Chapter 159: 2045 (1)

A year ago in South Korea, the Hunters Association, the government, and various guilds established a Hunter School for Awakened individuals—more specifically, for those who aspired to become Hunters one day. To enroll, one had to be an Awakened between thirteen and eighteen years old.

"Wow, this place is packed," Yoo Tae-Min exclaimed as he entered the auditorium.

Glancing around, he took his acceptance letter from his pocket and continued walking. "First grade, class number one, number ten. First grade, class number one, number ten[1]."

After reading the signboard for his class displayed in the front row, Yoo Tae-Min quickly ran to his seat at the end of the second row on the right.

"There sure are a lot of people," he muttered under his breath.

Because Hunters had to risk their lives fighting monsters, Yoo Tae-Min had assumed there would be very few students interested in enrolling at the Hunter School. Being a Hunter was extremely dangerous, and a single mistake in battle could mean death.

Interesting. I wonder if it's because of the money?

Motivation could come from various sources for different people. For example, a child rescued by a firefighter might dream of becoming one. Others might choose a profession because it guarantees a high income. Yoo Tae-Min fell into both categories. He wanted to become a Hunter because his family was struggling financially, and he admired Hunters after being saved by one during a Break.

After observing the crowd around him, Yoo Tae-Min took out his phone and checked the time. There were fifteen minutes left until the entrance ceremony. He put away his phone and turned his attention to the adults wandering around the stage. Among them were famous retired Hunters as well as currently active ones.

Just then, he overheard the voices of the students sitting behind him. "Wow! I can't believe we're in the same class as her."

"I know, right? We're so lucky."

The same class? Lucky?

he thought, wondering what the commotion was about.

"But how did Ji-Hee get admitted?"

Ji-Hee? As in Kim Ji-Hee from the DG Guild?

Snapping out of his momentary shock, Yoo Tae-Min listened carefully to the conversation behind him.

"I heard the principal of the Hunter School personally went to the DG Guild and proposed that she enroll."

"To the Crazy Bastard—I mean, Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok?"

"Yeah. The principal persuaded him because he knew Ji-Hee had been active in Gates as a Hunter since she was young."

"And the Crazy Bastard... No, no, Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok, accepted this proposal? Why? Ji-Hee is already a Hunter..." the student questioned.

The friend began to explain, "Ah, that's... According to a rumor my dad heard..."

"What did he say?"

"Ji-Hee persuaded Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok."

"Huh? Ji-Hee persuaded him?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

Indeed, why would Kim Ji-Hee, who was recognized as a top-tier Hunter despite only being twelve[2] years old, persuade Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok to enroll her in the Hunter School?

***

—Freshman representative, Kim Ji-Hee.

The MC of the entrance ceremony called Kim Ji-Hee to the stage. The previously quiet auditorium erupted into chaos as the "Freshman Oath" began.

Kim Ji-Hee was the mascot of the DG Guild. Although a minor, she was recognized as an outstanding Hunter even by top-tier Hunters. That very Kim Ji-Hee had now revealed herself as the freshman representative. The teachers couldn't even stop the commotion. A student abruptly stood up to get a better look at Kim Ji-Hee, while another pulled out their phone to take pictures.

However, the moment the girl rose from her seat and walked toward the stage, the entire auditorium fell into stunned silence.

"Wow, shit..." a freshman cursed and quickly covered their mouth.

"Wow! Wow! Wow!"

***

The growth rate of the DG Guild members skyrocketed after the appearance and destruction of the S-Class Gate Dwarven Mine in 2041. By March 2045, it had become one of only five S-Class guilds in South Korea. Although they weren't appointed as a guardian guild because they had only 100 members, no one looked down on the DG Guild; they had grown into an elite guild with a tight roster.

In the first-floor lobby of the DG Guild, a short-haired beauty passed through the automatic door, picking at her teeth with a toothpick.

"

Haa...

Seh-Eun?"

The woman looked up, still chewing on her toothpick. "Yeah?"

"You're a woman. A

woman.

"

"Huh? I know."

"No, that's not what I mean." The long-haired beauty, Lee Ji-Ah, shook her head and picked up another toothpick. "Ah, stop picking your teeth. I mean it. Or do it in the bathroom. Aren't you embarrassed?"

"Hey. What's so embarrassing about using a toothpick in front of family?"

"We're not real family, Seh-Eun," Lee Ji-Ah protested.

Yoo Seh-Eun stared at Lee Ji-Ah, then turned her head sharply and went back to picking at her gums.

"Oh dear." Lee Ji-Ah sighed deeply and got on the elevator with Yoo Seh-Eun.

"Mmm, got a big chunk this time," Yoo Seh-Eun teased deliberately.

"Hey!" Lee Ji-Ah shouted.

"Sorry, sorry.

Hehehe

." Yoo Seh-Eun looked in the mirror, then asked, "Ji-Ah, what time do we leave?"

"Two-thirty. We've got an hour and a half left."

An A-Class Gate had appeared in Osan City, Gyeonggi Province. The Five Siblings of Mapogu had surpassed Level 100, the requirement to participate in the Permanent Gate. Still, they decided to operate in the A-Class Gate following their Guildmaster's instructions. Their goal was not growth, but to acquire Skills through clear rewards.

With a ding, the elevator doors opened. Seeing their friends who had arrived earlier, the two women waved in greeting.

"Yo," Yoo Seh-Eun said.

"Here come the traitors," one of the men grumbled.

"What traitors?" Yoo Seh-Eun asked.

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The third of The Five Siblings of Mapogu, Kang Seh-Hyuk, spoke with a deeply furrowed brow. "You had beef without us. That's betrayal."

