Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World
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There are rules that even the Association President and Sama Young can't interfere with.
These are the things people commonly call the "Gate Constitution." For example, "Civilians are strictly prohibited from entering gates."
Among them was one regarding guerrilla gate raids.
If the first raid fails, the second raid is unconditionally assigned priority to the nearest guild.
'It's a cruel rule.'
What if the nearby guild wasn't us, but one mainly composed of B-rank hunters?
Of course, they get the choice to accept or decline the raid, like the phone call that just came in. But hunters have a sense of responsibility toward the citizens and the nation.
If it's an emergency and they lack the ability to raid, they're in just as much torment.
They only have two choices.
Torment themselves with self-loathing while cooperating with civilian evacuations, or steel themselves for death, enter the gate, and buy time until the next raid team arrives.
Thud, thud.
Kang Han had already emerged from the swimming pool, brushing back his wet hair as he asked the Association staffer.
"This is Kang Han. In case of raid failure, what's the estimated casualty count?"
There was a brief hesitation on the other end of the line before the response came.
This time, silence fell on our side.
From the moment the first raid failed, the dungeon break risk had skyrocketed.
The guild entering for the second raid had no choice but to consider the possibility of their own failure.
Unlike the other guild members sunk in quiet panic, Kang Han—the last bastion of reason in Justice Guild—asked his second question in a voice even lower than before.
"How much time until the dungeon break...?"
The same thought flashed across everyone's faces for an instant.
'This is poison.'
A poisoned chalice you couldn't drink from, nor pass to the next person.
But Kang Han glanced at his guild members' hardened, icy expressions before replying.
"Justice Guild will enter. Send the gate coordinates."
[Gangneung City Unbyeol-ri Guerrilla Gate Raid Broadcast]
Real-time Comments ▼
Whether misfortune or fortune, the gate had opened in a remote mountain area with few people around.
After driving as close as possible, it still took considerable time to climb the mountain following the Association staffer's guidance.
The site we arrived at was pure chaos.
"Ugh... it hurts..."
"Hey, wake up! Healer! We need a healer over here!"
"Haa... damn it. I'm dying here."
Association healers darted busily among the sprawled Taesan Guild hunters nursing injuries everywhere—it felt like a battlefield.
Justice Guild, including me, walked through them to reach the gate.
But the scene was noisier than I'd expected, given I thought it'd just be groaning hunters.
"Just give us a little time. We can recover and re-enter!"
"Raid rights have already transferred to Justice Guild. Taesan Guild, please assist with civilian evacuations..."
"No, damn it, why transfer raid rights! We didn't forfeit!"
"The Association has already deemed Taesan Guild combat-incapable."
Squaring off against a few Association staffers was Taesan Guild's master, Gwak Ho-young.
His usual sleek, well-fed weasel look was gone; disheveled hair and snorting in frustration bore no resemblance to his public image.
'That's just how he is.'
I knew from reading [Sejong Block].
How opportunistic and卑劣 Gwak Ho-young truly was.
"What can Justice Guild even do in there!"
"Justice Guild has arrived."
As I cut in, Gwak Ho-young—looking like sun-dried fermented skate left out too long—glared daggers at me.
Yeah, and what're you gonna do about it?
"Good, you're here. Let's start the briefing right away."
The Association lead, weary from Gwak Ho-young's tantrum, looked relieved to see us.
"Guild Master Taesan, please come with me over there. You can rest up a bit..."
A low-level Association staffer tried to soothe the still-fuming Gwak Ho-young.
But he only retreated a few steps, digging in his heels like he'd die before leaving.
"...Time's of the essence, so briefing first?"
"Yes."
Kang Han nodded.
"A-rank guerrilla gate. Internal footage and raid results confirm it's a coastal dungeon."
Unlike underwater dungeons where you plunge fully into water upon entry, coastal dungeons were literally where land met sea.
You could stand on solid ground and breathe, so they seemed easier than fully submerged ones—but not always.
"Dungeon boss is an A-rank Wingcadus, residing in the water."
That was the catch.
You had to kill the boss to close the gate, but without flight skills, there was no way to attack it far out at sea.
This matched what I'd read.
Tough fight ahead, but it was the Wingcadus Kang Han had recently practiced against in simulations. If I kept stamina and injuries healed, and managed Jang Su-ho's berserk mode well...
"Time until dungeon break estimated at about 9 hours, and one more thing..."
The lead rubbed his temple like it pained him, continuing.
"Three civilians were swept inside."
"Civilians are in there?"
I blurted in shock.
Civilians?
Nothing like that in the novel!
Cold sweat trickled down in the sweltering summer heat.
Civilians inside changed the raid difficulty entirely.
"College mountaineering club students on an MT nearby. Identities confirmed. Taesan Guild attempted rescue, but..."
Failed and bailed without them, huh.
Kang Han asked.
"Current status of the civilians?"
"One critically injured, two lightly. Failed to reach the gate, awaiting rescue on high ground."
"Saw the relay footage on the way—no real high ground in there?"
The staffer averted his eyes at my question.
"One of the rocks on the coast is a bit taller..."
This is insane.
"Still, Taesan cleared most C-rank monsters up to the beach. So..."
"A-rank gate wasn't enough—now we babysit civilians too."
"Difficult as it is, yes."
I shot a glare at Gwak Ho-young in the back instead of answering.
If you're bailing after raid failure, at least bring the civilians out!
Leave the students and slink away yourselves?
"Sigh."
But glaring at Gwak Ho-young changes nothing.
Perhaps sharing my thoughts, Kang Han said calmly.
"We'll prep the guild and enter immediately."
We found empty spots amid Taesan hunters recovering one by one and settled in.
"No time, so listen up."
Kang Han spoke while eyeing relay footage with clear terrain views.
"Cheong-su, you stay outside the gate—no entry."
With three civilians to protect inside, no spare capacity for non-combatant Im Cheong-su.
"...Got it."
Im Cheong-su replied curtly, as if expecting it.
"Yu-chan, soon as we enter, secure civilians with Nayeo-ju first. After that, their safety's on you. Clear?"
"Yes, I'll protect them."
"Taesan thinned out C-rank numbers, so we..."
Kang Han's plan was straightforward.
Me and Lee Yu-chan support from the rear; the rest control low-rank mobs upfront and create a boss-kill opening.
"Check your emergency potion counts."
As the briefing wrapped...
"Justice Guild's just stalling anyway, so half-ass it and get in already."
Polite tone masking pure rudeness.
"Once we're reorganized, we'll re-enter, so cover for us till then."
Gone was the raging lunatic from moments ago; Gwak Ho-young of Taesan wore his public smile again.