Bingak Gate Auction and the Red Cult's Sudden Assault
Flying through the sky on the plane, a beautiful flower field comes into view. Vast and colorful, far beyond the botanical garden from last time.
"...Diabolica, if I lose everything, at least you carry on my will."
"Please refrain from such words, Mother. This body will surely be offered for you."
I spot two people in the center of that flower field. One looks like a total rip-off of me. The other feels familiar.
"You're really such a handful..."
The rip-off version of me says that, and then fog rolls in, blurring my vision.
.........
......
......
"Hwaaaam... kkuuuuh!"
Stretching, I sit up from the super fluffy seat. That was just a dream, right?
That rip-off of me was there, and the other one looked just like the mature big sis from the mirror?
What kind of dream was that? No idea.
"Sleep well, Chorok?"
Seonhwa-unnie asks from the seat next to me. I must've been out cold.
"Yep! Seonhwa-unnie. Seo-ah's grandpa gave us free tickets. Super comfy sleep!"
We're flying high in the plane right now. Too bad I couldn't come with Seo-ah. She left early for other business.
First time on a plane. First time in seats this comfy too. Recline it back and it's like a bed!
The flight attendant just asked if I wanted orange juice, and it was amazing!
"Deobseok-i, time to wake up. You too, Kkumteuli."
Hunters can bring summons on board if they're not too heavy, so of course I brought my buddies.
Deobseok-i was dozing in my lap and snaps awake at my words. Kkumteuli... not sure if it was asleep.
They're chatty through Plant Empathy, but quiet otherwise.
"Good thing we registered Kkumteuli last week."
"It was splendidly recognized as A-rank. Registration is required for co-boarding."
Kkumteuli went through a similar inspection and wrecked the place like Deobseok-i did, sweeping everything.
The researcher uncle was shocked.
"But he said there are S-rank ones too. How do you get that?"
"That requires approval from the permanent director countries of the International Hunter Organization. It's a very cumbersome process, so many hunters with S-rank level skills remain at A-rank."
Hmm... so fancy foreign bigshots have to approve it? Sounds complicated just hearing about it.
"I wanna be an S-rank hunter someday too!"
"With you, Chorok, it might just happen one day."
Hidden class is cool confirmed. Add S-rank on top? Double deluxe coolness confirmed!
Sweet. I'll do it someday for sure.
"...Chorok, look out the window."
"The window?"
I turn to the window right next to me. What's unfolding there is...
"Whoaaa!"
An island peeks through cotton-candy clouds. Tiny buildings in between look like toys.
"Landing soon?"
"Yes."
First plane ride. First time to Jeju Island.
Everything's pounding with excitement. Though the most important thing is finding mature big sis.
"Chorok-unnie! Here, here!"
"It's been a while, Miss Chorok. I hope you've been well."
After landing at the airport, we head straight to the reserved hotel and check in.
Once done, Seo-ah shows up in another looooong limo, just like before.
The hotel and everything is sponsored by Seo-ah's grandpa. Including Seonhwa-unnie.
Is it okay to keep receiving so much like this?
"Thanks for all the gifts, Grandpa."
Gratitude first! I've received a ton.
"Not at all. Such gifts are natural for a promising young sapling. Keep striving. Now, hop in. We'll head straight to our destination."
The back door clicks open, and Seonhwa-unnie and I climb in. Of course, Deobseok-i and Kkumteuli stay right by my side.
"...Miss Chorok, you aimed to establish a guild, yes?"
"Yup! I wanna be a guild master with mature big sis!"
"Then this gate auction will be a good lesson. Guilds mainly make money from gate operation rights."
"Jihye-unnie said the same. Buy wrong and you get nothing but losses..."
"You know that much already. Not wrong. Even I, who's speaking now, have taken massive losses and reaped huge profits."
That's why everyone says we gotta hustle from now on. Build guild facilities, auctions like this, and my chubby wallet will be empty in no time.
"Doesn't the national treasury get a big chunk from operation rights auctions too, Officer Bong Seonhwa?"
"Yes. It contributes greatly in many ways. The Management Bureau's operating funds come from these auction revenues too."
Eeeeng. Complicated stuff. From what I gather, auctions are important for the Bureau too.
"Seo-ah, you been to one before?"
"Yeah, but it's not that fun. Closest thing is watching the foreigners? But not like court auctions. The auctioneer's rap-like chants are kinda fun though."
