Chapter 47, Gallery Invasion.
Chapter 47, Gallery Invasion.
"Is this the Evacuation Zone?"
I turned the steering wheel and pulled into the athletic field.
Maybe because our family was top priority for evacuation, the parking lot at the Evacuation Zone was emptier than expected.
I parked in a prime spot close to the exit for now.
'It'll be packed here later, too.'
It was quiet now, but it was obvious that in just a little while, it'd turn into a total madhouse where you couldn't even get in.
When that happened, people would have to park somewhere else and walk in.
Of course, our family planned to get out of here before that chaos even started.
"Let's get out. We'll just check in and go right away."
We'd left Noona's SUV on the roadside and driven here in the Ray.
The two of them opened the sliding rear door and got out of the car.
Both had super tense looks on their faces.
Probably the intimidating vibe of the word "shelter."
"Oppa, can we really leave right away?"
"Yeah. They said as long as we confirm evacuation, we can move."
At the tent by the entrance sat a single civil servant in a yellow Civil Defense Uniform.
When we approached, he went wide-eyed.
He looked like he'd just seen a ghost.
"Huh? You already came?"
"Ah, yeah. We evacuated first."
"Wow... You're the first ones to arrive this early. We haven't even finished setting up inside yet."
The civil servant stuck out his tongue in admiration.
From the laptop and scattered papers on the desk, it looked like he'd just started settling in.
Looking at his name tag on his chest and his overall vibe, I could peg him right away.
He smelled just like me.
Grade 9.
This guy too.
'Tough job.'
Didn't feel like someone else's problem.
If I'd been with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, I'd be sitting there taking shit all day too.
"We're just here to check in and then we'll head out on our own."
"Ah, self-evacuating? Then just scan this QR code here."
A QR code was up on the tablet PC he held out.
I pulled out my phone and opened the camera.
"Noona, Gyeong-ah. Scan this."
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The three of us were checked in in an instant.
The civil servant checked his laptop screen and nodded.
"Confirmed. Be careful out there."
"Thanks for your hard work."
We gave a quick nod and left the tent.
In the short time it took us to finish our business and come out, cars were starting to trickle into the athletic field entrance, one or two at a time.
Talk about perfect timing.
If we'd been even a little later, we'd have gotten stuck at the entrance.
"Noona, hop in quick. We gotta get out before the traffic jam."
"Got it."
This time Noona took the driver's seat, with Gyeong-ah in the passenger seat and me in the back.
Noona smoothly turned the wheel and got us out of the athletic field.
The moment we passed the main gate, the opposite lane caught my eye.
"Whoa..."
My jaw dropped.
The road heading to the shelter already looked like a parking lot.
An endless line of cars tailgating each other stretched on forever.
'We almost got trapped in that if we'd been a bit late.'
We sped down the completely clear opposite lane.
I let out a sigh of relief while watching the chaos fade in the rearview mirror.
*
A Business Hotel in the city center.
We got a triple room.
With three beds, the room was pretty cramped, but beggars can't be choosers.
Best part was the location—it was killer.
Just a 10-minute drive to the Management Bureau.
And to our house where the gate had popped open? Piece of cake.
We had to do this for at least a week, so easy commuting was a must.
"Just unpack roughly."
I pulled out the emergency suit I'd grabbed from the Ray's trunk and put it on.
I brushed off the wrinkles and tied my tie.
As I fixed my appearance in the mirror, Gyeong-ah, sitting on the bed, asked.
"Oppa, where are you going?"
"To work."
I grabbed my wallet, car keys, and most importantly, my civil servant ID.
"Gotta go manage the gate. Hunters are going in, so I have to control it."
"Now? Isn't it dangerous?"
"What's dangerous about being a civil servant? If they say go, I go."
I handed a card to Gyeong-ah, who was looking at me worriedly.
It was a debit card linked to my bank account.
"No home cooking, so go out with Noona and buy some food. Hotel breakfast is pricey—hit a nearby restaurant."
"Okay..."
"And keep all the receipts, no exceptions. Got it? Don't throw them away. We can get reimbursed by the country later."
"Got it. Be careful."
"You got it."
I told Noona I'd be back and left the hotel.
I hopped in the car and drove the familiar route.
It was our neighborhood, the one we'd escaped just a few hours ago.
Barricades were up at the entrance, with police and soldiers blocking civilian access.
