Chapter 12


    My trapezoidal muscles hurt. With my hands, I massaged my sore neck from the aftermath of the car ident.


    <i>Woah, really. If youre not good at driving, youll end up stuck on a quiet road like this.</i>


    But whether he knows my pain or not, Kang Changho was asking for my phone number with a brazen face.


    I, its Hunter Kang Changho. Kang Changho


    Is that what an ordinary person does when they see an S-ss?


    The weak rulers of the Earth seemed to feel an instinctive threat when they saw the new humans awakened to magical powers. It will feel like a huge beast is standing right in front of you.


    Ooh, s, still, if there was an ident. T, the repair cost


    Of course I have to give it to you. Pleasee this way.


    However, even if Ipare it that way, S-ss hunters are ultimately intelligent modern humans.


    Kang Changhopleted the repayment without difficulty.


    This is because the taxi driver became quiet when he took some white and thin paper out of his wallet and gave it to him.


    <i>What is it that makes him shut up? Is it better than money?</i>


    Now the only victim left is me.


    Kang Changho turned his gaze to me.


    Anyway, what is your contact information?


    Yes?


    I just spent all my cash. I think we need to slowlye to an agreement on your medical expenses.


    Im not sure what hes talking about, but


    Is this how you usually handle a car ident?


    <i>Well, at the most, its just a phone number.</i>


    I dont want to be med for no reason.


    First of all, I did what the Earthlings told me to do.


    However, the conversation that Kang Changho brought up while exchanging contact information was quite strange.


    Hunter Kim Kiryeo, were you on your way to look after that rookie today?


    He stopped typing the number and looked down.


    Its a shame that someone like you is a porter.


    Im not sure.


    I know a job that pays much better than that. Would you listen to it?


    A job that pays much better money?


    Its not difficult to listen.


    The proposal that followed was extremely shocking.


    Kim Kiryeo, quit being Ahn Yoonseungs porter ande under me.


    .!


    Of course, I will give you 80% of the items and profits you will get at the gate.


    Scouting under these absurd conditions?


    As expected, this S-ss Hunter must have recognized the potential contained in Kim Kiryeos corpse.


    <i>Its difficult to estimate the amount of magic I have until I try it, but this sensitive human gives me a good clue.</i>


    Lets see, then.


    Because the condition specified when reincarnating was that I would be reincarnated as a corpse with the highest magical power on this


    Maybe its Kim Kiryeos magic power. In other words, is the awakening value mentioned here equivalent to that of an S-ss Hunter, or higher than that?


    <i>Then once my magices out, this is within my grasp!</i>


    Haha!


    I felt proud for the first time in a long time.


    So I tried to hide my smile and spoke calmly.


    Well. Its difficult for me to enter the S-ss gate right now. Can I work with you?


    But when Kang Changho heard the next words, heughed and cooled down like someone poured cold water down his spine.


    What do you mean by S-ss?


    Yes?


    No matter what, there is no way I would push a hunter of your level into such an advanced gate.


    My voice came out reflexively.


    Didnt you approach me after recognizing my awakening value?


    However, Kang Changho continued as if he were giving an obvious exnation.


    Your awakening value? Its high for an F-ss, but theres nothing particrly special about it.


    Kang Changho takes off his sunsses.


    Then he nced at me with his reptilian eyes and confirmed.


    Look, my offer was simply that I would raise you myself.


    .!


    I protect you from death inside the gate, teach you how to do things, and provide you with material help.


    In short, it means bing a sponsor


    Kang Changho looked this way without changing his expression. Perhaps hes wondering what kind of guts I had to say such nonsense as entering the S-ss gate.


    <i>Let alone the fact that Kim Kiryeos awakening value is at F-ss.</i>


    Anyway, now I


    I mistook his suggestion and drank the kimchi soup by myself. (t/n : Its an idiom that means something like someone doesnt even think about giving you a rice cake, but you already have drunk Kimchi soup. Or assume sess before it is actually achieved.)


    <i>Ugh, thats embarrassing.</i>


    My face feels hot. I awkwardly made up my mind as if making an excuse.


    Ah, I see. I was confused for a moment and said something strange. Please forget it.


    Kang Changho heard those words and rolled his eyes.


    Hunter Kim Kiryeo, then can I think of that as an eptance of my offer?


    The sentence came out so naturally that I almost nodded, but I came to my sensester.


    What were we talking about? Yeah. The topic of conversation was sponsorship.


    And why did Kang Changho try to help me?


    Wait.


    He is an S-ss Hunter.


    From the perspective of the highest level hunters, of whom there are only three in Korea, an F-ss awakened person would be a bug to bite.


    Anyway, youre saying you didnt approach me because of my awakening value.


    However, Kang Changho wants to take me away, even though we only made eye contact once yesterday?


    Then what on earth are you looking at me for to make this suggestion?


    Next, a fundamental question arises.


    I became curious about the real reason he approached me. HoweverKang Changho just raised his mouth and smiled quietly, but didnt answer at all.


    Damn it. Yoonseung-ah, where are you?


    I suddenly want to see you right away.


    Yeah, thank you for your kind words, but I will decline.


    Is that so?


    Like Kang Changho said, Im a hunter with nothing special, so Ill have to work as a porter.


    The suspicious behavior of this Earthling gives me fear. I decided to quickly flee the scene.


    If you go with me, your skills will improve much faster. Ill also give you items that increase your magic power.


