Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: It's Okay If I Die!
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After drinking the chocolate latte, the tension eased up a notch.
I downed the first cup almost in the blink of an eye.
Someone who looked like a secretary came over, chuckled softly, and brought me a second one.
Wow, what a kind person.
Giving me two cups of something this delicious for free.
Asking for a third would be too greedy, right?
"Hayang, you've got cream all over your mouth."
"Eh, really?"
I hurriedly wiped the corner of my mouth with my sleeve at Jeong Yujin's words, then froze.
Gasp!
This is the new outfit I just bought!
I acted out of habit and ended up dirtying my new clothes for nothing.
"Is it okay? Why didn't you use a tissue and wipe with your sleeve instead..."
"I forgot. Most of my clothes are worn out anyway, so I usually just wipe them like this."
"I-I see. Habits are hard to break. But your new clothes got dirty—what now?"
"It's fine. Just in case, I splurged and bought three of the same."
Not that I bought them aiming for this specifically.
But it ended up being prescient.
I shrugged a little, puffing out my neck proudly.
"......"
By the way, why is Choi Geonwoo so quiet?
I heard he called me here for something pretty important.
He's just been staring at me chugging the chocolate latte this whole time.
Ugh, it's so awkward.
Can't he just say something—anything?
"Um, excuse me..."
"Hm?"
"I, I heard you called me... because of the Layered Gate..."
"...Ah, right. I was late bringing it up."
Having mustered the courage to speak first, he thankfully responded.
But his reaction seemed like he'd completely forgotten about the Layered Gate.
My imagination, probably.
No way the guild master would forget something that crucial.
"Before we dive into that, I heard from Jeong Yujin. You're a buffer with an incredible skill, right?"
"Uh, incredible I don't know... but I do have a unique one."
"That's incredible enough. At the very least, it's something I've never heard of."
Is that so?
The master of Titan Guild says that, so it's surprising, but...
It could just be flattery.
"A skill that predicts enemy movements. Any conditions attached?"
"No, probably not."
"I didn't see any either. She predicted slimes hiding in water or monsters lunging from dead ends. Even captured the movements in detail."
It felt like Jeong Yujin had become my spokesperson.
But having her explain on my behalf was convenient for me.
I could just slurp away at the chocolate latte while the conversation flowed on its own.
"I see. I heard about it beforehand, but hearing it again is still mind-blowing."
Choi Geonwoo tapped the table and stroked his chin.
His face barely changed, so I couldn't tell what he was thinking.
Maybe now that he's met me, he thinks it's nothing special and is disappointed?
Well, it's Titan Guild, after all.
People like me are probably not just a dime a dozen—they come by the truckload.
No, someone like me probably couldn't even get into Titan Guild to begin with.
"Good. Roughly confirmed. Now, to the main topic. Have you heard of Layered Gates?"
"Yes, Yujin told me ahead of time."
"That speeds things up. Recently, one appeared in Yeongdeungpo. We sent a vanguard team to raid it, but we're stuck on the 1st layer."
Just as I'd heard.
Admitting a raid failure could be a sore spot for the guild.
But sharing it openly with an outsider like me...
It showed just how straightforward he was.
"It's a common hurdle for vanguard teams stepping into gates—especially high-tier ones—for the first time. We're always short on intel. What habits the monsters have, how they move... Sometimes one person dies just to bring back that info."
"Ugh..."
One life per scrap of information.
Sure, there's probably some exaggeration.
But just hearing it drove home how cutthroat this world is.
"If this were a game, you could retry endlessly even after deaths and failures... but unfortunately, this world has no such convenient system."
"Die or clear... one or the other."
"Exactly. Who's beyond, what traps are waiting—we know nothing. We have to fill in every detail from zero."
Choi Geonwoo's eyes gleamed sharply.
Not at me, but with a deep gaze fixed on something far beyond.
"That's why I called you. I have zero intention of putting you on the front lines. Just stay in the safest spot and relay enemy and dungeon info to the raid team."
That's what he said, but I knew better.
Titan Guild doesn't need combat support from someone like me.
Put bluntly, me fighting would just get in the way.
But providing even minor intel from the safest place.
And as a bonus, however slight, a beneficial buff to those around me just by standing there.
That's what he saw in me.
"When do we head into the gate again?"
"Thinking two days from now. We've got about ten days left at most. Need to retry as soon as possible."
