Chapter 46
Chapter 46
46.Gate Priority Pass
"Everyone knows, right? The first is a level 21-25 Rare Gate, and the second is a level 26-30 Rare Gate."
Normal Gate applications are only possible if the applicant's level matches the recommended level. This is to prevent reckless preemption.
However, there are some exceptions, one of which is the Gate Priority Pass.
The Gate Priority Pass can be used for Gates with a recommended level that is just one stage higher.
The restriction was that you had to enter the Gate within two months of applying.
"I'm thinking of keeping one Priority Pass as a spare, in case a good Gate appears later."
I wasn't planning on using them all right away.
You never know when another Rare Gate might appear. There's also no guarantee that we'll continue to acquire Priority Passes.
We need to be in the top ranks of the Guild rankings, and to do that, we probably need to be over level 40.
We needed to keep some insurance.
'Personally, one or two would be perfect.'
One level 21-25 Rare Gate and two level 26-30 Rare Gates would be ideal.
Due to the recent Discharge-type Gate incident, Lee Shin-hee was level 24, and the rest of the party members were level 23.
They would reach level 26 soon, so it seemed like a good idea to do the next two Gates after that.
The two-month restriction is plenty of time for us, who enter high-difficulty Gates, even if it might not be for other Hunters.
"I found one!"
"Me too."
"Let's record them and keep looking."
When a lot of Entrance-type Gates appear like this, the number of Rare Gates also naturally increases.
During stable periods, entering a Ruin Gate is like picking a star from the sky, but it's a bit better at times like these.
It was the same five years ago. That's why all Hunters are keenly aware of these Gate announcements and applications.
Applications are received on the first day, and the Association judges the order based on Guild ranking and the skills of the Guild members, and then allocates the Gates.
"I've found about five level 21-25 Gates. Should we move on to level 26 and above?"
"Yeah. I'll keep an eye out for anything I might have missed, so check the higher levels."
Of course, with our Priority Passes, we're free from all of that. Even though a lot of Gates have appeared, it's not like thousands have opened.
It didn't take us long to check all the level 21-30 Gates.
"Eight level 21-25 Gates. Nine level 26-30 Gates."
"There are definitely a lot more than usual."
Rare Gates are usually a bit more difficult. Perhaps because the Mana concentration in the atmosphere is higher, more Rare Gates have appeared.
When I investigated, there were about five Gates in this level range five years ago, but now there are about 1.6 times as many.
"We've found almost all of them, so now we just need to narrow it down."
"What do you think would be best?"
We can choose three out of a total of 17. Of course, we could apply without using the Priority Passes, but the chances of being allocated are low.
The Priority Pass itself ignores everything else and allocates the Gate to us, so they usually don't give us anything else.
"First of all, we should include a Ruin Gate, right?"
"I've heard that Crystal Caves have turned out well in overseas cases."
"But isn't the probability a bit low?"
"But if we get it, it could be quite good."
"Wouldn't a named Labyrinth be better than gambling?"
While the Guild members were deliberating, I took a step back. It was because of Chunbae.
'Chunbae, you saw them with me, right? Do you know anything?'
-Excluding the ordinary places, there is one place that looks familiar.
'Oh? Really?'
To be honest, I wasn't expecting much. There are many different Gates. And some have the same name.
Chunbae was with the previous and previous-previous Space Masters, but both of them obtained Chunbae after reaching level 50.
In other words, he mainly knows places with high level ranges. Even though I got some information.
Based on what I know now, the chances of finding a place he knows weren't very high.
-Level 26-30 Gate, Yagor's Harsh Snowfield.
'Yagor's Harsh Snowfield?'
-Yes. The previous-previous Space Master's disciple visited that place. The recommended level and number of people are the same. I know the hidden places and rewards. I highly recommend it.
'What's the reward?'
-Let's go and see.
He told me to see for myself last time at the farm. It didn't seem like a bluff. And he's highly recommending it.
.
.
.
"Since we'll be entering a level 26 or higher Gate soon anyway, wouldn't it be better to go to the Ruin Gate then?"
