Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: S-Rank Gate (3)
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Kim Hyun and Chae Seol-ah headed straight for the S-Rank Gate that had opened in Cheonan.
They arrived in front of the gate.
Kim Hyun tilted her head back to gaze up at it.
"Wow, it's huge."
This S-Rank Gate was incomparably massive compared to the previous A-Rank one. Cracks spiderwebbed out through the air like reality itself had fractured. The mana emanating from it was so dense that the surrounding air seemed to warp.
Chae Seol-ah instinctively took a step back.
'This is an S-Rank Gate...!'
The oppressive pressure radiating from it was beyond anything she'd imagined.
"We can head in right away?"
Kim Hyun, who had been eyeing the gate from every angle, turned to the Superhuman Management Bureau staff member who'd accompanied them.
The agent nodded immediately.
"Yes, you can enter right now! If you need any equipment or supplies, just let us know!"
"Nah, nothing like that."
"Understood! Then...!"
"Seol-ah, let's go."
At those words, Chae Seol-ah let out a groan.
"Ugh..."
Honestly, she didn't want to go in.
But what could she do? She'd already made the promise.
'If I sacrifice myself, I can save Korea.'
Chae Seol-ah squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. She steadied her breathing, calming her nerves, then mustered her courage and followed behind Kim Hyun.
With that, the two stepped into the gate.
Woooong!
Passing through a gate felt like your body was floating weightlessly. A bizarre sensation, as if gravity had vanished.
But after spinning through that A-Rank Gate like a top, it was a feeling Chae Seol-ah had grown used to. She quickly scanned their surroundings.
She wanted to explain to Kim Hyun what type of gate this S-Rank one was.
"This place is..."
But there wasn't much to explain.
A vast plain stretched out before them.
"It's a plain-type gate."
Chae Seol-ah muttered with a uneasy expression.
An expansive plain extended to the horizon. The sky glowed with an eerie red hue, and the grass covering the ground swayed in the wind. Yet, despite the peaceful scenery, the air was thick with an ominous mana.
'Plain types usually spawn elite small groups...'
A gate's rank was determined by the total mana inside. So a low number of monsters meant each one carried an enormous amount of power.
She swallowed dryly.
'Will we be okay?'
Of course, she trusted Kim Hyun.
Kim Hyun would sweep them away with a casual wave, just like always.
Still, she couldn't help but worry.
Meanwhile.
Kim Hyun, surveying the area, furrowed her brow.
"Whoa, this is bad."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"The mana's filthy. Makes me wanna puke."
Kim Hyun clicked her tongue as she said it.
'The mana's filthy?'
What did that even mean? Chae Seol-ah tilted her head, not understanding.
"Filthy how...?"
"It's a thing."
Kim Hyun wrinkled her nose and cut the explanation short.
Right then.
"Lemme see... Is that the monster?"
Kim Hyun pointed to one spot as she looked around.
Chae Seol-ah's head snapped toward it like a meerkat.
About 500 meters away, a black beast was visible.
"Ho. Pretty handsome, huh?"
Kim Hyun whistled.
As Kim Hyun said, the monster cut an impressive figure. A massive tiger with black fur and a red gem embedded in its forehead.
It had already noticed their entry and was licking its black fur while glaring at them.
"...!"
Chae Seol-ah's eyes widened at the sight of the tiger monster.
'Just... one monster...?'
She frantically scanned the surroundings just in case, but there were no signs of any others.
That meant this single creature held S-Rank Gate-level mana all by itself—a powerhouse.
"Kim Hyun-ssi, be careful! This is a single-entity gate!"
Kim Hyun narrowed her eyes at that.
"What's that?"
"Oh...!"
Single-entity gate or whatever.
Come to think of it, Kim Hyun wouldn't know about that stuff.
"I-it's, well...! A single-entity gate means just one monster spawns, but that one is insanely strong...!"
As Chae Seol-ah stammered, Kim Hyun chuckled.
"Whatever. I'll go take it down."
The next moment, Kim Hyun kicked off the ground.
Bam!
