Chapter 8

Chapter 8

…Ah, now that I think about it, I guess there are some. The world’s full of people with messed-up heads, so I hear there are folks out there treating the Librarian like a god or something, worshipping them.

―To be honest, I’ve got a lot on my plate too~ Isn’t it an eternal truth that anyone with the title of administrator is always busy? Normally, I would’ve just waited around for about a year, pulling some petty pranks here and there, but…

“Petty pranks while people are dying in droves…?”

Fine, an administrator being busy is one thing, but I’ve never heard of—and never want to hear of—an administrator causing mass deaths under the guise of petty pranks.

I narrowed my brow and glared at the brown-haired woman on the other side of the hologram.

―It’s just that humanity, you all, were a bit too… strong, you know?

Whether it was dissatisfaction or just thinking something over, the Librarian touched their lower lip with the hand not holding the book, wearing a serious expression.

―Honestly, I thought you’d act way dumber than this. Governments collapsing everywhere, anarchy spreading, organizations and families breaking apart, wars creating refugees… and then if you idiots fired off a nuke, that would’ve been perfect, the absolute ideal.

“What kind of apocalypse scenario is this guy writing…?”

“Looks like they’ve been exposed to a lot of apocalyptic novels or comics.”

As me and Hunter Yoon Juyeong couldn’t help but mutter, the Librarian’s expressionless face suddenly broke into a smile again. It was a change that truly deserved the word ‘plastered on.’ In an instant, a fake smile spread across a face that had been blank just a second ago… Ugh.

―Well, take it as a compliment. At least it means humanity wasn’t as incompetent as I thought.

Compliments should be given like compliments to count as compliments. Saying it with a smile that’s obviously fake at first glance—no one’s going to take that as a compliment.

Ah, except for those brain-dead cult followers of the administrator or whatever they are.

―Anyway, for that reason… I’m going to start what I had planned for about a year from now.

With those words, the Librarian quietly opened the book they had been holding.

The book the Librarian held was a thick hardcover, like an encyclopedia. From a distance through the hologram, I could roughly tell it had a rather antique appearance.

Humming a tuneless little melody—one where you couldn’t find a proper tune or rhythm to save your life—the Librarian held out the open page toward us.

―Here, why don’t you humans with eyes take a look for yourselves?

“…‘Tutorial’?”

What the hell is this? A tutorial all of a sudden?

For a moment, not fully grasping the word written in the book the Librarian held out, I reflexively looked at Hunter Yoon Juyeong.

Hunter Yoon Juyeong was staring at the hologram with a very serious and grave expression, then, as if sensing my gaze, immediately turned his head to meet my eyes.

“Are you feeling a bit peckish, Master? Shall I prepare some fruit right away?”

“I told you to drop the ‘Master’ title.”

Even in the middle of this, sneaking in that ‘Master’ is really annoying. I let out a deep sigh and stared back at the administrator’s image.

―As the saying goes, every game has a tutorial, and every new activity has a beginner class. Of course, when I first met you all, I said the beginner tutorial difficulty was the end of it and all that… but well, to be precise, that was more like the ‘In a peaceful village~’ part before the game or the real story even starts.

Then they should’ve just let that ‘In a peaceful village’ part before the story started keep going.

―So, for the sake of you humans who need everything spoon-fed, I’ve personally prepared a tutorial. Clap, clap, clap!

“……”

“……”

I silently looked at Hunter Yoon Juyeong. Hunter Yoon Juyeong silently stared back at me. It was just a brief moment of eye contact, but me and Hunter Yoon Juyeong immediately knew what the other wanted to say.

It was a kind of common ground that anyone living in this world—no matter what country, gender, or lifestyle—couldn’t help but feel.

The anxiety that came from the thought, ‘Looks like the administrator is up to some bullshit again.’

―Now, the first tutorial is—I prepared it because it seems you stupid humans are wasting your human resources way too much. Ta-da!

With a ‘ta-da,’ the Librarian flipped the book to the next page.

The page that had “Tutorial” written in huge letters was turned, and on the page the Librarian opened, a word was waiting—so sudden, so regrettable, so absurd, and so utterly baffling that anyone would think, “What the hell is this nonsense?”

[Tutorial 1. Group Assignment]

“What the actual fuck?”

