Side Story 4. One heart field day (6)

The course was in a condition that would have warranted all sorts of curses at the organizers if it had been a real competition. Irregularly cracked ground, fallen utility poles, streetlights, and signs scattered everywhere. However, the seven runners passed through the bumpy road as if it were a well-paved track. Only cameras installed in the air could barely capture their figures disappearing in an instant.

A Team 5 hunter specialized in speed was slightly ahead, but others also matched the pace by gaining momentum with their special abilities. Notable examples were Director Park Jae-seon, who appropriately utilized his flight ability whenever obstacles appeared, and Director Shin, who summoned thick tree trunks under his feet to push himself forward like a spring.

It took less than 5 minutes for the hunters to cross Olympic Park and exit through the opposite gate.

As they leaped over the half-collapsed subway station and ran across the fragmented road, they realized the course was not as easy as they had thought. It seemed designed with some intention to give hunters the same level of exhaustion that ordinary people would feel after completing a relay race.

When the course following the road turned into a mountain path, everyone couldn't help but glare at Shin for a moment. Moreover, the signpost pointed not to a hiking trail, but to a steep grassy slope. Seven sets of footprints sank deeply into the leaves and mud.

"What, kind of mountain is this? Huff."

"That, it should be Daemo Mountain or Guryong Mountain near Suseo Station!"

"Why, why are there two mountain names?"

"I'm not sure which mountain it is because two mountains are connected!"

"It's really annoying that Director Shin is getting synergy just because we're in the mountains with lots of plants...!"

When they reached about halfway up the mountain running uphill, a large panel appeared.

In front of it were seven mountain bikes lined up side by side.

Mission 1. Move to Gwanak Mountain by bicycle

Meanwhile, at the baseball field where they had started, other hunters watching the camera footage from that location on the electronic display board burst out in complaints.

"That's Team 6, right?"

"Ah, Team 6 is really too much!"

"Is this a One Heart Mountain Climbing Day instead of a One Heart Field Day? Are you going to show off even here?"

"..."

Without needing to make excuses, Team 6's runner was the first to mount a bicycle as if about to fly. And they started climbing the slope at a terrifying speed. It was a level of movement that made one wonder if it wasn't a bike in the shape of a bicycle.

"I heard their chief calls them out to the mountains for hiking every weekend."

"Ah... Haven't we already lost just based on that fact?"

Other hunters also got on their bicycles. While some were unfamiliar with mountain bikes, hunters skilled enough to belong to the Field Operations Bureau could easily balance on two wheels.

And flight hunters, for whom fighting while floating in unstable air was routine, adapted a bit faster than others even as beginners. Adding his special ability, Park Jae-seon closely chased the Team 6 hunter who was a master of cycling, and when they reached a downhill slope, he overtook them by sliding down the frozen mountain path.

"No way! Why is it still mountains no matter how far we go! Were there this many mountains in Seoul?! It's the capital!"

The Team 6 hunter, who had been silent, cautiously opened their mouth.

"This... This is a famous ridge traversing course called Daeguwogwansam. It connects Daemo Mountain, Guryong Mountain, Umyeon Mountain, Gwanak Mountain, and Samseong Mountain..."

"I didn't want to know that! No, when did the Director get so far ahead...!"

After riding like a roller coaster through the forest path dense with trees and rocks, the bicycle finish line finally appeared. Fortunately, they weren't asked to do something as ruthless as cycling up to the rocky peak. Instead, they were instructed to run up.

Park Jae-seon, who jumped off his bicycle first, kicked off the ground. With one leap, he easily cleared three or four dense trees, stepped on the largest rock, and climbed up without hesitation. It was a sharp movement unlike his gentle outward appearance.

Cameras installed along the mountain path captured the surprised expressions of citizens coming up the hiking trail, and the figures of hunters jumping up the steep rocky path at impossible angles. Adults of various ages wearing crumpled suits were smiling so widely their teeth showed. It was accompanied by eyes opened wide with rising competitive spirit.

That sight too was transmitted to the electronic display board, eliciting great laughter.

"It seems the Director isn't just playing with us, but is really enjoying himself, don't you think?"

