Let's Sweep the Ant Nest. 01
Gurgle.
Her stomach churned from hunger. Yeonwoo leaned against the seat at the end of the subway car, furrowing her brow.
Should've grabbed something to eat.
She'd blown all her money on clothes and rushed off in a hurry, forgetting to eat. In truth, she'd just fled from her sister's nagging.
Eh, it'll be fine. It's the Ant Nest, after all.
The Ant Nest's environment was different from other gates.
Next stop: Gimpo Airport. Gimpo Airport. Alight from the right-side doors. Right side. Line 9. Passengers transferring to the Airport Railroad...
The subway announcement signaled their arrival. Yeonwoo lifted her head and stood.
"Hmph."
"Mm."
At the same time, gazes from all around darted busily. Finally, the furtive stares vanished.
Can't even afford a car at this rate.
She had neither the money nor the time for that. Besides, the subway was free with a hunter license.
Screen doors opening. Mind the gap. Mind the gap.
Grumbling, Yeonwoo stepped off the train. A platform sign immediately caught her eye.
← Airport Railroad Transfer Passage / Ant Nest →
The crowd from the subway split into two groups. One headed for transfers or the airport. The other were hunters bound for the Ant Nest.
It's the Ant Nest, after all.
The Ant Nest was a gate with unusually high traffic. Its basic, self-contained environment made it a rite of passage for every hunter. Its location was unique too. The gate's entrance had spawned underground in a large shopping mall under construction at Gimpo Airport. Construction halted immediately, and the passage connecting the subway to the mall became the gate's access route.
It didn't create jobs for locals, unfortunately, but the Ant Nest brought other economic boons. Thanks to its accessibility via Gimpo Airport, it even drew hunters from overseas. The ripple effect was huge—the famous knife-cut noodle shop at the airport entrance had renovated into hunter lodging. They still sold noodles, too. Even delivered inside the Ant Nest.
It's the Ant Nest, after all.
It wasn't weird. That one phrase explained everything.
Beep—
The scanner swept over Yeonwoo. It auto-recognized her hunter license, and the heavy door blocking the gate entrance swung open, revealing a swirling blue vortex. Yeonwoo hopped lightly through.
Her vision rippled, and the Ant Nest landscape unfolded.
"Antidotes for sale! Only 10% markup from outside prices!"
"Any Tier III+ melee hunters available for a 5-hour burn inside?"
"What the hell? I ordered delivery and now they won't pick up?"
The Ant Nest felt like a bustling marketplace. Tents blanketed the entrance area, teeming with people. Merchants hawking wares. Camps for rest and lodging. Hunters recruiting parties or hiring mercs. Even charity groups operated here.
Eh. It's the Ant Nest, after all.
This was normal here. Despite the name, it wasn't really an ant cave—it was more like an ant wasteland. No cave structure at all. Open plains divided by rising hills and endless pillars.
Every gate had its own environment and rules. The Ant Nest had naturally evolved into something like a beginner village. Like many gates, entry was restricted beyond a certain tier—Tier I only here. The vendors were external hires thrown into the gate as hunters.
Except for those guys.
Amid the noisy market stood pristine, almost sacred tents. Volunteers from 'Eden,' the Ant Nest's charity group. Hunter groups were usually called companies, but Eden was the exception. Centered on the Catholic Church, they were called Eden or the Church.
For some reason, Eden's volunteers could enter one tier above the limit. The gate's rules and enforcement weren't lenient, though—they could only heal and provide aid, no other interference. No one complained. They treated newbie hunters for free and handed out relief supplies.
I always liked Eden.
Back when she was a clueless rookie charging in headfirst, she'd relied on them often.
Gurgle—
Her empty stomach made another fierce demand.
"Can't pass this up."
It was the same now. Free religious handouts were the best in tough times. Why pass up free stuff? Grab as much as you can.
Which one's the fastest?
Eden's tents were numerous, befitting their scale. Yet every one had a line. Yeonwoo's gaze swept the area and locked on the largest tent—big enough that its entrance fully concealed the interior. Simple reason: bigger meant faster service, right?
The moment she approached, attention predictably focused on her.
"Hey, move aside quick."
"Huh? Why all of a sudden?"
"You see that?"
"Whoa, what a beauty! But why?"