Foreigners come too? Like at the expo, I couldn't understand them. Do I need earbuds for translation?
"...We'll arrive at the destination soon."
Suddenly, the coastline appears beyond the window. Would've been nice in summer. First time seeing the sea.
Spring's a bit disappointing. But maybe sandals and splashing later?
...
The resort building rented for this auction overlooks the gate entrance even from the windows.
Uncle and auntie types are whispering. Management Bureau folks like Seonhwa-unnie are around, plus tons of burly guys in sunglasses.
"Geumjin, KS, Nampeung, and even Shura's guild master. Quite the crowd eyeing it."
"L-long... time... Mr. Ch-chairman..."
A foreign-looking man approaches Seo-ah's grandpa.
His Korean's decent? But his eyes are creepy. Like dead fish eyes.
Not just foreign— this uncle's vibe is straight-up chilling.
"Smith Industries rep, right? Long time. You look different from before."
Twitch twitch. Eww, gross! His eyeballs just moved in opposite directions!
"I have... a request... This auction... Give it up..."
"Troubling words. With your scale, just prove it at auction, no? Seems you're not planning to offer a share."
"You'll regret... it..."
The foreign uncle vanishes with a whoosh. Bathroom emergency?
Bingak Gate auction begins now. Exploration guild estimates A+ rank or higher risk. Management Bureau value: 500 billion won. Starting bid: 500 billion won.
Seo-ah, Seonhwa-unnie, me, the uncles and aunties from before—all gathered.
The auctioneer speaks calmly but machine-gun fast. "Bid please" and it'd turn into rap.
"Stops at 700 billion. No more bidders? 700 billion... 700 billion... Final confirmation at 700 billion."
Mind-boggling sums fly, but Seo-ah's grandpa stays cool, holding the provided tablet, biding time.
"Bid updated. 800 billion. No more?"
"...Now."
"Bid updated to 1 trillion. Any more?"
Silence blankets the room. Grandpa just bid, and no counters.
A grandpa who can drop a trillion casually. Peak Korea conglomerate?
"Time up. Auction closed. Winner: Yusung Group."
Click. Click. Reporters were here—cameras flash at the news.
Someday, I'll win one too and bask in the spotlight?
But seeing the amounts... dizzying.
Expensive! Super expensive! Mega expensive! High-risk gates cost this much?
"Gotta summon Yusung Guild elites soon. A+ ain't easy."
I overhear Grandpa. Dangerous dungeon, huh? Wonder what Yusung Guild's like.
—Whoosh!
Suddenly, someone from the back row leaps up and charges at Seo-ah's grandpa.
That creepy foreign uncle!
"No regrets...? Should've let it... pass quietly..."
"You've been acting strange since earlier. Without funds, you couldn—gurk!"
Rumble. The foreign uncle grabs Grandpa's collar, but sunglass uncles rush in and pry him off.
"Cough... What the hell?!"
"The prophecy... will come true... Inevitably..."
—Crack!
What?! He bit his tongue!
"Ewww! Gross!"
Now his head's foaming and melting down?
Red Cult Invasion
"Chaos for the Red Cult!"
The foreign uncle was pinned by everyone, but he shoves them off and stands.
"Ia! ia! shamash shamesh, N███l█otep th'ga!"
⟨ Cult Chant ⟩
—Rumble rumble! Crash!
Earthquake?! All the room's windows shatter!
"Kyaaaaak!"
—Roaaar!
The window-breaker's a fang-filled, noseless pterodactyl thing with wings. What kinda ugly exists like this?
"Monster!? Where from? Gate break...?"
Someone points outside. The gate entrance turned blood-red like spicy ramen broth, spewing endless ugly pterodactyls!
"All as the Red Queen's will."
Slink. The creepy uncle vanishes like mist.
Was that mist heading to the gate my imagination?
⊳ Cooperate in this emergency situation!
Management Bureau shouts. Hunter-looking folks grab weapons in unison.
Guess I gotta fight too? Can't forgive this mess!
"Deobseok-i! Kkumteuli! Let's go! Time to fight!"
—Crunch! Chomp! —Splash!
Deobseok-i's already nomming one ugly pterodactyl.
Kkumteuli skewers and lifts several like stir-fry.
"Huh? You guys are already all geared up?!"