Returned With Horns

* * *

Although I had immediately succeeded in getting a job after returning to Earth, I didn't have much to do.

One of the main reasons was that I was a returnee who had just come back to Earth, but the biggest reason was that there wouldn't be much to do for a while after Seol-ah's current business trip. Because of this, Director Baek was openly bringing his niece to work, and Han Ayoung was sitting at her desk openly playing online games.

"Ah! What is the jungler doing!"

...Are there still many people playing that game? It was a national game even when I was summoned to another world, and I was surprised that it was still being played.

Thinking that, I continued reading the books about gates and monsters that Han Ayoung had given me. To be honest, the monsters had a lot in common with those from the continent of Granterasia, so it wasn't that difficult, but the content about gates was quite challenging.

"Here, drink this."

While I was reading the book, I was startled by a sudden cold sensation on my cheek. When I looked up, Seol-ah was holding a cold cola against my cheek.

Cola. Come to think of it, it was one of the drinks I really wanted to have when I returned from the continent of Granterasia. Since returning to Earth, I hadn't been able to afford it, but now that a cola was presented in front of me, I quickly accepted it.

"Cola!"

"Hehe. When I first returned to Earth, cola was the first thing I looked for. Do you like cola?"

"Are there people who don't like it?"

"Hehe."

After the news was widely reported, journalists were swarming in front of the Hunter Association. It wasn't much of a problem for me since I was living in the night duty room here, but it seemed other employees were suffering from the journalists' pestering.

It wasn't a problem I could solve, and as Han Ayoung said, waiting for time to solve it was the best option, so I was staying put, but I couldn't help feeling restless. Isn't there anything to do? I'm getting tired of just reading books every day.

As I was thinking that while fiddling with the cola can, I heard a voice full of anger from beside me.

"Ah, really. Jungler!"

"...Deputy Director Han. Shouldn't you refrain from cursing?"

"Horns..."

"Chaerin. No touching the horns."

Avoiding Director Baek's niece who was obsessed with my horns, I quietly opened the cola can. Along with a refreshing sensation, steam flowed out from the opened can.

Gulp-, I swallowed my saliva and quietly brought the cola to my mouth.

"Ahh."

The carbonation flowing down my throat and the sweet taste with artificial flavoring. So this is cola. As I closed my eyes slightly in appreciation of the sensation I hadn't felt for a long time, Han Ayoung, who had apparently finished her game and stood up from her seat, opened her mouth next to me.

"Is it that special?"

"Try drinking cola after filtering water full of limestone in another world. You'll feel the difference."

"Hmm... limestone does sound unpleasant."

After gulping down the remaining cola and emptying the can, I lightly crushed it into a small ball shape and lamented.

"Haah. Why do happy moments pass so quickly..."

"Why are you making such a fuss over just one cola? You can drink it every day now."

"Is that so?"

"Of course. Oh, by the way, aren't you bored?"

"I am bored. There's nothing to do."

"Then do you want to do a job? Seol-ah just came back from a business trip, Director Baek is... well, as you can see, being tormented by Chaerin, and I'm busy too."

The first two might be true, but Han Ayoung being busy? I looked straight into her eyes with disbelief and asked.

"...Is looking for a jungler while playing games considered being busy?"

"Of course not. I'm just taking a short break. You know, refreshing?"

Seeing Han Ayoung's shameless answer, I became even more dumbfounded and let out a small sigh. Although I hadn't been back on Earth for long, Han Ayoung was certainly a strange person. But well, it was true that I had nothing to do, so I just nodded roughly.

"Alright. Well, it's not a difficult job. You know that our Hunter Association manages hunters, right?"

"Hmm, well, I know that much."

"Then aren't you curious about what our Returnee Department does?"

What if I say I'm not particularly curious? As I was thinking that, Han Ayoung continued speaking.

"You should be curious. Our Returnee Department is basically under the direct control of the 'Association President'. There's a reason why there are only four of us."

"Under the direct control of the Association President?"

"Yes. It was written in the contract too, didn't you see it?"

I didn't. Is that even important in the first place? As I tilted my head, Han Ayoung smiled brightly.

