Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Words I Want to Say (6)
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[Holy shit, for real? An EX Gate in Korea? Ha, this is fucking terrifying.]
[What if they can't clear it? I just bought a house a month ago.]
└[When our lives are on the line, you're worried about your house? Even if we survive, Korea's fucked, all our money turns to toilet paper, and our generation's stuck rebuilding after the war, slaving away lol]
└[Rebuilding? Dream on. If they can't clear the EX Gate, we're all dead.]
The community was in an uproar.
With trembling hands, I barely held onto my smartphone, focusing on the comments scrolling by.
[Why dead? China failed too, but it just split and didn't collapse, right? That's cuz it's fucking China! They had tons of S-Rank Hunters waiting outside even after failing to clear. Huge population! Tons of talent! First time, so no all-out assault!]
└[But us? Small population, few S-Ranks. Can we even clear an EX Gate with an all-out? Looks hopeless to me. Failure means all Korea's S-Rank Hunters die. Then what?]
└[EX Gate breaks, no one to stop the monsters pouring out. Heroes? They're PvP specialists, right? Not trained systematically for monster hunting like Hunters. So drop their ranks one or two levels? Oh, max is B-Rank?]
Those hiding behind anonymity were more likely full of shit than experts.
Even with self-hypnosis to calm down, my anxiety wouldn't stop, so I posted a comment.
[Won't other countries help?]
└[If it was S-Rank, maybe. But EX? No chance. EX Gate break needs at least S-Ranks dispatched, and they're strategic assets.]
└[Still, globalized world. World Hunter Alliance or something will help.]
└[What's a break? Failed clear. Failed clear means couldn't destroy the gate core, aka didn't kill the gate boss. Gate boss comes out during break too—who'd risk their own S-Ranks to help kill an 'S-Rank's grave' like an EX Gate boss? Even alliances can't.]
"Fuck."
I turned off my smartphone and curled up.
Countless thoughts tormented me from within.
'If my Hypnosis skill was stronger.'
I'd hypnotize the president right now, fly to the US or Japan or wherever.
Drag their S-Ranks to Korea, force them into the EX Gate.
Go to the World Hunter Alliance, the US too.
And more...
"Ha, what pathetic delusions."
When my mind weakens, all sorts of crap thoughts come.
I washed my face with cold water, finally snapping out of it.
"Don't think it'll fail already."
Believe.
Believe the Hunters and Heroes.
Believe in Yu-ra sis and wait.
[This is where the EX Gate spawned. Civilians are banned from approaching by Hunters...]
I went outside and turned on the TV.
Too much negativity on the community, so official broadcast it was.
'Shouldn't contact her?'
TV said this morning the Korean Hunter Association called all A-Ranks and above.
Calling now, probably in meetings, best not to bother.
"Hoo."
I tossed my fidgeted smartphone away and focused solely on the TV.
The EX Gate on the broadcast camera was blood-red, gigantic like a building, evoking hell's maw.
Moments later, the screen zoomed in on the base of the gate.
There were Korea's top 12 guilds.
And their 20 S-Rank Hunters and 122 A-Rank Hunters, entering the gate with grim expressions.
'It's Yu-ra sis.'
Leading S-Rank Hunters.
Each in their guild uniforms—I knew the Millennium Guild's blue-and-white harmony.
Spotting Yu-ra sis was easy.
'She's tense.'
Watching her rigid face move with other S-Ranks.
My fists clenched, cold sweat making them damp.
"She'll be fine. She will."
How many times had I said that?
Soon, the Hunter legion led by S-Ranks entered the EX Gate.
If only I'd turned off the TV then?
[EX Gates are called Hunters' graves, meaning just how dangerous...]
Then I wouldn't have cheapened the sacrificing Hunters' resolve.
With some 'expert' spouting facts as bullshit.
[Especially vanguards, fatality rate 95.8%...]
Then.
I wouldn't have despaired at those words.
