I gaped at the scene before me.
In the hot, humid air, a vast swamp stretched endlessly along dense forest.
“This is a D-rank Gate…”
I knew higher-rank Gates had more expansive spaces. But I never expected such a difference.
“Spacious, isn’t it?”
I answered, forgetting even to be angry.
“Yeah. Almost overwhelmingly so.”
“This is just average.
From B-rank Gates, you need to hire separate guides.”
“…Seems like we need a guide even now.”
“We’re fine today.”
Team Leader Choi showed me a laminated paper.
“What’s that?”
“A map. Got it when I received the rights transfer.”
A map, well that means we won’t get lost—
“Wait, what did you say?”
“I said it’s a map.”
“No, after that. What did you say?”
“About the rights transfer?”
Yeah, that’s it, idiot.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said.”
Team Leader Choi said casually.
“This Gate belongs to me.”
“What?”
“More precisely, I have exclusive rights to it.”
Must be the swamp, but my palms are sweating and my throat’s bone dry.
I swallowed hard.
Gate exclusive rights?
In South Korea, Gates are national property.
Since the Great Cataclysm, magic stones became core energy sources, and Gates are essentially inexhaustible diamond mines. Yet he has exclusive rights to such a Gate?
Just who the hell is he?
I knew he was from a wealthy family but this much?
“Shall we get going?”
Team Leader Choi’s back is dazzling as he strides ahead. Ah, that golden radiance, the untouchable scent of wealth.
I’ll dedicate my life to your guild.
I made a firm resolution.
The swamp was like a maze.
Without the capable guide that was Team Leader Choi, we’d have wandered for hours. After walking for some time—
- Kieeeet.
The cry becomes clearer as I draw up my internal energy. Monsters had appeared.
At least twenty.
According to Team Leader Choi’s explanation on the way, the monsters appearing in this Gate are swamp Lizardmen.
They live divided into several colonies under one tribe, and this seemed to be one of them.
“This is a small colony closest to the entrance. About twenty of them, let’s deal with them quickly and move on.”
Team Leader Choi advanced, cutting through vines. Usually a refined young master, but in actual combat he’s something else.
His back charging forward like an 8-ton truck with broken steering reeked of machismo.
Fucking awesome.
This feeling that we could sweep away not just thirty but even a hundred Lizardmen with Team Leader Choi.
Now I get why low-level users worship high-level ones in online games.
“Kieeeet!”
Maybe that’s why I felt no tension at my first encounter with Lizardmen.
Just fascination at seeing monsters I’d only seen in photos and videos before.
“Oh, they’re big.”
Even the smallest among the twenty is a head taller than me.
Minimum height of 2 meters, sleek muscles, plus that thick tail makes them look even bigger.
Though not as big as the Hobgoblin Great Warrior from yesterday.
These hideous basketball prospects didn’t seem too happy about our arrival.
“Kieet!”
“Kit, kit!”
Dozens of harpoons in their hands glinted. Watching them approach in an encircling formation, I said:
“No archers.”
“Swamp Lizardmen mostly use harpoons. Watch out for thrown spears just in case.”
“Got it.”
Really knows his lizards. Even has his arms folded leisurely.
“Kieeeet!”
They’d approached to about twenty meters. I grinned at Team Leader Choi.
“These guys have no fear.”
“It’s a Lizardman trait. Aggressive, prefer direct confrontation.”
“Ah.”
By then, the distance had closed to 10 meters. Team Leader Choi’s folded arms were starting to bother me.
“Seems like we should fight soon.”
“Indeed we should.”
“…Ah, yes. We should.”
Shwaaaak—
Several harpoons ripped through the air. Back in my F-rank Hunter days, my life would’ve flashed before my eyes, but now I just casually deflected them with my spear.
Clang clang clang!
Something felt off right after.
“Kiiiiiit!”
“Kit! Kieeeet!”
Why are they like this?
Rolling their eyes back and screaming—this goes beyond hostility to pure hatred.