"Brief inspection, please."
"Management Bureau civil servant."
I rolled down the window, showed my ID, and the cop saluted.
The barricade opened, and I went inside.
The empty streets felt so alien.
This apartment complex was always bustling with people.
When I got to the parking lot area, a familiar sight greeted me.
And above it, rippling a massive blue wave.
'Haa... that damn gate.'
This was all because of that gate.
Not just giving up my weekend, but I wouldn't be able to come home for a whole week now.
I sighed involuntarily.
At least, the silver lining was that the hunters had already arrived.
'Finish it quick, guys.'
The geared-up hunters were all gathered, smoking together.
I got out of the car and turned on my tablet PC.
I checked the muster list as I approached them.
"Alright, attention everyone. Headcount time."
My voice drew all the hunters' eyes.
Most looked annoyed.
Probably 'cause it was a D-class Gate—nobody seemed motivated.
No real money in it, and no glory either.
"Kim Heung-seok-ssi?"
"Yes."
"Park Min-seok-ssi?"
"Yes."
I called out all twelve names.
Luckily, no latecomers.
If I sent them in like this, they'd probably just kill time and come out.
To get them to wrap it up fast, I needed to dangle a carrot.
"Full attendance confirmed. And one announcement."
I lowered the tablet and looked around at the hunters.
"If you clear this gate safely, everyone gets 1 Management Bureau Point."
In an instant, the hunters' eyes changed.
Murmurs rose up.
"Points? For real?"
"Whoa, points for a D-class?"
I knew it'd get a reaction.
1 Management Bureau Point.
Seems small, but it's a huge perk for hunters.
The only way to shave off 10 penalty points, or cash it out at 300,000 won per point.
Plus, it's something you'd never get from a normal D-class Gate.
"For real? No take-backs later?"
"I stake my rank on it. But you gotta finish clean, no incidents."
"Hey, don't worry! Who do you think we are!"
"Yo, hear that? Let's wrap it quick and grab those points!"
Slumped shoulders straightened.
Hands checking weapons moved with purpose.
This is why I like hunters.
"Then we'll hurry back so our civil servant buddy doesn't wear out waiting!"
"Please do. Enter!"
At my signal, the hunters gathered at the gate.
I gave the official Management Bureau send-off to their backs.
"See you alive."
The hunters vanished into the gate one by one.
Only after confirming the last one was fully in did the tension ease.
'Hmm. Now what?'
Management Bureau civil servants have to standby until the gate clear is done.
For a D-class, quick is three or four hours, slow is half a day.
Can't just stand around like an idiot outside.
'Should I just go home and wait?'
Having my house near work was such a blessing.
My room door faces the parking lot, easy to check too.
I straight-up headed home and climbed the stairs.
Punched in the familiar door lock code.
Ding.
The door opened, and the familiar smell hit me.
I kicked off my shoes and headed straight to the bedroom.
Flopped onto the bed.
"Uaa... Feels good."
The fluffy mattress enveloped me.
Having my workplace right at home? Insane perks.
Of course, with a monster-spitting hole in front of the house, worst environment ever.
'Shouldn't be grinning.'
But my mouth kept curling up.
Lying in my own bed during work hours.
This guilty thrill.
Electrifying.
I pulled out my phone from my pocket.
Might as well kill time scrolling the gallery.
"Huh?"
Something was off.
The gallery, usually plastered with bullshit posts and curses, was way too quiet.
Even refreshing, the latest post was hours old.
Did everyone dive into a gate as a group?
Even for a weekday, this was extreme.
I tilted my head, scrolling the screen, then felt the dissonance.
The M mark next to the gallery name was gone.
"Huh?"
No way.
I frantically searched 'Hunter Gallery.'
I burst out laughing at the search results list.
[Hunter Gallery (Official)]
It'd been promoted.
From minor gallery to official.
"They all bailed to the shelter."
When a minor gal becomes official, they flock to the shelter.
I scrolled through the ranking to check the top galleries.
[Monster Hunter Minor Gallery]
Real-time #1 bustling gallery.
Usually doesn't even show in rankings.
No way.
With that suspicion, I tapped it.
The scene that unfolded made me crack up.
"You crazy bastards."
Spot on.
The Hunter Gallery crew had invaded and taken over the Monster Hunter Minor Gallery.
Just because the names were similar.
I tapped the featured posts tab.
