WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Newbie Civil Servant Hunts Villains Before Going Home ◈
Chapter 30: It Won't Work That Way (2)
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* * *
* * *
“...No, what on earth is going on?”
The Team 5 leader confronted Dojin.
Dojin had been keeping him from leaving for some time now.
That old man was nothing but brute strength.
“Wait. My day of death is closer than yours. What’s got you in such a hurry?”
“I’m busy.”
“So am I.”
Dojin’s grip on the Team 5 leader’s shoulder was strong.
When the door opened, Dojin and the Team 5 leader looked over at the same time.
“...Team Leader Haeryeon!”
The Team 5 leader looked at her as though she were his savior.
“Shall we get started, Team Leader Kim Namhun?”
Without preamble, Haeryeon threw open one side of her coat.
It was filled with countless vials no larger than a little fingernail.
She took one out and drank it.
Clack.
No sooner had the bottle hit the floor than Haeryeon shot forward and grabbed Namhun by the collar.
Namhun saw the smile on Haeryeon’s face.
A chill ran through him.
In an instant, he drew on his strength.
Namhun’s body became solid rock, but Haeryeon’s fist reached him first.
Baaam!
Namhun flew into the wall and slid down it.
His body trembled.
What kind of insane physical strength was that?
“Take it easy, Haeryeon. You’ll break the building.”
Dojin watched with his arms folded.
“If it breaks, I’ll pay to repair it myself, so don’t worry.”
“Must be nice to have money. Still, Haeryeon, how many pages will that incident report be?”
“One page.”
Haeryeon answered firmly, then drank another vial from inside her coat.
“Get ready to die.”
She was going to make him feel firsthand just how strong an alchemist on performance enhancers could be.
Haeryeon smiled viciously.
* * *
‘...It’s noisy in there?’
Nayun pricked up her ears.
Even with the soundproofing, she could hear something breaking inside.
‘No idea how badly she’s beating him, but keep it up, Team Leader! Hit him more! Knock every last tooth out!’
Nayun happily listened to the sounds before hurriedly knocking on the door.
Hyeonyul was coming.
She was flustered because Hyeonyul had arrived sooner than expected.
Thinking Haeryeon must have heard enough already, Nayun ran to Hyeonyul first.
“Hyeonyul! Over here!”
Hyeonyul ran over when Nayun waved and called out.
“You could’ve walked over slowly.”
“I’ll do that next time.”
Hyeonyul answered while looking at the door.
The sounds of fighting came from inside.
There was a high chance that Haeryeon was beating up the Team 5 leader one-sidedly.
Hyeonyul had also seen how Haeryeon fought during his first mission.
True to her profession as an alchemist, she boosted herself with potions, temporarily weakened her opponent, then beat them half to death.
The way she hit them, then hit the places she had already struck again, had left quite an impression.
Hyeonyul had spent a good deal of time wondering what would happen if he fought Haeryeon.
‘So this is enough.’
“The one who ordered the assassination... was Night Rat.”
Hyeonyul had heard that from the assassin just moments ago.
Once they caught Namhun, Black Eagle would hear what Hyeonyul had learned as well.
That Night Rat was responsible.
It was better for them to find out naturally than for Hyeonyul to say it.
What mattered was how far Kim Namhun’s connections extended.
‘I’ll need to hear that from him myself.’
Just in case, Hyeonyul had also checked inside Black Eagle.
As expected, bomb-like objects had been attached throughout the building. They were shaped like two overturned rice bowls, just as Nayun had described earlier.
They were a new kind of weapon.
For now, Hyeonyul had swallowed all of them with darkness.
Hyeonyul was still considering how to dispose of them.
“Do we need to wait?”
Hyeonyul spoke because Nayun kept standing there.
“No. It’s not that.”
Despite her words, Nayun hesitated.
At her vague answer, Hyeonyul stood blankly for a moment before walking over to the wall.
He took out the injection he had not been able to take earlier and injected it into his abdomen.
The drug took effect quickly, and his heavy head felt lighter.
“Does that hurt?”
When Nayun asked carefully, Hyeonyul shook his head.
“It doesn’t hurt. Not taking it is worse.”
If he did not take the medicine, Hyeonyul felt as though his body were falling apart.
It was not merely a feeling. His body probably would fall apart.
Creaaak.
Then the door opened.
Haeryeon poked her head out.
“You’re here, Hyeonyul?”
Haeryeon smiled as if nothing had happened.
She even seemed relieved.
“Yes. May I go take a look?”
