Who on earth gave this hideous magic such a name?’

 

I have completed a brief escape from reality.

 

Now I had to admit the truth.

 

Being noticed by that S-Class hunter didn’t mean anything good. 

 

‘Damn it.’

 

So now there is only one option.

 

‘It can’t go on like this!’

 

I need to solve this trash F-class body as soon as possible. 

 

Either transfer the soul to another corpse or repair the lungs!

 

When that thought came into my mind, I couldn’t lie still anymore. I took action right away.

 

‘Even if it means staying up all night doing research, I need to regain my power!’

 

It seemed like enjoying a peaceful life would be a thing of the distant future.

 

***

 

But well… 

 

In fact, research is like that.

 

In the experiment, I don’t get the result I want all at once. After all, this is also the fruit of work.

 

“Whoo.”

 

So, in a way, the lack of results for these few days is the providence of the universe.

 

I lay down in my seat, exhausted from repeating the magic tests.

 

Damn it, if my lungs are like this, isn’t even the support of a magic circle the answer? 

 

“Somehow it all seems meaningless. I was reincarnated to take a break from work, so why am I still working after being reincarnated? Why?”

 

I am so tired of continuous failure that I am now filled with emptiness.

 

—Drrrrt.

 

“Hmm?”

 

But then.

 

The cell phone, which was set to vibrate mode, emitted a weeping sound.

 

Let’s see, most guild numbers have been blocked, so there will be no one to call anymore.

 

“What is this?” 

 

When I checked the screen, a number I had never seen before appeared, starting with 010.

 

I answered the call without thinking much. Then the voice that came over the phone was…

 

*** 

 

1 hour later.

 

Park near Kim Kiryeo’s house.

 

I sit on the bench and look around.

 

Soon after, I saw a familiar figure.

 

“Seonwoo Yeon-ssi.” 

 

“Hello. Hunter Kim Kiryeo.”

 

We immediately greeted each other.

 

That’s right. The person who called me is Seonwoo Yeon.

 

“I’m sorry for the sudden call, but I think I should tell you this face-to-face.”

 

“No. You don’t have to be sorry…”

 

Receiving a call from the association is almost certainly a problem.

 

Although I wanted to ignore it, I eventually responded to Seon Woo-yeon’s call. 

 

Because I have some debt with this B-Class Hunter. For moral reasons, I should at least listen to the story. 

 

“Anyway, what’s the matter?”

 

I looked up at Seonwoo Yeon who was standing and asked briefly. 

 

Then the opponent brought up the subject.

 

“This is a situation that requires Hunter Kim Kiryeo’s analysis skills.” 

 

Then she said this and hesitantly sat down on the empty seat on the bench.

 

She must have been bothered by the fact that I kept my head up.

 

“Could you possibly help me with my work? About two weeks.”

 

“Do you want me to appraise an object?”

 

“No.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Actually, I have a job in collaboration with the police right now…” 

 

I thought at first it would be an item classification since she needed an analytical wizard.

 

However, the content of the request explained was different from what I expected.

 

“The investigation has hit a wall for some time now.”

 

“How come?”

 

“The criminals left traces on a certain gate, which have yet to be analyzed.” 

 

A shadow falls on Seonwoo Yeon’s white face. The person sighed, as if she were worried about something important. 

 

“We already called in a national appraiser to investigate, but there was no result.” 

 

“….” 

 

“As overseas companies and large guilds are holding on to the truly profitable requests, the skills of the appraisers left in the field are limited…”

 

Right now, if I clumsily agree, it might show that I’m not from Earth. 

 

I listen to others as much as possible.

 

“That’s why I contacted Kiryeo-ssi.” 

 

“Anyway, you’re asking me to investigate the gate, right?” 

 

“I was wondering if the results would be different. Hunter-nim, you passed through the maze of the Magic Tower, and…” 

 

After rolling her eyes in the air for a moment, Seonwoo Yeon slowly opened her mouth.

 

“You are the only appraiser I know who is not affiliated with any company.”

 

“I see.”

 

Actually, it would be difficult to hire appraisers working for private companies.

 

Now I roughly understand why I came here.

 

I thought about the request again in my head.

 

But at this time, a small voice rang by the side.

 

“That, I’m really sorry, but… I probably won’t be able to give you a lot of rewards…” 

 

Trembling with worry.

 

I looked at Seonwoo Yeon’s dark face. The opponent was staring at the ground and couldn’t even make eye contact with me.

 

“Because of issues with the budget, the support fund was set at a low level. To be honest, from the appraiser’s point of view, it is almost like a free service…”

 

I wonder how low the reward is. 

 

If you say the service is free, then is the daily wage not even worth the cost of a meal?

 

“I know it’s an absurd request. But can you help me?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“Because… I also helped Hunter once.”

 

Still, this is true.

 

During my last kidnapping incident, I was helped by this employee’s tracking magic.

 

No, actually, it’s Kang Changho who beat up the kidnappers, so it’s hard to say that she helped me. 

 

Anyway, she came too late. 

 

“That’s right. I was grateful at that time.” 

 

I readily admitted that I was in debt.

 

But for some reason, Seonwoo Yeon frowned, as if she were worried about something. 

 

“No, no. Just forget what I just said. Hunter Kim Kiryeo.”

 

“Yes?” 

 

“Saving a kidnapped person was definitely something I should have done, but I don’t think I should force you to do something by mentioning it.” 

 

In times like this, it’s okay to be a little shameless.

 

Is Seonwoo Yeon a very conscientious person…?  

 

“If the extra pay is not enough, I will provide it to you, even if it means using my own money. Please cooperate with the investigation.”

 

Now that I think about it, I’ve been curious about it for a while.

