Ch.213Side Story – Complete

“How’s the gate’s condition?”

“Compared to the beginning, it’s extremely unstable.”

That makes sense. A gate that should have disappeared immediately has lasted for three days.

No matter how unusual the situation is, it certainly can’t last forever.

“…What about Seojin Baek and the others who went inside?”

“They haven’t returned yet. What should we do? Should we send more people in?”

After pondering for a moment, Jiyoon Han slowly shook her head.

If something critical had happened inside, at least one person would have returned by now.

Either to warn others not to enter, or to request backup.

But nothing had happened. There was simply no news.

For a brief moment, negative thoughts crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed them.

Seojin Baek is there, and Rina Lee too. Whatever comes their way, they’re not easy targets.

‘If anything, I’m more concerned about here, with two S-class forces missing.’

Despite thinking this, she couldn’t help but worry about those who had gone through.

If circumstances allowed, she would send another team, but the situation wasn’t that flexible.

Just yesterday, another gate had appeared near Seoul.

And so, carrying this anxiety, another day passed.

“They’ve returned!”

When the long-awaited news arrived, Jiyoon Han immediately headed to the gate.

Were they injured? Had anything bad happened inside?

Filled with all sorts of questions, she went to where Seojin Baek and his team had reportedly arrived—

“Unnie! I finally found a solution!”

“Huh?”

“The other world is amazing! Now I understand why everyone talks about isekai, isekai!!”

“…???”

She was confronted with Rina Lee, who was suddenly praising another world and saying she wanted to go back.

It was completely incomprehensible behavior.

“…”

Unable to understand the situation, Jiyoon Han looked toward Seojin Baek.

Her look clearly said: I don’t understand a word this person is saying, so please explain.

In response, Seojin Baek suggested they move to a quieter place first.

“What is it? You’re making me even more curious.”

Following behind Seojin Baek, Jiyoon Han skipped the formal report and urged him to explain.

What had happened beyond the gate that took them four days?

Judging by their appearance, there hadn’t been any battles; they looked like they’d just returned from a picnic.

And why was Rina, that crazy person, talking such nonsense with that crazed look in her eyes?

“Well. This might sound a bit crazy.”

“We already live in a world where gates open and monsters pour out. Nothing could be more absurd than that, so just tell me. I’m getting impatient waiting.”

She’s become quite similar to Rina after working with her.

If Jiyoon Han heard that thought, she’d scream, “Absolutely not!” Muttering this to himself…

“…First of all, this gate is definitely not an ordinary gate.”

Seojin Baek began to explain what they had experienced inside.

“It’s another world. Similar to where we live, with people living there, but that’s the only similarity. Everything else is completely different. How should I put it? A parallel world? No, that doesn’t sound right.”

“Let’s just call it isekai, like Rina said.”

Isekai. Yes, that’s it. That’s the most accurate term.

Even to someone who had suddenly found himself in this situation, that word seemed most fitting.

“So, like in movies or novels, they use magic and have a medieval feel?”

“From what I saw, yes. We went to a village where instead of apartments or houses, they had the kind of buildings you’d only see in the past. And the vigilante group there was all armed with cold weapons.”

“It really is an isekai. Wow… what in the world is happening?”

Jiyoon Han sighed in disbelief.

Then she gestured for him to continue.

“On the second day, we went to meet a high-ranking official located nearby.”

“A nobleman, right?”

“That’s one way to put it. I’m not sure exactly, but that’s how it appeared.”

Seojin Baek’s story continued like this:

They might have been surprised by their sudden appearance, but they weren’t.

Instead, just like the people they first met, they only asked, “Did you come from there?”

Wondering what that meant, they asked back, and the officials waved their hands saying it was good if they weren’t.

“And on the third day, we went to a larger city, and that’s where the problem occurred.”

“Problem? What kind of problem?”

“You know those types, right? The ones born on third base who think they hit a triple. The kind who were born into privilege, haven’t done anything themselves, but are good at showing off.”

Just hearing about such people makes one’s blood boil.

Jiyoon Han also absolutely detests that type; she just wants to beat them with a stick.

“Ah. I understand. And then? …Oh. Wait, wait a minute.”

Jiyoon Han urgently interrupted Seojin Baek, as if something had occurred to her.

Then she muttered, “No way? It’s not what I’m thinking, is it?”

But unfortunately, bad premonitions rarely turn out to be wrong.

“Yes. That’s exactly it.”

“…Really? That’s what happened?”

“Yes. Rina beat them up, nearly killing them.”

“…”

“So we gave up on further exchanges and fled back to the gate.”

On their way, they happened to encounter some men who, predictably, harassed the female members.

Thanks to Rina, who lost her temper, an incident occurred.

Fearing the situation would escalate, they decided to leave the area.

“Couldn’t it have been resolved through dialogue?”

“If she had just hit them moderately, perhaps, but that wasn’t the case, so it would have been difficult.”

If Seojin Baek was describing it this way, it was already beyond salvaging.

She had thought, “Surely not,” but when it actually happened, it was truly an absurd situation.

“…They must have been in an uproar there.”

“Well, I think so, but people’s reactions when the incident occurred were a bit strange.”

“Strange how?”

“It’s like… how should I put it? As if they’ve seen such scenes several times before, so they’re used to it?”

“Then you didn’t need to flee, did you?”

“Rina kept muttering ‘reassuring’ and beat them even more.”

