Gate (1)

East Blue Guild completed all the merger procedures with Go Hwa Group. With the dissolution registration for Go Hwa Group processed...

A quiet news broadcast drifted through the weekend morning, and a thought struck me out of nowhere.

"New student Hwanhyeon—do you really think he's okay like this?"

"Master, what nonsense are you talking about this early in the morning."

Seolhye answered the moment she heard my words.

"No, I'm being completely serious right now."

The cause of the problem—no, the problem itself—was right there in front of my eyes.

---

It's been nearly a week since I enrolled at the Academy, and nothing has changed.

My body was still as pathetic as ever.

"If I keep going like this, I'm going to get kicked out of the Academy! I'll probably fail within a minute and a half at this rate. I know what my aunt is going to say..."

"That's just a master being swept away by desire, isn't it? Consistent training never betrays you."

"That's true, but..."

I wanted to sleep in.

"If nothing urgent comes up, come out to the training ground every morning. I'll make you worthy of the title 'master.'"

"GYAAAAH!!"

"Seolhye, stop that. The Western Lord is starting to throw a tantrum."

Seolhye's training was more effective than I expected, but it was far too painful. Luckily, the recovery ability from the skill I gained after sleeping with Yuyeon was incredible—if it weren't for that, I might have already been dead.

"If Master's growth gets back on track, we might be able to clear a gate, but for now, it seems we have no choice but to keep training hard."

"Krraaaaah..."

A gate was the most reliable way to grow. Every time you cleared a good gate, you'd receive various perks, and real combat experience was the best way to boost your stats.

"Hm? But if the four of you are recognized as my summoned beasts, then even when you clear the gate, I should be able to receive the rewards, right?"

"...!"

Why hadn't I thought of that?

I'd been able to finish the Academy entrance exam while half-asleep precisely because Cheonghwa's ability came from my summoning.

If the gate also recognizes the four of them as my summoned beasts... real power-leveling might actually be possible.

"That does make sense."

"SHUT UP! Avoiding training has always meant death..."

"Shut up, Baek Seolhye. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hwanhyeon, so are we going to the gate?"

Seolhye's mindless devotion to training was swiftly cut short by Yuyeon.

To be honest, I didn't think it was the right time for me to step up to the front line, but if the others are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠carrying me along, it should be fine, right?

"Academy students are generally permitted access up to B-rank gates. The four of us are on par with B-rank, and Ilena has been evaluated as A-rank or higher, so..."

"Oh, right, I should hold back a bit. After all, the purpose is Master's growth."

"I know. With this level of manpower, I thought we could at least try a B-rank gate."

"What do you think, Master?"

"Hmm... I think it's fine."

"Master...! What about my training with you? Hm? Are you just going to forget about that? Have I become useless now?"

"I never said I wouldn't do it. I think we should start again soon."

"Oh, is that so. I welcome you anytime!"

I sometimes noticed it, but Seolhye was simpler than I thought.

"Then let's use this weekend to go clear a gate. How does that sound?"

"As Master wishes."

"Yay! I know a good gate."

Everyone responded positively. And so, with the unanimous agreement of all six of us—

"Um... can I come along too...?"

"Jinyul, everyone would miss you if you weren't there. Isn't that right, Master?"

"Right. It's better if we all go together."

"O-Okay... I'll go prepare and come out..."

...And with the unanimous agreement of all six of us, the weekend gate operation was decided.

---

"Lady, it is an honor to serve you."

"Thank you."

The vehicle that took us was a limousine summoned by Cheonghwa.

"...How much money does the Blue Dragon Hall have?"

"Before the gate incident, they operated multinational corporations. Now they're focused on the large guild. Among the four divine halls, the Blue Dragon Hall has always been the most involved with the human world."

"Tch... if the Vermillion Bird Hall didn't have those rotten drug dealers, I could live like that too..."

"The Blue Dragon Hall's funds are used in the spirit world too, after all. And it doesn't look like the Vermillion Bird Hall could manage proper administration."

"...You're pretty good at that. Fine."

"Don't fight. So which gate are we entering?"

There was no sign of a gate to be seen before us. Ilena said she knew one and led us here, but how could there be a gate on a mountainside like this...

"Follow me. It's just a light hike."

"Are you sure you really know? You don't even know the geography of this country well."

"...The Vatican Intelligence Agency is a place that even submitted reports during the Imjin War centuries ago. Their intelligence capabilities are said to be top-notch."

"...Really?"

They managed to transmit information across the continent even 400 years ago. It was even more impressive than I thought.

