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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Those Without Conscience
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"...I thought Sword Masters only existed in history books."
"Yeah, that makes sense. He's been pushed into a dead-end job even at the PAB these days."
Hwang Gyeongjang's matter-of-fact reply left Kim Sunggyeong looking puzzled.
"A dead-end job?"
"Yep. Pretty much treated like a charity case."
"Why, though? A hero like that—they'd be fighting tooth and nail to recruit him anywhere."
Kim Sunggyeong's question was perfectly reasonable.
Forget past glories—for starters, the way he'd smashed Seo Yongchan's summon in one go was on another level entirely.
Whether it was a guild or a government agency.
Someone with that kind of skill was priceless anywhere.
Hwang Gyeongjang shot back flatly.
"You've done group projects before, right?"
"Of course."
"What if you had a group member who nitpicked everything—'this sucks, that sucks'—but never actually did any work?"
"I'd be pissed."
"What if that guy was broke, had a bad temper, was older than the professors, had a good rep, and you couldn't just kick him out?"
"I'd be really pissed."
"Exactly the same thing."
"Huh?"
Kim Sunggyeong stared blankly, not getting it.
Hwang Gyeongjang explained quietly.
"That guy's a Sword Master, not a Player. He can't even enter dungeons."
"...Ah!"
"Get it now? Why everyone's wary of him?"
Hwang Gyeongjang clicked his tongue.
High-level Players get treated well not just because of their strength.
It's the massive economic, technological, and social benefits from the treasures they bring back from dungeons.
"What's the point of being stronger than high-level Players if there's no upside to keeping you around?"
Rimon was the perfect example of a hot potato in that regard.
Couldn't enter dungeons, so no benefits—but an anachronistic swordsman whose only skill was beating people up.
Yet as a hero from the previous era, it was hard to just brush him off.
Hard to find someone more troublesome.
"Back in the day, we needed his strength, so we put up with it. But now we've got even greater Lords. Who'd want to take in some old-timer who does nothing but nag?"
"...Yeah, I guess."
"Now that you get it, move your ass. We've got a ton to clean up here."
"Yes, sir."
Kim Sunggyeong sighed as he eyed the road Rimon had utterly wrecked by kicking the bull into it.
And he thought to himself.
Whoever had Rimon as a subordinate must have it rough.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
BAM!
"What the hell did you do!?"
Crisp ironed suit, luxury watch, slicked-back hair, and a solid paunch.
A middle-aged man oozing experience and gravitas at first glance.
Kang Jeongsu slammed his desk, bellowing at Yuna Kyung, who blinked her big eyes innocently.
"You mean taking the secretary's office tea leaves and cakes without permission, Director?"
"Not that! Wait—no, the accounting department's been griping about my snack budget spiking lately. Was that you?!"
"Well... can't you chalk it up to some petty corruption for survival's sake?"
"You call that an excuse?!"
"If I don't eat sweets, my condition tanks. On that note, maybe allot our team some snack funds?"
"Gah!"
For a moment, veins bulged on his forehead.
Kang Jeongsu pressed his temples with his fingers, forcibly calming himself.
There was something more pressing to grill her on first.
"Forget the snacks. Explain yesterday's incident."
"Incident?"
"This one, this!"
Yuna Kyung looked genuinely confused.
Unable to stand it, Kang Jeongsu jabbed at the report on his desk.
"Oh, the bull thing yesterday?"
"Yes! Deploying without permission and causing this massive mess! How do you plan to clean it up?!"
Kang Jeongsu was fuming.
Any other agent would have shrunk at the yelling alone.
A boss's mere cough demanded vigilance—that was office law.
Civil servants embodied that law's extremes.
But thanks to her eccentric boss, Yuna Kyung's common sense was numb. She just looked puzzled.
"Uh, Director. Sorry, I don't quite get what you mean."
"What?"
"PAB's default is preemptive action on high-risk cases. Why would we need permission?"
"..."
It was a fair point.
PAB existed to regulate rogue Players.
Emergencies demanded quick response—no time for approvals every time.
"Plus, all we did was prevent casualties. Why call it a massive incident?"
"You don't know?!"
"Nope."
"Gah!"
Kang Jeongsu turned red, then purple.
Normally, apologies would flow by now.
But Yuna Kyung looked truly baffled, leaving him speechless.
"You! How the hell did you train your subordinate to end up like this?!"
In the end, he switched targets.
Better to chew out the boss than deal with this brick wall.
He knew raking the superior would naturally extend to the subordinate—a habitual move.
"Me?"
But the moment she spoke—wait, no, the boss spoke.
Kang Jeongsu realized his slip and clamped his mouth shut.
In his excitement, he'd forgotten why he hadn't chewed him out sooner.
"You just say that to me?"
The office felt like his bedroom.
A white-haired young man lounged on the sofa, yawning.
Rimon asked softly, and Kang Jeongsu swallowed hard.
Gathering every ounce of courage, he said sternly.
"'You'? That's no way to address your superior..."
"Jeongsu."
"Uh, y'know, I've got an urgent meeting. Gotta run."
"Kang Jeongsu."
"...Yes, sir."
Kang Jeongsu shoved his courage back down.
The moment he saw those piercing golden eyes.
Instinct told him: change tone now, or forget dignity forever.
To the now-silent Kang Jeongsu, Rimon tossed out casually.
"How old are you now?"
"...Forty-six."
"Really? You've grown so much. Seemed like yesterday you were pissing yourself, scared of me."
