Starting from the Bottom
G Channel's headquarters in Central.
Among the 30 staff members, the one in overall command was Brodo, who had set a viewership record with Battle Survival.
"We're live! Check the drone cameras."
At his command, the staff moved with crisp efficiency. The seven monitors displayed students from Arcana and Celia Academies—the so-called AseLkana Alliance.
The broadcaster's job boiled down to three things.
First, explain to viewers what roles and quests the AseLkana Alliance had been assigned.
Second, switch the main cam to the most exciting action.
Third, since it was live, handle all subtitles and edits on the fly.
"This ain't your average gig."
Brodo said it like it was a complaint, but his eyes burned with enthusiasm. Caston, on the other hand, looked glum.
"PD-nim, if we nail this broadcast too, I'm heading to Ragna Beach for some R&R. Don't even think about calling me."
"Sure thing. We've got a Battle Survival sequel to plan anyway. Go recharge."
"You guys... are insane."
Griping all the while, Caston meticulously checked the students' starting positions and roles.
"Whoa, a bunch of 'em are starting tied down, huh? Kua, Isabel, and Lucia are with the Hunter Association. Pretty high ranks too! Smooth sailing from the jump."
"Yeah? Sounds too vanilla. What about Zien?"
"Zien's..."
"From the surface, it looks like..."
Caston, who was monitoring closely, suddenly shouted.
"Ah! I get it! This is hilarious... or maybe a total jackpot..."
Intrigued by the cryptic remark, Brodo rushed over from issuing commands.
"Hmm, that getup... a bodyguard? And the location screams bottom-of-the-barrel grunt."
Brodo had broadcasted several gate clears with active Sabers. He wasn't one himself, but he knew the ins and outs of every zone.
"The Sword God Zien Russell, starting as a grunt. Oh, this is gonna be gold."
"Perfect. Kick off the main cam on number one."
Gate clears were marathons of unknown length, but the AseLkana Alliance broadcast pulled a solid 5% ratings right out of the gate.
That meant most of the judges outside—and regular shows plus Amy Rose's channel—were glued to AseLkana's main feed.
The glittering city of Zone 1.
Gates had all sorts of scenarios, but famous spots tended to overlap.
Thanks to that, Zien recognized the city from his past life.
'Cleared how many gates here? No surprise.'
This was Rain City.
A place of cozy orange night lights, where half the year brought endless rain, just like its name.
And the massive building before Zien was Rain City's pride: Sky Town.
'Sky Town. Been a while.'
Whoosh—
As Zien sized up the situation amid the downpour, Black Fragrance's voice rang in his head.
You have entered the Zone 1 Gate [Hunter's Night].
Your assigned role: 2nd-Class Hunter.
Characters inside the Gate perceive Stigma powers as Hunter Traits.
The all-too-familiar chime.
Hearing Black Fragrance, Zien truly felt like he was inside a gate.
'Virtual 5th-rank gate or not, no room for slacking.'
Fortunately, no penalties for him. As a Hunter role, any ability-related debuff would've spelled trouble for clearing.
Zien glanced at his Stigma, then murmured.
"Quest."
[Quest]
Your first objective: Become a Sky Town bodyguard.
Details: Pass Sky Town's exam.
'Another exam right off the bat.'
Since regaining his memories, Zien's tasks had always been about proving himself. Even in a gate, this exam was no different.
Sky Town's second floor.
Examiner 4th-Class Hunter Jin Yura was handing out number tickets at the door.
"Sigh, one's a no-show."
"Always one troublemaker, huh."
Vermouth chuckled beside her. Ever since monsters and dungeons appeared, Zone 1 folks used a common tongue. Language barriers crumbled, blurring national lines.
"Gonna give 'em an earful! Even a 3rd-Class would be busy enough, but a measly 2nd..."
Bang.
The door flew open, cutting Jin Yura off. All 100 gazes in the exam hall snapped to it.
A sleek black suit that fit like a glove. Rain-slicked hair. Jin Yura stared, dumbfounded.
"Number 3, 36th—2nd-Class Hunter Zien Russell?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Uh... here, put this on your wrist and take a seat."
Jin Yura looped the loose string around his eye level instead of his wrist, still staring.
Vermouth shook his head in disbelief.
