NSE-Chapter 046

Chapter 46

“Hey, you crazy bastard! You shoved a person?”

Sword Phoenix Seo Ye-rim.

With her eyes rolled back in rage, she lunged at Jo Pil-uk.

When Kim Min-woo had been loitering near where the Gate would form, she hadn’t thought anything of it.

She’d figured he was just some madman.

But then, suddenly, a real madman had come running and shoved a person into the Gate.

A high-tier Gate, B-rank or above at a glance.

On top of that, since it was a first clear, the difficulty jumps sharply.

Even at B-rank, a party of at least 15 would be required.

If it was A-rank?

A catastrophe.

The recommended number of people for clearing was 30.

And Kim Min-woo?

At best, he was an Awakened at the late E-rank level now.

There’s a limit even to being a hotshot.

This was an even more hopeless situation than when he had cleared the Tomb at Level 1. It was doubtful he could even reach the Middle Zone.

“You murdering bastard!”

“N-No! What bullshit is that! I was only trying to grab his shoulder! But something shoved me hard and……!”

“Cut the crap! Everyone here saw you huffing and shoving him!”

Soon she looked at the Gate entrance.

A Gate with light bursting out gloriously. A Gate only gets properly divided into zones and activated once the first clear succeeds.

Which meant.

The moment that light went out, Kim Min-woo would be trapped there forever until he cleared it.

She quickly looked around. Everyone was flustered, yet they had 1 thing in common.

Not a single one of them was willing to enter the Gate for a rescue.

Naturally.

The rank hadn’t even been determined yet.

On top of that, they hadn’t made any proper preparations to go in.

Even if you prepared thoroughly and picked your members before entering, your clear chance wasn’t 100%, so rush in blindly?

It wouldn’t be strange to be wiped out.

And what was an even bigger problem.

If you entered a Gate without even being in a party state, it was regarded as an Intrusion and the starting area was split.

In a situation where survival odds were already slim, there was nothing to say she wouldn’t go to the rescue only to find a corpse already waiting.

‘……Damn it!’

Seo Ye-rim agonized.

If this had been before Kim Min-woo visited the Sword Sea Pavilion, she would have given up on the rescue without a moment’s hesitation.

And besides, what was so lovable about him that she’d stake her life?

But now it was different.

―That Kim Min-woo kid, you know, he’s going to become someone great. A true genius, a genius! Hoho!

Grandfather’s laughter had increased a lot lately. His stagnant swordsmanship had also advanced endlessly.

How shocked she had been at the news that an S-rank Gate had been cleared in the shortest time ever. Infuriatingly, it was all because of that fellow.

‘If he dies…….’

The Sword Immortal would grieve.

Very much so.

She smiled in resignation.

They said no one knows what lies a step ahead in this world.

To think she would make up her mind to jump in to save that Kim Min-woo.

‘……I’m crazy, crazy!’

Biting her lip, she looked at the instructors who had come with her.

“……If I die, make sure to put spicy rice cakes on my memorial table!”

She turned around and leapt into the Gate without hesitation.

“Huh?”

“S-Sword Phoenix jumped in!”

“W-What do we do!”

The reporters looked around frantically at the Guild members nearby.

But no one stepped forward. If the rescue succeeded they would earn a great reward, but that only applied if they came back alive. Everyone had only 1 life.

On top of that.

They could still go for the first clear even if they entered after those 2 were wiped out. In the silence, the Gate’s light slowly faded.

* * *

The appearance of a new Gate.

Since it was something that happened once every few months or, at the longest, every few years, it was only natural that public opinion focused on it.

Because depending on which rank of Gate popped out, national power could be clearly divided.

Naturally, countless people were watching the breaking news.

And Kim Min-woo being sucked into the Gate was being broadcast without any filter.

―Breaking news! Mr. Kim Min-woo has been sucked into the new Gate that formed in Gyeonggi Province…….

―Wtf. What did I just watch?

―Damn. Isn’t that guy insane? He just ran over and shoved him forward?

―Wasn’t he put up to it from overseas? To kill off the rookie.

―Seems like it, really? The vibe was off from the moment he ran over huffing;;

―So who is that guy?

