Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant novel Chapter 80

Suho drove Park Goong to the Daehyeon Association headquarters.

Throughout the journey, Park Goong sat slumped in his seat, his head hanging low as if he were a criminal.

Seeing this, Suho kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead and spoke.

“Why are you acting like a criminal?”

“...Aren’t I one?”

“Why would you be?”

“I hid the fact that I awakened.”

“So what?”

“...What?”

“Think about it simply. All you have to do is go to the association and file your awakening report yourself. That’s it. Nothing else happens.”

“Wait... what? Why?”

“Why not?”

“...What?”

“Did hiding your awakening cause any harm to anyone?”

“No... I don’t think so, but...”

“Then that’s all that matters. Look, I may be in charge of this because of my current position, but I have no interest in treating you like a criminal over something that hasn’t hurt anyone. Just go in, say you’ve awakened suddenly, and file the report.”

“....”

Hearing this, Park Goong lowered his head even further.

Suho continued.

“When we get to the association, go to the reporting center on the first floor and make the report yourself. After that... well, it’s possible—no, it’s likely—that you won’t be able to do archery again. But that’s just how the law is right now. Even so, you’ll find a way forward. You’re an excellent archer, after all.”

He wasn’t saying this as a platitude. Suho meant every word.

Before long, Suho’s car pulled up at the association. He personally escorted Park Goong to the reporting center before stepping outside.

At that moment, Suho ran into Jo Sung-gil, who was standing near the building’s entrance, smoking a cigarette. Jo spotted Suho and approached him.

“Ah, Intern An!”

“Ah, Investigator Jo.”

“How’s the job going? Doing everything alone must be tough, huh?”

Jo spoke with a smile, though half-jokingly.

After all, finding unregistered players wasn’t exactly an easy task.

But Suho answered honestly.

“Not really. It’s not tough at all.”

“...What?”

“I’ve only just started.”

“Just started? So... you don’t need any help?”

“No, I’m good.”

Ignoring Jo’s surprised expression, Suho gave a brief nod and walked away, already dialing a number on his phone.

***

“Here you go, Mr. Park Goong. Your Player Registration Certificate is ready.”

“...Thank you.”

The player registration process was complete.

Holding the certificate in his hand, Park Goong stepped out of the registration center with a heavy heart.

His name, carved in neat letters on the certificate, seemed to mock him.

There was no turning back now—no return to the ordinary life of a civilian.

I should probably tell Mom first.