Ding-dong
“At around 1 AM today, Dungeon Overbreak was activated nationwide. A total of 401 individuals, including 382 hunters engaged in late-night dungeon activities and 19 association representatives dispatched to assist them, were caught up in the break. Fortunately, the Hunter Association quickly dispatched rescue hunters, and at approximately 5:45 AM, an official announcement was made stating that all but a few hunters exhibiting mild exhaustion had been rescued…”
Suddenly, I found myself in some kind of office, whether it’s a district office or a city hall, I couldn’t tell.
According to Yeonhwa’s grandmother, this place is the Hunter Association and Returnee Management Bureau… Of course, everything looked unfamiliar to me.
“Wait a minute… What is this? You said you’d buy me meat! Why am I even here?”
I shot Yeonseo a resentful look, and she smiled somewhat sheepishly as she patted my shoulder.
“But there’s nothing we can do. It’s hard to find a meat restaurant open at 8 AM. If I could, I would’ve fed you right away…”
Well, that makes sense. Even in 2024, it was quite rare to find a meat restaurant opening at 8 AM. There are certainly 24-hour diners and such, but if Yeonhwa wrote the grand statement “Yeon Family remembers its gratitude,” wouldn’t we need to go to some fancy buffet to do it justice?
It seemed a waste to let the Yeon Family’s gratitude go to waste at a mere knight’s dining hall.
For your information, Yeonhwa went out to find a meat restaurant.
“By the way, Shia, are you really a returnee?”
“I’m not sure, but if what Yeonhwa says is true, then yes.”
“Then there’s something we need to do first.”
“Is it the returnee registration or something like that?”
“Yes.”
Yeonseo and I sat in the central waiting room of the management bureau.
“Sigh, normally, Director Lee or the juniors would come running out, but they’re probably late because of this press conference thing… Tsk, tsk, what a mess…”
“…..”
According to Yeonhwa, her grandmother Yeonseo is quite a legendary figure among hunters.
At this point, she’s stepped down from the front lines and only intervened during unusual situations like the Dungeon Overbreak, spending her usual days farming somewhere peaceful.
Highland farming…? That makes me think she must have a villa in Gangwon-do or something.
“If this keeps up, it’ll be dawn soon. Shia, wait here for a moment. Can you believe they haven’t shown up even by 8:40?”
“…That door over there says 9 AM.”
“Dang it, back in my day, even if it said 9 AM, the newbies would come in by 8 AM to start cleaning! Huh? They’d tidy up the seniors’ desks and check the work schedule. If there were any clients waiting, they’d ask them what brought them in!”
“…….?”
It sounded strangely familiar. Some vibe reminiscent of -that- certain feeling…
Even though Yeonhwa’s grandmother looks like a 20-something idol, her essence clearly screams grandmother.
“Um, did you work in a public office or something?”
“Hmm? No, I was the one filing complaints.”
“…Uh.”
Guess people’s lives don’t change much, whether in my past or now.
Eventually, unable to bear the wait, Yeonseo stood up from her seat.
“Just a moment. I’ll be right back.”
As Yeonseo disappeared somewhere, I was left alone in the large waiting room.
I didn’t particularly enjoy being alone, but it was just for a bit, so I could endure it. I mean, I wasn’t a child or anything.
Once Yeonseo was gone, I took the chance to glance around.
“Whoa, the TV has completely transformed…!”
I couldn’t tell what broadcast it was, but it looked like some kind of internet streaming? Whatever it was, it was emitting a weird vibe.
Flipping through channels with the remote on the chair, I found traditional TV programs I recognized, as well as bizarre ones that seemed to be from the ‘hunter broadcast’ genre.
“It’s a type of broadcast I’ve never seen before…”
Hunter broadcasts, nonsense broadcasts, gaming broadcasts.
It seemed there was a separate channel for public broadcasting, but it was fascinating to see those shows playing openly on TV.
Right, I disappeared from this world in 2024, and now it’s 2088… so much has certainly changed.
Ah, while many things have changed, some still feel familiar, particularly the distinct aura of government buildings like the district office or city hall.
Naturally, this management bureau feels very much like a district office receiving citizens, except it’s focused on hunters and returnees instead.
It felt as if they had to execute public duties.
Citizen-friendly yet strangely rigid, creating a frustrating atmosphere.
As I wait for my turn, I overheard an irate evil-minded citizen ranting in the background, feeling all the while that I was quietly waiting for my moment to shine.
Anyway, being here felt draining with nothing to do.
For some reason, waiting for my turn was making me feel down, frustrated, and accumulating an indescribable kind of stress.
This sensation was something I felt even before becoming the Mangja Seongnyeo.
It was like pulling a waiting ticket for citizen services was draining my very essence.
Rumble
“Oh shit, I thought I was going to die.”
“Ugh, I’m done for this month.”
“Why did a break have to happen during the upgrade period?”
At that moment, the waiting room door swung open, and a group of people entered.
A glance confirmed these weren’t ordinary folks.
Each had varying grades, but with their faint mana or strong vibes, they were definitely hunters.
“Hey? Someone’s already here.”
“Does that mean we’re second?”
“Hey!”
