Chapter 17 – Live in Reality

Blue Mark Raider Hyun Jae-young was just getting out of his car.

“It’s been a while, Jae-young.”

A Raider getting out of the opposite car greeted him. Hyun Jae-young also waved his hand.

He belonged to a small-scale raid company. It felt more like a manpower office than a company, but his job was to hunt minor magic beasts that top companies rarely took on.

“You came early today too.”

“Good morning.”

Today’s comrades were waiting. They were familiar faces. They weren’t in the same company, but their situations were all similar.

“Everyone is here. I will brief you.”

The team leader of the combat support team under the Raider Bureau explained the gate to them.

A gate sign had been detected in this apartment complex in Anyang. It would open within an hour from now. Judging by the gate measurements, it seemed to be a type of magic beast that could be safely handled by Blue Mark Raiders alone.

This was the gist of it.

The Raiders did not seem very focused.

“There’s been so much work lately that it’s hard to rest. I wanted to go to Hawaii, but a proper day off hasn’t been scheduled.”

“Shall we go together?”

“I will pass.”

The Raiders were busy chatting.

Hyun Jae-young ignored the noise and listened attentively to the support team leader.

A Raider must draw the layout and prepare perfectly before a fight takes place.

However, no one did that anymore. As Raider grades became subdivided and gate forecasting technology developed, the accident rate also dropped sharply. Now, for Raiders, choosing a gate that matched their level was considered the entirety of their preparation.

“Hyun Jae-young. Would you like to take the order?”

The support team leader showed favor to Hyun Jae-young, who showed a rare attitude.

An order was the authority to command the entire raid. As there was responsibility, there was also a benefit in the settlement.

“Then I will…”

The moment Hyun Jae-young was about to gladly accept.

“Why do you appoint that person without even consulting us?”

One of those chatting behind him raised an objection.

“Do you two know each other?”

At his words, the Raider Bureau employee adjusted his glasses.

“Hyun Jae-young has the longest career. It is normal for a Raider with a lot of experience to take the order.”

“What’s there to brag about being Blue with a long career?”

He muttered in a barely audible voice. The surrounding Raiders laughed.

“My promotion review is finished, and I will become a Green Mark starting next month. Then isn’t it right for me to take it?”

It was not wrong. A higher-grade Raider came first.

The support team leader apologized to Hyun Jae-young with a look. Hyun Jae-young smiled bitterly and nodded.

“Understood. Then Raider Kim Dae-yong will take the order. Does anyone have an objection?”

“Yes.”

“None.”

Answering was also that crowd.

Raiders who knew Hyun Jae-young sent him looks of comfort. Hyun Jae-young just smiled back.

He didn’t particularly want the order position.

“Let’s prepare for the raid.”

Each put on their equipment. Hyun Jae-young also equipped his armor and held a spear.

After equipping his Raider gear, his senses became sensitive. They were items that had spent a lot of time with him. His body began to prepare for combat.

Someone approached him.

“You said you are Hyun Jae-young, right?”

It was the man who took the order. He put his arm around Hyun Jae-young’s shoulder.

“I am Kim Dae-yong. You aren’t upset about the order earlier, right?”

“No.”

“Then that’s a relief. There was no ill intent. Let’s do well.”

Kim Dae-yong held a gently curved hwan-do. He swung his sword in the air and said.

“I am Kim Dae-yong, who took the order. I learned an aura method from the Mugeok Association recently, but I’m worried because I’m not used to it. I might make mistakes, so please help me well.”

There was a reason he acted confidently.

Kim Dae-yong’s companions opened their mouths one by one.

“Brother. Introduce me to the Mugeok Association too. I want to learn too.”

“I will ask, but don’t expect too much. I was lucky.”

“I’m really jealous.”

Hyun Jae-young stopped paying attention to them and checked his equipment. Choi Jae-hee, who had already conducted raids with him a few times, whispered to him.

“That guy is annoying. Right?”

“He is a bit like that.”

The total number of raid members was eight. Eight Blue Marks could handle even most Green-grade magic beasts.

Kim Dae-yong asked the Raider Bureau employee.

“What did you say would come out today?”

“As I said earlier, Zorgs and Kargs are expected.”

“It’s nothing.”

Hyun Jae-young completed his preparation and looked around. The playground of the apartment complex was the gate forecast location. Raider Bureau employees were lining up equipment and preparing to open the gate.

“Originally it was over there, but we will pull it to this side. As such, please make sure there is no facility damage.”

The surroundings were thoroughly controlled.

The residents of the area had all evacuated, and they were the only ones left.

It was a strange feeling, as if standing in ruins.

“Let’s get ready.”

The Raiders formed a line.

Except for Choi Jae-hee, who rarely used a bow, everyone held swords or spears. They formed a containment line toward the expected gate point.

The gate opener emitted a bluish light. It was a masterpiece of gate technology made of mana stones.

The support team guided them through the radio hung on his ear.

[Counting ten until gate deployment.]

[Please prepare.]

[Ten.]

[Nine.]

[Eight.]

…

[Two.]

[One.]

[Deploy.]

Hyun Jae-young tightly gripped his spear.

The gate appeared. A current resembling a human iris emerged faintly, forming the shape of a pupil. It flashed once as if looking at humans, and then split left and right.

Magic beasts poured out.

“Kieeeeeeeeek!”

It was a Zorg.

The beasts looked around as if confused by the modern scenery they encountered for the first time, and then bared their teeth upon discovering the humans surrounding them.

The Raiders lowered their postures further.

“Prepare calmly.”

