Against the Clock: The Team Leader’s Pursuit of Glory

Chapter 15 Accepted

Six months later.

In the office of Taesung’s Guild Master.

"So? Is this a resignation letter?"

"Yes, well, it is."

"I thought having studied abroad would give you some backbone. You disappoint me, Jeong Do-il."

"Staying for four months here is more than enough, Guild Master Ju. I heard my predecessor didn't even last a month."

"I won't stop you. You know the way out, don't you?"

"I've learned a lot during my time here."

"I'm glad to hear you've learned something. If fate wills it, we'll see each other again."

"That might be difficult. I'm returning to the United States."

"That's a shame. I don't know about the rest, but your hunting skills were impressive. Your presence alone would've been a great help here."

"With a Guild Master like you here, do you think I could be of any help?"

"The more skilled Hunters we have, the better."

"Fair enough. But I do have one question before I go. Why do you stay in this trashy guild, Guild Master? It's ruined here. And someone of your caliber could be highly successful even in the United States. I can't understand why you're attached to such a small country."

"That's the first time I've been asked that. Hmm..."

Ju Se-ah paused, lost in thought, before speaking again.

"Because I have many ties here?"

"Pardon?"

"Take that as your answer. It's a courtesy for enduring four months as the Vice Guild Master in this trash guild. Normally, I'd beat the crap out of anyone who asked such a pointless question."

Jeong Do-il swallowed.

Did he strike a nerve with Ju Se-ah?

He had only worked with her for a mere four months, but he had experienced enough of Ju Se-ah's character. If she said she would beat him up, she would.

The image of her causing a scene in the main lobby of Slayer Guild, one of the top guilds in Northeast Asia, was still vivid in his mind.

Anyone daring to cross such a major guild would be prepared even for assassination, yet this Guild Master seemed to lack the perception of danger.

He had managed to endure for four months, impressed by her actions, but this guild was beyond redemption, poisoned from its very inception.

His question was born out of pity, seeing such a remarkable Hunter like Ju Se-ah tied to such a place, but the subtle menace in her answer made him swallow any words that might have followed.

'I was going to introduce her to a top-tier American guild...'

After Jeong Do-il left, Ju Se-ah stared into her computer monitor.

It was the PC version of the Guild App.

The words 'Vice Guild Master Wanted' were boldly displayed under the Hunter Recruitment tab.

The board was usually used by freelance Hunters to form parties, guilds, or government contract quests.

However, unable to recruit a Vice Guild Master, Ju Se-ah had drunkenly posted the recruitment notice. As it was the first time such a position was being offered this way, it had been a topic of discussion among the media and on Hunter forums.

Ju Se-ah hadn't paid it much attention as no resumes had been submitted, but after her second Vice Guild Master quit, she couldn't help but give it a glance.

'If only someone would apply, even through this...'

Of course, it was a foolish notion. At first, the Hunters thought it was a joke, but soon realized it was indeed posted by Ju Se-ah and deliberately avoided it due to the notorious relationship with the Slayer Guild.

Any self-respecting Hunter wouldn't be applying through such a public posting.

"Why can't this be deleted? It's just embarrassing. What the hell was I thinking when I was drunk? 'Vice Guild Master Wanted,' really?"

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"Why did you post it without any discussion?"

Jang Deuk-goo, who had been waiting for Jeong Do-il to leave, clicked his tongue as he entered the office.

"Can't this post be deleted or at least edited by the association?"

"The principle is that postings can't be deleted. It could be abused for criminal purposes if you could just post and delete at will."

"I know, but my identity is well verified."

"Once they allow an exception, the principle collapses. So, it's strictly not possible."

"Damn that old association chairman. Surely, they can give some leeway between acquaintances. Korean society is built on relationships, alumni networks, blood ties, things like that."

"Among relationships, alumni networks, and blood ties, you share none with the chairman of the association."

"Well, there is that."

With one possible method eliminated, Ju Se-ah immediately suggested another.

"Do you think a bribe would help? Should we make a donation to the association? You never know, a bit of greasing might soften up that stiff old man."

"There's no money in the guild."

"Damn it! Who cut off the money supply this time?"

"We're the only two Hunters in the guild, and our hunting is all we've got. Who else is going to support us? We've been surviving off of that time when we managed to get into the Sogang University Blue Gate auction. But even that's run out now. We can't stand on our own without group support."

