Chapter 9. First Mission (2)
When I first arrived in front of the Gate...
“Please wait inside the vehicle!”
So I quietly waited.
No matter how noisy things became outside...
I shouldn't get in their way.
I remained still because I didn't want to interfere with the Special Division Hunters.
There are a lot of people.
Countless people stood outside the window.
Even though some time had passed since I arrived in this world, I still wasn't used to it.
Normal people.
People whose brains weren't spilling out.
People whose faces hadn't been half torn away.
Whenever I watched them talk to one another, I sometimes wondered whether all of this was a dream.
That was why...
“...”
I started feeling anxious.
Why did they tell me to wait here? Am I really no help at all?
They had told me to stay behind even before we left.
I had insisted on coming anyway.
Because I wanted to show my determination.
But what changes if I just stay here doing nothing?
I had no mana.
I wasn't even a Hunter.
Slide.
Still, there had to be something I could do.
I quietly got out of the vehicle.
I'll move slowly so I don't disturb them.
They seemed to be discussing something important.
I didn't want my presence to become a problem.
Surely just stepping out of the van wouldn't cause trouble.
I slowly approached Park Min-ho.
“...”
Why did everyone suddenly become silent?
I should probably say something.
I can't speak.
It had been far too long since I stood in front of this many people.
My mouth refused to open.
Then...
“...! The Gate's entry conditions have partially disappeared!”
One of the Special Division Hunters shouted.
Suddenly, everyone looked at me.
“It seems... only Hunter Kim Si-hyeon can enter!”
“...!”
“No. It has to be Hunter Kim Si-hyeon.”
Honestly, I didn't understand.
“What do you mean?”
Park Min-ho sounded panicked.
“We don't know why. The moment Hunter Kim Si-hyeon approached the Gate, its entry conditions were relaxed.”
“...Does that even make sense?”
Everyone looked confused.
“I've... never heard of anything like this before. An abnormal Gate changing its entry requirements?”
I wanted to ask what they were talking about.
But I held back.
Even if they explained, I probably wouldn't understand.
“Who the hell is that guy?”
A handsome man asked while staring at me.
But before anyone could answer, a thin man with his shirt off rushed forward.
“Are you a Special Division Hunter?”
“Chief Choi Tae-woo!”
Park Min-ho tried to stop him.
The man ignored him.
Thin build.
Sharp eyes.
Perfectly groomed hair.
I remembered people with that kind of appearance from my old world.
Snake-like people.
Quick-minded people who should never be kept close.
Normally, I would ignore them.
Or split their skull with an axe.
“...Yes.”
“Please!”
But his eyes were different.
Sincere.
Before I knew it, the man had dropped flat onto the ground in front of me.
“Please save the twins! I'll give you anything you want!”
He raised his head slightly.
His eyes were filled with desperation.
“...Me?”
People with eyes like that were different.
They were precious people.
People willing to sacrifice themselves for others.
People who hadn't abandoned their humanity even in a ruined world.
“What do you want me to do?”
I looked at Park Min-ho.
“...”
After hesitating, Park Min-ho slowly spoke.
“Would you enter the Gate for us?”
Enter the Gate?
“There are two civilians trapped inside. None of us can enter, but for some reason, Hunter Kim Si-hyeon, you seem to be able to.”
Before Park Min-ho even finished explaining, I had already moved to stand in front of the Gate.
Entering a Gate.
“I'll do it.”
That was exactly what I wanted.
I already knew the basics about Gates.
Places where creatures called monsters appeared.
The stronger the Gate rank, the stronger the monsters inside.
Some monsters could smash buildings with their bare hands.
Others could cause earthquakes.
Honestly...
How am I supposed to beat things like that?
By my common sense, there was no way.
But it didn't matter.
“The most important objective is rescuing the civilians. Can you do it...?”
The mission wasn't hunting monsters.
It was rescue.
That, I could do.
I'd once infiltrated a CoXco filled with thousands of zombies just to steal a single can of food.
“The monsters inside are believed to be Dark Elves. They're known for speed and stealth.”
“Here are some potions. Also, for armor...”
“Please be careful.”
After receiving countless warnings and preparations...
“So this is a Gate.”
I finally entered.
I lowered my body and carefully observed the surroundings while remembering Park Min-ho's explanation.
“Once you enter a Gate, you'll feel a strange pressure.”
Pressure?
“Your body will feel heavier... and it'll take some time to adjust.”
He had said my body would become heavier.
But I couldn't understand why he'd warned me.
Step.
My body felt lighter than ever.
Not heavier.
Almost weightless.
Maybe every Gate is different.
This was an abnormal Gate.
A special kind.
That was probably why Park Min-ho's explanation didn't apply.
Interesting.
A ruined forest stretched all around me.
After quietly observing my surroundings...
Those must be Dark Elves.
They were somewhat human-like.
But taller.
Pointed ears.
