Retire 425

425 Field Trip (1)

What is the most difficult part of conquering a dungeon?

To answer that, I first need to explain what exactly counts as “conquering” a dungeon—where that definition begins.

Well… unless you’re a Hunter, there’s no need to know its history. Actually, if you are a Hunter, you have even less reason to care. What matters to a Hunter is whether they can enter the dungeon, and whether they can clear it. Why bother learning knowledge that’s of no use in an actual raid?

All you need is the conclusion—the conclusion, and nothing more.

At least in the modern day, dungeon conquest encompasses everything from selecting the target dungeon to the distribution of rewards after the raid is complete.

Now, let’s return to the original question.

What, truly, is the hardest part of conquering a dungeon?

Is it gathering raid members? Fighting monsters?

Unfortunately, fighting monsters is among the easiest tasks in the entire process of dungeon conquest.

The truly difficult part—the tedious, messy, and complicated business—is dealing with the aftermath of the dungeon.

The distribution of rewards?

You think the hardest part is deciding how to split the dungeon loot?

Most Hunters have a pretty good idea of what they contributed in a raid. In fact, compensation is already agreed upon before the party is even formed. Even if unexpected resources are discovered, the contract covers their distribution, and if anyone is dissatisfied, they can appeal to the Hunter Association.

That is the intelligence of modern civilization.

But, conversely, it’s precisely because modern people are so clever that new headaches arise.

Yes. The aftermath of a dungeon.

Like the Fairy Dungeon in Okinawa National Park, where Korea, France, and Japan were all entangled.

All three countries claimed to be victims.

Japan, which got caught up in the mess while doing nothing, might feel wronged, but what can you do? In the end, it was Japanese Hunters who botched the investigation. If your own Hunters cause an incident, your country must take responsibility.

Thinking back on the chaotic days of the old Administration brought a pang of nostalgia, but it wasn’t my problem. I brushed off any lingering regret.

I let go of even such complicated matters.

Even now, politicians and Hunters from all three countries are protesting, demanding compensation, arguing, and trying to pay as little as possible—but that’s none of my concern.

Why?

Unless I were the chief secretary of the Administration, I, Woo Heejae, a mere teacher at the Hunter Training High School, have nothing to do with such troublesome affairs!

“Mr. Woo, why did you suddenly stop?”

“I was just reminiscing.”

“The old days?”

“Something like that.”

Kim Chaemin looked at me, puzzled.

But her confusion didn’t last long, because a duckling with brown hair came running out from behind her.

“This is Seoul!”

“Technically, it’s Incheon.”

“Eva, don’t run off like that!”

“Uncle Nicolas, this is my first time in Korea!”

Eva Robinson, brimming with excitement, darted around the airport, with Nicolas de Funès hurrying after her, trying in vain to rein her in.

Kim Chaemin and Han Taekyung watched, as if to say there was no stopping them.

The most bothersome part of dungeon conquest had been dumped on others, and we had returned to Korea.

…Correction.

We had returned, bringing along the guests Eva Robinson and Nicolas de Funès.

---

“We’re going back to Korea?”

Two days after the dungeon raid ended.

I broached the subject carefully with Jean Robinson.

To be honest, it wasn’t careful at all. I knew Jean Robinson wasn’t in a position to stop us.

There was much to learn from working with Jean Robinson. The seamless preparation, the fluid combat inside the dungeon. To hunt monsters like fairies, and to survive as a renowned guild on the fiercely competitive European continent, you needed to be at least this capable.

In the Administration, where Hunters changed frequently, such cohesion would be difficult. Every year, Hunters would be scouted away to other guilds, and just as many new graduates would join.

That was both the strength and weakness of the Administration.

And in Guild Mimi, it was impossible. There weren’t many members to begin with… it had always been Hong Seokyoung’s one-man guild from the start.

“Yes. There’s nothing more for us to do here.”

But that was that, and this was this.

Jean Robinson was an exceptional Hunter. So was Nicolas de Funès. Their experience was the real thing, and they were worthy of respect.

But what would be waiting for me if I stayed here any longer?

Right. Work. More work.

I’d gone to the trouble of dumping all the tedious business on Hong Seokyoung and Lee Miseon; if I stayed, I’d just get dragged into it again. Lee Miseon was in Japan now, wasn’t she? They still needed to figure out how the dungeon investigation had gone so wrong….

Most likely, the investigation would reveal that no one had actually entered the dungeon, or that they’d only scouted the forest’s edge. Whether they’d been acting on someone else’s orders or just telling the truth, it didn’t matter.

I knew how these investigations fizzled out. In Myeong-dong, the incident was so big and the motive so clear that it led to a complete overhaul of Korea’s dungeon management laws, but this wasn’t like that. There were serious monsters inside, but they were all dealt with before a dungeon break occurred. The Japanese government was lucky.

What Lee Miseon needed to uncover wasn’t how much compensation Japan could offer us, but rather, how the French mage, Mallet, had gotten wind of this dungeon in the first place.