“……”
“Excuse me, miss! Are you deaf?”
“……”
Wait, what? Me?
As I turned my head to look at the hunters, it seemed they were indeed calling me.
“Uh, it’s just… if you’re alone, could you switch your spot with us?”
“…..?”
Muscular black-haired tanned guy spoke, and I tilted my head in confusion.
I didn’t quite understand why they wanted to switch spots, but it was probably about the waiting order.
“It’s not that, we just have a ton of dungeon loot to submit, and if we don’t get it certified and processed fast, we have to head straight back to the dungeon.”
“Um, sorry. Since we’re in the upgrade period, if it’s not an urgent matter…”
“Thanks a lot! If it helps, I’m truly sorry if it seemed like a line-cutting.”
Nodding without speaking, the black-haired tanned guy seemed sincerely friendly despite appearances.
“Oh, thanks! If this feels like cutting in line, I’m really sorry, miss. Wow, your skin is super pale, huh? If we successfully upgrade, I’ll treat you to something, how about that?”
Honestly, I wasn’t really waiting in the first place.
They were hunters, and I’m a returnee.
The processing areas were probably different, so waiting would be unnecessary.
“Hey, stop.”
Then, a female hunter behind them harshly grabbed the shoulders of the two men.
“Why?”
“Why do you look so serious? Did you step on a bug?”
“That’s not human.”
“…?”
In an instant, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
Clang!
The hunters drew their weapons in a flash, and the warm vibe vanished just like that, replaced by aimed hostility towards me.
“…..?”
“What are you?”
“What does the sensor pick up?!”
“That… fuck, it’s a corpse!!!”
“What!?”
The smallest-looking female hunter seemed to be the leader of this group.
Mentioning some sensor capability meant she must have had a talent for sensing they were dealing with something not alive at a glance.
But why such a drastic atmosphere change?
Are you guys stupid?
Like a corpse would calmly sit around in a management bureau waiting room?
Well, it’s true I’m a corpse, but that’s not the whole point!
“Looks like there’s a bit of a misunderstanding…”
“Misunderstanding? What are you talking about…! Damn, I knew nobody got hurt when we exited the dungeon!”
“It’s sentient and intelligent! It could be an S-rank corpse monster…!”
“Um…..”
Sigh, shit.
Is it really appropriate for a Seongnyeo to swear…?
I guess I was getting a bit impatient with the rapidly changing environment and the nostalgia of returning to my hometown.
However, it hit me like a light bulb.
According to Yeonhwa, I wasn’t the only returnee.
There were also returnees who came back as different races, and skeleton knight returnees existed too, so couldn’t they figure out I was a returnee, even if I wasn’t human? Yet why the hyper-reaction?
Ah, Dungeon Overbreak.
The dungeon I had roasted the Black Minotaur and living like a god was originally classified as A-rank, meaning S-rank dungeon bosses like the Black Minotaur shouldn’t appear there.
I questioned how the dungeon could have produced an S-rank boss, but anyway, because of the unique phenomenon of Dungeon Overbreak, quite a number of dungeons in this country had mutated, almost endangering many hunters, as I had heard from Yeonseo earlier.
Thanks to the Dungeon Overbreak incident, some dungeons were upgraded to S-rank, thereby sealing their entrances, and fears that S-rank or similar monsters might spill out kept the Hunter Association busily on their toes.
And when Yeonseo mistook me for a monster that might eat Yeonhwa, she was also wary of “monsters with sentience and intelligence.”
There must have been some kind of trauma permanently ingrained in the minds of hunters concerning monsters.
The hunters couldn’t recklessly attack me.
It was as if they thought I was not just any ordinary monster but rather that, as Yeonseo put it, I was an S-rank dungeon boss trying to fool humans into invading their realm, which made their eyes tremble like aspen leaves.
The black-haired tanned guy, who had sweetly tried to chat me up, was shaking at his thighs, disproportionate to his size.
Let’s just calmly explain.
A simple “I’m a returnee” would suffice, wouldn’t it?
“I am…..”
“It’s a spell! Everyone attack!”
“Oh, fuck!”
“Ah, I don’t want to die!”
….right! You guys are incredibly well-trained.
Hunters are beings that protect humans.
Of course, if I, like a lich, open my mouth to cast a spell on a crowded street in Seoul, it’s only natural that they would leap at me regardless of the risks, fearing many lives.
I commend you on your admirable mindset as hunters!
Yeah, damn good on you!
Sighing deeply inwardly, just as I was about to conjure divine power…
Snap!
“Cool your heads, will ya?”
Bam!
With a snap of her fingers, all the hunters that were charging towards me just vanished.
Only the weapons they were holding remained lying on the ground.
“….Grandma?”
“I don’t know what happened while I was gone, but heh, kids these days have an abundance of spirit.”
Behind Yeonseo stood a man in a suit, looking uneasy as he politely bowed with his hands held together.
Who is he?
No, what’s important is…
“Grandma, where did you send them?”
“Oh, don’t worry, I just sent them for a brief look at the refreshing East Sea.”
“..Huh?”
“Ah, they should be back by now.”
Snap!
“Whoooa!?!”