―Looks like Dorim Guild’s Jo Pil-uk? The Chairman’s son, famous as a total brat lol

―Ah, the one who made a NewTube channel and got a bucketload of abuse?

―Yeah. Right. One of the Kim Min-woo knockoffs. Looks like there was a grudge lol

―But why would he just shove him like that? Does he have no brain? He should at least act it out;;

―Looks like he just lost it from rage? Didn’t seem to think at all.

―Look at how juicy Sword Phoenix’s cursing is; Were she and Kim Min-woo close?

―Seems she’s furious that he shoved a person. It’s openly murder lol

―But can Kim Min-woo actually come back alive? It’s at least B-rank;;

―;; Looks hard…… Isn’t his Level at most E-rank right now?

―Even counting him as D-rank…… Ah, this is really tough. He might not even reach the Middle Zone; I tried it last time and it was just a different dimension…….

Then.

―Huh? Crazy! S-Sword Phoenix went in!

Seo Ye-rim leaping into the Gate was broadcast as well.

―No way;;

―We’reScrewedWe’reScrewedWe’reScrewedWe’reScrewedWe’reScrewedWe’reScrewed

―PleaseB-rankPleaseB-rankPleaseB-rankPleaseB-rankPleaseB-rankPleaseB-rank

―If it’s B-rank, can they clear this?

―Dunno; Sword Phoenix is an Awakened who’s beyond A-rank, but even factoring that in, going in alone is just insane;

―Even Isabella doesn’t solo-clear Gates like that, damn lol We’re screwed for real lol

―She’s not alone? Kim Min-woo’s there too

―Cut the crap; What help is an E-rank nobody;

―If it’s judged A-rank it’s just over. Both die pointless deaths; No way they clear it…….

―If it’s B-rank, there’s a chance, right?

―Dunno; since it’s a first-clear situation, can’t be sure the difficulty won’t go up. Still, better than A…….

―Aren’t the Guilds jumping in? They’re just going to end it like this?

―Stop the bullshit; Who has a reason to go commit suicide;

―No, forget the other Guilds, what are these Dorim guys doing? They made the mess and aren’t even cleaning it up?

―Awkward, I’d say; the Guild Master looks dumbfounded, so I guess he didn’t even see it coming…….

―What kind of madman would see that coming lol

―Anyway, isn’t it Dorim’s fault for not keeping their Guild members in check? I’m starting a Dorim boycott from today.

―Seriously. First, that Jo Pil-uk bastard needs to be thrown in the slammer for murder, and Dorim has to take responsibility too. They touched Ilseong, so they probably can’t smooth it over with money like usual lol

―Good. It’s always galled me that they get out of everything with money. Scum like Jo Pil-uk should be thrown in the slammer. That goes for the Chairman too, who covers for him with money, yeah.

―Anyway, Kim Min-woo said he’d show something big soon, and he really did show it lmaooo

Then.

The officials who had been determining the Gate’s rank shouted loudly.

“Measurement complete! It’s B-rank!”

―According to news just received, the Gate is said to be B-rank, and our broadcaster has invited experts to discuss the possibility of clearing it…….

Park Si-woo, watching TV, dropped his jaw.

―And if you happen to see some strange news, don’t be too shocked.

Could that strange news have been exactly this?

Then.

A call came through on his phone.

“Yes. Chairman!”

―Si-woo, haven’t you heard anything?

Chairman Kim asked in an urgent voice.

Since they had held a press conference together just this morning, he figured the call might have been grasping at straws. Scratching his cheek, he said carefully.

“……Well, this is a bit…… it seems like big brother intended it, though…….”

―What? He intended it?!

“He did say something meaningful earlier. That even if strange news comes out, I shouldn’t be too shocked…….”

―Hah…… Don’t tell me he set up this whole scheme to topple Dorim and take the Gate? No, but how did he know a Gate would appear?

“That’s why I can’t be sure either. He might not have said it because of this particular incident. But Big Brother is no ordinary Awakened…… shouldn’t we trust him?”

―……True. Anyway, understood. Thank you. I’ll hang up.

After putting down the phone, he let out a sigh.

“……He must have a plan, right?”

Kim Min-woo was far, far stronger than the public expected.

