I’ll Retire After Saving the World

Chapter 50: Piglet(1)

The dry branches burned, making noise. Watching the sparkling leaves engulfed in flames somehow made me feel peaceful.

“Keek!”

That is, if it weren’t for those damn things.

The pixies couldn’t get close because of the flying embers and screamed at me, baring their teeth.

Ignoring them, I swung my sword. I didn’t infuse much mana into it, not intending to burn everything down. The embers flickered and threatened the pixies before falling to the ground. Small flames sprouted from there.

“At least the sword’s performance is good…”

It’s not like I have anything to feel wronged about, but somehow I felt wronged.

With a sword like this, Yoo Ji-eun must have found dungeon raids a piece of cake. Yet, she still meticulously took her share of potions.

…Maybe it’s too much even for me to complain about potion costs. Yoo Ji-eun did take only her exact share.

I shook off thoughts of Yoo Ji-eun and checked my surroundings. As the fire spread more, the pixies’ agitation grew worse.

I swung my sword once more.

“Kieeeeek!”

As the flames intensified, the pixies that had been holding their ground started to flee.

Once their spirit breaks, it’s smooth sailing from there. I gradually reduced the flames and swung my sword at the remaining ones.

Ah, just leave already.

“Kieek!”

Even the last hesitant ones ran away in a panic when sparks flew at their feet. These creatures, having a herd instinct, would follow the lead once the path was opened.

Only after thoroughly checking that there were no remaining ones around did I withdraw my mana. The blue embers quickly died out, leaving only lukewarm heat and acrid smoke.

I looked in the direction the pixies had fled. Naturally, it coincided with the direction the kids were approaching. If it didn’t, I wouldn’t have done this. I had put so much thought into setting the direction.

“Guess I should head over too.”

I wanted to see how the kids would handle the rampaging pixie swarm. Plus, if something dangerous happened, it would be disastrous.

I knew the kids’ skills best. Although there were many, as long as they remained calm and didn’t panic, there would be no problem breaking through the pixie swarm.

I wasn’t sure how well they would handle unexpected situations without raid experience, but as long as one person kept their wits about them, they would manage.

Maybe I was overestimating the kids.

* * *

“Hyun-wook!!”

“Oh Hyun-wook!!!”

In the midst of the battle, Oh Hyun-wook stood like a statue.

Since this is a filtered dungeon, there are only young pixies. But that didn’t mean it was okay to just stand there and offer your neck.

That idiot.

A piglet is still a pig.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue lightly. No need for any grand movements. Speed was all that mattered.

I put strength in my legs and leapt down, running along the tree branches towards the ground. Whether it’s a spear or a sword, the method of handling tools for killing is simple.

‘Swing it with the mind to kill that bastard, and anything will do.’

The old man’s whisper echoed in my ears.

Pig Oh Hyun-wook was also notorious for his filthy fighting. I had seen it a few times. A fight as messy as his nickname suggested.

Unlike the current piglet. Someone once said that pigs are actually clean animals.

Maintaining my momentum, I thrust my sword forward. Anything more would be overkill against a pixie. Yoo Ji-eun’s sword pierced through the pixie’s head and stopped.

Even so, catching these kinds of things with Yoo Ji-eun’s sword. I didn’t feel sorry for Yoo Ji-eun, but I felt sorry for the sword. Such a sword deserved to slice through something more magnificent.

Shaking my head internally, I looked at Oh Hyun-wook. His eyes were unfocused. His pupils, delayed, turned towards me but didn’t really see me.

I frowned.

“Oh Hyun-wook.”

“…….”

“Oh Hyun-wook?”

I struck down an approaching pixie with my sword. This bastard, he’s lost it.

I had no choice but to use a tough measure.

Slap.

“What are you spacing out for?”

I slapped Oh Hyun-wook’s cheek, applying just enough force for it to sting slightly.

“We’re in the middle of a raid. Aren’t you going to get it together?”

