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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Cheongdam-dong, An Unexpected Incident - 2
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Knowing the future meant preparing for everything and taking every advantage.
Items, people, opportunities, everything...
That was Lee Hyun-wook's way of thinking.
But every time, the future shifted slightly, and inevitably, the unexpected happened.
Fortunately, however, until now, all those unexpected events had turned into 'unexpected gains'.
'This time is a similar case.'
Right now, Lee Hyun-wook was sitting in the battalion commander's office, facing Kim Kang-seok and Cheon Myeong-ho.
Once again, something unexpected had begun to unfold.
Kim Kang-seok spoke first.
"Lee Hyun-wook, you know about Red Gates, right?"
"Yes, of course."
Gates are usually purple.
But that wasn't always the case.
Red Gates, Blue Gates, and so on.
Depending on their properties, gates could emit different colors of light.
Among them, a Red Gate...
"...is a gate with various restrictions, isn't it?"
Like the 'Unlucky Event' a few days ago, various restrictions are applied to the 'dungeon' inside the gate.
Entry restrictions, unfavorable rules and environments—they were tricky in many ways.
"That's right. A vicious stage that can even devour veteran raid teams... that's a Red Gate."
Kim Kang-seok looked displeased.
"But an order came down from headquarters to clear that Red Gate."
Headquarters here meant the 'A.M.T Seoul Operations Command'.
"Hmm, Battalion Commander, I'll explain this."
"...Please do."
Warrant Officer Cheon Myeong-ho then began to explain why they had summoned Lee Hyun-wook.
The gist of it was this.
A 'Red Gate' had appeared at a building construction site in Cheongdam-dong.
Entry restricted to level 18 and below, a maximum of 30 people, and no exit until the gate is cleared.
Those were the rules.
"...After blocking the first monster outbreak since the gate's appearance, the Cheonghwa Guild declared an exclusive raid."
The Cheonghwa Guild and the 3rd Anti-Monster Brigade's 1st Battalion manage the same area and respond to gates jointly, but in the case of a 'raid operation' to enter a dungeon, only one side holds the 'raid rights' and 'ownership rights'.
The reason was simple.
An outbreak is a battle in the real world, so 'public safety' must be prioritized due to the risk of civilian casualties. However, a dungeon raid, which poses no such risk, is based purely on 'business interests'.
'In other words, monopolizing it is much more profitable, so they compete for the raid rights.'
Dungeon raiding was a privatized market, and guilds were the corporations that lived off it.
However...
"...Three days ago, the Cheonghwa Guild's third raid attempt failed."
The situation over there was heading in a very bad direction.
"In that case, according to the treaty, shouldn't the fourth attempt be a joint response?"
"Oh, you know your stuff, don't you? That's why the Cheonghwa people are quite pissed off."
There was a 'mutual treaty' stating that if the party with raid rights fails to clear a gate three times, they are deemed to lack the capability, and two or more organizations must then form a 'joint response'.
If they fail again, the gate is designated as a 'Trouble 3' target requiring close monitoring, and a 'coalition' of five or more organizations is formed to launch a large-scale raid operation.
If even that fails, the last resort—deploying the ultimate weapon, an 'S-rank'—is discussed.
According to these regulations, the Cheongdam-dong Red Gate was now at the second stage: 'joint response'.
"The level restriction for that Red Gate is 18, so we couldn't just send in any troops... but after the Commander received a report on the performance of the rescue team deployed to the Seoul Station 'Unlucky Event,' he must have seen some potential. He ordered that rescue team's personnel... to be deployed for this operation."
The performance of the Seoul Station Unlucky Event rescue team...
Yes, honestly, it was a miraculous feat, an achievement deserving of the highest praise.
"So..."
Cheon Myeong-ho placed a hand on Lee Hyun-wook's shoulder.
"...I'm truly sorry, but you're the right man for this mission."
Cheon Myeong-ho's explanation ended there.
Kim Kang-seok shook his head and sighed.
"Ha... To be frank, it's too dangerous. The Cheonghwa Guild sent in teams of only high-level Players, perfectly matched to the level 18 cap, three times, and not a single one made it back alive."