As I stood bewildered, Team Leader Choi dropped a comment:
“It’s because of the equipment.”
Equipment? Why would— Oh!
Lizardman Leather Set, Slayer’s Spear.
Shit, look at those names.
I’d throw harpoons too if I were a Lizardman.
Come to think of it, they’re only throwing at me.
With their racial nemesis right in front, Team Leader Choi might as well be invisible.
At this rate, I’ll be the only one getting attacked… wait a minute.
“Did you plan this?”
“Plan what?”
“Making me wear this to draw aggro while you sneak around—that’s exactly your strategy, isn’t it!”
“I swear it’s not.”
Team Leader Choi added seriously:
“Because I’m not going to do anything.”
“What?”
“You’ll draw aggro and do the raid. Don’t misunderstand.”
What the fuck is this bullshit.
“So… I fight alone?”
“Yes.”
“While you stand there with folded arms watching?”
“I’ll unfold my arms.”
“No, fuck…”
“Harpoons incoming.”
Shwaaaak!
Thrown spears and green scales flash from all directions. Team Leader Choi, who’d stepped back smoothly, shouted gravely:
“Fighting!”
This guy’s completely insane.
I wanted to grab his collar right then, but harpoons were flying from everywhere.
Clang!
“Kieeeet!”
“You little shits.”
I gritted my teeth and raised [Ki Perception]. Soon, twenty level windows popped up above their heads.
[Lv.40 Lizardman Tribesman]
Level 40…
I gripped my spear tight.
“You’re all dead.”
Ding.
[Lizardman Leather Set] effect increases damage to target monsters by 10%.
[Lizardman Slayer’s Spear] effect increases damage to target monsters by 20%.
All Lizardmen in this Gate are hostile to you. They will not stop until this grudge is settled.
The Slayer’s Spear drew a heavy arc. Seven-star True Self Spear techniques rained down on them.
Crunch!
“Kiii…”
Yellow reptilian eyes slowly closed. The green swamp was soaked with corpses and blood of the fallen, with no Lizardmen left standing.
Ding.
- Level up!
- Level up!
Leaving the cheerful system notifications behind, I turned around. Team Leader Choi was leaning against a tree. Said he’d unfold his arms but still has them folded—makes me twice as angry.
“What the hell was that?”
Silently watching me, Team Leader Choi threw something. A small drink bottle with red liquid. A potion that restores depleted stamina.
“Giving me medicine after hurting me?”
“You look pretty healthy for someone hurt. Not even a scratch.”
…Fair point. Almost accepted it for a moment.
As I hesitated, Team Leader Choi spoke:
“I’m sorry.”
He didn’t stop there, bowing at the waist. Such a formal apology I had nothing to say. My anger subsided, but I needed to know why.
“Why did you do it?”
“I had to see your abilities.”
“Just for that?”
“It’s important to me. How you move, how much you can handle. Need to know how far we can go together.”
“But ditching me with monsters swarming?”
“I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t trust you.”
Honestly feels good when someone capable praises you.
Plus I didn’t get hurt and leveled up twice.
I asked with subtle anticipation:
“So what’s the verdict?”
“Hmm.”
Staring at me with that peculiar gaze, Team Leader Choi finally spoke.
“Still not sure.”
“What?”
“So about that.”
Team Leader Choi pulled something out and threw it to me. A long cylinder, contents invisible. Liquid sloshed when I shook it.
“What’s this, a potion?”
“There’s a button on the bottom. Press it.”
Opens when pressed?
Tilting my head, I pressed the button. With a click, the front of the cylinder opened wide.
The problem was…
Bang!
Whatever was inside shot up like fireworks and burst in the air.
The pink liquid that burst spread widely.
“Huh?”
What’s that?
As I stared blankly at the scene, Team Leader Choi’s voice penetrated my ears.
“It’s pheromones.”
“Pheromones? Perfume?”
“Similar.”
“…?”
“Harvested from female Lizardmen.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than vibrations were felt from somewhere.