My voice turned cold without me realizing it. If this weren’t a test, the raid team would have been annihilated. If I hadn’t intervened, Oh Hyun-wook would have been seriously injured at the very least, and the rest of the team, given their nature, would have collapsed watching it.

I went to great lengths to save him in Myeong-dong…

“…….”

“Oh Hyun-wook?”

Yet, Oh Hyun-wook still couldn’t snap out of it.

My annoyance turned into worry.

“…Ugh.”

Seriously, what’s wrong with him!

Oh Hyun-wook covered his mouth, about to vomit, and I quickly stepped back.

“Uurrgh….”

This is unbelievable, really.

Even the pig bastard used to be like this. After drinking heavily, he would puke as soon as he entered a dungeon.

A pig is a pig, whether it’s a pig or a piglet.

Sighing, I protected the defenseless Oh Hyun-wook. Seeing me by his side, the other kids dealt with the pixies, looking somewhat relieved.

With Oh Hyun-wook suddenly incapacitated, the others were moving chaotically. Only Seo Han-seong was putting up a decent fight, but this wasn’t a proper raid anymore; they were barely holding off the pixies, each fending for themselves.

I had no choice but to give instructions.

“Choi Jin-woo, shield. Lee Seung-yeon, at the 11 o’clock direction. Han Eun-young, stick close to Yoo Hye-eun. Seo Han-seong, watch the 8 o’clock direction. Park Seo-hyun, get ready for the shield, 3, 2, 1, now. Reposition yourselves.”

Finally, the kids’ movements started to stabilize.

They regained their composure midway and managed to hold their ground against the pixies without my instructions.

…I never expected it to turn out like this.

Did I do anything extraordinary? All I did was set a fire at the back of the dungeon to drive the monsters forward!

This wasn’t something I did out of spite for the kids, and it’s a method formally included in the training manual distributed by the Ability Management Agency to the guilds. It’s to teach them how to handle sudden situations. If I didn’t think the kids could manage, I wouldn’t have done it. I don’t assign impossible tasks.

Even now, look. Once they found their positions, they’re fighting well. The pixies seem numerous because they’re panicking and flying around due to the smoke, but there are actually just over a hundred. And we don’t even have to deal with all of them. Many will flee, so we just need to hold out. Once they pass, we can take care of the dungeon core and be done.

And they crumble like this over something so simple?

“…….”

“Bleeurgh…”

I looked at Oh Hyun-wook, who was still retching hard.

The reason for this mess is clear. It’s because of him.

From the moment we entered the dungeon, Oh Hyun-wook was naturally giving orders. The kids followed without question. He often played the leader during regular training sessions too.

The success of a raid team depends heavily on the presence of a capable leader. But relying entirely on the leader is not the way to go.

Therefore,

“All of you fail.”

Standing amidst the pixie corpses, I declared firmly.

* * *

“Yes… Raid completion confirmed. Who destroyed the dungeon core?”

At Kim So-jung’s question, the kids exchanged glances and then quietly pointed to one person. Seo Han-seong gulped.

“I-I did.”

“A student? You’re Seo Han-seong, right? From Guild Manri…. Okay, understood. Then, the raid report….”

“I will write it.”

“You will, teacher?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“No. If we’re being technical, you’re the one in charge, so there’s no issue.”

Kim So-jung replied cheerfully.

“Still, it’s impressive that the kids managed to succeed in the raid on their own.”

Kim So-jung, meeting the kids for the first time, didn’t notice, but Hong Seok-young and Kim Chae-min were different. The two of them looked at me and the kids with doubtful eyes. They only refrained from asking because Kim So-jung was present.

“I’ve always thought it would be nice to have a school like this. Though many people are displeased with it…. If we slowly build up such achievements, public perception will change, right?”

“I hope so.”

“With Hunter Hong Seok-young, it may take time, but it won’t fail.”

