Chapter 32
Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: 10장. 이블 아이 (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
4.
Mystic Gates impose entry restrictions based on the number of circles.
Red-grade gates allow only adventurers with 2nd Circle or below, while Orange-grade gates limit entry to those with 3rd Circle or below.
It went without saying, but the difficulty of an Orange-grade gate refused even comparison to Red-grade.
“The monster level is completely different.”
For starters, the monsters that appeared were far stronger.
“And the exits are different too.”
But what made it even harder for adventurers was the fact that Orange-grade Mystic Gates had two exits.
“In Red-grade, the moment you exit, you return to Maple World. But Orange-grade is different. When you exit after entering, another adventure stage unfolds. You have to find the exit there to finally return to Maple World.”
In simple terms, Orange-grade meant doing the adventure twice.
It was daunting just hearing about it.
And actually trying it was so grueling that the word “daunting” didn’t even begin to cover it.
“That’s why quite a few 3rd Circle adventurers avoid Mystic Gates.”
In fact, among 3rd Circle adventurers, there were plenty who preferred adventuring in Maple World over tackling Mystic Gates.
Or escorting merchant groups.
No matter how you sliced it, a 3rd Circle adventurer could get good treatment anywhere.
“Well, that’s just some of them.”
Of course, even so, plenty of adventurers challenged Orange-grade Mystic Gates.
And there was a reason for that.
“The rewards are incredible to match the difficulty.”
For one, the value of the items dropped was on another level.
Like items imbued with 3rd Circle skills, for example.
“Orange magic stones drop too.”
Another reason was the orange magic stones that started appearing from Orange-grade onward.
3rd Circle adventurers could no longer strengthen their circles by consuming regular magic stones.
They had to consume orange-grade or higher magic stones to thicken their circles.
In other words, hunting in Orange-grade Mystic Gates was the only way to reach 4th Circle.
Of course, that was the biggest reason.
“But setting all that aside, turning down an adventure wouldn’t make you an adventurer.”
Nothing stimulated adventurers quite like risk.
In any case, the adventurers challenging Orange-grade Mystic Gates were that type.
The kind willing to embrace danger for greater gains.
“You’re here?”
The adventurers gathered at the Mystic Gate deep in the ancient forest south of Henesys were exactly that sort.
“Is this the El Pam party?”
And now, the El Pam party had joined their ranks.
“El Pam, Dibo, Kiri, and Ralph. Four confirmed.”
A party that had grown to four members.
At the appearance of those four, the parties already waiting turned to confirm El Pam.
‘Five parties?’
There were five parties waiting, each with around ten members on average.
Including El Pam’s party, that made exactly fifty.
“Everyone’s here, so let’s start the briefing. As you’ve all been informed, this Mystic Gate is Orange-grade, with a maximum entry limit of fifty. And it has three wounds.”
That was the entire explanation.
And it was all that could be said.
No one knew what lay inside a Mystic Gate until it was cleared.
“Boss, for an Orange-grade, what level is fifty entrants?”
“Appropriate level.”
Above all, a limit of fifty entrants wasn’t a particularly high number for Orange-grade.
Three wounds also weren’t overly threatening.
Especially since those gathered here weren’t your average adventurers.
They were veterans—D-Rank adventurers who had opened three circles.
“They all look skilled.”
With such experts assembled, there was little room for problems.
“It’s perfect as a test stage.”
It was just the right level of Mystic Gate to gauge the El Pam party’s abilities.
Of course, El Pam knew better.
‘If it really only has three wounds.’
He knew the truth about this Mystic Gate.
So El Pam checked out the members of the other parties joining the raid.
‘They’re all people the Kania Merchant Group wants eliminated.’
The Kania Merchant Group had used this Mystic Gate as a hellhole to kill adventurers in the past.
In other words, by the history before El Pam returned to the past, everyone gathered here would die.
Of course, El Pam had no intention of saving them or anything like that.
He just wanted to assess.
‘If there’s a familiar face.’
If any among them knew El Pam.
‘They wouldn’t belong here originally.’
That would mean they weren’t supposed to be here at all.
That was when it happened.
El Pam’s eyes, scanning the faces, stopped on one party.
‘Interesting.’
In that moment, El Pam’s gaze sharpened.
‘I knew the Kania Merchant Group would take the bait, but sending him?’
It began to gleam with murderous intent.
Of course, that gaze didn’t last long.
No hunter worth their salt revealed emotions in front of prey.
“Then we’ll begin entering the Mystic Gate.”
And so entry began.
“Once everyone’s inside, I’ll open the wounds.”
Ahead of entry, the Kania Merchant Group representative said.
“I hope this becomes your final wound.”
Insincere words.
“Have a good adventure.”
With that, the Mystic Gate raid commenced.
5.
As if walking through deep water, the adventurers crossing the gate were first greeted by trees upon arrival.
“Those are some damn huge trees.”
Trees towering at least a hundred meters high.
Such massive trees densely formed a forest.
And some among those who saw them grimaced.
They knew what they were.
“Fuck.”
Ralph was one of them.
“Why the sudden cursing?”
“You wouldn’t curse?”
Reacting to the profanity, Dibo faced Ralph, whose already fierce face twisted even more savagely—enough to make onlookers flinch.
Even Dibo, who’d voiced his complaint, shrank back involuntarily.