Yoo Seh-Eun laughed incredulously. "That's ridiculous... Come on."

"What?"

"You guys were the ones who insisted on pizza."

"That's right."

"So what's this about betrayal?" Yoo Seh-Eun asked, exasperated.

"Is that what happened?" Kang Seh-Hyuk replied.

"Yes. You were so engrossed in your game and said you'd have pizza for lunch, even though I clearly suggested we go for beef."

"I see."

Seeing Kang Seh-Hyuk nodding, Yoo Seh-Eun stroked the back of his head with a sad expression. "Our Seh-Hyuk."

Kang Seh-Hyuk shrugged her hand off. "What is it? You're giving me goosebumps."

"I'm worried your memory has deteriorated since you last hit your head."

Kang Seh-Hyuk looked at Yoo Seh-Eun with a dumbfounded expression. Yoo Seh-Eun turned away, laughing at his reaction.

Just then, there was a knock at the door and a civilian employee of the guild walked in.

"Ah, you're all here already," the employee said, pleased. "Mapogu siblings, there has been a change in your schedule. And..."

A schedule change?

As all five of the siblings simultaneously tilted their heads at the sudden news, the employee pointed to the upper floor and said, "The Guildmaster wishes to speak with you regarding this change."

***

The Mapogu Siblings knocked on the door to his office and called out, "Guildmaster."

"Yes, come in."

As soon as she heard the response, Yoo Seh-Eun opened the door and entered with the rest. Even after four years, the one-person office remained unchanged. Seeing Kim Ki-Rok lying on the sofa, the five of them took their seats across from him.

"So, word has it there's been a schedule change," she said.

"Ah, that's right," Kim Ki-Rok answered.

"Is there a mistake with the Gate reservation?"

Kim Ki-Rok shook his head. "No, that's not it."

"Then was it taken away from us?" Yoo Seh-Eun pressed.

Kim Ki-Rok shook his head again. "That's not it either."

"Then what is it?"

Kim Ki-Rok put down his phone and lifted his head with a fresh smile. "Everyone."

"

Haaa,

there's always something annoying about to happen when he smiles like that..."

Yoo Seh-Eun and the Mapogu team tensed up, on guard. Kim Ki-Rok usually started conversations like this when he was about to talk about a very, very difficult Gate he had just discovered.

"Everyone," he repeated.

"What is it?" One of the other siblings humored him.

"In a week, the DG Guild will be going on an overseas trip to Japan."

The DG Guild indeed hosted a group trip every year, inviting even the families of guild members. However, the way they found out was never anything special. Most of the time, it was just a notice on the guild bulletin board or a brief text message.

"Uh, um. Guildmaster? Is this trip... limited to S-Class Hunters?"

"Yes, it is."

"I see."

Kim Ki-Rok nodded. "Yup."

Having known Kim Ki-Rok for so long, the Mapogu team quickly understood the situation.

"So, an S-Class Gate has appeared in Japan," one said, voicing their suspicion.

"Correct."

Yoo Seh-Eun asked seriously, "What's the difficulty level?"

"The minimum level is 122."

"And the maximum?"

"140."

Yoo Seh-Eun continued to drill him for more information. "Is the Gate from the Yuashiel Dimension?"

"No. You know those Gates that have been appearing frequently lately."

"The ones with the Mechanical Monsters?"

"Yes, one of those Gates has appeared."

***

An S-Class Gate leading to a dimension occupied by Mechanical Monsters had appeared in Osaka, Japan. Unlike the Yuashiel Dimension, which had formed the Continental Alliance to resist the Black Kingdom and the Demons, the Gate with the Mechanical Monsters was already beyond human resistance. It was one of the Gates Hunters despised most.

The clear condition for the Gate was the annihilation of Mechanical Monsters. Hunters would have to roam a scorching desert to exterminate them. It was extremely hot during the day and freezing at night, and hunting the monsters took an enormous amount of time because they were highly resistant to mana.

To make matters worse, no Hunter who entered a dimension overtaken by Mechanical Monsters had ever encountered a single living resident. The world felt lifeless, stripped bare except for the roaming machines. That eerie emptiness was exactly why Hunters dreaded those dimensions.

Nakasone Soichi, a Japanese S-Class Hunter who had awakened a Skill specialized in assassination, infiltration, and reconnaissance called "One with Nature," was no exception. He grumbled about being stuck in a dimension overrun by machine monsters and had set out to scout the Gate, sweating profusely. However, he had to change his mind just two hours after starting the Gate scouting at the request of the government and the Association.

"People?" Nakasone Soichi, cloaking himself with a skill, murmured quietly.

He had thought the Mechanical Monsters had conquered this dimension and that both humans and animals had gone extinct. Gates to this dimension opened quite frequently, just like those to the Yuashiel Dimension, but no one had ever encountered a human in the Mechanical Monster-infested Gates.

Gazing down pensively, Nakasone Soichi spotted a Animaloid Mechanical Monster scanning the surroundings and focused on channeling his Skill. The Mechanical Monster stopped and scanned its surroundings as if it sensed something, but soon resumed its patrol. Letting out a sigh of relief, he turned to check on the humans, who seemed to be transporting goods under the surveillance of the Mechanical Monsters.

"No wonder we didn't see any humans."

Humans did exist in the dimension ruled by Mechanical Monsters. However, they were enslaved by these machines, which was why he had never encountered them in any Gate.

1. It's common for Korean students to be assigned classes and numbers within their class. ☜

2. Eleven by Korean age-counting standards. ☜