Chapter 18

Ch.18 The Regression Of Calamity-Level Monster Tamer

Typically, the seven-colored Gates can only be conquered by Players registered with Guilds.

This is a matter determined by international law.

However, there is one exception.

That is the White Gate.

Why?

Because the White Gate has three unique characteristics different from regular Gates.

1. Solo play only.
2. Entry level restriction: Lv.30 or below.
3. Defense-style gameplay blocking Waves.

That’s why the government assigned the White Gate a different role from regular Gates.

Specifically.

‘A beginner hunting ground for non-Guild members…’

Realistically, not every Player can receive love calls from Guilds.

Of course, not everyone visited with the same purpose of hunting.

As many people came, various ambitions gathered as well.

“Line up properly! Hey, if you cut in line, you’ll be sent to the very back!”

“Hey, don’t push!”

“Please have your Player license ready for submission in advance!”

Chatter chatter—

Those trying to raise their value by clearing high stages.

Those trying to max out their specs before climbing the Tower.

Those challenging themselves to break their own records.

If there’s one thing in common among their various aspirations, it’s ‘ambition for improvement.’

‘Players always want to grow. Anyway, this place is a marketplace now just like before…’

Getting out of the taxi, I muttered while looking at the numerous Players.

I also came here with a common purpose.

Ambition for improvement.

The detailed plan is just a milestone toward that.

‘Of course, what I ultimately intend to do after growing that strong is another matter.’

Anyway, I came here to become stronger, and that milestone is the plan called ‘Eye of the Storm.’

Setting a record here that no one can touch.

Literally writing new history.

‘Right. I’m literally becoming the eye of the storm…’

Then people will go beyond just paying attention—they’ll have no choice but to become enthusiastic about me.

As a result, I’ll be able to grasp control of an unpredictable flow.

As a secondary benefit, I can concentrate the attention that might bounce toward people around me, like my mother, onto myself.

‘And besides the [Eye of the Storm] plan, there’s one more thing I need to do here…’

I fiddled with the [Necklace of Good Fortune] in my pocket.

The reason I purchased this wasn’t just to protect my mother, but because there’s definitely a place to use it inside the White Gate.

‘This should be thorough enough preparation. The rest is up to heaven.’

I stared at the front where the White Gate was located.

There was an incredibly long line reminiscent of an amusement park.

‘If I wait for all that, I’ll only get in by dawn. Of course, that’s not my concern.’

I walked briskly past the long line waiting to enter.

As if it were completely natural.

“…?”

“…Huh?”

At my brazen appearance, people stared blankly, then came to their senses and began shouting to stop me.

Because it was clearly cutting in line to anyone watching.

“Hey… excuse me?”

“Hey, don’t you see everyone’s waiting in line?!”

“Official! What are you doing not stopping that person?”

“Hey, hey! Don’t stand there!”

Hundreds of Players began making a fuss.

And when this many people gather, there’s always someone who expresses their opinion through action.

“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”

Among them, a large man stepped forward and blocked my path.

Broad shoulders and a height that looked about 2m.

A two-handed sword on his back.

You could tell at a glance he was a Warrior Class.

‘His weapon and armor rank, the Aura he’s emitting… I guess he’s someone important in his neighborhood?’

Not all Players want to join Guilds.

Players who dislike being bound somewhere, who are confident in their skills, or both, sometimes don’t bother joining Guilds.

That’s exactly what I used to be.

Of course, comparing me to a small fry like that doesn’t make sense.

“Are you mute? Why aren’t you answering?”

“…”

Despite the arrogant question, I just stared at him blankly.

No matter how much I rack my memory, I don’t know this guy.

No need to bother with him.

Besides, from his perspective, I am the bad guy.

“Kugh, hey! Where do you get off glaring at me!”

“…”

“…What. Are you really mute?”

Objectively speaking, this behavior is indeed disrupting public order.

But I don’t act like this without any reason.

‘I have legal grounds and rational reasons for acting this way…’

But I have no obligation to explain all that to him.

It’s annoying anyway.

And my mouth would hurt.

Instead of answering, I called out my children.

“Geri, Freki.”

“…What?”

Crackle— Whoosh—

Ice fragments and sparks 

appearing in the air.

The two quickly grew into glacier fragments and fearsome flames, and the two Magic Beasts burst out from there as if hatching from eggs.

“Wh, what… what is that?”

“Seriously? Those are Tamed Magic Beasts? Didn’t they say Tamers were frogs?!”

“That person’s entering the White Gate, right? Not the Blue or Yellow Gate?”

At that moment, as if a switch was flipped, the onlookers’ reactions changed rapidly.

Murmur murmur—

Beyond low gasps and whispers from the surroundings, an awed silence followed.

Some were busy filming with their smartphones.

Others covered their mouths and widened their eyes as if seeing mythical creatures.

“I’m uploading this to social media right now. If I post this, it’ll definitely get 500 thousand views in an hour, right?”

