Scout

Today was an especially important day.

Because of that, I had arranged with the assistant team leader to arrive about thirty minutes early. Yet when I got to the office, everyone except Administrative Officer Han was already there.

I greeted them first.

“Good morning!”

“Morning.”

“Have a good weekend?”

Everyone smiled as they greeted me. I nodded with a smile of my own.

“I got to rest comfortably for the first time in a while.”

“You reviewed the instructions I sent, right?”

“Yes.”

The instructions Team Leader had sent on Sunday afternoon had already been drilled into us—even on the way to work. I answered the assistant team leader confidently.

“The official notice arrived late, so the guidelines were distributed later than expected. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, signal me immediately.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

Since we were dealing with a distinguished guest, they were clearly trying to prevent any possible mistakes.

I sat down after reading through the precautions once more, determined to memorize everything.

“By the way, it looks like the false reports about Prince Edward have finally been corrected.”

I had seen that news while getting ready for work.

“At least that’s some good news.”

“It doesn’t seem like the public knows yet that Prince Edward is coming here for an observation visit.”

“Right. If they knew in advance, there’d probably be even more reporters outside than there were last week.”

Kim nodded as he spoke.

If word had gotten out, we wouldn’t have been able to come to work this peacefully.

I was remembering how empty the entrance had been compared to Friday when Administrative Officer Park suddenly sighed.

“If the correction hadn’t been released today, even the Hunter Department would’ve been facing some pretty harsh public opinion.”

“The public sentiment wasn’t great this time.”

Just as everyone said, negative articles about the Hunter Department had flooded the media all weekend.

Some internet users had even started agreeing with the criticism before the corrections were released, so it was a relief things had settled down.

“By the way, when is Administrative Officer Han coming?”

“I told him to come in at his regular time.”

“Did Prince Edward’s side ever mention what time they’d arrive?”

“He’ll come when he comes.”

“…I just hope he doesn’t show up right in the middle of our morning briefing like certain people in the building next door.”

“He won’t come that early.”

That was true.

Since this was supposedly just an observation visit, there was no reason for him to arrive first thing in the morning.

After agreeing with Kim, I finished organizing my things and stood up.

Then I immediately started cleaning around the office.

“Didn’t we already clean on Friday?”

“Someone in line for a royal throne is coming. I can’t help being nervous.”

Someone used to spacious palaces and grand buildings would probably find our small office cramped.

And if they started looking around out of boredom and happened to notice dust somewhere, everyone would end up feeling uncomfortable.

“Should I help out, then?”

Team Leader rolled up his sleeves as he stood.

I welcomed the offer.

“Yes.”

“…Our youngest really doesn’t know how to refuse people politely, does he?”

“Exactly. Our youngest is the best!”

“That’s why that freeloader is always hanging around him.”

“Pfft! True enough.”

The team burst into laughter and got up to help clean.

For some reason, hearing them bring up Kim Sehyun made me feel embarrassed.

And naturally, it reminded me that he had visited yesterday.

After hesitating for a while, I spoke.

“Team Leader.”

“Hm?”

He looked over from the small bookshelf he was organizing behind his desk.

I swallowed nervously before continuing.

“Actually… Sehyun came to my house yesterday.”

“What?”

“What did you just say?”

“You didn’t let him inside, did you?”

“Why did he even go there?”

“…Uh.”

I had expected everyone to react, but not this intensely.

“Why was that freeloader at your place?”

“He said he wanted a cup of coffee.”

“Coffee?”

“Didn’t he say anything else, kid?”

“Well…”

There was also the part where he’d said he missed me.

But saying that out loud felt too embarrassing.

“Why are you hesitating?”

“He said… he wanted to see me.”

There was no reason to hide it from my teammates.

The moment I admitted it, silence filled the office.

Heat rose to my face.

“Yeon Haneul.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“So? Did you let him into the house?”

“Not inside. He came through the gate and into the yard for a little while, then left.”

“…Really?”

“I bet he tried pretty hard to get inside.”

The way they talked made it sound like they knew Sehyun personally.

I answered Park’s question.

“I told him no.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Did he back off that easily?”

“He asked a few more times, but I kept saying no. Then he gave up. Had a cup of coffee and went home.”

“Haa…”

“Whew…”

The entire office seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Looking around, everyone had the exact same expression.

“Well, it sounds like the situation was handled properly.”

“Yes. If anything happens, call me immediately. I live the closest.”

“I will, Assistant Team Leader.”

“Make sure you do.”

“I will.”

Only after receiving my assurance did he finally relax.

The others looked relieved as well.

Just then, the office door burst open.

I looked over and spotted a familiar face.

