episode_0168

ㅡWhaaa!!

As my body touches the central core of the gate, my vision flashes.

It was a procedure to pass through the gate.

Simply snap it! It’s not going in.

You go through a series of unrealistic processes and are slowly sucked into it.

I felt like my whole body was surrounded by incredibly bright light, but paradoxically, my vision was dark. I couldn’t open my eyes because the light was so strong.

ㅡPasss… !

I just feel like my whole body is scattering away like dust, molecule by molecule, disappearing. In reality, the moment my body touched the gate, it turned into smoke and was being sucked in.

It was a series of unrealistic processes mentioned above.

A phenomenon that cannot be explained by modern science.

It happened a few times, but my body was fine.

Just a little bit of dizziness,

It was not a phenomenon that was physically taxing.

Due to an unknown process, the body was momentarily disintegrated and then re-established inside this space called the Gate.

It is easy to understand if you think of it as the entire body being warped into this space.

“Ugh… ! I’m dizzy… … .”

It’s something I’ve experienced countless times as a hunter, but I can never get used to this feeling. Is this what it feels like after a gastrointestinal endoscopy?

I feel dizzy from motion sickness.

Still, I succeeded in entering normally.

Not only me but everyone else appears at the gate entrance at the same time.

“Wow, wow… ! Did everyone get in safely? Is Shifu okay?”

Iria, who was standing in the lead, checked everyone’s condition. As expected from an S-class hero, she recovered her condition quickly.

Looking at him like this, I wonder if he is the person who was with me for two days and nights just now.

“Yes! I feel a little sick, but I’m okay now.”

“Ha, I’m fine too.”

“A secret story? Are your words short?”

“… There is nothing wrong with this. Uh, sister… … ”

Park Bi-hwa frowns and corrects her tone at Iria’s sharp criticism. This hierarchy also applied during combat.

“I’m fine too, big sister!”

On the other hand, the good-natured Moran was casually calling Iria her eldest sister. If you think about it, they are the same age.

Anyway, we were all able to get inside the gate safely.

“It’s still extremely wide.”

There was nothing special about the super large gate.

There is only a significant difference in spatial size,

There was no significant difference in the internal environment.

Just size and scale. And the difference was big because there were no monsters.

The very large gate was like a giant labyrinth.

In fact, I couldn’t tell the end,

There were more than one part that was mysterious.

It was the largest in scale, had no monsters, and had no special extinction conditions. It would remain open alone for several weeks or months and then suddenly disappear.

It has not yet been revealed why the gate was created in the first place. Everyone was just used to the gate appearing.

This very large gate was the perfect space for me as an independent hunter.

First of all, the big thing was that there were no monsters inside the gate. All I had to do was wander around the vast space and take the magic stones that were occasionally found. Despite its super-sized name, there was nothing directly threatening about it.

ㅡJeo-beok, Jeo-beok, Jeo-beok… !

As I step onto the floor made of an unknown rock, the sound of my footsteps echoes in all directions.

‘wait for a sec? This scenery… … . ‘Is it the same as the very large gate we encountered in Gangwon-do?’

The very large gate I entered again after a long time matched my memory completely.

The entrance is like a crystal cave… … .

Obviously, the gate in Gangwon-do was the same.

The whole place is full of sparkling crystals.

Our appearance is reflected like a mirror on a smooth and clean surface. They are fully armed with their own equipment.

Although there were only four people, the power of each member was enormous.

With this level of power, I don’t think it would be able to survive even if two boss-level monsters appear at once.

“If this were all magic stones, we would be making a lot of money… … .”

“Sihuya? Do you need money?”

“Oh, no. It reminds me of the old days… … .”

I muttered to myself, reliving the feelings I had when I was a former hunter. Coming back in like this made me feel new.

“It’s a really amazing space. It’s the perfect space to lose your sense of direction.”

“It’s like a mirror maze at an amusement park! It’s so amazing!”

Park Bi-hwa and Moran also looked around as if they were curious and moved forward. The atmosphere is still very good.

But you never know when the mood will turn. Once I entered the gate, I couldn’t let go of my tension.

And if this was the very large gate I entered last time, I had to be even more careful.

“As everyone knows, today’s goal is the first reconnaissance. Even if there is something strange, don’t touch it and report it to me.”

So I warned everyone.

I was worried because I didn’t know what would happen.

If anything dangerous happens, we will retreat immediately.

“… especially! If you see something that looks like a strange glass door, never open it!”

We continued to convey precautions to the elderly woman.

Usually, they had the initiative, but

I, the person with the most experience inside the gate, took command.

“Hehe, it’s the same as the one I showed to Seong Ji-hyun earlier… … . Does it mean that people change once they enter the gate?”

ㅡKkook… !

“Oh? Sister Lia?”

Iria, wearing a transformation suit, clings to my arm as if she is amazed to see me like this. There was a strange look of playfulness on her face.

“I was honestly jealous in the helicopter earlier.”

“Huh? Are you suddenly jealous? What do you mean?”

“You know what you said to Seong Ji-hyun on the helicopter?”

“Oh? That’s to reassure you… … .”

“I was surprised to see such a sense of responsibility. Was it pretty cool? Maybe it’s because I’ve always seen you like a younger brother, but I’m excited for no reason?”

Iria smiles brightly.

But that smile didn’t last long.

Iria soon changes to a slightly serious expression.

“… Well, next time you get a chance, show me that too. Got it?”

He asks for a personal favor in a slightly shy tone.

“Ah… huh. I don’t know if it will work out the way I want, but… … .”

“And one more thing!”

“Huh? What else is there?”

