I’ll Retire After Saving the World

Chapter 56: The Strategy Guide (2)

TL: SHW

[Gangwon Province, Sokcho – 20071229-0001]

[Siren’s Nest]

[Boss – Siren]

[Monster Type – Sea Monsters]

[Collapse Date – July 9, 2024]

* * *

In 2007.

A gate appeared in the sea off Sokcho. It emerged only 100 meters from the shore, making it easily visible to the naked eye.

The dungeon that quietly appeared in the middle of the night swallowed every expedition team that entered it for the next three years.

After three years, only one survivor returned.

Inside the dungeon, there was no place to step but the sea. The Siren sat on a pile of reefs, singing songs to lure the Hunters and feed them to the monsters in the sea.

The survivor succeeded in returning by damaging his own eardrums to resist the lure.

Since then, the Siren’s Nest became the grave of many Hunters.

And such a dungeon broke out.

Unfortunately, the dungeon had formed above the sea. Apart from the Siren, the monsters in the dungeon were sea-type monsters that roamed underwater. In a way, it was a perfect match.

The Siren, leading a horde of monsters that roamed the sea, took its place in the sea off Sokcho and sang songs.

The Sokcho sea was covered with people who had drowned. The monsters were so full they couldn’t eat anymore.

Kim Chae-min wasn’t originally called to catch the Siren. She went to rescue civilians who were enchanted by the song and walking into the sea.

Ordinary plants would wither upon touching saltwater, but not Kim Chae-min’s vines. Her unique magic, nourished by her mana, bloomed roses on the rough waves, over corpses. She rescued those who were still breathing, collected the bodies, and even helped the Hunters who were going to catch the Siren.

After the surroundings were somewhat settled, Kim Chae-min also joined in the effort to catch the Siren… If that unfortunate event hadn’t occurred, they would have been able to kill the Siren safely, albeit taking some time.

A Siren isn’t called a Siren for nothing. A beautiful woman’s face and a captivating voice. Wings fluttering with sturdy feathers and sharp claws.

Most people only pay attention to what’s pleasing to the eye. They didn’t even notice the blood-red wings or claws.

A Hunter who had only awakened for about a month approached the Siren by climbing Kim Chae-min’s vines. He couldn’t understand why the Hunters were struggling against the pretty monster just sitting and singing. He didn’t consider that the Hunters had sacrificed their hearing to avoid the song, moving cautiously.

Unfortunately, the Siren noticed the novice Hunter’s movements first. Before others could react, the Siren enchanted the Hunter. The Hunter, who didn’t even have the courage to stab his own ears, was enchanted as it wished… and stabbed Kim Chae-min.

Kim Chae-min knew it but was stabbed anyway. Moving to stop the Hunter would have broken her unique magic.

The vines, entangled like spider webs, held unconscious civilians and Hunters who were catching the Siren.

“…nim? Teacher Woo?”

Kim Chae-min, leaving the Hunter stabbing her, forcibly entwined her magic to fix it in place and, with her last strength, subdued the Hunter.

The Hunter, caught in the rose-filled vines, was found on the beach without a scratch.

Next to the corpse of the foolish Archmage.

“Teacher Woo!”

I slowly raised my head.

The Siren’s Nest tragedy happened just before the Ability Management Agency was established. The old man’s first task for the agency was, in fact, dealing with the aftermath of this tragedy.

As such, the Mana Watch recorded the events of that day in excessive detail.

Roses blooming on the sea. Roses broken on the sand. Blood spreading around Kim Chae-min.

“Is there any information you can give me?”

Lee Mi-seon asked in a worried voice.

Because of the incident in Bangi-dong Dungeon, there was concern about Ark getting involved. Since there were also significant comments about the Myeong-dong Dungeon, anything suspicious had to be reported before the raid team entered the dungeon.

I wished I had more information.

Information after the dungeon break is of no help in the raid.

Moreover, the old man had never been in this dungeon. The same goes for Kim Chae-min.

I stayed up all night searching the Mana Watch, wondering if I had mistaken the dungeon. However, there was only one dungeon in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, during this period. I couldn’t be mistaken even if I wanted to be.

Kim Chae-min died fighting the Siren that came out of this dungeon.

“Teacher? You don’t look well. What’s going on? I’m starting to worry.”

I know.

This isn’t about Kim Chae-min dying now.

The dates are different. It’s almost a three-year difference. It’s not a dungeon break either.

There wouldn’t be that foolish novice Hunter.

Of course, Hong Seok-young wasn’t there either.

No, but can a person’s mind run purely on logic?

Kim Chae-min won’t die. I fully understand that, but there’s no way to calm my racing heart.

It’s beyond my reach, so there’s nothing I can do about it.

This is why people need power. At least, I need to be in a position where I can be involved in matters. If Kim Chae-min were a Hunter under me, I would have sent her somewhere else, away from the Sokcho Dungeon…!

“No, really! What’s going on, Teacher Woo?”

“……”

…By the time I’m in the management agency, Kim Chae-min will already be dead.

Enough. Didn’t I decide to focus only on the matters in front of me? Let’s leave the affairs of Gangwon Province, which I can’t intervene in, to Hong Seok-young. That man has enough skill for that.

I looked at Lee Mi-seon with a much calmer mind.

