I’ll Retire After Saving the World

Chapter 12: Witch Park Seo-hyun (1)

TL: SHW

‘…Heehee. Heehee.’

A chilling laugh can be heard. The employees, who were trying not to make eye contact, shuddered every time they heard the sound and quickly left the hallway.

The woman standing in the middle of the hallway laughed whenever this happened. Her cracked lips appeared and disappeared through her disheveled hair.

‘Heehee.’

The woman laughed with her head tilted to the side. There was nothing in the hallway, so it was unclear what she was laughing at.

Ding.

The elevator at the end of the hallway opened. The man who got off the elevator scratched his thick belly and opened his mouth towards the woman.

‘What are you doing, Park Seo-hyun?’

‘Hee… Oh, hello.’

‘Are you waiting for the teacher?’

‘Oh, no… Heehee.’

‘Then?’

‘Don’t block the already narrow hallway. I didn’t call you two here to chat.’

A man in a black suit complained as he got off the elevator.

The man who had gotten off earlier glanced back with a frown.

‘Who are you?’

‘Nice to meet you. I’m Woo Hwijae, an assistant from the Ability Management Agency’s Dungeon Raid Comprehensive Situation Room.’

‘Dungeon… what?’

‘I support the Director and assess the stability of all existing dungeons in Korea, aiding in the safe dungeon raids by Hunters….’

‘Dungeon, what? From where?’

The man in the suit smiled slightly.

‘I work in the Director’s office.’

* * *

I was worried that one of the containers in the empty lot might be my lodging.

Fortunately, the rights of Awakened ones in this era were not that backward.

Hong Seok-young found me a cheap room in a nearby small town. He said he was also renting and staying there.

“For now, stay here. I’ll change it later.”

I wasn’t expecting anything grand anyway.

I just needed to avoid Hong Seok-young’s eyes for a moment. I brushed my fingers over the Mana Control Device on my ankle. It might be considered the pinnacle of modern mana engineering, but….

Not now. Now, it’s just, well. It’s close to an ordinary handcuff.

‘Hwijae. Do you understand?’

The Director was particularly obsessed with skills. Maybe it’s because he’s an old-timer. You have to know skills to make a living.

The Director’s skills had no limits. He taught me how to pick handcuffs even before I Awakened.

‘Even if someone captures you, you can escape. I hope you’ll wait until I come because it’s dangerous…. But it’s not bad to know.’

At that time, I wondered why he was teaching me such things, but he was right. People need to know skills….

I was always a top student in the Director’s skill lessons.

Click.

See? It’s easy. I can bypass the embedded mana stone or the tracking device with my eyes closed.

I turned on the Mana Watch after a long time.

“So, what should I look at first?”

The organization story to lure Hong Seok-young? Records on Mr. Kim who might still be around?

‘Heehee.’

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At that moment, a sinister laugh echoed in my mind.

Witch Park Seo-hyun.

There was a simple reason why the Archmage was called a witch.

It was purely because of her appearance.

Her long hair grew wildly. Her pale face. Her lips, often bitten and never fully healed. Her fingers covered in scratches. Her loose, sack-like clothes made her look even thinner.

No Hunter is sane, and no Archmage is normal, but Park Seo-hyun’s eccentricity was a bit extreme.

She didn’t harm others, but seeing her wield pitch-black mana with her ghostly appearance was bad for the heart. Even her laughter gave chills.

In Myeong-dong, there was a time when that gloomy woman was lively. Park Seo-hyun must have been born normal, as she’s human after all.

So I thought for a moment.

If it was Park Seo-hyun, with clear eyes still, wouldn’t there be a possibility?

Instead of a witch who just giggles, couldn’t she become a capable Archmage who can communicate normally?

But!

Why!

How did such a bright Archmage prospect become a creepy witch in just ten days!

“No… there’s still hope.”

I fumbled with the Mana Watch.

“There should be an evaluation record.”

A Hunter like Park Seo-hyun would be under special management by the state.

Naturally, there’s a lot of information that can’t be disclosed to the public.

When was the last update? Was it two years ago?

No. It might be better to look at old records. When she was at least somewhat close to her current state….

Although Park Seo-hyun mainly worked overseas, there was a period when she stayed in Korea for a long time. Was it when I was in college?

[Park Seo-hyun – S-rank (Archmage)]

The records were neatly organized by year.

I opened the oldest document. 2033.

The first page contained basic descriptions. I skipped it because I already knew.

On the next page.

“What is this?”

[Caution!!!!!!]

[*The government is not responsible for what happens if you violate these rules.]

[There is no life-threatening danger, but you may have unpleasant physical experiences. Please be cautious.]

[+On average, you get one warning. (2032-03-09)]

[++If you’re unlucky, one warning could be the end. (2038-12-21)]

[+Do not meet her alone. (2031-09-24)]

[+In case of emergency, seek agency Director or Team Leader Yoo Ji-eun. (2036-06-17)]

From the second page onwards, there were ominous phrases. These were notes from the Ability Management Agency staff.

The dates were all over the place.

“Were these added later?”

It wasn’t in the proper report format.

It makes sense if these were the realizations the field staff had gained through blood and tears. They probably thought no one would look at these old records.

I turned to the next page.

A normal report appeared. Just in case, I kept flipping the pages.

Sure enough, red text appeared in the middle.

[1. If Hunter Park Seo-hyun says it’s not impossible, then it’s not impossible. It’s just that it takes a lot of effort, so if you use Hunter Yoo Ji-eun’s name, she’ll do it.]

