Chapter 117: Gate (2)

Being subtly looked down on or picked on for being a former villain was close to an everyday occurrence, so it wasn’t something to get too worked up about.

Still, a sudden first strike like that.

It reminded him of his first encounter with someone else.

The moment Se-ah’s face came to mind, the anger that had surged to the top of his head subsided just a little.

Yeah, it was like that with Se-ah too.

Maybe there’s something more to this.

With that thought, Hocheol suppressed his anger and asked.

“I’m here as part of the association’s investigation team, and getting attacked out of the blue like this is pretty inconvenient. Why’d you do it?”

The hero in yellow tights shrugged.

“Because you’re a villain. Is there anyone here who’d trust their back to an ex-convict, a former villain? You don’t even have an active hero or hunter license, do you? Showing up here without credibility or qualifications is a bit…”

“Crazy bastard.”

This time, it was Se-ah.

She spoke to the yellow-clad hero, genuinely dumbfounded.

“I brought him here. I vouch for his identity and credibility. The association specifically requested my support, and I accepted. And you, some nobody, have the nerve to challenge that? Not just

a challenge, but an attack. Man, I’m getting pissed off.”

She exuded a menacing aura, as if she might leap onto the table at any moment.

Krrrrrr—

The air grew heavy.

No, the space itself seemed to compress slightly.

The metal table creaked and dented in places, and the tent’s poles groaned as they bent slightly.

Those standing around the table were skilled enough to withstand the pressure, but the non-combat support staff inside the tent found it a significant burden.

“Wait a sec.”

Ho cheol placed a hand on Se-ah’s shoulder, signaling her to calm down.

Surprisingly, his voice remained composed.

His anger hadn’t just subsided past a breaking point; he was genuinely listening to the hero’s words.

It wasn’t just about picking a fight because he was a villain—bringing up trust and pulling a stunt like this might mean something else.

He tilted his head.

“Keep talking.”

“Alright.”

The yellow-clad hero spread her palm.

The fist-sized orb of light she had thrown at Ho cheol earlier reappeared.

“My trait isn’t just light. It has a special property that amplifies damage based on the sins and karma the target has accumulated recently. The darker the shadow, the brighter the light shines. How about that?”

That’s why her trait was called the ‘Light of Judgment.’

“If you felt a clear impact from that light, it means you’ve got a significant criminal record within the past week. Doesn’t that make it hard for us to trust and work with you?”

“I get what you mean. Hard to accept, though.”

Ho cheol opened the palm that had blocked the orb of light, showing it to the hero.

A clean hand, without a single scratch.

“Is this answer enough?”

In truth, Ho cheol hadn’t taken any damage from the attack.

At most, it felt like a static shock.

He’d sensed considerable energy right before it hit, but for such a flashy attack, it was surprisingly weak.

Now he understood why.

“…That’s it?”

The hero’s expression screamed disbelief.

Even minor infractions like jaywalking, improper recycling, or speeding would leave a bruise on the hand.

This attack ignored defenses, dealing what’s called ‘ignore-defense damage.’

To come out unscathed meant only one thing: he’d lived as an exemplary citizen for the past few weeks.

Ho cheol turned his palm back and said.

“And for that rude behavior, I should at least take an arm or a leg…”

Before he could finish, the hero in green tights, standing right next to the yellow-clad hero and wearing a similar design, grabbed the back of her head.

“You!”

“Huh?”

He slammed her head down hard.

Her head plummeted toward the metal table at the center.

“Crazy!”

Kwaaaaang—!

The yellow-clad hero’s head smashed through the several-centimeter-thick metal table, embedding deep into the ground.

Ho cheol forgot what he was saying and just opened and closed his mouth.

Meanwhile, the green-clad hero whipped his head toward Ho cheol.

“Sorry! So sorry! She loses her mind sometimes!”

“No, but still.”

“I’ll scold her properly, so please forgive her!”

Was that level of scolding really necessary?

Ho cheol couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling as he watched the green-clad hero, who looked on

the verge of tears, apologizing.

It was the kind of thing that could’ve been settled with a broken limb and no hard feelings.

The yellow-clad hero’s head was still buried deep in the ground, her arms and legs twitching like someone having a seizure.

She didn’t look okay at all.

“Sorry! So sorry!”

The green-clad hero bowed repeatedly, practically sobbing.

“She’s not gonna die, is she?”

“I have a healing trait, so as long as she doesn’t die, she’ll be fine! Really, I’m so sorry.”

She’s alive, at least?

The green-clad hero approached and handed Ho cheol a business card from who-knows-where.

“Contact me after the operation, and I’ll compensate you as much as I can. Please forgive her just this once!”

Ho cheol silently took the card and glanced at the yellow-clad hero.

Her reaction was so intense it drained his anger.

Getting angrier would be embarrassing, and he didn’t want to push for harsher punishment than that.

Ho cheol pocketed the card and waved his hand.

“Just keep her in check from now on.”

At the word of forgiveness, the green-clad hero’s face lit up.

“Yes! Thank you!”

