Chapter 41

After handling gates for a few days, we managed to gather a ton of data.

First off.

Gates closer to light green were near F-rank, while those leaning red were closer to A-rank.

From S-rank onward, the colors changed entirely, shifting from white to increasingly deep black.

For reference, the L-rank gate we’d entered was a profound black, like an abyss that swallowed even light itself.

Seeing the hunter chat brought back memories of ten years ago for me too.

“Hey, have you been to the music room? They say something weird appeared there.”

Back then, I thought it was just one of those school ghost stories every place had.

“Something like smoke, apparently.”

Or maybe a fire.

“If it’s a fire, isn’t that a win?”

“Dude, does that mean no class today?”

“Just today? Come on.”

And sure enough, just like we’d wished, there were no more classes at that school after that day.

The dizzying system windows popped up like in a game, visible only to me and Shin Jae-heon outside the school.

I no longer even knew what those familiar words meant.

And of all places, the gate that exploded in our school music room was A-rank—far beyond what should appear early on.

Turned out it was the most dangerous gate in the country.

That one incident shot me to fame overnight.

While other gates were filled with mourning over the dead, mine came out unscathed.

“Student Shin Yuli, how were you able to clear the gate?”

“Did you know you had such power?”

“We heard you were the only one who awakened—weren’t you desperate?”

In the interview after the chaos settled, I gave a simple answer.

“I wasn’t alone. I cleared it with my friend.”

The reporters looked puzzled at my words.

“Was there another Awakened in the Eunryeong High gate at the time?”

By then, national functions were restarting after a brief halt.

Everyone now knew S-rank was the highest hunter level.

And that without me, Eunryeong High’s A-rank gate would’ve been a catastrophe.

“Yes. My friend.”

“Ah, you mean that…?”

“The C-rank one, right?”

The reporters dismissed Shin Jae-heon back then.

Because he was C-rank.

There were plenty of A- and S-ranks worth spotlighting, and to them, C-rank seemed commonplace.

But even if I went back, I’d say the same.

“Couldn’t have done it without my friend. I was scared.”

I’m the type who fears ghosts more than people.

In that gate spewing unimaginable monsters, without Shin Jae-heon anchoring me, I’d have lost it.

“Damn reporters never believe people.”

I could grumble in my empty office.

Of course, no time for more griping.

The urgent dispatch flying at me said I couldn’t stay in the mansion any longer.

Yellow. Outside in RP Dungeon-free Korea, that’d be called C-rank.

If a gate rampages while defenses are thin, it’s game over.

So what now?

“What else? Send whoever’s left.”

I grabbed my coat and sword. Along the way, I checked my status window.

Results from clearing the family head’s daily quest plus some minor ones.

Wow, compared to starting with 10 HP, these stats are looking pretty badass now!

“Still, it’s just C-rank.”

To my old S-rank eyes, they looked kinda cute, though.

Bottom line: risky to solo a C-rank gate.

“Hmm.”

—Click.

Opening the door, I saw maids outside. They looked shocked at my sword.

“Are you planning to head out, my lady?”

Helen was there too. Above her head floated her combat power level.

You just rest!

I quickly decided and turned to the maids.

Didn’t know their names, but their hunter ranks were visible.

C-rank is plenty!

Their class mark was a weirdly curved sword—not pure dealer, but still a sword meant dealer.

No healers or supports, sadly.

No choice then!

Dealer life, dealer ways! DPS our way through!

“Yeah, heading out. But not alone.”

I pointed to three maids nearby.

“You three, with me.”

“Pardon?”

The maids froze.

“Us…?”

“Do you mean for attendance?”

C-ranks with dealer marks above their heads, trying to weasel out.

Oh really?

“You all can handle basic combat.”

Fool the heavens if you must, but not the system window?

The flustered maids bowed under my stare.

“So you knew.”

They casually drew swords from their sleeves.

Wait, when did they hide those?

“If we can be of help, we’ll go with you.”

The maids said with resolute faces.

“We’ll protect you with our lives.”

“You girls…”

I looked at them, mouth agape.

Not moved or anything.

I’d figured out that weird dealer mark.

The reverse grip, the sheath meticulously treated to avoid reflections.

Assassins!

Shin Jae-heon didn’t send them for my head, right?

“Fine, let’s go.”

I glanced at them and headed out.

Cold knights or hot assassins—now’s not the time to be picky.

I cut off the nagging that followed with one line.

The hunter chat finally quieted down.

Right on cue, a quest window appeared before me.

Skipped the fluff and eyed the reward.

Full MP at 6500, and they give 777?

My mindset turned solemn in an instant.

Who do I draw my sword for, you ask?

“Let’s go!”

For me! Let’s go!

Back in Korea, entering gates meant camera shutters drowning out conversation.

Hunter chat was easier.

Led to weird articles that ironically lit up HunterNet positively.

I learned this later from post-clear wandering photos.

Our stern faces? Simple reason.

We ended up having both, anyway.

Point is, the nostalgia was simple.

No paparazzi hounding us for stories, no shutter sounds.

—Whirr!

The C-rank gate we headed to was deserted.

“Alright, let’s go in.”

At my words, Maids One-Two-Three glared at the gate seriously.

“We’ll escort you as best we can.”

Maid One said.

“Yeah, thanks.”

I replied, but with this much experience, the future was clear.

I clicked my tongue.