Chapter 162
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: 147. Manchuria Gate 1
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Yeah. You can't fall for her yet, right?
"She's really good at playing hard to get. What about Rosaria?"
"What's there to fall for or not? Whatever."
"Since we've already crossed that line."
Memories of pinning Rosaria down in the church came flooding back.
Rosaria blushed and turned her head away, probably recalling the same moment.
A presence caught my attention, and I turned to see Shuery this time.
Her subordinates were fussing over every little detail. It was like parents seeing their daughter off on a school trip.
"Hello, Shuery."
After exchanging greetings, Jeong Na-yoon began her briefing on Manchuria Gate 1.
"Alright, let's start the briefing. This dungeon is a labyrinth type with a flood outbreak. Confirmed monsters include upper-tier goblins and orcs, plus hellhounds."
"Looks like it's packed with elite mobs."
Upper-tier goblins and orcs—probably stronger variants.
Hellhounds were those dog-like monsters that popped up often in erosion zones.
"Yeah, something like that. They're not a huge threat to you all, but we don't know what's on the lower levels."
"Wasn't this the dungeon the Beijing warlord used?"
"They left it untouched."
"If it's deeper than we think, there could be a much wider variety of monsters, right?"
"Yeah, but only these three types have been spotted so far."
Only these three discovered.
"Well, nothing more to hear then. Let's get to it."
We ported in a short distance from Manchuria Gate 1, sticking out like sore thumbs.
The cave mouth amid the ruins was crawling with monsters outside—for some inexplicable reason.
There were so damn many, it looked like a full-blown army.
"The numbers are insane. Weren't they slacking off too much? If it was just a few, a tank shell would've scared them back inside."
"This is weird. It's swelled way beyond expectations."
"Beyond expectations?"
So it was manageable until yesterday?
Looking closer, the whole setup screamed suspicious.
In the original story, a situation like this would've had China calling Choi Si-woo—or at least notifying Korea about a flood gate.
The fact they hadn't meant something was seriously off.
This could be one of the Sins pulling strings.
"Hold up. We need a quick private strategy huddle."
"We all have to go in together—why just you guys?"
"You know Reina, but she's not feeling great today. We need to talk it over just among ourselves because of her."
At my words, Reina clutched her lower abdomen and put on a pained expression.
She was sharp as ever.
"Ah, yeah, she does look rough."
I couldn't tip off Shuery about the Sins.
Sins were a touchy subject even between nations. Not the kind of thing you just blurt out.
Choi Si-woo probably had a hunch about which one, so I pulled the heroines aside.
"Wasn't anywhere near this many until yesterday. Something's wrong."
"For them to multiply like this overnight..."
I had a gut feeling. A Sin was meddling with Manchuria Gate 1. But I only knew the original plot—Si-woo, who'd lived through the first timeline, would know better than me.
Si-woo eyed the gate from a safe distance and nodded slowly.
"This might be a Sin's doing."
"Could be another villain?"
"How many villains in Shenyang could mess with a flood while dodging the White Lotus Church's eyes?"
True. Portal construction and Shenyang's Korean overhaul meant ironclad security.
"Which Sin fits the 'expanding allies' profile?"
"Pride's too arrogant to bother. Sloth's too lazy—solo suits it fine."
Even I figured those two wouldn't recruit due to their natures.
They were nuts enough to drown the world in erosion zones for monsters and mutants. Who'd sign up for that?
"So, Sin of Envy or Greed."
Both had monster-tied skills.
"Envy wouldn't come this far. Gotta be Greed."
"Greed. That woman came alone?"
Sin of Greed. The pampered daughter of a German tycoon.
At first glance, just a greedy brat. But really, she played strategist.
Blonde noble-looking white girl, sharp as hell with knowledge and intel.
Greed's power: claim anything as her own.
Gluttony ate to grow strong. Greed seized control, turning them into minions.
Basically the ultimate puppeteer's kit before Rosemary hit Doll Apex.
Couldn't fully dominate powerhouses, though. Permanent thralls only for monsters.
Sloth or Pride wouldn't tag along. Envy had a rivalry complex with Greed anyway.
Oddly, they never teamed up despite shared goals.
"Must've come solo for some reason."
"Even with that power, she can't just multiply monsters, right? Breeding them fresh overnight's impossible."
Reina nailed it.
Spot on. No breeding sprees that fast.
That was Greed's trick.
"Her ability glitches the core rules. Say the gate caps at thirty monsters. Greed claims ten—they're hers now, not the gate's. Gate respawns ten more to hit cap."
