#7 Illegal Gate (1)
“Hngh.”
“Ughhh.”
The groans of agony echoed endlessly around her. But she couldn’t stop moving, no matter the pain.
The moment she did, the men standing behind her wouldn’t let her off easy.
Han Jo-hee turned her head to the side. The man who’d introduced himself as Park Ji-hun was already blue-lipped and with nails turning the same hue. Mana had seeped all the way into his bone marrow.
At that stage, no ordinary antidote could cure mana poisoning. He’d live out the rest of his days plagued by the aftereffects—if he even made it out of here for treatment. If he stayed abandoned in this mana-saturated hell any longer...
Everyone here had a death sentence hanging over them.
If they cared about their bodies at all, they should’ve bolted from this place. That was the only shot at survival, however slim.
No matter how vital money was, it couldn’t outweigh their own lives. But the instant they’d stepped into this pit, those precious lives were no longer theirs to claim.
Thud.
Han Jo-hee flinched as Park Ji-hun collapsed beside her.
“Tch, another one bites the dust.”
The overseer watching them from behind clicked his tongue curtly and approached the corpse.
His heavy footsteps rang out behind her skull. Han Jo-hee squeezed her eyes shut.
This place was a bottomless pit with no escape. The only way out was to drop dead like Park Ji-hun. But even as a corpse, she wouldn’t make it back to her family’s hands.
The man hauled the body away somewhere.
Three people dragged out like that in the past week alone.
Han Jo-hee stared at her fingertips. The blue tinge had already crept up, a sign she didn’t have much time left either.
No, in reality, she probably didn’t.
The prickling gaze from behind had vanished, but Han Jo-hee couldn’t budge.
Days of ingrained helplessness had her body in a vise grip.
‘Don’t trust Im Hyun-su too much.’
She should’ve heeded that warning more closely.
Regret always came late, but this one was disastrously overdue.
Despite Kang Ishin’s warning, Han Jo-hee couldn’t turn down Im Hyun-su’s offer. Ten days ago, his proposal had felt like a lifeline.
Ten million won for her brother Han Seohyun’s internship gear—an astronomical sum that choked her, especially after days of illness had left her short on quotas.
But she couldn’t refuse.
Unlike her, cast aside as worthless, her brother’s future shone bright. If she just held on now, he’d make it someday.
So she’d gotten greedy, and this was the result.
She’d risked it all for the advance on that fortune.
‘Who knew that money would be my death warrant.’
Han Jo-hee smiled bitterly.
She’d wither away here.
Just like Park Ji-hun, who’d worked beside her.
“Hey, get moving.”
The man had returned after disposing of the body and barked at her. With trembling hands, Han Jo-hee swung her pickaxe.
Just like always.
━So you’re off to catch the bad guys?
“Heroes only show up in fairy tales during chaotic times. In reality, the villains just exploit the chaos to fill their coffers.”
Take Seol Rokjin—he’d shaken people’s fears to line his own pockets.
And thieves like him weren’t lone wolves in this Korea of ours.
━So you’re gonna catch those thieves yourself?
“Yep. And pad my pockets while I’m at it.”
━So what’s the name of the bastard you’re going after now?
“Im Hyun-su.”
The name of the guy who’d sent my old life straight to hell.
Personally, I had a mountain of scores to settle with Im Hyun-su. If I’d never met him—or fallen for his bullshit—I wouldn’t have crossed paths with Seol Rokjin or dragged Jeong Hosan into that mess.
But this time, it wasn’t personal.
The illegal gate Im Hyun-su had lured me to was the source of Seol Rokjin’s dirty money.
Raiding a few gates wouldn’t topple him completely, but it’d buy time.
With that in mind, I planned to smash the place to rubble.
I stopped by home briefly and dug out the ragged clothes I’d stashed in the closet.
━What the hell is with that getup?
“Bait to hook Im Hyun-su.”
━You think some loser look like that’ll snag him?
“It will. He’s got a thing for guys who look like this.”
━Th-that pervert...
I didn’t care what Ray thought. There wasn’t a shred of lie in what I’d said.