I couldn't take it, turned off the TV too, and prayed to the god who'd betrayed me once.
"Please, let the hypnosis on sis activate."
Fucking god.
Grant me this much.
"Fuck."
I felt so powerless.
No mood to do anything, first time texting the cafe owner to take the day off.
[Okay. Rest as much as you want. Don't worry too much. It'll be fine.]
She knew my relation with Yu-ra sis somewhat.
The cafe owner sent a kind message.
"Please..."
Ten days of such prayers.
Sis still hadn't come out of the gate.
[Sis, you okay?]
No reply even to the message I couldn't hold back.
＊＊＊
"Haa. I'm beat."
Lee Seo-yeon stretched, rubbing her eyes.
Ten days since the first raid team entered the EX Gate.
Dragged out forcibly for emergency manual drafting and admin for if they failed, she hadn't slept properly in days.
'I'm a hacker specialist—why this crap?'
Her skill wasn't just hacking.
It manipulated computer software freely.
Usable even here, and the Millennium Guild Master knew, so forced into service.
'If not for the special pay, I'd have quit ages ago.'
She thought while brewing mix coffee.
But staring piercingly at the coffee, she thought of one man and self-mocked she'd have anyway.
"Damn bitch."
Before this crisis.
She recalled Choi Yu-ra who'd come to her.
[I know who you are. Go Jin-yo, right?]
[Y-Yes?]
[I need a favor.]
She'd planned to confess someday if they got close.
Stunned by the sudden words, but Choi Yu-ra gave no breather.
[If I die, go to my place. Electronic door lock—your skill can open it easy. Will's there, hire a lawyer and execute it for me.]
[Why me...]
[Will has inheritance for Jun-hyuk too. Help with that, get close to him. Don't cry. Be nice. Got it?]
Couldn't understand.
Even knowing she was Go Jin-yo.
Why entrust Yoo Jun-hyuk to her?
Like handing your lover to the trash who slandered you?
[Why? You know I'm Go Jin-yo, why...]
So she asked.
Choi Yu-ra glared sadly at Lee Seo-yeon.
[What you did to me doesn't matter. You're the woman closest to Jun-hyuk, that's why.]
[To Jun-hyuk...?]
[Yeah. The way he looks at you has fondness. Not love, not affection, just a little liking. Jun-hyuk surprisingly doesn't have wide circles—the only one showing that much is you.]
Tried to ask more, but Choi Yu-ra left after one word.
entrust it to you.]
What her request meant.
As a woman, how could she not know?
In a way, accepted by Choi Yu-ra, no more guilt.
Could get close to Yoo Jun-hyuk guilt-free.
"Really... fucking damn bitch."
But she couldn't accept it.
Get close to Jun-hyuk?
She used formal speech till recently—think I don't know why casual now?
Sensed she'd already lost first place, but could let that slide.
"I'm not you."
Get close to Yoo Jun-hyuk meant.
Fill her spot as substitute.
Lee Seo-yeon wanted to connect as 'Lee Seo-yeon', not as Choi Yu-ra's stand-in.
"So please come out alive."
Even second place fine.
If accepted as herself, order didn't matter.
"And... I want to apologize to you directly again."
Knowing she was going to die.
How leave your loved one?
I'd have found a way to run.
That's what a hero is?
Sacrifice life and happiness to protect people?
I wouldn't for mere attention...
"I'll believe. Hero."
Somehow the mix coffee was too bitter.
More than the espresso first drunk at the cafe, meeting Yoo Jun-hyuk.
＊＊＊
"Haa, haa..."
Choi Yu-ra breathed raggedly.
Comrades who'd solidly guarded her flanks were down, only her left standing as vanguard.
'They're not dead.'
Just down, not dead.
Midline Hunters quickly pulled them back.
Confirming safe transport, Choi Yu-ra refocused ahead.
"Haa, almost, haa, there."
Far off, in sight: the EX Gate's black core.
