Ch.148The Massive Gate Is Dangerous (4)

Before starting the broadcast, I joined a meeting arranged for Song Hayeon and Saya to get acquainted. While engaging in trivial conversation, I carefully observed the mark engraved on her.

“I, I’m truly honored, and I brought a small gift.”

“Thank you.”

As expected, the mark possessed effects not far from what I had anticipated.

It seems I’ve discovered a valuable clue from an unexpected place.

“…So, who made this?”

“It’s Sanada. Don’t you know him?”

“Of course I do.”

I had the impression he lived and breathed only for swordsmanship, so I didn’t expect him to have this kind of talent.

Still, seeing how attentive he’s been since last time, he’s quite likable.

I nodded with satisfaction as I accepted the gift Saya handed me.

Then, taking a bite of the enclosed wagashi, I thought.

Perhaps Sanada’s talent lies more in this area than swordsmanship.

“Delicious.”

“I’m glad you like it!”

As I chewed the confection with my mouth full, Song Hayeon and Saya were busy planning various aspects of the broadcast.

And after all the conversation was done, I finally opened my mouth to confirm my original purpose.

“Have you experienced anything strange lately?”

“Strange…?”

“Like meeting someone special, or having some unusual contact different from normal.”

It wouldn’t make sense if nothing had happened. After all, the coordinates were clearly marked.

However, Saya shrugged and gestured that she didn’t know.

I suppose she might not have been aware of the contact, or perhaps it happened during a brief, fleeting encounter.

I thought an S-rank hunter with excellent intuition might have sensed something, but apparently I was wrong.

“No, forget it. Just forget I asked.”

It doesn’t matter anyway. It would just take a bit more time, but I could figure it out myself.

Besides, if my prediction was correct.

‘I probably won’t need to do anything since a reaction will come on its own soon enough.’

So I spent time with the two of them without taking any particular action.

Then the next day, the joint broadcast finally began.

[It’s been a while! As promised, today I’m planning to do a somewhat special broadcast…]

Naturally, I didn’t participate and instead lounged on the sofa outside the studio where the two were, casually watching on my phone.

By the way, these confections are truly delicious no matter how many times I think about it.

I seriously considered multiple times whether to assign Astride, the master swordsman, as a mentor and in return make Sanada my exclusive patissier.

And then, finally, the reaction I had been waiting for was caught by my intuition.

‘Whoever it is, they’re not particularly patient.’

Thud.

I got up from the sofa, yanked open the studio door, and approached the two surprised individuals.

“Get ready. It’s coming.”

“What? Why suddenly…”

Simultaneously, a bright light flashed and the surrounding space was disturbed.

Whoosh.

Crack!

Boom!

A familiar sight for hunters—the blooming phenomenon where a dungeon forms and reveals itself.

However, for some reason, this time its form was quite different.

“What is this…”

A massive door appeared as if to welcome us, opened its entrance, and instantly reversed our field of vision.

What unfolded around us was a kingdom of enormous buildings, like medieval houses expanded several times over.

It felt inappropriate to use this comparison in such a situation, but it was as if I had become the protagonist of Gulliver’s Travels.

“Master? What’s going on?”

“You can see for yourself. It’s a gate.”

Of course, it was far from an ordinary gate. The two of them sensed that as well, which was why they were confused.

“The disappeared gate, of all times, now…”

Even Saya, who hadn’t foreseen this situation, scanned the surroundings with somewhat anxious eyes.

She too must have realized in an instant that the magical concentration in this place was abnormally high.

“…I’ve never felt anything like this even in S-rank dungeons.”

S1-rank.

A modifier reserved for when a higher-level dungeon than humanity has ever experienced occurs.

If there was ever a moment to use that term, it would be now.

‘The massive gate in that martial artist’s memory.’

Perhaps this is the same type of dungeon.

I subtly spread my power, gradually detecting everything around us.

Then, before long, there was a response.

Boom.

Boom.

Boooom.

What we heard were the footsteps of truly enormous beings. And clearly, they weren’t just one but many.

When the beings revealed themselves, Song Hayeon and Saya gulped.

