Ch.31You’re Not Bad! – 2

No one knows when or where a gate will open. Taxpaying citizens could be in danger.

That’s why there are “National Superpower Users.” Their top priority is the safety of citizens.

The moment citizens doubt the nation’s disaster response capabilities, the framework of the country crumbles.

Therefore, national superpower users are filled with those who have a strong sense of duty or exceptional skills. They are the first to be dispatched when news of a gate appearance spreads.

And just as there are those affiliated with the nation, there are also those affiliated with organizations.

They are registered with the Superpower Association and receive minimal national oversight, but they receive more management and compensation from their affiliated clans—these are the “Clan-affiliated Superpower Users.”

They too prioritize citizen safety according to the core principles of superpower users.

However, there’s one additional factor: “clan profit.”

When gates are cleared and monsters hunted, rewards go to the superpower users who fought. These rewards are primarily monster byproducts, which become extremely rare materials.

These fill the clan’s storehouses. And one’s position within the clan is determined by this.

So clan-affiliated superpower users fight monsters more desperately than anyone else.

In other words, whether nationally or clan affiliated, when a gate appears, they must be the first to respond. And in “combat against monsters,” each must give their all.

The problem is, no one expected a gate to form inside the “suppressor” zone.

Despite the gate’s appearance, no superpower users are in sight yet.

‘When the hell are they coming?!’

It hasn’t even been three minutes since the gate appeared.

It might be a short time, but damn it! Is there really no one nearby?

Shouldn’t they be on emergency standby? They’re worse than civil servants!

Seojin Baek inwardly screamed as he barely dodged a monster’s charge.

Wooooargh—!

Medium-sized monsters called Orox, with the appearance of giant bison but with four eyes.

They poured out of the gate that Rina Lee had called a “hot spot.”

From her perspective, it would indeed be a hot spot. It couldn’t be otherwise.

The Orox visible there are classified as “C-grade” monsters.

Even the leader of the pack is limited to B-grade.

Even if hundreds swarmed, Rina Lee could eliminate them with her pinky finger.

But damn it all! I’m not like her, and neither are ordinary people!

What am I supposed to do when I can’t even manifest my ability?

You’re not playing with monsters again, are you? This is hell!

Fortunately, Seojin Baek’s desperate plea seemed to reach heaven.

Superpower users emerged from inside the building.

“Hey, hurry! Stop them from moving further!”

“Is that all? Damn it! Hey! Don’t use shields! We’re going with Plan B!”

“Citizens! Evacuate immediately! If you can’t leave, get inside buildings!”

But their numbers are too few. Only four at most.

They don’t possess overwhelming strength like Rina Lee. They’re quite ordinary.

In contrast, the Orox number more than ten at a glance.

Even if these users were C-grade like the Orox, it would be a difficult battle.

Rina Lee needs to come quickly, but that crazy woman is probably playing around again.

Experimenting with how to not kill monsters in one hit, or something like that.

Didn’t she say she’d keep doing it despite warnings from the Association?

Thinking anew that a madwoman is indeed a madwoman, Seojin Baek did his part.

“Go that way! Don’t go to the main road! The monsters might get agitated!”

If you’ve received something, give your best. To not break his own principle.

Seojin Baek was busy evacuating civilians.

“Hey, you bastards!! Over here, over here!!”

Meanwhile, some superpower users who had taken position began their activities.

“Hey, you beasts! Over here, over here!”

“Waaah! Wooooh!!”

They shouted loudly to lure the monsters away from civilians.

Making loud noises to be considered enemies works the same for animals and monsters.

Responding to this, the Orox changed direction and charged toward them.

“Shit, they’re coming!”

“Don’t chicken out! Take them one by one, starting with the stragglers!”

The superpower users quickly scattered at the Orox’s unified charge.

It was close, but fortunately no one had been swept away yet.

“Now!”

“Stab!”

After the Orox swept past, the superpower users took action.

They concentrated their attacks on the one at the back of the pack, which had lost speed from colliding with others.

Wooaargh—!

“You don’t need to kill it! Just disable its legs!”

It’s a reasonable judgment. The terror of Orox comes from their size and speed.

If you prevent them from charging, their power is reduced by half.

“Got it! Next! Prepare for the next one!”

The apparent leader urgently shouted while watching the Orox movements.

They needed to stop attacking and focus all attention on the charging beasts.

“Stop! I said stop! Hey, watch out!”

“Argh!”

One person was hit by an Orox and rolled across the ground.

Perhaps they got too excited attacking the stragglers and momentarily lost judgment.

