Chapter 8
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Keres's Gift
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"No way, right? What did you say?"
"I could show you right now..."
"Are you seriously asking me to believe that? You clearly have some issues. We need to move up your examination schedule."
Han Seung-woo picked up the receiver by the bedside, looking at Lee Ru-ri with concern.
Lee Ru-ri jumped up to stop him.
"Wait a second! I'm totally fine. I swear! If you're that worried, come with me."
"Where to?"
"Gate conquest. You're an A-rank hunter with the Association, so you've got top-notch gear. You could clear a C-rank gate solo, no problem."
"I don't do conquests."
"Just escort me, that's all."
"No."
"I'm telling you, I'll show you myself!"
The two bickered back and forth until the nurses came in to check their conditions.
The nurses slowly took their blood pressure readings.
Then they changed the IV bags, monitored the infusion, and left.
By then, Han Seung-woo had fallen asleep.
Lee Ru-ri gazed at the sleeping man for a moment before carefully opening her status window.
'Keres's gift... There are two of them. Let's check the first one first.'
Keres's Gift (1)
You have received the new skill <영면의 거부>. It will automatically disappear after 2 activations.
'Eternal sleep probably means death, and rejecting it... Does that mean it can resurrect us?'
Lee Ru-ri opened her skill window to check the new skill.
But no new skills were registered.
'It activates and then disappears... That's the key. Since it's not showing in the skill window now, it must have already activated. The fact that I'm perfectly fine, and Han Seung-woo's legs recovered from such severe injuries... We might really have survived thanks to this skill. That look in its eyes—it definitely forced us to live.'
Convinced, she checked the second gift message.
Keres's Gift (2)
R ― You have received a Hidden Gate Key.
'Hidden Gate? What's that?'
She tapped the Hidden Gate Key with her fingertip.
There was no description of the key itself, but the materials needed to craft it lit up in her status window.
Copper fragments were a familiar material.
She'd obtained countless ones while clearing F-rank gates.
She'd asked Jin Mi-seon about them, but even she didn't know what they were for.
Without a good way to dispose of them, she'd just been carrying a bunch in her bag.
'So copper fragments are for making Hidden Gate Keys. The rest must come from higher-rank gates, and the hole-ridden key is probably similar.'
Lee Ru-ri tapped the hole-ridden key to check its acquisition method.
Hole-Ridden Key
Exchangeable inside Hidden Gate Shop after acquiring Tears.
'Tears... And there's a shop inside the gate? First, where do I get tears from.'
She tapped on Tears to check the info.
Tears ― Obtainable after defeating Ogre, Moose, Lizard, Kelpie, Drake.
'Got it, I can get them by killing those. But how do I access the gate shop? This is getting more confusing by the minute.'
Her head started spinning uncontrollably.
Maybe she should get some fresh air. She gently wheeled the IV stand out of the room.
'Healing works on monsters, and now Hidden Gates? I've never even heard of those.'
She recalled a book on gate research she'd bought at a bookstore some time ago.
The exact cause was still unknown, but the massive magic stone discovered in the first gate at Namsan Tower had provided everything needed to sustain hunter society.
The awakening of hunters who could wield mana, methods to control gates, systematization of gate information, equipment crafting for slaying gate monsters, and even superior enhancements through engraving.
All of it would have been impossible without that massive magic stone.
'The book definitely didn't mention Hidden Gates. Guess I have to check it out myself.'
The sweltering heat was cooling off. Autumn was coming.
A pleasantly cool breeze.
"Sorry to Seung-woo, but..."
"Sorry?"
She whipped around in surprise.
Han Seung-woo had wheeled up behind her without her noticing.
"No, just... talking to myself."
"Absolutely no gate conquests."
"Ah..."
"To be honest, after the An Young-hoon crew incident wrapped up, I've been keeping tabs on you for the past five years."
"I knew hiding wouldn't work."
"Truth be told... I thought it was a relief that you were good at laying low."
"Pardon?"
"I haven't figured out why yet, but Chairman Han's interest in you feels excessive."
"Why? I've only met him a few times, and I never got any weird vibes—like back there."
"That's what makes him scary. He's like a snake. And earlier... I don't think you were joking."
"You trust me?"
"We're not close enough for full trust, but after Tokyo Tower Gate, we..."
"Died."
"So you felt it too, Ru-ri."
"Yeah."
"Figured as much. I'm curious myself."
"I haven't decided how friendly you are yet, so I can't tell you everything. Just that I thought I was normal, but I'm not. That's it for now."
"Understood. Do whatever you want, Ru-ri. But no conquests for the time being."
