episode_0051

Jihoon, Sojung, and the woman from Big Number got out of the car and were looking mesmerized at the huge gate unfolding in front of them.

The gate, located in the middle of the city, was the size of four to five high-rise buildings combined, and its grandeur was unrivaled.

“Is the gate originally this big…”

“Absolutely not, this is my first time seeing a gate this big.”

Sojung responded to Jihoon’s complaint from next to him.

As a class 2 academy cadet, she has defeated C-class gates several times, and has also joined the B-class gate suppression team once or twice.

But even Sojeong had never seen a gate of this size.

As Jihoon slowly walks closer to the gate, the two of them follow him.

“Are all the surrounding buildings empty?”

Jihoon’s question.

The Big Number official walks in step with Jihoon and answers him.

“Yes. Of course. ‘A gate that never disappears’. You never know when a gate that can’t be cleared will explode and demonic beasts will pour out, and there’s no one with a strong heart to live nearby.”

“What are those people?”

Jihoon’s finger and gaze pointed to the military forces surrounding the gate.

“These are subcontracted hunters from the Japanese government’s military unit and Big Number. Did you know that Big Number signed a contract with the Japanese government for the right to subdue that gate?”

“Ah…yes, I heard it from Ellie”

“Ellie?”

Sojung, who was just listening from the side, opens her eyes wide and asks Jihoon a question.

“Yes, Ellie is a Big Number Hunter, and she is a foreigner. He was the one who dragged me here.”

“White woman?”

“Huh? How do you do it just by hearing the name?”

It was obvious.

“Woman, you’re so twisted…”

“Huh? What?”

Ji-hoon can hear So-jeong’s complaints so clearly and looks at her.

“You don’t have to know!”

Jihoon turned his head when he saw her pouting face.

Before we know it, the three have almost reached the gate.

“Minganjin and Deridekimaseng”

Four Japanese soldiers blocking their path speak to them in Japanese.

After leaving Ji-hoon and So-jung, the woman from Big Number starts talking to the soldiers.

And then she comes back soon

“Hunter Kang. I don’t think we can check the inside. It is said that entry to the gate is prohibited until Big Number Number One arrives.”

“Hmm…”

“Now that you’ve taken a look at the exterior, shall we go to the hotel and write up a contract? You must quickly fill out the contract and list your name as a member of Big Number in order to participate in the gate suppression team that will be held the day after tomorrow.”

“Hmm…”

Jihoon was staring at the gate in front of him with a shocked expression even after hearing her words.

“Didn’t you sign a contract with Big Number?”

Sojung, surprised, asks Jihoon.

“Uh…what…”

“Big Number took care of everything, including passport, visa, and flights?”

“Uh…they said they would do it…”

“Hunter Kang said he would write a contract after arriving at the site. Now, let’s move on.”

Upon hearing the words of the woman in charge who completely believes that Ji-hoon will sign the contract, So-jeong’s expression becomes strangely distorted.

‘He probably isn’t the kind of kid who can move around like that…’

I wonder if my premonition was correct…

Jihoon begins speaking as he ties his shoelaces again.

“I know where the hotel is. I will find it myself. Sojung, enjoy the ramen and go back to Korea quickly.”

“?? Sore and I…no, what do you mean…”

As the surprised woman looks at Jihoon with a questioning expression, Sojung is screaming.

“Absolutely not!!!. Look at the size of that gate! If you go there alone…”

“Where is the best ramen restaurant?”

“…What?”

“Where is the best restaurant?”

“Um…Um…”

Sojung roughly points in a random direction with her hand.

There was no way there was a good ramen restaurant there.

She was just looking for a good ramen restaurant as an excuse to follow Jihoon.

Her face turned slightly red and she felt embarrassed.

Jihoon stands up and says with a grin, probably because he has tied his shoelaces.

“It’ll be out soon, so make sure to check out the good ramen restaurant.”

“What…what??”

“I came all the way to Japan, so shouldn’t I eat ramen?”

“…”

Sojung lowers her eyes to the floor and stomps her foot awkwardly, perhaps embarrassed that her lie was discovered.

“Kang…Hunter Kang…what have you been saying since a while ago? You can’t enter the gate now. Quickly go to the hotel and start the contract…”

“I also want to check the inside. I will decide whether to sign a contract or not after I return.”

With those last words, Jihoon started walking towards the gate.

“Kang…Kang Hunter!!!”

Despite her tearing cries, Jihoon did not stop walking.