The ground. The ground was trembling. Team Leader Choi kindly added:
“It’s extremely effective.”
You son of a bitch…
“Team Leader Kim.”
Those were the first words the gray-haired man spoke after an hour. Kim Sangsik, who had been waiting endlessly while the man chain-smoked, answered:
“Yes, Guild Master.”
“You must be curious? Wondering what shit I’m about to pull, calling you in early morning.”
“N-no, not at all.”
The Picnic Guild Master smiled good-naturedly.
“You’re right.”
“Pardon?”
“I did call you to pull some shit.”
“Know where I went today?”
The Guild Master said, exhaling smoke:
“Guild Alliance breakfast meeting.”
Even small guilds are businesses. Each region has meetings for alliance and friendship between guild masters, and today was one such day.
“Barely taking my first bite on an empty stomach, when that Peace Guild Master bastard tells an interesting story. Says their new C-rank awakened was our guild member until a few days ago.”
“…Guild Master, about that.”
The Guild Master raised his hand, stopping Kim Sangsik’s stuttering words.
“Thought it was bullshit. But while the Peace Guild Master’s a rude bastard, he’s not one to make up stories. Not at an alliance meeting.”
“I’ll look into it again!”
“You, Team Leader 3? No need.”
The Guild Master tossed a crumpled paper ball.
“I looked into it myself.”
Kim Sangsik could tell this crumpled paper was someone’s personal file. And the name.
“Jin Tae-kyung, a name Team Leader 3 knows?”
Fuck.
The Guild Master tapped his cigarette ash, watching Kim Sangsik squeeze his eyes shut.
“I understand Team Leader 3’s feelings. You’re a founding member, could cut one bottom-rank Hunter you didn’t like. Even slot in your beloved son. Right?”
“Y-yes.”
“But that F-rank mudfish you mistreated and kicked out came back as a dragon?
Guild Master begged to recruit him, but if you told the truth he’d flip out, and rumors would spread about your bad eye for talent. So you filed a false report? Right?”
Crackle.
The Guild Master stubbed out his cigarette. With the scattered embers, his last patience vanished.
“Team Leader 3. No, Sangsik. It’s been about 20 years, hasn’t it?”
Kim Sangsik answered with an uneasy voice:
“21 years, Guild Master.”
“That’s not right.”
“…Yes, hyungnim.”
“That’s better. Keep it that way from now on.”
“What?”
“21 years is long enough. I’ll tell Team 3 separately, so resign today.”
“H-hyungnim!”
“Shut up and get out quietly, I won’t block your future. Do whatever you want after leaving.”
The Guild Master’s voice, packed with suppressed anger.
Kim Sangsik realized he had no more choices.
Leave? The guild?
A workplace of over 20 years. Yet getting kicked out over something like this. Thrown out without hesitation.
Fucking hell…
As he left the office grinding his teeth, one final shot hit his back:
“Oh, HR Team Leader. Process two resignations today. Kim Sangsik and Kim Sangho.”
For days after, Picnic Guild buzzed with the rare case of father-son simultaneous resignation.
Along with that, hot gossip arose about the recent whereabouts of a bottom-rank Hunter who’d quit recently.
“They say he’s C-rank. Re-awakened.”
“Oh my, Tae-kyung? That Tae-kyung I know?”
“That’s what they say. Hit the jackpot completely. Heard Kim Sangsik went to recruit him without knowing who he was and got properly slapped.”
“After nitpicking everything to fire him, he reaped what he sowed. I hear Team Leader Kim’s going around badmouthing the Guild Master about unfair dismissal.”
“Lost his mind. Tsk, anyway, I’m jealous. When will I get to live that kind of life?”
“Honestly, Tae-kyung deserves it. Someone who lived so diligently, that’s why luck found him.”
“What deserves? Then are we all living wastefully? It’s all luck, just luck.”
The conversations, half envy and half jealousy, always ended with one question:
“Wonder what Tae-kyung’s doing now, and where?”