    No matter how sweet you say it, do you think Im going to fall for it?


    Im sorry, but Im busy right now. I have a lunch appointment.


    It seems that you have a lot of appointments?


    Just then, a taxi approached from a distance with a red sign indicating that it was empty.


    Taxi!


    I almost jumped in front of the car, grabbed a taxi, and ran away, leaving Kang Changho on the road.


    Hmm, Hunter Kim Kiryeo.


    Although I could see the person walking away in the side mirror, my heart was still beating fast.


    ***


    For reference, saying that I have an appointment is not a bluff.


    The reason you werete today was because of a car ident with Kang Changho?


    Now that I think about it, I think that punk caused the ident on purpose.


    In front of a restaurant with the savory smell of chunjang.


    I finished eating and came out of the building feeling anxious.


    Ahn Yoonseung seemed shocked after hearing the exnation so far.


    Wow, its true what they said about picking a fight with a strong hunter!


    Phew.


    Originally, even I, an A-ss person, might have been targeted


    Is that so?


    Thanks to Kiryeo Hyung, I avoided his anger. Well, theres no way another awakened person would stand out when theres a hunter like Hyung-nim.


    What should I do? Should I call the police?


    But what should I say? An S-ss hunter decided to protect me and give me items so I could hunt safely? They wont believe me.


    If Kang Changho does something to that extent, Hyung-nim is much more than me


    My head was soplicated that I couldnt even hear what Ahn Yoonseung was saying.


    Ehem, I shouldnt bring this topic up outside, right? Oh, uhm. Then what should I say?


    There was some confusion for a moment.


    Aah, yeah. Kiryeo Hyung, did you watch TV this morning? I just heard that Korea ranked second in the gate management excellence evaluationst year.


    It wasnt long before he started to lighten the mood.


    Although the abnormal mutation is still serious, it is fortunate that civilian damage has been greatly reduced.


    Thats right.


    There are rumors in the news that humanity will soon conquer the disaster called the Gate


    Also, Ahn Yoonseung did a great job choosing the topics.


    Gate.


    Because that unknown concept has always been an interesting story to me.


    <i>At first, I thought it was a magical movement passage created by Earthlings, but</i>


    A mysterious phenomenon that urred simultaneously around the world seven years ago.


    Gate. And Monster.


    Did they say that awakened people were born along with the shock incident at that time?


    I understand why Earths people werete to realize magic. This is what I found when I searched for it.


    Usually, mana are created in the core center of the


    In ces with thick rockyers like the Earth, it is difficult for the core mana to prate, so the atmospheric mana concentration rises very slowly.


    In order for a living creature to perceive magic, it must first inhale enough mana, but due to Earths structure, that first step takes several times longer than Alphauri.


    <i>The conditions are very different from my hometown.</i>


    But even with this much technology, humanity only looks at the sky, like space travel and all?


    But even with this much technology, humans only look at the sky, like space travel and all?


    Thats why they never noticed the mana hidden beneath their feet.


    <i>The gate phenomenon that appeared 7 years ago It acts as a kind of well.</i>


    Eventually, humanity was exposed to magical power by ident.


    I awakened, evolved, and learned primal magic. I now have the skill in my hands.


    The flow can be roughly guessed. But


    Hmm.


    I still had no idea what the gate was.


    It wasnt installed by the people of Earth to pump up mana, and scary creatures are swarming inside.


    The creature is even unconditionally hostile to humans.


    <i>I dont understand.</i>


    Gates are not Alphauris technology.


    Its not even Earthling technology.


    So what is it?


    Hyung-nim?


    I was deep in thought when I heard someone calling and quickly looked up.


    Oh, Im sorry. I was thinking about it for a second.


    What are you thinking?


    Its just, well


    Where did my conversation with Yoonseung go?


    Oh, did he mention that the death rate from gate idents in Korea has decreased significantly?


    Have you ever imagined what it would be like if I were the one who created the gate?


    Without even thinking about it, I said the sentence that came to mind. What followed was a casual chat.


    Then I dont think Id like this situation.


    Why?


    Regardless of the intention, the monsters at the gate are trying to kill us. The items found inside are just cheese ced on top of the trap.


    .!


    But when the rats slowly figure out the trap and start eating only the cheese.


    Of course he would think like this.


    Wouldnt you be a little angry?


    It was a leisurely afternoon.


    We went for a walk after eating and chatting on the road while listening to cicadas on the side of the road.


    It must have been a time like that.


    Huh?


    While I was talking, I felt a strange sensation.


    A feeling of energy boiling likeva approaching from deep within the asphalt-paved ground.


    This was magic.


    From the ground rises a magical power so sharp and fierce it makes my hair stand on end. Thats right under Ahn Yoonseungs feet, too!


    Ahn Yoonseung!


    There was no time to think. I forcefully pushed Ahn Yoonseung, who was standing next to me.


    Then, starting from where Ahn Yoonseung was, a bright curtain of light appeared, dividing the area in two.


    What is this!


    I couldnt resist the pouring light and closed my eyes tightly.


    But after a while, when I opened my eyes again, what I saw was


    Heuk.


    A mysterious space wrapped in soft white, like the light of a halo flowing on a distant horizon.


    As I looked around, I felt a magical structure simr to the gate I entered once.


    In other words, I am now inside an unknown gate.


    F*ck, I shouldve pulled him!


    Please save me!