Park Seo-hyun acted like a human only towards Yoo Ji-eun. So she was assigned to handle her exclusively.

I looked at the next entry.

[2. Do not express admiration at the magic cast by Hunter Park Seo-hyun. It puts her in a bad mood.]

Did she… dislike compliments?

Was she smiling because she disliked it when I clapped for her?

[3. If you encounter Hunter Oh Hyun-wook during work, please avoid the area. It’s not advisable to eavesdrop on their conversations.]

[4. Absolutely do not mention Myeong-dong. Not even the Director can cover for you. Your life is precious.]

[5. If Hunter Park Seo-hyun isn’t smiling, step back. It’s dangerous.]

[5-1. In an emergency, mention Hunter Yoo Ji-eun’s name.]

The numbers continued for quite a while.

Towards the end, it became more like casual remarks. There wasn’t much to glean. What stood out was….

Probably this.

[4. Absolutely do not mention Myeong-dong.]

I didn’t know exactly when Park Seo-hyun became like this, but she was fine in Myeong-dong. But not to mention Myeong-dong?

…I heard there were no intact bodies left back then, so it’s not incomprehensible.

But.

This time, I saved everyone!

No one died! I told them to toughen up and endure the scratches! They’re Hunters!!

What on earth is the problem?!!

I searched through Park Seo-hyun’s documents until late at night, but there was no further gain.

Anyway, I’m meeting that witch sapling tomorrow. I’ll find out something by confronting her in person. Or the Director will do something.

Eventually, I closed Park Seo-hyun’s file. There’s still a lot to see.

I searched for records about the research center I used to be in long ago. Among the numerous report titles, there was a familiar name.

[‘ARK’ River of Promise Research Center]

[2022-06-01]

[Author: Hong Seok-young]

* * *

“Hello!”

The weather is nice.

Since early morning, Hong Seok-young dragged me to the open lot… to the pilot school. He said it wouldn’t do for a teacher to be late.

Despite dragging me along, Hong Seok-young left me and slipped into one of the containers. I stood there, looking around. As usual, there was nothing.

Only the sound of reeds rustling in the cool breeze could be heard.

“Teacher!”

This empty lot seemed like my future.

I have to… cultivate this and build a new building, he says.

“Teacher!”

Should I give up?

The time limit is twenty years anyway. There’s also the option of enjoying wealth and glory with future knowledge for just twenty years…

‘Make it out alive.’

Ah, if only it weren’t for that Yoo Ji-eun.

“Mr. Woo!!”

“…What?”

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

Lee Seung-yeon’s eyes were sparkling. It was almost blinding. Especially compared to Park Seo-hyun, who was gloomily biting her lips in the corner.

“Hm.”

I should probably get closer to Lee Seung-yeon too. Honestly, as a civil servant, I shouldn’t be seen mingling with the business world. It doesn’t matter now, but old habits die hard.

“It was Seung-yeon, right?”

“Yes! Do you remember me?”

“Of course.”

How should I treat the kids?

“…You got out safely?”

“It’s all thanks to you, teacher!!”

Lee Seung-yeon, who was jumping around, glanced at my waist and asked.

“Teacher, where’s that sword?”

It’s rolling around in the back seat of Hong Seok-young’s car.

“My aunt heard about it and was really curious. She uses a sword too!”

“Your aunt?”

Lee Seung-yeon’s aunt.

“My aunt is quite a famous Hunter. Not just saying that because she’s my aunt, but she’s really famous.”

Lee Mi-seon. Master of the Daseon Guild.

She wasn’t an S-rank Hunter like Oh Hyun-wook or Park Seo-hyun, but no one could ignore her. She was remarkable enough to reach that position even without her family’s help.

And she cherished her nephew. She even established a scholarship foundation in her deceased nephew’s name and supported the Director.

“My aunt wants to meet you, teacher….”

“Mr. Woo!”

Too bad. It was going well.

“Mr. Woo!! Come here!!”

After fiddling inside the container for a long time, Hong Seok-young finally came out. He beckoned me with a wave of his hand.

I sighed and walked over to him.

“What is it?”

“Making a classroom for you.”

“A classroom?”

I looked skeptically inside the container. He had set up a chalkboard and desks, calling it a classroom.

But what caught my eye more was the stack of paper boxes at the back.

“This?”

Hong Seok-young laughed awkwardly.

“I’ve been using this as a storage room. I’ll clear it out later, so don’t worry.”

When people say that, it usually means they’ll never clear it out.

It’s easier if you give up, just give up…

Anyway, the classroom was convenient. I had something to say to Hong Seok-young without the kids around.

“Hey.”

“Hmm?”

I pointed to Park Seo-hyun through the window of the container.

“Do something about her.”

“Seo-hyun?”

“Yes.”

“What should I do?”

“She wasn’t like this in Myeong-dong.”

Her hair was disheveled, and she stood still, looking like a ghost from an old horror movie. It wasn’t good for the heart.

“Seo-hyun did suddenly change her style.”

Can this even be called a change in style?

Hong Seok-young stroked his chin.

“Every Hunter hits a wall at some point. Seo-hyun has been awakened for a while, so it’s about time.”

“Hah….”

“What’s wrong? Are you worried about the class now?”

This old man was like this. He’s always been like this.

He’s too strong. Both physically and mentally.

Hong Seok-young is the kind of person who believes he can overcome anything with sheer willpower.

So he doesn’t understand the worries of ordinary people. While he empathizes deeply with the struggles of geniuses like Yoo Ji-eun, he doesn’t get that some people can’t stand back up once they fall.

I put my head on my hands.