Chapter 43: The Duty of a Gate Owner?
Si-woo's family and Seon-woo's level-ups proceeded without any issues. And when they all hit level 10, Father asked,
"It says we can choose a job?"
"That comes up again at level 20 and 30. Pick then."
"Hey! What the hell?" Seon-woo asked, eyes wide. It seemed like news to him.
"The later you choose, the better the job you get."
"Whoa, that was close. I was about to switch right away since it said elite archer."
Good thing he hadn't yet.
"Oh my, I've been racking my brain over this."
Mother hadn't either.
"Nothing appeals to me?" That was Si-yeon.
"What've you got?"
"Water swordsman, water mage. Two options."
Si-yeon had started with sword skills since she was a kendo athlete. Mine hadn't popped up like that. Anyway, after getting swordsmanship, she'd binged some manga about wrapping blades in elemental energy—and it turned out stupidly effective. The cutting power was insane. Honestly, she might just be a natural-born scrapper.
"Alright, everyone worked hard today, so rest up. Mom, dinner please?"
"Sure, Si-yeon, come help."
"Okay."
Our mom was tough. That's why she handled Si-yeon so well.
As the two headed off to prep food, I turned to Father and Seon-woo.
"Anyone here ever built a log cabin?"
"·········."
"·········."
Of course. Like us, Seon-woo's family were Seoul natives too. No experience with this stuff.
"Still, even if we're tenting tonight, we should put up a log house. We've got five weeks, and weekends too."
Plan was five weeks of leveling, weekends in the gate. Like a weekend farm. The stronger our family got, the safer we'd be.
How long could I hide the gate? Honestly, I was skeptical. Selling eggs might be a ruse. It could tip off the gate's existence, and with Seon-woo losing his hunter license, constant sales might raise flags.
So why was I doing it? Truth was, I didn't know. Desperate for cash? Nah, I was fine. Surplus production? No. Then why?
"Gate?"
"Huh? What?"
Seon-woo looked confused.
"Just... feels like the gate's nudging me."
"The gate's making you? How?"
I glanced at the pineapples, watermelons, and black beans. Seon-woo pulled a face too.
"Was gonna bring that up. Why sell those?"
"Right? Logically, don't. But I do. Why?"
Father, who'd been listening, spoke up.
"I'm more curious why gates appeared on Earth in the first place."
"Huh? Well······."
Did anyone know? Was there a reason? Or just... because?
Most folks probably shrugged it off.
"From what you've told me, Si-woo, gates protect their owners. Give them strong authority. Control access, strip powers if revoked."
"Yeah."
"So what does the gate want? Why protect owners? Who even decided it's the gate doing it?"
Gates protect owners. Via authority. But who grants it—the gate? Or whatever sent the gates here?
Suddenly, "gates protect owners" felt shaky. Maybe something else was behind it.
What did it want through owners? Trade gate goods? But limited—lots of Earth stuff didn't work here. Real trade?
"So you don't know why you're selling?" Seon-woo cut in bluntly.
"Nope."
"But you're still you when you do it, right?"
"Obviously. I decide to sell. Feels... necessary."
"Necessary? Like a mission to spread gate stuff, subconscious duty?"
I nodded at Father's words.
"Then it's out of your hands. That's why you brought us here?"
"Safety first."
Father nodded.
"Focus on what we can do. Get strong, safer, more options. If it's a blessed gate beyond top-tier like Seon-woo says. And in my view..."
"Yes?"
"This game's headed for competition—or war—between gate owners."
"What?"
"You're a lord, right? That's what lords do."
His words hit something I hadn't seen. Lords defended and grew territories. Were other owners lords too, once conditions met? Competition inevitable. War just another tool.
Korea's history lacked it, but Japan's Sengoku era? Daimyo chaos. Not just culture. Lords and lands bred rivalry. West too. No central power to leash them.
No central control here. Owners' absolute authority. Kill one, gate vanishes—not transfers. Real cases, supposedly. Hasty to assume all, but...
"Like old feudal wars, gates will clash. That's my take."
"Makes sense. Could happen."
Kill an owner? Block external access. Humans can't solo forever. Though I might.
"Got it. Focus on now, right?"
"Yes."
"Then let's chop wood."
Father flinched.
"How'd we get there?"
"Top priority?"
"Can't the orcs do it?"
"Can you take them? I can."
Control needs strength. I had it. Hoya was my pet—orcs wouldn't dare me. But Seon-woo unsupervised? Power ruled them. Gotta bulk up.
"C'mon, Dad."
"Alright. Seon-woo, always liked you."
"Si-woo's no fun."
"Exactly."
Father and Seon-woo chatted, following me. Hoya warmed my shoulder, easing the loneliness.
We hauled tons of timber. Father and Seon-woo even unlocked logging and processing skills. Mine ticked up by 1 each.
Back home, a fun scene: Mother and Si-yeon chatting with female orcs. Body language only.
"Hohoho."
"Korok-korok-korok-korok-korok."
Cozy dinner vibes. Mother taught cooking; orcs eyed their clothes. Girls gonna girl—even orcs. Most wove fabrics anyway.
"Welcome back."
With three of us, orc warriors, and Karak, we got loads. My woodworking skill prepped logs; Father, Seon-woo, Karak helped.
Dusk fell. We ate with orcs. Worried about family squeamishness—no issue. Seon-woo eyed them warily, no hostility. Past gate fights, probably. Harmless.
Post-meal, log house tweaks. Mother and Si-yeon learned weaving, crashed. Peaceful day.
Morning. Hoya nipped my nose—her "feed me" wake-up if I slept in.
"Ow! That hurts."
Nyaaang!
Fierce cry. Wanted to swat her... but no. Gate'd vanish. I'd die.
I forked over treats, then fed Baekya, Kkamangi, Mungchi. Tamed beasts skip meals without me—unless I say hunt. System pressure to care?
Si-yeon stared.
"What?"
"Lemme ride Kkamangi."
"Si-yeon."
"Why?"
"You're grown now."
"What? I'm a minor! Need love and attention—mi-nor!"
High schooler. Forgot.
"Why Kkamangi?"
"Mount. So cool. Crush city."
"No, ulterior motives!"
"Fine. Plan B. Kkamangi!"
Hiiing!
Kkamangi bolted. Sharp instincts. But yeah, mounts for family? Safer with tames.
"Alright, today's op: live capture!"