“…”

Total chaos. That’s the only word that came to mind.

She couldn’t help but cover her face and sigh.

At the same time, she genuinely felt sorry for the man before her who had to live with that Rina.

“So, what was Rina talking about earlier? About the isekai being amazing.”

“About that. Apparently, in that world, both polygyny and polyandry are acceptable.”

Hmm. Should I go and hit her once? I really want to smack her head.

*

The gate that led to the isekai closed and disappeared after that day.

Rina tried to open it again, claiming it was hope, but that was impossible from the start.

Even someone like her couldn’t do anything about something that had already vanished.

“Ah! It has to be a place where harems are possible!!!”

Rina shouted in a desperate voice that she absolutely needed an isekai.

Seojin Baek tried hard to erase that scene from his mind.

This incident was officially documented in a report that was sent to the higher-ups.

Additionally, it was accurately communicated to the leadership of countries around the world.

If they discover an unusual gate, it might be a door to another world.

While they shouldn’t let their guard down, they don’t need to be overly tense when checking the interior.

However, no similar incidents occurred afterward.

Every gate that appeared spewed out monsters, and battles ensued each time.

Gates that weren’t dealt with became dungeons, threatening human safety.

‘In a way, it seems like there are more gates than before.’

As if dealing with the monster cataclysm and multiple gate occurrences wasn’t hard enough.

Rina, having seen the possibility of an isekai and a harem, had completely lost her mind.

And now she was causing a commotion, saying she’d find a way to return there.

“Why are you acting like this?!”

“What else? I just need to go there and get married!”

“To you, is another world just a place to register a marriage? Is that all you see?!”

The image of Jiyoon Han and Rina bickering is still vivid in his mind.

Meanwhile, an unexpected point was that Soohyun Kim secretly shared Rina’s sentiment.

After hearing about harems in the isekai, Seojin Baek noticed a subtle change in her gaze.

If neither Rina nor he could give up on the situation.

If both were worried about the future due to societal gazes.

Then it would be better to be in another world where they could be open about it.

“Oppa Seojin. Soohyun and I are going out for a bit.”

“Where are you going? And Soohyun? When did you two suddenly become so close?”

“After seeing the new world, I found the answer. We just need to get married there!”

“What are you saying! Even if you get married there, how would it be recognized here!”

“At the very least, it would be easier than being stubborn here! Come on, let’s go! Soohyun!”

He thought it was a joke, but it seems it was serious.

The two of them would go check out any suspicious gate that was reported.

Unfortunately, most were just ordinary gates with monsters coming out.

‘No… even if you’re not going to live in another world, what’s the point of getting married there? This is driving me crazy.’

He should stop the two women, but he can’t bring himself to.

In truth, if it were possible, it would be a bit easier for him too.

But still, this doesn’t seem right, and it’s giving him a headache.

As if even thinking about it was tiring, Seojin Baek rubbed his eyes.

At least today is his day off, so he can rest at home, but tomorrow…

Swish—

‘What.’

Reflexively jumping to his feet, Seojin Baek immediately prepared his magical power.

Tensing his body as if ready for battle, he headed to the living room.

There, a black gate had opened its mouth.

‘This is crazy. Why is there a gate in my house?!’

As he was thinking that this had never happened before, Seojin Baek noticed something strange.

It’s too small to be called a gate. No, to be precise, it’s excessively small.

He had seen all sorts of gates, but never one this small.

Still maintaining his vigilance, as Seojin Baek took another step forward.

“Ah.”

Suddenly, something popped out from the black void.

It was a person. Yes, definitely a person!

Seeing this, Seojin Baek bit his lip and prepared for battle.

The aura he felt was definitely not human. It was at least S-class!

‘Is it a humanoid monster? I need to request backup immediately…’

As he was about to check its characteristics and engage…

“Ah, brother. Please calm down. It’s alright. Nothing will happen.”

With a bright smile, the young man, who gave off a very benevolent feeling, continued speaking while trying to reassure the wary Seojin Baek.

“It was too sudden, so I opened it with force. I won’t be able to stay long. I just came because Father was so curious. I sincerely apologize for this.”

The young man in pristine white priestly robes held onto the black void’s entrance.

Muscles that looked ready to burst through his clothes danced beneath the fabric.

“Father, I’ve held it open for a moment, so you should have enough time to greet him.”

Then, from beyond, another man slightly revealed himself.

“Huh.”

Upon witnessing this scene, Seojin Baek unconsciously smiled.

He didn’t know who they were, but his body almost moved instinctively the moment he saw them.

Excellent. This opponent is more powerful than anyone he’s met before.

If he could just stop this person, if that moment ever came…

Even his characteristic, which had already reached its growth limit, could surpass its boundaries!

“Oh, it’s true. Wow, Johan. You’re the best…”

BANG!—

Seojin Baek’s fist, extended with all his might, was blocked by the other’s hand.

Despite the sudden attack, neither of the two men showed any sign of surprise.

“Excuse me, what are you doing?”

Though slightly awkward, it was definitely Korean.

In response, Seojin Baek smiled and drew out more magical power.

“I’m someone who must stop you. It’s a kind of privilege, you could say.”

“…I see.”

Nodding as if to say “I understand,” the man continued.

“Then try to stop me. I’ll try to break through.”

As if stating the obvious, Seojin Baek nodded.

To prevent this terrifying will from entering this world!

– Side Story End –