Chapter 15
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Worldwide Super-Large Gate Outbreak
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We have breaking news just coming in. Super-large gates have been detected not only in Korea but across the world. Those near affected areas, please evacuate to safety immediately.
‘What the hell... what did I just hear?’
Choi Si-jin (C): Ru-ri, stay put after your re-exam. Emergency alert!
Stunned by the news and Choi Si-jin's message, Lee Ru-ri barely had time to process it before Yang Jeong-hyun, who was prepping for the re-exam, called out to her.
"Ru-ri, you got the word, right? No time to waste. Let's wrap this re-exam quick and head out for support."
"Yeah... but what’s going on all of a sudden?"
"New gate spawns have been spiking lately. Seung-woo and I were keeping tabs on it, but when it hits like this out of nowhere, it’s bound to throw you off."
"Ha... this is insane..."
"The association execs saw it coming. We weren't totally unprepared, so no need to panic too much. Let's get this re-exam done right. You know the drill?"
"Yes."
Ru-ri cautiously entered the judgment room Yang Jeong-hyun pointed to.
As Han Seung-woo had instructed, Yang Jeong-hyun set it up with no restrictions on Ru-ri's position, configuring a D-rank virtual monster.
When Seung-woo first mentioned the Conqueror position to her, Yang Jeong-hyun immediately thought of Han Ho's eldest son, Han Yu.
Yang Jeong-hyun's fiancé, Han Yu's death.
The special position Han Ho had forcefully buried.
And because of that special position, Han Yu had to die.
But why?
She had spent years gathering intel to uncover what special position Han Ho had hidden—and why Han Yu had to die because of it.
Now, she had a gut feeling she could find the key through Ru-ri.
Ru-ri dispatched the virtual monster in seconds.
She wielded skills utterly different from those of wizards.
‘That mana control... it’s definitely similar to Yi Il-won’s. There’s something here.’
While Yang Jeong-hyun was lost in thought, Ru-ri cleared the next wave of virtual monsters and carefully stepped out of the judgment room.
Sure enough, at the top of the judgment room display was the unfamiliar position name Seung-woo had mentioned: Conqueror.
"That's the position I saw in Japan. Teacher, do you know anything about it?"
Even as Ru-ri asked, Yang Jeong-hyun remained deep in thought.
"Teacher?"
"Oh, Ru-ri. Sorry, just sorting my thoughts. Yeah, it's definitely unfamiliar."
"Seung-woo said he'd never heard of it either."
"The good news is, I know someone who handled mana just like you."
"Really?!"
"Yes. Ru-ri, are you aware your mana recovery is exceptional? If not, note it now. I've only seen that level of recovery in one person: Yi Il-won."
"Yi Il-won... Could I meet him?"
"Wish we could, but sadly, he died a while back."
"Oh..."
"That said, we were close, so I have some info on him. Mind if I guide you based on what I know?"
"I'd be grateful."
"First, let's handle the fire. Time to gather intel on the super-large gate in the Seoul area. Perfect timing with the chairman and vice-chair away."
"Ah, okay."
As the two stepped outside, Choi Si-jin came rushing up in a fluster.
"Noona, we're heading to Gangnam Station first. There are seven super-large gates in Seoul."
"How about the other regions?"
"Total chaos. With the chairman and his son away, everyone's scrambling, but Jo An-sensei and Kim Woo-jin-sensei are directing things, so no extra casualties yet."
"No S-ranks heading our way?"
"Kim Woo-jin-sensei will join after wrapping his spot. But what about Ru-ri's position?"
"Just as you saw."
"The director said to keep Ru-ri's position under wraps for now..."
"Choi Si-jin, who am I?"
"The top position judge."
"You know it. I've already logged Ru-ri as a wizard."
"Whoa, really?"
"Wizard fits perfectly."
"You're amazing! Let's hurry!"
The area near the Gangnam Station super-large gate was pure pandemonium when Ru-ri's group arrived.
High-rises and apartment complexes had vanished into the gate in an instant, and families screamed at police blocking access, voices rising in fury.
An ambulance rushed away a sobbing elderly woman who'd collapsed, while burly young men and middle-aged guys scuffled fiercely with cops.
They flashed their hunter IDs to police and moved closer to the gate.
It wasn't sealed, but thankfully, no monsters had poured out.
"Definitely different from the usual gates. It's already stabilized without us doing anything."
"Yeah, the pattern matches a controlled gate entrance."
"It's huge. What happened to the people who were here?"
"When the first gate opened at Namsan Tower, everyone there vanished and is still missing. Same deal now—more missing from the site. Tragic, but we assume most are dead. Probably the same here."
As Choi Si-jin explained, Ru-ri cautiously touched a finger to the gate entrance.
"Ru-ri! Dangerous!"
