwindled to a whisper, as if crawling into itself.

"…Hah, Deputy Choi. How many times have you said that already? You said a bomb related to the Hunter Administration was about to drop, and do you realize our entire team has stopped work, relying solely on your word?"

As if to confirm her words, a dozen or so employees around her had their hands poised over their keyboards, staring at him.

She glanced around, sweeping her gaze over her subordinates, and let out a long sigh.

Haaah—

"Deputy Choi. Let's not do this, seriously. Do I need to explain again how much trouble we got into last time by only following up on the Utopia Party article?"

In front of the woman, who was pressing her temples as if battling a headache, the man cowered even more abjectly.

"No, it's not even like you're going out to the field to get it yourself! Is it even sensible to just wait for a single call!? Seriously, is that person's information reliable?"

"…I-it's reliable!!"

The man nodded hastily.

"Who exactly is this person?"

"…Th-that, I cannot tell you."

"Ugh, I'd rather just die than suffer like this."

Though he swallowed his discomfort at the continuous barrage of criticism, the man cursed inwardly.

'Damn it, Ryu Jinju, you blockhead! You need to call me already!'

In truth, the man's identity was that of a demon hiding within the media company.

By now, she should have already confirmed the fabricated data, and the bomb should have exploded ages ago.

'I even spoon-fed her the contact number of a reliable reporter with each piece of data, so why hasn't she called yet…?!'

But Ryu Jinju remained completely out of touch.

The demon bit his lip firmly.

According to the original plan, Ryu Jinju should have confirmed the information and immediately reported it to this media outlet.

The plan was for Hunters to ignite the media with this firepower, while the hidden demons supported her to reclaim the Hunter Administration.

Through this, three main benefits could be gained.

First, they could remove Kim Jiwon, the troublesome current Director of the Hunter Administration, and her followers, and install the easy-to-handle, foolish Ryu Jinju as the next Director.

Second, with her, the head of the Gate Field Management Department, taking the lead, it could be processed as an internal matter of the Hunter Administration, thus avoiding suspicion.

Third, they could make the Hunter Administration voluntarily harbor hostile feelings towards the Velvet Academy.

After investing significant effort, the opportunity to completely overhaul the Hunter Administration had finally arrived,

but Ryu Jinju's call was nowhere to be found.

'Damn it! Did something go wrong? No way, did that simpleton go straight to Kim Jiwon…!? Should I just write the article myself?'

Since he had fabricated and coordinated all the data, he had the general information stored in his mind.

But he soon had to shake his head.

'No, if I did that, things would get complicated. The source of the information would be suspicious, and it would give the Velvet Academy time to respond. The best scenario is still Ryu Jinju reporting to us.'

That's when it happened.

"Huh!? Wh-what is this?!"

The woman, who had been sitting cross-legged in front of him, staring at her phone with an irritated expression, her eyes widened into perfect circles.

"…Hunter Administration corruption? Uh, this, this data looks quite plausible? They even revealed real names… Is the Velvet Academy taking responsibility?"

At her words, the man's expression also betrayed his surprise.

'That blockhead! I told her to contact *us*, but she leaked the article elsewhere!'

Still, it seems Ryu Jinju did release the information. In that case, the primary objective was achieved.

"Deputy Choi, is this what you were talking about…?"

"Ah, y-yes! I-it seems so! But why… why did she leak it to another outlet instead of us…?"

The demon nodded hastily.

Right, it's surprising, but they could just follow up with a subsequent article.

They had reporters ready to add fuel to the fire, after all.

"This… this article was written by the Velvet Academy?"

"…What?"

'What? Ryu Jinju reported those documents to the Velvet Academy? No matter how foolish she is, would she make such a choice?'

The data given to Ryu Jinju clearly stated that the Velvet Academy was oppressing the Hunter Administration.

But she reported *that* to the Velvet Academy?

Deputy Choi felt that something was going strangely wrong.

However, before he could raise any objections, the woman's eyes turned cold.

"…Haaah, an exclusive, you said. I was a fool to trust you. Fine, it *is* an exclusive related to the Hunter Administration. Even if we can't be the sole reporters, we'll be the first to follow up! Everyone, get ready!"

"""""Yes, ma'am!"""""

At that, the reporters, whose hands were poised over their keyboards, replied with booming voices.

"Deputy Choi, what are you doing? Go quickly and do some 'wrecking' yourself."

Clatterclatterclatterclatter—!!!

The sound of typing erupted like a downpour.

Against that backdrop, the demon fumbled into his seat.

And as he clicked his mouse and checked the published article, his eyes bulged.

'…Uh, h-how on earth did this…?!'

*

It was a nuclear bomb that dropped suddenly one day, without warning.

One of the two pillars supporting Korea.

Articles about the Hunter Administration poured out.

Furthermore, unlike the usual tone, these articles meticulously pointed out various corruptions with detailed figures.

『The Hunter Administration Gate』

『Corruption Hidden within the 'Hunter Administration' Reveals Its True Nature.』

『The 'Truth' of the Hunter Administration, Which Everyone Had Kept Quiet About, Finally...!』

『Bribery Allegations, Hunter Roster.』

『A Hotbed of Corruption in the World's Best Hunter Administration? Military Service Evasion, Director Yoon Do-ah's Daughter, Falsely Claiming to Be an Awakened Being When She Wasn't...』

『The Scum Blocking Director Kim Jiwon's Path.』

┖ Whoa, these bitches are crazy.

┖ The Hunter Administration embezzled *this much*?

┖ Military service evasion? No way, did that girl pretend to be an Awakened Being when she wasn't?

┖ Apparently, she even boasted about being set to enroll in the Velvet Academy.

┖ But she got rejected, right? I looked it up, and she has a son too, not just a daughter, and he was supposed to enroll next year through the male quota system. We need to check that bastard too.

┖ OMG, what a waste of taxpayer money.

┖ Kim Jiwon is so pitiful. If what they say is true, she could barely do anything by herself.

┖ Yeah, that's why Kim Jiwon suggested picking Hunter Administration personnel by vote before, but the elders completely ignored her.

┖ Kick out all those coffin-dodgers!!!!!

The public's rage over the incident grew uncontrollably.

It was fortunate that the Hunter Administration's past of saving Korea still cast a faint light, otherwise…

In truth, though they hadn't expressed it verbally, ordinary citizens harbored significant resentment towards the Hunter Administration's administrative processes.

When the major media outlet, Hunters, focused its firepower on it, the situation ignited like oil poured onto a fire.

On the one hand, fortunately, the names of several specific individuals were clearly mentioned,

and corrupt individuals, rather than the Hunter Administration itself, became the focus of the attack.

In the original timeline, the fabricated information would have exploded first,

and the subsequent explanatory articles poured out by the Demon Extermination Squad would have been taken down one by one by the demons.

But Jin Yuha and Baek Seol-hee were one step ahead, reversing the order of events.

Furthermore, since the major media outlet incited by the demon had deliberately lent its full firepower, there was no way to stop it.

The scheme designed to bring down the current Director, Kim Jiwon,

had instead turned into a situation that purified the scum within the Hunter Administration.

Truly, perfect timing.

And in a situation unfolding completely opposite to his original intentions,

one demon let out a silent scream.

'…No, no! How on earth did this happen!!! St-stop…!!!!!'

But the hands of the reporters, who had already bitten into their prey, could not be stopped.

"What are you doing not writing?! Deputy Choi, move your fingers, quickly, quickly!?"

* * *

Meanwhile,

Swoosh, swoosh—

A hand stroking her head.

'Hmm, but Instructor… Just how long do you plan to keep stroking my head…?'