The impact seems quite severe, as they can’t move properly.

Even as others call out anxiously, they stagger, becoming defenseless.

“Hey, Minho! Park Minho! Wake up, you idiot!”

Wooooaargh—!

The leader Orox charges at that person with a roar.

Is it seeking revenge for its fallen member from earlier?

There’s an intense will to crush the human before it, palpable.

A terrifying killing intent is also contained within, determined to do so.

Seeing this, Seojin Baek moved without thinking.

Whether it was heroic psychology or something similar, he didn’t know. It didn’t matter.

At the very least, shouldn’t he try to prevent someone from dying before his eyes?

For that simple reason, Seojin Baek jumped between the monster and the person.

And to be honest, there was one more reason.

Feeling such an intense “will” to do something, he couldn’t just stand still.

It felt like he couldn’t bear not to intervene.

– The Third Eye is activating.

◎ The Silver Gatekeeper

: Ability activation conditions have been met.

: Ability is activating.

: Readjusting opponent’s grade.

: Grade adjustment – Silver judgment

◎ Sole Arbiter

: Ability is activating.

: This is an opponent who has not received promotion from Seojin Baek.

: Recognizing as assessment target.

*

Grrrrrr—!

A-grade monster, Basilisk.

When one appears, even A-grade superpower users sustain serious injuries.

Among B-grade superpower users assigned to support missions, it causes fatalities.

Hideous appearance, hard scales, and sharp fangs containing poison.

Even its tail, said to be its weakest point, can cause death if struck improperly.

There’s not just one or two areas to be cautious about.

It’s a monster rightfully called a “disaster” by ordinary superpower users.

Grrrr—! Grrrk—!

That is, if the opponent were an “ordinary” superpower user.

“Ah, damn. I shouldn’t have caught it with one hand. If I’d known, I would’ve used just a finger.”

Looking quite disappointed, Rina Lee swings her hand down with an “Ah!”

The basilisk’s tough body turns to mush and scatters in all directions.

It’s a sight that would shock others if they saw it.

She killed the basilisk with her bare hands. No, she simply burst it.

While other superpower users would risk their lives against one of the worst monsters,

this blonde beauty just crushed it like an ant, smiling.

“Ah. This is boring.”

Rina Lee dusts off her hands and walks away.

The area was already filled with pieces of what “used to be” juvenile basilisks.

The adult ones fared no better than their offspring.

All met the same fate at the hands of a woman more monstrous than monsters.

‘I wonder how he’s doing?’

With a stretching “Mmm!” Rina Lee continues walking.

Seojin Baek. An utterly ordinary level 9 civil servant. A Silver-grade examiner dispatched to the Academy.

That was all the information she had gathered about him.

If there was anything else notable, it was that he was an orphan.

‘Not touching the parent issue is basic manners.’

Even the willful Rina Lee can’t move freely in front of her parents.

This was possible thanks to her parents who championed Confucian values above all.

Being such a person, Rina Lee had no intention of digging into his orphan background.

And even without that, there were already plenty of curious aspects about him.

Though weaker than herself, he survived being hit twice by Elder Hyuk Kwak’s spear.

Considering those who keep getting involved with him afterward, he’s definitely not an ordinary man.

‘I have a feeling. A good feeling that this guy will throw something really interesting my way!’

Thinking this, just as Rina Lee arrived at the location of the second gate.

Wooaargh—!

A large Orox flew past her side with a mournful cry.

It was probably the leader of the pack.

“Huh?”

A sparkle began to appear in Rina Lee’s eyes.

She quickly looked ahead. One superpower user sitting on the ground.

And several other superpower users standing blankly around.

‘All trash.’

They’re people limited to C-grade at best.

A place full of people who blame their talent without putting in much effort.

So Rina Lee doesn’t look at them kindly.

‘There’s no way those weaklings could have sent the leader Orox flying!’

The leader Orox is much more temperamental and fierce.

It’s not the type to offer no resistance until approached and thrown.

And as the leader, it’s at least 1.5 times larger than ordinary ones.

That’s why it’s the only one among the Orox classified as B-grade.

Such a beast, thrown by mere C-grade superpower users? Even a passing dog would laugh.

Even a B-grade would struggle. There’s a difference between defeating something and toying with it.

‘Then there’s only one answer, right? Our handsome Seojin oppa?’

With a grin, Rina Lee turned her head toward Seojin Baek.

Completely unaware of Rina Lee’s dangerous gaze,

Seojin Baek was busy helping up the fallen superpower user.