Chapter 215

Wyvern.

One of the high-tier monsters classified as dragonkin, along with drakes.

Its body was larger than an airplane’s, its hide was tough, and its intelligence was high enough for it to use magic.

It possessed enough power to be called a small dragon without exaggeration.

The creature I had encountered three years ago was something that could not—and should not—have emerged from an E-Rank Gate.

“Kyaaaaaaar!”

I opened my eyes at the monster’s roar, echoing in the distance.

Instead of a dark, humid cave, I saw a clear sky and the familiar faces of the Guild members around me.

“Mr. Jin Taekyung, are you all right?”

“Taekyung.”

At the worried voices, I relaxed my stiff expression.

“Yes. My stomach felt a little queasy. I guess I got motion sickness.”

“Motion sickness? You?”

Motion sickness in a Peak master—or rather, an A-Rank Hunter. Even I knew it was a pathetic excuse.

Even Song-i, who had been keeping a little distance from me lately, asked with concern,

“Would you like me to cast a healing spell?”

“No, I’m fine.”

I gave her a weak smile like the protagonist of The Last Leaf and added,

“Just having you next to me is healing enough, Song-i.”

“…Ah. Yes.”

Im Kkeokjeong leaned close to my ear and whispered,

“You bastard. How the hell did you come up with a line like that?”

“Was it bad?”

“No, it was insane. The moment I heard it, electricity shot through my whole body.”

Was it really that effective?

My head had been completely blank, so I had just blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

But judging by Song-i, who had frozen rigidly like someone struck by lightning, it seemed to have worked.

Why does it feel like I landed a critical hit?

In the meantime, the throbbing in my temples and the nausea in my stomach both subsided.

Just as I was taking a deep breath, the door of the limousine bus we had been riding in opened, and someone appeared.

“Everyone’s arrived. But…”

Won Myunghoon, whose voice trailed off at the unusual atmosphere inside the bus, asked Team Leader Choi,

“Did something happen?”

“Yes. It’s serious enough that we need to talk.”

Team Leader Choi answered firmly, then turned toward me.

“Mr. Jin Taekyung, you as well.”

“The Star Guild got here ages ago. Why can’t we see the Peace Guild?”

“Wait. Isn’t that Jin Taekyung?”

“It is. And Won Myunghoon is next to him, so it’s definitely him.”

“Take pictures quickly. Get ready to interview him in a little while.”

Team Leader Choi, Won Myunghoon, and I moved toward a secluded corner.

The gazes of the reporters and Hunters who had rushed over after hearing the news made my face sting.

Finally, once the eyes that had been clinging to us relentlessly fell away, Team Leader Choi spoke with a grim expression.

“What’s the reason for the sudden change of location?”

“Change? What do you mean?”

“Wasn’t Manticore’s Jungle supposed to be today’s raid location?”

“What? That can’t be right. Do you happen to have the contract with you?”

“Here. It’s stated clearly.”

Won Myunghoon hurriedly examined the contract Team Leader Choi handed him. His face twisted violently.

“That bastard, the leader of Team One.”

Judging by his reaction, there seemed to have been a mistake somewhere along the way.

After muttering several curses—unusually for him—Won Myunghoon spoke awkwardly.

“I’m sorry. One of our employees made a serious mistake. I don’t know what to say.”

“A mistake. I see.”

Team Leader Choi’s dry voice continued.

“I think it would be best to call off today’s raid.”

“What?”

“This isn’t just any Gate. It’s an A-Rank Gate. Entering without perfect preparation could lead to an accident. And…”

For a brief moment, Team Leader Choi’s voice trailed off as his gaze brushed over me.

He had already investigated my past.

He knew that I was the sole survivor of the Sangdong Station Mutated Gate incident three years ago, and that I still suffered from its aftereffects.

“Wyverns are still too much for our Guild members. We appreciate the offer, but I think it would be best for both sides if we withdrew here.”

“Team Leader!”

Despite Won Myunghoon’s flustered cry, Team Leader Choi’s attitude remained as sharp as a blade.

“No wyvern. At least not now.”

“…”

That was when I abruptly spoke up, having quietly watched the situation unfold.

“Let’s do it. The raid.”

“Mr. Jin Taekyung.”

“Enough articles have already been posted online, and the reporters have gathered here. If we call it off now, won’t people start talking?”

I stared past Team Leader Choi and Won Myunghoon, standing side by side.

Reporters with cameras hanging around their necks were already edging closer, watching our reactions.

They have an incredible nose for a story.

They had clearly sensed the unusual atmosphere and come over to investigate.

So before Team Leader Choi could say anything, I quickly cut him off.

“It’s not that I particularly care about the articles. It’s just that I’m all right now.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Half of that was true. The other half was a lie.

I still wasn’t all right. For the past three years, I had relived the same nightmare over and over, remembering the creature’s roar and my teammates’ screams.

Then I would wake drenched in cold sweat, pretend nothing had happened, and repeat the same day as always.

But not anymore.

“I can do this. I’m not the same person I was back then.”

I was no longer the utterly powerless F-Rank Hunter I had been. I was a Peak master and an A-Rank Hunter, someone who could confidently call himself strong wherever he went.

“So it’s fine. No, I want to do it.”

Team Leader Choi stared at me for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh.

“All right. Let’s do it.”

A short while later, we stood before a door of ominously rippling mana.

Cameras recorded the Guild members from both sides as they began the joint raid, while flashes went off without pause.