“It’s a Pure Tree forest.”
“Pure Tree?”
But Dibo, unfamiliar with Pure Trees, could only tilt his head.
Kiri was the same.
She wore a puzzled expression too.
El Pam explained to the two.
“Evil Eyes usually inhabit Pure Tree forests.”
Evil Eye.
The moment that name dropped, Dibo and Kiri’s faces inevitably hardened.
They weren’t the only ones.
All fifty adventurers who entered the Mystic Gate had hardened expressions.
“Evil Eye? That one-eyed monster lizard?”
“We’ve ended up in a real pain.”
“Damn it, of all things!”
Evil Eyes were a monster that lived up to their name for adventurers—like devils incarnate.
For starters, their appearance was unlike any other monster.
Picture a three-meter lizard with its hindquarters chopped off, scooting around on front legs, topped with a massive single eye on its head. Just looking at it sent chills down your spine.
Compared to Evil Eyes, mushrooms, slimes, or ribbon pigs seemed more like pets than monsters.
Of course, adventurers wouldn’t fear them just for their looks.
“Those bastards are insanely fast.”
One of the biggest reasons Evil Eyes were terrifying was their mobility.
Slimes were fast too, sure.
“But it’s not just speed—their jumping power is nuts.”
Yet Evil Eyes boasted leaping ability incomparable to ribbon pigs.
They could easily clear five meters.
“And they climb trees like their soles are glued.”
On top of that, they effortlessly scaled the towering Pure Trees.
That made them a nightmare.
“Watch your heads. You never know when Evil Eyes might rain down from above.”
The synergy of their abilities and the Pure Tree forest turned into a nightmare for any adventurers facing them.
That wasn’t all.
“Evil Eyes have ridiculous regeneration. Even slicing their bodies in half, they keep moving—so finish them off for good.”
They had tenacious lizard-like vitality too.
No wonder faces twisted.
“I didn’t expect Evil Eyes.”
Only one was the exception.
‘My memories are getting clearer.’
El Pam, who had personally experienced Evil Eyes here, was the only one whose expression remained unchanged.
That was why he knew.
‘Evil Eyes alone can’t make this a gate with over a hundred wounds.’
Evil Eyes were certainly threatening monsters, but the reason this place demanded over a hundred wounds wasn’t just them.
For now, the adventurers here didn’t band together.
Instead, they shared information.
“Don’t move rashly—find a safe spot first.”
“Evil Eyes have scouts. Process any visible ones on the spot, no exceptions.”
“Watch your heads.”
Tips for hunting Evil Eyes going forward.
That was it.
No one suggested uniting forces to take on the Evil Eyes.
Nothing strange about that.
“Evil Eyes, huh? Man, why do I always get such bad luck with Mystic Gates?”
Evil Eyes were tough, but far from impossible.
The only real concern with Evil Eyes here was one thing.
“You gonna be okay?”
Ralph frowned at Dibo and Kiri.
“With 1st Circlers?”
From Ralph’s perspective, who now had to support them, those two were understandably unwelcome.
“What’d you say, punk?”
Dibo bristled at that.
From his side, with doubts about Ralph’s skills already, there was no way he’d let that slide.
Ralph’s position wasn’t odd either.
He’d never seen the El Pam party fight even once.
Of course, what Ralph questioned most wasn’t Dibo’s skill.
Looking at El Pam, Ralph said.
“And I doubt your skills too.”
At those words, Dibo—who’d been fuming—and Kiri—who’d narrowed her eyes—both looked shocked.
They had no choice.
They knew.
‘Is he insane? Talking to the boss like that?’
‘He’s lost his mind.’
Who El Pam was.
But from Ralph’s view, it was different.
“I know you survived the Hundred-Man Gate, but honestly, was it luck or skill? Who knows?”
Nothing about El Pam’s abilities had been publicly confirmed.
“As leader, ability matters most, right?”
Crucially, El Pam was this party’s leader.
The one who could issue any order.
If he said jump into fire, you jumped.
“Fair point.”
So El Pam nodded at Ralph’s words.
“You need a test.”
He readily accepted Ralph’s challenge.
“But setting arbitrary test conditions wouldn’t mean much, so what exactly do you want?”
He asked Ralph for the test method.
At the suggestion, Ralph grinned.
“What else? I want to see you hunt Evil Eyes. But just hunting some won’t cut it—how about a hundred in one hour?”
As he made the proposal, Ralph’s eyes gleamed.
‘He won’t accept.’
In truth, this was Ralph’s provocation to seize initiative.
‘A hundred in one hour? Ridiculous.’
If Evil Eyes were that easy, no one’s faces would’ve hardened at the name.
So Ralph was certain.
He’d refuse.
Call it absurd.
‘Either way—refuse, or get prideful.’
Or bluff somehow.
Either worked for Ralph.
As said, it was just a dominance play, nothing more.
“But plain hunting would be boring, so how about a bet? If you don’t get a hundred in an hour, pay me for each one short. If you exceed, I’ll pay you for each extra.”
That was why Ralph escalated the provocation.
“How much per head?”
At El Pam’s follow-up, Ralph smirked inwardly.
‘Pride it is.’
Without hesitation, Ralph replied to El Pam.
“Generously, ten thousand mesos per head?”
El Pam answered curtly.
“Deal.”