Gate.
The greatest remnant of the Great Cataclysm.
What was once Demon Lord Asmodeus’s invasion route thirty years ago had long since become hunters’ livelihood and a mining site for high-dimensional energy resources called mana stones.
“Peace Guild members?”
A middle-aged man in work clothes approached at the entrance.
A government employee from the Gate Management Office assigned to each gate.
“Yes.”
The official nodded at Team Leader Choi’s curt response.
“Perfect timing. When will you enter?”
“We’ll go in right after gearing up.”
“There’s a waiting room on the second floor. Come down when you’re ready. Well then.”
We followed Team Leader Choi.
The two-story building where management officials were stationed was worn down to the extreme, and the waiting room was in similar condition.
Holy shit. Check out this smell.
The stench of sweat hits your nose the moment the door opens. Rusty cabinets and overflowing trash bins catch the eye too.
“This is pretty bad. Don’t they even ventilate?”
“That’s gate officials for you. Not called a cushy position for nothing.”
Ignoring the grumbling, I started changing into raid gear. Leather armor and lightweight combat boots. Finally, I pulled out my spear from its long case.
Been a while.
This feeling that fits perfectly in my grip.
Familiar yet strange.
Definitely different from the weapons I used this past month… No, don’t think about it anymore.
Got to forget it all now.
As I needlessly tightened my perfectly fine boot laces, Im Kkeokjeong approached.
He was equipped as a main tank with full plate armor and a massive tower shield.
“Ready?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
Im Kkeokjeong looked me up and down and clicked his tongue.
“Look at this guy. How old is that gear?”
“Well… bought it when I started, so at least 7 years?”
Back as a rookie, I splurged at an underground shop in Dongdaemun. Remember the price exactly. 1.98 million won.
Couldn’t sleep properly for days after buying it.
Hunter is a profession with expenses as high as the income. Most of those expenses go to equipment. All because of the gates’ special nature.
Equipment without mana or magical power breaks quickly.
That’s why the most common method is crafting equipment using mana stones obtained from gate monsters.
The higher the grade of mana stones used, the more astronomical the price.
“7 years? Good lord. Even if money’s tight, you’ve got to spend when it matters. Gonna be stingy with your life?”
“Well. Had my reasons.”
Reasons I’d rather not talk about.
Im Kkeokjeong spoke with a worried voice.
“Should be fine today since you’re non-combat… but be careful.”
“Sure.”
Even as I answered, I felt strange. Reminded me of someone who used to constantly tell me to be careful not long ago.
But the moment of sentiment was brief.
“Is everyone ready?”
My jaw dropped at Team Leader Choi’s appearance.
No way, is that…
“Red Drake leather set?”
“Mm.”
Team Leader Choi’s face hardened. I’d only seen it in luxury catalogs and accidentally blurted out.
“Ah, sorry…”
“It’s nothing special. Just made with five types of magic and B-rank mana stones.”
“…?”
“Not emphasizing, but it’s made with five types of magic and B-rank mana stones.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Red Drake leather is popular for its unique luster, but it’s just for show with little practical use.”
Team Leader Choi moved with a stiff face. A subtle red light flickered.
“But it’s very beautiful.”
“Let’s head down.”
As Team Leader Choi left the waiting room first, Im Kkeokjeong came over and said:
“That guy loves having his equipment recognized.”
“I mean, I get it, but… why’s he like that?”
“Dunno. Equipment otaku. Rumor has it he spent his entire savings on that and sleeps wearing it every night.”
This bastard’s a weirdo too.
I silently lamented and prayed today’s raid would end safely.
“Different from the number you applied with.”
The official wore an uncomfortable expression. Understandable. We’re about to enter but not everyone’s here.
How long do we have to wait?
Currently six people gathered at the gate. Excluding me as porter, only five combat personnel.
For an E-rank gate, we need at least five more hunters of equal rank… With Peace Guild members nowhere in sight, no wonder the official’s annoyed.
“You should tell us in advance if there are additional members.”
Huh? What did he just say?
Additional members?
“Sorry.”
The official drew lines across the paperwork at Team Leader Choi’s curt apology.
“Well, we can fix it so no big problem… but be more careful next time.”
No big problem my ass. There’s no people, dammit!
I jabbed Im Kkeokjeong’s side.
“Hyung. When are the others coming?”
“What others?”
“Peace Guild?”
“We’ve got Team Leader Choi.”
“What?”
“Ah, didn’t mention? Peace Guild’s new, they’ve got no people. Just three total including the guild master. Wahaha.”
…Why are you laughing?
“But hyung.”
“I know, man. But don’t worry.”
Im Kkeokjeong patted my shoulder and pointed at Team Leader Choi signing papers.
“That guy’s a C-rank hunter.”
“Ah. C-rank…”
I shut my mouth. If Team Leader Choi is C-rank, no problem. No, way better than ten E-rank hunters. He’s a “mid-rank hunter,” different class from low-ranks like me.
Should’ve realized when I saw the luxury equipment.
A man wearing a high-end apartment. Price that most low-rank hunters couldn’t afford even selling everything ten times over.
A subtle halo shone from Team Leader Choi’s back.
“Please confirm signature.”
Even the way he passes the pen to the official is so elegant.
Every little movement seems to drip with class.
Is this the dignity of a C-rank hunter?
So fucking cool.