That wasn’t something I could do anything about right now. No, I wasn’t running away from trouble. I was just… going home.

All that was left was to ask Robinson if he’d ever been to Mont Saint-Michel.

“By the way….”

“If you’re planning to go to Korea—”

I stopped and looked at Jean Robinson.

…Was he going to try to stop us from leaving?

“I’d like you to take my daughter with you.”

“…Excuse me?”

But what came out of Jean Robinson’s mouth was completely unexpected.

No, actually, I could have predicted it. I could have, but I hadn’t, and that was the problem.

“Nicolas wanted to go to Korea as well. If it weren’t for this incident, we would have gone together right away.”

Jean Robinson continued, his expression impassive.

“Once things are settled here, I’ll head to Korea myself. It’s convenient that it’s a neighboring country, so travel doesn’t take long.”

“Well….”

As I listened, I finally recalled the original terms we had discussed.

I would give Eva Robinson a lecture on dungeon conquest, and we would form a partnership with Robinson’s guild or any educational institution he might establish in the future.

For a few days of extra effort, it wasn’t a bad deal—in fact, it was quite a good one, so I’d agreed despite the tight schedule.

“Things turned out strangely, but… I haven’t properly thanked you for saving Eva. If not for you, she wouldn’t have made it out safely.”

Robinson apologized for thanking me so late. I hadn’t expected any thanks, but it was better than pretending nothing had happened.

I shook his hand awkwardly.

“I’ll discuss compensation with you when I come to Korea. Wouldn’t it be more comfortable for me to talk with Hunter Hong than with you, Hunter Woo?”

And Jean Robinson knew exactly why I was heading back to Korea.

…Experience shouldn’t be underestimated. He’d seen right through the fact that I was running away from work.

And, just as experienced, Robinson chose not to mention it, letting it slide with a gentle tact.

“Eva and Nicolas are both very interested in your school.”

“Ah, yes… They’ve been asking a lot about it while we’ve been here.”

“Our guild is interested as well, so since we’ve come this far, I’d like to see how your education is conducted.”

“Ah, yes…”

Yes. I should have seen this coming.

While we were giving Eva Robinson an intensive crash course, that energetic duckling bombarded us with endless questions about the Training High. Sometimes she even sounded envious, saying she wished she could have attended a school like that.

Funès hadn’t hidden his interest since I first mentioned it in Toulon… and in Okinawa, as we prepared for the dungeon raid, the other French Hunters who watched Han Taekyung teaching Eva Robinson were the same.

Of course the idea of visiting the school had come up. It wasn’t as if we’d avoided the topic.

It had just been pushed down the list of priorities by the shock of that unbelievable dungeon.

“So… for now, just Miss Eva Robinson and Mr. Funès?”

“Yes. I’d appreciate it.”

“…I’ll contact the school and let you know.”

Of course, Hong Seokyoung didn’t refuse.

I hadn’t called to buy time to refuse, either. For the future of the school, collaboration with Jean Robinson was important. That’s why, despite the insane schedule, I’d come all the way to Okinawa.

So….

That’s right.

“The car is ready. Please come this way.”

Only after confirming the gate to the Okinawa National Park Butterfly Dungeon had vanished did we board the flight to Korea.

“It’ll take a few hours to reach the school.”

“It’s not in Seoul?”

“No. There are quite a few people who don’t like the idea of an institution for Awakened being in the city. I don’t really get why, since it’s not like we’re doing anything special.”

“Wouldn’t it actually be helpful to have trained Hunters nearby if a break occurs?”

“Exactly. I guess they didn’t think that far ahead.”

“There’s a significant segment of people who dislike Awakened, even in France.”

“It’s not as if dungeons appear because there are Awakened.”

Funès laughed heartily and shook his head.

“As for accommodations… as discussed, we’ve prepared rooms in the school dormitory. There are still plenty of empty rooms since we don’t have many students yet. But are you sure that’s okay? We can arrange a hotel if you prefer.”

“No, this is fine. I’d rather not waste time commuting, and this way, I can observe the school more closely.”

“Haha… Well, that’s true.”

Sister schools, business partners—whatever you called it, it felt less like a partnership and more like an inspector had been dispatched. …Or maybe a sponsor, which wasn’t all that different.

Compared to Eva Robinson, who was glued to the window, eagerly watching the scenery outside, it was a stark contrast.

Anyway… whatever.

As long as we kept Alex Hoffman hidden, there was nothing for the school to worry about. The kids were growing up just fine on their own.

Driving toward the Training High, I glanced at Funès, who was chuckling to himself. Would he still be smiling after seeing Kim Chaemin and the children’s greenhouse?

The thought lightened my mood a little. The school was still small and fragile, but when it came to facilities and education, there was no other school—none at all—that could compare. I could confidently say we were on par with even the largest guilds.

“Yes?”

Eva Robinson’s eyes went wide when she met my gaze. I shook my head and focused on driving.

Another noisy day was about to begin.