Chapter 46, A Gate in the Apartment?!
Chapter 46, A Gate in the Apartment?!
"Ugh... my head..."
My head was throbbing, and my back felt like it was about to snap in two.
Noona twice, and Gyeong-ah twice.
After going at it like that before bed, of course it hurt.
But days like today, where I woke up in the middle of sleep, weren't common.
The sun wouldn't rise for a good while yet, but here my eyes were wide open.
'With this creepy vibe hitting me, no way I could sleep properly...'
I dragged myself out of bed.
Glancing at the clock, it was just past 5 a.m.
It wasn't just because my body was worn out.
Anyone who'd properly awakened would probably have their eyes popped open too, right?
They were probably all confused as hell right now.
Feeling the energy from a dungeon or Gate... in an apartment.
'Tsk... what do I do?'
The sticky, disgusting remnants of mana clinging to my skin.
This was definitely the kind of vibe you only feel inside a dungeon.
Like someone had concentrated sewer sludge and sprayed it into the air— that level of grossness.
Normal folks might just shrug it off as a spooky feeling, but for awakened people with mana sensitivity, it was as nauseating as the stench of rotten water.
'Dungeon... or maybe a Gate...'
And that energy was coming from my room...
No, more precisely, from nearby.
But this one felt different.
Even inside normal dungeons, you didn't get this murky, viscous energy.
The problem was feeling it right above my bed.
"Sigh. Guess I gotta quit being a civil servant."
Lamenting my shitty luck, I got out of bed and stretched.
I wanted to write it off as just my imagination and burrow back into my warm blankets for a lazy sleep, but that wasn't an option for a civil servant like me.
My ominous gut feeling was way too sharp for that.
'What if something really does go down?'
I'd survive somehow, but Noona and Gyeong-ah? No chance.
Mana overload phenomenon could seriously injure normal people just from brushing against it.
And if the cause of that mana overload was what I was thinking...
"Ugh, gives me the chills."
I threw on comfy sweatpants and a hoodie.
Then I pulled out the handgun I'd stashed deep in the drawer and slotted it into the holster.
The Management Bureau-issued Smith & Wesson Revolver.
I'd hoped I'd never have to use it, but packing it at home? Who'd have thought.
I stuffed my civil servant ID, car keys, and wallet into my pockets nice and secure.
Heading to the living room, the gross energy got a tad thicker.
But the source wasn't the living room itself.
It was coming from outside.
Definitely seeping in from outside.
"Not a situation to let my guard down."
Just because the house was safe didn't mean the problem was over.
Feeling this energy right by the apartment complex—or even right outside—was an emergency in itself.
I immediately opened Noona's and Gyeong-ah's doors.
Both were sleeping soundly, oblivious to the world.
Seeing their faces still marked by last night's intense fun, I almost felt bad waking them.
But no choice.
This could be life-or-death.
"Noona, Noona. Wake up."
"Mmm... what's up..."
"Get up quick. Emergency."
Noona rubbed her eyes and sat up.
I rushed into Gyeong-ah's room next, grabbing her and shaking her awake.
"Gyeong-ah. You too, up now."
"Oppa... I'm tired... my butt hurts toooo..."
"Not asking for round two, so get up already."
What does she take me for?
Anyway, I got Gyeong-ah up and sat them both on the living room couch.
She was still half-asleep, eyes barely open, nodding off—super cute.
Normally I'd tease her, but sadly, no time for that now.
"Listen up. I'm heading out for a bit, so absolutely do not go back to sleep."
"Hm...? Where you going... this early..."
"No time to explain. Here, take this first."
I shoved Noona's car keys into her hand.
"Grab your valuables right now. Wallet, phone, cash, ID. Everything you can carry out, stuff it in a bag."
"Huh...? W-what's going on?"
"Not sure if it's a Gate or dungeon, but mana overload signs are showing."
That one line snapped Noona's sleepy eyes into focus.
Anyone living in this world knows those words.
Gate and dungeon.
Holes that turn everyday life into hell in an instant.
Noona got the picture right away and nodded.
As expected of my Noona.
Quick on the uptake.
"Got it. What about you, Gyeong-ho? Not dangerous, right?"
"Just checking it out. Prep just in case. You hear that, Gyeong-ah?"
"Huh? Y-yeah... Oppa..."
"Gyeong-ah. Snap out of it."
Noona lightly patted Gyeong-ah's cheek.
Once the two finally shook off their daze, they dashed to their rooms to pack. I confirmed it and headed out the front door.
The moment I stepped into the hallway, humid air hit me along with that nasty vibe.
Thick as hell.
Out in the parking lot, I sharpened my senses and traced the energy's source.
Not up.
Not to the side.
Down.
"Sewer?"
Right below the apartment complex.
More precisely, the energy was rising from the massive sewer pipe even deeper than the underground parking.
At this concentration, it wasn't just a mana leak.
Precursor to Gate or dungeon generation.
And a pretty big one at that.
'If my guess is right...'
The whole apartment would be locked down as a no-entry zone for at least three months.
Even if it was a Gate instead of a dungeon, post-processing and residual mana cleanup took that long.
"Ah, what a fucking headache."
If home becomes a no-entry zone, it's trouble all around.
No place to crash right away, commute's a mess.
Regular citizens get jack shit from government disaster welfare and bounce between gyms or temp shelters.
'Of course, our family would be a bit different.'
Management Bureau exclusive insurance, fat support payouts.
Plus hotel-level temp lodging and living expenses.
