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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: An Awkward Request
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“Pardon?”
“One of the students' parents sent it to me. They initially offered reward money as a thank you.”
The man looked awkward. Ha-ra's eyes widened.
“I turned down the money, of course, but they begged me to at least accept this fruit basket.”
Chief Jeong Yu-jin had kept things under wraps, so explaining the full story to the parents would have been tricky. The children might have revealed that Ha-ra was the one who saved them during their counseling sessions, but in any case, Se-heon explained that he didn't feel it was his to accept, so he brought it to her.
“You should have it, Anchor Yoon.”
Se-heon shrugged.
“The person who saved my life and the children's is right here, after all.”
[The Constellation ‘Cupid’ likes the designated user ‘Yoon Se-heon’s’ remark.]
[The Constellation ‘Cupid’ gets ahead of itself, wondering if dating the person who saved your life would be a piece of cake.]
“Shut up, please…”
Ha-ra muttered to herself. Se-heon flinched.
“Pardon?”
“Oh, it's nothing, I'm sorry. The system keeps spouting nonsense…”
“Ah, I see.”
Se-heon added, looking a bit awkward.
“Actually, I'd like to offer a reward as well…”
“Oh, no. It's fine!”
Ha-ra quickly waved her hands in refusal.
“I was just doing my job.”
[The Constellation ‘Cupid’ asks if there’s some grand plan it’s not aware of.]
[The Constellation ‘Cupid’ grumbles that the era of appealing to people by being nice is long over.]
*That's not it,* Ha-ra thought through clenched teeth, worried Se-heon might overhear. It wasn't like she could just glare up at the sky.
In the midst of this, Se-heon asked carefully.
“Still, if you don't mind, perhaps a monetary reward…”
“No, really!”
Ha-ra practically jumped. No matter how you looked at it, the optics were bad. It would look like she'd done it for the money in that dungeon. Ha-ra desperately wracked her brain and came up with a plausible excuse.
“This is a violation of the anti-graft act!”
“Ah.”
The man's mouth fell slightly open.
“Since I'm not soliciting any favors, shouldn't it be fine?”
“But you might have a favor to ask me later! Accepting money or valuables is strictly forbidden. In fact, this fruit basket is probably not allowed either!”
*It goes against the code of conduct for public officials, and anyway, it's just not allowed.* Se-heon frowned slightly at the string of excuses Ha-ra was throwing out, but he soon nodded as if in understanding.
“I understand. It can't be helped.”
Only then did Ha-ra breathe a sigh of relief. He might have just been saying it, but for some reason, the man's earnest attitude made it seem like he really would have handed her an envelope of cash.
Meanwhile, Se-heon took a business card from his pocket.
“Come to think of it, I should have given you my contact information sooner.”
“Oh? Yes…”
[The Constellation ‘Cupid’ is pleased.]
“If there's ever anything I can help you with in the future, please don't hesitate to call.”
*Anything you can help me with. There's only one thing you can help me with…* Ha-ra swallowed those words and took the business card.
Reporter/Anchor
Yoon Se-heon
Tel. 010.xxxx.xxxx
Email: [email protected]
The card, emblazoned with the logo of a public broadcasting company, was nothing special, yet it looked incredibly cool. Maybe it was because the person giving it to her was so handsome.
“By the way, have you heard from those kids?”
He was referring to Soo-kyung, Hee-yeon, and Seo-yeon. Ha-ra shook her head.
“No, not yet…”
It was to be expected, since she was still officially reported to be in a coma. Se-heon's expression clouded over.
“I see. The truth is, the parents who contacted me were grateful, but they also had a few questions.”
“Ah…”
She had a feeling she knew what this was about. She'd already skimmed over the details online.
It seemed various stories were circulating about the three girls rescued from the dungeon.
The girls began receiving treatment and counseling immediately after their rescue, and during that process, the fact that Seo-yeon had been isolated in the dungeon alone became an issue.
Seo-yeon's parents claimed she was ostracized by the other girls, which led to her isolation, but the other two denied it.
Eventually, one of Seo-yeon's relatives apparently posted about it online. The comments were a mess. Some demanded a school violence committee be convened, while others argued it was an accident inside a dungeon and that the other girls' side of the story needed to be heard.
Ha-ra sighed. She, too, had felt sorry for them in many ways after reading the post. Hee-yeon and Soo-kyung had said that Seo-yeon saved them, but Seo-yeon's parents might not see it that way.
“The aftermath of a dungeon break is often harder to deal with than the break itself.”
Se-heon continued bitterly.
What happened with Hee-yeon, Soo-kyung, and Seo-yeon wasn't a particularly unusual case.
Even when victims made it back alive, they often required psychiatric treatment for trauma caused by events in the extreme environment of a dungeon, and it wasn't uncommon for matters to escalate to lawsuits.
Those three girls, too, would likely find it difficult to endure the aftermath of their rescue.
Even so, there was nothing Ha-ra could do right now. She could hardly even leave this private room.
Could she even properly return to the Mapo Branch Office in the first place?
Ha-ra grew worried. It would be incredibly difficult to go back and sit at her desk as if nothing had happened after going into a dungeon.
