-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Headbang
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After a brief silence, Kang Sejun shook his head.
“It’s just a hypothetical. If such a case really existed, the Association President would already know. Even if that person remained unseen, their contracted Constellation’s eyes are a different story.”
Could someone really deceive the eyes of a top-tier Constellation?
Do Junyeong didn’t look entirely satisfied with that answer, but he quickly conceded. Song Hanna certainly hadn’t said or shown anything.
Still, Do Junyeong glanced around the office. His gaze briefly fell on Yoon Seora, who was busy working, but it was truly just for an instant.
“The briefing is about to start. We should get to the point.”
“Alright.”
The two immediately got down to business.
As their discussion continued, their eyes never once turned toward Yoon Seora again.
* * *
A new post appeared on the S-rank exclusive community that night.
【Title: To the new S-rank. Are you a ghost or not!】
【Author: WishesToLeaveYeongwon】
“Oh, they finally noticed.”
An alert had just popped up saying Kang Sejun had joined the community, so Seora figured everyone would find out soon enough. With eyes full of anticipation, she clicked on the post.
【I don't know why you're just lurking quietly after joining, but I won't question it! I almost had a heart attack when the member count suddenly jumped to 13 when I thought it was 11, but I won't question that either!
But I will say one thing!
You're not a ghost, right? You're really not…? You're one of the living, right…? You didn't become a ghost and sneak into the community, did you…? You're not a g-g-ghost who hacked the system, are you…? Th-th-that’s impossible, right…?】
“…”
Her curiosity was fleeting. The pathetic state of the Yeongwon vice-guild master made Seora’s expression turn icy.
This guy seems to always pour cold water on the fantasy of S-ranks…
“Come to think of it, the first post I saw was also about wanting to leave the guild. How can someone like him be under such a calm guild master?”
Seora felt a wave of pity for Guild Master Ju-eun. That poor soul.
【Comments】
|Noeul|: ??? What's this? Seriously, what??? Now that you mention it??? If an L-rank showed up, shouldn't there be 12 members? Why are there 13?????? Huh????? Did a ghost really log in???????
|Yeonhee|: Oh my, it seems a new S-rank has appeared. Welcome ^^
└|Noeul|: Why are you so calm?????
└|Yeonhee|: I'm not calm. I'm sincerely welcoming them ^^
└|Noeul|: That's not what I meant!
|Han Su-eon|: Even those who practically live on this community didn't notice until now? You're not very observant.
└|Noeul|: Why are you picking a fight again? You didn't know either!
└|Han Su-eon|: Unlike the Noeul Guild Master, I'm not some idler who visits the community every single day.
└|Noeul|: Hey. Outside. Now.
└|SuhoryeongIsTheBest|: Where are you guys meeting? I gotta go get some popcorn.
“Why are they fighting amongst themselves when this is about me…?”
Just by his face, you’d think Han Su-eon would coldly ignore any provocations, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Or maybe he just reacted strongly to the Noeul Guild Master.
“Ah.”
As she scrolled through the comments, Seora’s eyes widened when she saw the one left by Ju-eun, the Yeongwon Guild Master.
【Comments】
|Ju-eun|: To the new S-rank. Were you perhaps the one who took down the boss of the 2nd-grade dungeon? If so, I wanted to offer my sincere thanks. Because of you, the damage was minimal. If the opportunity arises, I would love to meet you in person someday.
Seora was touched by his heartfelt words.
For the leader of the nation’s number one guild to be so kind and polite. He was such a stark contrast to the other guild masters.
“I definitely prefer a gentle and kind face like Ju-eun’s over the chiseled features of Han Su-eon or Kang Sejun.”
Even his age, mid-thirties, was perfectly acceptable for someone with his looks and sweet personality…!
Unfortunately, Ju-eun had a daughter who had just started elementary school this year. Ah, what a shame.
【Administrator: (╬Ò‸Ó)】
“I’m not even surprised when these messages pop up anymore.”
Seora stared blankly at the administrator’s furiously pouting face, wondering what the problem was this time. Even a seven-year-old doesn’t pout without reason. What on earth was it now?
【Administrator: !!＼＼٩(`Д´)۶／／!!】
“Now you’re angry. Why? What is it this time?”
【Administrator: 。゜゜(>⌓<)゜゜。】
“Why are you suddenly crying?”
Pouting, then angry, then crying. What was it? What could possibly be the reason? And it wouldn't answer her even when she asked.
The administrator’s moods were truly impossible to predict.
* * *
In the span of a day, Korea had been turned upside down several times.
A 2nd-grade dungeon appeared, a breakout suddenly occurred, an unknown person landed a one-shot headshot, and to top it all off, the nation’s first L-rank Awakened made their debut.
