Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Arlen was an A-rank Hunter.
For an E-rank Hunter without abilities, reaching that grade through mere aura training was absurd.
The reason an untalented Hunter became A-rank in ten years was simple.
Endless losses.
Countless front-line experiences.
Relentless survival.
No matter how many limits he broke, he couldn't prevent losing his teammates.
And in the end, he barely reached A-rank before dying.
"Rooaaar!"
‘Slow.’
So even if his body reverted to that of an E-rank Hunter, his mind remained that of an A-rank Hunter.
Moreover, the movements of a D-rank Mana Predator were nothing an E-rank Hunter couldn't notice with enough effort.
‘Don’t waste mana.’
The Mana Predator, teeth bared, leaped straight at him.
He couldn’t afford a single mistake. Even a scratch from its teeth or claws could make his body permanently leaky with mana.
‘Now.’
At the moment the teeth reached him, he placed his standard-issue sword at the predator’s neck.
No force was needed. By slightly pushing against its momentum, he could use its attack against it.
Shhhk—
The wolf’s neck was cleanly severed.
The best result achieved with minimal resources.
Ignoring the Mana Predator collapsing behind him, he checked his team.
“Everyone okay?”
“W-wow…”
Lua’s eyes were wide with admiration.
“…….”
Eric stared in disbelief.
“Ha… Arlen. Were you really this strong?”
The team leader, holding his arm dripping with blood and mana, looked dumbfounded. Arlen had taken down the Mana Predator alone despite the order for full combat readiness.
“B-but, Arlen… shouldn’t we just clear the Gate now…?”
Even scared, Lua’s question was sharp. Instead of finding the mysterious tree from which monsters emerge, it might be simpler to simply clear the Gate. Whether by killing the boss or removing the core, destroying the key element maintaining the inner world would make the Gate vanish.
“We can’t destroy the company’s assets recklessly.”
The problem was that this was an F-rank Gate.
By danger rating, it was considered ‘safe’.
GT-078, a Gate of a lush forest, was to be classified as a park. Hence the name “Grand Garden.”
Safety inspections had been completed several times, but unfortunately, the last inspection by Gate Management Team 3 triggered an incident.
‘Clear’ rating was reserved for Gates that were unmanageable and expected to cause major damage. Otherwise, all Gates were meant to be managed. Clearing a Gate just because a D-rank monster appeared would result in disciplinary action.
Of course, it was better than dying, but Arlen knew how to solve the problem without clearing the Gate.
“So monsters appearing means mana stones will appear too.”
“Yes, probably.”
This time, Eric gave a perfect answer. In his previous life, he had died in an unfortunate accident. Had he survived a little longer, both of them might have become capable agents.
“Since it’s a Gate that produces mana stones, it will be reclassified as ‘Managed.’ But first, we have to survive here.”
The reason for managing the Gate despite the risks was the resource of mana stones. Arlen, having seen the world’s destruction, understood how arrogant that attitude was. But at this time, managing Gates and harvesting mana stones was common practice.
“So how will we find the tree from which monsters emerge? Can we even locate it in this vast forest?”
The pale team leader asked from behind. His leaking mana made it difficult for him to move alone.
“I know its location.”
“How?”
Though the team leader asked, everyone else had the same expression: how could anyone locate a single tree in the forest?
Arlen offered a shameless explanation.
“I’ve read the manuals enough to make a rough prediction.”
4
With that, Gate Management Team 3 moved.
The team didn’t fully trust Arlen, but they couldn’t deny the scene unfolding before their eyes.
“Look at that.”
A tree that stood out unmistakably.
A purple tree, completely out of place in the green forest, stood tall, guarded by four Mana Predators.
“Th-that’s… really a tree?!”
“Wh-what the…”
“…….”
What was truly horrifying:
“Ugh… monsters instead of fruit…”
Instead of fruit, unborn Mana Predators hung in clusters.
