My Dad is Too Strong-Chapter 301

Chapter 301
The best way to strengthen a guild’s overall strength was to recruit high-caliber Hunters. There was a saying that one C-rank Hunter was worth ten D-rank Hunters, and it was not an exaggeration by any means. Guild managers worked tirelessly, racing to recruit higher-ranked Hunters.
It was evaluation day.
The Hunter’s Bureau was crowded with guild managers who had come to scout talent.
“If I can secure just one C-rank today, that’s a win.”
“I have to bring in results this time, no matter what.”
Sitting in the waiting area, these managers clutched stacks of contract papers under their arms, their eyes fixed intently on the scoreboard. It was a real-time display tracking the progress of Hunters undergoing their rank evaluations.
“Damn... this is an insane batch.”
That was the general sentiment among the managers.
The Hunter Rank Evaluation was conducted four times a year, and on average, each round produced ten C-ranks, five B-ranks, and two A-ranks. But today’s scoreboard told a completely unbelievable story.
“This is the best batch I’ve ever seen!”
“This is insane. It’s practically a gold mine!”
“There’s no way I’m walking away without at least one C-rank recruit!”
To pass the evaluation, Hunters needed to score above a set benchmark. And today, the number of qualifiers was off the charts, at least three times the usual amount.
***
The contract Hunters poured everything into this evaluation as if their lives depended on it.
“
Why don’t you go for B-rank this time?
” Do-Jun’s words were vivid in their memory.
The recommended rank assigned by Do-Jun wasn’t just a casual suggestion. The Hunters under contract had come to realize that Do-Jun’s words meant something much more serious. Essentially, he was saying, “I’ll set the cutoff for you. If you fail, don’t even think about getting your contract renewed.”
“Uwaaaaah! Wind Cutter!”
Hyeong Sang-Min swung his blade at the troll’s neck. The blade traced a perfect arc through the air, slicing cleanly through the troll’s throat with razor-sharp wind magic. The troll’s head flew into the air.
Several B-rank challengers stood frozen, dumbfounded. His technique was far beyond what anyone expected from a mere B-rank hopeful.
And it wasn’t just him. The other contracted Hunters in the same section were also demonstrating impressive skills. Their abilities had already reached the level of fully-fledged B-rank Hunters.
However, there was one problem. Every single one of them seemed to have a few screws loose.
“Stop hiding and come out, you bastards!”
“Come, let me gobble you up!”
“
Hehehehehe
.”
***
“They’re out!” A cry that carried two meanings rang out.
First, the evaluation results had been posted on the status board.
Second, the Hunters who finished their trials had emerged from the basement testing arena to the central hall on the first floor.
The guild managers, their faces full of excitement, hurried toward the Hunters like bears about to open a beehive.
“Hello, esteemed Hunter! I’m from Buffalo Guild—”
“It’s an honor to meet such an outstanding talent! Our guild is—”
“Twenty billion won signing bonus! We’ll give you twenty billion just for signing!”
Over forty Hunters had passed the C-rank evaluation. Additionally, there were sixteen B-ranks and five A-ranks. It was, without a doubt, a historic evaluation. To put it in perspective, B-ranks made up only the top one percent of all Hunters. Just recruiting one of them would greatly increase a guild’s strength.
However, the Hunters’ reactions to the offers were shockingly indifferent. Even when offered tens of billions of won, even when promised top-tier equipment and resources, not a single Hunter appeared even remotely interested.
But that wasn’t the strangest part.
“Wait... Seoul City Hall?”
The problem was that these Hunters weren’t just rejecting offers; they were all stating that they wanted to renew their contracts with Seoul City Hall. To be precise, the overwhelming top performers of today’s evaluation were all Hunters under contract with Seoul City Hall, and they all wanted to stay.
“A-are you sure you’re thinking this through? You’re an A-rank now! Even if it’s not our guild, you could join any major guild you want! So why are you staying with Seoul City Hall?”
Typically, only the lowest-ranked Hunters signed contracts with local governments. Even a D-rank Hunter preferred working with a guild or even privately. But dozens of B- and A-rank Hunters wanting to renew their government contracts?