“Hey, what’s 500 thousand? It’ll easily exceed a million. Wow, but that wolf is seriously freaking cool…”

“That’s obviously a ‘Special Entity,’ right? Wow… insane.”

This wasn’t simple admiration.

It was praise mixed with envy and awe.

“Grrrowl—“

“Arrrr!“

The blue wolf and the red wolf.

Between the teeth of the two growling creatures, frost and flames were slowly leaking out.

An obviously ominous appearance at a glance.

Because of that, the adversaries facing the two Magic Beasts trembled and backed away.

“…Wh, what!”

“Don’t push! Move back!”

Then the group that had been acting like they’d gang up at the slightest opening began hurriedly retreating.

However, the large Warrior man had some pride, as he stood his ground with his two-handed sword pointed.

…Gulp.

“What! S-so you want to try it?!”

“Move, I’m busy.”

“…E-even if you’re busy, you have to follow public order!”

“Right, you stay right there. Kids.”

At my words, Geri and Freki began growing larger.

Large enough to make a mere 2m human feel overwhelmed.

Their second latent ability, ‘Elasticity.’

Crack— Crunch—

As they grew to the size of houses, the paving blocks crumbled and cracked.

I slowly approached the man.

Following me, Geri and Freki also approached one step at a time.

Thud, crackle—! Thud, crackle—!

“…”

“…”

We hadn’t even taken five steps.

“…Hyeeek!”

The Warrior man, who had been dripping cold sweat, eventually fled from his position.

Now there were no obstacles between me and the White Gate.

“Kids, go back.”

I immediately returned Geri and Freki to the Nest.

There was no need to create unnecessary discord when the situation was over.

“…”

“…”

“…”

Nevertheless, the area in front of the White Gate that had been noisy like a marketplace until moments ago was now quiet as a temple.

I walked steadily toward the White Gate through that silence.

The entrance I arrived at.

“En-entry… th-there will be an inspection.”

Then two officials with pale faces blocked me.

One was a frail-looking man, the other was a woman with her hair tied short.

The man who spoke to me stuttered particularly badly.

‘Did I go too far?’

He already looked frail, so I felt somewhat guilty.

However, no matter how reckless I am, I don’t mess with officials.

Touching an official means making the government itself an enemy. The reason those officials can muster the courage to regulate me despite seeing that ‘incident’ earlier is probably because of that.

Anyway, they looked terrified, but their tone contained maximum courtesy.

“M-may I, a-ask where you c-came from?”

Because usually, reckless people like me have reliable backing.

Second generation of conglomerates or Guild Masters, or sons of veteran politicians, things like that.

‘Of course, I am the proud son of Ms. Park…’

Unfortunately, since our Ms. Park lives honestly, I haven’t heard that she has such connections.

As always, both then and now, only my skills sustain me.

“…”

I quietly took out my Player license from my pocket.

Then, not only the official but also gasps erupted from various places in the crowd watching me.

“…What?!”

“Huh…”

“Gold Card…?”

“Am I seeing this correctly?!”

“Where in our country is there a Gold Card holder… Wait! One appeared recently!”

My license shining in golden color.

The ‘Gold Card’ license that only those in the TOP 10 of the Player Test world rankings can receive.

‘This is quite embarrassing. But I don’t feel too bad about it.’

The Gold Card has various benefits, and one of them is not having to wait for your turn when entering the White Gate like now.

I knew this well because I received a Silver Card in the past.

‘How much I envied that guy who got the Gold Card back then…’

The official alternated between looking at my face and the license, then spoke even more stutteringly.

“K-Kang… Si-woo…? Are you by any ch-chance that Tamer Kang Si-woo s-sir?”

S-sir?

It feels oddly unpleasant, why does it sound like a curse?

This official.

He’s not in my memory, but he strangely gets on my nerves.

“Please look up the registration number. I don’t have time.”

“…Y-yes… Yes? Oh, yes! I-I understand.”

At my answer, the stuttering official hurriedly ran to the checkpoint and quickly returned.

“C-confirmed. You may e-enter, Kang Si-woo s-sir.”

“…Thank you.”

I gave a greeting with an uncomfortable expression, passed the barricade, and headed toward the Gate.

If I feel like I’ll see that person again, is it just because he gets on my nerves?

‘If there’s a connection, we’ll meet.’

A life newly given like divine providence.

There’s no law saying new connections can’t form within it.

‘For now, let’s focus on the task at hand.’

Step step.

In the silence where only my footsteps could be heard.

The gazes of easily over a hundred people were burning into the back of my head.

“…”

“…”

“…”

All of this was intentional.

Causing a disturbance without hurting anyone, sufficiently demonstrating strength, and definite proof that Kang Si-woo came to the White Gate.

‘Now the rumors will spread in an instant.’

Guild Scouts coveting me will now gather in front of the White Gate, waiting for me to come out.

‘The stage is complete with the audience, so now the actor just needs to move according to the script.’

Which means I just need to perform well according to plan.

Now it’s time to properly set a record.

A legend that no one has written and will never be able to touch in the future.

Swoosh—

Without hesitation, I thrust my body into the white portal.