While Lua turned her head and gagged, Arlen pointed his sword at the tree.
“We’ll eliminate the Mana Predators guarding the tree, then cut down the trunk.”
He spoke as calmly as if he were going for a walk.
“Wait. There are too many monsters guarding it. How do we break through?”
Eric’s question was reasonable. Even a scratch could leak mana. Facing three or more at once would be suicidal.
“I’ll draw their attention. Eric and Lua, you focus on cutting the tree.”
Arlen gave an unreasonable solution.
Eric looked at him, dumbfounded.
“I get that you’re strong. I’ve seen it myself. But draw their attention alone? Are you sacrificing yourself for us?”
“It’s not sacrifice. It’s role allocation.”
He coldly looked at his teammates.
“Eric, Lua, can you thin your aura like I do?”
“N-no…”
“Not like him.”
They shook their heads.
“You two are not suited for direct combat. Instead, use all your strength to strike the tree while channeling your aura.”
Even if they couldn’t be sharp blades, they could act as blunt instruments. Hitting the tree with thick aura would cut through the trunk.
Faced with such efficiency, Eric and Lua went silent. The team leader, watching from behind, opened his mouth to object.
“Then I ask you to act quickly while I draw their attention.”
Arlen wrapped his sword in aura and stepped forward.
Grrr…?
The Mana Predators, lazy and dragging their bodies, turned to face the boldly approaching human.
Too late to intervene.
“…Move, Eric, Lua. If you want to help Arlen, do your assigned task first.”
The team leader, unable to stop Arlen, ground his teeth and gave the command. In a Gate, orders from the field commander are absolute.
“Tch….”
“Y-yes…!”
Eric clicked his tongue and headed toward the tree with the repulsive monsters. Lua scrambled after him.
5
Leaving the tree to the team, Arlen stepped boldly in front of the Mana Predators.
They were clearly protecting the unborn offspring near the tree. But luring them was simple.
Swish—
He cut his left palm, letting blood flow.
Mana, like blood, is hard to retain if the body is injured.
Grrr…?
As expected, the Mana Predators immediately rose, creeping forward instinctively.
Hwaak—!
Arlen released more mana, solidifying his aura.
“Kooaaar!”
The one at the front couldn’t resist and charged. Calculating its trajectory, Arlen tilted his sword.
Aiming precisely for the neck.
He pushed the aura-wrapped sword slightly in.
Puh—
Gurgle…
It fell with foamy blood.
“Three.”
He habitually briefed even when no one was around.
Grrr…?
The Mana Predators, sensing danger, circled instead of charging. For their rank, they were relatively intelligent.
‘Time for a mana supplement.’
He was already leaking mana to draw attention, so he expanded his aura across his body.
Grrr…!
One charged from the left.
Puh—
Before thinking, his body found the optimal path and plunged the sword.
“Two.”
Sweat beaded on his forehead. His breathing grew heavy. Due to his injuries, only 20% of his mana remained.
Thunk!
At that moment, Eric and Lua carried out their task.
Kwoong!
Channeling aura into their weapons, they struck the tree with all their strength.
Grrr…!
The Mana Predators glanced at the tree.
Shhhk—
Arlen seized the opportunity.
“One.”
He cut the neck of one while the predators were distracted. Only one remained.
The last one hesitated, retreating slightly. Even monsters instinctively knew that the predator now was Arlen, not them.
The Mana Predator growled low, switching its gaze between the tree and Arlen.
Kwoong!
The sound of the team hitting the tree acted as a signal.
Kwoong—!
The tree creaked and tilted.
Crack.
Arlen drove his sword through the final predator’s neck.
With all four Mana Predators down, he breathed heavily.
‘I need to train faster.’
His body lagged behind his A-rank knowledge and skill.
Clutching his chest, he looked at his team.
Creak…
The tree began to fall.
Eric and Lua had succeeded. The Mana Predators on the branches would no longer feed. A faint smile appeared on his face at the mission’s success.
