Chapter 46
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Han Guild's Inex Challenge
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While they were on their way, a message arrived from Han Eun-woo.
[New Message]
[Han Eun-woo (A): Hyung, Ru-ri went to a C-rank gate. Sending coordinates. 373251,1265855]
"A C-rank?"
"Yeah?"
"Eun-woo must have checked the gate clearance permit. He says she's at a C-rank gate right now and sent the coordinates. Si-jin, let's head that way."
"Got it."
"Right! Why didn't I think of a regular gate?"
"Teacher Yang knows Ru-ri just as well as I do. How reckless she can be."
By the time the three of them arrived at the gate coordinates Han Eun-woo had provided, Lee Ru-ri was just finishing the clearance certification at the gate entrance.
"Ru-ri!"
"T-Teacher! Seung-woo is here too. H-Hahaha."
Lee Ru-ri laughed awkwardly.
"Do you have any idea how worried we were?"
"Yeah! You have no idea. I nearly had a heart attack thinking some nonexistent kid was gonna drop dead!"
"Sorry."
"Clearing a C-rank without me? What were you thinking? We really thought you..."
"...didn't think I charged into the Inex alone, right...?"
Lee Ru-ri had thrown it out as a joke, but the three who had actually feared exactly that clutched their chests in relief and slumped down.
"I'm not that stupid!"
"You should've at least said something before going."
"I told Seung-woo every time our eyes met that I was heading out, and you said no."
"Seung-woo's at fault then."
"Right. Director, you're the one who messed up. Apologize. Now."
"Haa..."
"Let's head out for now. Ru-ri, anywhere hurt?"
Yang Jeong-hyun asked while checking Lee Ru-ri's condition.
"Nope. C-rank wasn't a big deal."
"What came out here?"
"Koremi and Muski. Koremi were cute but tough. Muski were just big and dumb, so I cleaned them up quick."
"From C-rank on, the number of spawned magibeasts is at least five times that of D-rank. How in the world..."
"That's why it took a little time!"
Han Seung-woo pondered inwardly as he watched Lee Ru-ri answer so brightly.
'I need to find some way to tie this woman down. Or... just keep her glued to my side at all times.'
Lee Ru-ri, noticing Han Seung-woo's serious expression lost in thought, whispered in his ear.
"Seung-woo, let's talk alone later."
"Understood."
Choi Si-jin dropped Yang Jeong-hyun off at the lab, and the remaining three headed to headquarters together.
"Director, I'll go wrap up the meeting minutes and send them over."
"Alright. Call if anything comes up."
"Yep!"
Choi Si-jin entered headquarters.
The two headed straight back to Lee Ru-ri's guest room.
"Seung-woo, sorry for worrying you. Truth is... I went to see Keres."
"I figured. What did Keres say?"
"We can't beat Teba."
"I suspected as much."
"But it's not like there's no way."
"Really?"
"We just need to get ridiculously strong!"
"That's your plan...?"
Lee Ru-ri grabbed Han Seung-woo's hands, hoisted them up triumphantly, and beamed even brighter at his incredulous look.
"Yep! So let's go, gate clears—now!"
"Haa..."
Han Seung-woo checked his watch at Lee Ru-ri's urging.
"Just the two of us, so B-rank it is. I'll change and be right back. Stay put."
While waiting for Han Seung-woo, Lee Ru-ri reviewed the skills she'd acquired so far.
'Status effects from F and E-ranks don't work, so scratch those. Active attack skills: Extinction and Rock. I've used Rock with black mana in pinches, but it shattered so pathetically against Teba... time to drop it too.'
The skill she'd first gotten from the goblin.
Hurling fist-sized stones had evolved into her current black Extinction, just like that.
She felt she'd grown exactly that much.
It was a bit regrettable, the years wasted without knowing her true abilities, spent so pointlessly.
'Upgraded to mid-tier summoner with the hidden skill, so contracting more magibeasts should make me high-tier. Wanna summon Drayger and Basilhan for a test fight, but Teba's too risky...'
Keres's words suddenly came back: summoning Drayger and Basilhan against Teba might get them killed.
'Can't let that happen to them. My first contractors.'
She rummaged through her bag, wondering if there was anything to grab.
'Keep raiding gates with Seung-woo as is, but sneak off to hidden gates solo for other special bosses. Gathering materials is a breeze with Remnant anyway.'
Her thoughts were organizing when Han Seung-woo returned.
"All set?"
"Yep!"
As the two stepped out the door to leave, Choi Si-jin came rushing into Lee Ru-ri's room looking for Han Seung-woo.
"Director! You're here!"
"What is it?"
"Han Guild's challenging the Gangnam Inex gate."
"When?"
"Now."
"Haa...?"
"Not now! It's too dangerous!"
"We know. But they're stubbornly gathering at the entrance, sorting their formation."
"Chairman Han leading?"
"Yes."
"Have an ambulance on standby, grab Teacher Yang, and head there. We'll go now."
"Got it!"
