Chapter 207: For the Future (1)

Kim Ki-Rok had once hated the Gate known as the Last City of the Patera Dimension. Back then, he knew too little about it. The monsters that emerged were extremely durable mechanical beasts, almost impervious to mana. The Gate itself lay in the middle of a desert, and every battle there turned into a siege where the attackers suffered heavy losses.

In those early days, when information was scarce, there was nothing about the Gate worth liking. But once he learned more and acquired items that could turn its drawbacks into advantages, his feelings changed.

He discovered that the mechanical monsters' greatest weakness was the very Pastera-built bodies they relied on. With that knowledge, the Gate became an exceptionally cost-effective farming ground. Best of all, its clear conditions were refreshingly simple.

Although the terrain inside the Gate was a desert that greatly reduced mobility, Hunters who possessed Earth attribute skills could compensate for that. While sieges inflicted heavy damage on attackers, avoiding immediate full-scale assaults and instead seizing territory gradually could greatly reduce that risk.

In the early stages, Kim Ki-Rok had considered the Gate nothing but a deadly trap for Hunters. By the middle stages, he had reclassified it as an S-Class Gate that could yield great rewards with minimal losses if approached patiently. By the later stages, he viewed it as something he could exploit to his advantage.

"Within a hundred days..." Kim Ki-Rok trailed off, lost in thought.

His silence greatly aroused the curiosity of those listening, though it didn't last long. He turned his head, glanced around, and smiled brightly at the Hunters.

"The DG Guild will move to block the appearance of an S-Class Gate preemptively," Kim Ki-Rok communicated to Akabe.

—Preemptively block the appearance of an S-Class Gate?

"That's right."

—Is it possible to prevent the appearance of the Gate in advance?

"It was impossible with other S-Class Gates. But it can be done for the one in the Yuashiel Dimension."

The Yuashiel Dimension had been invaded by the Black Kingdom that was founded by Black Wizards along with the demons they summoned.

—So... you intended to subjugate the demons.

"Not only the demons." Kim Ki-Rok said. "I will also destroy the Black Kingdom. Of course, it's impossible to destroy the Black Kingdom within a hundred days. To be precise, I will defeat the leaders of the Black Kingdom and the demons during that time."

—You would have to go to the capital of the Black Kingdom within a hundred days. Is that even possible?

Akabe questioned how likely it was to travel from the southeast of the continent to the northwest within one hundred days, even with the help of wizards.

Kim Ki-Rok stroked his chin. "Hmm, let's see..."

As if organizing his thoughts, he fell silent for a moment, then looked at the communication orbs and replied to Akabe. "There was an artifact I had received as a gift from a demon."

—An artifact? From a demon?

"Yes. After the Permanent Gate was created, I sent a letter to the Black Kingdom addressed to Mammon. Because I was the person involved in the duel who had sent that letter, the Black Wizards had no choice but to deliver it to him. I soon received a reply along with the artifact."

—From what I'm hearing, I assume it is an artifact imbued with communication or teleportation magic. Am I correct?

Although Akabe was unable to see him, Kim Ki-Rok still nodded. "Yes. It was an artifact imbued with communication magic. He sent it to me, instructing me to contact him when I wanted to engage in a duel. Now, allow me to continue with my explanation."

***

"

Heh, heh heh...

" An S-Class Hunter who had returned to base let out a hollow laugh as he looked at the communication orb.

The Hunters had cleared the Gate, yet none were checking the reward list. They were busy listening to Kim Ki-Rok's explanation.

—The Korea Hunters Association... Ideally, everyone would join, but many still hesitate. The DG Guild, however, following my suggestion as Guildmaster, plans to accept the temporary stat increase rewards. Even then, we will still be weaker than the demons. But the reward buffs do not overlap with potion, magic, or food buffs. This way, we can stack them all, boosting our stats by the equivalent of fifty levels through rewards, potions, magic, and food.

This meant they would gain the power to face the demons for a limited amount of time.

—And that's not all. With help from the Temple Alliance, we will enhance our equipment with holy edicts and prepare holy water as well.

Akabe cut in, assuming they planned to summon the demons only after making thorough preparations.

—And then you'll use your artifact to summon them?

—No. The DG Guild will invade the Black Kingdom.

—Invade them?

—Yes. It's not our levels that would have increased, but our stats, so the experience required for leveling up would remain unchanged. We'll invade the Black Kingdom, subjugate monsters and the Black Wizards, and head for the capital.

—It's impossible to reach the capital within a hundred days...

—If the Black Wizards and the monsters block our way because of the holy edict, and we cannot make way to the capital, I'll contact them with ten days left on the temporary stat boost. Then they'll either call us over or come themselves.

—And what if they tell you to make it there yourself?

—Then, we don't go.

They won't? Just like that?

the listening Hunters thought, stunned.

Everyone stared blankly at the communication orbs until Kim Ki-Rok broke the silence with his distinctive laugh.

—

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Mammon promised us ten years. If he neither calls us there nor comes, we just roam the Black Kingdom, level up, and return.

—The demon might not keep the promise.

Akabe had a valid point. If the DG Guild lost their hundred-day buff and returned to the Alliance after Kim had told the demon he would be there, that discrepancy could anger Mammon.