“Hee, hee….!!”
“Ugrh…..”
Gag!
As Yeonseo snapped her fingers again, the hunters that had vanished returned.
Unlike their earlier state, they were soaked in something and smelled like the ocean.
So they really were sent to the sea.
“Gah, gah, gah… What just happened?”
“That wicked corpse lady…!”
“Oh no, they can’t even grasp themselves. How about a trip to the West Sea next?”
Snap!
And the hunters vanished again.
“…Um, Yeonseo… I mean, Grandma, isn’t this too much?”
“Heh, don’t worry about it. These kids are fired up, so this granny is just cooling things down a bit.”
“Uh, but…”
Snap!
“Not being able to… throw up…. Ugh…”
“My head is spinning…”
“Hah, ah…”
I don’t know how many times these hunters had been dunked into the sea by Yeonseo, but they seemed utterly exhausted, crawling on the ground.
I did feel a bit sorry for them.
Even if they tried to attack me, it originated purely from a misunderstanding.
They were fundamentally good and diligent hunters, so it was only natural to feel a hint of compassion seeing them suddenly get acquainted with the ocean a bit too intimately.
[Miracle – Great Healing]
“Ah?!”
“Um…?”
The healing I perform can generally save anyone who just avoids dying; there’s a good chance it’ll give them new life.
Healing isn’t just about mending physical injuries; it can also totally cure physical and mental fatigue.
“Are you coming back to your senses?”
“…Um, uh….”
“Yes, huh….”
Now that I thought about it, they did mention a lack of healers or buff providers among the hunters.
With how shocked they must’ve been to suddenly receive healing, they might have had quite a surprise.
“Now that you’re back, hurry up and apologize, kids.”
“Y-yes…?”
“Who are you…?! Oh my gosh!?”
“Y-Yeonseo!!!”
“Ah! Yeonseo!!”
Finally, it appeared the hunters had noticed Yeonseo behind them and were dropping their jaws in awe.
Just moments ago, they had looked like sea-soaked zombies, but upon seeing Yeonseo’s face, their expressions transformed into gleaming admiration and reverence. She must indeed be quite an esteemed hunter.
“Don’t think too harshly of them. They thought you were a monster emerging from the dungeon when really you’re a returnee.”
“Oh…”
“So you were… a returnee.”
“We sincerely apologize, Yeonseo! We truly believed you were an S-rank monster due to the break incident…”
“I understand; during a break, anything is possible. However…”
Yeonseo smiled sweetly at the hunters.
“Shouldn’t you children be apologizing to this little one instead of me?”
“Right?”
“Uh, yes, sorry!”
“Sorry, returnee!”
With their apologies, I couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s okay. You didn’t know, after all. I’m not hurt or anything, so no worries.”
“Yes, yes! We’re totally fine!”
“Oh, and… this child is a benefactor of both me and my granddaughter.”
“…What…?!”
Upon hearing that, all the hunters didn’t just stop at a quick apology and bent their bodies in a 90-degree bow towards me.
“W-we apologize once again!”
“We’re sorry! Please forgive us!”
“No, no, don’t be so scared. But can I make one request?”
“Yes, of course…! Please! Just say the word! If it’s Yeonseo’s request, we’ll do anything…!”
“If you happen to see any other fellow hunters, could you let them know about this child? As she’s under the protection of the Yeon Family, should anyone try to pick on her or if there are any provocations, it’d be good if you’d set the record straight as seniors…”
Then Yeonseo leaned over and whispered something to the sensing female hunter.
“Let’s say I want to speak directly with her.”
“….Huh!?”
“…Yes, certainly!”
“Absolutely! I’ll make sure to let all hunters know!”
“Hehe, alright. I like passionate hunters. Keep working hard.”
“Yes!”
“Oh, what’s your name?”
“…Suh, Seongyu-an!”
“Lee Hyun-soo.”
“Kim Yujin! It’s an honor, Yeonseo!”
“Sure, I’ll remember.”
Then Yeonseo grabbed my hand and we left the waiting room together.
Not far behind us was a suited man trailing closely.
“…Um, Grandma, was all that necessary?”
“Hehe, I may have been a bit mischievous.”
“Couldn’t you just say it outright?”
“One thing I’ve learned after all these years is that actions speak louder than words.”
With a playful smile on her face, Yeonseo somehow felt less like a grandmother and more like a little kid.
“But beyond that, the tensions between returnees and the hunter world can be quite strong. It’s necessary for you to establish a firm stance to avoid trouble.”
“…Is that so?”
“And also, you might not know, but just now you nearly had a serious conflict with that group. And I just thought to cool down their heads a little.”
Is that so?
Not really knowing how the hunter world operates, I couldn’t assert that with complete confidence, but Yeonseo was a senior hunter with decades of experience under her belt.
So it must have been true.
“Hehe, if you run into any troubles in the future, feel free to mention my name.”
Oh, that sounds pretty nice.
Even as an outsider, I could tell that Yeonseo has a legendary status in this industry, making life much easier for me.
Just like how I borrowed the name of the Empress Menelapie for various activities in the other fantasy world I lived in.
“Now, let’s file your returnee registration.”
