Chapter 32

Just as the meteorological office predicts the next day's heavy rain, the Association generally foretold and warned of the appearance of gates. However, in the case of a Burst Gate, it was a sudden gate that even the Association could not predict, as its name suggests. When a Burst Gate appeared, disaster alert alarms would ring on the hunters' terminals and even on the mobile phones of ordinary people, alerting them to the situation. However, times have changed. No one shrank back from the disaster alert alarms anymore. Modern people, who found the next chapter of the webtoon they were reading on their screens more urgent than the annoying alarm, were no longer fazed. Look now. Pedestrians had stopped in their tracks, exclaiming in amazement and filming videos. The police officer pushed them back and set up a barricade. "This is dangerous. Please step back." However, the pedestrians only moved a few steps back and did not leave the area entirely. The same went for Eunha. "Is that a gate?" The police officer, who was setting up the barricade, lifted his head and looked at Eunha. In jeans and a white T-shirt, with her long hair tied up, she looked like a young woman in her early twenties. In other words, just another onlooker. "Yes, well... as you can see." The police officer quickly turned his gaze away from Eunha and resumed his work. Eunha, staring intently at the side of the police officer's face, spoke again. "But why are firefighters coming instead of hunters?" "Well, hunters can only mobilize after the gate auction ends and the bid is finalized." That's right. That's the procedure. Even with a Burst Gate, it's no different. What was the point of asking such an obvious question? The police officer did not hide his annoyance. As long as the gate was cleared within seven days, the monsters inside would not come out. The damage would not spread significantly, and the value of the mana crystals dropped by the gate boss would only increase over time. Therefore, it was not uncommon for the clearance to start only after the full seven days had passed in modern times. This was a story she had heard from Juhui. So Eunha knew it well. But... "Come on, step back." The police officer gestured to Eunha, who stood there, as if she were in the way. Anyway, the 'Legion' guild hunters would be arriving soon. Known for their eagerness to tackle high-level gates, they would fly in without waiting for the seven days. Their job was to minimize the damage until the hunters arrived. Firefighters with long, thick hoses were busy extinguishing the fire, rescue workers were moving civilians with severe injuries, and police officers were setting up barriers to seal off the gate entrance. Suddenly, without any warning, the flames began to intensify. "I, I think it's gone mad! The fire...!" "It's going to spread to the neighboring buildings!" The onlookers murmured. The movements of the firefighters, who were trying to extinguish the fire, became more urgent. "Increase the water pressure to the maximum!" "I can't hold it!" "Hose! Pull the hose! What are you doing!" At that moment, one of the firefighters holding the hose screamed. "Aaah!" He could not withstand the increased water pressure. The fire hose, unable to maintain its balance, began to thrash around like a living snake. The hose, freed from human hands, spun and sprayed water, causing the surrounding firefighters to panic and struggle to regain control. Eventually, one firefighter, struck on the back of the head by the metal tip of the hose, fell over. Behind him, the flames roared open-mouthed. "F, Fire! Get back!" In Eunha's dark eyes, the swirling flames were fully reflected. 'Cha Eunha. Everyone here has lost their family. I, too, have lost my daughter.' 'The people you will save in the future will far outnumber those you could not save.'