"Then should we take a bit of a risk at the current level?"
While the Guild members were discussing, I, who had received Chunbae's advice, interjected.
"First of all, I'm thinking of participating in 'Yagor's Harsh Snowfield' in the next level range. Is everyone okay with that?"
"Suddenly?"
"Huh? Why there...?"
'Snowfield' Gates aren't actually very popular. Like lava zones, they have extreme environments.
It's hard enough to focus on the battle, but the enemies are creatures that live in the Snowfield, making it even more difficult.
Compared to that, the rewards aren't as good as other Rare Gates.
Of course, clearing these Gates helps a little with the Guild ranking calculation, but it doesn't have a big impact.
"......!"
Unlike Min-jae and Lee Shin-hee, who were flustered, Uncle's eyes lit up. I could feel him asking with his eyes, 'Chunbae?'
I nodded slightly, and Uncle came to my aid.
"Hye is a Space Master, after all. He says he sometimes gets a feeling about certain Gates. It's quite effective. He got Min-jae's Grimoire there."
"Really? Does your Spatial Sense activate just by hearing the name?"
"I don't know exactly, but I get a feeling. I don't know if it's because of my Spatial Sense or just a hunch..."
As I trailed off, Lee Shin-hee, who was looking at me, shrugged.
"Then shall we go? There's a precedent, after all. It's not like you always get something good just because you go to a Rare Gate."
That's true. Rare Gates have a high probability of yielding good rewards, but that's not always the case.
Most of the time, it's just that Hunters can't find them. Min-jae also nodded. His eyes were sparkling, probably because of the Grimoire story.
"If it's an intuition based on experience, it's worth trusting."
Thanks to Uncle's support, the Gate I recommended was confirmed. I was grateful, though.
It meant they trusted me, even though it wasn't a Rare Gate.
Level 21-25 Gate, 'Arachne's Labyrinth'.
Level 26-30 Gate, 'Godmon Ruins'.
And the level 26-30 Gate recommended by Chunbae, 'Yagor's Harsh Snowfield'.
That's how the Gates to use the Priority Passes were confirmed.
However, there was something we needed to address. Lee Shin-hee had a strong aversion to spiders in the last Gate.
"Shin-hee, are you okay with spiders?"
"Pardon?"
"I thought you seemed a bit bothered when the spiders came out last time."
She was okay then, but if she had a severe phobia of spiders, we could choose a different Gate.
My words seemed to remind Lee Shin-hee of what happened back then, and she looked at me with wide eyes.
"You remembered that?"
Well, she doesn't express her emotions very well, but that was the biggest reaction she had, so of course I remembered.
"It's okay. It's not a phobia of spiders, I just don't like bugs in general. They're gross."
"That's true. If they're bigger than a person, you can see all their hairs, and it gives me the creeps, you know?"
Uncle nodded in agreement. Unlike his sturdy build, he really hated bugs.
He would always tell me to catch them if he saw them. Anyway, it's a relief if there's no problem.
As soon as the Gates were decided, we completed the applications. We could see the number of Guilds that had applied before us.
There were 7, 6, and 1 Guilds ahead of us, respectively.
We weren't worried. We had Priority Passes. The only thing that was a bit disappointing was the Snowfield Gate.
'If there were no other applicants, we could have saved the Priority Pass. Is there an Ice Elementalist or something?'
Well, since Chunbae recommended it, we used the Priority Pass without hesitation.
Since we had Priority Passes, all of our applications were allocated in less than 10 minutes.
"This is my first time using a Priority Pass, and it's really convenient."
Lee Shin-hee said it plainly, but Min-jae nodded enthusiastically.
"I know, right? Normally, even when you apply for a Gate, you have to worry about whether you'll be allocated and think about Plan B and Plan C. Especially for Rare Gates."
The effect of going to the Night of Despair was definitely there.
"Then next, we should start by clearing Arachne's Labyrinth."
That's how the next Gate we would enter was easily decided.