“Of course. Team Leader Dojin has him tied up well now, so it’s fine.”
After speaking, Haeryeon could not help asking as she looked at Hyeonyul, who had turned away.
“What were you doing?”
“I was taking an injection.”
“...Ah.”
“Then I’ll go in.”
Hyeonyul spoke and hurried inside.
“Nayun. Nayun?”
Haeryeon called to Nayun, who stood still.
She looked shocked.
“Was that your first time seeing it?”
“...Yes.”
“I saw Hyeonyul getting an IV, but not that. Is his condition... very bad?”
“I hear about Hyeonyul’s condition every day, so don’t worry.”
Haeryeon walked over and patted Nayun’s shoulder.
You never got used to a colleague’s death, no matter when it came.
Nayun, in particular, had seen more than most with those eyes.
“Team Leader.”
“Yes?”
“...Can I put a bullet in that bastard’s head?”
“Not the head, but maybe... the legs would be okay?”
“Nice.”
Nayun casually pulled out her gun and went inside.
* * *
“You’re here?”
Dojin greeted Hyeonyul and Nayun.
“Just a moment.”
Nayun walked over to Namhun.
She strode up and stopped in front of him.
His face alone had been beaten so badly that it was impossible to tell what he had originally looked like.
‘As expected of Team Leader.’
Click.
Nayun aimed her gun.
“...?”
Dojin was startled by her actions, while Hyeonyul quietly watched.
Bang!
Without hesitation, Nayun shot Namhun in the leg.
‘It really is different from ordinary bullets.’
Hyeonyul watched the bullet burst like light.
“Arrrgh!”
Namhun screamed.
‘Does sound really not leak out?’
Hyeonyul looked around.
A broken desk, shattered computers, and a wall nearly caved in caught his eye.
The fact that almost no noise had escaped despite all this showed just how good the soundproofing was.
As Hyeonyul’s eyes moved around, they met Dojin’s gaze.
“Hello.”
Hyeonyul greeted him belatedly.
Dojin let out an involuntary laugh at his calm expression.
Greeting him at a time like this?
“You probably wanted to catch him yourself, but we couldn’t leave it all to a rookie like you, so we did it.”
“That’s fine. I wasn’t planning to catch him myself.”
Looking at the marks of attacks that had targeted only Namhun’s face so viciously, Hyeonyul did not think it was bad.
“...You crazy bastards!”
Namhun shouted through gritted teeth.
This was all because of that one.
“This filthy bastard...”
Before he could finish, Haeryeon grabbed Namhun by the head.
“Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you can say anything you want.”
The barrel of a gun was aimed at Namhun’s forehead.
“Should I blow his head open, Team Leader? I haven’t shot someone from this close very often, so I’m curious.”
Nayun asked in an icy voice.
Calling someone else filthy.
“That’s a rather strange thing to say.”
Hyeonyul looked down at Namhun.
It was ridiculous that Namhun, with one eye swollen shut and only one eye left to see with, was still speaking through a mouth with missing teeth.
“I brought Shin Daeho’s head, while you’re the internal informant. Don’t you know which of us is filthier?”
“...”
Hyeonyul had no intention of indulging that incredulous gaze.
Why pay attention to a puppet whose strings had been cut?
“Don’t get worked up.”
Dojin stopped Hyeonyul.
“I’m not worked up. I just found it ridiculous.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I’ll be going home now.”
Hyeonyul had seen Namhun’s face, so that was enough.
The rest would be handled well.
Hyeonyul planned to finish the knitting he had not been able to do yesterday.
‘...Ah.’
At the sudden thought, Hyeonyul’s eyes curved slightly.
Normally, Hyeonyul had a vaguely blunt, guileless air about him, but not now.
As his entire atmosphere changed, Namhun, facing Hyeonyul, became frightened before anything had happened.
“You will tell us everything you know properly.”
There were still two more.
Villain A, who had operated the secret base, and Villain B, who had planted the internal informant.
Perhaps because his work felt as though it was piling up, Hyeonyul was irritated.
“Team Leader.”
“...Hm?”
Haeryeon reacted to Hyeonyul’s faint killing intent.
Was there something Hyeonyul did not like?
What was it?
‘Maybe... I didn’t beat him enough?’
“May I take leave tomorrow?”
Hyeonyul looked at Haeryeon with utter seriousness.
Only then did a smile touch Haeryeon’s face.
It seemed Hyeonyul had finally reached the limit of what he could endure.