Kim Dae-yong threw a word.

The Zorgs began to move.

The beasts did not rush in immediately but tried to escape the encirclement and surround the Raiders instead.

Hyun Jae-young extended his spear toward the Zorg passing by him. The spear loaded with aura penetrated the Zorg’s skin.

The Zorg convulsed, impaled on the spear. Hyun Jae-young pushed the body away with his foot and pulled out the spear.

Another one was rushing in.

He blocked the maw with the spear shaft.

The sharp teeth of the Zorg flickered in front of his eyes. Its saliva splattered. A foul odor came from its mouth.

While Hyun Jae-young hesitated, the beast swung its claws and struck his shoulder. It penetrated the protector, and blood splattered from his skin.

It was not a deep wound. Hyun Jae-young immediately kicked the beast and swung his spear.

The Zorg’s head split.

Hyun Jae-young looked around. Everyone was dealing with Zorgs in their own way. One of them rushed toward Choi Jae-hee.

Choi Jae-hee calmly pierced the beast’s forehead with an arrow. The Zorg rolled as it was running and passed by her feet. Choi Jae-hee stepped on the beast’s head and loaded an arrow again.

Hyun Jae-young focused on the Zorgs again.

An anomaly was continuing at the gate.

[More magic beasts remain.]

[Please finish what’s left quickly.]

The dark current of the gate gathered in the center and became the shape of a wicked pupil again. It split open.

Hyun Jae-young struck a Zorg with the tip of his spear, staring at it.

“Everyone prepare! A new one is coming out.”

Kim Dae-yong, who was swinging his sword in the center, shouted. What appeared was a pack of Zorgs and three or four Kargs.

Harmful magic beast system number 9, Karg.

It was a creature similar to a Zorg but stronger. A higher magic beast species that looked like a Zorg evolved a step further.

However, the gap was not large. If they eliminated the Zorgs quickly, they would be able to handle even the Kargs safely.

However, an anomaly occurred.

The gate did not stop there. Rather, it opened wider. The shape of the gate resembling an iris expanded, and the split crack collapsed, opening a larger path.

At the same time, the gate opener sounded an alarm.

Hyun Jae-young instinctively looked toward the Raider Bureau side. He could feel their confused air even from a distance.

“What is going on!”

Hyun Jae-young shouted into the radio. A panicked voice returned.

[The gate is changing suddenly. It is expanding. There are almost no cases like this…]

“The almost non-existent thing is happening right now! Request support!”

[Understood. Support…]

Then, Kim Dae-yong opened his mouth.

“Don’t be like that. We don’t even know what will come out, so why get angry first?”

“We are doing this because we don’t know what will come out.”

“Even if it comes out, more Zorgs or Kargs will come out. Relax.”

“What on earth…”

Where did such an easygoing thought come from?

Hyun Jae-young clenched his teeth and struck down the head of a Karg. The Karg died instantly.

[Support has been requested. Whatever magic beast comes out, please deal with it calmly.]

“Yeah, yeah.”

Hyun Jae-young caught his breath. Beside him, Kim Dae-yong shook off the blood on his sword and tapped his shoulder.

“It is exciting. Right?”

Since he was promoting to Green Mark soon, his skill was not bad. He would be able to handle most magic beasts. Hyun Jae-young also admitted that.

However, if anything beyond that came out, they would be in danger.

Hyun Jae-young had experienced several accidents in the past. A comrade had been injured and crippled in front of his eyes. A raid was never like a game.

This man was easygoing.

Hyun Jae-young bit his lip, hoping that something they couldn’t handle wouldn’t come out.

And it revealed its form.

Hyun Jae-young was in despair.

“Oh my god.”

Kim Dae-yong, who was grinning beside him, also began to step back.

“Damn it, what is this…”

Harmful magic beast system number 43.

Drake.

The beast looked down at them, raising its red scales.

It was not a magic beast that should appear like this here.

“We must escape.”

It was a monster that required a more noisy process and had to be faced by Raiders of Gold Mark or higher after perfect preparation.

A Drake appearing without notice was a disaster.

The area would burn.

Hyun Jae-young turned his head. The tactical vehicles of the Raider Bureau were slowly turning their wheels. Seeing them leave, Hyun Jae-young had a premonition that he would die here today.

Clang.

Kim Dae-yong dropped his sword.

Hyun Jae-young shouted.

“Pick up the sword!”

Kim Dae-yong’s eyes were shaking. Hyun Jae-young yelled in anger.

“Even if we die, we endure until support arrives! If you want to die, die then!”

“How do we endure that…”

“If we don’t endure!”

For gates where Blue Mark Raiders were deployed, the evacuation radius was not very wide.

People would be waiting for their triumphal march at the containment line.

“Civilians will all die, you bastard!”

However, he did not seem to understand.

The Drake did not care about the human situation. The beast’s maw slowly opened.

What symbolized the beast was none other than the breath of flames.

Hyun Jae-young closed his eyes and drew up his aura. Everyone pointed their weapons. It was a futile resistance, but they couldn’t just die without doing anything.

Eventually, something flowed from the Drake’s mouth.

“Keeeeeeeeee…”

It was blood.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

The Drake coughed blood and collapsed forward. The Raiders dodged. The beast’s giant body collided with the ground, kicking up dust.

Hyun Jae-young doubted his eyes.

On the back of the collapsed Drake.

Someone was standing.

“Yo.”

A man with disheveled hair, wearing torn rags.

A worn-out claymore stabbed in the back of the Drake’s head.

The man placed two fingers on his eyebrow.

“Hisashiburi.”