No financial loss, but leaving our precious nest? Annoying as hell.
Report first.
I pulled out my phone and dialed the control center direct line.
Ttulululu~ Ttulululu~
Click.
"Thank you for your hard work. I'm at OO District, OO-dong, OO Apartment complex. Calling because the mana waves feel off."
"Lee Gyeong-ho here. Current spot is in front of Building 103 parking lot. Creepy energy coming from the underground sewer at that location."
"Hunter Management Bureau Civil Complaints Department Grade 9 Civil Servant. ID number 20XX-XXXX."
Clacking keyboard sounds came through.
Soon, a voice came back over the phone.
"Better hurry. Feels like it's about to pop."
"Got it. Send 'em quick."
Hung up and hopped in the car.
Just in case, I started the engine.
*
About 10 minutes of anxiously drumming the steering wheel.
A black SUV slid into the apartment entrance like butter.
The control center logo on the side was a welcome sight.
Two female investigators in work gear stepped out.
One hand each: mana detector and tablet. They scanned around.
I got out and approached.
"From the control center?"
They turned at my question.
The one who looked senior spoke up after giving me a mechanical once-over.
"You're the reporter, Officer Lee Gyeong-ho?"
"Yes, that's me."
I flashed my civil servant ID from around my neck to confirm.
Their expressions softened a bit.
Once they know you're eating the same rice, they loosen up.
The women immediately pointed their gear at the sewer.
Bbeebik, Ppik.
The shrill beeps rang out loud.
The investigator's brow furrowed at the readings.
"Officer-nim, your hunch was spot on. The waves are being total bitches."
"Dungeon?"
"Nope, luckily not. Wave pattern says Gate. Dimensional rift about to crack open."
A Gate, huh.
Silver lining in the shitstorm.
Dungeons lock down 3 months minimum, up to a year. Gates are different.
Hunters go in, smash the core, and poof—gone.
At worst, a month.
"Scale?"
"Current readings? Between D-class and C-class. Not a big one, thank god. But smack in a residential area, so some damage expected."
She fiddled with the tablet and continued.
"Issuing red alert and evacuation order now. Your family prepped?"
"Yeah, packing."
"Quick thinking. Get 'em evac'd ASAP. Better before the herd rushes out."
Nodded and called Noona right away.
She picked up before it even rang.
"Noona, come down now. Bring Gyeong-ah and the packed bags straight to the parking lot."
Hung up just as sirens blared across the whole complex.
At the same time, my phone and the investigators' buzzed like crazy.
[Emergency Disaster Text]
[Ministry of the Interior and Safety]
[Gate outbreak signs detected around OO District, OO-dong at approx. 06:00 today.]
[Nearby residents, evacuate immediately.]
Red warning screen that wouldn't clear even after confirming.
You gotta leave the zone to kill it.
Lights flicked on in balconies all over the apartments in seconds.
Murmurs shattered the dawn quiet.
Gotta bail before the flood of people.
Saw Noona and Gyeong-ah sprinting from the entrance, bags in tow.
"Noona, Gyeong-ah. Bags here."
"Y-yeah."
I slid open the Ray's back door.
Loaded the bags fast, then Noona and Gyeong-ah hopped into the nearby SUV.
Noona handled the driving like a pro and peeled out of the lot.
I jumped in the Ray and followed quick.
Me sticking around as a Hunter Management Bureau civil servant? Useless.
Unless hunters get deployed later.
Roads inside were still empty since folks hadn't poured out yet.
Delay a bit, and we'd be trapped in chaos.
Confirmed the main gate barrier up and shot onto the road.
Noona pulled over on a quiet stretch a ways off.
Saw the white evacuation line and parked behind.
"Ah, finally off."
The blaring Emergency Disaster Text shut down.
Only then did I get out of the Ray and into Noona's SUV.
"Oppa, our house... it gonna be okay?"
Gyeong-ah asked in a shaky voice.
Hugging her bag tight, scared face.
"It's fine. Gates close quick. House won't collapse, don't worry."
"But... my computer and clothes..."
That's what she's worried about.
"If it collapses, we buy new. Compensation's fat. Might as well upgrade your PC to top specs."
"Really? Then it's all good."
Simple girl.
Face lit up at the PC upgrade promise.
"Haa..."
Tension eased, yawns hit hard.
Leaned back, rubbed my dry face.
Sweet weekend down the drain.
Planned to roll around in bed with Noona for another round. All fucked.
"Weekend totally ruined..."
Muttered, and Noona turned from the driver's seat to pat my head.
Her soft touch cooled my irritation a bit.
"But thanks to you, Gyeong-ho, people can evac fast?"
"Yeah, true."
News always shows folks bolting half-naked.
But my heads-up meant our apartment peeps got clothes and valuables sorted.
Noona's praise puffed me up.
Weight of the family man, huh.
Jing—
Jing—
Phone buzzed again.
[Emergency Disaster Text]
[Ministry of the Interior and Safety]
[Gate generation confirmed in OO-dong.]
[No entry within 1km radius.]
[Response team deploying now.]
Checked the text and stepped out.
Noona and Gyeong-ah followed.
Looking toward our apartment, a bluish pillar of light shot up.
"Blue, huh."
Gate rank color.
Blue means E-class to D-class.
As expected, and per the investigators—low-rank Gate.
If it'd been red or gold, I'd be cursing up a storm.
That size? Hunters dive in, kill boss, done quick.
"Phew, lucky."
Let out a sigh of relief.