Deliberation

“…It’s not drugs.”

“Ah… Right. I see.”

“…Actually, it is. But! It’s the highest quality stuff, with no withdrawal symptoms.”

“Aha… That’s interesting.”

“You know this money ultimately goes up to Elemental, right?”

Wait. Really?

*

Drugs.

One of the prime examples of the saying, ‘The sunny side gets brighter, and the shady side gets darker.’

Just because there’s another world doesn’t mean only one gate opens to it. Multiple gates can appear, and they don’t just appear in one country.

They connect nation to nation through these other worlds.

This dramatically shortens distances, and some gates are even used as trade routes, but they’re usually avoided unless the profits are massive enough to outweigh the risks.

Criminals, however, use them well. Very well.

Smuggling, illicit trade, illegal immigration…

There’s a reason the government grits its teeth and hunts for unregistered gates.

But the profits are so immense that they’re never all caught. At best, you might hear about monsters pouring out of a poorly managed gate, but these days, management is so thorough (because the organizations that failed to manage them are already dead) that they’re rarely found.

And in this environment, one crime shines.

Drugs.

Smuggled across gate after gate.

Drug farms hidden away in the corners of other worlds.

New narcotics created using monsters with hallucinogenic properties.

There were probably even more ways to exploit ‘gates.’

I’d heard South America and the US were hotbeds for drug activity…

I’d also seen news reports about those drugs occasionally making their way into our country.

But I’d never heard of them being made in our country…

And the place making them just happens to be my guild?

What more could a massive corporation want that they’d resort to drugs? Or maybe, is it because they’re a massive corporation that they can get away with it?

In truth, there was nothing I could do.

As if a corporate giant couldn’t silence one person like me.

Actually, since it’s a guild and not a corporation, silencing me would be even easier. They could just bury me in some remote gate, and my body would never be found…

Even if I reported them and somehow managed to deal a blow, the one taking the damage would be my own guild.

The most I could do was be disappointed. That was about it.

“Hoo…”

…In the end, I decided to just look the other way, like any ordinary citizen.

Was I looking the other way because I was an ordinary citizen, or was I an ordinary citizen because I looked the other way…?

“It’s top-grade, so it makes an insane amount of money. You probably can’t get it in other countries. Like, K-drugs or something… That money flows to Elemental, and then to us.”

…

“There’s a reason it’s the best of the best. No withdrawal symptoms. That’s one of the biggest side effects gone.”

…

“It’s so expensive that the lower class can’t afford it anyway. At most, it’s the chaebol heirs and kids like that? They aren’t important people, and the economy isn’t going to collapse just because they’re gone—”

“It’s fine now. I’m not planning on reporting it, so don’t worry. I’m a bit drained today. I’m going to head out first. It’s a shame, I barely made it in time. See you next time.”

“…Alright. Take care.”

*

Why did my mood plummet like that?

It’s not like there was anything I could do. It wasn’t even my fault, was it?

But the disappointment was pretty huge.

I was being treated like a promising prospect there, you know.

And that same guild was making drugs… Of course, it’s not like everyone was involved.

I wonder what Yoo Yi-jun thought, seeing me so down?

Did he think something like, ‘Why’s this unregistered Awakener making such a fuss?’

…I don’t know.

For now, I’ll go to the guild tomorrow, throw myself into some work—

And forget about it.

*

“Uh… you’re saying my next trainee assignment hasn’t been scheduled because my team members haven’t been assigned yet?”

“Yes… But you did enter a gate yesterday, so today was supposed to be your day off anyway.”

“It wasn’t particularly difficult… So, when do you think the team members will be assigned?”

“That’s actually a bit of a gray area right now. Normally, you’d be assigned new members, but you, Han-gyeol-ssi… you’re still on the inexperienced side, aren’t you? So, rather than new recruits, we’re trying to reassign more experienced members, but that doesn’t seem to be working out at the moment.”

“Ah… I see. So when will the schedule be set?”

“A team leader can’t work alone, so we need team members… The schedule will probably be set after they’ve been assigned, don’t you think?”

So much for my plan to focus on work and clear my head. Failure!

Well, it makes sense. A team leader can’t exist without a team. And it’s true I became a team leader without much experience.

But to remain a regular team member wasn’t an option, especially after the Guild Master’s advice.

Ah, the Guild Master.

Does she know? The fact that her own guild is producing drugs.

From the brief time I saw her… she didn’t seem like that kind of person.

The pride that shone on her face when she said, ‘My guild is the one currently managing the Spirit World.’

The pride on her face was, quite literally, pure.

The kind of pure pride that could never appear on the face of someone who knew their guild was making drugs.

…Only the Guild Master would know the truth.

“Ah, but there is one other way.”

“Yes?”

“The reason you can’t be assigned new members right now is your lack of experience. So, if you can prove that you have ‘enough experience to lead a team,’ it should be fine.”

“Prove it?”

“Yes. I heard that you’re an associate member of the ‘Expedition’ guild, Han-gyeol-ssi. If you take on the role of team leader there and clear a few gates, it should be officially recognized.”

What the. How did she know I was an associate member of Expedition?

“But don’t go anywhere too dangerous. Pick somewhere moderately easy! And absolutely, absolutely do not overdo it.”

“Okay. I’ll give it a try with Expedition, then. To be honest, having team members with more experience than me… I think it would be a bit uncomfortable for everyone.”

“Frankly, I can’t say that wouldn’t be the case… In that case, should I ask them to hold off on the reassignment for now?”

“Yes.”

“Also, we can contact Expedition on our end. Would you like us to do that?”

“You can do that?”

