Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant-Chapter 435
A few hours earlier.
“Pardon? Fragging? As in killing your own comrades?”
“Yeah, it looks like that.”
After giving Kim Geon the operation orders, Su-ho first called in Hiro.
Because the Gate they’d found this time allowed a maximum of four entrants, which meant—aside from himself going in undercover—he could add one more person.
‘Then obviously it has to be Hiro.’
Someone who knew everything about him, who would carry out the mission faithfully without variables.
Also someone whose position didn’t overlap with ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ anyone else’s and who, if he drew aggro, could be made to deflect that aggro squarely onto Su-ho.
There was only Hiro.
“So what do you want me to do?”
“Just fight hard to clear the Gate. If I get ambushed, do not suspect those two no matter what—follow along with whatever they say.”
“Will you really be okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I? You think I’ll die to those Yankee, big-nosed punks just because I’m in disguise?”
“Ah, I misspoke.”
“Right?”
“Yes. But why disguise yourself as Vietnamese?”
“Just a feeling they’d look down on it. The U.S. fought the Vietnam War back in the day, and most Southeast Asian countries near Vietnam were European colonies. Vietnam was France’s colony, sure, but that doesn’t mean they like Europeans.”
“Hm? Is that so?”
“I don’t really know either—just roll with it. And with their characteristic chosen-people mindset, they hate everyone who isn’t white. They’re subtly biased against Black people, and Asians—who get discriminated against even more—how do you think that goes?”
“Wow, I didn’t know that. Those two are worse than I thought.”
“Yeah, they’re that kind.”
“But Master, how do you know all that so well?”
“Ah, that’s because......”
He got heated for a moment and started spouting old stories.
But so what.
“Is there anything in this world I don’t know?”
“No, there isn’t.”
“Good. That’s enough. Anyway, let’s do this right. If it turns out those two really have been fragging, I plan to pay them back properly.”
“Understood.”
And back to the present.
Su-ho extended his hand to shake with Hex, but Hex glanced at Su-ho’s hand and then turned his eyes away.
Huh, look at this guy.
Blatant disrespect, is it?
Exactly the reaction he wanted.
Su-ho grinned wide and said,
“Do Britons not know how to shake hands, by any chance?”
“What?”
“They must, surely. The British friend I know takes a proper grip. So why are you ignoring my handshake? Is it because you’re looking down on me?”
When Su-ho confronted him so openly, Hex wore a flustered look for an instant and then, unwillingly, took Su-ho’s hand.
“That’s not it. I just didn’t see your hand.”
“How odd. I know you as an archer, and yet your eyes are this bad? Don’t tell me that’s why Team 1’s clear rate is under 30%?”
“What?”
“Forget it, then.”
Smiling, Su-ho took his seat.
Hex went stiff.
Across from them sat Alex. When Su-ho flashed him a dazzling smile, Alex shifted his gaze as if offended.
‘Good grief. That kind of man is the “Shield of America”?’
This life and the last—still incomprehensible.
How did a guy who’s just big and loud end up America’s archetypal macho?
Just then, Kim Geon entered the conference room.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Geon, acting on behalf of the General Director from Save the World’s core command.”
No sooner had Kim finished introducing himself than Alex raised his voice.
“Is the General Director not coming this time either?”
“As I’ve said before, the General Director is fighting alone on the big Gate front line, so unless it’s quite an exceptional matter, he won’t be attending meetings like this.”
“Come on—Team 1 does the most dangerous missions among the Sabers. Wouldn’t it be nice if he at least showed his face for encouragement?”
At that moment,
“Is that a complaint?”
“What?”
Answering in Kim’s stead was none other than Nguyen... no, Su-ho disguised as Nguyen.
At Alex’s grumbling, Su-ho smiled with those rice-noodle-white teeth of his.
“What were you even listening to when the General Director spoke? If that’s a problem, then quit Save the World right now. He told you not to expect perks or special treatment. We came here to volunteer of our own will, not to be coddled, didn’t we?”
“What did you say?”
“Why? Did I say anything wrong?”
“Everyone, please calm down.”
As their voices started to climb, Kim stepped in to mediate.
“Hunter Nguyen is correct. As the General Director said, we can’t provide perks or special treatment like that. So if you have a problem with it, quietly resign right now. We won’t breathe a word to the press about your reason for leaving.”
“......Tch, fine. I just said it because I was put out.”
“What a lot to be ‘put out’ about. And that’s supposed to be America’s Shield.”
“What, punk? You done talking?!”
“Enough, both of you!”
“F—king hell, really gets on my nerves.”
Alex scowled to the extreme.
As expected of Alex the wannabe tough guy.
He’s fun to needle.
‘If I’d known, I’d have needled him more in my previous life.’
Well, whatever.
What I didn’t get to scratch then, I’ll keep scratching this life.
Just then.
Skrrrk—
A scratching sound from somewhere.
It was a very faint noise—barely enough for Su-ho to notice.
The source, however, was none other than Hiro.
Hiro was barely sheathing the murderous aura that rippled like he might draw his sword at any second.
‘You dare show that kind of attitude to my Master?’
Seeing Hiro like a volcano about to blow, Su-ho closed his eyes and sighed inwardly.
