Knowledge is Power
"Damn, only innocent civilians got hurt?"
I'd thought seeing corpses wouldn't faze me after all the ones in games, but facing them in reality made my stomach churn. Seol-ah was the same, clamping one hand over her mouth and gripping my hand tight without a word.
But this is exactly when I need to keep a clear head...!
I squeezed Seol-ah's hand and forced myself to look away from the bodies as we passed. Staring at that carnage would only wear down my mind. The living had to keep going. Sorry to these victims, but I didn't have the luxury to mourn.
I still don't have enough info...
Seol-ah walked by with her eyes closed and head bowed, not saying a word even as we passed. Maybe that was the best tribute you could give in a death trap like a gate.
By the time the bitter almond scent from the poison-killed corpses faded, we spotted another monster body. Another plant-type. No special takedown needed, so no further processing required.
Plant-types keep popping up...
Plant monsters were terrifying for their insane reproduction rates, but they had a well-known weakness to fire. And I had fire magic and Dragon Breath—I was basically the perfect counter for this gate. Maybe we'd clear it easy.
But info was never enough. Just as I geared up to move on for more intel, I ran into a face I really didn't want to see.
"Hah? Didn't I tell you I'd kill you if you followed?"
The C-rank hunter Hyeok... or whatever his name was. Even though everyone except me and Seol-ah had followed him, their numbers had thinned out dramatically. No surprise—he'd racked up tons of civilian casualties without knowing the strats.
The survivors looked gaunt, like they'd been through hell since.
"Only one path, so we came this way. Problem?"
"Ha! You look like a hunter too, but tailing another one like a loser? Must be some low-rank scrub."
The C-rank hunter spat his taunt while flashing his hunter ID like a trophy. Bold C-rank stamped right on it.
I had my ID too, but I'd kept it at F-rank to stay low-profile. I'd need to bump it to D soon to seem natural... but showing it now would just inflate his ego.
Sensing my hesitation, he barked first.
"Figured. Don't let me catch you again."
Threatening a kid-looking girl in front of people probably bruised his pride less than before—he dialed back the snarl a bit.
After he swaggered off with the civilians, we hung back a moment before heading the same way. Technically following, but same path anyway.
At the end of the slow walk: the cave's exit. Light leaked in from outside.
Still no boss room... wonder what's out there.
I checked my phone naturally. It didn't show gate time, but Korean time at least. Left home at 4 PM; now it read 6 PM. Two hours gone, no rescue.
With the civilians tailing that thug and Seol-ah to think of, maybe I should rush the boss... but leaving her with that punk to dive in? Insane.
Waiting for late backup might be smarter.
Before leaving the cave, I found a decent nook. Overgrown vines nearly hid it—even I almost missed it. If we were stuck overnight, securing a safe hideout was key.
I needed a breather too, but Seol-ah looked worse.
Once the nook was secure, I called her.
"Seol-ah, rest here a bit. I'll watch our backs—no worries."
"...Okay."
It'd been a rough day for her. Trapped with monsters everywhere, corpses right in front of her eyes. Huge mental drain for a powerless civilian.
Those civilians looked wrecked too...
A few tailing the C-ranker had eyed me like they hoped I was higher-ranked... tough luck. Why flash my F-rank for their sake?
"Rest up, then we scout on our own."
Soon enough, Seol-ah steadied her breathing, eyes gleaming with resolve. Her recovery's insane.
After a long trek outside, a stone structure overgrown with foliage came into view. Looked important at a glance. If it hid big loot, I had to beat that C-ranker there.
Inside: like an ancient temple. Wall carvings showed a dragon battling a grotesque monster, like some prophecy.
"A dragon? Whoa... so cool!"
Seol-ah latched onto the art, tracing the walls intently. She buzzed excitedly, asking if dragons were real over and over.
"No way dragons are here..."
If one was, we wouldn't have time to geek out. Tower NPCs spun weird tales like "dragons might've existed once." No fossils or anything solid.
...Hang on, wasn't the guy who made me like this a dragon?
It'd felt so unreal, like a dream. Recalling it now hit different.
Anyway, we searched the temple top to bottom—no real loot. Some decorative shards, worthless.
Regretfully exiting, the sun dipped low.
"Seol-ah. How long we been here exactly?"
"About four hours."
"Four hours in a C-rank monster gate, no rescue..."
"Which means..."
Time to head back to our hideout. Whatever the holdup, long haul meant rest was essential. We'd picked a safe, tucked-away spot.
Back at the original cave, we slipped into the entrance nook—our hideout. No signs of life. Safe.
"Crash here tonight."
"Stone floor, vines... this bedding's not supposed to be this lumpy...?"
"Hey, no complaints."
"...Fine."
She wouldn't know a 'safe' sleep spot in a gate was rare as hell. But this vine-curtained crevice? Probably the only one. Even that C-ranker might miss it.
Just in case, I carved some nearby rocks into arrowheads, scattered 'em at the entrance. Fortress level now.
"Too cramped..."
"...No complaints? And this is the comfiest setup."
Camping under thick vines in the slightly wider inner cave. No gear, but gate-luxury hotel vibes. Shut up and sleep—we move tomorrow.
"Oppa takes too much space!"
As I settled, Seol-ah squirmed my way, wriggling close.
"Seol-ah? I'm uncomfortable—"
"But... too scared to sleep without this..."
Final pose: her hugging me like a teddy bear. Awkward with someone clamped on, but better than her tossing all night and suffering tomorrow.
One lesson burned in: If Seol-ah wants to crash late at my place, kick her out.
That was my takeaway.
"Whoa... still no rescue?"
Seoul didn't fall, right? Half-joking, but yeah.
A C-rank monster gate blocking rescue? Had to be something big. Only option: kill the boss.
First, scout boss room location.
Kicked aside yesterday's stones, exited with Seol-ah. Entrance light lit the area bright.
Definitely daytime... scout opposite yesterday's path?
Target: opposite the weird mural trail. Weed- and moss-choked path, damp from overnight rain.
"Whoa!"
"Careful!"
Slippery ground had me catching Seol-ah a few times, but we reached a stone building. Like yesterday's, but with hunter gallery-famous patterns.
Definitely... mid-low gate boss room.
Hand on wall, I circled for the door. Found it quick—sealed tight. No one's entered.
Ear to door for inner vibes—then footsteps behind. Cocky adult male tread, plus weak civilian shuffles. C-rank hunter and his charges.
Ducked behind a tree to avoid hassle. Seol-ah smartly hunkered silent behind me.
His group arrived, even fewer civilians.
Lost more?
Civilians looked hopeless, eyes dull from endless deaths since the gate.
C-rank hunter ignored them, eyes on the boss room only.
"Finally found it."
A middle-aged guy asked, "S-So we can leave now...?"
"Obviously. Boss down, we're out."
The man sighed relief, but the hunter's tone? No sincerity. Sounded more like "Finally, loot and go."
"I'll clear the gate—follow me!"
The guy who'd triggered every trap declares boss clear? Something's off... do I have to clean this up?