Chapter 10. The Hunter Who Hunts the Gate (2)

Upon arriving at the location where the gate was set to open, as indicated by the app, the scene was quite different from what the two had expected. The area around the gate was cordoned off with yellow police tape by the police. Around the police tape, onlookers were buzzing, and journalists were trying to take photos, arguing with the police who were trying to stop them.

Before arriving at the gate, following Kang Sahoo's decision, Kang Jiye had changed into a hoodie at home and put on a cap, feeling a bit bewildered.

"If you ask how I could predict this?"

"Like I said before. Movies and dramas."

Kang Jiye shook her head as if she had expected this response.

"I guess I'll have to carry a hoodie and a cap with me from now on."

"That's a good idea. It's better not to have your face known."

Of course, their faces might be revealed later, but Kang Sahoo believed it was not a good time for their faces to be known, especially when the interest in Awakeners and gates was at its peak. Kang Jiye, who had seen many dramas and movies where people's selfishness and survival issues caused problems, even if not to the same extent as Kang Sahoo, also agreed with his thoughts.

"Hey, over there! Hey!"

"Are you an Awakener?! They call Awakeners Hunters, right? Is it true that you're going to hunt the gate?!"

"Could you give us a word before you enter the gate?"

Despite not giving permission to film, countless cameras were aimed at the two. Kang Sahoo and Kang Jiye, under the protection of the police, walked quickly and silently to avoid them and entered the area.

"Phew! Good job!"

A police officer who had escorted them to the gate waved his uniform, which was drenched in sweat, either from the heat of the not-yet-ended summer or from the tension.

"Let me check your identities. Can you show me your Hunter licenses?"

After verifying their Hunter licenses, the police officer compared them with his phone and nodded, confirming they were correct.

"Please wait a moment."

After the police officer left, a moment later, a familiar face appeared, someone they had only seen once before.

"Hey? It's you who measured our levels!"

"Hello."

Although she didn't show it, Han Siyeon, the second lieutenant, smiled warmly, seemingly pleased to be called "sister." She glanced at Kang Sahoo with a subtle look, but he, focused on entering the gate, didn't notice.

"You both applied for hunting as numbers 4 and 5. You were lucky."

"Huh? Why were we lucky?"

Kang Jiye tilted her head in confusion, and Han Siyeon smiled.

"As you might have heard, the number of people who can enter each gate is limited based on its level and scale. In this case, the gate can only accommodate exactly five people."

"It seems not many people applied for hunting."

Kang Sahoo, who had been listening, asked, and she shook her head.

"At first, that was the case. But after 12 people successfully cleared an F-level gate that appeared earlier, the application rate skyrocketed. Some people were slightly injured, but it was only minor."

Han Siyeon smiled, as if understanding but also mocking.

"Well, it's natural for anyone to be afraid when facing something for the first time. But it wasn't very pleasant to see people who ignored our encouragement suddenly start competing to apply."

"I understand."

Kang Sahoo nodded. After confirming that it wasn't as dangerous as they thought, hunters were eager to apply for gate hunting. Both the hunters and those who felt contempt for them were understandable.

Following Han Siyeon, they saw people sitting on plastic chairs temporarily set up in front of the gate. The people, who were looking at their phones or tapping their feet, turned their gazes to Kang Sahoo and Kang Jiye.

Han Siyeon asked them to wait a moment and then turned on the speaker attached to her waist.

"Hunters who have reserved hunting from number 1 to 5, please proceed. Other hunters, please leave as entry is restricted."

"What?!"

"I've been waiting here for so long!"

"Hey, if you were going to do this, you should have said so earlier!"

The hunters who had been waiting in the chairs stood up and began to protest, pointing at Han Siyeon.

Han Siyeon sighed secretly, as if she had expected this, and led Kang Sahoo and Kang Jiye to a tent.

"I'm sorry, but I need to calm the other hunters. The briefing will be conducted by someone inside."

Kang Sahoo and Kang Jiye nodded and entered the tent. Inside, a six-person folding table was set up, and three people were already sitting, looking at them.

"Ha-ha! Finally, all five of us are here! Nice to meet you!"

"Hello~"

A middle-aged man who had been sitting in a chair stood up and greeted them, and Kang Jiye responded with a bright voice.

There was one woman and two men sitting in the chairs. The two men, excluding the middle-aged man who had greeted them, seemed to be around the same age as Kang Sahoo.

After the initial greeting, the others also introduced themselves one by one.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Ho-myeong, a Knight who recently awakened. I received an A grade."

A well-built man with short hair and glasses introduced himself, and the middle-aged man with permed hair followed.

"I'm Bae Deok-ho. I'm an Archer and received a B grade. I seem to be the oldest here, so please take care of me~"

'...B grade?'