"Aha."
Two days later.
Faster than expected, but nothing I can't handle.
I don't have much to prepare anyway.
Just show up with my body.
"For the record, if you join the raid team, all combat orders will follow your instructions."
"Yes?! I-is that really okay? Someone like me..."
Being handed such immense authority I never imagined...
Far from thrilled, I was flustered.
No matter how much Jeong Yujin or Choi Geonwoo thought well of me and let me join.
I'm just an F-rank hunter at best.
Meanwhile, Titan Guild's raid team would be full of A-ranks and S-ranks.
Would they even listen to me?
It'd be lucky if they didn't brush it off as childish nonsense.
"Whether you're an F-rank hunter or a twelve-year-old kid, it doesn't matter. For a raid team, the top priority is clearing the gate while preserving as many survivors as possible. Follow that, and even a dog's bark becomes gospel."
But contrary to my worries, his words carried unyielding resolve.
"Some might still see me as too lowly."
"Then we expel them from the raid team without mercy and pull in replacements. If your ability lives up to what I expect, no one—not even me—can replace you on this team."
"Th-that praise is appreciated, but it's way too exaggerated."
An asset even an S-rank hunter couldn't replace?
I could never think I was worth that much.
But Choi Geonwoo's gaze held not a flicker of doubt.
I could really feel how highly he valued me.
"So I really have to lead the Layered Gate raid...?"
"No, I'll handle the overall commands. I'm not dumping everything on you. Combat alone follows your lead."
"That's a bit of a relief then."
My mind felt a tad lighter, but the burden lingered.
"If you want to back out, tell me now. I won't hold it against you."
"N-no, I don't want to back out. Besides, if I can save even one more person with my power, it's more than worth it."
I shook my head firmly, and Choi Geonwoo let out a deep breath.
"...Hah, impressive. Most hunters at this point would say, 'If I can clear the gate with my power.' Lives matter more to you, huh."
"Yes, nothing's more important than human lives."
"Right. Plenty of hunters forget that... but I hope you never lose that purity."
"Yes! Don't worry."
This much, I could answer proudly.
Of course, I know money's great too.
But lives come first.
Nothing in the world is nobler than human life.
"So, I'll take that as you accepting raid participation?"
"Yes."
"One heads-up: no backing out once you're in. We don't want to let a promising kid die either, so we've prepped a Dimensional Distortion Device, but..."
"It's fine. And if it comes to the worst, you don't have to use that Dimensional Distortion Device on me."
"...Hm? Why?"
His eyebrow arched slightly in genuine puzzlement.
I answered with innocent frankness.
"Because no one would grieve if I died, but that's not true for the others. Better to save them first."
"...Hayang."
"......"
Suddenly, the air in the room seemed to chill.
Eh? Huh?
Did I say something wrong?
"...Just like Jeong Yujin said."
"Y-yes?"
As I fidgeted with my hands in confusion,
Choi Geonwoo's deep, low voice seeped into my ear.
"Your words just confirmed it."
"Confirmed what...?"
"That no matter what happens, we have to save you."
"Eek?! W-why?!"
For the first time here, I raised my voice.
And understandably so—I couldn't comprehend it.
Or maybe Choi Geonwoo hadn't understood what I said?
"There's reasons. You'll learn in time. Anyway, pretend I didn't hear that request. The Dimensional Distortion Device is guild property. I can't just order it used on others. You're top priority."
"Yees..."
His firm tone left me utterly deflated.
Too much.
He'd said he'd follow my orders on combat matters.
Ah, but come to think of it, we're not inside the gate yet.
So it's not like he's going back on his word?
As my head spun in slight confusion, Choi Geonwoo abruptly shot up from his seat.
"We'll cover the details after we get back."
"Where are you going?"
As expected of Titan Guild's master.
He must have a packed schedule all around.
I figured I should take the hint and leave too, starting to stand—
"You and Jeong Yujin as well. Follow me."
"Eh? M-me too? Where...?"
Maybe he's introducing me to the raid members already?
But it's still pretty early.
Calling everyone just to meet me seems a bit...
No, they're people I'll be fighting alongside.
Better to meet now? Build rapport, get familiar with faces?
Lost in all sorts of thoughts, Choi Geonwoo replied in his usual flat tone.
"Shoe store."
...Suddenly?