"Yeah... Anyone can see he's serious about getting first place."

However, similar smiles soon appeared on the faces of those watching the situation on screen.

A hunter who let out a laugh like a sigh muttered:

"...I feel like I won't have nightmares about the Great Rift after today."

An era of peace had arrived.

The sight of Park Jae-seon, who was always familiar as the first to fight while becoming bloodied, now giving his all to a mere relay race after the ridiculous gourd-breaking was enough to evoke such sentiments.

"It's good to see, Director."

Soram also moved his lips slightly, just loud enough for the person right next to him to hear. Tae-un reached out his hand towards him, but seeing the camera, he lightly patted his back and put it down again. Fortunately, neither the filming staff nor Soram, engrossed in the game footage, noticed this movement.

The hunters instantly climbed to the top of Gwanak Mountain, took verification photos in front of the summit, and slid down the slope. Park Jae-seon, who had maintained the lead throughout, met the next relay runner waiting around the ridge. Aila, knowing it was her turn, wagged her tail vigorously towards him.

"You must do well."

The director placed the baton in Aila's mouth and patted her back. Aila excitedly pawed at the forest path with her front legs.

Aila didn't fully understand the rules, but because the people on her team, including her owner Ayoung, had asked her to run hard, she ran with all her might on her four legs to fulfill that request and receive praise.

As a secondary stroke of luck, the hunters running as second runners could run while watching the chubby behind, hind legs, and fluttering white tail of the dog running in the lead.

Soon, they completely left the mountain. What followed was a course even more challenging than mountain climbing. They should have sensed something was off when they were told to climb to the top floor via the external stairs of a building.

"Uwaaaaah!"

The hunters, who had been leaping across building rooftops like stepping stones, let out sincere screams when the signs kept pointing to buildings about 10m away on the opposite side.

"What kind of crazy relay is this!"

Even while bursting out complaints, they gathered strength in their legs and jumped up. The flying dog too leaped across the wide spaces between buildings with all four legs stretched out.

Though it was a weekday afternoon, Seoul is bound to have many people moving about anywhere. The sight of a white dog passing by like a cloud and those following it in an aerial sprint gave birth to countless eyewitness accounts and verification photos. However, the hunters didn't have the leisure to mind the spectators.

"Just how far do we have to jump! I think we just leaped over a tunnel too!"

"Aack! I'd rather do public training!"

Finally, a sign appeared telling them to go down to the ground. No sooner had they set foot on the ground than a new sign and guide were standing there.

"Aila, you need to go in here~"

The direction the palm pointed to was a large entrance of some building. Without suspicion, Aila kicked off, and the leading group rushed in together.

The interior was dark enough to barely allow identification of obstacles. The space that had been quiet filled with the sound of running along fluorescent paint on the floor. The sound of feet hitting walls echoed all around. Then, the moment Aila at the front stepped into a wide open space.

Lights turned on all around, revealing the identity of the second gateway.

A karaoke machine and wireless microphones. And cameras and filming staff positioned nearby.

The sign in front had the mission written in large letters.

Mission 2. Score 100 points in karaoke

"...As we were coming in, I thought 'no way'..."

The second runners were standing on a pure white floor. More precisely, it was a stage under spotlights.

"What kind of budget do you have to rent Gocheok Sky Dome?! You're just civil servants!"

–Ah, the daytime weekday rental fee was more affordable than we thought. But we can't pay for repairs, so everyone be careful of the walls, floor, and ceiling.

The voice of Shin, who had somehow taken the microphone again after finishing as the first runner, flowed inside.

While Aila, who didn't know what this place was for, tilted her head in front of the machine, the Team 6 hunter quickly grabbed the microphone first.

"Does the score matter?"

"No. You pass if you sing the whole song without skipping the instrumental."

"Good. Then I'll choose a short song..."

Next to the machine, two PR department staff members were kindly holding out lists of new releases and popular songs typically found in karaoke rooms. He quickly entered an idol song that was barely over 3 minutes long. While waiting for the intro to pass, he had a moment of realization about using a karaoke machine in Gocheok Dome of all places, but he figured he might as well think of it as going out for a company dinner.