Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: The Crooked First Button
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We had no choice but to enter the gates.
That conviction grew even stronger after conquering our first gate.
What if monsters stronger than goblins or kobolds started multiplying?
Or what if a single creature, like some movie monster, had the power to destroy a city?
'If the gate collapses and monsters keep pouring out...'
I was finally starting to understand that the gates had formed as Earth's immune response.
The greatest significance of the gates was that they postponed our doom.
Another key point was that humanity could now choose its battlegrounds.
'Even if we somehow hold them off... it won't end there.'
So we had to keep struggling.
We needed to level up and tackle higher-grade gates.
At the same time, gates were an excellent means to gain levels.
If we played our cards right, we could create a virtuous cycle.
'No, we have to make it happen.'
But that wasn't the end of it.
Beyond being pushed into the gates, there were active incentives to conquer them aggressively.
"Can I open it?"
"Yeah."
I placed a small pouch on the conference table.
Jang Ho-seop opened it.
The group leaned in to inspect the contents.
"Looks like some kind of seeds?"
"Seeds they are."
The system had presented options when we returned to Earth.
It offered to protect one item for me.
"It's seeds from a plant called Day-and-Night Wheat."
I'd chosen the Day-and-Night Wheat.
The pouch itself had been protected by the system, so it arrived safely.
"Day-and-Night Wheat? Uh... oh! You mean the wheat for making bread?"
"Yeah."
"Why though... is it some special wheat?"
Question marks popped up on everyone's faces.
Samira's warehouse already held processed wheat and a variety of seeds.
"It grows fully in a month. From planting to harvest."
"Pardon?"
They were as shocked as I'd been when I first heard Mandy's explanation.
"Crazy... does wheat like that even exist?"
"Yeah. It was there. A war supply."
"No way..."
"It's not all-purpose. It has drawbacks and points to watch out for."
"Even so, that growth speed is insane."
Jang Ho-seop was making a huge fuss.
"Are there a lot of wonders like this over there?"
"Not sure, but this probably isn't the end of it."
"Oh... what about you, Yu-na sunbae?"
Unfortunately, no options had appeared for Yu-na.
Probably because we'd used the same gate.
Or maybe it was a reward given only to me based on contribution.
"Nope. The system gave experience points and protected one item..."
"And if it's infused with mana, it might fetch it on its own."
"True. If luck's on your side, you could snag all sorts of useful stuff..."
And there was the answer.
I shared my conclusion with the group.
"We'll hand the Day-and-Night Wheat seeds to Mr. Bae Bong-sik. Call him in after the meeting."
"Got it."
"From now on, we'll tackle gates more aggressively. Any objections?"
No one raised a hand.
We'd keep moving one step ahead, just as we always had.
"We'll revise our strategy. Instead of playing defense with gate grace periods in mind..."
We wrapped up the analysis of the first gate conquest.
Then we continued the meeting while checking the gate status board.
The conclusion had been clear from the start.
We needed to expand Samira's range of operations.
That way, we could discover and conquer more gates.
"Expanding territory means we might run into other survivor groups, or monsters..."
"Yi Hyun-ssi, scheduling your time will be key."
I'd have to move even busier than I already was.
"No real choices right now. We should prioritize gates nearing the end of their grace periods within our territory."
"Yeah. This one?"
"Yes. Entry limit's the same—two people... hyung-nim. Who're you going with?"
My entry into the gate was a given.
Everyone waited for me to pick the other slot.
Should I focus on raising Yu-na?
Or spread it around?
I made my decision.
After the meeting, I handed the Day-and-Night Wheat seeds to Mr. Bae Bong-sik.
There are a few precautions for planting and growing Day-and-Night Wheat.
I explained all those points carefully.
He'd take responsibility for sprouting them.
"Hyung-nim."
"Been waiting?"
"Yes. Sorry to bother you when you should be resting, but... I had something to ask."
I'd known Jang Ho-seop was waiting outside the conference room.
Seeing his serious expression, I went back inside and sat down.
"What's up?"
"It's about your Fundamental Skill, hyung-nim. If it upsets you, I won't say it."
Jang Ho-seop broached the topic cautiously.
He wanted to share his guesses about my Fundamental Skill.
"If I'm right, I might have to oppose your stance on Samira's operations."
"Oh?"
"No ulterior motives, I swear. My feelings are the same as day one. So if it sounds off..."
Everyone in Samira feared me to some degree.
Jang Ho-seop's fear of me was the second-lowest.
Even so, his attitude was extremely careful.
"Got it. Speak."
"Yes. First off, your Fundamental Skill is tied to levels."
On Cataclysm Day.
I'd thought revealing my Fundamental Skill could be dangerous.