Even if it was B-rank, he might clear it. And besides, Sword Phoenix had joined him too, hadn’t she?

1 thing seemed certain for now.

Dorim, ranked 2nd among the conglomerates.

This company was truly screwed.

* * *

[You take part in the B-rank Gate, ‘Martial World’!]

[You are the first to enter the Gate!]

[You obtain the Title ‘One Who Took the First Step’!]

[Difficulty changes to B+, ‘War of the Stars’!]

―Coo.

“Oh, my baby. Well done, well done.”

After entering the Gate.

He stroked the head of Whitey, who had followed after him, vigorously.

‘It went as expected.’

Dorim would clear this Gate.

Jo Pil-uk was included on that clearing roster as well.

An Awakened in the 300 Levels with an A-grade Achievement.

At this level, he was a figure who couldn’t be left out of the clear.

‘I knew he’d come.’

Kim Min-woo knew Jo Pil-uk well.

This guy was a genuine total brat.

Compared to this guy, Kim Min-woo was merely a mild-flavored brat.

On top of that, there happened to be a grudge between them.

A guy like Jo Pil-uk blaming an innocent person was something you could see coming without looking, wasn’t it?

Sure enough.

True to his hot-blooded nature, the guy had leapt in first.

And with a hand stretched out, filled with strength as if to crush his shoulder.

‘Farewell.’

Jo Pil-uk would feel wronged, but he wouldn’t be able to explain himself.

That was because Whitey’s stealth ability was so formidable that it had broken through the Ilseong Main House’s security system and followed all the way into the Hidden Gate.

So much that even the enlightened Sword Immortal couldn’t find it.

So anyone would take it as him shoving out of pure rage.

‘Since he tried to crush another person’s shoulder.’

He must have been prepared to have his own head split open.

‘It won’t be covered up at Jo Pil-uk’s level.’

Not only Jo Pil-uk but the related corporation Dorim too would be in an uproar. If you raise your child wrong, the parents have to bear the responsibility.

It was plain to see that Dorim would be wrecked.

Taking the Gate.

Knocking down a competitor.

Killing 2 birds with 1 stone.

Just then.

[Warning!]

[There is currently 1 Outsider inside the Gate!]

‘……?’

He tilted his head.

An Intrusion here?

‘An Assassin? No?’

The Gate rank measuring device.

A high-performance device that checks the Mana density of the Gate to confirm its rank.

By the nature of the device, it catches Mana use like a ghost.

Which means it catches even an Assassin’s stealth. Because that is a Skill that uses Mana too.

Even an S-rank Assassin couldn’t evade the device’s detection.

‘Only something on Whitey’s level can evade it for sure.’

In that situation, someone comes to assassinate in a place where the Guilds and the entire broadcast had their attention fixed?

And in the middle of running the measuring device, no less?

That’s insane.

If so, they would already have been caught before entering and arrested after being ganged up on by the Guilds. No Guild would just stand and watch some loafer walk into a Gate.

‘Then someone came to rescue me.’

That could be.

But…….

“Came all alone?”

At a point when even the Gate’s rank hadn’t been determined?

He was very curious who had attempted such a novel suicide act.

‘It’s not Jo Pil-uk, at least.’

He hadn’t been sucked in along with the headbutt; he had stopped dead.

And a brat like that wouldn’t leap in risking his life for this side.

‘Who is it?’

He couldn’t get a feel for it.

Kim Min-woo looked around.

The interior of an antique-style room.

‘This seems like the martial arts genre?’

The Gate’s name was like that from the start.

Martial World, it said.

‘Nothing strange about it.’

From C-rank up, off-the-wall Gates showed up now and then.

There were even cyberpunk and demon-type Gates like the Night Parade of 100 Demons, let alone a Martial World.

‘I probably have to look for whoever came in, though…….’

Because it was the first Gate, the difficulty had changed.

He couldn’t tell how wide the stage was. They said the distance to the Middle Zone was similar, but if the stage was wide, they could be quite far from each other. Moving before he had grasped the situation properly was very risky.

“……Well, if I’m lucky, we’ll meet.”

For now, it seemed he had to find out exactly where this was and what the Gate’s objective was first.

Kim Min-woo got to his feet.

It was time to begin the clear.