"I don't know why we're facing so many obstacles just for a small guild. We're surrounded by enemies, enemies everywhere! We need some kind of breakthrough."

"Speaking of a breakthrough, the chairman has invited you to dinner this evening. Why don't you go to the headquarters and borrow some money? It's a simple and fast solution."

Ju Se-ah's gaze turned icy.

"I'd rather sell my house in Hannam-dong."

"You've already sold that, remember?"

"Oh, right. In that case, I could sell the horses…"

"You sold those too. Would you like me to list all the things you've already sold?"

"No, I think it'll be too sad knowing that I have nothing left. Let's just drop it."

"I'll just mention that if we don't repay the loan by next month, we'll be on the streets."

"So what time did you say?"

"Excellent decision."

Seongsu-dong had become a luxury residential area solely for the top 1% of South Korea, built on a site that had been completely razed during the Great War.

The entrance was guarded by a 24-hour security team, and to combat monsters, the National Hunter Corps and an A-rank guild were in charge of the surrounding area.

This meant that Seongsu-dong was the most heavily guarded place in South Korea, second only to the Blue House.

In such a place, where supercars were common and each mansion was magnificent, a mediocre domestic sedan seemed out of place.

Moreover, the sedan was in poor condition. One of its headlights was broken, and the bonnet was dented as if hit with a hammer.

A security guard stopped the sedan, which was rattling and seemed ready to stall at any moment.

"What are you here for?”

The security guard bent towards the driver's window, which gradually lowered. The moment he caught sight of the person inside, he recoiled in surprise.

"Ah, it's you, Hunter Ju Se-ah. Open the gate! Please, come in."

Even after Ju Se-ah entered the gate, she had to drive for quite a while before reaching the mansion nestled deep within the property.

At the mansion's entrance, there was a checkpoint managed by more security guards. Unlike their counterpart at the gate, they didn't fuss but simply let her in.

Once she parked her car and got out, a melody from a violin reached her ears. Turning her head, she saw a party in progress, taking place in a garden so vast that one could easily believe it to be the size of a primary school's playground.

"What's this? Whose birthday is it?"

As Ju Se-ah took in her surroundings, she noticed her shabby attire. It was somewhat bothersome, but she shrugged it off as being a typical occupational hazard of being a Hunter, and proceeded into the garden.

"You're here, too?"

A sharp voice pierced her ears from somewhere.

Ju Se-ah turned her head.

A woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to herself stood there, her eyes full of stubbornness, a smirk playing around her lips.

"If Sister Soo-young is here, why can't I be?"

"Huh? Who are you calling 'Sister'? You're just some X who rolled in from the streets. Our Tae family has never had someone like you."

"Why is our Soo-young so upset?"

"Hey!"

"You said I’m not your younger sister? Then, you're not my older sister either."

"Ugh...!"

"Oh my? Are you going to hit me?"

"You think I can't?"

"Go ahead. Let's see what a B-rank Hunter's punch tastes like. But, can you handle the consequences?"

As Ju Se-ah took a step forward, Tae Soo-young, on the other hand, took two steps back.

Her adversary was not just a younger sister, but a Hunter who was known to be on par with an S-rank.

Being a Hunter herself, Tae Soo-young was all too aware of how terrifying Ju Se-ah could be. As she felt Ju Se-ah's intimidating aura, her face grew pale.

"Stop fighting, both of you. It's unseemly to fight on Father's birthday."

"Brother? But, she..."

"Ahem! Soo-young, when will you stop behaving like a child? I told you to behave today."

Tae Soo-cheol, the eldest son of the Tae family, was an ordinary man, but he managed to subdue Tae Soo-young, who was a Hunter, with his sheer presence.

Just like how a tiger does not give birth to a dog, the son of Chairman Tae Jin-sung, who was called a tiger in the industry, was overwhelmingly a man of character.

Even Tae Soo-cheol was entering his fifties. Chairman Tae Jin-sung, who was over 70, was still on the front lines of the business, which was delaying the time for Tae Soo-cheol to step forward.

Despite the situation that could have caused discontent, Tae Soo-cheol was content assisting his father with humility.

'Which makes him scarier. He even renders Tae Soo-young, a Hunter, immobile.'

As the gaze of her brother, who was nearly twice her age, landed on her, Ju Se-ah scratched her head and spoke.

"I didn't know it was Father's birthday. I would have dressed up if I had known.”