“This situation is because you don’t have team members, so we can’t say we’re completely without fault. Besides, this is a standard service we provide. If the contact comes from us, you’ll likely have a higher chance of getting a better opportunity.”

“Then please, I’d appreciate it.”

“I’ll let you know when we hear back from them. Of course, you’re free to find a team on your own as well.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“And this is a personal question, but what are you doing about university?”

“University?”

“As far as I know, Han-gyeol-ssi, you’re a university student. Am I wrong? My younger brother is a student too, and he’s been going on about his ‘last dance’ before the semester starts soon.”

“The semester starts… probably soon?”

When does the semester start?

…

It starts tomorrow?

When did time fly by so fast…

!!!

Oh, right, I didn’t register for classes!

No, wait, I’m going to drop out anyway. What does it matter?

I was going to drop out anyway, but for a second there, I panicked.

…Phew, that was a scare.

“So… you’re planning to drop out?”

“Yes.”

The life of an A-rank Awakener. I can’t let that go.

“That’s a relief. After all, you’re an A-rank. We generally recommend dropping out for anyone who’s a government-certified C-rank or higher. If you had said you were planning to continue with your studies, I would have had to try and persuade you.”

“Well, I am an A-rank, after all.”

*

I had my Awakening in early August.

Today marks the 22nd day since then, so it makes sense that the semester is about to start.

This vacation was certainly eventful.

It’s a bit of a shame I couldn’t hang out with my friends from middle school, high school, or even my university classmates.

Hmm, the start of the semester.

When the last semester ended, we were classmates.

But once this one starts, I guess it’s goodbye.

If I drop out… my university life will be over.

I only attended for one semester, but did I enjoy everything a freshman could? I guess I won’t get to enjoy the second semester…

Knowing I’d drop out after just one semester, I wonder if I studied for nothing.

And if I drop out, I don’t need to live in this studio near the university anymore, do I?

Of course, I’ll move once I get my salary, but there’s no reason to live near campus.

So, somewhere near the guild?

No. What if I get caught?

…

Drugs, a team leader without a team, the start of the semester, dropping out, moving…

Lying still on my bed, my mind was a mess of one thought after another.

“Hoo…”

I closed my eyes—

*

The first thing I felt upon opening my eyes was…

Dampness.

No way. It can’t be, right?

Ah,

Damn it.

This is a wet dream? This?

During a short nap after coming back from the guild?

Have I not gotten myself off once since my Awakening?

…

I haven’t…

After my Awakening, I usually fell asleep as a woman, or if I was a man, I was so exhausted I just passed out.

So it does build up, huh?

…Wait, is my Essense leaking out?

I hastily checked, but there was no change.

It seemed my male body and my succubus body weren’t linked in that way.

Well, that makes sense. If they were linked and my semen counted as Essense, I wouldn’t have been unable to transform back due to a lack of Essense that first time.

That’s why with Choi Shin-woo…

Hah, well, it’s thanks to him that I’ve come this far, so let’s just forget it.

Swoosh—

A wave of bleak reality washed over me as I stood at the sink, washing my underwear.

Other guys get to cum inside me just fine, so why do I have to wash my own down the drain…?

…Come to think of it, a girlfriend is out of the question.

I have to turn into a succubus at night and wander around. Where would I find the time for a girlfriend?

This double life really sucks.

After washing away all traces from my underwear, I turned on my phone.

[Announcements]
[Recruitment Board]
ㄴGate Raids
ㄴSmall Groups
[Information Board]
[Free Board]

I tapped on the [Recruitment Board], and then on ‘Gate Raids.’

[Notice: Information regarding gates can be found on the ‘Information Board’]
[Notice: Please check all restrictions when applying!]

[Gate 13]
[Gate 57]
[Gate 29]
[Gate 87]
…

A long list of unknown gates appeared.

I tapped on one of them.

[Gate 29
Gate Information: Gate 29
Restrictions: Government-certified C-rank or lower may not apply. For more details, click here.
Mission: To be determined later (?)
Compensation: Per ‘Expedition’ guild compensation regulations
Team Leader: Undecided
Team Members: Undecided

Apply for Team Leader / Apply for Team Member]

The contents were simple.

Tapping the underlined text would take you to the respective links.

By the way, what’s this ‘To be determined later’?

[The mission will be decided after the team is formed, taking the team’s composition into consideration. For more details, click here.]

Aha.

That makes sense. You have to decide on a mission based on the team.

Tapping on the gate information took me to the relevant post on the ‘Information Board.’

[Gate 29
Environment: A dry, sandy desert with scattered forests.
Flora/Fauna: Death Worm-type monsters.
Special Notes: Death Worms are extremely numerous and varied. Even within the same species, they tend to be large. Evacuate immediately if vibrations are felt.]

…Compared to other places, there wasn’t much information.

No wonder the restriction was changed from ‘D-rank or lower may not apply’ to ‘C-rank or lower may not apply.’

After a quick browse, it seemed most people formed their teams in the ‘Small Groups’ section of the ‘Recruitment Board’ before applying.

It must be awkward to go with complete strangers, so it looked like people met up beforehand to see if they clicked, and if they did, they’d apply for a gate raid that suited their team.

Usually, an associate member acting as team leader would post their specs, and people of a similar level, whether associate members or freelancers, would apply.

Anyway, since I needed experience as a team leader…

[Title: Seeking Team Members for Gate Raid.

Seeking team members for a gate raid.
The gate has not yet been decided. It will likely be determined based on the team.
I am a Magic-type. Government-certified B-rank, guild rank (Elemental certified) A-rank.]

Not long after I posted it, notifications began to chime. Ting, ting, ting.