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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Mana Stone Cave
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[System Administrator: (~ • ω•)~]
‘Even when I ask, that’s the only reaction I get. Is it that he doesn’t want to tell me, or is there no reason at all?’
Seora, who had been tapping at her keyboard before suddenly staring into space again, shrugged. Well, whatever. The important thing was that she was alive thanks to the Administrator and receiving an overwhelming amount of support.
The regressor’s curiosity was none of her business, so she decided to just ignore it.
No, she was *forced* to ignore it.
“A Gate has appeared in Sangam-dong! It’s a blue Gate, but of all places, it’s near a broadcasting station!”
Because, of all the rotten luck, a dungeon had to appear. The thought was instantly blown away as Seora’s face paled.
“A broadcasting station, of all places. The slightest problem will cause an uproar.”
As soon as they heard news of the Gate, they’d undoubtedly come rushing over with their cameras. And if any problems arose, they’d tear into the Association—plenty of people saw the Association, which Song Hanna practically ran like a dictator, as a thorn in their side.
Ugh. She felt like she’d just lost ten years off her life.
“Sangam is Team 1’s territory. I’m counting on you.”
“Since both the Section Chief and the Manager are out, we’ll have to go.”
At Gong Haeyeon’s words, Seora’s expression soured even more.
Of all times! If she’d known this would happen, she would have slapped her resignation letter down the moment she got to work! Her conversation with Kang Sejun had left her half-distracted, and she’d completely forgotten.
Why does something always get in the way whenever I try to quit? What if I can never resign because of this?
“I’d better have an energy drink now…”
With a face full of sorrow, Seora slowly got up from her seat.
“There’s no need for both of you to go. Only one will accompany me.”
Just then, Do Junyeong approached and spoke. The two women’s eyes widened.
“You’re going yourself, Siljangnim? Is there a problem?”
“We plan to entrust this dungeon to Mr. Kang Sejun.”
Ah, I see what’s going on. So, he was planning to gauge the power of the new L-rank Awakened.
“Only one of us.”
“In that case.”
Seora and Haeyeon looked at each other. Having worked together for three years, no words were needed. They shouted in unison and extended their hands.
“Rock, paper, scissors!”
“Rock, paper, scissors!”
In that brief moment, as they looked at each other’s hands, their fates diverged.
* * *
Seora thought to herself.
No matter how I look at it, my luck is just rotten. Either that or she’d used up all her innate luck in her contract with the Administrator.
“My win rate is less than twenty percent.”
Sangam-dong, where the Gate had appeared. The sight of the cameramen and reporters stationed there made her instantly depressed. She had played rock, paper, scissors with Haeyeon countless times over the past three years, but she had almost never won.
Can Gong Haeyeon read minds or something?
“You decide deployments with rock, paper, scissors?”
She could feel Kang Sejun looking at her with disdain. From an angle where Do Junyeong couldn’t see, Seora glared at him.
If it weren’t for you, I would have submitted my resignation today…! This is all your fault!
“Anyway, quite a crowd has gathered. Did you have to assign me one right next to a broadcasting station?”
Kang Sejun pretended not to see Seora’s fierce glare and looked away. In truth, the constant camera flashes were uncomfortable.
Although he had never officially revealed his face, these people lived by their wits and had all figured it out.
That he was the L-rank Awakened.
“If you’re uncomfortable, you may do as you please. No one would dare voice a complaint to an L-rank Awakened.”
“I was planning on it anyway.”
At Do Junyeong’s words, Kang Sejun immediately snapped his fingers. Suddenly, all the cameras around them sparked with a *fizzle, pop,* and then exploded.
“Gasp! What the—! My camera!”
“No! I just bought this one!”
“Aaaargh! I didn’t back up the memory card!”
Tearful screams erupted from all over. But even though it was obvious who had done it, not a single person dared to glare at him.
Of course not. One wrong move and their eyes could be plucked out. Who would risk it?
Everyone knew the story of some foreign L-rank who, when provoked, had ruined a family for three generations. So, even as they screamed, they were careful with their eyes and mouths.
Once the surroundings quieted down, Seora finally began measuring the Gate. Honestly, it had been a bit uncomfortable, and she felt relieved now that the cameras were gone.
“Type: general dungeon. Grade 3.”
“Only Mr. Kang Sejun and I will enter. Ms. Yoon Seora, please wait here.”
At the mention of a Grade 3 dungeon, Do Junyeong’s expression tightened. He glanced at Seora, seemingly worried that she might recall unpleasant memories.
Having no reason to object, Seora obediently nodded.
Kang Sejun’s thoughts, however, differed from Do Junyeong’s.
“No, I think it would be better for her to come in with me rather than you, Chief Do.”
Seora’s eyes widened, and Do Junyeong openly frowned.
“It’s a dangerous place.”
Kang Sejun wore an indescribable expression for a moment. Seora could read his gaze perfectly.
You’re a really good actor, aren’t you?
“Have you forgotten her abilities? If we enter a Grade 3 dungeon together, I’m sure the monsters will come at us without hesitation.”
