Send Me Home
“Why the hell is this coming to me?”
I let out a sigh and the question popped into my head the moment I saw the message. And at the end of that question was one person.
“No way…”
I quickly pocketed my phone and shoved my hand into my pocket. I was checking my Awakener ID, which I'd lazily stuck in my wallet. Opening the wallet revealed a blue plastic card smack in the middle. The Awakener ID I'd gotten from Cheonhwa. And next to my photo was a big, bold alphabet letter that jumped into view.
“D-rank…?”
D-rank. The most ambiguous rank, the one that rolled around in gates more than any other.
Why of all things.
Not even C-rank, but couldn't it have been E or F? Why D-rank of all ranks. If it weren't for the S-rank money, I'd just...
My hands were trembling.
“...But I can't exactly skip this.”
Grudges aside, I had to at least check it out. 15 million won was no joke. That was worth 4 or 5 low-grade mana stones.
I gestured to the mart clerk to hold on a sec, then headed back inside, grabbing a mask and a few ice packs. Good thing it was a big mart—everything I needed was there. After checking out, I wrapped the spring cabbage in its plastic and tucked it into my bag with the ice packs.
“If this spring cabbage goes bad, we're all dead.”
The two hiding in my hood and the load in my bag. My heavy shoulders slumped with a groan.
I'll make you pay for this, big time.
Pondering how to squeeze Cheonhwa dry, I headed to the location on my phone map.
As I approached the spot marked by the link, the scenery gradually shifted. The residential streets gave way to a road lined chaotically with restaurants, convenience stores, and billboards.
Man, it was tough getting used to. For a loner, one-armed loser like me, Jiha Lee, it was a bit overwhelming.
At least there weren't many people around. Probably cordoned off because of the gate. Felt like I could finally breathe a little.
“Should be getting close now.”
My phone map showed I was almost there. Turning the corner...
“Woof, wanna go home already.”
Dozens of people in suits were bustling around. Way... way too many people. Just thinking about dealing with them overloaded my brain.
But I couldn't bail. Right in front of my eyes, the number -1500 flickered in blue.
-15,000,000 won
I clenched my fists tight and decided to just charge in.
“Hello. You here because of the message?”
A woman grabbed me as I approached the gate. Definitely Association staff.
“Then, for ID verification, could you show me your Awakener ID?”
Sure enough, inspection time. Makes sense—they check attendance and slap on the fine. I pulled the ID from my wallet and handed it over.
“Hmm... one moment. You're Jiha Lee, right?”
“...Yes.”
I lowered my mask and replied as she compared it to me. Her hand and eyes froze mid-check.
“……”
What? What do you want me to do? She stared right at me. Her eyes didn't look like she was fainting or anything. Just staring holes through me.
An awkward silence stretched on. Then a voice came from behind her.
“Hey, Yeon Joohee, what're you doing?”
The suited man looked like her senior.
“S-sorry. ID confirmed. Head inside.”
Snapping to at his words, she apologized and pointed inward.
What the...? Did I have something on my face? Whatever, I nodded and went in, making sure to pull my mask back up. A bit stuffy, but better than showing my face and causing a hassle.
“Joohee, snap out of it. Time to drop the newbie vibe.”
“Sorry, sunbae. But seriously, no joke. Even I as a girl was like, whoa...”
Why the sudden fuss? Talk about my looks came from behind. Shouldn't that wait till the person's gone? It was a compliment, but... not welcome at all. My brain still rejected words like “pretty” or “cute” every time.
I sped up to escape the sound waves of their chat. The gate loomed closer. Two hunters like me were talking in front—a burly shield guy and a woman with a slim staff at her waist. Tank and mage, obviously.
“Fuck...”
My already shitty mood tanked further. Why the tantrum? You ask?
“We're still outside, dude. Too much PDA draws eyes.”
“Why~? You don't seem to care.”
This scene right in front of me was the real tantrum fuel. Fuck... just get a room already. Hugging it out in front of the gate like stares don't matter? Total bullshit.
Ah... migraine. Really wanna go home.
I waited out their lovey-dovey crap. Good thing they had some sense—not too long.
“Oh, you called for this gate raid? Park Taekon.”
“Yun Seoyeon.”
“Jiha Lee.”
I wasn't gonna be overly friendly. We'd split soon anyway. I keep business and personal separate, like a pro. Not because they're a couple or whatever. Absolutely not.
Then an Association staffer approached us.
“Urgent, so skipping intros. Quick rundown.”
Breathing hard, he continued.
“No exact readings on monsters inside.”
“...What does that mean?”
“Rough guess: orcs and goblins...”
But...? Seoyeon prompted, and he scratched his head.
“No big issue... we think. But the mana waves are a bit off from usual.”