Kang Sahoo looked at Bae Deok-ho, who had introduced himself, with a puzzled expression.

However, Bae Deok-ho, not noticing his gaze, pointed to the woman as if signaling her to introduce herself. The woman, with her hair tied in a neat ponytail, nodded and introduced herself.

"Hello. I'm Lee Yu-rim. I'm an Assassin and received an A grade. Nice to meet you."

After everyone had introduced themselves, it was Kang Jiye's turn.

"Nice to meet you~ I'm a Cleric and received a B grade! This is my brother."

"Nice to meet you. I'm a Necromancer and received an... Ex grade."

The people who had heard the introductions nodded, but when they heard Kang Sahoo's grade, they looked puzzled.

"An Ex grade? Is there such a grade?"

Kim Ho-myeong, the Knight, asked, puzzled.

"There was a problem with the monolith when it was my turn to be measured, so it couldn't be done properly."

"Oh, so that's why it's Ex. Extra's Ex! It means a temporary grade, right?"

"Probably."

Bae Deok-ho explained with a smile, and Kang Sahoo agreed. Since this wasn't a problem that could be solved by discussing it among themselves, and Kang Sahoo didn't place much importance on his grade, he didn't feel the need to explain further.

Just as the introductions were ending, a soldier entered the tent.

"Hello. I'm about to start the briefing for the gate. Is that okay?"

"Sure~"

Kang Jiye answered cheerfully, and the tent was briefly filled with laughter. A sergeant, wearing a rank badge, projected a screen and began the briefing.

"The grade of this gate is F. The monsters that appear are Forest Lizards, which are about the size of large dogs."

The screen changed to show a monster drawn in a composite sketch style, as if a wanted poster.

The soldier quickly added, noticing the puzzled looks.

"Modern electronic devices don't work inside the gate, so we had to draw the appearance."

"Does that mean a Hunter has already encountered this monster... the Forest Lizard?"

Kim Ho-myeong raised his hand and asked, and the soldier nodded.

"Yes, that's correct. It was first discovered in a gate that appeared in Paraguay."

As he answered, the screen changed again, and a description of the Forest Lizard appeared next to the drawing.

"The Forest Lizard has tough scales, so using blunt weapons is more effective than edged weapons. A Hunter who entered the gate with a gun was able to wound it, but it only caused minor injuries."

People were shocked to hear that it could withstand bullets.

"Of course, that's only inside the gate. It seems that the power of the gun decreases inside the gate."

"Then what about outside the gate?"

Kang Jiye asked, and the sergeant smiled.

"Then it would cause a much greater impact than inside the gate. According to the information we gained from a gate break, E-level monsters can be dealt with using assault rifles, grenades, and Claymores."

"...That's serious."

Bae Deok-ho looked uneasy at the thought of using Claymores to deal with E-level monsters.

"That's why the role of Hunters is crucial. If a gate break occurs, it could lead to urban warfare."

The sergeant paused and looked at Kang Sahoo with a subtle expression. Kang Sahoo, feeling the gaze, was puzzled, but the sergeant continued, still looking at him.

"And one Hunter actually managed to stop an E-level gate break alone."

"Alone...?"

People were surprised by the sergeant's words and looked at Kang Sahoo, who was even more surprised.

"Um, is that...?"

"Does that mean Hunter Kang Sahoo stopped all the E-level monsters alone?"

Kim Ho-myeong, speaking for Bae Deok-ho, who couldn't remember the name, asked, and the sergeant nodded.

"Yes."

"Ha-ha-ha! That's a relief!"

Bae Deok-ho laughed, relieved.

"I was worried about entering a gate full of those monsters. If you can take out E-level monsters alone, F-level should be a piece of cake!"

Bae Deok-ho laughed heartily, and Kang Jiye and Lee Yu-rim looked at Kang Sahoo in surprise, while Kim Ho-myeong looked skeptical.

"Is that even possible? To face all the monsters alone...?"

"You'll see soon enough."

The sergeant smiled.

"It's not impossible. Remember Lieutenant Han Siyeon? She hunted two F-level gates alone."

"Really?"

Kang Jiye exclaimed in surprise. Although they didn't say anything, the other three, excluding Kang Sahoo, also looked at the sergeant in surprise.

"Wow, this is... This shouldn't be happening."

Bae Deok-ho rubbed his hands together, a confident look on his round, simple face.

"This hunting is getting more exciting."

His competitive spirit ignited, and the other Hunters also became excited, their faces flushed.

The sergeant, who had finished the briefing, looked at the Hunters with satisfaction and then at Kang Sahoo, who was the only one standing straight and expressionless among the excited faces.