Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: The Gate Analyzer
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When Wang-sik returned to the Mirje Trading Company, Oh Min-jae was still poring over documents spread across the table.
“Take a break. You haven't even slept.”
“You're back? What happened at the black market?”
“They made an interesting offer.”
Wang-sik told him the truth without holding anything back.
“Grade 2 information from the black market is what we really want, but…”
“Once we're done finding our friends, we'll be able to make good use of it.”
“Anyway, be careful. Trusting the black market is risky.”
“Got it. And look into Gorgon's Crystal Ball, too. I need to know why the black market wanted it.”
“Of course. I'm curious about that myself.”
That wrapped up the discussion about the black market. Oh Min-jae immediately turned back to the documents on the table.
“What are you researching so intently? You seem completely absorbed. If it's interesting enough to postpone the Giam Island experiment, it must be something good.”
“Hehe. You're right.”
Oh Min-jae's expression brightened as he showed Wang-sik the papers he was organizing.
“You wouldn't get it even if I showed you.”
“Hyung, imagine a machine essential for survival. If you sold it for ten billion, would it sell?”
“That's pretty expensive.”
“What if you sold it not to individuals, but to nations or organizations? Like a kind of military weapon.”
“What are you trying to make?”
Wang-sik's curiosity was piqued.
“A Gate Analyzer. It's a device that can determine the technology applied to a gate before you enter.”
This didn't require much thought.
“If its performance is guaranteed, money won't be an issue, right?”
“Right? Then we can leave the pricing to Chairwoman Han.”
“Can you really make it?”
“It's already possible to make it as a magical tool in Azelan. The head of the Architect's Guild has already finished the analysis. The technology applied to a gate leaves traces that subtly alter its properties. We just need to convert this into a mechanical device on Earth. If we can express the special waves and minute mana levels as numbers, we'll have our analyzer.”
With that, they could prepare for the threats posed by dungeon-type gates in advance.
It would become an essential item for every nation in the world.
Not only would it be a commercial success, but it would also undoubtedly elevate their technological reputation.
“Will it take long to make?”
“That depends on the skill of Earth's technicians, not me. I can finish the basic concept and give it to you in a few days. It requires some magical materials from Azelan, but I'm sure Chairwoman Han will handle the confidentiality. Fortunately, since it's an item that can pass through the gate, supply won't be an issue.”
“Get on it right away. I'm going to meet the Bureau Director. I promised to give him the results.”
“Then can you contact Chairwoman Han, too? She'll need to prepare the technicians in advance.”
“Got it.”
Wang-sik told Oh Min-jae not to overwork himself and returned to Earth.
Han Young-im hung up the phone with a grave expression.
—*We can make a Gate Analyzer.*
After receiving Wang-sik's call, she realized this invention would be a major event in the history of gates.
The dangers of dungeon-type gates were already being reported in the news, so creating an analyzer would guarantee enormous commercial success.
“It was a mistake.”
Despite the great opportunity, Han Young-im couldn't smile.
“We don't have the technology to make it right now.”
They hadn't pursued the gate technology business. They had considered it deeply but never acted on it.
That didn't mean there was no way, however.
“All personnel in charge of gate-related matters. Call an emergency meeting.”
There was no time to hesitate.
An hour later, the meeting was convened.
Han Young-im skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.
“Starting now, we are acquiring a gate technology company. Find a company with the best possible technology, regardless of the cost. Ignore the business scale; we're looking only at technical skill. Everyone gathered here will postpone all other duties and prioritize the selection of this company. I will personally handle the price negotiations.”
It was a full-blown state of emergency.
From that moment, the Guseong Group began scouring the world for gate technology companies.
After giving Kang Il-seop the hopeful news, Wang-sik decided to have dinner with Min Ha-na.
Wanting to talk somewhere quiet, they went to a Korean restaurant with private rooms.
“What's the occasion? It's not ramen.”
“I figured it would be a long conversation.”
