Chapter 113
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Gate (2)
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My ability... no, it's a stretch to even call it that.
In any case, my power isn't affected by the laws of the system.
A very peculiar power with both advantages and disadvantages.
Well, even if the pros and cons are stark, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages when you really think about it.
From ignoring item restrictions to acquiring racial traits and even fully embodying them.
The benefits were so massive that the huge drawback of not being able to use the convenient power of the system seemed trivial in comparison.
Of course, it wasn't all good.
My power is a kind of bug, born from a 'system error' that exploited a loophole in the system.
If the system were to detect it, a self-correction process to fix the bug would naturally occur.
The result of that self-correction was the appearance of a discharge-type gate with 1.28 million manathe 'Vaccine Program.' That was, without a shred of exaggeration, a world-ending crisis.
You could say it's the very definition of a high-risk, high-return power.
I've worked tirelessly to understand this power.
I couldn't afford a repeat of the Vaccine Program incident.
Of course, I hadn't learned anything new so far.
Ah. Actually, there is one thing.
That I can effortlessly ignore and disable system-based security devices.
I removed Baekho's collar-like restraint at Monster Park (which required researcher authentication).
And not long ago, I released Rena's seal (which required contact with a beastkin), so I'm pretty sure it's true.
But that just felt like an extension of ignoring item restrictions, not a completely new application or precaution.
So I was half-convinced there were likely no new rules, and that I just needed to stick to the precautions I already knew.
"Ah. This is driving me crazy."
But today, I discovered a completely unexpected new rule.
A very specific one related to gates, no less.
"...This is insane."
I plopped down on the ground, letting out a sigh.
A moment ago, the instant I entered the gate and saw a forest.
*Ah, this gate must have a random entry point setting,* I'd thought.
Such gates had been reported often enough, so I'd vaguely assumed that was the case.
But I was mistaken.
I let out a deep sigh and surveyed my surroundings.
"Hmm. So you're saying there's nothing wrong with the gate itself."
Instructor Pi Jinho was talking with the researchers, his expression dead serious.
Right.
The instructors and the researchers.
"Yes. The mana fluctuations are normal, and we can't find any problems."
"Then why was Cadet Kang Seoyul the only one who couldn't enter?"
"To be honest, I'm not sure. This is the first time we've seen a case like this... As you know, gates are still an area that hasn't been fully analyzed."
"...I see."
Scattered entry, my ass.
I was simply the only one who had failed to enter the gate.
The reason I was standing all alone in the forest was that I'd been thrown out of the gate and dropped in the middle of the woods, far from the entry point.
You have no idea how surprised I was when I ran into the instructor while searching the forest.
That's when it hit me.
*Ah, it's not that we were scattered upon entry. I'm the only one who failed to get in.*
To be honest, I wasn't too worried at that point.
I just figured some variable had popped up due to a researcher's mistake.
Considering that the analysis of gates wasn't perfect yet, it seemed plausible.
"Shall we try a fourth entry attempt?"
But that, too, was just wishful thinking.
The first time could be a coincidence.
But what if that failure happens a second time, and then a third?
That's no longer a coincidence.
It's inevitable.
"Frankly, I wouldn't recommend it. Opening a gate costs money. At first, we continued to try despite the loss because there was a high probability it was our mistake, but..."
The researchers' eyes all turned to me.
"If it's failed three times, we have to assume it's not our mistake, but that the cadet is unique."
"Unique, you say?"
"Well. There are many possibilities, but perhaps he has a very special trait that prevents him from entering gates... Or even if it's not a trait like that, maybe there's some factor interfering with dimensional travel. Could it be something like that?"
The researcher was right.
My inability to enter the gate wasn't the researchers' fault; it was mine.
The gate, a systemic element, was either rejecting me, someone without a system, or it couldn't even perceive me.
That was my guess.
"...Alright. We won't make a fourth attempt."
"A wise decision."
Instructor Pi Jinho sighed and walked over to me.
"Kang Seoyul. It's a shame, but it looks like it'll be difficult for you to participate in this training."
"Yes. I understand."
And just like that, my gate training experience came to an anticlimactic end.
"As for your score... I'll find a way for you to make it up, so don't worry too much."
Perhaps because I looked so dejected, Instructor Pi Jinho patted my back comfortingly.
"Yes. Thank you."
But I wasn't dejected because of my score.
There are plenty of ways to earn points.
What I was worried about was how to handle the upcoming episode.
...This is driving me nuts.
The next major episode is a gate stampede.
And right before that episode, I'd discovered my body couldn't enter gates.
...What the hell am I supposed to do?
My entire plan had just been upended.
* * *
That night.
Shin Jia
[Seonjonim, does this mean you can't enter gates?]
I was in a group chat with Jia and Siyeon.
[Yeah. Probably.]
I still needed to confirm it, but it was highly likely I wouldn't be able to enter gates.
Ha Siyeon
[But why can't you?]
Why?
Because of a system error, the gate rejects me, that's why.
[Well. I think it might be an aftereffect of the seal.]
Of course, I couldn't tell them the truth, so I decided to give a plausible excuse.
Shin Jia
[(Rabbit emoji with a lightbulb flashing in its eyes)]
[I see! The seal Seonjonim is using is a so-called concealment art to hide your existence from fallen gods or demon gods....]
