WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Newbie Civil Servant Hunts Villains Before Going Home ◈
Chapter 7: Scouted
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* * *
* * *
“...”
Haeryeon was briefly at a loss for words after Sinu’s report.
They had rescued the hostages before they could become experimental subjects.
And it had not ended there. They had even brought in the person responsible.
Haeryeon ran a hand through her hair.
‘...Hyeonyul did this?’
She tried to press her parted lips shut.
No Black Eagle operative had ever completed their first assignment so perfectly while still in their probationary period.
“He says we need to find out the location of the secondary site from the villain Hyeonyul brought in.”
“Why? We rescued the hostages.”
“He says the sites get closer to the laboratory from the secondary site onward.”
As Sinu spoke, he recalled Hyeonyul’s words.
―They cannot relocate the lab immediately. Usually, they will destroy it or move it. If there is a gas explosion or suspicious activity suggesting a move, keep an eye on it.
“Is that really true?”
“Yes. Hyeonyul told me to watch for gas explosions or suspicious activity suggesting a move, starting today or tomorrow.”
“That’s useful information. Anything else to report?”
Haeryeon turned to Sinu.
He hesitated for quite a while, whatever he was about to say.
“Hyeonyul.”
“What about Hyeonyul?”
“Is he physically fit to do this work?”
Sinu recalled the medicine and syringe Hyeonyul had taken.
Experimental subjects were one reason villains were welcomed by no one.
How could they treat people like animals?
Just remembering what those bastards had done was sickening and horrifying.
“Hyeonyul met the requirements for special recruitment.”
Ironically, someone had suggested holding a revote today.
She had not planned to accept it, but she thought she ought to settle the matter for good.
This mission alone was enough.
“Just look at today. Hyeonyul proved his strength. Was there any problem during the mission?”
“No. If anything, he was so quick that it was difficult to believe he was a new recruit.”
“Hyeonyul worked at a company run by villains. In a way... he’s a new recruit with experience. The kind of talent companies love, perhaps.”
Sinu’s gaze deepened at Haeryeon’s answer.
Hyeonyul had worked for the company that may have created him as a experimental subject.
“Was he gaslit?”
“It was probably for the hospital bills, at first. And this is only my guess, but there may have been a personal grudge, too.”
“So that’s why his methods were different.”
“As you know, Sinu, Black Eagle’s purpose is not to rehabilitate villains. We are not heroes.”
Someone might call Black Eagle heroes, but it had been created to erase villains from this land. It could never be heroic.
“Do I look like someone who would condemn Hyeonyul?”
“Someone will.”
“The state left the handling of villains to individuals from the start. It lets people get away with killing them, so condemning them is ridiculous. Maybe people would come to their senses if they lost family to villains.”
“Even so, there are lines we cannot cross. No matter who we are, we cannot torture villains to death or use them as experimental subjects. Those are things no human should do. The consequences would be even worse.”
The price of the rules that tightened around them was steep, matching the many benefits they received.
Sinu’s eyes softened before he nodded.
It was far greater than one might imagine, enough to demand not only legal consequences but material compensation.
Some Black Eagles had even fled to avoid it.
“Still, Team Leader, I think we should keep monitoring Hyeonyul’s condition. He needs to work with us for a long time. I’ll help keep an eye on him too.”
Sinu sounded quite serious.
The mission was important, but checking on Hyeonyul’s health mattered too.
They ought to make sure Hyeonyul could work longer, if only for the sake of the hospital bills.
That was part of being a teammate.
“Of course. Do you know how excited I am right now?”
The corners of Haeryeon’s mouth would not come down.
She could not have been more relieved that Team Two’s leader, Yang Dojin, had not snatched Hyeonyul away.
“My heart is racing too. I can’t wait to see what surprises he shows us next.”
When Sinu agreed, Haeryeon held out her palm.
Smack!
Sinu met her hand.
They understood each other without saying a word.
New recruits were rare.
Strong new recruits were even rarer.
Haeryeon and Sinu exchanged satisfied smiles, then headed outside.
* * *
Once Sinu went to report to Haeryeon, Hyeonyul immediately used his power to eavesdrop.