Although he appeared gentlemanly on the surface, the person who had boxed Ju Se-ah into the Taesung Guild, effectively tying her hands and feet, was none other than Tae Soo-cheol.

Seeing his detestable face made her want to give him a good punch, regardless of their sibling relationship.

"Ah, if I were to upset our strongest Hunter in Korea any further, I might just lose my head. How about it? Would you like to change your clothes and say hello to father?"

"No thanks. I don't want to stay long in a place I'm not fond of. I'll just say hello as I am."

As Ju Se-ah entered the garden, wearing a suit stained with green bodily fluid and heels drenched in the same coloured blood, all eyes turned to her.

The atmosphere in the boring outdoor party venue changed instantly with the arrival of Ju Se-ah, a Hunter famous for both her skills and beauty.

She commanded attention. Her presence was overwhelming to the point where Chairman Tae Jin-sung seemed far away from memory.

"You’re here? If you are, come and have a bite of food."

Despite his age, Tae Jin-sung's commanding voice echoed throughout the venue.

Ju Se-ah walked up to Tae Jin-sung and greeted him.

"Father, happy birthday."

"Ah."

"I couldn't prepare a gift."

"I don't want anything."

"And please fund our guild."

"Why do you always bring up the guild? I told you to discuss it with your brother, didn't I?"

"We have been discussing it endlessly but he won't give any money?"

"That must be because you lack the ability. Convincing the other party is a skill, too."

"I can only convince with my fists though?"

Upon seeing Ju Se-ah raise her fist, Tae Jin-sung sighed, clutching his forehead.

"So how are you going to get married? Tsk, tsk! Fine. If you change your surname, I'll help you."

"I thought we had settled that matter?"

"When are you going to stop using your dead mother's surname? You've thrown enough tantrums. Just register it already."

"I will assume that you are not going to provide any support. Now, enjoy your meal."

As Ju Se-ah turned to leave the party, Tae Jin-sung called out in an angry voice.

"Did you just say you're quitting?"

"Did you plant the seeds of discontent?"

Ju Se-ah turned back and asked.

People around them held their breath at Ju Se-ah's audacity to talk back to Chairman Tae, a known tiger. Even Tae Jin-sung's own children were no different. Only Ju Se-ah could stand tall and talk to Tae Jin-sung like this.

Suddenly, the party music stopped and they conversed as if they were the only two in the silent venue.

"Big talk from someone who can't even manage a messed up guild. No matter how well you can kill monsters, an organization isn't something that can be run with strength alone."

"We might not have fallen apart this badly if my wonderful siblings hadn't interfered."

"When you lack ability, you should admit it and lower your head. If you remain stubborn, you're bound to break."

"I'm sorry, but I'm rather sturdy. It's impossible to break me, be it a person or a monster."

"That damn backtalk. Tsk, tsk! Jang Deuk-goo, you've taught her all the wrong things."

"He taught me more than you ever did, father. I'm always grateful for that."

Tae Jin-sung's expression changed. It was a cold, emotionless face. Ju Se-ah knew this look well. It was a look that would appear on her own face when she looked in the mirror. It meant that her father was very angry.

Unable to bear Ju Se-ah's stubbornness, Tae Jin-sung issued a warning.

"I’ll give you half a year. Try to stabilize the guild by then. If not, I will dissolve the guild."

"But, if you suddenly notify me like this..."

"It's almost been a year. I've given you enough time. Enough with your Hunter games, it's time to come back to headquarters."

"You want me to quit being a Hunter?"

"Yes, how long does the daughter of the Tae family intend to swing a sword? Do you intend to continue, even though you can't even find a suitable husband? No matter how much money we have, I no longer want to pour it into a bottomless pot."

"..."

Ju Se-ah desperately tried to think of a rebuttal. But she couldn't refute his words, which were all undeniably true.

Then, it happened.

Ding-dong!

A loud notification sound sounded from her smartphone.

Perhaps it was because the venue was too quiet, or perhaps she was so focused on finding a way out, but the sound was as loud as a bell in Ju Se-ah's ears.

"Excuse me for a moment. I have an important message."

Ju Se-ah lied to regain her composure and checked her smartphone.

It wasn't a text message.

Unexpectedly, the notification sound had come from her guild app.

'Is there an emergency?'

[A resume has been submitted.]

'Huh? A resume?'

For the first time in the past six months, a resume had been submitted to the long-quiet job board.