‘Unbelievable, seriously.’
I definitely told him not to show anything.
Provoking Hex and Alex was deliberate.
From now on they needed to keep noticing him—so that once inside the Gate, they would target him for certain.
Su-ho used sound transmission.
- Hiro, restrain yourself. If you ruin the operation because of you, I won’t let it slide.
“......!”
At Su-ho’s warning, Hiro’s eyes widened at once and his back straightened.
Why is he so simple?
That’s really a yakuza boss?
Around the time Su-ho shook his head, Kim’s Gate briefing began. Since it was all familiar material, they nodded perfunctorily and wound the meeting down.
Just before adjourning, Kim made a request.
“Hunter Alex, Hunter Hex. I know it’s not easy, but please work for everyone’s safe return this time. You two always make it back alive—there’s no one else we can rely on but you.”
“......We’ll do what we can.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Soon the four headed to the 2-star Gate whose field had been cleared.
‘So this is that 2-star Gate.’
It had been found somewhere other than the Great Victoria Desert, but it had been left unattended quite a long time, so it had been promoted to a 2-star Gate.
Naturally, the difficulty was considerable.
‘Well, whatever.’
The four, party formed, touched the Gate portal simultaneously.
[ Retrieving Gate information. ]
[ Rabbit Hell ]
Entry Condition: Level 200 or higher.
Variable Condition: Set the maximum number of entrants to 5, and lower overall difficulty by 20% each time the number of entrants decreases by 1.
[ Will you enter the Gate? ]
The Gate’s name was Rabbit Hell.
Seeing the Gate info, Su-ho smirked.
‘What a blunt name. This kind is a Gate you clear by exterminating the monsters.’
He hadn’t been worried to begin with, but the name made him even less so.
Thanks to that, he could focus wholly on those two. And then—
[ Entering the Gate. ]
They all entered; everyone’s vision blinked and the surroundings began to change.
*
As their vision returned, the four found themselves facing a lush jungle.
“Wow.”
Seeing the jungle, Alex let out a whistle with that uniquely boisterous American flair.
Then, with his characteristic arrogant expression, he asked Hiro and Su-ho,
“Have you guys done these jungle-type Gates before? Ah, if you’re Vietnamese, I guess jungles are familiar?”
“They are.”
“So, Viet Cong, huh. Then we don’t have to worry about you adapting to the jungle. Yasuda Hiro, you?”
“I’ll be fine. No need to worry.”
“Yeah?”
Alex and Hex exchanged glances, nodded, and then Hex spoke.
“For now, everyone wait here. I’ll scout the surroundings first.”
“Please.”
“Sure.”
“Whatever.”
Whatever.
At that answer, Hex shot Su-ho a brief glare.
‘Yes, keep staring at me like that.’
He needed to keep drawing aggro like this so they wouldn’t target Hiro.
But instead of leaving, Hex remained standing and just kept looking at Su-ho.
“Why?”
“Aren’t you giving buffs?”
“Huh?”
Right.
His current position was Vietnamese healer.
And the first step of a standard Gate raid was receiving buffs from the healer.
‘I forgot for a moment. But...’
What buff should he give?
Su-ho was momentarily at a loss.
Understandably so—Su-ho wasn’t a normal healer; he was a Crusader.
Unlike the now-dead Isabella, he wasn’t in a class specialized in healing and buffs.
Of course, it wasn’t as if he had no buffs at all.
He had a basic stat-boosting buff as well—called “Blessing.”
Which is why he hesitated.
‘I’m the only one in this world with Blessing. And its performance is outstanding, so Hex might get suspicious.......’
But what use was a long hesitation?
This was all Su-ho could do now.
Su-ho used Blessing on Hex.
[ Blessing is activated. ]
Light flashed, and Blessing was bestowed upon Hex.
Even after the buff, Hex simply stared at Su-ho with narrowed eyes.
Why was he staring?
Su-ho asked,
“Why?”
“That’s it?”
“What?”
“If you went the cleric course, isn’t a full buff set standard?”
“Ah, the combo set... I don’t have that.”
“What?”
“I dug one well instead.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Why don’t you check your status window first?”
“Status window?”
At Su-ho’s words, Hex finally checked his status window.
Then he made a face he’d never made before and gasped.
“W-what is this?”
“It’s my specialty. So don’t expect a combo set—just be satisfied with that.”
“......”
If you follow an ordinary cleric course like Isabella, then even from a 2-star Player’s perspective, the maximum stat increase efficiency caps at 50%.
But Su-ho boosted by 100%, so of course he’d be shocked.
After a moment’s thought at Su-ho’s jab, Hex left his spot without even a word of thanks.
‘What an ill-mannered bastard.’
Well, whatever.
At least he didn’t get suspicious.
With Hex gone, all that remained was to wait patiently until Hex finished scouting and returned.
Thinking that, he was about to move on to the next step when—
“Hey.”
Huh?
Hex, who he thought had left, came back.
With a face that looked vaguely angry, he spoke.
“You said your name was Nguyen?”
“And?”
“Do you belong to a guild right now?”
“No.”
“Then how about joining our guild?”
“......What?”
“I’m serious.”
What was this guy saying right now?
Caught off guard, Su-ho couldn’t answer for a moment.