“Oh my, do you hold me in such high regard, Inspector?”

“Regardless, you’re one of Korea’s representative Hunters. You must live up to that reputation.”

Hong Seok-young laughed heartily.

“So, do you have any more business at the school, Inspector?”

“Are you trying to chase me away?”

“Oh no. How could I chase away our Inspector? It’s just that the kids look very tired.”

“Indeed, it’s their first raid… I won’t keep them any longer. Let the students rest well today. Teacher Woo Hwijae, please take care of the report.”

“Yes. I’ll send it by email.”

I smiled kindly and bowed to Kim So-jung. Hong Seok-young also waved with a sly face, and Kim Chae-min nodded politely.

“…….”

The peace ends here.

I changed my expression completely and looked back at the kids. Noticing the unusual atmosphere, Hong Seok-young tried to approach but stopped.

I bluntly stated,

“The dungeon raid is a failure.”

“What?”

“I’ll explain in detail later.”

I looked at Oh Hyun-wook, whose face had gone pale.

Hong Seok-young had dismissed Park Seo-hyun’s wandering as a trivial change in style that any Hunter could experience. Kim Chae-min, despite being an emotional personality for a mage, had a sense of distance from the rest of the kids due to her focus on magic classes.

It has to be me.

The only one who can turn the piglet into a human.

“Oh Hyun-wook.”

His shoulders flinched violently.

“You know why I called you, right?”

“…….”

His tightly clenched fists trembled.

For a moment, I worried he might hit me. Fortunately, Oh Hyun-wook, instead, answered in an almost inaudible voice.

“…Yes.”

I ignored the kids who had fallen silent, watching me nervously. Hong Seok-young, acting like a restless dog, was also ignored.

“Get in the car. We’ll talk later.”

We didn’t return to school. The car was deathly silent, and Hong Seok-young drove more gently than usual.

The car stopped at the parking lot where we usually dropped off the kids.

“So….”

“See you tomorrow. I’ll inform you of the grading results then.”

“About the scores…”

“Frankly, I doubt the score even matters…. But you still need to know what went wrong.”

I paused briefly, looking at the kids. They were all a mess, but thankfully, none were injured.

“Although, I wonder if even that matters. Everything from start to finish was a problem.”

“…….”

“Alright, dismissed.”

Their trudging backs looked no different from defeated soldiers.

I clicked my tongue and glanced inside the car. Oh Hyun-wook was still sitting there, not getting out.

“Aren’t you going?”

“…….”

“Oh Hyun-wook?”

No response.

After a brief moment of contemplation, I tapped Hong Seok-young and Kim Chae-min, who were seated in the driver’s and passenger’s seats.

“Get out.”

“What? Why?”

“I need to talk to him.”

Sensing the tense atmosphere, the two quietly got out of the car.

With the door closed, I sat facing Oh Hyun-wook.

“Alright. Speak up.”

“…….”

“I’ve given you plenty of time to think.”

“…….”

Oh Hyun-wook remained silent, head hung low.

Again, ignoring me. This pig bastard, seriously…. Was my ambition to turn him into a decent human being misguided? Is a pig always a pig, even when young?

Plop. Drip. Drop.

“…Oh Hyun-wook?”

Something was falling beneath Oh Hyun-wook. Drops of water were forming on the back of his hands, which rested on his knees.

I massaged my stiff neck. If we weren’t in the car, I would’ve thought it was raining.

“I really can’t deal with this.”

“……sniff.”

“Oh Hyun-wook. Stop crying.”

Do kids these days think everything gets solved if they cry? What is this? Park Seo-hyun did this, now him too?

Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to yell at a crying kid, so I softened my voice.

“…I’m not trying to scold you. It’s better to fix a problem if there is one. So, tell me why.”

“I shouldn’t be a Hunter.”

Oh Hyun-wook cut off my words and spoke in a trembling voice.

Why on earth are they doing this to me?