“It’s nothing.”

“Nothing?”

I shamelessly nodded. Lee Mi-seon mouth twitched, then laughed incredulously.

“You know you make people worry, right?”

“Me?”

“Coming out like that?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lee Mi-seon frowned deeply, then smiled brightly.

“It’s okay.”

“It’s okay?”

“Yes. It’s okay.”

“…Why?”

“Are you dissatisfied with me saying it’s okay?”

No, if you move on, it’s easier for me, but it feels unsettling. If I think about it from your perspective, I wouldn’t just let it slide.

And the Lee Mi-seon I know wouldn’t just let it slide like this.

“I’m trying to trust people.”

Words I never expected to hear from Lee Mi-seon’s mouth.

Did she get heatstroke? It’s not that hot yet, though?

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Well…”

“Hehe.”

Lee Mi-seon smiled, twitching her lips.

“Has my reputation reached Ark too? Thinking that makes me feel good.”

I shrugged, not knowing how to respond.

Is it okay to leave everything to Ark like this? What if the real insider who contacted Mr. Kim suddenly appears?

“Don’t worry, I’ve got permission from oppa.”

“If you mean oppa…”

“Seung-yeon’s father.”

Lee Mi-seon continued casually.

“You saved our youngest, so we have to do something to save face, don’t we? Actually, I considered various rewards, but Hunter Hong said it would be troublesome if you got unnecessary attention.”

That old man!! He’s no help in life!

What was the reason I saved Lee Seung-yeon… No, saying it like that makes me sound like trash.

I would have saved him even if he wasn’t the youngest in a chaebol family. But since I did a good deed, isn’t it okay to expect something?

However, neither Lee Mi-seon nor Lee Seung-yeon showed any reaction, so I thought they’d just cleanly forget about it.

I didn’t feel right about making demands myself, and since Hong Seok-young had already resolved crucial matters like identity issues, there was no urgency.

But was Hong Seok-young blocking what Daeyeon wanted to offer? Daeyeon has its pride, so why are they following his lead?

It irritated me even more because Hong Seok-young’s arguments weren’t wrong!

“So, you’re saying you’ll trust me instead?”

Lee Mi-seon winked.

“Unless Teacher Woo kills someone on a main street, I can cover for you.”

That’s not something a law-abiding corporate executive should be saying…

I quietly observed Lee Mi-seon. Hong Seok-young’s errand girl. A private investigator. A master key.

Let’s pretend not to know. That seems healthier for my mental state.

“Ah! Right, right. Teacher Woo, why don’t you join our guild?”

“Guild?”

“Honestly, even if you want to avoid attention, it’s all over once the runes are announced.”

That’s true.

“I plan to announce runes with minimal impact first and then reveal the Mana Concealment Rune if it seems okay. If you’re in our guild, it’ll be easier to control information. In case of emergency, we can just gloss over it under our guild’s name.”

It wasn’t hard to understand what Lee Mi-seon was saying.

But I shook my head.

“I don’t intend to join a guild.”

“You don’t have to be active. Just put your name on the list?”

“No, thank you.”

“Then there’s nothing we can do.”

Lee Mi-seon didn’t push further.

“Hunter Hong said Teacher Woo wouldn’t join a guild. He can be annoying sometimes, but he’s spot-on about people.”

“…….”

I pondered for a moment.

I know there’s no need to say this much. Although Lee Mi-seon claimed she would have my back, who knows if it’s true? Verbal agreements aren’t to be trusted.

Moreover, there’s no guarantee that what I say won’t reach Hong Seok-young’s ears.

…On the contrary, that’s why I might need to say it.

“Hunter Lee.”

My throat felt tight. I cleared it a few times before speaking.

“Hunter Lee, since you’re saying this, I’ll tell you.”

“Yes?”

I lowered my voice as if sharing a great secret.

“Everyone who knew my face at Ark is dead. So, you don’t need to worry.”

“Did they die naturally?”

The fact that she asked without hesitation made me chuckle inwardly.

The Lee Mi-seon I know would have asked the same way. People really are consistent. No flower blooms from nothing.

I winked at Lee Mi-seon just as she had done to me earlier.

“That depends on how you look at it.”

* * *

Swoosh….

The salty smell of the sea.

The salty sea smell wafted from beyond the dungeon gate.

Even in the silence, he could feel the footsteps behind him. Though he knew they couldn’t hear each other, Hong Seok-young turned back before entering the gate and opened his mouth.

‘Gate entry. Raid begins.’

The inside of the dungeon was entirely dark blue.

Instead of the sky, a deep blue sea with waves took its place. Beneath their feet, a starry universe sparkled.

The mesmerizing landscape could captivate anyone if stared at for too long.

The endless universe added to the unreality of the dungeon. It felt as if he might fall into the multitude of starlight at any moment.

But Hong Seok-young wasn’t fooled.

To block the Siren’s song, his ears were protected by mana. Despite the crashing waves, no sound could be heard.

Hong Seok-young lightly moved his spear. The spear tip pointed beyond the sea.

The universe didn’t move. It didn’t pull the Hunter in.

Hong Seok-young took a step forward.

Around Hong Seok-young’s neck, a small piece of metal with nothing written on it dangled from an old leather strap.