“That’s…”

“Gi-giants?”

Unlike me, the two were seeing these creatures for the first time, but identifying them was easy nonetheless.

Simply put, they were incredibly massive, whatever they were.

‘Are they different in origin from those in Thebes?’

Their appearance and the energy they emitted were from an entirely different branch.

I calmly observed their forms with an interested gaze.

[Humans.]

[They are humans.]

[Humans filled with magical power have come.]

Thud.

Boom.

They stomped their feet in joy as if they had discovered a premium meal.

With those simple gestures, we below had to endure several earthquakes.

“What are you waiting for? Catch them already.”

“What? Just the two of us?”

“Who else is there besides you two?”

From my perspective, it was all the same, but I needed to establish a baseline of how strong these enemies were for other hunters.

So Song Hayeon and Saya slowly stepped forward and began to use their abilities.

“Undead call.”

“Spell, Four Tiger Chicken!”

Hanun, Song Hayeon’s original undead that I helped recreate.

And the massive skeleton mashers that rose around him as if to assist.

Their imposing presence was certainly impressive enough to not be overwhelmed by the giants before them.

‘I wonder if they’ll manage to win.’

As I predicted, Song Hayeon and Saya fought hard and narrowly defeated four giants.

However, the two seemed shocked by the result.

“T-to think that mere regular monsters would be this difficult.”

“No joke, if there had been six of them, we would have lost.”

Even two S-rank hunters, considered the pinnacle of hunters, struggled against regular dungeon monsters.

The implication wasn’t difficult to understand.

“…Future dungeons will truly not be easy to clear.”

Dungeons had become stronger. Much stronger.

I had anticipated this, but for the two who experienced it firsthand, the difference must have felt more acute.

“Of course, if several S-ranks team up, it would become easier, but…”

That’s not so simple. There are many countries that don’t possess multiple S-ranks, and if they allocate their forces this way and another threat emerges, it would be difficult to respond.

Moreover, as the two mentioned, these were merely “regular monsters” of this dungeon.

Having roughly gauged their strength, I decided to step in and resolve the situation without wasting more time.

“There seems to be a leader-like figure inside. Both of you, step back.”

“What are you going to do?”

After Song Hayeon and Saya had retreated to a safe distance, I raised my qi and magical power, waving my hand to form a massive formation.

Then, I connected that formation directly to the dungeon’s boss room.

Whoosh.

“An adult has arrived, and you’re acting like you’re in charge.”

Flash!

Boom!

As the magical formation flashed, a massive red giant appeared from within.

The giant possessed truly immense power, but contrary to its size, it seemed quite flustered, awkwardly trying to maintain balance as its expression hardened.

“What, did you think some fresh prey had entered?”

[You, who exactly are you…]

The red giant, sensing the immeasurable size of my capacity, closed its mouth with a somewhat intimidated attitude.

I looked at the giant and commanded firmly.

“Tell me everything you know. If it’s useful, I’ll spare you.”

[I have nothing to tell you.]

A predictable answer. According to my expectations, even if it wanted to disclose something, it would be bound by restrictions.

So my response was equally predictable.

“Then you must die.”

[…Listening to you, your arrogance reaches the heavens! I am the foremost descendant of a great race! I am not one to bow my head to a mere human like you!]

The thunderous roar and heavy magical power pressed down on all directions, but to me now, even that was like a child’s tantrum.

“Sorry, but you’re too weak to interest me.”

As I kicked up a small stone from the ground, it transformed into a dragon’s jaw and bit into the opponent.

Crunch.

Crunch.

With each of my kicks, the dragon’s teeth made of rock gradually restrained the giant’s limbs one by one.

Boom.

The giant, screaming helplessly, soon couldn’t endure and fell to its knees on the cold floor.

Without delay, I summoned the claws of devouring and absorbed the giant’s body.

With that, the dungeon was cleared, and soon a portal began to open from the distant boss room.

Facing that unremarkable sight, I called Song Hayeon and Saya back and slowly began to walk.

“I’m curious.”

“…About what?”

I wonder what changes are occurring outside by now.