Chapter 27

I couldn't believe my eyes.

While my jaw hung slack in shock, the silver gargoyle's eyes lost their glow just as quickly.

"……Thank you."

As I bowed my head deeply, a finger from Hemo—poking out from my coat—nudged me playfully.

At the tip of its squishy fin, a die sparkled brightly.

The die showed a '1'.

No wonder I'd felt so drained.

My stats had taken a hit.

"Hey, you little rascal."

Turning the heroic gift from the nation's saviors into a bloated windfall on your own whim—what am I supposed to do with that?

But Hemo was wagging its fin so cutely that no harsh scolding came out.

You're twisting my misfortune into your luck, huh.

Anyway, it was in line with both heroes' intentions, so please understand Hemo's actions.

Instead, I offered a few more deep bows to the two heroes before exiting the gate.

I stepped out of the elevator.

"……!"

The lobby was packed with people.

Every one of them craned their necks unnaturally, staring up at the electronic board. Seeing stock traders checking Wall Street numbers right here in Korea—who would've thought?

Come to think of it, this is Yeouido.

I followed their mesmerized gazes and flinched.

I was the culprit.

People looked outright stunned. They kept sighing at the massive SSS poster dominating the entire board.

"Is that even human?" "How can a person do that?"

Isn't that the same thing...?

In between, guys in expensive suits made calls in perfect sync, like they'd planned it. Scout reps from the guilds, obviously.

Human psychology is like a seesaw—one side up, the other swells with negativity.

"What's with the three question marks on that floor?"

"It's a real bug, man. Chaos Gates are just for messing around, not serious raids."

You're gonna get yours ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠later.

"I don't know what trick they pulled, but Association staff are on it now. Truth'll come out soon."

"Saw an R&Y Guild hunter go in earlier. That guy, right?"

"Yeah. EXP maniac. Clean personal life, but he only hits Abyss Gates with big EXP payouts..."

What the hell are they talking about?

I was listening, entranced, when my shoulder bumped someone. A staffer. She scanned me quickly and apologized.

"Sorry, in a rush. If you're not heading up, could you step aside?"

Ah. I was blocking the turnstile.

Before moving, one question.

"Mind telling me what's going on?"

"……Looks like a hunter's trapped inside a Chaos Gate. Team leader's heading a rescue with other hunters and staff. I'm support."

Aha.

But Han Biyeol's joining my rescue?

The guy who knows it's me, even censored?

Bothersome.

But another thought quickly shoved the unease aside. Let's do this.

"Good luck."

I stepped aside with a polite nod.

She seemed surprised. Probably her first hunter showing basic manners. Is the Korean hunter industry okay like this?

……Great King, General. Your humble servant's task is far too grave...

She smiled faintly.

"It's an emergency, but higher-ups ordered no disruptions to hunters' hunts. Thank you for your dedication, as always."

She returned the bow courteously and dashed into the elevator.

What's the Association's closing time?

Checked the map app: open till 8 PM. It was 4 PM now.

Four hours till close.

Mind made up, I pushed through the crowd—blame 'someone' for that—and reached the vending machine.

Clunk.

Four bottles of water and two nut energy bars. With them, I headed back to the second floor.

Staff in black suits raced down the hall like the wind. I brushed past in the opposite direction.

Corner of the hall—out of sight.

I slid down against the wall.

In that position, I started on the water and bars. Hemo solidified like pudding on my palm, staring at the bar.

"You want some too, huh."

〔! ……!!〕

Seemed like it.

Can this thing eat anything besides blood?

Tore off a corner and offered. It chewed like melting it down.

"Looks more like storage than eating, no matter how I watch."

It seemed happy, so whatever. I set Hemo on my shoulder. After all that blood loss, I needed lots of water and snacks.

Meanwhile.

"Gah! Again!"

"Hunter Han, just a bit more!"

The wall and floor thrummed, conveying the urgency.

"Damn it! Again!"

"Hunter Han, almost there! Trust your luck...!"

"Fuck. Gargoyle rock piles!"

Han Biyeol and the staff kept charging in and bouncing back.

Brutal. An hour straight, no breaks.

Of course, it suited me fine.

I stroked Hemo on my shoulder and said,

"Tasty?"

Hemo munched almonds silently.

"Yeah, tasty for me too."

For the next week or so, I practically lived in the Yeouido 64 Building.

Partly to grind Chaos Gates, and partly to watch my subordinate's struggles.

Already level 17.

Considering how stingy EXP was on the lower floors, that was insane progress.

I cleared from the third floor to the ninth, steady and methodical.