One of the reasons the Cheonghwa Guild couldn't provide support with Players under level 15 during the Seoul Station Unlucky Event was precisely because a significant number of their promising new talents were perishing in that Red Gate.
"What's more, the fourth attempt starts tonight. It's all so sudden..."
Kim Kang-seok couldn't help but feel frustrated.
To have to send his soldiers into a battlefield with an overwhelmingly high chance of failure—literally into a death trap—and of all people, his most cherished soldier...
But that cherished soldier, Lee Hyun-wook, thought differently.
Inwardly, he was smiling.
'For such an incredible opportunity to come knocking on my door like this...'
An unexpected event caused by the slightly changing future. Fortunately, this too was an opportunity.
And Lee Hyun-wook knew this Cheongdam-dong 'Red Gate' very well.
'It's one of the gates that would later be called the Man-Eating Gates.'
A total of five failed raids, 112 Players devoured—it was the worst of gates.
Moreover, all of them were promising talents from Cheonghwa, one of the nation's leading guilds—people who would have been responsible for South Korea's security and national prestige in a few years, yet they had perished in vain.
'But in a game, difficult also means the rewards are incredible.'
Naturally, this Red Gate drops items of immense value.
From his memory, it dropped magical metals like 'Mithril' and the expensive 'Adamant,' and furthermore, he could acquire all sorts of items—the belongings of the raid teams that had perished inside.
'And... there's a pretty decent spear buried in there.'
A Hero-grade item, the 'Spear of Achilles'.
An item with a unique effect: a wound inflicted by it would not heal easily...
That item lay dormant, deep inside the Cheongdam-dong Red Gate's dungeon.
'At this rate... I'll be able to grow once more before the 4th wave.'
Lee Hyun-wook thought this and smiled inwardly, but he maintained a stoic expression on the outside.
Just then, Kim Kang-seok sighed once more.
"Ha... What on earth is the Commander's reason for pushing this so hard?"
Cheon Myeong-ho didn't bother to answer.
But Lee Hyun-wook knew the reason well.
'If it's something that would make Jeong Sang-sik go crazy, it must be because of the Cheonghwa Guild.'
Around this time, General Jeong Sang-sik, the commander of A.M.T Seoul Operations Command, had been at odds with the Cheonghwa Guild.
This was because he had a terrible personal history with the Cheonghwa Guild's master, Yoo Jae-hyeok.
But unfortunately, Jeong Sang-sik couldn't beat Yoo Jae-hyeok in any aspect.
That's why he pushed the A.M.T units under his command to achieve better results than Cheonghwa.
To win, even just once, even if it was something small...
'Jeong Sang-sik was the kind of man who used his subordinates' lives like consumables to get results...'
A commander who grinds down his soldiers, a common type—that was his style.
That's why he had ordered them to join the raid operation starting tonight.
'Who knew that man's reckless personality would end up helping me?'
It was then.
"Ah... Battalion Commander?"
Cheon Myeong-ho held up his phone with a troubled expression.
Vrrr-
A call was coming in.
"Don't tell me... is it the Commander?"
Cheon Myeong-ho nodded with a reluctant face and cautiously answered the phone.
"Salute, Commander! Yes, that's right."
For the Commander to call personally, he was certainly being intense.
"Yes? Ah... Ah! I'll do that."
Cheon Myeong-ho glanced between Kim Kang-seok and Lee Hyun-wook, then placed his phone on the table.
And switched to speakerphone.
"Commander, I've switched to speakerphone now."
- Right, that fellow is listening now, isn't he?
"Salute! Corporal Lee Hyun-wook, sir."
Lee Hyun-wook stepped up, taking the hint.
- Oh, yes, all day yesterday and today, I've been hearing nothing but reports of your exploits. Wow, it's incredible! An F-rank who achieved an accomplishment and perfectly protected civilians in crisis—I'm truly proud!
For a lieutenant general, his voice carried a hint of overexcitement.
"Yes! Thank you, sir!"