"You're so stubborn. Fine, I'll just sneak off to Choi Si-jin once you fall asleep."
"First thing tomorrow, I'm shipping Choi Si-jin back to Korea."
The two stared at each other for a moment before chuckling lightly in unison.
Then they turned their gazes to the blazing sunset.
As the sun set quickly, Lee Ru-ri pondered Hidden Gates, while Han Seung-woo thought about the noticeably changed Lee Ru-ri.
"Thank you so much. We managed to resolve this situation thanks to you."
"No need. Lives were at stake, and it took longer than expected, so you must have been very worried."
"How could I not be grateful? Just stabilizing it like this is beyond repayment."
Han Ho checked the envelope of documents handed over by the Japanese Prime Minister.
Inside was a pledge entrusting gate management rights in Japan to Korea.
"Are you sure about letting us handle it? It might minimize friction between our countries, but I can't guarantee zero issues."
"You've maintained it without problems for so long. We lack the capacity and ability. Without your help, this incident..."
The Prime Minister trailed off. It was a bigger yield than expected.
After exchanging goodbyes with the Prime Minister, Han Ho headed back to his lodging.
Upon awakening as the first hunter, Han Ho had gained the ability to sense gate energies.
Not just gate statuses, but he quickly grasped how to utilize magic stones from them too.
It felt like he'd been chosen.
He'd dominated Korea that way, and now Japan.
The gate's energy was still extraordinary.
The incident spreading from Korea to Japan was likely just the beginning.
"Leave this to Seung-woo and head back. Things are about to get busy."
"Seung-woo's legs are still..."
"Put Eun-woo in charge. And about Ru-ri—what else have you learned?"
"We found out there's a woman helping Lee Ru-ri. But why are you still so fixated on her..."
"Seung-woo's legs were definitely severed. No healer could reattach them. Something unimaginable happened in that gate. If I'm right, Ru-ri is definitely..."
A deep shadow crossed Han Ho's face again. Han Gyeol changed the subject to lighten the mood.
"Understood. Also, we announced that the follow-up hunters, including you and me, cleared the gate, but public sentiment is still poor."
"A blemish on our hunter careers, tch. Any info on the monsters that attacked us?"
At Han Ho's irritation, Han Gyeol rubbed his nape slightly.
"They tried to skin me alive, Father. Shadows darker than the gate's lighting. Nothing matches what I saw yet. Sorry."
"Even we top-tier hunters couldn't make out their forms properly. We've faced plenty of tricky S-rank monsters, but this felt completely different."
"Maybe above S-rank..."
"It's been over 70 years since the first gate opened only in Korea. Now that gate generation is expanding, there's no saying crazier monsters won't pop out. Round up the kids. We'll devour the Japan gates for now."
"So, the guild system you're planning..."
"You know what to do in Korea while Seung-woo's stuck here, right?"
"Guilds it is. Got it. I'll approve it, get all Association S-ranks to join, and start preparing guild territory conquests immediately."
"Who knows when Japan will demand the rights back. Make it fast and precise."
"I'll keep that in mind."
No way.
Si-jin, please, I'm begging you. Okay?
If the Director catches me, I'm dead! Please, spare me!
We're gonna be friends from now on, right? It's Ru-ri. You know how I've been running a Ghost Crew as an F-rank. Just 30 minutes. Please?
Sigh, fine. The nearest gate is 20 minutes from the hospital. The system's not fully set up yet, so it's measuring between F and E, but you're really going? Even if it means I die to the Director?
I'll be back before you die, Si-jin.
Wow, Ru-ri, you're the worst. ㅠㅠ Gate coords 353932,1394458. You better come to my funeral.
I prefer galbitang. Thanks!
"Ha, I'm dead meat."
Choi Si-jin buried his face in his desk in despair after Lee Ru-ri's reply.
Ding.
A message notification chimed.
Where are you?
"Ah...? Why is this guy up already!"
At that moment.
Lee Ru-ri left the hospital with eager steps full of anticipation.
She bustled toward the gate Choi Si-jin had told her about.
'So this is the vibe in Japan. Not much different from Korea. Still, conquering gates here feels kinda weird.'
Half tense, half excited.
After getting out of the taxi, she spotted the gate not far away.
'Whew, here we go.'
She sent a gate conquest permit request.
The permit arrived instantly, confirming Choi Si-jin had been waiting.
'Finish it in one go and get back without being late.'
She cautiously entered the gate entrance.
Minimizing her sounds, she slowly scanned the surroundings.
After walking tensely for a while, a familiar sound reached her ears.