Chapter 24

I should explain why I specifically chose a Chaos Gate. Beyond testing gear and rewards, there was another reason.

Abyss Gates prioritize conquest above all. The Association doesn't assign ratings to hunters tackling unknown Abyss Gates. The criteria are too vague.

Only Chaos Gates display clear ratings on the leaderboard.

That's why, for most hunters looking to boost their value, Chaos Gates are more straightforward than Abyss ones. Especially for someone like me.

'If you're overwhelmingly dominant like my brother, it doesn't matter.'

The life-or-death risk is lower, too.

With ratings posted and recorded, it's a perfect portfolio to flash at guild interviews.

Plus, Chaos Gates factor into hunter rankings—though not as heavily as Abyss Gates.

'I need to climb the rankings first.'

For the time being, I'll operate as an anonymous hunter and rack up points.

Abyss Gates expose you too easily, so Chaos it is.

'With the <Surprise Texture Mask>.'

I can slip in and out of the Yeouido 64 Building like it's my own home without Team Leader Yoo catching on.

In short, Chaos Gates are my opening move in the grand scheme.

And hey, I started strong, right?

I cleared the gate from my hunter qualification exam at SSS-grade.

No matter how unlucky I get!

I can just bulldoze through with skill...

"Huh."

What the—

Even luck's on my side...?

This can't be real. I rubbed my eyes and looked again. The golden die still gleamed alone amid the pitch-black gate.

The number was clear.

'Six... a six!'

1.6x multiplier on rewards.

Or pick one stat and boost it by 6...!

What the hell? Why's luck smiling on me now?!

'This is unnerving!'

And the next instant.

"...Ah... so that's why..."

My unease became reality.

Inside the pitch-black gate.

Rumble.

Ashen statues. Roughly thirty protruded from the floor. To describe them precisely: winged monsters with eyes covered—gargoyles. They looked downright terrifying.

"No wonder luck seemed too good..."

A hollow laugh stuck in my throat. Heat rose, my solar plexus burning.

I wanted to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be friends with Lady Luck. Turns out it was one-sided.

Ha, ha.

"So this is the Chaos Gate."

Its uniqueness was legendary—even I, a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hunter illiterate in my past life, knew of it.

I'd seen it on Hunter Net before coming.

The Association's souvenir shop nearby even sold mini figurines.

As emptiness gnawed at me, a status window popped up.

Small mercy: no fatalities here.

Whatever happens, you're just ejected.

'The spine-chilling horror vibe is the problem.'

Just rocks, but their presence is overwhelming. My nerves frayed like sandpaper.

Sure enough, the gargoyle statues emitted their signature fear curse—infrasound waves.

'No wonder even a 2nd-floor gate lacks A-grades.'

If slime gates feel soft and squishy in the chest,

this is the polar opposite.

It drives you mad. Horror theme.

'Damn. Corpses don't faze me, but my legs are shaking.'

As my knees did a subtle jig,

Ding.

Another window demanded a choice.

A prompt I'd normally cheer for was useless here.

'My near-50% misfortune stat. That's why the die hit 6 but tanked the gate gacha. Should've asked Team Leader Yoo, disguise be damned.'

What now?

Did I pack gear for nothing?

"..."

I placed the blood draw sticker on my palm.

Side note: despite the name, it's not a syringe—it's a pack of cute smiley stickers.

'Kinda obvious, kinda not.'

I read the enclosed instructions.

Static tingled in my veins.

'Got it.'

I had a plan.

Before acting,

"Boosting stamina by 6."

Lime-green particles rose like steam from my skin. My complexion improved. Stamina up from 19 to 25.

Meaning more HP.

"Red Slime."

At my feet, dark red liquid splintered into spiderweb threads, spreading.

Like tentacles.

'Ugh...'

Massive blood draw hit anemia hard.

Not critical yet.

That's why I boosted stamina.

I tossed thirty smiley stickers generously onto the branching Red Slime.

'Can't look away.'

Blink, and statues invade my space.

Finish underwater before eyes dry.

Red Slime's branches spread wide under the statues' feet.

"Harden."

Bubbling branches erupted into spikes. Each sucker-like with stickers.

Stuck smileys on all thirty gargoyle statues.

Almost simultaneously.

"There you are."

The sole living thing among moving statues.

I pulled back my Blood Mirror-wielding arm.

Hurled it full force.

The knife arced gently.

☻-stickered gargoyle flinched in surprise.

Too late.

"Keeeeeek!"

Knife buried in wing joint.

Not dead.

I yanked the pre-threaded red string in the blade gap. Level-up strength pulled it easily.

"Kek, keeek!"

Collar-grabbed, it flailed legs midair.

Meanwhile, red tentacles from statues reclaimed stickers, draping around the gargoyle.

"Keeek! Keeeek!"

Like a blooming lotus of ominous shadow.

"Sorry. Business."

Even as I said it, the man's face reflected in its eyes showed no muscle twitch.

<Surprise Texture Mask> doesn't do micro-expressions? Temporary disguise, so whatever.

Looked like a psychopath unfazed by killing a beast.

Chaos Gate anyway.

"Keeek!"

Reattached all reclaimed stickers.

Every one.

"500ml per sticker."

Thirty: 15 liters.

Even an elephant mummifies.

...Thud.

The withered husk crumbled.

* * *

Ding!!

Second time, still surreal grade.

Feat alone makes me seem like a cheat-skill holder.

Reminds me of <Instant Death>?

"As if that exists."

Eternal Blessing is insane enough.

'Mythical' grade, plain as day.

'Tons of EXP too.'

Slurp.

Still not matching Han Biyeol's direct deliveries. 2nd floor, after all.

As I smacked my lips in regret,

Current 2nd floor.

Accept: 3rd-floor identical gate.

'Chaos system thinks this is my strong luck?'

Not the only one to one-shot it.

"..."

Intriguing all around.

'These windows are visible only to me.'

Awakened hunters wouldn't see it—just leave.

Suspicious aside, I accepted.

"I'm in."

'Noted.'

Statues parted. Elevator doors at path's end glowed open.

"Before going."

Fed gargoyle blood from stickers to Red Slime. It bobbed happily on my shoulder.

Boosted its storage. Reduced my blood burden for control.

'Let's hit 10th like this.'

I crossed between statues.

Toward the 3rd-floor gate elevator.

* * *

Meanwhile.

Hunter Association lobby buzzed under the leaderboard.

"Yo, what's that? Glitch?"

"Glitches in Chaos Gates too?"

"Dunno. But Seo-something cleared it?"

"Seo Boseok?"

"News says he's in an Abyss Gate. No doppelganger."

Amid the crowd, some perked ears. Guild scouts dispatched en masse.

Different ranks, all guild hunter recruiters.