It made no sense.
“Are you talking trash about our Seoul City Hall right now?” A contract Hunter glared at the guild manager.
“N-no, it’s not that... but come on, let’s be realistic.” The guild managers were losing their minds.
This wasn’t normal. If the Hunters had just said they wanted freedom, that would have been understandable. But every single one of them insisted on staying with Seoul City Hall. It was completely illogical.
“Gather up. We’re heading back.” With that, the contract Hunters left the Hunter’s Bureau in unison.
The guild managers could only stand there, watching their retreating figures, before their hands slackened. The contracts they had been holding slipped from their grasp, falling to the ground. A suffocating feeling of defeat and emptiness filled the air.
***
The office was in complete chaos.
The Hunters who had returned from their rank evaluations with outstanding results had expressed their desire to renew their contracts with Seoul City Hall. Every single one of them.
Cheol-Soo blinked at the towering pile of Contract Renewal Applications stacked on his desk.
“W-what the hell is this...?” he stuttered.
It was almost too surreal to believe.
Not a single Hunter declared to leave? That was unheard of. Why on earth would they willingly choose to stay at City Hall? What was there to gain?
“H-Hunter Cha... is this real?” Cheol-Soo asked in confirmation.
“Some of them even tried to slip in million-won checks to make a good impression. I had to sweat bullets talking them out of it, telling them it’d be considered a bribe and that you’d lose your job if you accepted it.”
“
Hahaha
...
Hahahahaha
!” Cheol-Soo burst into roaring laughter.
Meanwhile, Do-Jun was compiling a on the Hunters’ evaluation results. Curled up on one side of his desk, Yong-Yong lazily opened his eyes. With a sleepy groan, he fumbled around for his earmuffs and put them on his ears.
“Ugh. So loud,” he grumbled.
Jong-Min, the Section Chief of the Fissure Management Unit, quietly rose from his seat and approached Cheol-Soo, glancing at the pile of applications with an incredulous look. Although people often said life was unpredictable, this was absurd.
“Did you cast a spell on them, or something?” he asked Cheo-Soo.
“
Haha
, as if. But the important thing is: it’s not a dream. It’s reality,” Cheol-Soo replied jovially.
“Hunter Cha, do you have any idea what’s going on?” Jong-Min asked.
“P-pardon?” Ye-Ji stammered at the unexpected attention.
Jong-Min crossed his arms and asked, “I mean, what do you make of this situation?”
“Oh, come on! Just roll with it. Some things are best left unquestioned,” Cheol-Soo retorted.
“It doesn’t make sense, though. What do Hunters even gain from working with us? Are we offering higher pay? Do we provide top-tier benefits? Do we have an advanced support system?” Jong-Min persisted.
“
Pfft
. Please. What we have is warmth. Warmth of a family.”
“Uh-huh. Says the guy who looked like he was on the verge of tears this morning.”
As Cheol-Soo and Jong-Min continued to bicker, Ye-Ji took the chance to slip away and sat quietly next to Do-Jun. The sound of nonstop typing filled the air as Do-Jun kept working.
“You must be exhausted from overseeing everything,” he commented.
“Oh, not at all! I barely did anything,
hehe
... Oh, right, Mr. Administrator, about that dinner you mentioned—”
Her words were interrupted by a sudden remark from Hyuk-Soo, who had been quietly working. “Oh? We’re trending?”
The real-time search rankings on a portal site confirmed it. Seoul City Hall had skyrocketed onto the list. A crowd gathered around his screen.
1. Seoul City Hall (New)
2. Hunter Rank Evaluation (▼1)
3. Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division (New)
4. Seoul Contract Hunters (New)
Clicking on “Seoul City Hall” revealed a flood of related articles.
“A-rank and Higher Hunters: ‘We Want to Contract with Seoul City Hall.’”
“Record-Breaking Hunter Evaluation Results—A Divide of Fortunes.”
“Contract Hunters: ‘We had to make the cut in order to renew.’”
Hyuk-Soo clicked on the top article.
