Chapter 79: The Seed of Suspicion

“What, it’s still not over?

…It’s taking longer than I thought….”

Just as I was having the same thought, Oh Seong-gyu walked into our office.

It had already been more than a full forty-eight hours since the loud send-off and the entry into the S-rank Gate, and it was now the third day.

Even so, there had been no particular news from the agents guarding the gate entrance.

“With an S-rank Gate, that can happen.

You never know what might be going on inside.”

The higher the Gate’s rank, the more complex its internal structure became.

On top of that, the monsters emerging from inside were unpredictable, so unexpected situations could happen at any time.

In fact, there had been a time when it took me nearly a full week to finally succeed in subjugation, not just three days.

…Of course, that was an extremely rare case.

It was because a monster using unusual abilities, known as a freak-type, had appeared.

Like the Reaper I had encountered before.

“We’re controlling the press to an extent, but the higher-ups are making a lot of noise.

They’re even talking about sending in a follow-up team.”

“Sending them won’t help much.

An elite team that already includes an SS-rank has gone in, so if the reinforcements are weaker than that, they’re more likely to just become a burden.”

That kind of armchair reasoning again.

If Special Team One had truly failed to subjugate the Gate, then at minimum, every S-rank Esper in the country would have to be deployed.

Naturally, no one could make such a decision, because in the worst-case scenario, South Korea could end up with not a single SS-rank or even S-rank Esper left.

And as far as I remembered, no Gate that dangerous appeared around this time.

Which meant that with Jaeyul’s level of ability, this should be a Gate they could handle.

The only concern was that the team had just been formed, so their coordination might not be perfect yet.

“Yeah… still, I’ve got a bad feeling.

And what’s with this rain pouring down nonstop for three days straight.”

The rain that had started falling when Special Team One departed only grew heavier.

It was pouring so relentlessly that you couldn’t even tell whether it was day or night, making my already uneasy heart feel even more unsettled.

“…I think I should go to the site.”

I voiced the thought that had come to me while I sat alone, staring blankly out the window, to Oh Seong-gyu, who was doing the same.

“What…?

What are you going to do by going there.

No matter how SS-rank you are, don’t forget you’re a Guide.

You won’t be any help in combat.”

“That might be true for combat.

But what if… someone comes out injured from inside the Gate?

If the battle turns into a prolonged one like this, there could already be team members whose mana has become unstable.

In the worst case, their lives could be in danger.”

I wasn’t saying I would enter the Gate alone.

No matter how experienced I was, I wasn’t that reckless.

Besides, I had something I trusted in.

The team members… no, at least Jaeyul, would make it out of the Gate safely, even if it took some time.

…It’s a bit heartless to say, but aside from Jaeyul’s safety, nothing else really mattered to me.

“With Jaeyul’s personality, he’ll succeed in the subjugation somehow.

Then, as soon as they come out, I’ll need to treat the injured team members.

Guiding or… whatever it takes.”

The fact that I also possessed healing abilities hadn’t been revealed to the outside yet.

But if the worst happened, there would be no need to hide my abilities anymore.

“You’re not wrong.

And well… the image of a teammate waiting in front of the Gate wouldn’t be bad either, so Director Na Dong-chan would probably like it.

I’ll report it, so you get ready and wait.

I’ll take you there, so don’t even think about crawling out there on your own.”

After a brief moment of thought, Oh Seong-gyu agreed with me.

There had been an ‘order’ to sit comfortably in the office and rest, but my heart felt too uneasy.

I thought I should at least be there in front of it.

I needed to see Jaeyul safe with my own eyes, even if only a few minutes earlier, to feel at ease.

He would definitely be fine, so why did I feel this anxious….

“Where are the S-ranks, exactly?

Seoul First Center, Busan, and where else!”

“Daejeon, Commissioner….”

“When did I tell you to call them all.

Why haven’t you done it yet!”

…I think I may have misjudged things.

I probably should have just stayed quietly in the office.

The moment I arrived at the Gate site with Oh Seong-gyu, an unpleasant voice pierced my eardrums.

Commissioner Han Dong-il himself was here.

A man who normally showed no interest whatsoever in Gate subjugations like this, so I had no idea what had possessed him today.

“If even a single finger of the agents who went in there gets injured, all of you better be prepared.”