Basics first, always.

I studied the same way.

Textbooks only. Sad story—I couldn't afford references till I met my brother...

Commuting daily to Yeouido, I didn't check clear ranks obsessively. No need; everyone announced it for me.

"……That Seo** hunter got SSS again? Still no bug fix?"

"At this point, maybe it is a bug."

"Wish I could see their face—just once."

They pegged me as Hunter A or whatever, not even glancing my way.

Thanks to the Surprise Texture Mask swapping faces.

About a week and a half later.

"Phew……."

Finally cleared ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all Chaos Gates up to the eighth floor.

A twinge of conscience hit—low floors at this level felt like bullying.

Tutorial farming made the noob mobs in Chaos Gates whimper.

"Time to tackle the ninth."

Han Biyeol had vanished since yesterday. Burned out, probably.

Ten days straight ain't bad.

Gotta respect the grit.

But no letting guard down.

Han Biyeol was hunting me with fire in his eyes—or rather, the guild was.

No running, though.

It's the guild's will more than his.

A chill ran down my spine.

Target shifted from brother to me—that bad premonition.

Don't flinch, Wonseok.

That's why no rank-up yet.

Blanketing Chaos Gates in SSS with hacks and tricks? Prep work.

Hit a certain rank, Association babies you. Law says so—not special treatment. Then my name hits guild radars. Time problem only.

Squelch.

I yanked Blood Mirror from a goblin's back with my foot. Goblin swarms no longer fazed me.

Grown a lot in two weeks.

"Loop to the tenth, then hit an Abyss Gate."

Hemo, scavenging loot, jiggled in agreement. No words needed—we were in sync now.

Sweaty—time for nutrition.

I grabbed Hemo and left the Association. Straight to the subway, Majeongdong Meat House.

My rich buddy, stoking charcoal, greeted me coolly.

"Said you wouldn't be back soon, but here already?"

"Life's density changed. Feels like months."

"Hunter flex. Meat coming."

"Pork!"

His eyes sharpened.

"Pork at a beef joint? Lunatic!"

"Buddy love, country love."

"……Sigh."

Grumbling, but pork came out. Prime beef slices underneath.

"Grill it yourself."

"Obviously."

……Three charred lumps later, tongs snatched.

"Genius my ass—life skills zero."

"No textbook for grilling."

"Use that mouth for chewing, sir."

"Yes, boss."

Tasty. Week of energy bars made meat divine.

Hemo under the table loved it too. Ate my grilled bits, spat some out...

"Anyway, hunter world's blowing up lately."

Gulp. Nearly choked.

"……What explosion?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"You work there and don't know? Solo hunter perfect-scoring all 64 Building Chaos Gates."

He pointed tongs at the wall TV. News hunting the mystery hunter.

Zero priors, but wanted poster vibes.

He tossed sizzling pork on my plate.

With complaints.

"Hunter world's got another you. Know how much your classmates hated your perfect scores?"

"Did they?"

"Look—perps never remember. Weekly tests, all perfects? Human?"

"Studying's just ass-in-seat. Unlike awakening."

"Exactly! That insane patience is talent!"

......Is it?

News switched.

The gate's coming.

Mouth soured.

Disaster it birthed flashed in my mind.

'Paju Abyss Gate—razed nearly thirty percent of the land.'

Can't ignore Abyss Gates. They turn Gate Break.

Hangju Bridge was anomaly.

Neglect-bred breaks? Hunter/guild negligence on display.

......That one did break.

Saw footage. Soaring flames, screaming citizens, parents and kids sifting ashes with bloodied hands...

"……."

I went quiet; buddy grilled silently.

Hate waste—Hemo's gut worked overtime, plate spotless.

Moments later.

"Here."

Shoved wad of 10,000-won bills at his sales smile.

He looked iffy.

"Cash after ages."

"Nice, right?"

"That's shady joint talk. We're legit. Why all 10ks and 100-wons? Time traveler? No yellows."

Sharp in the wrong way.

I smirked triumphantly.

"Gonna burn through 10ks and 100-wons."

"Change for us—win."

Pocketing it, he handed bundled papers from the POS.

Blood donation certificates.

"……? What's this?"

"College prof pushed us to donate. I'm spectator, not donor—no use."

Pokes me with the stack.

"Take it."

"Can you just give these?"

"Pfft, whatever. Keeps reminding me of college. Go glorify the nation, Hunter Seo."

"……."

I schooled my face, took them.

He added awkwardly,

"Country love, buddy love, punk."

No waterworks. Face muscles held firm.