“Ugh…”
As his hazy consciousness returned, Gong Da-won slowly ca to his senses.
Where is this?
A strange ceiling.
Bright surroundings.
It didn’t take long for Gong Da-won to figure out where he was.
“This is…”
“Oh, you’re awake?”
A voice greeted him as soon as Gong Da-won regained his consciousness.
The person wore a blue shirt and blue pants with the words "Somang dical Center" embroidered on the chest.
Upon seeing this, Gong Da-won’s pupils dilated in an instant.
“A h-hospital?”
“Yes, this is the Mind Healing Center at Somang dical Center. How are you feeling?”
“M-Mind Healing Center? Does that an… a ntal hospital?”
“Well, yes, people call it that.”
“W-why am I here?”
“Well, you’ve been showing symptoms of severe delusional disorder and anxiety.”
“T-That’s ridiculous! Why would I be labeled as ntally ill? You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?!”
“Sir, please calm down!”
“Die!”
Enraged, Gong Da-won extended his hand.
In his mind, he imagined activating an attack skill that would instantly subdue any perceived threat.
But...
“…Huh?”
Nothing erged from his outstretched hand.
Even as he tried multiple tis, the result was the sa.
That’s impossible…
At that mont, Gong Da-won noticed sothing on his wrist.
The nurse spoke up.
“Since you’re a Level 100 player, you’ve been equipped with a special suppression device to prevent unforeseen incidents. While the device is active, you won’t be able to use mana or skills. So please cooperate calmly and focus on your treatnt.”
“W-What?! W-Who gave you the right? I didn’t consent to this! Who authorized this?!”
“It’s been approved by the governnt. Please cooperate with the treatnt process.”
“Noooo!!”
Gong Da-won began to thrash wildly.
However, no matter how much Gong Da-won struggled, nothing changed.
This was the high-risk ward within the Mind Healing Center at Somang dical Center, specifically designed to handle dangerous patients.
Gong Da-won wouldn’t be able to leave this place until his delusional disorder and anxiety were fully treated.
Through a video call, Su-ho observed Gong Da-won and spoke to the head nurse.
“Please take good care of him.”
— “Don’t worry, we’ll make sure he’s well cared for.”
The head nurse responded with a cheerful smile.
Why was Su-ho asking for special care for Gong Da-won?
The answer was simple:
Su-ho was the one who had arranged for Gong Da-won to be placed in Somang dical Center.
There was no other choice.
Gong Da-won was a 1-star player who couldn’t be properly cared for in a regular hospital. Despite his troubled circumstances, he was a ntally unstable individual who had used a deceased person’s body without the family’s consent and could potentially harm civilians.
Thus, instead of Cheongok Prison, he was admitted to Somang dical Center, which was affiliated with the Grand Hunter Association.
As Su-ho ended the video call, he reflected:
‘I feel bad for Gong Da-won, but I couldn’t just leave him there alone.’
Gong Da-won was a ntally unstable patient.
He absolutely required stable treatnt, and while it might take ti, Su-ho resolved to eventually acquire a ntal healing skill that could cure even the mind.
For now, this was the best option for both Su-ho and Gong Da-won.
Just as Su-ho was about to call soone else, his phone vibrated.
“Hmm?”
The call ca from an unfamiliar number.
Is it a telemarketer?
However, seeing the number start with 010, Su-ho decided to answer.
“Yes, this is Su-ho.”
— “Ah, Su-ho, it’s , Team Leader of Special Managent Unit 1.”
Team Leader of Special Managent Unit 1.
It was none other than Oh Bong-ju.
Hearing his anxious voice, Su-ho couldn’t help but smile.
He knew why the man sounded so flustered.
Feigning ignorance, Su-ho asked, “Ah, Team Leader Oh. What’s the matter?”
— “Well, uh, you see… it’s about… that… um…”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Oh Bong-ju hesitated, fumbling for words.
Of course.
The reason for his call had to be the recent Stargram post.
After a mont of hesitation, Oh Bong-ju finally spoke.
— “Su-ho, do you happen to use Stargram?”
So he brought up Stargram.
Su-ho replied, “Yes, I do.”
— “Then you’ll get this. You know that photo I took with my deputy recently? I posted it on Stargram, and now I’m getting all this backlash!”
“Backlash from people?”
— “Yeah, yeah.”
“Can I take a look?”
— “Sure, hold on.”
Shortly after, a screenshot of Oh Bong-ju’s Stargram post arrived. It was indeed the sa post Su-ho had seen earlier.
Su-ho imdiately logged into Stargram to check the comnts.
The comnts were brutal:
— “LOL, still forcing interns to do sibong-tteok? This is why civil servants are a joke.”
— “Wow, this was a thing back in my day too. Guess it never stopped.”
— “If you’re gonna give sibong-tteok, at least make it voluntary. Who are you to force it on others?”
— “Queen’s Bakery? The cookies from there are pricey. Did you make the intern buy those?”
— “Facts: interns are broke, but Sword Saint is loaded.”
Su-ho chuckled as he read through the comnts.
“Oh, the comnts are harsh.”
— “Right? It’s driving crazy. It’s not just the comnts; complaints about are piling up too.”
“You must be having a hard ti.”
— “I knew you’d understand, Su-ho. So, could you, uh… maybe post a clarification on your Stargram?”