- Hmm, so... the, uh, details... you heard them all from Warrant Officer Cheon?
"Yes, the Red Gate, that's correct."
- ...So? Want to give it a shot?
It was astonishing how he could ask if he was willing to risk his life so nonchalantly.
"...If you order me to, I will do it."
- No, no, it's not an order. I'm asking if you're willing to volunteer for something that will be a great help to your future—in other words, a chance to achieve the greatest merit during your service in the A.M.T.
"..."
At that sophistry, Kim Kang-seok clutched his head.
A call from a three-star general was practically a command.
But Lee Hyun-wook calmly continued the conversation.
"Uh, Commander, sir, may I ask just one question?"
- Yes, yes, ask ten, a hundred, go right ahead.
"In my opinion... this operation seems to be more than just clearing a single gate. It feels like the A.M.T's pride is on the line."
- Pride? Hmm, why is that?
"As a member of the A.M.T, I can't help but be concerned that we'll be competing with the Cheonghwa Guild, who co-manages the Seoul area. The Cheonghwa Guild tends to look down on us in the A.M.T... a joint raid would essentially be an all-out war for pride between the Cheonghwa Guild and the A.M.T. So I'm worried if I dare... if I'm worthy of shouldering the A.M.T's pride."
- Hmm, you're... quite perceptive, aren't you?
He had deliberately emphasized that 'pride' was on the line.
He didn't want to show it, but since that was Jeong Sang-sik's goal, he had provoked it.
"In that case, Commander, are you saying you believe in my potential in this competition against Cheonghwa?"
A brief silence—
- Hmm... You know... I've been in this position for a long time, and I can see a soldier's character just from a few stories. When I heard about your performance at Seoul Station, I thought you'd be the perfect fit for this case. That's why I wanted to entrust it to you. I suppose you could call that a kind of faith, right?
It couldn't have been just his performance at Seoul Station that reached the Commander's ears.
His previous encounters with goblins, kobolds, and orcs, and even the details of the duel training witnessed by Warrant Officer Cheon Myeong-ho might have been reported.
In other words, he wasn't just recklessly forcing the mission on him; he had likely selected Lee Hyun-wook as his 'piece' in this game based on some information.
Honestly, he welcomed it.
"...In that case, I'll do it."
- Oh? Really? You... you can really do it?
"Commander, however, if you believe in my success..."
Lee Hyun-wook had no intention of going empty-handed.
He would gain something from this opportunity.
"...I would like you to provide me with one weapon. And if I achieve results that satisfy you, Commander, I would like that weapon to be given to me as a reward."
- Hmm, what weapon are you talking about?
"...I would like 'Failnaught' from the Command Headquarters' armory."
- ...What?
"I believe it's the most suitable weapon for my ability to control metal."
- ...
"..."
A moment of silence passed.
Kim Kang-seok and Cheon Myeong-ho also looked somewhat surprised.
Failnaught (Fail-Not, Failnaught)...
It was the never-missing arrow used by Sir Tristan, a character from the Arthurian legends.
Not a bow, but really, just a single 'arrow'.
'That's why it was a white elephant, gathering dust until it came into my hands.'
Being an arrow, it should be used by an archer, but it was inconvenient as it had to be retrieved after being shot. It was also unsuitable for assassinations because it could be a clue identifying the shooter.
Its utility was bound to be low in many ways. It didn't have overwhelming destructive power either. It just had incredible accuracy and was imbued with a 'magic nullification' effect...
That's why, until Lee Hyun-wook, who could freely manipulate metal, used it, no one had sought it out.
Still, it was a 'Hero' grade item, which was why they were all surprised.
"Commander, if you trust and support me, I will definitely bring back results."
He displayed his confidence, driving the nail in further.
Then...
- ...Alright, fine!
After thinking it over, it seemed he decided it wasn't a bad deal.
If he could humble Yoo Jae-hyeok by investing one useless item.
Jeong Sang-sik's competitive spirit was that immense.
To the extent that his competitiveness would spark several incidents in the future...
- I'll send it within the hour, so make sure you beat those Cheonghwa bastards, understand?