Choi Si-jin hurriedly stopped her.
Thud.
The moment she made contact, Ru-ri collapsed limply.
"Ru-ri!"
"W-what the hell! Si-jin, to the association—now!"
Panicked, Choi Si-jin scooped her up, and with equally frazzled Yang Jeong-hyun, they raced back to the association.
Despite his worry, Choi Si-jin followed orders, moving Ru-ri to Yang Jeong-hyun's lab before heading to HQ.
At HQ, S-rank hunters Jo An and Kim Woo-jin—who'd been scouting super-large gates across Seoul—were already reporting to the chairman.
Jo An gave Choi Si-jin orders.
"Si-jin, prep the meeting room. All S- and A-ranks attending, plus the chairman, vice-chair, director, and Eun-woo in Japan via video."
"Got it. On it now."
Choi Si-jin bustled about for the meeting.
Han Ho's face on the monitor was shrouded in heavy shadows.
After a moment's thought, Han Ho spoke.
―Beijing stabilized once we set up the gate control tower and HQ, then countless super-large gates popped up.
Han Eun-woo continued.
―Japan was calming down too, but these sudden super-large gates have us reeling.
―How many in Korea?
Han Ho asked Jo An at Eun-woo's words.
Jo An scanned the paper Choi Si-jin handed her and replied.
"Seven in Seoul alone. Confirmed so far: Seoul, Suwon, Cheonan, Daegu, Busan, Ulsan, Jeju—anywhere from three to ten per spot."
"US inquiries are flooding in. The vice president keeps requesting a call with Chairman."
Han Ho, listening quietly to Jo An, trailed off.
―Super-large gates bursting open worldwide all at once...
Han Seung-woo, flipping through docs busily, eyed the monitor and added.
―Silver lining: they opened in controlled state.
"Exactly. Identical to controlled gate entrance patterns."
Han Gyeol smiled faintly at Choi Si-jin, who chimed in abruptly.
―We've stabilized Korea, Japan, Beijing with Father and me on-site, but other countries... no clue how to help.
Han Ho pondered briefly, then decided.
―Gyeol and I head to the US ASAP. Seung-woo, Eun-woo—back to Korea. Work with Jo An, Kim Woo-jin, Heo Sang-jin on super-large gate strategies.
He mulled more orders, then continued.
―No high-rank monsters pouring from super-large gates yet, so we have time. Issue is regular gates worldwide could explode once monsters start spilling. We'll assess US first—dispatch all A-ranks except Seung-woo to countries maxed out.
"Understood."
Hunters moved swiftly at Han Ho's commands.
"Ru-ri? You with us?"
"T-teacher..."
"God, you scared me. Where's it hurt most?"
"Head... stomach's churning too..."
Yang Jeong-hyun monitored Ru-ri's stats on the lab system while keeping her talking.
"Brainwaves are unstable. Nauseous?"
"Yes... urk."
"Here, here! This way!"
Yang Jeong-hyun shoved the trash bin beside her toward Ru-ri.
Ru-ri clutched it, retching for a bit before taking deep breaths to settle her stomach.
"Teacher. I heard a weird voice."
"Weird voice?"
"That gate. Said it won't open for a while."
"Who said?"
"The gate."
"Huh? The gate?"
"Yes."
Yang Jeong-hyun checked Ru-ri's mental state, suspecting issues.
But the unstable brainwaves normalized quickly, no major problems found.
"Ru-ri, head still hurt? Hallucinations or anything?"
"Teacher, it's real. The gate said so. Won't open for a bit—get ready."
"No clue... You sure you're okay?"
"Ha..."
When Choi Si-jin arrived at the lab after HQ duties, Yang Jeong-hyun was still probing Ru-ri's condition, while Ru-ri insisted desperately to a skeptical Yang Jeong-hyun.
"Uh... what're you two..."
"Si-jin, think Ru-ri needs a hospital."
"Teacher, it's true! Si-jin, believe me?"
"W-what am I supposed to believe..."
"Ha... Si-jin, Ru-ri says she talked to the gate."
"T-the gate...?"
"Yeah. Said it won't open awhile—prep thoroughly. Sounds like mental issues..."
"Teacher!"
"No, but your condition now? Any pain?"
"I'm fine."
"Mentally unclear, but physically? No issues. Phew."
"Why?"
"Director's coming back to Korea soon. If Ru-ri's hurt even a little, I'm dead."
"Wait, you two are like that?"
"Like that...?"
"She looks totally fine though..."
"Ha... Go touch the gate yourself. It really spoke!"
"Si-jin, any schedule after?"
"Nah. Meeting and minutes done—free till called."
"Then let's verify. If Ru-ri's head's messed up, she needs treatment fast."
"If I'm right, Teacher buys me 100 coffees."
"Deal!"