—’Humanity’ is stupid, but I’ve found some merits in your civilization nonetheless. Just as ants do, isn’t your greatest strength cooperation? Each individual is worse than an ant—dumb and pathetically weak—but when you band together, you’re strong. So, to help you make good use of your strengths, I’ve personally prepared this.

What the hell is this guy saying? It’s obvious at a glance that this is a plan designed to screw us over. No doubt about it.

I stared at the four letters floating on the page, even after rubbing my eyes, with a look of sheer terror.

—Now, the first tutorial is a group assignment! That is, from S-Rank to C-Rank! To enhance the cooperation of our dear, weak hunters who are currently busily tackling dungeons! You must clear the dungeon that will appear at noon today, in groups that include assigned numbers from each rank!

* * *

As always when an administrator shows up, right after that bastard appeared, governments and intelligence agencies around the world went into emergency meetings.

I let out a sigh, staring at the breaking news on the TV screen: “The Dungeon Management Committee and Hunter Management Committee are currently in an emergency meeting, and the results are expected to be announced after 4 PM…”

“What the hell does that Librarian have to be so pissed about anyway…?”

“Who knows. From the looks of it, isn’t he the type who can’t see his own shortcomings and just blames the world for not recognizing him? Though, of course, we can’t be sure he’s even human.”

“That’s actually a pretty plausible theory.”

It’s a theory so plausible it’s infuriating. I chewed on the apple slice Hunter Yoon Juyeong had given me and sighed again.

“And on top of that, clearing seven dungeons per country… What are we supposed to do when some countries don’t even have seven S-Rank hunters?”

S-Rank hunters aren’t something that can be produced through effort or national support. It sucks, but S-Rank hunters are truly chosen—or born that way. In other words, it’s not something human effort can control.

So naturally, the number of S-Rank hunters living in each country varies.

“We don’t even have to look far… North Korea is probably in serious danger too.”

“Ah, North Korea only has two publicly announced S-Rank hunters, right?”

“Yes. And even that number is rumored to be exaggerated… So it’s dangerous in many ways.”

The Librarian, while explaining this tutorial, naturally also talked about the benefits of clearing it and the penalties for failing.

The benefits of clearing it… well, nothing special. High-grade equipment or equivalent items, and a large amount of currency provided to all participants.

But what was a bit distinctive this time was that the number of dungeons to clear—seven—would each provide rewards per country.

‘I wonder what the higher-ups are saying right now… Oh, come to think of it, there was no rule saying we couldn’t bring hunters from other countries to clear it, was there?’

If that’s the case, then in our country, which has a total of ten S-Rank hunters, after setting aside seven, the remaining three might go support countries that are short on S-Rank hunters.

Of course, considering their track records, some hunters will probably just go MIA regardless of government orders.

‘Even the current rank 1 has been off the grid lately.’

S-Rank hunters tend to have egos, pride, and an arrogant attitude that matches their skills.

A prime example of this type of S-Rank hunter is the current rank 1, the Sword Emperor, Jeong Seojin. This guy has a cool yet chuunibyou-like nickname, “Sword Emperor,” and he’s as strong as that nickname suggests, with an equally arrogant attitude.

‘I heard he just ignored the government’s support request last time too.’

I don’t know the exact details, but apparently he was asked to lead a raid team for a special dungeon that suddenly appeared… and he just went MIA without even replying.

The Hunter Daily ran an article about it with the tone, “As expected of the Sword Emperor, he coolly went off the grid, government request be damned.”

But considering that a week before that article came out, those bastards at Hunter Daily ran another article with the tone, “What an insufferable, trash-personality jerk,” because the Sword Emperor ignored their interview request—it’s pretty funny.

“Seohee, have one more apple slice. This is the last one.”

“Ah, thanks…”

Wait a second. This guy has settled into my place way too naturally, hasn’t he.

I chewed on the apple slice with a serious expression, watching Hunter Yoon Juyeong.

Whether I was staring or not, Hunter Yoon Juyeong carried the empty plate toward the kitchen with a perfectly composed demeanor. Then he immediately started washing the dishes…

“No, seriously, this is a nanny situation, isn’t it.”

Cooking for me, washing dishes, cleaning, even shoving snacks into my mouth. No matter how I looked at it, this was pure nanny behavior.