As a member of the team, Min Ha-na needed to be updated on the current situation.
They talked while eating the food that had been prepared for them.
It was mostly Wang-sik recounting the events so far, with Min Ha-na reacting in surprise.
Min Ha-na listened, completely engrossed, as if she had experienced it all herself.
“So you're going to search for the Blood Fragments now?”
“Not yet. Finding our friends is the top priority.”
No matter what, his friends came first.
“But are you still trying to get stronger? Can't you slow down a little?”
“I'm still far from strong enough.”
“Is there anyone besides monsters who could kill you?”
“Many.”
His reply was so firm it startled Min Ha-na.
“I've heard of at least five. I've even met one of them in person. And we can't just assume we'll only be fighting people. Right now, more monsters are coming through the gates than anything else.”
“That's because people are sending them…”
“The Blood Lord, the Great War of the Heavenly Demon. Can you be sure a war like that won't happen in our world?”
“Ah…”
The worlds were already connected by gates.
What would happen if the Demon Realm and the Heavenly Realm connected to Earth?
No, perhaps they already were.
“Even I don't know why Awakeners are appearing. There must be a reason for it.”
“You always prepare for the worst.”
“Because being complacent could lead to our destruction.”
“My poor friend. Don't worry. I'll help lighten that load.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
After a pause in their serious conversation to eat, Min Ha-na asked.
“Should I quit the Hunter Management Bureau now?”
“No. Stay there for now. There will be a right time to leave. For now, you need to meet various people through the Bureau. Your reputation will be a great asset in protecting the Earth.”
Min Ha-na had to admit it was true.
Since becoming an S-rank, she received state guest treatment wherever she went. When she went on gate expeditions, citizens would even gather to thank her.
“That's why I can't even swear these days.”
“That must be stressful.”
“Not just a little, a lot. I can't say anything. Once, I went on an expedition, and some coward who was the mayor's son joined the team. I gave him a proper cussing out, and the newspapers reported that I was rude.”
“And?”
“Well, another team member released a video from inside the gate, which turned public opinion around, but once I got caught up in the gossip, they were out for blood. I never knew I had so many anti-fans.”
“There are always people who enjoy seeing those at the top fall. And if something like that happens again…”
“If it happens?”
“Go at them without regrets. Your popularity is helpful, but it's not worth protecting at the cost of your pride.”
“That's my friend. I feel a lot better now.”
After that, they continued to chat idly until they left the restaurant.
“Let's go. I'll give you a ride.”
“I can just take a taxi.”
“I just want to chat. It's been a while since we've done this.”
They had been constantly busy until now.
During the drive to Incheon, they talked not as members of the Earth Defense Force, but as friends.
“Hey! Because of you, there are still people who call me the Flame Zombie!”
“Not a zombie. A witch, maybe.”
“A witch? Do you have a death wish?”
“Just accept it. Life's easier if you do. You're going to save the world; being called a zombie or a witch is hardly a flaw.”
“I'm not a witch!”
“Hey. Are you trying to burn down the car? Calm down.”
“You're the one pissing me off!”
“Fine. An explosion this small won't kill me anyway, so just burn it all down. But what did the nearby cars ever do to you?”
Min Ha-na suppressed the heat radiating from her body. At least she had reached a point where she could control it freely.
However, the scorched seat couldn't be helped.
“Gotta replace the seat. So this is how you indulge in luxury.”
“I bought plenty in advance.”
“Smart. Good for you.”
That compliment only made Min Ha-na angrier.
“We're here! Get out!”
“Let's grab a coffee before you go.”
“No!”
“I'm about to go fight for my life, and this is how you send me off?”
“Ugh! Seriously! You enjoy teasing me, don't you?”
“And you enjoy getting angry at me. Good thing our tastes align in that respect.”
“Tch! I do not enjoy it.”
“Let's just get coffee. The breeze is nice.”
Wang-sik got out first and ordered two coffees from a small café by the sea.
“Welcome.”
She looked like a high school student, not yet twenty.