He thought he ought to know what was being said.
Nothing particularly unusual was said, but why were they talking about Hyeonyul’s body when they knew nothing?
Especially that word, “long.”
It really bothered him.
―You should work with us for a long time, right?
It reminded Hyeonyul of the villains who had recruited him.
Hyeonyul closed his eyes briefly and let out a long breath.
‘Don’t be so sensitive.’
No matter how he looked at it, there was no workplace better than this one.
Whatever they said, this was the place Hyeonyul had to endure.
When Haeryeon stood, Hyeonyul lowered the hand that had been covering his ear.
As she came outside, Hyeonyul turned his head.
“You worked hard, Hyeonyul.”
Haeryeon smiled with a kindly expression.
Then she clapped her hands together.
You had to be careful around smiling faces, so Hyeonyul gave a small smile in return.
“You’re the first person to do so well on their very first mission.”
“No. I only did what I was supposed to do.”
Wanting to look dependable, Hyeonyul put as much strength into his gaze as possible.
“The people you and Sinu rescued are being examined now. If there are no problems, they’ll be sent back home. And we’ll make sure to learn the location of the secondary site from the villain you brought in.”
“I don’t need to handle that myself?”
Hyeonyul asked with some confusion.
He had brought the villain in.
He should be the one responsible.
“This is work for the managers. There is one thing you need to do, though.”
“What is it?”
“Go home.”
Haeryeon’s lips curved upward.
Hyeonyul’s face filled with the surprise of someone struck by an arrow.
“Go home first, Hyeonyul. No, let’s go together. That would be better.”
“...Excuse me?”
“I’ll show you the way.”
Hyeonyul barely processed the flood of words and lowered his gaze.
2:51 PM.
Even looking again, he could not believe it.
“I’ll come too. It’s time to go home.”
Sinu volunteered.
―On my way in, people were giving me unpleasant looks. Rumors about me have spread, and there may be deliberate omissions of information...
Something Hyeonyul had said earlier left Sinu uneasy.
He intended to make it clear that they belonged to Team Three together.
When Sinu smiled, Hyeonyul slightly averted his eyes.
‘...What is he doing?’
Hyeonyul knew the way.
Could he not simply go back the way he came?
‘Or is this how it is supposed to be?’
Hyeonyul swallowed his rising irritation.
There were many troublesome things, but one word made them all melt away.
Going home.
For now, that was enough.
* * *
Perhaps because Haeryeon, the team leader, accompanied him, nothing happened on the way. It was almost boring.
Hyeonyul had been ready to kill anyone who got in his way.
He sat on the empty bus and looked out the window.
―...You took a taxi on your way here? You made it here surprisingly well. This bus is for us, so make sure to take it when commuting. Otherwise, you can’t get in.
Before getting off, Sinu had explained various things.
―And thanks to the magic on this smartwatch and the clothes we wear... Ah, you returned your clothes already. Anyway, people see a face different from your real one, along with things like “Team Three” and “Team Two.” So you don’t need to worry about your real face being discovered. Teammates can see your original appearance, though.
Learning facts about Black Eagle that he had not known while working for a villain-run company made Hyeonyul feel as though he was spying on secrets.
The bus stopped.
It had really brought him right to his home.
Was this what benefits were?
‘...How strange.’
How would he know? He had never enjoyed benefits before.
Hyeonyul got off the bus.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
After greeting the driver, he looked up.
He lived in a neighborhood commonly called a Moon Village.
He had heard it was called that because it was built on hills, closer to the moon.
With the hospital bills being so high, even covering rent had been difficult.
There had been times when he went hungry for days because he was not paid the wages he was owed.
Things were all right now.
After killing Shin Daeho, he had taken the share owed to him from the accounts.
Hyeonyul removed the smartwatch, slipped it into a pocket, and walked along the familiar route.
‘They say Shin Daeho was such a big deal, but the villains’ side is strangely quiet.’
Black Eagle had been pursuing Shin Daeho.
They said Shin Daeho was a lead that could reveal the identity of the villain who ran a major corporation.
Shin Daeho had used Hyeonyul as both bodyguard and errand runner, so he knew of the businesses and partner companies Shin Daeho operated, as well as the people Shin Daeho met.