Like gaming a system exploit.
Overcap, and it floods out. Internally, always thirty.
"Keep it up, and boom—flood."
"Exactly."
"What a pain in the ass. Why go solo all of a sudden?"
Han Su-ji grumbled. Honestly, same here.
Was she begging for a beatdown?
Her combat stats were the weakest among Sins. What balls to test us alone?
Worst case: other Sins crash the party.
Reality wasn't the original. This mess shouldn't even exist.
But my bet? She was solo.
"She wants to test how strong we are against Sins."
"She predicted we'd show?"
"She's sharper than she looks—an analyst. Knows trouble here means they call us."
"Do we have to bite?"
Han Su-ji had a point. No interest in playing along.
Problem: skip it, and the labyrinth keeps bloating.
Then other gates turn into headaches.
"No bite, endless growth?"
"Inevitable, huh."
Guild masters were conveniently elsewhere. Clearing it felt like dancing to Greed's tune.
Then it hit me.
No real need for us to dive in.
"Guild masters are out scouting other spots right now."
"Why bust our asses?"
I shot Si-woo the line while flashing the heroines a wicked grin.
"Got another play?"
"They crave our anti-Sin power. Smart as she is, she'll probe you—my girls—over my broadcast feats. So swap us for Shuery, Kotone, Rosaria?"
"They already know Greed, so no issue."
Si-woo nodded, buying it.
Counter-fish the fishers.
Greed or not, Shuery's War God Chui constellation meant no dying. Same for Kotone and Rosaria.
"But don't they have our intel?"
"Post-Sin fights, she itches for a direct clash. Hidden tricks? Plans to yoink something with her power."
Greed was paranoid meticulous. Unlike dumb stereotypes, this world's version tested every stone.
Tricky bitch.
"Doesn't matter if we're made. Still pisses me off—that starting cunt."
"Tell me about it."
As we yapped, Jeong Na-yoon and the crew—Shuery, Kotone, Rosaria—wandered over.
"What's with the powwow?"
"Just hashing out strategy. But our lineup's so stacked, roles feel pointless."
Skip Sins—no matching force anywhere.
I flicked a glance at Shuery.
"Hmm. Fair point."
"Honestly, dying to see Shuery's power most."
"Perfect. Witness the War God's might."
Shuery jumped on it without hesitation.
Our eyes met, and she whipped her head away.
Had I pissed her off already?
"Weird. Normally you'd white-flame the swarm, no?"
"Wanna see Shuery flex too—and other Sins might be in mix?"
Kotone—Yuzuki—and Rosaria went dead serious at that.
Japan and UK were Korea allies on Sin probes.
Reps like them? Safe to loop in.
"Then tell Shuery too?"
"If she asks, sure."
Not babysitting. Make her ask.
We wanted her demo anyway.
"We'll head in then."
"Yeah. You got this, but stay sharp. Magic gear if shit hits."
"Gotcha."
With that, we marched on Manchuria Gate 1.
"One sec first. Clear the entrance."
Monsters across the gate zone went up in flames.
I snuck a peek at Shuery. She perked with interest—then turned away sharp.
What the hell?
Entry kicked off Shuery's spotlight.
She led point, light crossbow bolts from her hand shredding monsters wholesale.
Pssshooooom!
Beams like sky-piercers slashed the air. Monsters in their path vaporized.
"Damn, she's nuts. Sin-tier easy."
"War God constellation? Has to pack heat. Chui was a weapon master, right?"
"But really Chui?"
Even I struggled to buy it. This half-fantasy world by Yoo Eun-ha might host real myths, but Chui was legend-tier. Zero proof.
Si-woo's Divine Sword Chisia started human, became sword then constellation.
"Doubt it's certain. Could be a war hero deified into one."
"Can't sleep on her."
"No kidding. She cooked up a monster factory."
Endless hordes.
Shuery hammered the front, but flanks bled toward us.
"Kill and they respawn forever. Infuriating."
Should've wrapped yesterday? Total drag now.
Sudden ambush—dozens surged.
A massive orc barreled at me, bellowing.
"Groooaaargh!"
Cocky prick. Time for my retort.
Not his growl—dragon roar special.
"Kkyoooooot!"
My lil' dragon's cute cry.
Orc took my falsetto point-blank, bled from every hole, and flopped sideways.
"...Voice mirror match?"
Choi Si-woo up front spouted crap, so I yanked his nipple piercing hard.