Want to become sworn brothers. Want to make a Gate-oath, no, a gate-brotherhood oath under the gate.
“Well then, shall we enter… What is it?”
Team Leader Choi looked at me with a startled face.
“Nothing. Just think you’re cool.”
“Pardon?”
“The equipment. It’s cool.”
At that moment, Team Leader Choi’s lips twitched.
“It’s nothing special. Just made with five types of magic and B-rank mana stones…”
A weirdo I want to befriend.
Took a step toward the gate.
Whoosh- A familiar sensation enveloped my body. The unique energy of magical power, cool yet sticky. And changed scenery.
“A cave.”
As Team Leader Choi said, this raid’s location was a cave. The moisture-laden walls were damp and darkness shrouded everything.
“Mr. Tae-kyung. Get out the flashlight.”
“Yes sir.”
I quickly lowered my backpack. The porter’s bag Team Leader Choi handed me just before entering the gate. Looks ordinary but it’s an expensive item with space expansion and weight reduction magic.
“Here’s the flashlight.”
I’m giving it since he asked, but from my experience, it’s not the best method. Though convenient, if the light disappears you can’t adapt to sudden darkness.
Better to wait a moment and let your eyes adjust to the dark…
Click.
“Let there be light. Light!”
Whoosh. A soccer ball-sized orb of light shot out from the flashlight and stuck to the cave ceiling.
“…Magic?”
“Built-in magic that activates with just the incantation. Duration’s quite long, so no problems for three or four hours ahead. Limited edition item I bought from Company M…”
Im Kkeokjeong watching summarized in one line:
“Crazy expensive.”
Was Team Leader Choi’s face darkening slightly my imagination, or was it the shadows? Either way, the raid became much easier thanks to it.
Money really is everything.
The world is ruled by capital and gates are no different. Rich guys fight comfortably with magic equipment while poor ones have to hold torches.
“Everyone to positions.”
People reacted immediately to Team Leader Choi’s command. Im Kkeokjeong in tank position and another E-rank hunter took the lead, Team Leader Choi next. Me as porter and two ranged dealers took the rear.
“Move out.”
We began slowly advancing forward.
The bright magical light illuminated our path.
“…”
Want one of those.
“Keeeeee!”
Creatures lurking in the darkness revealed themselves with screeches.
Green skin with short torsos. Grotesque limbs.
Hobgoblins, an advanced species of regular goblins.
About thirty in number.
Would be a tough fight with just five people.
But having a C-rank hunter changes everything.
Plus the other four are E-rank veterans with at least a decade of experience.
I stepped back far and watched the battle.
“Ranged!”
As Team Leader Choi’s words fell, arrows flew. One shot, one kill.
Arrows piercing vital points dropped the shieldless hobgoblins in droves.
“Keee!”
“Oh my, shield bearers out. What should we do?”
“Hold.”
Team Leader Choi continued:
“Tanks forward.”
The tanks moved, wearing thick full plate and holding tower shields. Both Im Kkeokjeong and the other guy were over 190cm tall—their presence was no joke.
“Keeeeee!”
But monsters aren’t called monsters for nothing. The hobgoblins charged in like a swarm of bees, trusting in their numbers.
However…
“Well well.”
SPLAT!
They flew off like pancakes against the big, beautiful tower shields.
Riding the momentum, every swing of Im Kkeokjeong’s mace crushed limbs and shattered skulls.
“Take that! And that!”
…What is this, whack-a-mole?
As expected of veterans.
All four steadily reduced enemy numbers while maintaining their positions within reasonable bounds.
Knowing when to retreat and when to advance—that’s battle intelligence born from rich experience.
“Everyone hold position.”
And one person.
The one who had been coordinating the battle flow until now moved.
“I’ll handle the rest.”
A red line flickered across his armor as he dove between twenty hobgoblins.
Slash-
Heads flew with clean trajectories. Everything happened so fast the creatures couldn’t properly react.
“Keee?”
Slash. Slash. Slash.
The blade didn’t stop. It mercilessly and efficiently pierced and cut through vital points. This was no longer combat.
Slaughter. One human carrying out a slaughter against twenty monsters.
This is a C-rank hunter.
His speed, his strength. I can see it all. And I felt it.
He really is strong.
As mere F-rank, I can’t even dream of matching him. A mid-rank hunter three whole ranks above. It’s a wide river, a high wall that no amount of effort can bridge.
But at the same time, a certain question arose.
What if this was Murim?
Team Leader Choi is certainly strong. He has abilities befitting a C-rank hunter and rich experience. But if this were Murim. If he were a martial artist…
I’d be stronger.
His movements are fast and powerful but that’s all. He hasn’t learned martial arts, nor can he use mana efficiently.
At best First-Rate. In Murim, that’s all he’d be.
But this is reality.
I bit my lip without realizing.
Mid-rank hunter and lowest-rank hunter. While the mid-rank hunter slaughters monsters in expensive equipment, the lowest-rank hunter can only watch blankly.
As a porter.
“Keeeee…”
The last hobgoblin fell. Our eyes met as Team Leader Choi pulled his sword from its chest.
“Mr. Tae-kyung. Please handle the byproducts.”
“Mr. Tae-kyung?”
I wanted to tell him. That I was stronger than him.
But in the end, I couldn’t say it because this is my reality.
“…Good work.”
I ‘was’ stronger than you.