Ah, so that was why the Vice Commissioner was here.

He had said ‘the agents who went in there,’ but in reality, he meant Lee Rihyeon.

It seemed he was gathering S-ranks from across the country, worried about his nephew’s safety.

That crazy bastard.

“Oh my, Commissioner.

We’ve just sent the order again to assemble immediately.

Since there are so many cameras here, please just stay put and wait a moment….”

Han Dong-il raging like fire, and Na Dong-chan beside him, placating him while fixing his clothes.

A truly maddening duo.

Not wanting to get involved with them, I offered only a brief greeting, put on a raincoat, and headed toward the Gate.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who disliked that crowd, as Oh Seong-gyu quietly followed behind me.

“I wonder why a Gate had to appear in a place like this.”

“Yeah.

If it had been discovered just a bit earlier, we could’ve gone in properly prepared.”

It was an extremely remote area.

Because it had appeared right on the boundary between the habitable and uninhabitable zones of Seoul, its discovery had been delayed.

Perhaps because an evacuation order had been issued, amidst pitch-black darkness, the Gate entrance emitted an ominously bright red light.

“Did they take enough supplies?”

“Yes.

It’s not abundant, but it should be enough for the team to last about a week.

They also brought A-rank healing potions, so most injuries can be treated.”

I was certain, because I had packed their supplies myself.

As long as the injuries weren’t fatal, I had sent plenty of expensive healing items that could restore them enough to continue fighting.

Some team members had complained about making such a fuss, but in a situation like this, it would definitely help.

“You really never know what might happen in a Gate.”

“That’s why they’re scary.

Especially those young brats, always getting into trouble without any fear.”

“Is that why you sent Park Bomyeong and Yu Eden to our team?”

I casually voiced my suspicion.

What kind of person was Oh Seong-gyu.

He was an old man who cherished his team members like family.

Naturally, the bonds within his team would be strong.

For two people to leave such a team meant his intentions were reflected to some extent.

“What nonsense.

They said they were going, so what could I do to stop them.

I didn’t send them because you were cute, so don’t misunderstand and fall for me or anything.”

Was the rain driving people crazy.

This man really had no filter.

“Anyway, thank you.

It feels like Jaeyul’s burden will be a bit lighter thanks to that.”

Unlike Park Bomyeong and Yu Eden, who didn’t seem to like me much, they appeared to get along reasonably well with Jaeyul.

That was enough.

If they were people who could ease the load on Jaeyul’s shoulders, then I would respect them just the same.

The same went for Oh Seong-gyu walking ahead of me now.

“Let’s go inside.

With so many reporters, it’s uncomfortable staying outside.

I can’t tell if they gathered because it’s an S-rank Gate or because the Vice Commissioner called them.”

He turned away first after watching the Gate for a moment, and I followed behind him.

That was when the surroundings suddenly grew noisy.

Naturally, my gaze shifted toward the Gate.

There was a change at the entrance that had been glowing with a vivid red light.

As if a flame were being extinguished by rain, the red color began to fade.

“Ah, the Gate’s light is changing right now.

There’s no official announcement yet, but it seems the subjugation inside the Gate, estimated to be S-rank, has been largely resolved….”

All the broadcasting cameras waiting beyond the safety line turned toward the Gate entrance.

Oh Seong-gyu and I also ran toward the Gate without thinking.

That change in light meant the strongest monster inside had been eliminated.

It was like good news that the worst hadn’t happened inside.

We were running through the pouring rain toward the Gate when—

“They’re coming out!”

With the Gate’s light behind them, dark silhouettes began to emerge.

One, two, three… five…?

But there were only five shadows.

From this distance it was hard to see clearly, but it felt like one person was missing.

Thump, thump, thud.

With every step, my heart felt like it was crashing to the ground.

What if the missing one was… Jaeyul.

There was no way, but what if it was.

As the distance to the Gate entrance closed, I could make out the team members’ faces.

I scanned them rapidly, one by one.

I see him, Jaeyul’s face!

But… Jaeyul was holding someone in his arms.

Limbs hanging limp as if unconscious, a deathly pale face devoid of any vitality.

Rain poured down mercilessly over them.

Yet he didn’t move at all.

As if… he were dead.

“Rihyeon!”

The one Jaeyul carried out was Lee Rihyeon.