Chapter 31

31.

Lee Seong-han recalled Mirginos.

“It’s already been about a month, huh?”

The memories felt fresh, but his head throbbed. His arms, limbs—everything hurt. It felt like he was experiencing phantom pain for some reason.

“……Sir.”

Kang Mi-young asked with trembling eyes. Her gaze was fixed on his arm, like a startled rabbit staring at a cliff.

｢This is insane. Did I really try to do something like that?｣

Well, of course, he’d feel guilty. Because of his reckless actions, time was wasted, and the memories of being torn apart came flooding back.

“I’m fine.”

“……”

“Major?”

“Ah, right.”

The silence didn’t last long. As expected, they had no choice but to deal with it. The situation was too serious to ignore.

If that thing comes out into the real world, current South Korea won’t be able to defend itself.

Even though there are S-Rank Hunters, one has been expelled, and the others are on a mission to block the Japanese Gate. The last remaining one is in a melancholic state of mind.

“It seems we’ll have to handle it ourselves. How about contacting headquarters through a personal message? Using the system.”

“The Hunter Management Bureau?”

“Yes.”

The Hunter Management Bureau.

If they could bring in their manpower, they could secure the defense line.

After all, it’s an organization established to prevent such disasters.

But for the first time, Kang Mi-young’s face turned pale.

“Unfortunately…”

Kang Mi-young paused, biting her lower lip. A thin line of blood trickled down her lip before stopping.

“There was a terror attack during the day.”

This was the first he’d heard of it. Everything seemed fine when he left in the morning.

“Terror attack?”

When he asked again, Kim Seo-jeong, who had been silent, added a comment.

“It was an Awakened One terror attack targeting civilians~”

“And it happened simultaneously. At the time of the last communication, they couldn’t even grasp the situation.”

What, a terror attack?

Is this really 21st-century South Korea?

Moreover, if it was simultaneous, it must have been on a considerable scale. Probably puppets.

The side Kang Jin-young contacted is also likely to be delayed.

It’s like eating a late meal and then heading to the battlefield.

They’ve been outmaneuvered. Hong Seo-min, that cunning woman, is behind this.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“It’s nothing. Just reminded me of someone I know.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“……”

“Ah, hahaha.”

Good.

To summarize clearly:

1. A terror attack has occurred, making it difficult to reinforce manpower or dispatch additional Hunters.

2. The three of us must attack the Awakened Market Gate and subjugate Mirginos.

3. But one of us is a PTSD-ridden powerhouse, and the other is a radical who insists on using superpowers for everything (presumably)?

How are we supposed to overcome this damn situation?

The answer is already decided.

“Let’s go for now.”

Betting on the right path has always been the correct choice.

* * *

Even if Kang Mi-young’s mental state is improving day by day, if she meets that guy and her PTSD flares up, it’s over.

After a bitter rest in the plaza, they ventured deep into the market.

[Welcome to the extreme Awakened Market!]

“These buildings are all made of cardboard. And infused with magic.”

“Cardboard?”

Kang Mi-young tapped the outer wall of the building. The wall crumpled slightly.

Is the quest concept a play? Huh, I’m kind of looking forward to it.

A bloody battle with puppets.

“The atmosphere is strangely bright, isn’t it? The monsters that appear have also changed. Puppet-like demon types.”

Pink streetlights stretched along the road.

Music could be heard from everywhere, as if a festival was underway.

“They’re all puppets.”

“Wooden puppets, to be exact. They’re not hard to deal with, but…”

“There are too many of them.”

Kim Seo-jeong, who had been walking ahead, stopped quietly.

“Um, but should an assassin like me really be leading the way? Shouldn’t I go to the back and secure my position─”

“No.”

“Not allowed.”

They cut her off simultaneously.

This woman insisted on contributing to the battle. She said she’d provide rear support.

But can I really trust her? She knows the quest location, but it’s hard to trust her, and I don’t want to.

Because she’s under Hong Seo-min’s control.

All the puppets she manipulates are like that. Even if they have a sense of self, it’s the same.

That includes the Ronin Puppet, Cheong Jin-ho.

‘Can I check if the quest is open? Her, I mean.’

[You cannot check.]

‘Why?’

[That falls under an individual’s system domain.]

[You can intrude, but you’ll receive a penalty.]

‘Tch. How bad is it?’

[I can’t specify, but it’s something that could significantly impact your survival.]

‘Got it.’

Lee Seong-han felt uneasy. So, he decided to send Kim Seo-jeong far away.

“Seo-jeong, was it?”

“Yes, yep!”

“Please scout ahead. Try to create a detailed map of the area.”

“Understood!”

Kim Seo-jeong disappeared like a shadow.

Good.

Hahaha, she didn’t attack even though she noticed.

Suddenly, she transformed into Hong Seo-min.

“You, PTSD.”

The moment she cast it, Kang Mi-young was K.O.’d.

