The Gate Looks Suspicious!
The high-pitched whir of an engine cut through the air.
Right now, I was racing across a rugged plain atop Dalguji.
“Go! Go! Yes! That’s the stuff!”
I believe the term “racing” is inaccurate. Dalguji’s current speed is approximately four to five kilometers per hour—roughly the pace of an average adult walking.
Dolmaeng-i’s sharp critique came from beside me as it kept perfect pace.
Oh. So we’re just walking, then.
“Man, you really know how to kill the romance…”
This wasn’t some vast plain; it was basically my backyard for a performance test.
I’d have to double-check once we entered the gate, but at least our walking speed wasn’t slower than mine. That was a relief.
If it had been any slower, traveling back and forth through the gate would have been a nightmare.
Shall we head straight to the gate, then? One has appeared not far from here, and I have already submitted an entry request.
“Then let’s go today too!”
Training is important, after all.
I really want to reach 2nd Circle soon!
I also needed to inspect Dalguji’s internals again once we were inside.
“All right, hop on!”
…
“What?”
It is nothing…
What was that? It felt like it hesitated for a second…
Since we finally had a vehicle, we might as well make good use of it, right?
And so, riding atop Dalguji, we headed for the bus stop.
Along the way we passed several children who caught sight of Dalguji.
-Whoa! What is that?!
-Mom! Mom! Buy me one of those!
The kids were completely smitten. Their mothers, on the other hand, shot me looks like I’d murdered their firstborn. Still, for a brief moment I got to feel like a celebrity.
-Wow… that’s actually incredible…
-Isn’t that the Gate Nuisance Woman?
-Ugh… how does she even ride that thing?
I ran into plenty of familiar faces on the subway too.
Of course, it was a one-sided acquaintance. They knew me, but I had no idea who they were.
Lady Ian, your walking speed outside is comparable to this. Must you really ride it?
‘When you have a ride, why wouldn’t you use it?’
I am aware that humans possess concepts such as shame and embarrassment.
Oh? So it was asking if this was embarrassing?
‘Why worry about shame when efficiency is on the line?’
It is certainly efficient. However… never mind.
Heh heh heh. Even a robot couldn’t resist the call of efficiency.
-Wait… what is that person?
-Are they doing some kind of cosplay?
-Is that robot real?
-Found it! I searched and it came up. She’s kind of famous. What the—Gate Nuisance Woman?
Even though I acted like I didn’t care…
All the whispering was starting to make me feel a little embarrassed after all.
I pulled my goggles down a bit farther over my eyes.
I absolutely would not be taking off my mask or goggles.
‘Come to think of it, what if I got a car?’
I believe you do not possess a driver’s license.
‘I’ll get the license. Can’t you just drive for me?’
That would constitute a criminal act.
Ah… right, that’s illegal.
Tsk… what a ridiculously law-abiding robot.
For now, since I wasn’t going near any monsters, my clothes stayed clean. But if monster fluids ever splashed on me later, using public transportation would become a real hassle.
There were plenty of cars at home…
Maybe I could hire a chauffeur?
‘Hunters really have increased a lot, huh.’
Yes. As of yesterday’s market price, ten grams of a Mana Stone has exceeded one hundred thousand won. Even with increased mining output, the price continues to rise.
‘Those people must all be getting them by hunting monsters, right?’
Correct. Even regular monsters occasionally drop Mana Stones.
Looking around the subway car, I spotted several people who appeared to be hunters carrying weapon cases on their backs.
Most of them were clearly rookies, though.
Once someone started working as a proper hunter, their gear would get covered in monster fluids and dust, making public transportation impractical.
I was an exception since I didn’t fight directly.
While it is good that your companions are increasing, when will you create additional armaments?
‘I was thinking of making them once I reach 2nd Circle. It doesn’t seem that far off now.’
If I kept going every day, it would probably only take one or two weeks.
Will there be a significant difference compared to when you were 1st Circle?
‘By simple calculation, the power output doubles, and auxiliary functions are strengthened.’
Even if the raw power only doubles, depending on what functions I add, the performance gap could easily reach two or even three times the original.
For example, if I attached an acceleration keyword to a projectile, the force would be proportional to the square of the velocity. It would become insanely strong—and much easier to aim.
In that case, please create a Mana Detector as well.
‘I was planning to make one eventually. Why the sudden request?’
It would be safer for you to remain at camp, Lady Ian.
‘But I have to go there myself to refine them, don’t I?’
While Mana Stones were stable once processed, in their raw clustered state before refinement they were extremely volatile.
Touch them the wrong way and you’d trigger an explosion that could wipe out everything within dozens to hundreds of meters.
I could handle it confidently thanks to this body’s absurdly high innate control, but it was genuinely dangerous work.
Is building a refining device difficult?
“Yeah. It has to be done on the spot according to the situation, and it’s not exactly a safe process.”
Then we will need to significantly increase the number of companions for escort duty.
Besides, if the method of refining Mana Stones ever became widely known, countless people could die.
Someone would definitely try to weaponize them.
Even the people who made nuclear weapons regretted it later, right?
A Mana Stone bomb would be far worse. I sincerely hoped no one would ever create one.
We have arrived, Lady Ian. Please disembark.
“Ah. Yeah. Let’s go!”
Worrying about it wouldn’t solve anything, but at the very least I shouldn’t be the one to create such a devastating bomb.
Time to throw myself into magic training again today!
* * *
But the moment we reached the gate entrance, I felt a slight chill run down my spine.