That's just how it was in the world of public service. The Hunter Agency was a special case with many exceptions, but the civil service departments were mostly staffed by D- and E-Ranks, who were unbelievably interested in other people's business.
“Actually, Seo-yeon's parents asked me to report on it.”
Lost in thought, Ha-ra quickly looked up. The man continued with a rather sheepish expression.
“Since the sequence of events isn't clear, we decided it wasn't something we could report on, so we shelved it.”
“I see…”
“But since I turned them down flat, I thought they might try asking you, Ms. Kang Ha-ra.”
Ha-ra's eyes widened. It seemed Se-heon was worried the girls might get hurt by unnecessary media coverage.
“Oh, I won't say anything unnecessary either.”
“Hm, that's not quite what I meant.”
He laughed, embarrassed.
“It's just that getting caught up in this kind of story is a huge pain. And since you're a public official, Ms. Kang Ha-ra, it would be even harder for you.”
*Aha. So he was worried about me, not the girls.*
*He's a better person than I thought…* Then, Ha-ra suddenly remembered clinging to his sleeve in the past. What had he said when she'd cried, "Please save my Oppa"...?
“There, there, your brother will be fine. Wipe your nose. *Sniffle.* That's right. Just calm down first.”
Her face turned beet red without her realizing it. *Did I really have a runny nose…?* While Ha-ra was lost in thought, Se-heon glanced at his watch and spoke.
“I'm sorry, but I should get going.”
“Oh, right!”
Ha-ra quickly stood up. Se-heon also rose, giving a slight nod.
She hadn't noticed in the chaos of the dungeon, but standing this close, he really was tall. *I wonder how tall he is…* As Ha-ra was entertaining this useless thought, she belatedly called out to Se-heon just as he was about to open the door.
“Um, excuse me.”
“Yes.”
Even though she'd called out to him suddenly, Se-heon nodded with a composed expression, as if he'd been expecting it.
“I'm really sorry to bother you, but could I ask you just one thing…?”
“No need to be sorry. Go ahead.”
Ha-ra hesitated before speaking.
“You said earlier that you'd help me… you know, if I needed it.”
“Ah, yes. Is there a favor you need to ask?”
“Not right now, but, um, maybe later…”
“Of course. I'll help you with anything.”
The man smiled gently. It was a warm and kind expression that truly seemed to say he would help with anything.
When he was expressionless, his face was intimidating enough to feel oppressive. Was it because she was his savior?
*But, can you really help me with what I need help with?* Ha-ra thought, then added aloud.
“You have to help me, even if it's a really difficult request…”
Se-heon's brow furrowed slightly as he smiled.
“Hm, a difficult request?”
“Well…”
“Well, I can't help much with things like trials or lawsuits. I sometimes get people asking for that kind of help. I'm just a humble reporter; it's not like I have a ton of connections.”
“No, it's not like that…”
A trial would be better than this. Seeing the man's refreshing smile, Ha-ra's spirits sank.
Se-heon raised an eyebrow at her. His gaze seemed to ask if something was truly wrong.
As befitting the lead anchor of a public broadcasting company, his face was friendly and inspired confidence. Looking at that face, Ha-ra was seized by the thought that maybe, just maybe, this man would help her. Yes, couldn't she at least try to ask?
*Anchor Yoon. I actually Awakened in the dungeon. But my Awakening isn't 100% complete. The condition for it is that I have to date you. It's an order from my Constellation, so I can't help it, but I'll treat you well. So please, just once…*
It would have been great if she could have said all that coherently. But when she actually tried to bring it up, her mind filled with a jumble of thoughts about dungeons and S-Ranks, all mixed with embarrassment and shame. It came out something like this:
*Um, you know how I held your hand in the dungeon, Anchor Yoon? Well, as you know, that was because my Constellation made me do it. I Awakened, you see—no, wait, it's not a full Awakening, and if I date you, I can become an S-Rank. And, um, this is all for the duty of protecting the nation, not because I have any personal feelings for you, Anchor Yoon. No! But! It's not like I have a choice, you know?*
A total mess.
The result was.
“W-Would you perhaps… go out with me…?”
The words slipped out before she could stop them. The moment she said it, Ha-ra realized she'd made a terrible mistake, but it was already too late.
The man's gentle smile instantly turned frosty.
“Haha, you have a good sense of humor.”
The corners of his mouth were still turned up, but his eyes weren't smiling.
Ha-ra wanted to die.
[The Constellation ‘Cupid’ is rolling with laughter.]
“Oh, of course. It was a joke, haha!”
“I get that joke sometimes. But I'm afraid that would be difficult. I have a girlfriend.”
Ha-ra's eyes widened. The man, his eyes still not smiling, offered her a handshake.
“It's a shame. You're a charming person, Ms. Kang Ha-ra. If I didn't have a girlfriend, I wouldn't have taken it as a joke.”
He delivered the soulless words with such eloquence. Ha-ra dazedly shook his hand.
“Well then, I wish you a speedy recovery.”
*Slam.* The door closed.
Ha-ra was left alone in the hospital room. After a moment of silence, she shrieked.
“You morally bankrupt Constellation!!!”