 

Seonwoo Yeon often seemed to cooperate with the police because of her tracking skills, called Searcher, but isn’t her main job ultimately as an employee of the association? 

 

I couldn’t understand why Seonwoo Yeon was so passionate about the investigation. 

 

So, I asked a question without thinking, feeling like I was exploring alien life. 

 

“Do you get incentives if you catch a criminal?”

 

“No. I don’t think there’s any benefit that I get from solving the case…” 

 

Seonwoo Yeon answers this. 

 

“But shouldn’t we try our best? In the end, every incident involves someone’s life.”

 

“….”

 

If I’m being really honest, her answer left me with a somewhat favorable impression of her.

 

Is it because I suffer from my hometowns (especially my boss), whose morality and responsibility are rotten to the core? 

 

I’m even thankful when I see such a pure and kind creature.

 

‘You’re a pretty good alien.’

 

But that’s it.

 

“You told me earlier, Hunter Seonwoo Yeon, that you wanted to ask me to do it even if you had to pay me with your own money.” 

 

“Ah, yes.” 

 

“All right. I will accept the job for now.”

 

The universe’s providence is heartless.

 

Regardless of whether I liked Seonwoo Yeon or not, I decided to receive reasonable pay. 

 

Even so,  I didn’t want to work while starving myself.

 

‘I don’t know how little the bonus the government provides is.’

 

All I have to do is get a minimum amount from Seonwoo Yeon. All right. Let’s get insurance. 

 

“Instead, please spend that money right now.”

 

“H, how much…?”

 

Gulp.

 

Someone swallows dry saliva. Even though I saw it clearly, I coldly made my request.

 

“I’m not sure. It depends on the menu.”

 

“Yes?” 

 

“Do you know a good restaurant?”

 

I revealed my true feelings without hesitation.

 

“Seonwoo Yeon-ssi has to buy me a meal.”

 

“Meal?” 

 

“Not just today, but one meal every lunch for the whole two weeks of work.”

 

When I raise my index finger a little to say “one meal,” Seonwoo Yeon opens her mouth and freezes. 

 

“If those conditions are met, I will participate in the gate investigation.”

 

Poor Earthlings.

 

But I don’t want to work without this defense line. 

 

“Oh, and I want to eat some kind of noodles today.”

 

Seonwoo Yeon turned pale and nodded her head as I said this. 

 

A dramatic deal was concluded. 

 

***

 

-Slurp! Whoo.

 

What is this guy…doing? 

 

This sentence had stuck in Seonwoo Yeon’s mind since she walked into the restaurant.

 

It would be impossible for him to be treated poorly wherever he went if he had the appraisal skill.

 

An ordinary office worker cannot afford to pay for one hour of high-level appraisal manpower.

 

So, of course, she came prepared to be rejected.

 

-Slurp!

 

Hunter Kim Kiryeo accepted the offer. 

 

He even willingly gave up his time for a bowl of Kalguksu now. 

 

Does this make sense?

 

‘W, why did I ask to come to a store like this?’

 

Seonwoo Yeon was sweating profusely.

 

‘I was embarrassed when he suddenly said he was hungry, so I ended up going to my favorite restaurant!’

 

But Kim Kiryeo is completely calm, unlike her, who doesn’t seem to be at ease.

 

The F-Class hunter was silently concentrating on his meal, and only after a long time did he say this.

 

“Hmm, this place is fine.”

 

A shabby store like this?

 

Kiryeo nodded and continued eating his meal. It was an unexpected reaction.

 

‘I can’t believe Kalguksu is really okay.’

 

Awakener.

 

What kind of people are they?

 

As a result of the reaction that gained enormous power overnight, there were many so-called ‘an overnight millionaires’ among them. (t/n : It means that they suddenly become rich.)

 

These are people who live in luxury and vanity to the point of vulgarity.

 

Therefore, Seonwoo Yeon couldn’t help but be surprised whenever Kim Kiryeo showed frugality. 

 

‘He lived in such a small studio apartment…’

 

However, as to whether this sentiment led to liking, that is not the case.

 

Funnily enough, she called him, even though Seonwoo Yeon didn’t really trust him.

 

‘Maybe he’s deliberately pretending to spend a little in order to look like an F-Class hunter.’

 

During the kidnapping incident, why did you stay in the room with the head of the human trafficking group instead of running outside…?

 

And why have you been secretly entering the upper level gate? 

 

In fact, there are still a lot of suspicions surrounding Hunter Kim Kiryeo. 

 

“….”

 

With a wary look, Seonwoo Yeon looked across the table.

 

‘Why did things turn out so easily?’

 

It was strange.

 

After it was revealed that he had appraisal skills. 

 

Kim Kiryeo is said to have been offered a scouting proposal.

 

But why would that cold-hearted hunter, who ignored all love calls from all guilds, grant her request?

 

Is it just as payback for the kidnapping incident?

 

‘No way. No matter how hard I looked at it, I made the decision myself. I was used to arresting criminals. There’s no way I could truly appreciate that.’

 

First of all, since it’s an urgent situation, she’s going to borrow his hands… 

 

As expected, she also can’t trust people who go in and out of the gate illegally.

 

Seonwoo Yeon promised again that she wouldn’t let down her guard against that hunter. 

 

It was such a moment.

 

“…!”

 

It looks like he’s already finished eating.

 

Kim Kiryeo was looking at this side without saying anything at some point, but Seonwoo Yeon, who saw this, swallowed her breath for a moment.

 

Because when she encountered those Sambaegan eyes, she felt strangely pressed down. 

 

“Seonwoo Yeon-ssi, let’s talk about work.” 

 

Then the man began to rhyme.

 

“Which gate should I investigate from now on?”

 

He had a distinctively dry voice due to vocal cord damage from smoking.