“It’s nice to show everyone that cool side sometimes… … . Please don’t call other kids honey.”

“Ah?”

“Only call me that nickname, okay?”

Iria grumbles, her cheeks blushing profusely.

No, does it sound like you’re trying to be cute?

He reacted as if he was extremely embarrassed after saying these words.

It seems he didn’t like the comment he left for Seong Ji-hyeon before descending.

Yes, I should treat you like this.

Only then will you know who is the confidant and who is the confidant.

How can one word be difficult?

“From now on, I will only say honey to myself.”

“… … !!!”

When I playfully hit him back and called him darling, Iria’s face turned even redder. He couldn’t even react and just glared at me. That was it.

That’s right, we were still calling each other by our first names. That’s why I couldn’t help but feel awkward about this unfamiliar nickname.

I also cringed a little when I said that. Still, after talking openly like this, I feel happy. It feels like I’m already envisioning my future as a newlywed.

“Kuhmhmmm… ! I-I’ll take a look over here!”

Iria pretends not to hear me, letting go of my arm and turning her back. Seeing him shy like this is different from usual, it’s cute because he’s like a little brother.

ㅡSabak, Sabak, Sabak… !

Everyone kept their distance and kept going.

Crystal Cave was longer than I thought.

And I felt incredibly dizzy.

Our appearance was reflected everywhere, to the point where we were confused as to who we were.

“Ah… ! They’re here! Over there!”

As I was just walking in silence, I finally saw a bright light at the other end.

It felt like I was wandering through a cave and found the exit.

I ran straight there.

Because an unknown sense of déjà vu was pulling me in.

“Ha? After all, here… … ?”

As I leave the entrance, a strange yet quite familiar space greets me.

A space that resembles the scenery of a busy city.

There are wide roads and high-rise buildings.

However, the space itself looked very distorted and distorted.

Somehow, the buildings sprouted up as they wanted, without distinction between top, bottom, left, and right. Even gravity was out of control.

The place where I put my feet was the ground.

A space where the concepts of up, down, left, and right become ambiguous.

He could also walk vertically up the building like a spiderman.

“Everyone better be careful from here on out! If you open any door and go in… … . uh? Everyone, everyone… … ?”

I couldn’t continue the warning anymore out of anger. That’s right… … .

“Sister Lia? Park Bi-hwa? peony? Where is everyone?!”

ㅡUgh… … !

My cries ring in vain.

It’s so wide that you can’t even hear the echo.

As I exited the long crystal passage, I couldn’t see anyone.

Somehow, I was left alone in this space that resembled an empty city.

ㅡChijijik, chijijik… … !!

Even the radio didn’t work.

All you hear is loud noise.

I couldn’t find any signs of popularity anywhere.

“Damn… ! What happened to this?!”

-Blame! fault! fault! fault!

I immediately tried to turn around and go back, but to my surprise, the crystal passageway I had just exited was completely gone.

It’s literally like a ghost crying.

I can’t even go back like this.

Where is everyone doing now?

‘I can’t help it. For now, I have no choice but to keep going inside.’

I moved forward with the intention of doing a little more research. Because it was something we might encounter again inside.

My image is reflected in the window of a building that rises upside down like a stalactite.

Gray hair and red eyes.

Slim but well-opened shoulders and chest.

Even a large sword the size of my torso was attached to my back.

I am impressed by how clearly it has changed from before.

ㅡTurp, trudge… !

‘Tsk, how much further do I have to go… … ?’

I was just moving forward aimlessly for a while.

-Sparkle!

“Uh… ?! Is that really?!”

At that time, a familiar building caught my eye.

Specifically, the glass door of the building stands out.

The entrance to a building made of glass.

It looked very familiar as it even had a long iron handle.

“This can’t be right… … ?!”

「Pull」

Red letters appear as you approach the glass door.

I froze as soon as I saw this.

For a moment, I thought I was dreaming.

“Uh, it looked similar somewhere, but was this the exact same gate?!”

The culprit behind everything is right in front of you.

An opportunity that completely changed my life.

I ignored the sign telling me to pull and pushed, and then the gateway to the other dimension appeared in front of me again.

If I pull this glass door instead of pushing it this time, will I be able to return to the world I originally lived in and to my original body?

I needed to check before touching the door.

“Piercing to the essence!”

As soon as this thought crossed my mind, I activated reflection. Because penetrating the essence also included the power to see through the distortion of this space.

ㅡTspaat… !

As soon as I activate that ability, a hologram appears before my eyes. It’s been a long time since the status window appeared.

[Double-dimensional gateway: There is only one door, but the world that unfolds is completely different depending on how you jump through it. It is a gateway that can be used at any time, but it is unclear when we will be able to encounter this gate again.]

“Dual Dimensional Gateway?”

An unbelievable explanation fills my vision.

But the status window said it clearly.

It means that one passage connects the two worlds.

And the world you can go to changes depending on the ‘way of going beyond this place’.

That means, depending on how you open the door, you can go to the original world or the reversed world.

-Gulp… !

I finally found it. A way to return to the original world.

If I really pull the door this time, I might be able to return to my original body.

but… … .

‘Why come now?’

Although a brief conflict passed by,

Actually, there was nothing to worry about.

Because it was a question that had already been answered for a long time.

ㅡKkii profit… !

I grabbed the handle of the glass door and confidently ‘pushed’ the door again.

Unlike me before, I now have a family to return to.

Pull?

Don’t be funny.

No matter how many times we encounter each other in the future, I will confidently push forward.

ㅡWhaaa!

In that way, I once again jumped into the world of reversal.

I think of the girls who are desperately looking for me.

END