‘What? The same would happen with me.’
Unlike Do Junyeong, Kang Sejun knew she was an S-rank. So why was he making such an excuse to take her with him?
‘But I don’t want to go in.’
She couldn’t submit her resignation, lost at rock, paper, scissors, and now she had to watch Kang Sejun, whom she didn’t even like, run wild?
Oh, no thank you.
But just as Seora, with a reluctant expression, was about to declare, ‘I don’t want to go.’
[System Administrator: (☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞☞☞!!!]
The Administrator was urgently pointing at the Gate.
‘I have to go in?’
[System Administrator: ((๑✧ꈊ✧๑))]
Its eyes were sparkling. Seeing its excitement, Seora gasped. That look, those eyes!
‘Is there some kind of good item in there?’
[System Administrator: (((o(*>▽<*)o)))]
Hallelujah, oh Lord. No, wait, in this case, the Administrator is my god.
‘Admin-lujah! Thank you for the tip! I’ll go clean out those moneybags.’
“I’m fine, Siljangnim. I’ll go in.”
Seora smiled, her expression a perfect mask for her inner thoughts. The innocent Chief Do, unaware that his subordinate’s heart was pounding with greed, expressed his concern.
“You don’t have to force yourself. Even if the monsters are scared off, it won’t be a major issue for gauging Mr. Kang Sejun’s skills.”
“Siljangnim, I’m a Hunter too. I’m always prepared for danger. Besides, the situation is different now than it was back then.”
Seora gestured with her eyes toward Sejun, who still wore that indescribable expression. She was with an L-rank, not just an S-rank. How could it possibly be as dangerous as last time?
Do Junyeong quickly understood her meaning.
“We’ll be back.”
To seal the deal, Seora took the S-rank Crimson Mace from her inventory and tapped it against her palm. Do Junyeong’s worried expression finally eased a little.
“Then, I’ll be counting on you.”
“Well, let’s go.”
“…Alright.”
As Seora smiled, Kang Sejun nodded reluctantly. Still, she was grateful that he didn’t blow her cover, which meant he was at least sincere about keeping her identity a secret.
[Grade 3 Dungeon ‘Mana Stone Cave’ has been entered by Awakened ‘Yoon Seora’.]
“Yes! This is it!”
And as soon as she entered and the message appeared, Seora dropped her act and let out a cheer.
Look at that! A feast of mana stones spread out before her eyes! It was like nuggets of gold rolling all over the place!
“Hahahaha! To think I’d see a sight like this in my lifetime!”
As she laughed loudly and clapped, Kang Sejun shot her a look as if she were crazy, but she couldn’t care less.
“I’m so glad I came in! This is amazing, seriously!”
Mana stones, huh? With this much money lying around, who cares about a dirty look!
[System Administrator: (*≧∀≦*)]
“Yes! Really! I love it!”
Admin-lujah! If the Administrator were here, she’d blow him a kiss!
Ah, look at the transparent, beautiful color of those mana stones. And from a Grade 3 dungeon, no less—they must be worth a fortune.
Hah. To think this place, comparable to a diamond mine, was all hers!
No, wait. She wasn’t here alone, was she?
“Hey, Mr. Kang Sejun. Are you rich?”
“Are you trying to extort me…?”
“Hey now, what are you talking about? I’m not that bad of a person. I just mean, if you already have a lot of money, would it be okay if I took all the mana stones here? Something like that.”
“So that’s why you were smiling like that?”
It was only after looking around that Kang Sejun realized why Seora had been laughing.
“The man outside was genuinely worried about you, and yet you shamelessly deceive him…”
“If you’re going to put it that way, Chief Do, who’s pretending to be an A-rank, doesn’t have much room to talk, does he?”
“It’s a lot better than pretending to be an F-rank.”
“We’re both deceiving him, so it’s the same thing. Let’s call it even.”
Taking out a pair of gloves and putting them on, Seora stored her mace in her inventory and pulled out a pickaxe instead. She was ready to mine.
“You’re a fire-type mage, right? The mana stones can’t get damaged, so just wait here while I mine them all. Or, if you’re going to fight monsters, be careful not to let any sparks fly.”
“I can control my firepower. And even if I couldn’t, I can just use magic of a non-dangerous element.”
“Huh? You can use other elements too? Oh. L-ranks really are different, I guess.”
With the exception of a very few mages, most could only use a single element. But it seemed Kang Sejun could use two or more.
“Then just make sure you control it well. I’ll be busy mining.”
“Do you remember that you came in here to see my power?”
“Ah, I can just watch you while I mine. Or you can show me after I’m done and there’s more space.”
In any case, the mana stones came first!
Leaving the flabbergasted Kang Sejun behind, Seora started mining the nearest mana stone. *Clang, clang, clang!* The resounding strikes of the pickaxe were incredibly cheerful.
Behind her, Kang Sejun once again wore that indescribable expression.
His sixth life, which began with his fifth regression.
He was seized by an ominous premonition that, this time around, he would get tangled up with this crazy woman many more times.