“Administrative Officer Han!”

“I’m here!”

“You look amazing!”

“Getting proper rest really makes life worth living. Hahaha.”

Officer Han was usually exhausted all the time.

This was the first time I’d seen him looking so bright.

His skin practically seemed to glow.

I smiled as he waved before bowing my head in greeting.

“Our youngest didn’t cause any trouble while I was gone, right?”

There hadn’t been any major incidents while he was away.

Pretending to think about it, I nodded.

“No.”

“…Wow. Shameless.”

“Didn’t cause any trouble?”

“Why is everyone reacting like that?”

“Because our youngest received a commendation award while you were gone.”

“Ah.”

I had forgotten about that.

I scratched my cheek while watching Park passionately explain the entire story and Han listen intently.

“…Seriously? That happened?”

“Of course! And last Friday Prince Edward and Assemblyman Lee Youngjin came together. Our youngest practically pretended Lee Youngjin didn’t exist!”

“Pfft! I wish I’d seen that!”

“Exactly! That’s why you shouldn’t get injured and miss work! Otherwise you miss all the good stuff!”

“Officer Park is right! Officer Han, you missed something huge!”

“…”

I never expected my treatment of Assemblyman Lee to provide so much entertainment.

Watching Han laugh harder than I’d ever seen before, I quietly smiled and continued cleaning.

“Team Leader told me already, but Prince Edward is really coming?”

“Yeah. He says he wants to observe us, but I still can’t figure out his real intentions.”

“Not surprising. The fact that he came all the way to Korea is suspicious enough.”

“Do you think someone told him Kim Sehyun practically lives in the Hunter Department?”

“That’s possible. Anyone would assume Prince Edward came to recruit an S-Rank Hunter.”

That much was true.

No one really knew what Prince Edward was after.

Since we couldn’t exactly ask him directly, we’d have to observe his behavior carefully when he arrived.

“For now, let’s focus on showing him how the Hunter Department operates.”

“Yes, sir!”

“We’ll skip the formal briefing today. Finish cleaning and get back to work.”

“Understood.”

As expected of Team Leader.

Without even sitting down, he wrapped up the morning briefing and returned to organizing things.

Following his example, I continued tidying the office.

“…When is he coming?”

“Good question.”

It was already past eleven, yet there was still no sign of Prince Edward.

I relaxed my rigid posture slightly and looked around at my teammates, many of whom had started groaning and slumping over their desks.

“Don’t they have appointment times where he’s from?”

“I didn’t think he’d be this late.”

Even Team Leader sounded tired.

I stood and prepared tea for everyone before handing out the cups.

“Our youngest has the best instincts in the world.”

“Of course. Our chick is the best.”

“…”

I appreciated their gratitude, but the excessive praise was embarrassing.

With an awkward smile, I returned to my desk and resumed reviewing documents while drinking coffee.

“Team Leader, the map is finished.”

“Really? Kid, bring me the subsidy document.”

“Yes.”

We had been waiting for the map to be completed.

Apparently it was finally ready.

Officer Park printed the map and carried it over to Team Leader.

I followed behind him with the printed documents I’d prepared.

“You emailed the files too, right?”

“Yes. I just sent them to your email.”

“Good. You’ve checked everything thoroughly?”

“Yes.”

I’d reviewed the documents multiple times.

When I nodded, Team Leader checked both the map and the documents I’d brought.

“Looks good. We’ll proceed with this. Everyone, back to your desks.”

“Yes, sir.”

Thankfully, everything seemed correct.

Park and I returned to our seats and watched Team Leader grab his jacket.

“By the way, Prince Edward might arrive while I’m gone. Assistant Team Leader, you’re in charge if that happens.”

“Understood.”

“Good. I’ll be back soon.”

On most days he would have moved leisurely.

Not today.

He left the office faster than I’d ever seen before.

Watching him go, Officer Han spoke up.

“…We have fax machines and email. Do we really need to do this?”

“Seriously.”

I nodded vigorously in agreement.

If fax submissions were enough, we’d probably be commuting to the main government building instead.

“Fast isn’t always best. Sometimes the old-fashioned way has advantages, especially when problems arise.”

“True. It’s hard to beat a document with a handwritten signature and an official seal.”

“Everything has its pros and cons.”

Listening to the assistant team leader, I realized he had a point.

There were benefits and drawbacks either way.

I nodded thoughtfully and enjoyed a brief break.

Then suddenly, loud commotion drifted in through the open window.

Everyone turned toward the sound.

“Did he arrive?”

“Maybe?”

Apparently everyone was thinking the same thing.

Officer Park immediately jumped up and headed for the window. I watched him as i held my breath