"Idiot. She's staff, staff!"
"Oh. Ohhh."
The rookie hunter finally nodded and stepped aside. Others reacted the same.
"Eden hunters are something else."
"Gotta be crazy hot. Lining up here means help from that sister, right?"
"Wait, isn't that someone I saw online?"
"Shh. She's probably just active everywhere."
Yeonwoo's aura, radiating from her looks alone, set her apart.
Man, I'm starving.
Her face was subtly twisted from prolonged hunger. But even that irritation came off as haughty charisma. The hunters mistook her for Eden staff and cleared a path.
What? Why's everyone acting weird?
Of course, Yeonwoo had no clue. But she didn't refuse. Dignity meant nothing against hunger.
"May you receive blessings."
She gave proper greetings instead.
"Huh?"
The hunters' eyes widened at her words. But they quickly reached a holy conclusion.
"Ahh."
"Amen."
"May the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with you."
"Holy Lord. Amen."
Definitely Eden staff! Her divine looks made sense now.
The hunters clasped hands and bowed to Yeonwoo. That let her reach her own holy epiphany.
What? These people are from Eden?
Guess it wasn't a line after all. No choice. For free food, Yeonwoo clasped her hands too.
"Amen. Amen. Yes, amen. The Son and... anyway, have a blessed day."
She made the sign of the cross and hurried forward. Moses' miracle parted the crowd, letting her enter the tent in seconds.
"Excuse me. Amen."
"......Gasp."
But inside, she didn't get a proper welcome.
The large tent held two treatment beds. Boxes of supplies and goods piled everywhere. And in the center...
A pure white man stared blankly at her.
White hair, white eyes, even white eyelashes. His neat priestly robes were snow-white too. He stood on the cusp between boy and youth, exuding mystery. About Yeonwoo's height.
"What is your business?"
The man schooled his expression. He furrowed his brow and glared at her. His tone was sharp, accusatory.
"Huh?"
Wrong tent? His sudden wariness threw Yeonwoo off. She spun and poked her upper body outside.
"Gasp, go... no, amen!"
"Yes, amen."
Yeonwoo spread blessings again and scanned around. Still looked like an Eden tent. So why the prickly reaction? Eden folks were always kind.
She tilted her head and re-entered. The man still scowled with his delicate features.
"......Ah."
Then it clicked. Her extraordinary looks—no wonder. Famous guy.
"Mikael."
Eden's priest. Nicknamed some fortress wall. Impenetrable stronghold from the Bible? Not for his skill, though that was top-tier too. Pre-regression, he was already in the Numbers.
"......Do not address me so casually, sister."
The nickname came from his personality. Despite his protective white appearance, he was prickly as hell. Especially merciless to women. He avoided them like the plague—rumors swirled he'd had his manhood surgically removed during choir days.
That's me, though.
Yeonwoo muttered bitterly inside and shrugged.
"Wow. Prickly much?"
"What did you say?"
"Why? Can't I speak freely?"
Irrelevant to her anyway. Just fill the belly and go. Grab extras if possible, but no bootlicking. Other tents existed.
"I have never uttered any rude words from my mouth."
"Gotta say it out loud? Your face says it all."
"Kgh."
Mikael averted his eyes at Yeonwoo's unyielding retort. He raised a hand, hiding his face with his white sleeve.
Odd. Most backed down by now. But this woman who barged in stayed brazen. Mikael was at a loss.
"Then I'll help myself? Amen. Okay?"
Whatever. Yeonwoo grabbed rations as planned, figuring he was as weird as rumored.
That was when.
"Urk."
As Yeonwoo advanced, Mikael subtly shifted aside. Like same-pole magnets repelling, he slid toward the corner following her path.
"What."
Yeonwoo sidled toward Mikael. Same result. He kept distance like he couldn't stand proximity, face paling whiter. He turned away as if he'd seen something awful.
Not a great sight. Made her mood sour.
"Treating me like trash 'cause I'm poor?"
"No, it's not that...!"
Mikael shouted. His eyes shook violently.
"Then why."
"I-It's uncomfortable!"
Mikael yelled abruptly. He dropped his gaze, palm out to ward her off.
"Women make me uncomfortable. I can't bear it...."
Mikael muttered, clutching his priestly robes.