"Yes! Understood!"
***
Immediately after, Kim Kang-seok summoned the low-level soldiers who had been deployed on the Seoul Station rescue mission.
Just because Lee Hyun-wook said okay, it wasn't like they were being buried alive with their king. He couldn't send all the low-level soldiers into a death trap, so it was right to explain the mission's dangers to them and take volunteers.
"...Now, the choice is yours."
When Kim Kang-seok said this after his explanation, Cheon Myeong-ho became anxious.
Because there was a high probability that no one would volunteer.
But the result was unexpected.
"If Corporal Lee Hyun-wook is going, then I'll go too."
"I'll join this time as well. I think it will be a chance to grow."
"...Uh, then I, I also want to participate in this operation!"
Of the low-level rescue team deployed to Seoul Station, eight people, including Ahn Min-tae and Park Jun-mo, volunteered.
"You guys..."
Kim Kang-seok, that true soldier, looked moved as expected.
"Honestly, I'm scared. But I want to squeeze my eyes shut and face it."
Ahn Min-tae said, looking at Lee Hyun-wook.
'If I'm with Corporal Lee Hyun-wook... I can grow faster.'
They likely knew that if it wasn't them, the low-level soldiers, no one else could do it, and they were thinking that being with Lee Hyun-wook could be more than just an experience—it could be an 'opportunity'.
Thus, the series of exploits Lee Hyun-wook had shown had already become solid trust.
"Corporal Lee Hyun-wook, you... you feel much bigger than the last time I saw you."
Cheon Myeong-ho said.
After just a few days, Lee Hyun-wook had established a position incomparable to before.
"That's why I'm looking forward to the future even more."
For a moment, a strange tension could be felt between Kim Kang-seok and Cheon Myeong-ho.
In any case, a 9-member 'Special Raid Squad' was formed, including Lee Hyun-wook.
"Assemble in 30 minutes! Everyone, fully armed, and check your skills!"
They returned to their respective barracks to prepare for battle.
"You never know what might happen inside a dungeon, so check your gear several times when packing to make sure you haven't missed anything!"
Within the A.M.T, there were several types of military packs.
The heaviest among them was the 'Dungeon Raid Type' pack.
This was because, in the worst-case scenario, they might have to live inside the dungeon for days on end.
"Ugh, it's heavy..."
"Park Jun-mo, that weight will save your life."
Lee Hyun-wook quickly finished his preparations and checked the information on the new skill he had forgotten about.
- Congratulations! You have met a special condition, and the 'Steel Body' skill will be greatly enhanced!
He had only checked up to this message at the training ground before running to the battalion commander's office.
'It seems absorbing the armor system automatically fused it with Steel Body.'
In this way, when he swallowed a certain item, a corresponding skill would be enhanced.
Of course, this didn't mean he could just tear off and eat any armor or shield just because it was metal. It only applied to things that weren't mixed with other components and could be swallowed in one bite.
And such things were rarer than one might think.
Lee Hyun-wook checked the details.
[Skill Information]
- Name: Indomitable Steel Body (剛體化)
- Grade: C
- Effect: Consumes Mana (20) to temporarily 'strengthen' a part of the body.
1 [Mana Shield]
2 [Secret Inscription]
3 [Unknown]
* Swallowing a certain amount of 'high-hardness magical metal' will improve the skill grade.
* Leveling up is possible by gaining experience through hunting.
The original 'Steel Body' had been enhanced to 'Indomitable Steel Body'.
And with it, several new things were added.
First, it had risen one grade from D to C.
Lee Hyun-wook tried using 'Steel Body' on his left arm.
Tzz-ch-ch-
'The thickness hasn't increased, but it's much harder, and my strength has increased too.'
From experience, a feeling like this meant his grip strength should have increased by about five times.
Since D-grade was about three times, this was significant growth.
'On top of that... I got additional skills.'
There were a total of three items, with only 1 and 2 unlocked.
He first cast the number 1 skill, 'Mana Shield', on his left hand, which was under the effect of Steel Body.