I could be branded public enemy number one.
Over time, that worry faded.
But I still hadn't disclosed it because there was no need.
Maintaining the mystery was also to my advantage.
"Earth has level restrictions right now. But yours seems higher... or nonexistent."
"Yeah."
"And you get some kind of experience boost."
I nodded.
The others probably had a rough idea too.
But Jang Ho-seop voiced the secret I'd hidden.
"Finally... I think you gain experience even from killing people."
This wasn't a guess.
He was certain.
I focused on his emotions.
'Awe is still the strongest.'
As he'd claimed, Jang Ho-seop's feelings matched Cataclysm Day.
As if he'd been designed to be on my side from the start.
'My side...'
He'd once told me that being with me brought peace even in this world.
A feeling that contradicted fear.
Not cognitive dissonance—he truly felt that way.
"All correct. So?"
"As expected... Then, does your level-up after the gate relate to your Fundamental Skill too?"
It wasn't surprising he'd figured out my Fundamental Skill.
There had been plenty of hints.
But this question caught me off guard.
Jang Ho-seop might be paying far more attention to me than I'd realized.
"Yeah. I killed a few people inside the gate, remember?"
"Yes."
"Leveled up once from that, then again from the gate reward."
I answered honestly.
Affirming all his guesses calmly.
"When we returned to Earth, a system message popped up."
"Yes."
I even recalled the exact memory and shared it with him.
Yu-na and I had claimed the experience that would have been split among six.
Even with her lower share, Yu-na leveled up.
I got far more, but it wasn't quite enough—our levels differed by over ten, and experience requirements balloon exponentially.
Suddenly, the system referenced my Fundamental Skill.
I got an experience bonus, and closing the gate counted as killing a living being.
Thus, I leveled up too.
This was the part I hadn't shared before.
"Ah... I didn't predict that far."
"Me neither."
Jang Ho-seop was stunned by my account.
Then he pondered alone for a moment.
"Either way, gate conquests give you an extra merit."
"Yeah. Thanks to the Fundamental Skill."
Jang Ho-seop stopped digging into causes and focused on results.
Just like I had.
"What if we went in without you? Could we have succeeded?"
If all my core members went, probably yes.
"What if it was just us interns?"
"Failure, I think? Too many variables."
"I see... I need to tell Mom that point too."
Jang Ho-seop looked relieved.
His joy swelled.
"Hyung-nim, I'm alive because of you."
That was his main point.
"Keep that in mind. I'm working to be useful to you."
I just listened.
"I might fall short of your expectations... but could you trust me a bit more?"
At his plea for trust, I nodded.
How much was secondary—he was trustworthy.
"Focus solely on gate conquests from now on, hyung-nim."
"Just gates?"
"Yes. Leave territory expansion, gate scouting, Samira operations... to us."
Jang Ho-seop had set the tone upfront.
No hidden agendas.
"Gates are dangerous, no doubt. But I'm not saying you should hog all the risk alone."
"Then?"
"Secure all the rewards. You're best positioned to do that."
Jang Ho-seop wanted me stronger.
If I failed, hope was lost anyway.
He advocated focus and prioritization.
"Whatever you need, whatever bothers you... I'll handle it somehow. Even if it's unethical."
"Why?"
He declared readiness for anything.
"You're asymmetric power, hyung-nim. Now... and always."
Jang Ho-seop's eyes gleamed.
Like his mother's.
"A tangible savior. You'll become self-evident truth—the savior arrived in reality. Humanity's hope."
Conviction filled his steadfast reason.
"Don't sweat the small stuff. You're not protecting Samira. Samira exists for you. I'll make it so."
Samira existing for me.
Those words brought unparalleled joy.
Like how Mom did anything for me.
"So... I'd like to tweak the plan from the meeting. Give me a bit more authority..."
I smiled.
Even now, Jang Ho-seop was fulfilling his words faithfully.
'He'll be my right hand...'
If he stayed true, that was fine.
So I nodded again.
I entered another gate today.
With Jang Ho-seop.
Until now, I'd rotated through the group.
I'd decided to get all core members to level 20 before focusing on Yu-na.
Jang Ho-seop had already surpassed 20, so his turn came last.
"Hyung-nim. Please... please spare me."
He looked at me in terror.
Until morning, he'd been thrilled about the gate.
Thud.
I shoved Jang Ho-seop without hesitation.
"N-no... kyaarrrgh!"
He flailed to grab me.
Then screamed as he fell.
Crash!
Something heavy impacted soon after.
Jang Ho-seop's screams cut off.
I turned away without regret.
There was no other choice.
And so I abandoned Jang Ho-seop and pressed on.