"Pfft!"
"Ahem! Sir, that old story..."
Kang Jeongsu truly regretted it, seeing Yuna Kyung stifle laughter behind her hand.
Big incident or not.
Should've just let it slide.
What glory was worth summoning this eternally young old-timer and losing face?
"Anyway. Remember how your grandpa introduced me when we first met?"
"...My lifesaver—never forget his grace."
"Right. I saved that guy's life three times on that battlefield. If he died, you wouldn't exist."
"Th-that's true, but public and private must be separated..."
"And? Calling me 'you'? Did your grandpa teach you that? Should I call Kang Deokjin and check?"
"Sorry! My mistake!"
Kang Jeongsu deflated instantly.
So what if he terrified birds at PAB?
This guy made even his war-hero grandpa tremble.
Especially if he spilled to Kang Deokjin—his own father?
At his age, broken legs loomed.
"Tsk tsk. This generation."
Rimon clicked his tongue once.
Then propped his desk with his feet.
Leaned his chin on one hand, and asked flatly.
"So, what's the problem?"
"Huh?"
"You're pitching a fit since morning—something must've happened."
"...Yes."
"So what is it? I got no clue."
"Me neither."
Kang Jeongsu boiled inside at Rimon's shamelessness and Yuna Kyung's quick agreement.
But they weren't bluffing.
They truly didn't know.
'No buildings trashed this time, right?'
'Not like last time, beating a suspect half to death before dragging him in.'
Yeah.
Rimon routinely half-destroyed buildings.
And roughed up suspects post-capture.
By comparison, this was mild—they had no idea the issue.
If Kang Jeongsu knew their thoughts, he'd choke back tears.
Luckily or not, he didn't guess and grudgingly explained.
"Didn't you smash Seo Yongchan's summon yesterday, sir?"
"Who's that?"
"Y'know, the drunk riding that bull Team Leader kicked—flew off with it."
"Oh, that asshole?"
Rimon nodded.
The Bronze Bull's presence had overshadowed; now he recalled the screamer under it.
"So what about that asshole?"
"Seo Yongchan's demanding compensation from PAB for yesterday."
"What?"
Rimon looked baffled.
"The hell? What'd I break?"
"Well..."
Kang Jeongsu trailed off.
How to explain without getting throttled.
His dilemma ended quickly.
Before he spoke, the answer burst in.
"Wait, you can't go in now!"
"Shut it! That bastard's in there, right?! Covering for him 'cause we're both civil servants?!"
"N-no, it's..."
"Move, punk!"
BANG!
The office door flew open amid the commotion outside.
A bandage-wrapped young man shoved past the secretary and strode in.
Seo Yongchan scanned sharply, ignoring flustered Kang Jeongsu and blinking Yuna Kyung, locking on bored Rimon—eyes flashing.
"You the one who sliced my Colchis Bull?"
Already sure it was Rimon.
Seo Yongchan didn't wait—plopped on the opposite sofa, crossed legs, and continued curtly.
"Let's hear it. How're you compensating for my bull?"
"Seo Yongchan, what the hell?!"
"Why? Sitting on my tax-paid sofa—problem?"
"That's not the issue!"
Kang Jeongsu's face hardened.
He wilted before Rimon, but that was him.
PAB Director—Yama of Players.
This green kid barging into his office, acting cocky? Infuriating.
"Why? Jealous? Then compensate first."
Seo Yongchan didn't flinch—instead, taunted back.
"That...!"
"Destroying someone's summon willy-nilly, then getting mad? You conscienceless bastards!"
"Urk!"
As Kang Jeongsu swallowed rage at the debt-collector tirade.
Rimon spoke hesitantly.
"Hey, I'm not following..."
Normally, a dropkick.
Rimon wouldn't tolerate cheekiness.
Yet he watched blankly—one reason.
Too absurd.
"You seriously here for compensation on that bull I wrecked yesterday?"
"What 'seriously'? You weren't gonna pay up?"
"Didn't expect the compensation demand."
"Ha, unbelievable guy."
Seo Yongchan shook his head, incredulous himself.
Glared at Rimon and demanded.
"You know how much that summon cost?"
"How much?"
"Over 80 billion—80 billion! Wreck it, you pay up. Don't play dumb!"
"80 billion... Yeah, pricey."
Rimon nodded.
Even dungeon-rich Players—that's no small sum.
Lifetime earnings for most.
So Seo Yongchan's rage was somewhat understandable.
Problem: still ridiculous.
"But why us?"
"Huh?"
"Special Management Act says unauthorized skill use means the user foots the bill. Right?"
To confirm, Rimon glanced aside.
"Exactly, Team Leader."
Yuna Kyung instant-agreed.
No brainer.
Unexpected: the other one's reaction.
"In principle, yes, but..."
"Huh?"
Rimon frowned.
Kang Jeongsu, penny-pincher on budgets.
Expected to lead agreement—yet evasive, troubled.
"Special Management Act? Hilarious. Think that lets you stiff me?"
Seo Yongchan sneered, as if clinging to scraps.
Tilted chin arrogantly.
"You know who I am?"
"Who?"
"My brother-in-law's Lee Cheongi—Lee Cheongi! One call, and that Act bends however."
Then Rimon got it.
Why Kang Jeongsu stewed silently.
And what fueled this punk's gall.
Lee Cheongi: one of ten names even toddlers knew.
"Your brother-in-law's the Infinite Monarch Lee Cheongi?"