The content summarized the day’s rank evaluations, emphasizing that most of the high-performing Hunters were contract Hunters, and every single one of them wanted to renew with Seoul City Hall. The headline was deliberately provocative, designed to attract clicks, but the article itself was well-written.
Hyuk-Soo read the article aloud.
“Given how unusual this situation is, it has attracted a lot of attention. If all renewals are approved, Seoul City Hall will have 1 S-rank Hunter, 8 A-rank Hunters, and 21 B-rank Hunters—matching the firepower of an average Top 10 guild. Compared to other municipalities, which have an average of 7.6 contracted Hunters, mostly D-rank or lower, this is a stark contrast.”
Meanwhile, Cheol-Soo’s lips curved into an uncontrollable grin. He tried to suppress it, but the joy just wouldn’t stay hidden.
“
Ha... haha... haha
! They’re saying we’re as strong as the top ten guilds!” he exclaimed.
“If we renew all the contracts, that’s exactly what’ll happen. But that decision is in your hands, Chief,” Do-Jun said.
“Of course, we’re renewing! But Do-Jun, how can you be so calm about this? My heart’s about to explode. I swear, I need to take some kind of herbal pill before I have a heart attack.”
It was an astronomical leap in growth.
Cheol-Soo laughed heartily as he lifted Yong-Yong into the air, spinning him around like an airplane. Dangling in the air for a moment, Yong-Yong suddenly wriggled free and dove straight onto Do-Jun’s lap.
As the excitement settled, Cheol-Soo found himself reminiscing about the past few years. Not too long ago, he was groveling and drinking until dawn just to convince a single D-rank Hunter to sign a contract.
He stated, “We need to keep this momentum going. You know, there’s a phrase young people use these days:
walking the flower path
. Hyuk-Soo, Do-Jun, you guys made this growth possible.”
It was cheesy. And yet, it wasn’t unpleasant. Actually, it felt... good. Because there wasn’t a hint of pretense in those words; they were genuine.
Do-Jun found himself smiling.
At that moment, Ye-Ji raised her hand. “Chief, I worked hard too.”
“
Hahaha
! Of course! Our Hunter Cha Ye-Ji’s contributions were huge!”
Ye-Ji smiled brightly, then her eyes shifted to the clock on the office wall. The end of the workday was drawing near.
She leaned in close to Do-Jun and whispered, “Mr. Administrator, about that dinner... I’d like to cash in on that today.”
Do-Jun nodded.
Just then, Cheol-Soo announced, “This calls for a celebration! How about a team dinner? Beef! My treat!”
Naturally, the office erupted in cheers. A surprise company dinner on a weekday? Normally, that’d be a hassle. But if the menu was beef, well, that changed everything.
“Ah, Chief! We were waiting for those words!”
“All right, everyone heard him! Wrap up your work, we’re heading out.”
“Finally, a meal worth indulging in! Hohoho.”
Cheol-Soo was already making a call. “Yes, Boss, we have about twenty people coming. Please set everything up quickly. And bring out only the freshest, highest-quality cuts! Also, lay out plenty of soju and beer.
Hahaha
.”
He ended the call, then called out, “All right, let’s head out. The restaurant’s just around the corner—Daeyeon Hanwoo.”
The office workers grabbed their coats, smiling as they made their way out.
“Woooooo!” Naturally, Yong-Yong tagged along with the group.
“Come on, let’s go,” Hyuk-Soo said to Do-Jun as he left the office.
Now, only Do-Jun and Ye-Ji remained in the office. Ye-Ji stared blankly.
Do-Jun closed his laptop and stood up, saying, “Well, I guess that takes care of it. The person treating dinner changed.”
“Huh? Mr. Administrator?”
“Come on. Let’s go.”
“Wait, are you counting this as our dinner?” Ye-Ji cried in alarm.
Do-Jun smirked and shrugged before heading toward the elevator.
Ye-Ji hastily grabbed her bag and rushed after him. “H-hey! Mr. Administrator!”
The now-empty office fell silent. A breeze slipped through the window, causing Do-Jun’s coat, still draped over his chair, to sway gently.