“A clarification?”
— “Yeah, like, let people know it wasn’t forced. Just that you willingly bought the cookies.”
A request, huh?
Could this even be called a request?
But Su-ho saw no reason to refuse.
In fact, agreeing promised far more amusing outcos.
With a friendly tone, Su-ho responded, “Shall I?”
— “Really? You’d do that?!”
“Yes, it’s not a problem. I’ll take care of it.”
— “I knew I could count on you, Su-ho! Thank you so much!”
Oh Bong-ju sounded genuinely relieved, as if he’d found a savior.
After ending the call, Su-ho imdiately wrote a post on his Stargram:
Hello, this is An Su-ho.
Recently, there’s been so discussion regarding a Stargram post about sibong-tteok.
It’s true that Team Leader Oh Bong-ju recomnded Queen’s Bakery cookies to , but the purchase was entirely my own decision.
Please rest assured there was no coercion involved.
Have a great day.
Satisfied with his work, Su-ho put his phone away and left for his next destination.
Monts later…
[An Su-ho’s post has received a comnt.]
[An Su-ho’s post has received a comnt.]
[An Su-ho’s post has received a comnt.]
And simultaneously…
[Oh Bong-ju’s post has received a comnt.]
[Oh Bong-ju’s post has received a comnt.]
The backlash intensified.
— “Oh, this idiot went crying to the Sword Saint, huh?”
— “This is borderline power harassnt.”
— “Even Su-ho, who rarely posts, felt compelled to clarify. That’s saying sothing.”
— “Sword Saint or not, he’s just another office worker. Poor guy.”
— “LOL, instead of keeping quiet, you just made things worse. Justice is coming for you.”
– “I used to work under that bastard Oh Bong-ju. What an insufferable guy. Do you know what he did back then…”
– “Oh Bong-ju? I was his classmate. That guy was a piece of work even back in the day…”
And not in a good way.
But there was no need for Su-ho to pay further attention to this.
He proceeded to make the call he had intended earlier.
The call was answered by Vice President Park Gyu-min.
– “Ah, Hunter An.”
Su-ho asked, “Vice President, is the task I ntioned underway?”
– “Yes, I’ve already dispatched the relic excavation team and specialists to the site.”
“Good. It might take so ti, but please handle it thoroughly. This will work in your favor in the long run.”
– “I understand. I’ve already given clear instructions to ensure everything is done ticulously. But… you’ll make sure the article is published, right?”
“Yes, I’ve already spoken to the reporter. But even if I hadn’t, wouldn’t you have arranged it yourself anyway?”
– “Well… ahem, there’s a difference between doing it and you handling it.”
“A difference in appearance, perhaps. Anyway, please keep updated periodically. I’ll contact you again soon.”
– “Alright, leave it to .”
While placing Gong Da-won in the ntal hospital, Su-ho had set another task into motion.
It was none other than locating and returning the remains of unidentified individuals buried in the Gonjiam area to their bereaved families.
If Su-ho hadn’t known about it, it might have been excusable. But now that Gong Da-won had brought it to his attention, he couldn’t ignore it.
In fact, this was a task the Grand Hunter Association should have taken up from the start.
‘This is the best I can do for now.’
He believed it was enough.
After all, no one person could handle all the world’s problems alone.
To make things more efficient, Su-ho had enlisted Park Gyu-min’s help. Since this issue involved human remains, the Awakened Division had to be mobilized—and that division was under Park Gyu-min’s jurisdiction.
Having finished his business, Su-ho was about to hang up when he called out again.
“Oh, Vice President.”
– “Yes, what is it?”
“You know Team Leader Oh Bong-ju from the Special Managent Unit 1 of the Gate Bureau? He’s been getting quite a bit of flak on social dia because of his connection to , and it’s becoming a nuisance.”
– “Team Leader Oh?”
“Yes. Just a mont ago, he asked to write sothing on Stargram to help clear his na, and honestly, it’s starting to get annoying. Could you handle it on your end? Also, I’ve noticed that he keeps offloading his work onto our team, and I’m not pleased about that either.”
The ntion of shirking duties wasn’t baseless. Su-ho had overheard Oh Bong-ju passing tasks onto Jeong Cheol-min in passing.
He decided to bring it up because he didn’t like it. What he disliked, he made clear.
Hearing Su-ho’s words, Park Gyu-min started to get riled up.
– “He’s been doing that?! I’ll summon him right away and deal with this properly. How dare that bastard…!”
“Thank you. I’ll leave it in your hands.”
Satisfied, Su-ho ended the call with a relieved expression.
‘At least that should keep him from bothering anymore.’
Now, there was only one more issue to tackle: Vampire Blood.
As Su-ho thought about it and began reviewing the information on Vampire Blood, his phone buzzed again.
It was a call from Jeong Cheol-min.
“Hello, Team Leader.”
– “Su-ho, where are you right now?”
“I’m currently working on a specialized quest. What’s the matter?”
– “The Detection Division just picked up on an unusual Gate. I thought it might pique your interest.”
“An unusual Gate?”
– “The detected mana level is… S-rank.”
“…!”
Su-ho’s eyes widened.
“I’ll head there right away.”
– “Alright, I’ll send you the address.”
As soon as the call ended, Su-ho got into his car without hesitation.
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