Choi Si-jin dashed toward Yang Jeong-hyun's lab.
"Gate training after this blows over."
"Sounds good."
The two hurried toward the Gangnam Inex gate.
'Inex gates aren't fixed like regular ones. They feel like they shift constantly. If it's like our first time—hundreds of C-rank mobs and a decent boss—no problem. But...'
Han Seung-woo glanced at Lee Ru-ri's face and spoke lowly.
"Hope it's a decent boss like when we went together."
"Me too."
Han Seung-woo's heart ached seeing her dejected reply.
Over a hundred Han Guild members were already arrayed before the Inex gate.
"That's too many..."
"They're planning to overwhelm with numbers."
Han Seung-woo scanned for Han Ho.
Han Ho was talking with Han Gyeol near the entrance.
Lee Ru-ri and Han Seung-woo approached the father-son duo.
"Chairman."
"Here to talk me out of it?"
"Gyeol too?"
"Obviously."
"In that condition..."
"What's wrong with my body, hyung?"
Han Gyeol's eyes flashed at Han Seung-woo's concern.
Han Seung-woo stared into those eyes a moment before turning back to Han Ho.
"Remember the magibeast from the U.S. gate?"
"Couldn't see it, like the first Tokyo gate. But Korea's different. Light Guild all returned safe. Teacher said no life threats either."
"Still..."
"With these numbers, we won't go down easy, hyung. Don't worry."
"Ch-Chairman. It could really be dangerous. Can't we gather more info first?"
Han Ho gave the interrupting Lee Ru-ri an odd look, patted her shoulder a couple times, then continued.
"Ru-ri, long time no see. What info? Seeing and feeling it ourselves—that's info enough."
Despite Han Seung-woo and Lee Ru-ri's continued persuasion, Han Ho and Han Gyeol wouldn't budge.
Seemed like pride: succeeding where Light Guild failed.
"Re-inspection tomorrow, so we push today. Success boosts ranks for everyone here naturally. Enough pointless arguing."
Han Ho and Han Gyeol brushed past, blocking further attempts.
"Seung-woo, what do we do...?"
"Nothing for it. Just handle any injuries fast as they come."
"Haa..."
Lee Ru-ri thought to herself.
'Not Teba. Absolutely not.'
Yang Jeong-hyun, Choi Si-jin, and Ham Dae-hee approached the tense pair scanning Han Guild.
"Dae-hee hyung, we can just barge in like this? Chairman's here."
"No say over Han Guild anymore except ours. Anyway, that senile old man's really going?"
"Yeah. Ru-ri and I tried convincing, but no dice."
Yang Jeong-hyun glared and asked.
"Gyeol wants to go in that condition?"
"That's what he says."
"Teacher, I'm so worried..."
"Ru-ri, leave this to us and head back?"
"How can I..."
Han Seung-woo watched her trembling with anxiety, then said.
"Then we'll move separately."
"Yeah. Go clear a gate at least. Ambulance ready, and big trouble's on them."
Yang Jeong-hyun shoved Han Seung-woo and Lee Ru-ri's backs.
Han Seung-woo didn't want Lee Ru-ri witnessing inevitable sacrifices either.
He hurried off with her to the gate coordinates.
In the car, after a long silence, Lee Ru-ri spoke.
"Seung-woo."
"Yes."
"During the gate break."
"Yes."
"We entered a gate totally different from regular ones."
"Right."
"You weren't supposed to go there."
"Pardon?"
"The gate break happened because you got swept in with me."
"No way..."
"Inex gates are different from regular ones we know. I think all Inex gates worldwide are connected."
"Why?"
"Gate break wasn't just in Korea. It happened globally at once because of us... Probably Inex gates are densely linked in a massive network."
Another unknown world with never-before-seen magibeasts.
No issue when Lee Ru-ri went alone, but gate break when Han Seung-woo joined.
Yeah, her words made sense.
"Anyway, Keres said train hard to get strong... Seung-woo, brace yourself."
"Understood."
They soon arrived at the B-rank gate.
"Different from C-rank."
"How?"
"D to C is numbers. C to B is types and attack power."
"Super strong ones, huh?"
"B-rank rares let A-rank solos. Huge payoff."
"Jackpot if we get 'em."
"Yes. Tough clears, time-consuming, tricky traits."
Han Seung-woo submitted the clearance permit first.
Once approved, they entered slowly.
Inside, Lee Ru-ri summoned Remnant.
"Remnant."
―You called.
"How many Nameless here?"
Remnant pondered briefly before answering.
―2,000 by human count.
"Any Named?"
―None.
"2,000... That's a haul."
"Remnant could end it quick, but training means doing it ourselves."
"Naturally."
Han Seung-woo charged toward the magibeasts right after answering.
Lee Ru-ri dashed after, not to be outdone.
Remnant, standing idle, followed since no order to withdraw.
A past memory surfaced suddenly.
'But if I farm affinity with Seung-woo together, no skills... what to do?'