142 Hunters' forced march.
Twenty A-Ranks sacrificed to reach here.
Two S-Ranks dead.
Just destroy that, clear the EX Gate.
『Mee~』
But heroes who'd cleared EX Gates first said.
True terror at core's end: Core Guardian.
Aka gate boss, 90% chance.
As advised, the over-20-meter bipedal black goat-form gate boss crushed their march.
'Too strong.'
Countless Hunters fell instantly to its attacks.
Unseen, unheard patterns, attacks, abilities—vanguard 6 including her held, no deaths.
But now 5 vanguards down, her alone.
Just waiting to fall like autumn leaves.
"...Hoo. As expected."
EX Gate boss: cunning intellect, brutal nature?
Definitely could've killed if attacked during vanguard transport to rear.
And now, giving breather—for greater despair.
Goat face overlooking them, sneer clear.
Choi Yu-ra saw it as certainty, not guess.
"Reform the formation?"
"No."
She shook her head at comrade's question.
"Everyone, run."
"What? It's still now, but if we try to..."
It'll strike right away.
Meant to say, but Choi Yu-ra shoved comrade's back.
"I'll hold it. Run. Got info, few casualties—retry with that, we win."
"Wh-what!? You!?"
"I'll die. But one life for gate clear? Worth it."
"...You call that words!"
Comrade shut mouth.
Her resolute expression's meaning clear without words.
No matter what.
You'll sacrifice to protect us.
"You, really..."
"You know? What living as Hunter means?"
"...Don't die."
"I'll try."
Two exchanged vain hope and empty words.
"Full retreat!"
Comrade left, ordering others retreat.
Gate boss swung huge spear at fleeing Hunters, but Choi Yu-ra faster.
"Kuh!"
Her skill: Enhancement.
Top reinforcement skill, simplest yet best known.
Enhances whole body: hardness, strength, stamina, endurance, cardio, speed, flexibility—all.
Current S-Rank her: unscathed even by missile...
"Cough!"
Spear hit: ribs cracked, internal injury, vomited blood.
Wiped blood, glanced back.
Luckily elite Hunters—short time bought enough to escape far.
'Good.'
But too early to relax.
Need more time.
"30 seconds more, maybe."
Her life worth 30 seconds.
Choi Yu-ra self-mocked, then satisfied.
"That's enough."
Her one life.
Erases EX Gate.
Saves countless.
Including Yoo Jun-hyuk's life within.
"...Didn't want to die like this."
But human, death near: fear.
Then thought of Yoo Jun-hyuk, his words.
[You're my eternal heart's hero.]
"Yeah. Must."
For Jun-hyuk.
No, for all.
I'm a hero.
"Make it."
Fear of death vanished from her eyes.
That moment...
[Even at death's certainty.]
Within her.
[Sacrificing life and own happiness.]
Yoo Jun-hyuk's planted hypnosis activated.
[As hero, when sacrificing for others, transcend S-Rank limits.]
"!?"
Suddenly, golden light from Choi Yu-ra's body.
Huge golden pillar visible even to retreating Hunters far off.
『Mee?』
It was a miracle.
Hypnosis condition met.
Her spirit, conquering death as hero, far exceeded needed mana.
EX Gate's densest mana absorbed into her body for goal.
Transcend S-Rank limit—goal without fixed ceiling.
"Th-this... skill enhancing?"
Ultimate transcendence.
Not just skill—body, mana, all surpassing S-Rank.
"Yu-ra!"
Comrades returned, sensing anomaly from light pillar.
"Sorry. Told you to go all dramatic... since back, help me if you can?"
Choi Yu-ra smiled, welcoming them.
"Feels winnable now."
Beyond S-Rank.
SS insufficient.
"Help."
"Of course!"
First in 100 years human history post-gates.
SSS-Rank Awakener born.
『Mee!!!』
Day of record shortest 10-day EX Gate clear.