Chapter 6
**CHAPTER TITLE: Level Up**
“Kang Do-yoon.”
“Yes.”
“If I were to...”
Yoo Chae-won's voice grew softer.
“...injure Kang Do-yoon...”
“I would die.”
“...”
“What?”
“Let me say this clearly.”
Yoo Chae-won spoke with firm determination.
“A woman who harms a man has no right to hold her head up high.”
“...”
“Really?”
Yoo Chae-won shook her head.
“My parents taught me that a woman who watches a man get hurt is not a true woman. I learned that from them.”
“...”
Kang Do-yoon had no idea what to say right then.
It was almost like a cheat code.
He understood it now, though.
In the original world, if a man failed to protect his girlfriend in a dangerous situation, he got roasted.
If the world was the opposite, Yoo Chae-won's view wasn't completely insane.
Kang Do-yoon thought for a moment.
“Um, I get it.”
Yoo Chae-won's eyes suddenly widened.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you so much!”
Yoo Chae-won's face lit up like never before.
Kang Do-yoon looked at her and gave a bitter smile.
She was this happy over just using one Shield.
Well, if it made her feel safe, that was fine.
The two of them moved deeper into the gate.
The result wasn't much different from yesterday.
No, more precisely, it was worse.
[Random Mob 1]
Death.
[Random Mob 2-6]
Death.
...
Kang Do-yoon stared at the Shield wrapped around his body.
He remembered the conversation from earlier.
‘A woman who harms a man has no right to hold her head up high.’
‘If word got out, I would be labeled a terrible woman.’
‘My parents taught me that.’
“...”
What was that argument again?
The monsters had never even managed to stand against Yoo Chae-won's sword.
The situation for using the Shield had never even arisen.
Kang Do-yoon let out a hollow laugh.
“Why were we fighting over the Shield...”
“Huh?”
“Nothing.”
Yoo Chae-won tilted her head but soon turned back to the front.
This time, even the boss...
[Random Mob Boss]
Clang.
End.
...
Kang Do-yoon was no longer surprised.
The gate was cleared faster than yesterday.
A return portal appeared.
The two of them walked through it without hesitation.
There was one difference, though.
No reward window popped up.
They only received a few Mana Stones.
At that moment.
“You're already back?”
The staff member approached with a startled expression.
Kang Do-yoon checked the time.
He was shocked himself.
It had been less than an hour since they entered the gate.
“It was faster than I expected.”
The woman glanced at Yoo Chae-won.
She nodded as if she understood something.
“Ah. Sword Saint team... I get why now. Still, don't let your guard down. Gates can spawn variables at any time. Keep grinding until Level 5. Think of it as building a foundation. Good work. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes...”
The staff member walked away and Kang Do-yoon sighed.
“I...”
A cautious voice came from the side.
Kang Do-yoon turned his head.
Yoo Chae-won was watching him carefully.
“If it's okay with you, could we go in one more time?”
“What?”
“Inside the gate.”
Kang Do-yoon was more surprised.
“I don't mind, but won't it be too much for you?”
“It's nothing.”
Her answer was instant.
“We just cleared the monsters, right?”
“This is nothing.”
Yoo Chae-won said it with complete sincerity.
“And...”
“Huh?”
“I haven't used my skill yet.”
“...”
“...”
Kang Do-yoon fell silent.
Now that he thought about it, it was true.
Yoo Chae-won had swung her sword the entire time.
She hadn't used a single technique worth calling a skill.
Just.
Basic attacks.
“Ah...”
Kang Do-yoon stared at Yoo Chae-won with a dazed expression.
He realized something.
The Sword Saint job was far more overpowered than he had thought.
“Then shall we go in one more time?”
Kang Do-yoon thought for a moment.
He had nothing better to do at the dorm anyway.
Plus, he needed to level up.
“Let's go.”
“Understood!”
They had only entered the gate three times that morning.
Kang Do-yoon hadn't even used his Shield once and hadn't healed at all.
Kang Do-yoon checked his watch and spoke first.
“It's almost lunchtime. Want to eat?”
“Sure!”
The reply came so quickly that Kang Do-yoon glanced at her in surprise.
Yoo Chae-won flinched.
“I'm sorry!”
“...”
He didn't know why she was apologizing, but he let it slide.
“What do you feel like eating?”
“I eat anything.”
That was the expected answer.
Kang Do-yoon pulled out his phone.
“How about tonkatsu?”
“It's fine.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Kang Do-yoon searched right away.
A moment later.
There. A tonkatsu place appeared nearby.
The ratings weren't bad.
“Let's go there.”
“Yes.”
Yoo Chae-won nodded.
A few steps later, she suddenly stopped.
“...”
Kang Do-yoon turned back.
Yoo Chae-won was standing there looking extremely tense.
“Why? Do you want something else besides tonkatsu?”
“No, no. I love tonkatsu. It's not that. I...”
“Yes?”
“I...”
Yoo Chae-won clasped her hands tightly.
“Kang Do-yoon and...”
“Yes?”
“We...”
Yoo Chae-won swallowed hard.
“Eat lunch together...”
“What?”
Kang Do-yoon didn't understand for a second.
Just the two of us for lunch?
Why?
Lunch is just lunch.
But Yoo Chae-won's expression grew strange.
“Is that... right?”
“...”
What now?
