Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Heroine Saves the World
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Na-yeo-ju and I headed straight for the spot where the gate was supposed to open.
Fortunately, it wasn't far.
It was a narrow alleyway near Gangnam Station in Seoul.
Being a weekday afternoon, the place that would normally only see a few foodies wandering around was already packed with a dense crowd.
"Ain't never seen so many people packed in like this before."
"Yeah. Quite the turnout."
Not just those craning their necks to peer over the heads in front, but passersby nearby kept muttering words like 'gate' and 'Justice Guild'.
"Excuse me. Coming through."
"S-sorry! Ouch! Don't push!"
"Hey, get it together."
I grabbed the collar of Im Cheong-su, who was about to get swept away by the crowd, and barely managed to push through to cross the association's safety line.
"Hey, Na-yeo-ju sis! Cheong-su!"
"Over here, over here!"
Lee Yu-chan and Jang Su-ho spotted us at the same time and shouted.
And behind them loomed the gate, its maw already gaping wide.
"Sama Young, huh."
Never just one thing with him, nope.
He'd let the guerrilla gate fully open, past the headquarters' predicted time.
"That damn bastard. Tossing his shit onto us?"
A guerrilla gate right in the heart of Gangnam.
This was originally Sama Guild's jurisdiction.
Guerrilla gates in high-traffic bustling areas like this were handled by the major guilds.
They needed quick clearance, and it was great PR for the guilds—a win-win.
Yet somehow, it got assigned to us, the smallest of the small guilds.
The stench of Sama Young and Association Chairman Jo Gye-young reeked from all directions.
"Tough trip, huh."
Han Ji-seong, looking worn out like he'd already dashed through a couple gates, patted our shoulders comfortingly.
"What in the world is goin' on here?"
So flustered he'd forgotten to mind his Seoul dialect, Im Cheong-su shook his head.
Sorry.
This is my fault.
I swallowed the words I couldn't voice aloud and glanced around.
"But what's this? Live broadcast too?"
"Yeah, something about it being Gangnam..."
Even Han Ji-seong found it odd, trailing off.
I squinted at the camera crew standing inside the safety line, already filming.
One main cameraman, one assistant, and an association hunter to protect them.
The three-person team's shoulders bore massive black cameras.
Maestro-made items, pricey enough to broadcast live from inside dungeons.
"They've really set the stage proper."
Sama Young's scheme, no doubt.
No way he'd hand us a spotlight gate like this with a full camera crew for our benefit.
"There's a limit to the disrespect."
It was rigged for Justice Guild to fail spectacularly in front of everyone.
And that scheme no doubt factored in the guild's ticking bombs like Han Ji-seong and Jang Su-ho.
"Pisses me off."
I'd known Sama Young treated people like chess pieces, but being one myself made it burn even hotter.
I imagined punching that smug face of his as I pulled out my phone to check the live stream.
The screen filled with a profile shot of Kang Han talking to an association staffer.
Gangnam and Justice Guild.
Those two keywords had even non-gate enthusiasts spamming comments on a weekday afternoon.
"Already gone live, huh."
"...Already?"
Han Ji-seong's face darkened further at my mutter.
He'd caught on that something fishy was afoot.
"Don't worry too much."
I patted his shoulder and headed for the gate.
"You're here."
Kang Han greeted me flawlessly, even mid-conversation.
A few hours ago, when I'd said at the guild hall I'd be back after showing Cheong-su around, I hadn't expected to reunite here.
His green eyes, a deeper shade than usual, mirrored my thoughts.
"Is the whole Justice Guild here?"
The association hunter asked us in a flat tone.
I scanned the guild members gathered around and nodded.
"Yes, for now."
"Then we'll start the gate briefing."
Part of me wanted to pick a fight with the association guy, but fine, let's hear it.
"Gate Prediction HQ analysis deems this a mid-sized C-rank gate..."
"Hold up."
Something off right from the start.
"C-rank?"
"Yes. Problem?"
Plenty.
"You sure it's really C-rank?"
The association staffer scowled irritably at my question, but whatever.
This gate was A-rank.
But C-rank?
"You questioning Prediction HQ's judgment?"
"...No."
In this world, Gate Prediction HQ had top-tier rep.
No one doubted their calls even slightly.
That spoke to the trust in Jeong Je-hwa who'd built their system.
Me yelling 'Objection!' here would just make me look crazy.
Sejongmak had hunters, sure, but it was also a battlefield of reputation and politics.
I gritted my teeth and replied.
"Just making sure."
I glanced to confirm the cameras were broadcasting this.
"C-rank mid-sized gate, right? Go on."
Everyone here, plus thousands watching, were witnesses now.
"Swift clear required. No more interruptions."
"Got it. Sorry."
"Predicted as C-rank mid-sized cave-type gate. Opened at 2:26 p.m., thirty minutes ago. No civilian entry. Untreated, dungeon break expected around 11:30 p.m."
Normal guerrilla gates broke around 24 hours post-opening, so this implied a hefty monster count inside.
"That's all. Does Justice Guild agree to the raid?"
Not aimed at me.
All eyes turned to guild master Kang Han.
The moment he agreed, this guerrilla gate became Justice Guild's baby.
Any fallout from failure? All on us.
Kang Han silently surveyed the crowd.
Innocent bystanders to me, but to him, 'helpless civilians'.
"Yes. We agree."
"...If clearance looks impossible mid-raid, withdraw promptly. Backup team's waiting."
Damn rude.
Assuming our failure and prepping backups right to our faces.
Jang Su-ho, the twins, and I couldn't hide our irritation, faces twisting.
But Kang Han just nodded again.
As if it was obvious protocol to shield most civilians.
"Understood. Short prep, then we enter."
"Good luck."
The association guy stepped back, and I hurried to Kang Han, whispering.
"Quick word."
We retreated beyond camera mic range, and surprisingly, he spoke first.
"To be frank."
Shoulders relaxed, hands behind back—like always—but tension laced his voice.
"I'm not fully confident."
"About whether we can clear it?"
"Yes. What about you, Na-yeo-ju-ssi?"
Sounded like asking my take, but underneath, he sought assurance from me.
Early in Sejongmak.
We'd hit rock bottom back then, but now snagging a guerrilla gate meant we'd come far—yet he still lacked faith.
I stared up at him a moment, then tossed out casually.
"Why's the guy who one-shots A-rank dirt dragons acting like this? Doesn't suit you."
Kang Han chuckled softly.
"You could solo a C-rank gate if you set your mind to it."
"...Thanks."
"Oh, one suggestion, though."
"Speak."
"Bit of overstep for a manager, maybe..."
I shared part of the plan I'd hatched en route from Garak-dong to Gangnam.
He gazed at me steadily.
"I can guess why. Alright, we'll do it."
"You guys head in and prep. I gotta make a call."
"Na-yeo-ju-ssi has it all planned out again, huh."
The guild's latest catchphrase.
Na-yeo-ju always has a plan.
I tilted my chin up.
"Of course. I'm Justice Guild's manager."
Kang Han's lips curved again as he turned to the guild.
I watched his back a second, then fished out my phone again.
"Lemme see, where's that contact..."
Sama Young picked the wrong opponent.
I'm a transmigrator.
I know exactly what's waiting inside.
"You're screwed."
If Sama Young dumped shit on me, I'd turn it into fertilizer to grow Justice Guild strong.