"Weren't you gonna chew them out?"
Jin Yura gazed wistfully at Zien's retreating back, all demure like a schoolgirl in the throes of puberty.
"Nah, they might've just been late..."
Meanwhile, Zien slowly surveyed the massive exam hall. Twenty tables, 100 participants.
But only five would make the cut. Sky Group was a mega-corp; bodyguard spots were cutthroat.
'All entrants are at least 3rd-Class Hunters. Who the hell are they guarding?'
As a 5th-rank gate, the quest scale had to be huge. Meaning the protectee and their enemies wielded serious influence.
For now, this role was just a stepping stone.
But defying the quest wasn't smart.
'Gotta pass the exam and snag the bodyguard gig.'
In gates, quests were your compass.
Follow the needle to the story's heart. Zien took his seat as directed by Jin Yura.
The blond guy next to him seemed intrigued.
"Name's Franklin. You a student or something?"
"Yeah."
"Looked young. How'd a 2nd-Class make it this far?"
A weird mix of casual and formal speech. Franklin's intent was obvious.
"Gonna be tough for a 2nd-Class, right?"
Franklin smirked, his badge showing a 3.
The gap between 2nd and 3rd-Class was as vast for Hunters as for Sabers. Zien ignored the blatant provocation.
Taking his silence as agreement, the woman beside them chimed in.
"Eh, anything's possible. Not that you'll pass~ These days, even trying counts as spec for students, right?"
The woman with the "Shizuku" badge laughed "ah ha hat," and Franklin slapped his forehead in exaggerated reaction.
"Ahaha! Such a wise lady! Here I was, dumb enough to think passing was the goal for a 2nd-Class punk."
This was treatment meant for the original 2nd-Class Hunter role, not Zien. But he was too seasoned to get rattled by petty jabs.
"Tch."
With no reaction from Zien, Franklin lost interest. Soon, examiner Jin Yura took the stage.
"Thank you for waiting. The first test's rules are simple. If the string on your wrist..."
Jin Yura trailed off.
She shot Zien a pitying glance, then continued.
"...remains intact, you pass. If it breaks, you fail. Continues until 20 of 100 remain."
Her words ended, and a blaring announcement echoed.
[Test begins in 2 minutes 59 seconds.]
[Test area: Entire Sky Town building.]
"What? Starts here?"
"Hey, follow me—let's hide first!"
"Ah! Don't shove!"
"Just head out the front door!"
Chaos erupted as most participants scattered. But confident Hunters stayed put—including Franklin.
"Two minutes left—ain't running?"
"Yeah~ Gotta scurry off and hide your tail, right? That's how you pass round one."
Shizuku patted Zien's shoulder.
Examiners Jin Yura and Vermouth watched with tsks of disapproval.
No one had clocked Zien's strength yet.
The more Zien—the broadcast star—got dissed, the higher the ratings climbed.
A devilishly addictive gate stream you hated to love.
Romina was one such viewer.
"Unbelievable! Those 3rd-Class losers acting all high and mighty with my precious student!"
Romina ranted wildly in excitement.
Karsen calmly reined her in.
"Cool it. It's a gate. I pulled porter duty in Zone 3 back in the day."
"Those punks aren't worth a punch, showboating like that! Ugh, so frustrating!"
Her eyes turning axe-shaped in fury, Romina jumped up and rummaged through Karsen's place like it was hers.
"What, no drinks?"
"Fridge bottom shelf."
"There they are."
Gulp gulp.
Romina chugged a canned drink.
Her eyes stayed glued to the broadcast. Of the seven participants, only Zien got heavy coverage—her blatant favoritism—but it was riveting.
"Hell to clear, but a riot to watch?"
At her mutter, Karsen asked with a meaningful look.
"Miss the active days?"
"That was years ago. Feeling nostalgic?"
"Sometimes."
Karsen's voice carried a lonely edge. Romina, who quit on her terms, was different from him.
He'd retired to teaching after wrecking his ankle in a gate.
'If that hadn't happened...'
As Romina's face softened in reverie,
"Ka! Mmph..."
"Talk later! Crucial moment."
As Zien drew his sword,
Karsen clapped a hand over Romina's mouth in urgency.
'...This guy's for real.'
Romina was speechless.