“Of course you can. I was going to recommend it, if anything. I’ll put in a request for paid leave, so don’t worry.”
Hyeonyul had accomplished so much. Why would she keep him from using it?
According to the employment contract.
As long as she did not go against it, Hyeonyul would have no reason to be disappointed in her.
“Thank you.”
Only then did Hyeonyul’s expression relax.
He could rest and still get paid.
This place really was the best.
Feeling lighter, Hyeonyul could not stop the corners of his mouth from rising naturally.
“Hey.”
Dojin called to Hyeonyul.
“Yes, sir?”
“What are you doing after this?”
“I’m going home.”
“What are you doing at home?”
“I’m thinking of finishing my knitting.”
At those words, Dojin made a drinking gesture.
Getting close to someone always came down to drinks, did it not?
“I know a good place, kid.”
Gulp.
Dojin even made the sound perfectly, and Hyeonyul’s expression stiffened.
If it was an entertainment district, it was utterly dreadful.
Hyeonyul had spent so much time playing chauffeur.
“Thank you for the offer, but I don’t like alcohol that much. Goodbye.”
Hyeonyul gave a slight bow, then greeted Haeryeon and Nayun as well.
Without looking back, he left.
As Dojin stared blankly after him, Haeryeon burst into laughter.
“You got turned down?”
“...Shut up.”
Dojin responded as though it did not bother him, but it was difficult to hide his stiff expression.
‘It’s a really good place, though.’
The pancakes there were incredible.
As Dojin smacked his lips in disappointment, he looked at Namhun.
Even knowing Namhun was the internal informant who had driven Hyeonyul into this situation, Hyeonyul had merely spared him a glance, spoken a few words, and left it at that.
How magnanimous.
He had entrusted the rest to them.
It even felt strangely forceful.
‘...What a waste. Such a waste.’
Dojin should have recruited Hyeonyul himself.
Thinking about how to get close to him gave him a headache.
The difficulty was considerable.
‘Should I learn knitting too...?’
Dojin looked down at his rough hands, and another wrinkle formed on his already wrinkled face.
“...Ah, I’m sorry if rejecting you upset you. I really don’t like alcohol. Goodbye.”
Hyeonyul’s voice suddenly came from the doorway, and his face appeared through the gap.
According to 101 Ways to a Smooth Office Life, invitations to company dinners should be declined gently.
Hyeonyul wondered whether he had been too brusque earlier.
He bowed again and left.
“Pfft!”
Dojin laughed loudly.
He also liked that Hyeonyul had such an unexpectedly blank side to him.
Still laughing, he walked over to Namhun and kicked him.
Boom!
The adult man flew helplessly and slammed into the wall.
It was pure strength.
“...Team Leader Dojin?”
Haeryeon was surprised.
She had thought he would stay still this time.
“What? I can chip in for the repairs too. I have money.”
That bastard Namhun suddenly looked even more unpleasant.
* * *
After arriving home, Hyeonyul considered again and again what to do about the secret base.
He could pretend not to know about it, but Hyeonyul put down his knitting and headed for the secret base.
It seemed Black Eagle had already moved all the materials out, and if it remained any longer, the place might be used for Villains again.
The laboratory had to be destroyed, and would that not also sour the mood of Villain A, who owned the place?
‘...That was why I came here, but.’
Hyeonyul took in the situation around him.
The Black Eagle agent guarding the secret base was dead.
Hyeonyul examined the body.
There was a very small slash wound on the neck.
It looked clean, but was somewhat ragged.
‘Not a sword. Thread...?’
Hyeonyul pulled his helmet over his head.
This was no ordinary matter.
‘What a pain.’
What had gotten tangled up now?
Hyeonyul headed for the electrical room he had seen before.
If everyone was dead anyway, this was faster.
When Hyeonyul stomped his foot, something stretched from the shadows like hands and pulled out every wire.
Darkness descended over the place when the electricity vanished.
Hyeonyul lay down in that darkness as though setting himself free.
Feeling as though he were scattering and splitting apart, he grasped darkness itself in his hand.
The darkness was Hyeonyul, and Hyeonyul was the darkness.
It even felt as though he were looking down from above.
It was almost like clairvoyance.
While examining every part of the underground facility, Hyeonyul discovered an unfamiliar power.
Without hesitation, Hyeonyul moved toward it.
* * *
Up close, the power felt even more alien.
Something oval-shaped was spinning around and around.
‘...A portal?’
It resembled the sort of thing that often appeared in movies.
Before the thought could linger, Hyeonyul spotted a man entering it.
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