- 'Mana Shield' is now activated.
Whoooosh-
A faint aura began to flow around the part of his body affected by Steel Body.
The skin tissue, hardened like metal, was vibrating minutely and emitting mana.
And the 'Mana Shield' functioned by having that flow of mana rotate along his body.
This was the same principle by which a 'dragon's' scales nullified magic.
'It's at a level where it can easily nullify beginner-level magic.'
Back when he was called the Steel Great Emperor, Lee Hyun-wook's greatest weakness was his 'magic resistance'.
Even if he strengthened Steel Body to its maximum, only his physical defense would increase; he was helpless against magical attacks. That's why he had a dedicated tanker named Seo Eun-ha to provide all-around cover.
'I tried to increase my magic resistance somehow, but it wasn't easy...'
There were almost no metals that could raise magic resistance.
To be precise, there were no metals small enough to eat.
'This time, it's different from the very foundation.'
His most fatal weakness had been offset to some extent.
'And the second skill, Secret Inscription... what's this?'
- Please hold the 'item' to be inscribed into your body.
Following the message, he took out a steel ball and held it.
Then...
- Inscribed.
The steel ball turned to smoke and was absorbed into his hand, and something was engraved on the skin of his left wrist.
"...A tattoo?"
It was like very fine metal particles had been etched into his skin.
And this circular shape seemed to represent the steel ball.
When he infused mana into it again...
Shiiii-
The 'tattoo' flowed out, and the steel ball was naturally in his left hand.
"This is pretty good."
It seemed the 'subspace' function that was originally attached to the item had changed into this.
To be able to store items inside his body as a tattoo—honestly, the portability was incredible.
He recalled the scene where Han Tae-san used to pull Mjolnir out of his secret armor.
When a guy who was bare-handed suddenly pulls a hammer out of nowhere and swings it, the enemies could only be flustered.
'I'll be able to create some interesting scenes.'
And it was then.
"Corporal Lee Hyun-wook! You need to go to the armory immediately!"
A private from the 2nd squad delivered the message.
'Failnaught, it's arrived.'
Seeing as it took less than an hour, it seemed to have arrived via a 'small portal' that connected the armories.
Lee Hyun-wook immediately went down to the armory and received the item.
It was a steel box about 50 cm tall and 150 cm wide.
When he returned to the barracks with it, no one was there.
It seemed the squad members had finished their battle preparations and had assembled in the central corridor.
Opening the box revealed a single silver arrow emitting a noble light.
[Item Information]
- Name: Sir Tristan's Failnaught
- Effect: Tracks and strikes a targeted subject, ignoring 'Magic Resistance'.
'It's been a while.'
This was one of the items Lee Hyun-wook used as his main weapon.
He had used countless items, but few were as easy to control as this one.
Because unlike a normal arrow, everything from the fletching to the tip was made of metal.
In other words, it was a perfect object for Lee Hyun-wook to exert his metal control on.
'Inscribe.'
As he applied the newly acquired skill, Failnaught vanished like smoke...
- Inscribed.
A small arrow tattoo was engraved on his left wrist.
"Let's see..."
He infused mana into the tattoo and simultaneously exerted his metal control, pushing it out forcefully.
Then—
Sh-week!
From his empty grasp—from thin air—'Failnaught' shot out vertically, traversing the barracks in the blink of an eye and stopping precariously near the window.
It created the illusion that it had teleported.
"Huh..."
Even Lee Hyun-wook, who was controlling it himself, couldn't follow its movement with his 'eyes'.
Because as the Secret Inscription was released, the smoke materialized and was fired simultaneously.
"This... is a perfect combination for a surprise attack."
It was the 'Failnaught' he had used countless times in his past life,
but its combination with 'Secret Inscription' had given birth to a new weapon.
It seemed it would be more useful than the 'Hidden Sword' he often used.
Feeling satisfied, Lee Hyun-wook retrieved Failnaught and 'inscribed' it again, making it disappear like smoke.
He headed to the assembly point with the 'never-missing arrow' hidden in a 'never-to-be-found place'.