*
Among the various Gates that exist, there are some called Cycle Gates, which are different from ordinary Gates.
The difference from other Gates is that they don't disappear even after being cleared, but are reset, which is their defining characteristic.
They generally take the form of dungeons, and since they don't pose a significant risk even if left unattended, they were one of the main sources of income for Hunters.
It's not that there's no way to remove them at all; it's possible to eliminate them if certain conditions are met, but no one bothered to do such a thing.
Thanks to the characteristic of being continuously reset, there's the advantage of being able to constantly hunt monsters and obtain byproducts.
Cycle Gates, like other Gates, also have ranks. Generally, dungeons with low danger levels were used as training dungeons for students, like this one.
The Gate in front of Kang Chae-rin was also being used in that way, and she was waiting for today's cooperative training.
"Haa... that Seung-ah nyeon... is she trying to screw me over like this?"
"Wouldn't it be better to maintain your composure? The students are watching."
"Aren't you uncomfortable standing there all the time?"
"It's alright. You never know when an accident might happen."
Kang Chae-rin clicked her tongue, looking at Jia Unnie, who was maintaining a perfect posture next to her.
She endured it because Yoon Seung-ah still had some conscience left and sent Jia Unnie, who could be considered the second-in-command of the guild. If it weren't for that, she would have overturned the contract and everything else.
"What kind of accident would happen? I'm here; are you saying someone would dare to attack?"
"You never know how they might come in."
"Well, maybe Yoon Seung-ah is easy to underestimate, but there won't be anyone like that in front of me, will there?"
"...Our Master is not someone to be underestimated."
Knowing well Jia Unnie's loyalty to Yoon Seung-ah, she raised the corner of her lips, watching Jia Unnie get worked up.
If there weren't reactions like that, she wouldn't be able to endure the boredom.
Actually, even when she got worked up, it was just a slight increase in her voice, so it wasn't very entertaining.
"Are you not happy because she's so headstrong? Why don't you come over to our guild, Jia Unnie? I'll give you twice as much as you're getting there."
"Thank you for the offer. But I have no intention of leaving the Reaper Guild."
"Don't be like that. Working under Seung-ah must be stressful."
"It's alright."
"Don't be like that. If you ever change your mind, let me know. Our Atra Guild always welcomes you."
Jia Unnie's skills were beyond question, and she had many talents in various fields.
The most frightening thing was her stealth, which was so good that even she couldn't easily notice it unless she got close.
She wondered how many weaknesses she had, using that ability. The recent noisy Oh Gi-young incident was probably the work of the Reaper Guild as well.
It was even said that the Reaper Guild was the de facto ruler of South Korea, even though they weren't outwardly involved.
'That Seung-ah nyeon. Acting cocky... What has she been up to while I was away from Korea?'
Kang Chae-rin wasn't very interested in that kind of thing, but she thought that if she was being pushed back by Yoon Seung-ah, she might have to create an information guild herself.
"Haa... Do I have to keep watching? Nothing seems like it's going to happen anyway."
"You never know when an accident might happen."
"Seriously. So uptight. It doesn't seem like we'll have to go in anyway."
Kang Chae-rin muttered, watching the guild members enter with the students.
Even though it was a low-difficulty dungeon, it wasn't an artificial dungeon.
Guild members were accompanying them one by one, in case something happened inside.
They weren't helping the students, but watching them and moving if a problem arose.
Everyone had confident faces because the dungeon's difficulty was low, but they would definitely cause an accident by going in with teammates who weren't in sync.
Moreover, this member's level was low, so there would be more injuries than expected.
Well, even so, it wouldn't be to the extent that she would have to move, so she would just keep waiting like yesterday.
Kang Chae-rin, already bored, lay down on the chair.
"Wake me up if something happens. Though it doesn't seem like anything will."
"Didn't you say you were going to scout personnel from our Academy?"
"Well, that's only if there are any useful guys... So, Seung-ah nyeon is coming on the last day, right?"
"That's right."
"Kim Si-woo is there then too?"
"Are you talking about the student Kim Si-woo?"
"Yeah."
"Kim Si-woo will probably be there too."
"That's right."
She thought she was working one day out of conscience, but it seemed she was gathering all the valuable people on the last day and coming to stop her from touching them.
Even though they were lower-ranked, there were some guys who seemed somewhat useful, but they were far from the level needed to be accepted as members of the Atra Guild.
She was told that the useful personnel would come on the last day, so it looked like she would end up doing volunteer work without getting anything.
Would it be too much to wish that a Villain would attack, rather than just staying here like this?
Kang Chae-rin began to grind her teeth, waiting for the last day.
'No matter what happens... I'm going to bring Kim Si-woo!'