A place that had game guides and weapon recs just days ago had turned into the hunters' playground overnight.
[Title: Yo, Gallery Admin, come out!]
[Get out.]
[This is Hunter-nims' home base from now on.]
ㄴ No, you crazy fucks, GTFO to your own gal
ㄴㄴ Nah, why's it yours? It's the 'Monster' 'Hunter' Gallery? We're the hunters who hunt monsters, so it's ours lololol
ㄴㄴㄴ Logic, fucking gold lololol
[Title: What, no armbands working here?]
[You said you'd share gate info, why just game talk and crash?]
[Isn't this dereliction of duty?]
[Ban their asses.]
ㄴ Fr lol if you're gonna talk games go elsewhere
ㄴㄴ This is the game gallery ㅠㅠ pls leave
[Title: Noob Q&A]
[I just awakened as C-class, greatsword build or dual blades?]
[Ah, talking about the ones from Hunter Market.]
ㄴ Don't do dual blades. All style no substance—perfect for getting kicked from parties.
ㄴㄴ Thought it was Monster Hunter talk and got excited, OG if so upvote lololol
ㄴㄴㄴ Ah fuck lololol
[Title: Guys, where do you get potions here?]
[HP pots all out, Hunter Market delivery too slow.]
[Any pharmacist hunter for direct trade? Urgent.]
ㄴ Just mix great recovery potion with honey, why buy it?
ㄴㄴ Honey farming lololol where you getting dungeon honey you madman
ㄴㄴㄴ No, they sell it in the game shop... pls boot up the game before posting
ㄴㄴㄴㄴ Why's this dude talking game shit in gal? Dumbass.
ㄴㄴㄴㄴㄴ Wait, wasn't it game talk?
[Title: Honestly, how's Palico << this dude as a pet?]
[Cat beastkin vibe, any combat power?]
[Worth as support pack mule?]
ㄴ IDK combat but cuteness S-tier
ㄴㄴ Furry alert...
ㄴㄴ Beastkin = human rights issue? Reporting, go.
ㄴㄴㄴ How dare you trash my companion! GTFO!!
[Title: Notice) Gallery Rules Revision.txt]
[No game talk.]
[Only hunter info posts as featured.]
[Go make a gal for Monster Hunter (game) and fuck off.]
[Disagree? You're all wrong.]
ㄴ Armbands doing work lololol that's right
ㄴㄴ Where you seeing armbands you psychos, wtf you doing in our gal ㅠㅠ
ㄴㄴㄴ Mad? Migrate then lololol C-class+ only
ㄴㄴㄴㄴ Ugh ㅠㅠㅠ
[Title: Change the gallery name first]
[What's Monster Hunter? Monster Hunter.]
[How about clean: Republic of Korea Hunter Alliance?]
ㄴ Cringe. Just make it Hunter Shelter.
ㄴㄴ(Gallery Admin): Pls stop... spare me...
[Title: Yo if you're real hunters, you actually hunt monsters?]
[Not game, for real. Not scary?]
ㄴ Risking life, course it's scary
ㄴㄴ But pays the bills. You'll get it when you awaken
ㄴㄴㄴ We hunt in game lololol reset and done~
ㄴㄴㄴㄴ Jealous af you bastards... reset my life too pls
[Title: Honestly, we saved this gal, right?]
[Official gallery comes, boosts activity—should be grateful]
[Where's this turf war from?]
ㄴ Admit it
ㄴㄴ Rolling stone gathers no moss, but kicks out the mossy one—old sayings never wrong
[Title: Gallery Admin, hand over ban rights NOW]
[Nicely, before we take it.]
[Democracy = majority rules, didn't you know?]
ㄴ Agreed.
ㄴ(Gallery Admin) Fine, just stop the spam pls...
Invasion.
A straight-up invasion.
The natives couldn't even resist and were getting swept away.
And the funny part? Not a single line about this D-class Gate I was managing.
'Well...'
Needs to be A, B, even C-class to hit news or gallery buzz.
D-class? Just neighborhood dog barking.
No one gives a shit.
Hunters or gates, rank is king in the end.
"Huu..."
I sighed deeply and pocketed my phone.
Stared at the ceiling and closed my eyes.
Might as well nap.
They'd take forever to come out anyway.
Can't come home for a week, so at least soak in my scent.
Sleep came rushing in.
Sweet, sweet nap time during duty hours.