Gate, dungeon, rupture, and more.
The names may vary, but ultimately, they mean the same thing.
It’s the territory of monsters—a doorway.
They reside within the gate (dungeon), waiting patiently for the door to open.
There are gates that remain closed for days, even weeks, while others, like the one appearing now, open without delay.
In this sense, the gate that appeared above the Rose Workshop was fulfilling its role perfectly.
The sky tore apart, revealing an endless abyss of darkness.
Initially, the black space was only as big as a car door, but with time, it expanded rapidly.
Now, it was large enough to fit a 25-ton dump truck without a problem.
“Aaaah!”
Jang Mi-ae screamed in horror. She couldn’t believe her own eyes.
Why wouldn’t she? Since gates started appearing here, this area has never seen a gate appear, making it the Clean Gate Zone. But now, a gate? A gate! Was this what people meant by a bolt from the blue?
Moreover, the appearance of the gate, especially at a time when even the employees had been sent out, was enough to frustrate her. It felt like she had indeed brought this upon herself, just like she had said to Team Leader Pyeong-ari earlier.
“Please, no.”
Jang Mi-ae stared at the gate with a face that seemed on the verge of collapse. Hoping it wasn’t an expulsion-type gate.
But contrary to her hopes, something began to emerge from the gate.
“…Ah, ah. It’s an expulsion-type gate.”
Thunk!
From the distorted black space, the talons of a Monstrous Gryphon suddenly protruded.
It seemed eager to get out into the new world as its feet fidgeted, as if trapped in a swamp. Then, with a tug, an entire golden leg emerged from the space.
Even though its body wasn’t fully revealed, Jang Mi-ae recognized it instantly.
“C-Cockatrice! Team Leader Pyeong-ari!”
Now convinced that there was no one else to trust, she desperately called out to Team Leader Pyeong-ari.
But for some reason, her gaze remained fixed on Dok Jong-sik. Team LeaderPyeong-ari, too, looked at Jong-sik in the same way.
“Jong-sik, it’s a Monstrous Gryphon-type monster, Cockatrice. Its body will soon emerge completely. We need to defeat it before that happens. If possible, avoid close combat and be careful of its beak and claws. It may not be intelligent, but it’s fast. Oh! I’ll purify the venom it spits out, so don’t stray too far from me.”
With the gate appearing, Dok Jong-sik is the only hunter here. It must be stopped before public hunters (Association-affiliated) or employees arrive.
“Look, this isn’t the Clean Gate Zone.”
“Jong-sik, are you listening to me?”
Grin.
Nevertheless, Jong-sik just stared blankly at Jang Mi-ae without any preparation, wearing a smirk.
On the other hand, Jang Mi-ae was frustrated. As mentioned earlier, she is an Awakened with the S-rank crafting skill [Soul of Artisan].
Wouldn’t she have prepared a place to protect herself? In the basement of the workshop, there is a bunker she made.
In other words, she wasn’t worried about her safety right now. The reason she was shining so brightly was because of the workshop.
A workshop built with astronomical amounts of money. It must minimize damage until the Hunters arrive.
“Aargh! What are you doing just standing there? Don’t you have weapons? There are weapons everywhere. Grab anything and kill it quickly! You’re supposed to kill it at times like this!”
“Jong-sik… If the gate fully opens like this, it might get even harder.”
“How would It get harder? It’ll be over if I just leave.”
“That, that’s what the hunter should say right now!”
Jang Mi-ae shouted angrily. Jong-sik fixed his gaze on Team Leader Pyeong-ari, blatantly ignoring her.
“Shut up. Team Leader Pyeong-ari, I’ll just use the equipment that Jong-pal has. Let’s go.”
“What?”
“Oh my, he must be crazy. Aargh! Team Leader Pyeong-ari! He says he’s your subordinate hunter! Say something!”
“Jong-sik, according to the Awakened regulations, we have an obligation to report and close the gate when it appears. If you go like this now…”
Ah, whether to say it or not.
There was no hesitation in Jong-sik’s steps as he walked away. It was urgent for Jang Mi-ae and Team Leader Pyeong-ari. Jang Mi-ae chewed her lips, not even realizing that blood was forming.
Then, as Jong-sik turned back, he waved his right hand and opened his mouth. It was a gesture urging them to hurry.
“Awakening regulations? Who cares about that. Nobody here knows anything about it. So let’s just go. Don’t go around saving drowning people and then asking for your luggage. From what I see, that’s who you are.”
“Luggage? What luggage!”
“Team Leader, now’s not the time to just yell like that.”
Indeed, Team Leader Pyeong-ari was very perceptive. Not much different from Jang Mi-ae. Jang Mi-ae, who had calmed down, hurriedly ran over and grabbed Jong-sik’s sleeve.
“I’ll apologize! I was rude earlier. It shouldn’t have been like that, I’m sorry. So please don’t hold it against me and help me out. Okay?”
“…”
“It’s truly a workshop I’ve devoted my whole life to. If it falls apart like this… So please, I’m begging you like this. I’ll make it up to you plenty.”
Certainly, it was a completely different attitude from before. So why start with hostility from the first meeting at the Eastern Etiquette Office? Anyway, it seems like they can communicate now.
“If you’re going to beg like that… Well, I do follow the law well. Oh, and you don’t need much to make amends… Not a lot.”
“Anything, anything! But first, aargh! Stop!”
Perhaps it was already too late.
The Cockatrice revealed its complete form. With its wings fully spread, it soared through the sky. It only took a second to adapt. The creature that spotted Jong-sik’s group descended rapidly. It wasn’t just one.