“Off how?”
“Another monster type, maybe. But within margin of error—no higher than E to D-rank. Just stay alert.”
E-rank. My tension eased a bit. Why phrase it to freak people out? Thought some B-rank curveball was coming.
“Alright, let's go.”
Explanation done, tank uncle muttered and stepped into the gate.
“Ugh— guy always rushes in headfirst.”
Seoyeon facepalmed and followed. Guess it was my turn.
Ugh, such a pain.
Can't I just go home and eat spicy spring cabbage bibimbap? Same thought as I approached the gate.
Better if I clear it before they do. Bust through, end it quick, snag the rewards. Two birds, one stone.
I stepped into the gate.
Clang—
“Seoyeon!”
“Got it—!”
Ugh, chills— Crossing the gate dumped us into a dark forest with the screech of metal on metal scraping my ears. Unfamiliar cold weapon clashes made my body recoil. I shook it off and looked around. Taekon and Seoyeon were already fighting. Taekon blocking goblin swords with his shield, Seoyeon frying them with lightning magic from behind. Classic tank-mage formation.
But watching, a thought hit: Lightning through the shield and goblin blades—won't it zap tank uncle?
As I watched, lightning poured from Seoyeon's staff, charred goblins, headed for Taekon—but.
Crackle—
No shock. The sparks got sucked into the orb in the shield's center.
Cool.
Veteran couple combo, huh? They mowed down goblins smoothly. But.
Hmm, still gonna take forever, right?
That's from their view of “smooth.” Gate entrance, barely past goblins, and this long? Spring cabbage would rot before I got home.
I shoved past them and charged ahead. Taekon tried blocking—“Danger!”—but.
“Too slow.”
Tank speed couldn't catch me.
Keruk?
“...Room for goblin heads?”
Slash— One down. Head off in under a second. Taekon and Seoyeon gawked.
What? Do your jobs.
Keruk!Whoosh— Next goblin, then the next—sliced in seconds. No need for power; light swings turned them to chunks.
One annoyance: the slimes messing with my moves. Slimy feel on skin was gross too.
Gotta finish quick. Home, bibimbap—brain looped it as I eyed ahead.
“...Same D-rank? We just in the way?”
I felt their stares.
“Yeah... we're hindering at this point.”
“More importantly, still in the gate? Don't touch.”
Fuck. World’s all Pinkfong happy? Pisses me off mid-fight.
Was kinda liking the praise. Why end it like that?
Waaagh—
“Orcs now?”
Goblins nearly done, an orc lumbered from the dark woods. Huge build, deeper green skin, rippling muscles. Definitely stronger than goblins. But.
So what? Didn't look tougher than the giant centipedes I'd killed. Issue: cold weapon and thinking brain. Still just big strong goblin.
Waaaagh!
Eye contact— it leaped. Massive body closing, axe at my waist. Blade inches away—
“Too slow.”
Exhale light, use axe as springboard to leap. Stab— Knife in orc throat. Thick hide? Hell's True Taste pierced easy.
Grraaah…
“Whew—!”
Landed, caught breath. Hot. Humid forest trapped heat, sweat pouring. Stuffy—instinctively pulled down hood.
“Ahh, better.”
Ventilation key, huh? Felt alive now. But wait... hood down okay?
Realized too late.
And—too late.
“G...girl?”
Shit. Taekon, mid-goblin clean-up, eyes met. Clunk— Shield slipped from his hand.
“What's up?”
Seoyeon looked over.
“No, over there...”
“Oh my god—”
Both speechless. Faces screaming incomprehension. Trouble brewing. KO them both, solo clear, bail?
Brain spun options.
Oh right, the two?
Slimes in my hood. Me aside, what about Blackie and Whitey? Scanning discreetly—
Squelch—
“Eek—!”
“Huh?”
“N-nothing.”
Sudden back sensation—weird noise escaped. When'd it sneak there?! Must've slipped down my back when hood dropped. Icky feel, but my karma—sucked it up, opened mouth to answer.
Thud—Chill—!
Earth-shaking quake. Massive pressure from deep woods crushed us—not just me, all.
Staring duo turned serious, eyes on woods. Skin crawling, prey sensation total.
Then.
Rumble—
Coming...
Sound from pressure source. Growing louder, nearly here—
Something burst out.
Keruk—!Grahhh—!!!
“Huh? Goblin and orc?”
Taekon sounded deflated. Me too. Totally mismatched the pressure.
But Seoyeon's words differed.
“Wait. Something's off with them. Less attacking vibe, more fleeing...”
Thud—!
“!!!”
Shiver— Her words cut by spine-rattling stomp. Same pressure. Prey dread dominated.
Why always me...
Bad feeling. This guy's pure hassle. Guaranteed.