Grrr….
But his expression hardened immediately.
A sound reached him that shouldn’t be heard. Not nearby, but audible.
“Watch the fruit!”
He shouted reflexively.
Apparently, an unborn Mana Predator was there. A branch with hanging fruit twitched.
Kooaaar!
A newly hatched Mana Predator lunged at the team.
Time seemed to slow.
Lua froze under the shadow above her. Eric raised his sword, but half-broken from felling the tree.
The colleagues he had saved were in mortal danger.
“Hup!”
Arlen inhaled sharply and threw his sword with all his strength.
Kehk—!
Like an arrow, it pierced the predator’s neck perfectly.
“Kehk…”
His heart ached from exerting so much aura, but that was trivial now.
“Everyone okay?”
He checked his teammates first.
“Who’s… who’s who…”
“W-we’re fine!”
Eric’s face showed irritation. Lua’s was full of worry as she ran to him.
Essentially, all they did was cut down the tree. Meanwhile, Arlen had handled four predators alone, plus the last hatchling.
“You okay?”
“W-what do we do…”
Eric and Lua propped him up from both sides.
Arlen shook his head, catching his breath.
“The injured isn’t me, it’s the team leader. We need to get him out of the Gate first.”
Even after overexertion, he prioritized the more seriously injured. The team’s expressions twisted between exasperation and admiration. But when Arlen looked at them like asking for their cooperation, they couldn’t refuse.
“Alright, alright.”
Eric sighed and went to carry the team leader.
“…Thanks for saving us.”
He murmured faintly on the way back.
“Sniff… I-I’m so sorry, Arlen! And thank you… thank you so much…!”
Lua cried as she repeatedly expressed her gratitude. Arlen shook his tired head.
“You shouldn’t apologize. Survive, that’s enough. Do better next time.”
“Y-yes…! I really will!”
Nodding repeatedly, Lua vowed again.
Arlen felt strange. In the past, he had fled and died miserably. Now, thanks to him, they survived and were expressing gratitude.
Returning the way they came with Lua, they found the team leader slumped on Eric’s back.
“He’s asleep. Mana is still leaking, but he’s breathing.”
“That’s enough to save him.”
He hadn’t died. That was enough.
The team leader was carried by Eric. Arlen politely refused Lua’s support, walking out of the Gate on his own.
The scenery shimmered briefly. Footsteps rushed behind them.
“Everyone okay?”
By the uniforms, they were medics. They had arrived, sensing the emergency.
“Tch.”
Arlen clicked his tongue unconsciously. They should have arrived ten minutes ago. This was really too late.
“Gate Management Team 3 confirmed alive. One injured!”
The team leader was immediately placed on a stretcher. The remaining members and Arlen underwent checks right there. Before any medic requested information, Arlen reported.
“We encountered D-rank wolf-type Mana Predators inside the Gate. The Gate we just cleared isn’t F-rank. It needs reclassification…”
“W-wait, please slow down and report properly.”
The medic couldn’t follow the speed of his report.
Bang!
The Gate management office door swung open violently. Voices from upstairs showed agents flustered.
“W-wait, miss! You can’t just barge in like that—”
“It’s fine. My friend is here, that’s why.”
A slightly irritated female voice, but unmistakably familiar.
“…Ran?”
“Where’s Arlen now…”
A familiar face descended the stairs. Far younger than remembered.
Jet-black hair like ink. A delicate jaw and fox-like eyes. Bright golden eyes, with a beauty mark under the right eye. Perfect proportions despite small frame.
The features he had preserved until nearly dying were clear.
Standing tall.
Ran, panting as if in a hurry, froze when she saw Arlen.
For a moment, they just stared at each other. Words weren’t necessary.
In their previous lives, Ran had never come to find Arlen at this time. But now, she was clearly here for him.
“…….”
“…….”
For a brief moment, it felt like time stopped as they shared the same thought:
She came back to the past too.