“Looks like it's going to rain soon. You should drink it somewhere with a roof.”
The high school girl who handed him the coffee smiled kindly.
“Do you run this place yourself?”
“No. I'm just helping my sister out for a bit. She went on a date. Making her little sister work is a bit much, right?”
“Haha. I suppose so.”
“It's okay. I really love my sister.”
It was a short but pleasant conversation. Her final smile had the power to lift one's spirits.
Wang-sik's mood brightened as well, and he maintained that smile as he handed the coffee to Min Ha-na.
“It's for people like her that we protect the Earth.”
“Yeah. She's pretty, even from a distance.”
They started drinking their coffee in high spirits. But not even five minutes later, a siren blared.
It was a gate-related siren.
“Did a gate open here?”
“Since I don't know about it, it must be a low-rank gate.”
Due to the recent dungeon-type gates, Min Ha-na was participating in all A-rank and higher clearings.
“Customers! Please evacuate! The gate is about to open!”
The girl, who was closing up the café, shouted from a distance and waved.
“So it was a scheduled gate.”
It had appeared a few days ago, and it was now time for it to open. When that happens, an evacuation siren typically sounds.
Many citizens, already accustomed to it, often ignored it.
“Well, be careful.”
“You too.”
Their coffee break over, Wang-sik boarded a boat inside the breakwater, and Min Ha-na drove away.
Just as Wang-sik's boat was gliding far out into the vast West Sea…
—Dungeon Break has occurred.
A sense of foreboding washed over Wang-sik as he checked the emergency alert.
This wasn't an alert from the Hunter Management Bureau, but a national emergency alert.
He immediately called Min Ha-na, and her urgent voice came through.
“Where are you?”
—*I'm on my way back.*
“Back where?”
—*To the place we just were. A D-rank dungeon broke there.*
Wang-sik immediately ran to the captain and had him turn the boat around.
He arrived about thirty minutes later.
“Damn it…”
His ominous premonition had become reality.
The place where they had been drinking coffee was being ravaged by monsters.
*CRASH! CRASH!*
It was a D-rank giant-type monster, a Mountain Giant.
A four-meter-tall giant with tough skin, it was classified as D-rank because it lacked any special abilities and was slow.
But that was D-rank from an Awakener's perspective; to an ordinary person, it was a monster.
“Aargh!”
Hearing the screams of citizens unprepared for the break, Wang-sik threw his chain and leaped onto the pier.
*THUD! THUD!*
Vibrations spread with every step the Mountain Giant took, and even its slow fists were powerful enough to demolish buildings.
Just then, a high school girl caught Wang-sik's eye.
“Stop!”
The giant's massive foot was about to crush the already fallen girl.
Seeing the high school girl lying outside the small café, Wang-sik immediately sprinted toward the giant.
*FWOOSH!*
Since there was some distance between them, he threw his chain to alter the trajectory of the descending foot.
Fortunately, it landed right beside the girl, and Wang-sik launched himself forward, slamming his shield into the giant's torso.
*KABOOM!*
“Are you okay?”
He immediately checked on the fallen girl, but there was no response. She had already lost consciousness.
But as he checked the girl's head, his hand grew damp.
“Blood…”
She seemed to be badly injured.
*KRAAA!*
The giant, which had been knocked back, roared and charged at Wang-sik. But before Wang-sik could unleash his fury, a fireball flew in and blew the giant's head off.
“Wang-sik!”
Min Ha-na had arrived.
His unsated anger didn't matter.
“Get this student to a hospital!”
“Got it.”
“How did this happen? It doesn't make any sense.”
It was a D-rank gate.
If it was a dungeon-type, a break could occur.
But there were always secondary forces on standby around the gate. Their role wasn't to subjugate the monsters, but to draw their attention and wait for reinforcements.
For B-rank or higher, it was possible for even the final line of defense to be breached, but not for a D-rank.
“Let's just stop them for now.”
Something incomprehensible was happening.