Chapter 42: The Blessed Gate
The family and Seon-woo were utterly entranced by the island's scenery. The most shocking part, without a doubt, was the orcs.
"So these guys... they're your territory folk?"
"Yeah, the system classifies them that way exactly."
"Then you're the orc chieftain?"
It made sense to ask, since no other territory folk were in sight besides the orcs. But the family and Seon-woo were registered as territory folk too.
"Then are you an orc?"
"What kinda bullshit is that?"
"You and my family are registered as territory folk too. By your logic, that makes us all orcs."
"Oh, right."
"Yeah."
"Anyway, it's wild. Did you tame the orcs? First time seeing that. And that Baekya? Where'd the white tiger come from? You tame that too?"
"As you can see."
Baekya had shown considerable wariness toward the newcomers. But once I introduced them as family and friends, he dropped his guard and started acting affectionate toward me like usual.
"Is this a tiger or a cat?"
"They're the same category originally."
"The size difference is kinda huge for that, no?"
"Just roll with it. Common sense doesn't apply here."
Seon-woo nodded at my words. His old gate must've been a place where logic went to die too.
"Oppa!"
Si-yeon called out to me then.
"What?"
"Gimme that one."
"Gimme what?"
She was pointing at Baekya. The tiger seemed instinctively spooked by her vibe.
"Baekya, I want you."
"He's not some object you can just have."
"No, I wanna ride him around while we're here."
"No way! He's my precious be... guy."
Almost said bed.
"Ugh, so unfair?"
"If you like one, go charm it yourself. I've put a ton of effort into this one."
"Hmph, fine."
Si-yeon gave up on Baekya and turned to the wolves. They seemed to sense the mood, avoiding her gaze.
After a rough tour of the island, I gathered the family and butchered a cow. A day like this called for a feast, right? The diligent Karak handled the slaughter, breaking it down neatly in the corner and portioning it perfectly for eating. I got to cooking.
"We're stuck here for the next five weeks, so let's eat first and talk."
The family's reactions were thankfully positive. The place looked like a resort from the scenery alone.
"So you're saying we should all level up here?"
The family perked up at Seon-woo's experienced words.
"Yeah, shouldn't be too hard."
Seon-woo stared at me like I was nuts.
"Dude, you think anyone can just become a hunter?"
"Well, not anyone. But you've done it, and my family has some skills already."
"What? Oh, the minotaur meat?"
"Yep. And you know about busing?"
"Bus? Like in games?"
"Yeah. We'll know for sure after testing, but it works."
"No way, for real?"
"You think I'd waste prime beef on a joke?"
Father asked,
"What's busing?"
I explained it to him. Si-yeon lit up like Christmas.
"So basically, we get carried for free?"
She nailed it.
"For the early game, yeah."
"Sweet. Oppa always has a plan."
"You think I'd drag you all here on a whim?"
Nyaang!
Hoya suddenly made his presence known. The orcs started assembling. He couldn't stand me dragging my feet on Hoya time.
Hoya gathered the orc warriors and gave them orders. Curiously, they seemed more afraid of him than me. Not that surprising, really.
The orc warriors mounted wolves and headed into the forest. Soon, they returned herding a goblin pack—barely ten of them. At that size, we looked like the villains.
"Oppa, those monsters?"
"Yeah. Watch for a sec."
They positioned the goblins at a safe distance. Seon-woo fired first with the compound bow I'd given him.
Pewk!
The arrow nailed a goblin's head dead-on. His status had reset, but since he'd mastered archery into a skill rather than getting it from a stone, his instincts were sharp.
But Seon-woo wasn't alone. A water arrow suddenly pierced another goblin's heart—Si-yeon. No idea how she'd leveled her water control, but it dropped the goblin instantly.
"Si-woo, these okay to use?"
Mother instinctively grabbed a sword and shield I'd prepped. Father took a sword too and charged. Mother tanked, bashing a goblin's head with her shield then slashing. Father zipped in and out with charges.
I'd planned to teach them, but battle kicked off raw.
"Hoya, let's turn on the blinker and roll in."
Thanks to Hoya's impatience, the family's first fight began.
What threw me was their total lack of aversion to combat. Seon-woo was a former hunter, fine. But parents and Si-yeon? Expected hesitation.
Observing them revealed something odd.
Status:Warrior's Cry (Lv. 2) - Kar-dok
All three shared it. Kar-dok must've cast it. I checked his skill.
Warrior's Cry (Active) Lv. 2
Erases fear in allied warriors. +2 to all stats.
OP skill. When did he get it? He'd buffed the family and Seon-woo, explaining their smooth entry into battle. Perfect timing—I owed Kar-dok one. Good call promoting him to great warrior. Specialists in their roles.
First fight over. We all hit Lv. 5 together.
"Okay, status window..."
"Status window!"
Si-yeon beat me to it, impatient as ever.
"Was gonna say it opens mentally too."
Her face flushed. Parents stared into space, checking theirs. Seon-woo knew the drill.
But he looked stunned. "Dude, insane."
"What?"
"Five unallocated points per level-up."
"Isn't that normal?"
"Hell no. Mine was three max—and that was top-tier abuse material."
"What?"
Unallocated points vary per level-up? News to me.
"They differ?"
"Duh. And jumping five levels in one fight? Nuts."
"Why?"
"Levels fly up! Be real— what's your level?"
"Me? 37."
"Insane."
Father asked his shocked face, "That's high?"
"Dad, Seon-woo's maybe humanity's strongest. First I've heard of that level."
Seon-woo had said top hunters barely passed 20. My 37 shocking him made sense.
But I didn't think I was max. Gates had been around five years. Hidden hunters and gate owners probably outleveled me. More secrets than headlines.
"That's public info. Plenty higher than me out there."
Seon-woo pondered, then nodded. "Fair. But these points? Game-changer. Defines gate rank."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Mine was three—near elite. Normals get one."
I recalled his low stats at Lv. 9. Thought it was missing my gate's power foods. Nope—gate difference.
Different points per gate... Implications?
I focused. "Could spark owner wars."
"If it leaks, yeah."
"This gate's special, got it."
"Yes."
Mother asked, "Si-woo, what stats to raise?"
I glanced at Seon-woo. He recommended for parents and Si-yeon. Vet knowledge.
"Si-yeon."
"Yeah?"
"When'd you pick up that skill?"
"Wasn't on purpose? Saw Seon-woo oppa shoot and thought, 'I want that.' Tried it."
"Genius."
"Genius."
We said it together.
"Heh! Finally noticing how awesome your cute sis is?"
Seon-woo muttered, "Genius and retard—one letter off."
"Agreed."
Undeniable.
"Si-woo, Mom got a new skill?"
"Huh? Which?"
"Shield Bash?"
Checking: Mother had Shield Bash (Active) Lv. 1. Father Vital Strike (Active) Lv. 1. Si-yeon Water Arrow (Active) Lv. 1. Seon-woo Archery (Active) Lv. 4—inheritance.
Mother: Shield Bash (Active) Lv. 1
Father: Vital Strike (Active) Lv. 1
Si-yeon: Water Arrow (Active) Lv. 1
Seon-woo: Archery (Active) Lv. 4
"Whoa... skill gen on top? What is this gate? Blessed or something?"
Blessed Gate. Maybe Seon-woo nailed it. I had orc warriors, villagers, even tamed wolves.
"Alright, bus service continues! Let's go!"
"Let's go!"
The family's level-up op kicked off strong.