Staring at my reflection, I flashed a satisfied grin.
I looked every bit the down-and-out wreck who’d lost his home, his job, everything.
Perfect excuse for my weeks-long absence.
Prepped and ready, I headed straight for the Cheongsung Gate Recruitment Office.
Im Hyun-su emerged from lunch, spotting him instantly.
Lucky break. I approached without hesitation.
“Hyun-su hyung, got a sec?”
“Whoa, look who it is.”
Im Hyun-su feigned surprise at the sight of me. He gawked at my rags, but I caught the greedy glint in his eyes.
“What the hell happened to you?”
“Rough patch.”
I mumbled weakly, and he patted my shoulder.
Even sober, I’d have clocked him—but he kept up the friendly act without a hitch. Impressive, really.
“What’s up?”
“Not here. Somewhere quiet?”
I spoke in a quivering voice to the hesitant Im Hyun-su.
“Yeah, not the kinda talk for prying ears.”
I dropped the hook.
“You’ve always looked out for me, hyung...”
No trace of my old cocky vibe—just broken defeat. He could’ve suspected something, but this matched the pushover he knew.
Im Hyun-su smiled warmly.
“Yeah, I was wondering where you vanished to. Worried folks, disappearing without a word.”
He leaned in, whispering.
“People were saying, ‘Bet he went into an illegal gate.’”
The hypocrisy. He was the one luring people in, spouting lies without batting an eye.
Even knowing the gruesome fates of those he dragged there. Testing me so casually.
I dropped my gaze to the ground. One look at him, and he’d see right through me.
“Alright, let’s talk.”
Jackpot—he bit.
He thought I’d bitten his bait. We’ll see.
“Gonna chat with this guy a bit.”
Leaving witnesses wasn’t ideal, but whatever. I was ditching this identity anyway.
“It’s summer—why dress so hot?”
To hide the missing recognition tag, obviously. I grinned sheepishly.
“Didn’t want anyone seeing me like this.”
A sad smile sealed it, and he bought it.
We’d clashed a bit over Han Jo-hee last time, but to him, I was still an easy mark. No guard up, no need for my powers.
“I’m drowning in debt. They said they’d kill me if I don’t pay up soon.”
“...That bad?”
“Yeah. No way scraping by here covers it.”
His lips curled. He couldn’t hide his glee. From his view, I’d fallen right into his lap—unexpected jackpot.
“Well, honestly, I don’t recommend it unless you’re desperate. But in your shoes... there might be a way.”
Right on cue, he dangled the illegal gate. Knowing my dirt, he still played the good guy. Laughable—I nearly snorted.
“Where do I go?”
“Chilseong-gu area.”
Chilseong-gu. My old-life haunt. In that timeline, I’d entered six months from now—after heavy mining.
Of all places.
Kill intent surged for Im Hyun-su. He really planned to bury me.
“Sorry about your luck, but you’ll need a week’s work for the advance.”
Lie. I’d be a corpse by then. No payout either.
Good thing you’re the same trash I remember.
━Why not waste him now?
Ray piped up in my thoughts.
Spending days in that cave with him, I’d learned Ray could skim surface thoughts. Not deep emotions, but conscious ones.
Letting me chat like this with company present.
He doesn’t know it, but there’s a curse etched in him. Real-time tracking of position and status. Kill him here, and...
━They’ll know instantly.
Exactly.
Not sparing him out of fondness. I’d deal with him later. For now, I pumped him for info.
Even underestimating me, he wasn’t stupid—limits on what he’d spill.
But I nailed the pickup details.
They ran a shuttle taxi—unremarkable sedan. Without prior notice, impossible to spot.
Head to Bupyeong Station on time, and the ride would come.
Just like in my past life.
“I don’t usually make intros like this, but you look pathetic enough. It’s illegal, so keep your mouth shut or you’re screwed, got it?”
“Thanks, hyung.”
I buried my real feelings, bowing deeply in gratitude.
“Hope you pay off that debt.”
“Yeah, I will.”
With interest—thick and heavy.
For the debt that ruined my past life.