“Phew.”

I took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Familiar System notifications appeared as sticky mana coiled around my body.

Ding.

System

• You have entered A-Rank Gate, The Black Wyvern’s Nest.
• A Reward commensurate with your performance will be granted upon clearing it.

Ssshhh.

When I opened my eyes again, everything around me had changed.

“Huff. Huuuff.”

Im Kkeokjeong, clad in thick, solid plate armor, panted raggedly.

An hour had passed since we entered the Gate, and sweat was already pouring down his forehead like rain.

But he wasn’t the only one. Most of the more than twenty people from the Star Guild and Peace Guild were walking with sweat streaming down their faces.

It was understandable.

I clicked my tongue and looked around.

Under the blazing sun, a jungle formed from trees dozens of meters tall and bizarre-looking plants stretched endlessly into the distance.

The sight alone was enough to make it hard to breathe, and the air—hotter and more humid than a steam sauna—completed the picture.

A primeval forest.

It looked exactly like something from a dinosaur documentary.

Setting aside the weather, the scenery itself was spectacular.

“Wow.”

Just as I let out an involuntary exclamation, someone approached and tapped me on the shoulder.

“You look relaxed.”

“Oh, Myunghoon hyung. Weren’t you at the front?”

Our formation had Won Myunghoon at the front, me in the middle, and Team Leader Choi and Butler Kim at the rear.

At my question, Won Myunghoon flashed his white teeth in a grin.

“You have to check behind you sometimes. Everyone’s struggling, and I saw some carefree guy sightseeing by himself, so I came over.”

“What if a wyvern suddenly jumps out?”

“We’re still in the jungle zone, so only minor monsters will appear. Wyvern nests are on cliffs or peaks, so we’re still a long way from one.”

“Seriously?”

“It’ll take at least half a day to encounter a wyvern, or a full day if we’re unlucky. Enjoy the scenery while you can.”

I had known that higher-level Gates were larger, but I hadn’t expected this. I shook my head in disbelief.

“This is incredible. No wonder they give people raid access for a full week.”

“That’s how long it takes. If you visit a few A-Rank Gates like this, you’ll get sick of them.”

“I don’t know.”

I probably wouldn’t.

To me, a Gate had long since stopped being a tiring, tedious workplace. It was a place where I could grow even stronger.

“I’m having fun.”

“…Well, I suppose that’s possible.”

Won Myunghoon looked at me strangely before handing me something.

“Here. Keep this.”

“What is it?”

It was a necklace set with a blue jewel. Before I could inspect the Item, Won Myunghoon continued,

“It has a cold spell on it, so wear it. You’re an A-Rank, so you’ll be fine for now, but the heat will drain your Stamina later. You’re a key combat asset, so you need to conserve your strength.”

“You don’t have to give me something like this, hyung.”

“I’m not giving it to you. I’m lending it to you. Take good care of it and return it later.”

It looked incredibly expensive at a glance.

I hesitated, but at Won Myunghoon’s urging, I had no choice but to put it on.

Ding.

System

• You have equipped Yeti’s Necklace.
• A wind from the snowy plains flows from the necklace.

At the same time as the System notification, a chill cold enough to send shivers down my spine wrapped around my entire body.

“It works well.”

“It suits you. Keep wearing it from now on. I’m going to deploy the scouting team.”

Won Myunghoon smiled with satisfaction and strode away. The moment his back disappeared from view, I took off the necklace.

I told him I’m really fine.

Maybe Won Myunghoon had taken my words as modesty, but I had only been stating a fact.

In the Murim, I had opened my Conception and Governor Vessels and obtained something far better than the Yeti’s Necklace.

Unaffected by cold and heat.

That was why I hadn’t broken a sweat so far. In fact, it wouldn’t matter if one hour turned into ten.

This level of heat couldn’t affect me at all.

It would be much better to give it to someone who needed it more than I did.

“Uncle.”

“Huff, huff. What?”

Im Kkeokjeong, who had been walking a few steps ahead, turned around. Sweat poured down him as if someone had installed a sprinkler on the top of his head.

“Why are you sweating so much? Are you all right?”

“…Do I look all right?”

“No.”

“Don’t talk to me. I’m dying here.”

“You should’ve worn something cooler. Team Leader Choi has plenty of magical Equipment.”

“I thought we were going to fight a manticore, so I prepared for maximum defense. At this rate, I’m going to end up attending my own funeral.”

“That won’t do. You have a wife and children.”

I gave a quiet laugh and put the necklace around his neck myself. Im Kkeokjeong’s eyes widened as he felt the cool wind from the snowy plains.

“Huh? What’s this?”

“A present. Of course, I’m not giving it to you. I’m only lending it to you while we travel.”

“Whew. I don’t know what it is, but I can finally breathe.”

His exhausted face suddenly came alive. Just as Im Kkeokjeong beamed at me, it happened.

—Peeeeep!

A sharp cry rang out from somewhere.

The birds hiding in the dense forest burst into flight, and branches and leaves came crashing down over everyone’s heads like a torrential downpour.

But no one, including me, paid them any attention.

—Kyaaaaaaak!

Along with a cry that raised goose bumps, a massive shadow enveloped the roughly twenty people.

I looked up and spotted a shadow circling high above, so high it was almost impossible to see.

“Wyvern…”

Won Myunghoon had been wrong.

Not half a day. Not a full day.

In only one hour—

It had appeared.