Her body shot straight toward the black tiger.
The black tiger slowly rose at the sight of Kim Hyun charging in an instant. Its body swelled massively in that moment. The mountain-sized black tiger opened its maw.
Grraaaaaah!
A roar that tore at the ears shook the plain.
The black tiger, bellowing loudly, began spewing spheres of flame from its mouth.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Like firing cannons, it unleashed dark-red fireballs at Kim Hyun.
"Hmph."
Kim Hyun snorted at the sight.
"You think that'll work?"
As Kim Hyun said, the incoming fireballs vanished like snuffed flames the moment they neared her.
Kim Hyun casually tilted her head and flicked up her right hand.
Kyaaang!
The black tiger leaped sideways in place to dodge. The spot where it had stood sank deep, as if crushed by some invisible force.
"Ho, dodged that?"
Kim Hyun whistled in admiration.
"Not bad reaction speed for a beast."
As if hearing Kim Hyun's taunt, the black tiger bared its fangs and growled.
Grrrrowl!
The next instant, the black tiger kicked off the ground and leaped.
Kyaaang!
Shadow tentacles sprouted from its back. They lashed out in all directions before curving toward Kim Hyun.
The fireballs came raining down again too.
Seeing that, Kim Hyun grinned.
"Oh?"
Flash!
Kim Hyun stopped mid-air by stepping on nothing and cracked her knuckles.
"Wanna go for real?"
The next moment, Kim Hyun whistled.
Dozens of invisible blades rained down on the black tiger. The transparent blades sliced through the shadow tentacles and fireballs.
Not satisfied, even more blades plummeted toward its head.
Kyaaang!
The black tiger kicked off the air and dodged left. The blades pursued like homing missiles.
"Pulling tricks."
The tiger twisted to evade the blades. Astonishing agility. Despite its massive size, it moved with incredible speed.
Seeing that, Kim Hyun clenched her fist.
The tiger's movements slowed. Like weights had been strapped to its limbs. Soon, it was dragged down as if gravity had multiplied dozens of times.
Even then, it twisted desperately to dodge the blades, but it couldn't escape becoming mincemeat.
Slash-slash-slash!
Dozens of blades shredded the black tiger's body.
Kim Hyun watched it get diced up, then turned and returned to Chae Seol-ah's side.
"Done."
"I-is it really?"
Chae Seol-ah's eyes went wide. She'd been holding her breath since the fight started, watching intently.
'It ended... this fast?'
An S-Rank Gate monster—no, a single-entity one—taken down in under five minutes.
'I always knew she was amazing, but...'
This level of overwhelming combat prowess needed no words.
'...Is there anyone on Earth who could match Kim Hyun-ssi?'
Chae Seol-ah didn't think so.
'Anyway, that's a relief.'
With the S-Rank Gate cleared, the crisis was over.
Chae Seol-ah let out a quiet sigh of relief and stuck close to the approaching Kim Hyun.
"I'm hungry."
Kim Hyun grumbled, rubbing her stomach.
Her usual self. Hard to believe she'd just conquered an S-Rank Gate—she was that nonchalant.
Chae Seol-ah burst out laughing.
"We can eat once we're out."
"Anything good around?"
"Hmm. How about nakgopsae?"
"Ooh, sounds good."
"I'll look up a place. There has to be a good spot in Cheonan."
"Is Cheonan famous for nakgopsae?"
"Not sure..."
"Eh, whatever."
Kim Hyun shrugged.
"Bound to be a decent place somewhere."
"Hahaha."
"Alright, alright."
With that exchange, the two exited the gate. The waiting Superhuman Management Bureau agents outside erupted in cheers.
"Th-this fast...?!"
"Under five minutes!"
"Who cares about time? It's cleared—that's what matters!"
"Great work!"
"You did it! Kim Hyun-ssi!"
The agents bowed in greeting. Chae Seol-ah awkwardly waved. Kim Hyun, seeming uninterested, pulled out her smartwatch and started searching for restaurants.
And so, Cheonan's S-Rank Gate was completely conquered.