*
During the usual Academy lunch break, I suddenly felt a cold sweat breaking out.
"Si-woo-ya, what's wrong?"
"No, I suddenly feel a chill in my body."
Min-ji immediately spoke to me, after checking my reaction.
"Hey. Are you eating carelessly again?"
"It's not that..."
I had been lazily eating the delivery food that Seo-ah had given me as a gift for dinner.
I had become so used to eating what Min-ji made for me that I hadn't been cooking much lately.
Simply in terms of taste, the food that Min-ji makes is more delicious, but well, Min-ji is busy with training these days, so it can't be helped.
"I... gave you?.."
"I ordered that yesterday too."
"Si-woo. Don't tell me you've been eating only delivery food?"
"Only for dinner? I eat at the Academy for lunch."
"Hey. I told you not to eat too much delivery food."
Min-ji immediately started nagging. As expected of someone who's half a mom, she seems more worried about my health than I am.
Well, they say it's not good for the body, but I'm not a regular person, and as long as I get enough calories, it should be fine, right?
"Huu~. Then, shall I make dinner for you? I like cooking."
The food that Da-eun makes is delicious.
"Da-eun-yang? Why would Da-eun-yang make Kim Si-woo's meals..."
Park Hye-ji looked back and forth between me and Da-eun, as if she didn't understand something.
Come to think of it, offering to take care of dinner wouldn't seem normal.
Maybe it's because Da-eun and I disappeared alone last time, but she seems to be suspecting something between us lately.
This is when I use the Talulah tactic.
"I have more free time these days, so you don't have to worry too much. I'm not a low-income person anymore."
"Yes...?"
"Don't you know? I came in through the low-income quota."
"Th-that so..? Perhaps it was very difficult.."
"I'm fine now, I told you?"
Hye-ji's expression immediately changed from suspicious to pitiful.
I have enough money these days, so you don't have to look at me so pitifully.
Some of the guys who didn't know seemed to have a slightly heavy atmosphere, but well, it felt like it passed somehow?
'Definitely... it's not easy when we're all together.'
*
Cycle Gate.
It's a place managed by the Association, and uniquely, several Gates were erected at regular intervals, as if they were intentionally made.
I heard that Choi Ah-rin Hunter, one of South Korea's representative Hunters, used her abilities to move the location of the Cycle Gates.
Due to the nature of Cycle Gates not disappearing, if they were in a place easily accessible to the general public, it was common for accidents to occur when people entered out of curiosity.
It's impossible to move other Gates like this, and in the case of Cycle Gates, it's said that you can interfere with the dungeon and modify the coordinates while clearing it and coming out.
Frankly, it's such a difficult story that I don't know if there's anyone other than Choi Ah-rin who can do it, and it wasn't a big deal for me anyway.
The Association has D to B-rank Gates prepared. Apparently, there's probably no need to enter B-rank Gates.
Kim Tae-yeon had a disappointed face when she heard that story, but well, it couldn't be helped.
Before entering the dungeon, I saw Kang Chae-rin, the Master of Atra Guild, the second-ranked guild in South Korea, and the Reaper.
The Reaper, always wearing black rags like usual and emitting a grim aura.
Thinking that Seo-ah, who is even smaller than Seo-ah, is inside that, I felt something subtle.
As I was looking at the Reaper, I heard a worried voice from behind.
"Kim Si-woo. Don't overdo it and do anything weird again, just come back safely, okay?"
"When have I ever overdone it?"
"Who was it that always got hurt and hospitalized?"
"Alright, Min-ji-nim."
"Wh-what's with that weird tone. Anyway, just try getting hurt. You'll be in trouble."
Min-ji is always so worried. Anyone would think I only look for dangerous things.
Well, I did get hurt a lot in front of Min-ji, but I didn't get hurt on purpose, and it was all unavoidable.
Still, I can't get angry at her for worrying because she cares about me. I nodded as if I understood.
"The other kids must be at the entrance, right?"
"I checked several times when I came in earlier."
It wasn't easy to come in because it was a place managed by the Association.
Well, there have been several accidents so far, and I know they're doing it for safety, but they always get breached anyway.
"Hey. Kim Si-woo. What kind of accident did you cause again?"
"I didn't do anything."
I don't remember causing any accidents.
"But... why is Kang Chae-rin-nim looking this way?"
"Kang Chae-rin Hunter-nim?"
When I turned my head at Min-ji's words, I saw Kang Chae-rin looking this way with eyes that seemed like they would burst into flames at any moment.
The moment our eyes met.
"She's coming this way?"
"Nice to meet you. You're Kim Si-woo, right?"
Along with Kang Chae-rin, who greeted me with a hearty laugh, the Reaper, emitting a grim aura, flew this way.
'What's going on?'