Chapter 87: The Gate's Wrath
When I stepped outside, I was greeted by a flood of news reports.
The disappearance of gate owners had occurred during the monster wave. The real problem was that gates thought to have vanished were now mutating. News poured in about gates reopening at the sites of those presumed gone, beginning to alter the surrounding environment.
The gate's internal environment was bleeding into the outside world, but the most severe case was a volcanic zone gate—not in Korea, but in Japan. That gate had mutated, turning its surroundings into a volcanic wasteland. The issue was its location: right in the heart of Tokyo. Several skyscrapers had vanished, replaced by volcanoes in their stead.
Korea had seen similar incidents. In the middle of Seoul, a vast plain had sprouted up, swallowing all nearby buildings. The question was where those buildings had gone. Fortunately, everyone inside had been flung out, scattering around the gate's perimeter. No lives lost—just massive property damage. Who could have imagined Gangnam turning into a grassland overnight?
The graver concern was the potential for monsters to respawn there. And one more thing: in these mutated zones, machinery and electronics no longer worked, just like inside gates. They didn't break; they simply refused to function within the area. Step outside, and they worked fine again.
With chaos erupting everywhere, the Gate Management Bureau was in an uproar.
"Yes, Team Leader Kim Mi-young."
—Si-woo, your gate is stable, right?
"Yes, our gate is perfectly fine. We handled the monster wave without issue."
—Phew, that's a relief. Gate owners everywhere are having meltdowns right now. They're scrambling to find grand lords to entrust their territories to.
Entrusting a territory to a grand lord meant handing it over for protection, like Go Yeon-ju had done.
"You might not know this, but Go Yeon-ju's gate is already under our territory's command."
—I see. That's actually fortunate. But really, nothing's happened at your gate?
"Nope. Our territory turned out stronger than expected."
Kim Mi-young hesitated before speaking.
—Well, then... any plans to take more gates under your wing?
"Not right now. Taking on unknowns is tricky."
—But they said it's someone you already know.
"I know them? Oh, you mean the Brann chicken gate in Cheonan?"
—Yes, they're looking for a grand lord.
I'd met the Brann chicken gate's owner, Kang Mi-young. We'd even signed a contract, and she was friends with the factory manager. She seemed decent, and her gate management was solid.
"If that's what they want, sure. We have ties, and it's connected to our company too."
—Got it. I'll contact her and confirm.
"Please do, but make sure it's truly what they want."
—Will do.
After hanging up, I checked the gate owners' community. Sure enough, several were seeking grand lords. Interestingly, even grand lords had limits on subordinate territories. Jeong Gi-hoon's grand territory was at full capacity, so he'd posted he couldn't take more—subtly suggesting owners look to me instead.
It seemed aimed at stopping pro-Japanese chaebols from scooping up territories, but I wasn't about to accept just anyone. For now, only Brann's territory, and I'd watch closely.
What stood out was how few owners were volunteering to become grand lords themselves.
"Or maybe there are specific conditions to become one?"
Nyaaang!
Hoya sauntered over, rubbing against me affectionately. This cuddling always had an ulterior motive.
"Alright, alright, snack time."
I squeezed out treats for her, and she purred while munching. Three in a row. Then she nipped my clothes and tugged—toward the bed.
I lay down, and she pillowed her head on my arm. Purrrrrr.
Lately, she'd been doing this more often.
"Hoya, you feeling okay?"
Nyaaang?
Her sparkling eyes met mine. I pulled her into a tight hug. She purred louder and drifted off.
"Come to think of it, we haven't had much proper time together since reuniting."
We'd been together since finding her, with her guarding me like a protector, but it wasn't the same as our old bonded days.
While she slept, I stroked her fur, deciding today was all about playing with Hoya.
An hour later, she woke. I pulled out her favorite toys. There was that animation about a boot-wearing cat who loses it over a laser pointer. Hoya had long figured out the laser's trick, so she got mad at it now. Instead, I got a fishing rod with shiny bits—she loved that.
I hauled out all her toys from storage and went full throttle, shaking them wildly. Soon, I couldn't tell if I was shaking the toy or it was shaking me.
Hoya played like a total kitten, full of glee. We even did hide-and-seek—me hiding, her finding. She loved it. Maybe she always had, back in the day. With her keen nose, she always knew where I was, but playing like this reduced cat stress big time. Cats are fragile to stress; it can kill them fast through illnesses. I'd seen it happen.
Pet owners have to manage that. Hoya must've built up a ton, alone in there for decades. Even after reuniting, some lingered.
After tons of play, she curled on my arm again and slept.
"So tiny..."
Hoya was small even for an American Curl. Show cats there are bigger. At under 4kg, she was petite. I cradled her gently. Her fur's texture soothed me. Some hate furry pets, but it comforts others. Hoya's was next-level soft, oily in that Curl way, and tangle-free—a genetic gift.
"Hoya, how would Dad survive without you?"
As if sensing it, she mewed and clutched my arm. Feeling her warmth, I dozed off too.
I woke to Kim Mi-young's call.
—Help!
Her desperate tone spelled trouble.
"Where?"
—City Hall Plaza.
"On my way."
I grabbed a taxi with Hoya and headed there, checking my smartphone en route.
"This is ridiculous."
A gate near City Hall Plaza had suddenly mutated. News said the owner's death in an accident triggered it. Checking details: a traffic accident. Gate owners could die in car crashes, sure. But dying in one right after mutation? Suspicious.
Not much info online; military had cordoned off the plaza.
Kim Mi-young met me as I got out.
"What's happening?"
Her face grave, she replied, "The gate mutation is happening in real time. See that?"
A small mountain was rising in City Hall Plaza. Obviously not natural. The gate was projecting its terrain here.
"Monsters?"
"Not yet. But it's only a matter of time."
True enough.
"So, what do you need from me?"
"Use Observation. Jeong Gi-hoon isn't in Korea."
I was the only Korean with the skill. I nodded and activated it.
Observation skill used.
Gate mutation in progress: 36%.
The gate mutation was underway. Its owner had been murdered. The gate was furious at losing its master and was projecting itself into this world of its own will. At over 80%, monsters would spawn.
This was dire. Gates had wills—and used them to protect owners. The official story was a traffic accident, but Observation revealed murder. The gate wouldn't forgive the killer. Was it mutating to unleash monsters and hunt them down?
One thing was clear from Observation.
"The gate is enraged."
Gates held individual wills, it seemed—especially since this wasn't my gate. My own thoughts drifted there.