* * *
[Dinosaurlike? Increase in High-Difficulty Gate Applications from Lower-Middle Tier Hunters]
-Wow, these guys are crazy lol
-Guys, get a grip;; You're not that good
-It seems like they're stimulated by Dinosaur Guild's rapid growth, but I don't know whether to see this as a good thing or a bad thing
-Fucking ladder-kicking is insane lol
┗What ladder-kicking;; They're just worried about them.
┗???: It's just that I haven't done it yet, but if I do, I'll do well (soon to die)
┗lol fr, do they think Dinosaur is a joke
-How are the kids so extreme;; Don't the safe players only do safe things?
┗I think it's temporary. Dinosaur Guild has become so famous
┗Yeah, when the kids start dying, they'll all be cautious again.
I heard that high-difficulty Gate applications have increased, probably because my Guild and I have become famous.
I heard that if it was just a slightly more difficult place than their level, it would be fine, but they were applying to ridiculous places.
I heard that the Association is having a headache. Originally, they encouraged the growth of safe Hunters.
It's like they skipped the middle and jumped straight to the end. Well, it wasn't my business.
'It's their choice.'
Anyway, until we entered the Gate, we spent our time training with the Guild members.
We also received the C-grade Elixir that the Association promised to give us.
[Snow Ginseng (C-grade)]
-Ginseng grown in the snow of the Snowfield, rich in Mana.
-Consuming it makes you feel like you'll become resistant to cold.
The Mana of the Crimson Vine hadn't fully dissolved yet, so I couldn't absorb it yet.
Anyway, there were two major changes while we were preparing.
The first was the Guild House, and the second was that we got a Guild employee.
"Wow, holy shit. Why is it so big?"
The Guild House was quite large, to the point that Min-jae was so surprised that he swore. It was beyond my imagination.
No, it wasn't even a Guild House. We received an entire 7-story building near the Hunter Association.
"I don't know how to thank them for this..."
"My grandfather told me not to feel burdened and to use it comfortably."
The accommodations were as good as a hotel, and the lounge had everything. The kitchen wasn't like the one at home, it was like a restaurant.
"Oh, if you ask, my father will hire a chef and send them right away."
"Excuse me? A chef?"
"He said that eating is strength for Hunters..."
"Hye-ya. Should we eat here every day from now on?"
Uncle was so surprised that he turned to look at me.
"What about my sister-in-law?"
"If we tell her we're eating separately..."
To be honest, my sister-in-law's cooking skills weren't that great. Uncle was a better cook. But he ran a pork belly restaurant, so...
But I don't know.
My worry was whether Uncle would be okay with that. When I didn't say anything, Uncle seemed to realize the reality and nodded weakly.
"It's a bit much, right?"
"Yes."
I turned to Lee Shin-hee.
"Sangju is a bit much, but can we have the chef come only on the day before we enter the Gate?"
"That's possible too."
"Then please do that."
What was the name of the company that Lee Shin-hee's grandfather ran? Hanjoo? I should use them when I buy things in the future.
The new Guild employee was also quite competent.
She researched information about Gates with names similar to the Labyrinth we were entering and made summaries.
She also wrote down a list of necessary equipment, had it reviewed, and bought it.
'I definitely have less to worry about.'
Of course, I had a Subspace, so the quantity of items didn't matter, but I always checked the quantity of items in the Subspace to see if anything was missing.
Now, the employee made a list of the items in my Subspace and automatically replenished them.
While we were preparing to enter the Gate, I also received a call from Seo Seung-yeon.
But the story was a bit out of the blue.
-Han Hye, be careful.
"Excuse me? About what?"
-Everything. Of course, be careful of people who say there's a good investment, and also women who approach you.
I was flustered by the sudden advice.
-If a pretty woman approaches you, on my face... no, Han Hye is handsome, so that's not it. Suspect that it might be a foreign honey trap.
She said a lot of things like that and hung up, and I felt a bit strange. It probably wasn't just about being wary of foreign scouts from above.
After thinking about it for a bit, I had one guess. Ubermensh. Didn't I hear about security from Lee Shin-hee anyway?
If Seo Seung-yeon, who was guarding me, was saying that...
Could it be that the Ubermensh are targeting me?