The Civil Servant Who Conceals Her Power Is Too Good at Possession Chapter 21

Wow. Selling your life for 200 million is surprisingly easy.

 

That was my thought as I looked at Manager Gil, who was showing me the items. 

 

“This side’s offensive gear, this side’s defensive gear. Use whatever you’re comfortable with.”

 

I scanned the battered equipment, caked with something sticky that might have been blood, and picked out a few that seemed decent enough.

 

Seeing this, Manager Gil flopped onto the waiting room sofa and put a cigarette in his mouth. 

 

“The one next to that is better, though. Why not use it?” 

 

“This is enough for me.”

 

“Sigh… I really was going to wash my hands of this business, but since it’s a request from Miss Lee, I couldn’t exactly turn it down.” 

 

That punk.

 

Manager Gil was the enemy-like benefactor who had tossed me day labor jobs whenever I’d been broke while preparing for the hunter civil service exam.

 

Whenever I ran into money problems, the jobs he brought me had paid fairly well—but once, when I’d been desperate and joined an illegal dungeon raid, I had nearly lost an arm.

 

‘Ah, seriously, Miss Lee! If I shut this operation down because of you, are you going to take responsibility? Be more careful! You almost messed up the job I was preparing in this dungeon because of you!’

 

He had taken the injured me to a healer hospital and thrown such a fiery tantrum. 

 

Back then, I’d just worried whether I’d get paid, but now when I think about it, my neck stiffens.

 

Because I found out later.

 

I found out exactly what that ‘work’ was that Manager Gil intended to do after having us clear that illegal dungeon. 

 

It was exactly this—pitting low-rank hunters against monsters in illegal dungeons.

 

Just like in ancient Rome, where gladiators were thrown into the amphitheater with lions to fight for spectators.

 

They build a ring, set up special steel bars, and throw a monster and a hunter inside one-on-one—

 

‘They film it and invite VIPs to watch.’ 

 

Generally, it’s said that if an A-rank hunter fights an A-rank monster alone, the win rate is about 80%.

 

But in this illegal arena, they mostly throw in low-rank hunters and pit them against monsters one rank higher—or sometimes two.

 

And the result?

 

‘It’s as clear as day.’

 

In short—most of them die.

 

But this crazy business is more profitable than you’d think.

 

There are plenty of rich bastards in this world, and plenty who derive satisfaction from tormenting others with that money.

 

And…

 

‘One of them is Choi Mincheol.’

 

I recalled the original story.

 

Worse than Choi Woojin—Woojin’s cousin.

 

The black-haired foreigner.

 

Kevin Choi.

 

Every detail about that criminal was in my head.

 

“But is your brother really that sick? If you get the money, can he live?”

 

“They said the surgery has to be done in the States. The success rate’s higher there…”

 

“Oh my, how unfortunate. Truly unfortunate. Miss Lee, your brother is all the family you have.”

 

Manager Gil crushed his cigarette against the table and stood, patting my shoulder.

 

“Technically, there’s a way to stop the match if you want. But the penalty fee’s triple.”

 

…These wicked b*stards.

 

While cursing him inwardly, I maintained a calm expression on the outside. 

 

My brother is sick right now… That’s all I’m thinking about… I’m desperate…

 

‘I’m sorry, Lee Yugyeom.’ 

 

“Try to hold out by dodging well. Miss Lee. I believe in you. You’re the one who came back alive from that dungeon back then, aren’t you?” 

 

Haha. Are you referring to that illegal raid that almost ended in a total wipeout?

 

Just as I was about to fail at controlling my expression—

 

Someone opened the door and called for Manager Gil.

 

As he headed out, he tossed me a line I couldn’t tell was a blessing or a curse.

 

“If things go wrong for Miss Lee here, I’ll make sure to send your brother to college. Don’t worry.” 

 

Am I supposed to be grateful for that?

 

I had my head half-bowed in an ambiguous gesture when a familiar face entered the waiting room. 

 

“Oh? You’re here? Ah, right. I forgot to mention. Today you’ll be running with this guy. You two know each other, right?”

 

At Gil’s gesture, the man who stepped in froze the moment he saw my face.

 

“Y-You… why are you here?”

 

Ji Wongil.

 

An E-rank hunter I’d met on an illegal raid. Same age as me—

 

‘Get down!’

 

…And someone whose life I once saved during that raid.

 

“Why is she here?”

 

Ji Wongil turned pale the moment he saw me and asked Manager Gil.

 

“Why else? To make money. Special 2-on-1 match today. Hope you both walk out richer. Good luck.”

 

Manager Gil left with a smirk, and Ji Wongil approached me with an angry expression.

 

“Get out. Now.”

 

“I just got here, though?”

 

“Do you even know what this job is? Didn’t you say you got hired somewhere?”

 

Right.

 

This guy knew I’d gotten hired.

 

“I di…… d……. But I got fired.”

 

“Why? It hasn’t been long since you said you were going for training.”

 

Exactly.

 

What kind of thing would be appropriate to get fired for in such a short time?

 

“I was desperate for money, so I……”

 

I picked out a suitable one from the many crimes I’d studied at the HIB.

 

Embezzlement.

 

At those words, Wongil looked at me as if it were absurd.

 

“You? You, who tried to get us out first saying people come before money, embezzled company funds? And I thought you were obviously a civil servant……”

 

I cut him off, changing the topic.

 

“What about you? Here to clean up after your dad messed up again?”

 

Ji Wongil had once told me he was just an ordinary college student.

 

‘Well, not exactly ordinary. He went to Korea University.’

 

Like my Yugeom, he was the type with an exceptional brain.

 

Even if he hadn’t pursued a hunter career and instead taken the higher civil service exam, he’d have succeeded easily.

 

In fact, he had been preparing for the administrative exam, and as far as I could tell, he was likely to pass soon.

 

Since he wasn’t applying for an investigator position like me, his rank wouldn’t matter much.

 

‘The problem was his father constantly causing financial disasters.’

 

Because of that, he used to go around running raids to clean up those messes…….

 

“My father died.”

 

“…!”

 

The word “I’m sorry” wouldn’t come out.

 

Seeing that, Ji Wongil let out a hollow laugh and sat on the sofa. 

 

“Congratulate me, maybe? I passed the high-level civil service exam. Hunter Administration Bureau, general administrative track. Rank 4.”

 

Crazy!

 

That’s a higher grade than me!

 

I’m so jealous!

 

Wait, then…

 

“Then why are you here…?”

 

Isn’t this a death match where it’s hard to return alive?

 

“There’s a debt my father stood surety for before he died…. My mom went and inherited it without thinking. I was really planning to cut ties with my family this time, but…” 

 

Another story that wrings tears.

 

“I’m sick of being told to die every time life starts looking up. I’m just going to end it for good this time.” 

 

Ji Wongil spoke with vacant eyes. 

 

The eyes of someone prepared to die.

 

Or maybe someone who believed death was the only escape left.

 

“I’m sorry. You saved my life, and it turned out like this. You just go back. I’ll hold out for thirty minutes and handle the penalty somehow……” 

 

As he spoke with grim resolve, I hesitated—then opened my mouth.

 

“Hey. So…”

 

“…?”

 

“I don’t think we’re going to die, though.” 

 

I felt a little bad saying that to someone braced for death—

 

“Actually, I got into the HIB. I’m on an undercover investigation right now.”

 

I flashed a sheepish grin.

 

“Would you…… mind cooperating a little?”

 

If you don’t want to die.