All of this happened in just a few hours, sending the news, the internet, and even the Awakened-exclusive communities into a frenzy.
But the biggest explosion came right after the Association's surprising briefing.
“The new L-rank Awakened, Mr. Kang Sejun, is not connected to the elimination of the 2nd-grade dungeon’s boss. This is something we also just learned, but a new, unidentified S-rank has appeared, and we currently surmise that this Awakened was the one who defeated it.”
Following an L-rank, now a twelfth S-rank had appeared! And one skilled enough to take down a 2nd-grade boss in a single blow!
The unknown S-rank instantly became a hot topic.
The internet heated up even more as speculative comments emerged, suggesting this person might be stronger than Song Hanna. This ignited a fire within Song Hanna's fanbase, who took pride in her title as the nation's number one, and a fight broke out.
Seora, the unknown S-rank in question, felt quite troubled.
*Uh… I’m sorry for threatening the Tiger, but I’m actually on aunt-niece terms with her, you know? Please don’t cause a rift between us.*
“Not that the Association President would care anyway.”
Song Hanna would surely just laugh it off. She might even be watching with popcorn. She did love a good fight, after all.
【Administrator: (ﾉ*>∀<)ﾉ♡】
【A new post has been uploaded to the community.】
“Huh?”
Today is the day. I will definitely submit my resignation letter.
Just as she steeled her resolve and was about to leave for her last day of work, the administrator sent a message.
Normally, she didn't get alerts for new community posts. Judging by the emoticon, the administrator must have found something very amusing.
“…This makes me nervous.”
【Title: Anyone see the video of the beast’s head exploding? That’s no headshot ;;】
There was a video of it? She thought all the cameramen had fled. Did some lunatic really stay behind to film?
【Seen this video? I'll post the link, so watch it before you read on.
Wow, it's nothing like just seeing the pictures. It’s like its head was completely blown up;; How is that a headshot???
So, from today, I'm calling the unknown S-rank ‘Headbang.’ It’s like they threw a bomb. If you've seen the video, you'll know what I mean.
Freaking Bang-nim… can I call you my big bro from today?】
“…What is this.”
Excuse me? What did you say? Headbang?
“No, don’t do it! I hate that tacky nickname! How could you give me such a weird moniker!”
But she was the only one who thought so.
【Comments】
Wow;;; Wow, that's insane;; Did its head really explode;; For real, ‘headshot’ doesn’t do it justice. I hereby christen them Headbang-nim;;
Seriously, how do you make a head explode like that;; Wild;;;
This video is crazy. What even is that.
Who filmed this??? Is the cameraman alive?? Did a ghost upload this?? Like, they died but came back with the sole mission of making sure everyone saw this?
└You're nuts lolololol but I gotta agree…
└FR, this is something you'd come back from the dead to upload lolololol
└May the cameraman’s lineage prosper for generations. Thank you for filming this treasure.
Look how fast this video is spreading;; It's all over overseas sites too, saying a headshotter appeared in Korea. Hey, you idiots. The name's changed. From today, they are Headbang-nim.
“No, that’s not it!”
Seora cried out, but no one could hear her. The post was spreading as terrifyingly fast as the video itself. The video’s title had already been changed to ‘Headbang.’
【Administrator: (☞ ˙∇˙)☞)))】
“Don’t just laugh, do something! You can fix this, can’t you!”
【Administrator: (ง ˙∇˙)ว】
“Ugh, seriously!”
Seora practically clung to the system message.
Headbang. Bang. She was thoroughly dissatisfied.
“I’m never revealing my identity. If I’m called by a nickname like that, I might just bite my tongue and die from embarrassment. Aaaargh…”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
The resignation letter. I have to submit it. She didn't want to experience the horror of her entire workplace finding out she was Headbang.
“Hiding my power as a public servant was a bad idea from the start. I need to quit quickly before it spreads through the office…”
Patting the resignation letter tucked safely in her pocket, Seora headed for the subway station.
But perhaps she was too lost in the shock of the nickname ‘Headbang.’
“I’ve heard of a power-hiding loser, but a power-hiding public servant is a new one.”
She didn’t notice someone approaching until a low voice spoke right behind her.
Startled, Seora leaped what felt like two meters into the air.
“Agh! You scared me!”
She spun around, flustered, and her eyes went wide at the person standing there.
“…L-rank?”
It was Kang Sejun, so handsome it was almost overwhelming to see him up close.
“It’s Kang Sejun. Don’t use my rank like it’s my name.”
“Why are you speaking so informally when we’ve just met?”
Her shock quickly faded. Seora scowled at the rude behavior of a man who wasn't much older than her.
“You can speak informally too.”
“Oh, sure.”
At his response, however, Seora immediately relaxed her glare and dropped the formal speech. Well, if he says so.