Before he knows it, Japanese soldiers and Big Number subcontracted hunters block Jihoon’s path, checking what’s going on.

But Jihoon’s new brother disappears before their eyes in an instant.

Then, a very small wormhole opens in front of the gate, and it appears again from there.

“Ah…no…”

As Jihoon entered the gate on his own, there was a huge uproar among the officials guarding him.

The woman in charge next to Sojeong was also hurriedly picking up the phone and talking on various things.

The front of the gate quickly became a mess.

Only Sojung was calmly opening her smartphone and searching for a nearby ramen restaurant.

***

heavy air.

The dense trees and the waterfront spread out here and there gave the appearance of a very peaceful forest, but the air was the complete opposite.

In addition to the strong pressure pressing down on the atmosphere, a rich scent passes through the tip of the nose.

‘It smells like blood…’

It was a smell that Jihoon could not recognize.

To Jihoon, who had fought a war covered in the blood of dozens or hundreds of demonic cults, the very familiar scent was now surrounding the entire inside of the gate.

An E-class gate that Jihoon defeated. And the D, C, and B level gates studied through video materials.

A tranquil atmosphere that was not found in such gates filled the inside of this gate.

Jihoon takes one step at a time.

Start moving quickly in the direction of the strongest energy you felt when you first entered the gate.

The more you run, the stronger the energy you feel, and the stronger the smell of blood.

Before he knew it, Jihoon was feeling his heart pounding for the first time in a long time.

Even though he continued to move, not a single common miscellaneous mob appeared.

But strangely enough, before reaching the strongest energy, you begin to feel many scattered, small energies.

“What is this… It’s not at the level to be divided into boss mobs and miscellaneous mobs…”

Even the dozens of dispersed energies were powerful enough to far surpass the boss mobs of regular gates.

It was Jihoon who had faced the King Goblin and had dealt with several Class 1 cadets.

He could be sure of that.

Each and every one of them is more powerful than that of a Class A Hunter.

It was then.

Whining

Shuuk

As he turns to avoid the arrows flying faster than a bullet, two swords dig into Jihoon’s top and bottom.

whip

Before he knows it, Ji-hoon strikes down both swords with the Baekwol he has drawn.

There was nothing in front of him right now, but after receiving that brief attack, Jihoon was able to confirm their locations and appearances.

It resembles a human shape, but is very tall and has a thin body. And most of all, strangely large ears.

“Elf…F?”

Jihoon couldn’t help but be surprised.

He has searched through the academy’s archives and studied tirelessly about all the gates that have appeared on Earth.

However, I have not heard of elves appearing as mobs at any of the gates.

They were elves with visuals like those seen in fantasy movies.

Gates and monsters are also foreign things that do not fit into the modern world.

But the elf I face now.

There was a sense of disconnect that went beyond simply expressing them as heterogeneous.

A feeling that does not exist in this world.

Jihoon’s forehead wrinkles.

“What is this again…”

Just as I am about to fall into some unpleasant feeling, arrows faster than the bullets from before come flying from two places at the same time.

It’s so fast and powerful that it’s hard to believe it was an arrow fired from a bow.

Jihoon lifted the Baekwol and split the two arrows with a piece of his hand.

Jiik

Chic

Ji-hoon’s expression becomes more serious as he sees the two arrows losing their direction as they are separated by the white moon.

Even after reaching the White Moon, its power did not diminish.

‘I don’t think it’s magical power…’

It was impossible to fire such a strong arrow using only physical strength without using magical power.

It obviously means using some other power.

Jihoon raises his internal strength and steps on the step technique.

Shocked

Did they not think that their location would be revealed?

Ji-hoon suddenly appears and swings the White Moon, and before he can react, the arm of one of the elves holding the bow falls off.

The elf, who was lying bleeding in front of Jihoon, was glaring at Jihoon with bright eyes.

An elf who never screams.

Behind Jihoon, who faces him, seven elves surround Jihoon, each holding their own weapons.

And soon, a fierce-looking elf with the most bizarre power among them walks out and blocks Ji-hoon’s path.

“Ugrati Dnangurag”

“…What are you saying”

Jihoon, unable to understand the strange language coming from the elf’s mouth, raises Baekwol with an annoyed expression.

It was then.

“I can’t send it to the king…you…human”

It was a Korean language that was a bit slurred, but the meaning was clearly understandable.

Jihoon’s expression is filled with doubt.