“Kkyayayayak!”
“Kkyaeek!”
“Kkaak.”
At the monsters’ screams, Jang Mi-ae turned towards the workshop in a state of confusion. She had already judged it was too late. She was considering going into the bunker.
“You didn’t keep your promise, see.”
But there was someone moving faster than that. It was Dok Jong-sik.
***
Empty Sky Steps
The martial art transmitted by the Soryeon’s wooden statue unfolded from Jong-sik’s footsteps.
Thanks to that, it only took a split second to confront the descending Cockatrice.
“Ggueeak.”
As Jong-sik streaked across the sky, he flicked his finger, and the Cockatrice facing him suddenly plummeted to the ground.
Thunk!
Simultaneously, Pyeong-ari shouted, “Jong-sik! The Cockatrice emits poison. You should come to my side… Ah?”
However, Pyeong-ari couldn’t finish her sentence. And why would she? The corpse of the Cockatrice, already dead, lay neatly before her.
In a very clean state, too.
“…What is this now?”
She doubted her own eyes as she looked up at the sky. Dok Jong-sik, flicking his finger, was leisurely surveying the empty air.
Thunk, thud, thunk…
Soon after, the bodies of the Cockatrices rained down from the sky. They instinctively recognized the arrival of the predator. It was like a return to the instinctual drive to retreat into the gate.
‘Tonight’s dinner.’
With that, Jong-sik also pushed himself into the gate. And as Pyeong-ari watched his figure, she finally realized. Why Jong-sik said he didn’t need equipment.
‘Because he’s a weapon himself.’
Along with that thought, she wanted to praise herself more than ever for recruiting him for a contract of 60 billion won.
‘You recruited such a human weapon!! Pyeong-ari, you’re completely insane!’
She scolded herself in that way.
***
A moment later,
“I personally made us some Phong Leaf Iced Tea.”
It was Jang Mi-ae, politely serving tea to Jong-sik. Since she had seen his prowess firsthand, she didn’t dare to show the same meager attitude as before.
Furthermore, he wasn’t the arrogant chick A-rank hunter anymore. He had transformed into the benefactor who had safely protected her workshop.
“Hmm, thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
Jong-sik, too, had long since released any pent-up emotions. He sipped the tea on the table and looked at Pyeong-ari.
While they were discussing waste disposal, Jong-sik brought up an interesting point.
“I don’t want to sell the carcasses. Can we just slaughter them and use the meat instead?”
“Of course, that’s also possible. But may I ask why you prefer that?”
Pyeong-ari inquired, and Jong-sik casually replied, “It’s obvious. Well, we want to eat it as a family, and sell the rest.”
“Oh…”
Pyeong-ari trailed off. The Cockatrice hide, with only a few small holes, was too valuable to be used as mere raw materials. It was likely that there would be buyers lined up if they put it up for sale. The Rose Workshop wouldn’t be any different. However, as the owner, Jong-sik had every right to use it as he pleased, and she had no grounds to object.
“In that case, I’ll make arrangements for the carcasses to be sent to your place as soon as the slaughter is complete. Oh, and Teacher, may I have a word with you for a moment?”
With Jang Mi-ae ambiguously holding her ground, Pyeong-ari finally had the opportunity to bring up the topic she had been thinking about.
“Jong-sik, do you remember the contract we drew up last time? It seems like there are some revisions needed.”
“…?”
“Firstly, let’s renegotiate your salary. I think I made a mistake back then. It’s difficult to mention the exact amount right now, but as soon as you enter the guild, I’ll consult with the president and prepare a revised contract. I thought it would be right to inform you in advance.”
In reality, not long ago, she had thought of Jong-sik as just a raw gem. Oh, she even thought of him as a genius.
But today, her thoughts had changed. Jong-sik was not a raw gem. He was already a shining jewel.
‘Jewels tend to attract thieves. But I won’t let anyone steal him away!’
So Pyeong-ari was determined to correct Jong-sik’s salary, which had been wrongly calculated. And not just the salary. She promised herself that she would ensure he received the same benefits enjoyed by the top S-rank hunters in the country.
“So you’re saying you’ll raise my salary?”
“Yes, because you’re worth it.”
“Then will my obligations increase as well?”
“…I can’t guarantee that.”
“Well, that’s fine. Actually, I don’t even want to go on the overseas business trips mentioned in the current contract. There’s no need to add more to that.”
“Then let’s exclude everything related to business trips!”
“Hmm. Why would you do that when I’d be satisfied?”
However, Jong-sik’s refusal was unexpected. Pyeong-ari’s brow furrowed slightly. But just for a moment. In the blink of an eye, she adjusted her expression and threw a fastball at Jong-sik.
“Starting from tomorrow, no, today, your evaluation will change, Jongsik. That’ll attract more guilds interested in you. I just want to prevent that. The salary we agreed upon, 10 billion, is already an enticing amount. Surely there will be guilds willing to pay even more, maybe even asking for a penalty fee.”
“Is there anything I can do about my evaluation changing or not?”
“Yes. Today’s events weren’t witnessed by me alone. Teacher Jang Mi-ae has many connections with large guilds.”
“Hmmph. Should’ve just gone then.”
Jong-sik scratched his head as if he were in a bind. Pyeong-ari had no choice but to keep talking. Contract discussions were happening in the most inappropriate of places.
“I’ll cancel the part about more work possibly coming your way. And we’ll revise the existing contract obligations. We’ll raise your salary but overhaul the rest. So…”