I’m the kind of person who ties witches to crosses and hunts them. A true death dilemma.

Revolution or death.

That is the question.

“Want to join me? There’s a spot open for a concubine! I’ll treat you well if you come.”

“No. I pursue premarital chastity and self-respect, and such a sexist and illegal proposal towards men is clearly a criminal act─”

Hong Seo-min crossed her legs elegantly.

She was toying with the idea of throwing the torch she was holding into the firewood.

“Will you do it or not?”

“……If the coup succeeds, will you discharge me?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll serve you faithfully, Miss.”

“That’s more like it.”

If she said that, she’d burn Kang Mi-young with the torch she was holding.

If the revolution succeeds?

Everything would be turned upside down.

“What did you say?”

“I, I want to apply for discharge.”

*Thud*

She grabbed his limbs and pinned him down.

“You’re not listening.”

“You said you’d discharge me!!”

“You wanna die? How dare you defy a woman like me! Damn it, this won’t do. Lie down.”

And so, he was forced to lie down.

“Nu, Nuna, I’m scared.”

“You caught an S-Rank, reformed the Korean military, unified the North, always flattered and seduced me, stopped assassinations, and what? Now you’re trying to run away?”

Lee Seong-han, who had strayed from the righteous path and chosen the dark side, was clearly going to be used as a human shield.

Lee Seong-han was certain of it.

“By the way, isn’t it strange?”

“What is?”

“How can a being bound to the Tower be summoned? Especially reviving a dead one! The difficulty is weird too, right?”

He paused for a moment.

He wondered if he should stay quiet in front of Kim Seo-jeong. She might hear from afar. Plus, this is her territory.

But Kang Mi-young didn’t stop him either.

She just gestured for him to continue. So, Lee Seong-han licked his lips and went on.

“At first, it was a Hatchling, but from the next floor, suddenly Slimes appeared. It’s not normal, I tell you.”

Mirginos.

A body as big as a house.

Golden yellow scales.

Eyes filled with intense killing intent.

The Hatchling we met on the first floor, a dragon’s offspring.

In human terms, it’s like a teenager.

To Lee Seong-han, this level of power balance seemed like it was set up just to screw with people.

2nd floor: King Slime.

3rd floor: Goblin King.

4th floor: Orc Captain.

5th floor: Lizard Girl.

Monsters from the Great Forest series, quite dangerous.

“May I share my opinion?”

“Go ahead.”

Kang Mi-young seemed to choose her words carefully before speaking.

“That woman must have made a deal with the Tower. Specifically, with the system.”

“Huh?”

Crazy talk.

Making a deal with a murderer trying to kill you? What kind of lunatic would… actually, it’s possible.

Lee Seong-han wiped his forehead.

There’s a cliché, right?

A human traitor who made a deal with the devil? A classic villain narrative.

What’s the justification?

What happens to us after that?

There was no time to think.

“It’s a huge theater.”

“Something you wouldn’t even see in the 80s. I saw it in a drama.”

A large theater made of cardboard. It looked like something straight out of the 1950s-60s. Paper trees and flowers.

Kim Seo-jeong hadn’t returned from scouting yet. Or maybe she ran ahead. She could be waiting to ambush us.

[Will you enter the center of ‘Gate: Awakened Market’?]

‘Yes.’

*Click*

The inside of the theater was quiet. The entrance was tightly locked, and the lights were completely off.

Unlike the outside, it reflected reality—some parts were crumbling, and dust piled up so thickly that coughing was inevitable.

It seemed like it hadn’t been maintained for a long time.

“Flashlight…”

He rummaged through his backpack. Only torn clothes.

“No more batteries either.”

“Do you know any magic?”

“I can do some light magic, but it won’t last long.”

Lee Seong-han carefully turned his steps.

“Light.”

He cast a spell. Mana drained from his veins, and a light source appeared in the air.

As the surroundings brightened, something became visible.

Puppets.

All kinds of puppets filled the space. All of them had their strings cut. Men, women, children. They all had an unrealistically beautiful appearance.

Did they make this place their hideout?

But the puppets were in bad shape. Their chests were torn open, as if their hearts had been removed.

“Sir. Over there.”

“Is that a person?”

“I’ll go.”

“I’ll weave the light for you.”

A silhouette was visible in the distance.

It was Kim Seo-jeong. Strangely, no strings were visible. Kang Mi-young drew her sword and cautiously approached.

“Is this the core that forms the puppet?”

“Seems like it. It matches what I’ve seen before.”

“To harm civilians like this…”

“If they’re summoning something using lives as collateral, this makes sense.”

“I see.”

Tied up like a spider catching prey. It was definitely a fake. Well, just being guided here means it served its purpose.

Lee Seong-han clenched his fist. Thin threads crisscrossed on his palm.

“This should do.”

[Detecting the source of the threads.]

[‘Automatic Combat’ has been activated.]