"Well, I guess it's not that important."

"...Right."

"Anyway, because our Returnee Department is directly under the Association President, we basically have nothing to do unless we receive instructions from him. That's why we're so idle right now."

Han Ayoung, adding an excuse for the current situation, erased her smile and continued speaking.

"So, sometimes work that other departments or divisions couldn't handle falls to the Returnee Department. The job I'm about to give you is one of those."

"So, what's the job?"

"Officially, it's inspection, but... most of the jobs that fall to our Returnee Department are VIP protection. You know Osung Group, right?"

"Yeah."

How could I not know one of South Korea's largest conglomerates even before I was summoned to another world? After confirming my nod, Han Ayoung handed me a document. It contained information about a gate and personal information about those who were going to tackle that gate. Though by personal information, it was just names, weapons used, and hunter rankings.

"This time, the fifth son of the Osung Group's CEO is going to enter a C-rank gate. They asked for protection."

"...Are you telling me to be a rich young master's lackey?"

"No. Basically, Miss Seohyun doesn't have to do anything. If nothing happens, you can just enter the gate, watch them hunt monsters, and come back. Most of these dispatch missions proceed like that."

"Aha. In other words, it's a job where they need to dispatch personnel but don't want to use high-level personnel. That's why it rolls down to here."

Han Ayoung nodded greatly at my sharp insight.

"That's right."

"Do you want to die?"

"Ah, no. Miss Seohyun isn't high-level personnel, right! You're still studying about gates!"

"Still, there's a difference between what you say and what you mean, right?"

As I threateningly shook my fist, Han Ayoung, who had witnessed the power contained in that fist, subtly averted her gaze. Really, this person.

"If something happens, we need to send someone with enough power to resolve it. Most of the employees working at the Hunter Association are C to B rank, so people with such power are rare."

Seol-ah, who had suddenly appeared next to Han Ayoung, said with a slight smile. Hmm.

"On the other hand, everyone in the Returnee Department is A-rank or above hunters. That's why I often go on dispatch missions too."

"So, until when do I have to go?"

"5..."

"5? Five hours?"

"4..."

At the countdown she was counting with a smile, I couldn't help but be flabbergasted.

"Are you crazy!"

"I'm just kidding. They said they're going to subjugate in Yangyang, Gangwon-do two hours from now, so you just need to go by then. Oh, and please cover up your top like last time. With Miss Seohyun's looks, there will be plenty of dog-like humans who might get aroused and pounce on you."

"Yeah."

Ignoring Han Ayoung's warning, I started thinking about transportation to Yangyang. I wonder if I should take a bus. Gangwon-do shouldn't be that far.

As I was pondering, Seol-ah smiled next to me.

"Shall I give you a ride?"

"...Can you drive?"

"Of course I can~"

At her words with a stretched ending, I nodded for now. I wonder if she really can. Thinking that, we went down to the parking lot where quite stylish cars were lined up.

"There are a lot of expensive cars."

"The pay at the Hunter Association isn't bad. Actually, guild hunters earn more... but guild hunters don't have freedom."

Saying that, Seol-ah opened the car door, sat in the driver's seat, and started operating the navigation system. I wonder if this is really okay... As I was thinking that, suddenly a voice came from inside the car.

[Autonomous driving to the destination. Have a pleasant journey!]

"...Autonomous driving?"

"Of course. There's no way I, a blind person, could drive directly, right?"

"...I thought you were going to drive yourself."

"Ta-da~ I actually tricked you!"

"..."

Leaving me speechless, the car started to drive smoothly. Seol-ah, who had already reclined her seat, was lying comfortably, so I slightly lowered my seat too.

By the way, they're really big. If they're protruding even when she's lying down like that, how big are they? Thinking that, I unsheathed my sword, held it in my arms, and blankly looked out the window where Seoul's characteristic high-rise buildings came into view.

"Ugh. There are so many journalists at the entrance."

"Yeah... The impact of the first EX-rank is certainly big, I guess."

"I don't really understand it myself, though."

Thinking that, I lay back comfortably again and closed my eyes. The slight vibration from the car was making me drowsy.