I'd just thrown out a random excuse, but Jia was already building a framework around my lie and adding flesh to its bones.
[Since it's Seonjonim's ultimate sealing art that hides your existence even from divine beings, it's only natural that a gate wouldn't be able to recognize you!]
[R-Right.]
No, she wasn't just adding flesh; she was dressing it up and coordinating its entire outfit.
[Anyway, how was the gate raid today?]
I quickly changed the subject.
The longer the lie, the easier it is to get caught.
It was best to just avoid the topic altogether.
Shin Jia
[Huh? Um... nothing much happened.]
[How hard can a gate reconfigured by researchers for training purposes be?]
[(Bear emoji radiating confidence)]
It seemed to have been much easier than I thought.
Then again, even though cadets died during this training every year, it was less about the difficulty and more about 'carelessness.'
Ha Siyeon
[Hahahaha]
Suddenly, Siyeon burst out laughing.
[Seoyul.]
[That's all a lie.]
[Jia, that girl, was super flustered at first because you weren't there, and she ended up stepping on a trap and doing some slapstick.]
[It was comedy gold.]
Jia responded immediately to that.
[Hey! I told you that was a secret!]
[Aw, what's the big deal? Nothing bad happened.]
[Nooo, but still, saying that in front of Seonjonim...]
[It was cute. The way you struggled with only your head sticking out of the swamp.]
[I'm gonna ksidj a;osidjfo]
The final string of gibberish perfectly conveyed Jia's embarrassment.
I could almost picture Jia, face flushed, rolling around on her bed.
[Siyeon, you slipped and fell when your Ice Empress wore off during our match last time!]
[Wow. You'd bring that up? How petty.]
[Then can I also talk about that time you tried to do a 'Multishot' with ten arrows and made a fool of yourself?]
A tell-all session had suddenly broken out.
Things seemed to be escalating, so I quietly turned my phone face down.
"Have you finished your business?"
The princess, who had been lying on the sofa with her head on my thigh while petting Geumho, looked up and asked me.
"For now."
"Mm."
At my reply, the princess sat up, placed Geumho in a corner of the sofa, and got to her feet.
"Then let us begin our training at once."
Lately, the princess had been more motivated than I was.
She'd said she was discovering new things herself while teaching me.
I couldn't say it was entirely thanks to that, but in any case, the princess was also growing stronger.
I was getting stronger, and so was the princess. It was a win-win situation, but...
"Sorry. I have a lot on my mind today. Let's train tomorrow."
Today, I had something far more important to do than magic training.
"...Is that so? Then it cannot be helped."
The princess looked a little disappointed.
Still, what could I do?
Now that I knew I couldn't enter gates, finding another way was my top priority.
To put it bluntly, it wouldn't matter how strong I got if I couldn't enter the gate. The strategy itself would be impossible.
"But let's go out on Saturday instead. It must be stuffy being cooped up at home, right?"
"Am I to go out with you?"
The princess looked up at me, her eyes filled with uncertainty.
"Geumho, Baekho, you, and me. The four of us."
"Ohh..."
The princess's face lit up like a blooming flower. But she quickly pressed her lips together and cleared her throat.
"Ahem. I shall be looking forward to it."
As if trying to be dignified, but not quite succeeding.
It was a peculiar expression.
It was clearly the face of someone who was incredibly happy but trying desperately not to show it.
"Then, work hard. I shall quietly be reading the Korean textbook you gave me."
The princess sat back down on the sofa and opened the Korean textbook that was on the table.
I glanced at the princess, who was already engrossed in the book, then quietly stood up and headed to my room.
I had to rethink my strategy for the gate stampede.
* * *
Time flew by.
For about three or four days after discovering I couldn't enter gates, I was glued to my desk, reformulating my plans.
Once I had finalized all my new strategies, I devoted myself entirely to training.
After running myself ragged like that, the Great Gate Stampede was suddenly just around the corner.
There was no specific date mentioned in the original story, so I couldn't be sure. But today, I became certain.
Exactly four days remained.
How was I so sure?
Because the first omen of the Great Gate Stampede had just appeared.
"Princess. Stay put at home. Got it?"
"Mm. I shall do so."
The princess nodded.
"Baekho, you stay put too."
"Nyaang."
Baekho also nodded as if she had no choice.
She must have known instinctively that her existence couldn't be revealed to the world.
"Alright, Geumho. Let's go."
At my words, Geumho leaped into my arms.
"Alright, I'm heading out."
I gave my gear one last check and headed for the door.
"Please come back safely."
The princess, whose pronunciation had improved considerably, saw me off in Korean.
As I stepped out the door, the first thing that caught my eye was the ash-gray sky.
The current time was Saturday, 1 PM.
Despite it being a time when the sky should have been blue, it was cast in a monochrome hue.
"The more I look at it, the creepier it gets."
This was one of the omens of the Great Gate Stampede.
'Gray Out.'
A phenomenon where the world turns gray.
And the start of the Gray Out meant the second omen would soon appear.
My goal was to stop that second omen.
"Geumho. Keep a good eye on your hyeong today. I'll be fighting without 'Mastery of Arms,' so my close-quarters combat will be a lot weaker."
"Nyaang!"
Today, I was equipped with 'Grace of Mana' instead of 'Mastery of Arms'.
The reason was simple.
I planned to use only magic today.