“Whoa? Why does it look like this?”
E-class gates are known to have entrances around ten meters wide. This one appears to be extraordinarily large.
“This was rated E-class?”
Confirmed.
There were only F-class and E-class gates so far, but this entrance looked well over twenty meters wide.
“A wider entrance can mean multiple bosses, but… this seems excessive.”
If it seems dangerous, shall we turn back? We can look for another gate.
This felt really off.
The density of mana leaking out was the highest I had ever sensed from any gate I’d visited.
“This rating looks wrong…”
Only goblins were observed inside, which is why it was classified as E-class.
The current method of rating gates was still quite primitive.
When a gate was discovered, the military would set up a perimeter, then a vanguard team would begin internal reconnaissance.
Classification was based solely on the types and scale of monsters that appeared.
They were making the mistake of judging an entire vast interior based on only a partial survey.
“For now, let’s just stay near the camp once we’re inside.”
Understood. That puts my mind at ease. If any abnormal situation occurs, prioritize escape.
“I really need to raise my circle soon and reinforce my defensive gear. The variables are making me nervous.”
With that, Dolmaeng-i and I checked our entry reservation at the gate entrance and stepped through the barrier.
The moment we crossed over, I was certain.
This gate was different.
The instant I entered, the dense mana pressing down on my entire body sent chills across my skin.
At the same time, I felt an overwhelming surge of joy.
The thicker the mana density, the more mana I could naturally absorb.
I would be able to reach 2nd Circle much faster.
Lady Ian? You are currently blocking the passage. It would be best to move first and ponder later.
“Ah!”
I had been so absorbed in savoring the mana that I’d forgotten about reality.
I had unintentionally blocked the path.
People behind me were yelling all kinds of complaints.
“Sorry!”
My ears burned with embarrassment, but an apology was the least I could do…
I really was sorry…
“But this camp looks different from the usual ones?”
The places I’d visited before mostly used waist-high barricades like the ones for blocking roads.
This time they had stacked shipping containers to form actual walls.
They explained at the entrance…
“Yeah? What did they say?”
Although only goblins have been sighted inside—leading to an E-class rating—the gate’s size was taken into consideration. To control for variables, they have installed a fortress.
I see. Perfectly understood.
Government workers really do love safety measures.
Thank goodness.
“Then let’s get to our own work.”
Same as always.
I released my mana thread by thread, spreading it out in every direction like silk.
With my eyes closed, I could feel it—an intense mana storm unlike anything I had experienced before.
It was so turbulent that extending my senses far was more difficult than usual.
I really needed to raise my circle soon. Sigh…
“Found it.”
But who did they think they were dealing with?
Ian, the mana genius! I had already detected a spot not far away where mana was gathering thickly!
“All aboard Dalguji!”
Even me?
“We’re inside a gate. Dalguji will be faster, won’t it? You want to run the whole way? You’ll waste all your energy.”
…
If a fight or any trouble broke out, it would need its strength. Better to conserve it.
Dolmaeng-i paused for a moment to calculate, then apparently decided riding was the rational choice. It folded its legs and climbed into Dalguji’s cargo bed.
“Then we’re off!”
I didn’t have a driver’s license, but this wasn’t a car. Plus we were inside a gate.
I gently gripped the steering wheel.
Was the right pedal the brake?
Press—
I stepped on the right pedal lightly. Really lightly.
Vrrrr— crunch—
My body was thrown backward as the wheels dug into the dirt and launched us forward like a bullet.
“Whoa! What the heck!”
How much power did this thing have?
Trees whipped past on both sides at ridiculous speed. This was no joke.
It was actually a little scary.
Good thing I tested it out here first. If I’d done this in a crowded area it could have been a disaster.
“But… once you get the hang of it, this is actually pretty fun!”
Please drive slowly. Safety first.
After driving a little, I got used to it surprisingly fast!
“This is easy to learn! Just trust me!”
Your mother specifically instructed me not to trust you, Lady Ian. Current speed is twenty-eight kilometers per hour. Please decelerate. An accident could result in serious injury.
Hey~ I said trust me! I’ve got the wheel steady. Right pedal was the brake, right?
Vrrrr—
Huh? Stepping on the right one slowed us down quickly.
What? I wanted to go faster.
Dalguji will automatically adjust speed. Please focus only on steering.
“No! You’re supposed to listen to my commands!”
This is a safety measure for your protection, Lady Ian. Please understand.
Damn it.
I’m the owner here…
What a bunch of nags.
With no other choice, I resigned myself to steering and headed toward the detected Mana Stone.
“Whoa? A cave?”
Is this our destination?
“No, we have to go deeper inside…”
The cave looked pitch black and seemed to go quite far in.
I couldn’t see anything, which made it feel even more ominous.
“I should have prepared a flashlight or something. I can’t go in when I can’t see a thing.”
I was about to give up since I hadn’t brought any tools when—
Flick—
Dalguji suddenly turned on its bright headlights.
The cave was instantly lit up like broad daylight.
“Whoa? You little— you’re actually useful!”
The headlights were ridiculously bright.
If someone had been standing in front of us they probably would have gone blind.
It still looks dangerous. Are you sure you want to enter?
“Let’s just go in a little. The mana density I’m sensing from inside is enormous! It’d be a waste to turn back now!”
At this level, we might be able to get a record-breaking Mana Stone!
I will guard you. If it seems too dangerous, I will inform you immediately. Do you agree to retreat at once in that case?
“Of course!”
I’m counting on you!