Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Eric and Rua froze.
Nothing made sense.
Even if there was no one available to take the team leader position, they never expected Ran to be the one.
And the fact that she brought two tasks right away made even less sense.
“……Ran?”
“Please call me Team Leader!”
“…Yes, Team Leader. How exactly did you become one? Procedurally, that shouldn’t be possible.”
Eric was the first to recover and ask a reasonable question.
Ran was far too valuable to be in Gate Management.
Not because she was the chairman’s daughter—but because she was a C-rank hunter.
“Wouldn’t someone of C-rank normally go to the Emergency Response Team or the Containment Unit?”
Gate Management Team handled simple, relatively safe work.
Maintaining already-contained gates.
Or assisting other teams when needed.
The gates in the underground containment facility weren’t considered dangerous.
At least, that was the belief at this time.
That’s why higher-ranked hunters had no reason to join this team.
Usually, F or E rank was enough.
At most, a D-rank would become a team leader.
But a C-rank as a Gate Management team leader?
That was absurd.
“Aah, normally, yes. But I asked the chairman to assign me here. And there wasn’t anyone else to take Team 3 leader anyway, right?”
Originally, Team 3 didn’t even need a new leader.
In the past, everyone except Aren had died.
There would’ve been no need to rebuild the team—just reassign Aren elsewhere.
“Even if there’s no one else, this is still…”
“Hmm, why? Do you not like me as your team leader?”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Eric shook his head immediately.
It wasn’t dislike.
It was pressure.
If something went wrong in a gate again—
If Ran got hurt, it would be a disaster.
And if she handled everything alone, the rest of them would look incompetent.
“Hehe, don’t worry so much. I’m not here to make things hard for you. I went through the proper process and got assigned here.”
At that point, there was nothing left to argue.
And even if there was—it wouldn’t change anything.
“Anyway! Let me properly introduce myself!”
Ran brightened the atmosphere with a cheerful tone.
“My name is Ran, I’m twenty years old. C-rank hunter. My ability is <Elemental Inspection>. I specialize in dual-wielding with elemental infusion. Nice to meet you all!”
She tapped the twin swords on her back and smiled brightly.
The team clapped awkwardly.
“Then as team leader, let’s get to know each other! Could the most experienced member introduce themselves first?”
She looked at Eric.
With a resigned expression, he stood up.
“E-rank hunter Eric. Twenty-five years old. No ability. Standard-issue sword and handgun. Two years of experience. Senior agent.”
“Hmm, no lead agent in Team 3, huh?”
Ran nodded thoughtfully.
“Got it. Looking forward to working with you, Eric. Next!”
She turned to Aren with a bright smile.
Aren blinked.
He expected her to skip him.
They already knew everything about each other.
‘But skipping me would be weird.’
Better to go along with it.
“I’m Aren. E-rank, regular agent. Age twen—… twenty. No ability. Standard sword. About ten months of experience.”
He couldn’t say his ability was regression.
And he didn’t have a personal weapon yet.
A safe answer.
“Mm, mm. I see. So… how’s the spot I pinched yesterday?”
Ran smirked mischievously.
All eyes snapped toward Aren.
He suppressed a sigh.
“…I’m fine.”
“If it still hurts, don’t hold back. I can blow on it for you.”
“Team Leader.”
“Alright, next!”
Seeing Aren’s sharp gaze, she quickly passed the turn.
“H-hello! I’m Rua, a trainee who joined two months ago! E-rank, twenty-two years old! No ability yet, but I’ve been told I have potential for awakening! Nice to meet you!”
Rua bowed like a new employee.
Ran’s eyes widened.
“Really?! You’ve been diagnosed with potential? That’s super rare at low ranks!”
Abilities were rare even among hunters.
In their previous life, Rua had died too early for them to know—
But she might’ve become an incredible hunter.
“Huh? Oh—yes! I don’t know the exact conditions, but they said I have good chances!”
Rua scratched her head, smiling innocently.
‘We need to find her trigger condition fast.’
Ran made a mental note.
Strong allies would be essential for the future.
If she was the team leader now—
She might as well “scratch this lottery ticket.”
“Alright! You’re all impressive! Sorry to jump straight into it, but… shall we begin work?”
Ran smiled apologetically.
Eric frowned slightly.
“Team Leader, I understand the post-observation of GT-078, but why is GT-257 also assigned to us?”
“Ahaha… well…”
Ran scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“Originally, only Aren and I had to submit a report… but since I became Team Leader, it turned into a team task.”
She bowed sincerely.
“Sorry for bringing work on my first day!”
“…It’s fine.”
“Y-yes! Please don’t bow, Team Leader!”
Even as they said that—
Eric and Rua felt uneasy.
This assignment came because Ran and Aren were too capable.
If they kept working with them…
Their peaceful Gate Management life was probably over.
4
From the morning, Team 3 headed to the underground containment facility.
Several research staff were gathered in front of GT-257—the “Art Museum.”
“The mana fluctuations have returned to normal—… oh, Team 3, you’ve arrived?”
The researcher’s eyes widened.
“Hello. I’m Ran, the new Team Leader of Gate Management Team 3. Could you brief us on the post-processing procedure?”
“…You’re the team leader? I mean—yes, of course.”
He shook off his confusion.
“According to yesterday’s report, as long as you don’t touch the exhibits, there should be no further mental interference.”
He flipped through documents.
“Your task is simple. The unknown frame that caused the issue has already been isolated by the research team.”
The problematic item had been handled.
“All you need to do is enter together and exit after two hours. Given your high mental resistance, Team Leader Ran and Agent Aren should prioritize rescuing others if anything happens.”
A typical Gate Management procedure.
Send people in.
Observe.
Come back out.
“Understood.”
Ran turned to her team.
“You heard him, right? Just go in and come out. Easy job. Don’t touch anything, and if you do, report immediately.”
Despite her small frame—
She exuded authority and reassurance.
Years of experience forged under extreme conditions.
Eric and Rua simply nodded, assuming it was because she was C-rank.
“Understood.”
“I won’t touch anything!”
“Current time: 9:34 AM. Gate Management Team 3, entering!”
With Ran’s energetic call—
They stepped into the frame-like gate.
5
Thanks to restoring the exhibits yesterday—
The gate was peaceful.
No whispers.
No hallucinations.
Just elegant music and breathtaking artwork.
“Attention. The gate seems safe, but if your partner shows signs of hallucination, pinch them immediately!”
As she said that—
Ran grabbed Aren’s hand.
As if declaring him her partner.
Naturally, Eric and Rua paired up.
“Alright! Let’s observe for two hours and head back!”
Ran and Aren walked ahead.
Eric and Rua followed.
The place was beautiful.
Too beautiful to feel like a gate.
“Aren, what should we eat for lunch?”
“…It’s still morning, Team Leader.”
“Come on, it’ll be lunchtime when we’re done. And after last night’s ramen, I want something filling.”
“When did you ‘just’ eat ramen? You had more than that.”
“But the emotional satisfaction is different.”
Their casual conversation confused Eric and Rua.
Why were they so comfortable?
What did they mean they ate ramen last night?
And… other things too?
“……”
Eric stared suspiciously at Aren’s back.
“Wow… how did those two even meet…?”
Rua whispered, blushing.
One thing was certain.
“Lunch—how about gukbap?”
“What are you, an old man?”
“Why? Only old men eat gukbap?”
No one there—
Not a single person—
Could believe those two were “just friends.”