Thinking that, we walked uphill for about 30 minutes.

At the destination, there was a small rift large enough for a person to pass through.

"Huh? Is that it?"

"Ah, we found the right one. It's the B-rank gate 'Gelphound's Nest'."

Gelphound. It was probably a C-rank monster that looked like a cross between a jellyfish and a hunting dog.

Since C-rank monsters were densely packed, the gate was rated B-rank.

"Ms. Yuyeon, Ms. Seolhye. Take the vanguard. Cheonghwa and I will hold the rear. Ms. Jinyul, protect the Master."

Two Bruiser-types in the front, Ilena and Cheonghwa attacking from the middle, and Jinyul guarding me with her defensive specialty as a precaution against any threats.

"...Honestly, it feels like I'm just standing around watching, which is kind of annoying."

"If Master grows a little more, you'll be able to fight alongside us. For now, with us here, there's no need for you to expose yourself to danger."

"Right, Hwanhyeon. I'm here, after all!"

I didn't like that at all. If it kept going like this, I was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just going to be a burden to everyone.

'When we get back, I'll train hard again.'

I couldn't afford to waste the growth advantage the Wood Element gives. I'd come here to power-level, but I ended up feeling embarrassed instead.

"Then let's go into the gate."

-WOOOONG...

Gathering our resolve, we entered the gate.

The inside of the gate was suffocatingly damp.

Water droplets fell tick-tick from cracks in the rock walls, drumming against puddles near ankle height.

=Kieeeiiiii...!

Echoes bounced off the walls and ceiling dozens of times.

A strange wailing that seemed to come from every direction at once.

The floor was rough and slippery.

Each step sank into the wet mud with a sticky squelch.

Slime trickled between patches of wall moss, and a foul, viscous stench stabbed at my nose.

"There seem to be quite a lot of Gelphounds. Let's proceed carefully."

Ilena's words echoed through the chamber.

After moving for a while, two red points flashed in the darkness ahead.

Gelphounds.

=Krrrrr...

"That thing looks interesting. Let me take the first one?"

Yuyeon stepped forward with sparkling eyes.

Flames erupted from her fingertips.

Scarlet flames like feathers fanned outward, then in an instant converged into a single point.

The air pressed down by the heat warped, and the shadows on the walls danced in the firelight.

-HWAAACK!!

=Krararara!!

The fireball burrowed into the monster's mouth.

The stench of burning tentacles filled the air, and the Gelphound writhing in pain rolled across the floor before going still.

"Whoa..."

"Heh heh... What's that? Nothing special. How about it, Hwanhyeon? You impressed?"

"Heh, as expected, Yuyeon."

"Mmph, mmph!"

Cheonghwa examined the carcass and spoke.

"Gelphounds mainly collect tentacle mucus and claws, but in this case, we'll need to extract just the claws."

Yuyeon, who had subdued the monster in a single blow, looked more impressive than usual.

"...Making a fuss over killing just one. Big deal."

Seolhye said with her arms crossed, mocking tone and all.

But her gaze wavered for just a moment—and I was probably the only one who noticed.

"What? Then you try it."

"Just what I've been waiting for! Oh! That one's mine to take down!"

The rivalry between the two vanguards continued.

As we advanced, dispatching the occasional Gelphound that popped up, a wide cavern eventually appeared.

Tunnels were bored in every direction, but this area was mysteriously empty.

"Is this the central chamber?"

"Not yet. We haven't gotten close to the core."

"Ilena, can you sense the core?"

Ilena smiled.

"We have a core detection radar, you know. A product of the great art of magical engineering."

"Ah."

My ignorance was showing again.

A thought passed through my mind that I should have studied more.

"It's my oversight. I failed to prepare in many ways..."

"No, Cheonghwa. It's because I'm an idiot..."

The water pooled on the cave floor rippled in concentric circles.

A heavy, dull vibration approached from somewhere.

"Western Lord!"

A chill aura swept across the back of my neck.

A creepy sensation that froze me down to my lungs surged forward.

"Jump back!"

"!!!"

Everyone retreated reflexively.

In that spot—

-KWAAJIIIIK!!

The floor split open and a massive shadow erupted.

Tearing through the darkness, three heads rose simultaneously.

The eyes on each head flashed like lightning, and a shriek tore through our ears.

That body was three times the size ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of any Gelphound we'd seen before.

With each step, the floor seemed to collapse beneath it.

=KIEEEEEEK!!!

The massive monster dove toward the vanguard.

-KWAAANG!