—It is the demons who invaded the Yuashiel Dimension, not devils. Like the celestials who served the god of the Yuashiel Dimension, these demons serve a demonic deity. They'll always keep a promise they've made.

"There's a difference between demons and devils?" an S-Class Hunter muttered, but no one could give an answer.

It was only natural. Although the Hunters had crossed over to the Yuashiel Dimension through the fixed Gate and met demons, none of them had ever met a devil. But from Kim Ki-Rok's story, demons and devils appeared to be separate beings.

—According to the scriptures held by the Temple Alliance, just like celestials, demons considered lying to be the greatest sin. Since the author of that specific scripture was the Saintess of that era, it's probably true.

Having subtly revealed the existence of devils to the group, Kim Ki-Rok returned to the prior discussion. "When there are only ten days left on the reward buff, that is when I will make contact with the demons. If he accepts my request, we will hunt the demons as is. If he tells me to come where he is myself, we retreat and prepare for the future."

—Hunter Kim...

Guildmaster

Kim Ki-Rok.

"What is it, Lieutenant General?"

—You're saying that we could win in a fight against the demons, and you speak with such confidence. Is this plan even possible?

The Hunters were lower level than the demons. The plan was to equalize their stats to the demons' with various buffs. There was only one remaining question: would equal or higher stats be enough to defeat the demons?

Kim Ki-Rok glanced at the S-Class Hunters nodding along with Akabe. When their eyes met his, their expressions brightened, as though they were waiting for his answer.

He drew the dagger at his waist and held it up. "Pastera equipment will be our variable."

—A metal that resists all mana?

Kim Ki-Rok's plan was to invade the Black Kingdom to level up, but for that, they would use mithril equipment instead. Pastera weapons would be reserved solely for the battle against the demons. To conceal their effects, each Hunter would have to fight a demon one-on-one, all at the same time.

"Black Wizards and demons have invaded the Yuashiel Dimension. Once both are dealt with, S-Class Gates will not appear from that dimension. Of course, peace would remain a distant prospect because of the dark mana stone that reinforced monsters and their power..."

—Subjugating the demons and the Black Wizards of the Black Kingdom would prevent the S-Class Gate of the Yuashiel Dimension from appearing.

"That's right, Lieutenant—ah, before that..."

Habit was a dangerous thing. Kim Ki-Rok had nearly claimed the other clear reward by mistake, simply out of routine. In the Yuashiel Dimension, he often took stat-increase rewards immediately after clearing a Gate.

He looked up at the sky beyond the collapsed wall that opened onto the Patera Dimension and said, "Gate clearer Kim Ki-Rok asks for a request. I would like the Gate reward effect to be applied when we return. Is this possible?"

[Patera Dimension declares that it is possible. Even if one chooses the stat increase reward, the effect will be applied right before the time of return.]

Okay. He had bought some time.

"Gate clearer Kim Ki-Rok has a question."

[Patera Dimension awaits your question.]

"Does the Patera Dimension have any intention to interact with Earth through a Permanent Gate like the Yuashiel Dimension?"

No new message appeared.

Reviving a dimension was difficult work. Since there were so few surviving Patera residents, it would take a considerable amount of time.

"Gate clearer Kim Ki-Rok has a suggestion. I believe the Patera Dimension cannot trust humans from Earth, and is worried that Earth might attempt colonial domination."

—Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok?

Kim Ki-Rok turned at Akabe's voice over the communication orbs. "Are you not going to carry out colonial rule? I think you will."

Akabe did not answer. Of course, as commander of the Gate clear team, he sympathized with Patera's difficulties, but that was all. The people of Patera were few, and the hard metals with very high mana resistance found there were tempting. Clearly, someone might try to exploit Patera's plight for colonial gain.

[Patera Dimension accepts the proposal of Gate clearer Kim Ki-Rok.]

[Connection with Earth will be maintained.]

[Gates that lead to the Patera Dimension will appear on Earth. No monsters will appear in these Gates.]

[Gate clearer Kim Ki-Rok has submitted a proposal prioritizing the Patera Dimension. As compensation for the additional casualties, the reward tier for all Awakened has been increased by one level.]

Who would want colonial rule? The politicians would. Kim Ki-Rok knew they would hassle him later, but he looked at the communication orbs with a satisfied smile, having maintained this connection to Patera for future use.

"This news will, of course, be written in the report and submitted. If anyone feels like barking at me for it, please send them my way."

—Ha, haha... Understood, Guildmaster-nim.[1]

Kim Ki-Rok merely shrugged in response, then looked up at the sky of the Patera Dimension.

"Gate clearer Kim Ki-Rok wants to make a final proposal."

[Patera Dimension awaits your proposal.]

"Keep the Gate open for three days and provide us with a mission that gives us rewards according to the rescue supplies you need that we bring from Earth. Of course, since these are rescue supplies, I do not expect great rewards, but want temporary rewards instead."

[Patera Dimension accepts the final proposal.]

[Gate, The Last City of the Patera Dimension, will remain intact for three days.]

[Patera Dimension assigned a mission to the Hunters.]

[Mission, 'Salvation', created.]

1. Akabe change to the honorific here to show respect. ☜