‘There are too many, though.’
Bzzz.
As his phone vibrated, Hyeonyul frowned first.
He thought it was another spam message, but it was a text.
[Team Leader Oh Haeryeon: Hi, Hyeonyul. You were surprised to hear from me out of nowhere, right? I wanted to give you some good news.]
[Team Leader Oh Haeryeon: Don’t come in tomorrow. Come in the day after.]
A dancing squirrel emoticon was attached.
‘...?’
For a moment, Hyeonyul felt as though everything had stopped.
[Team Leader Oh Haeryeon: Rest tomorrow, and just organize the information related to Shin Daeho at your own pace. Submit it the day after tomorrow, and it will count as working from home.]
Hyeonyul squeezed his eyes shut.
He truly felt as though he might go mad.
How could that possibly make sense?
‘Rest? I worked today?’
He covered his eyes for a moment.
He was not easily shaken by most things, but this was different.
He was genuinely moved.
‘...She is a good person, right?’
But Hyeonyul barely held onto his reason.
‘No. I’ll be fooled again.’
He had been just as happy when he was first recruited into that company.
He could not repeat the same mistake, and he had repeated it so many times that people would be justified in calling him foolish.
[Thank you for your consideration. I will send it once I have organized everything.]
[Team Leader Oh Haeryeon: Okay, hahaha! Have a good day!]
She sent a squirrel emoticon waving its hand.
Hyeonyul considered how to respond, then stopped.
There was nothing more to say, and conversations like this felt awkward.
‘Should I... work on my social skills?’
It had not been a skill he needed at the company run by villains.
But things were different now.
Lost in various thoughts, Hyeonyul reached near the top of the hill.
He had not even become short of breath once.
He opened the familiar door and stopped as he entered.
Of course.
There was no way that side would stay quiet.
“...Who are you?”
Hyeonyul turned his head behind him.
“Excuse me.”
There was a man there.
“What do you want?”
Hyeonyul asked calmly.
“Our master has taken an interest in you. In particular, they said the sight of you killing Shin Daeho was absolutely magnificent.”
“Ah, are you here to recruit me?”
The corners of Hyeonyul’s lips rose.
He had wondered where he had seen this before. It was a very familiar sight.
He also wondered how the man had found him.
‘But has word about me not spread yet? Or do they know everything and still have the nerve to act like this?’
Hyeonyul was slightly uncertain about that.
“Please contact us using this business card.”
“If I contact you, can your side give me everything I want?”
Hyeonyul did not take the card the man held out.
The number written on it was one registered to a burner phone anyway.
“Of course.”
“After being deceived so many times, I learned one thing.”
The man looked at him as though asking what that meant.
For the man waiting, Hyeonyul put strength into his voice.
“That one should never associate with villains.”
The man gave a small laugh.
It sounded like a sneer.
“I know you drifted from one piece of trash to another, including Shin Daeho. But our master is different.”
Hyeonyul thought about those words for a moment, then laughed.
It was truly absurd.
How could they be any different?
“All right. I suppose I can believe you one last time.”
Taking the business card in hand, he looked at the man.
Hyeonyul’s eyes narrowed upward.
“Go tell your master this. If they lie, that head will no longer be on their shoulders.”
“Thank you.”
The man bowed and backed away.
As he quietly disappeared, Hyeonyul looked at the business card.
Ha.
He almost sighed.
‘How pathetic. They coated it with poison, and call it a test.’
It was ridiculous.
Anyone but Hyeonyul would have died from that poison.
It caused symptoms upon contact with the skin.
Hyeonyul turned toward the man who had just arrived.
“Stop.”
“Yes?”
Hyeonyul walked over and seized the back of his neck without hesitation.
“Since I did not die, you should die instead, right?”
Squeeze.
He tightened his grip.
“...Why, why...”
Crack!
With the sound of something breaking, the man went limp without finishing his words.
Hyeonyul looked ahead.
He tossed aside the corpse and smiled.
“Your lot can tell your master. I received the poison well.”
Footnotes:
A Moon Village, or daldongne, is a Korean term for a poor neighborhood on a hillside.
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