This time it was Kang Do-yoon's turn.
Yoo Chae-won looked genuinely confused.
After a short hesitation, she spoke carefully.
“I've never eaten lunch with a man alone before.”
“...”
Kang Do-yoon thought for a moment.
Then it hit him.
Wait.
He remembered that in the original world, he had never eaten at a restaurant with a woman alone either.
No, not never. It was nonexistent.
“...”
Still, he couldn't say that.
So Kang Do-yoon simply nodded as if it was normal.
“I see.”
“Yes...”
The two of them headed toward the tonkatsu place.
After finishing the meal, Kang Do-yoon took out his phone.
“Ah. Yoo Chae-won.”
“Yes!”
“Give me your number.”
Yoo Chae-won's body stiffened instantly.
“...”
“What?”
Kang Do-yoon blinked in confusion.
“Contact info.”
“Oh.”
“We're on the same team.”
“Yes, yes!”
Yoo Chae-won gave him her number.
After saving it, Kang Do-yoon hesitated and spoke again.
“If you're free, want to have dinner together sometime?”
“...”
“What?”
Yoo Chae-won's eyes grew wide.
“It's not like that.”
Kang Do-yoon added quickly.
“If we eat at the cafeteria, people stare too much. It'd be easier with someone you know. How about it?”
Only then did Yoo Chae-won understand and nod.
“If that's the case... feel free to ask anytime. I don't mind.”
“Thank you.”
From that day on, the two of them naturally started eating together.
In the afternoon, during gate runs, the level rose.
Then the level-up reward appeared.
─────────────────
Level has risen.
Lv.2 → Lv.3
Level-up reward granted.
- Mana Stone ×20
─────────────────
...
As they were leaving the gate, Kang Do-yoon saw familiar faces.
Cha Jin-hyuk and Yoon Seol-ah.
They were wearing matching T-shirts.
Anyone would think they were a couple.
Kang Do-yoon thought to himself.
‘It seems the plot is moving faster than expected.’
Well, it's not his problem.
He turned his head.
The next day.
Day 4.
Cha Jin-hyuk and Yoon Seol-ah were still glued together.
Even more so than yesterday.
They smiled at each other as soon as their eyes met.
‘I really can't stand it.’
Of course, it was only in his head.
That day, they cleared the gate too.
But nothing special happened.
The level didn't rise.
Then on day 5.
Friday morning.
Cha Jin-hyuk appeared in front of the gate.
Something felt off today.
He was wearing a full suit.
What was this?
Job interview?
Just as he thought, Yoon Seol-ah approached Cha Jin-hyuk.
Cha Jin-hyuk suddenly reached into his pants pocket.
...
Kang Do-yoon frowned.
What were they doing from the morning?
No way.
He instinctively tried to look away.
At that moment, Cha Jin-hyuk pulled out a ring.
The Ejaculation Control Ring.
And...
“Will you take my ring?”
Kang Do-yoon's ears nearly popped.
Yoon Seol-ah covered her mouth with an emotional expression.
“Jin-hyuk... I love you!!”
And she immediately hugged him.
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
“Kyaaaa!”
“Congratulations!”
“Waaaa!”
Kang Do-yoon stared blankly at the scene.
What a show from the morning.
That was the only impression he got.
That day, they cleared the gate too.
Thanks to accumulated experience from the day before, the level rose.
─────────────────
Level has risen.
Lv.3 → Lv.4
Level-up reward granted.
- Mana Stone ×20
─────────────────
...
Again.
Kang Do-yoon stared at the status window without a word.
He felt like tears might come for some reason.
“Is this normal?”
“What is?”
“The level-up reward only gives Mana Stones.”
Yoo Chae-won nodded as if she understood the situation.
“It's common. Actually, most of the time it's just Mana Stones.”
“Ah.”
“Skill upgrade tickets or special rewards rarely appear.”
Thinking back, getting the Skill Upgrade Ticket on the first day had been lucky.
Kang Do-yoon forced himself to be happy and spent the weekend.
Then on Monday.
As Kang Do-yoon headed back to the gate, he noticed something strange.
...
Huh?
Cha Jin-hyuk was gone.
Yoon Seol-ah was gone too.
At that moment, the staff member stepped forward.
“Announcement.”
“Cha Jin-hyuk intern and Yoon Seol-ah intern. You two have completed the transition to full-time due to pregnancy and are currently on maternity/paternity leave.”
Kang Do-yoon's mind froze.
“...”
“What?”
The crowd showed no reaction.
As if it was normal.
“Keep working hard at the gate today as well.”
“What?”
Yoo Chae-won gasped beside him.
“Three years of paid leave? I'm so jealous.”
Kang Do-yoon slowly turned his head.
“Wait. Three years?”
“Yes. The moment you're pregnant, you get three years off.”
Yoo Chae-won nodded as if it was obvious.
“If you give birth to a boy, you can get another three years.”
“...”
“Total six years.”
Kang Do-yoon looked up at the sky for a moment.
His head hurt.
‘Pregnancy.’
‘Maternity leave.’
‘Three years.’
All those words swirled in his mind.
And the most important fact hit him.
‘Wait.’
‘If the original protagonist is gone, how is the story going to progress?’
Kang Do-yoon was genuinely shocked.
The game hadn't even started yet.
If the protagonist was on leave for three years.
Who was even running the story now?