The atmosphere had been quite tense, but thanks to the green-clad hero’s over-the-top reaction, the situation was resolved.

The green-clad hero yanked the yellow-clad hero out of the ground like pulling a radish from a field, dragged her out of the tent, dumped her somewhere, and returned.

“Finally done fighting? Now we can start the briefing.”

Outwardly calm, the Intelligence Department official, who was leading the meeting, let out countless silent sighs of relief.

It was clearly a sudden incident caused by the external hero’s provocation.

If Ho cheol had retaliated, claiming self-defense, things would’ve gotten complicated, even if it was justified.

In the worst case, other heroes or Se-ah might’ve gotten involved, leading to bloodshed and the investigation team disintegrating before the briefing even started.

He’d have been held responsible, likely losing his job.

Thankfully, Ho cheol handled it far more calmly and maturely than expected.

Surprisingly, Ho cheol’s demeanor was much more composed than the Intelligence Department’s reports suggested.

If their intel had been accurate, this place would’ve been a bloodbath by now.

It seemed they’d need to update their information after this investigation.

Without revealing his thoughts, he continued.

“I’m Han Daesung from the Intelligence Department, overseeing this operation. The objective of this gate investigation is to locate the stronghold of a villain organization inside the gate, conduct a search, and potentially proceed to subjugation and arrest.”

He operated a remote to turn on the monitor beside him.

“This gate is a chained gate, with three gates organically linked. Our target is confirmed to be inside the third gate.”

The screen displayed complex cross-sectional diagrams of the gate’s interior from various angles.

“Current information about the gate comes from internal informants and the investigation team dispatched to the first gate. Adaptability to each situation is essential.”

Daesung pressed another button on the remote, changing the screen.

“The gate is 11 years old. Since it’s over a decade old, there’s a chance the core has developed sentience, but our objective isn’t related to the core, and the gate’s danger level is low, so it’s not a major concern.”

“Hold on.”

One of the association heroes raised a hand.

“I don’t know much about gates, but why was this gate left unattended for over ten years?”

The answer came not from Daesung but from Se-ah.

“Obvious, isn’t it? No money in it.”

She spoke in a bored tone.

No dangerous elements like unique viruses, no valuable unidentified substances, no expensive byproducts from monsters.

Plus, judging by the gate’s internal map, its size rivaled a small city.

It’d take ages to search and clear it.

What kind-hearted hunter would spend their own money, time, and effort to deal with it?

“There were originally no environmental hazards, but two days ago, sudden changes occurred. Confirmed changes include high gravity, low oxygen, and time acceleration.”

He turned to the hired hunters.

“That’s why the guide hunters’ role is critical. The optimal route will have to be found on-site.”

“A gate suddenly opened up two days ago. A smart hunter would back out…”

The hunter shrugged casually.

Sudden environmental changes in gates usually had similar causes.

And the solutions were similar too.

Newbie hunters might not know, but for pros like them, it wasn’t a huge risk.

“Well, we’re pros. We’ll treat you like gods for the pay we’re getting.”

Daesung nodded.

“Once the route is set, if there are still remnants of the villain organization in their stronghold…”

He alternated his gaze between the association and external heroes.

The empty spot left by the yellow-clad hero was jarring, but not a big issue.

“Subduing and arresting the villain remnants will be handled by the heroes.”

“Yes.”

“Got it.”

Daesung looked at Hocheol and Se-ah.

Their combat prowess stood out even among the hunters and heroes here.

In the unique environment of a gate, the Intelligence Department valued Se-ah even more than Hocheol.

“Handling variables outside the manual is entirely up to the field investigation team. Act first, report later if needed.”

“Got it.”

The briefing continued with additional precautions, team assignments, personnel placement, and other essential details.

Finally, they distributed necessary equipment like radios.

Daesung declared.

“We’ll commence the investigation operation immediately.”

* * *

The gate, three minutes away, was a dark red hole floating 10 cm off the ground.

Nothing could be seen beyond it, exuding an alien aura that felt like it didn’t belong in this world.

A hunter at the front leisurely inspected the gate and said.

“Type 2 entrance. Pretty common.”

Without hesitation, he strode into the gate.

The others followed in their assigned order.

Se-ah and Hocheol, at the back of the line.

Carrying heavy gear on her back, Se-ah glanced at Hocheol and teased.

“Scared? Want me to hold your hand?”

“Is that your way of asking me to carry your stuff?”

“…Just take one.”

Ho cheol chuckled and took one of the 007-style bags from her hands.

Se-ah disappeared into the gate first, and Hocheol followed right after.

The moment he crossed the rippling gate entrance, he furrowed his brow.

The first gate revealed an endless expanse of eerie reddish-brown terrain.

An environment utterly hostile to humans—the description couldn’t have been more fitting.

It was silent, but not soundless.

A sharp ringing echoed faintly in the distance.

Breathing in and out brought a faint pain.

Just keeping his eyes open and looking ahead made his temples throb and his eyes sting.

The first gate.

The investigation team had set foot inside.

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