“No matter what, this really isn’t allowed. If the Guild Leader finds out…”
Despite the people around her trying to dissuade her, Yoon Seulah just scoffed.
“Nam Tae-min? Can you tell him to go eat dirt for me?”
Just as cold as ever, yet when she looked at Hyunseung, she flashed a bright smile as if nothing had happened.
“We’ll head out first. There’s a really impressive guy here anyway, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Dragged along by Yoon Seulah, Hyunseung racked his brain to figure out the situation.
The three lines of message he saw right before the scenery changed.
Abyss raid failed.
Abyss monsters will appear in both dimensions.
And then…
[Logging out will begin]
‘Logging out?’
That made it feel like he really had been inside a game.
But even so, it was obvious from his own movements that this wasn’t a game.
His legs, pulled along by Yoon Seulah, were walking perfectly fine.
If it really was a game and he’d just returned to reality, he should be limping with a crippled leg.
‘Well, that’s that… But a Gate, huh.’
He glanced back and saw the blue, undulating Gate still visible.
And Hyunseung knew something that looked just like that.
‘Abyss Gate.’
A Gate that appears when you fail to clear the Abyss.
But that one should be oozing with ominous black light, not shimmering blue like this.
So, what was he supposed to do now?
Find the Abyss Gate and stop it.
And track down those damn bastards who must have returned to Earth just like him.
‘What the hell are these bastards thinking…’
They knew better than anyone how dangerous the energy of the Abyss was, so what were they thinking, failing the raid on purpose?
No matter how dangerous the Abyss was, it was only the first floor that had just opened.
Meanwhile, the other Rankers had gotten unimaginably stronger over the past two years.
There was no way they could have failed if even just one or two of them had gone in.
It was obvious they were up to something, deliberately not raiding at all, and anger welled up inside him.
‘Just wait till I see those bastards.’
Not that there was much he could do if he met them.
They were bound to be much, much stronger than him.
***
On the way to her house with Yoon Seulah, Hyunseung was able to get a rough idea of what had happened over the past two-plus years.
The Great Cataclysm.
The birth of Awakened.
The discovery of mana stones inside the Gates.
And the heroes called the First Awakened.
Out of all that, what interested Hyunseung the most were, of course, those so-called First Awakened.
“Are the First Awakened really that strong?”
“Each one of them is so strong you can’t even compare them to regular Awakened. The most famous guy in Korea is Nam Tae-min. He’s the Guild Leader of Taeryong, where I belong.”
“Nam Tae-min, huh…”
Of course, it was a name he’d never heard before.
But then, in any field, there are always a few standouts, so it wasn’t that strange.
“They’re overwhelmingly strong, but the reason people practically worship them like gods is something else.”
“Something else?”
“Yeah. I mentioned before that research into mana stones is progressing rapidly, right?”
Mana stones were strangely suited for research into Awakened abilities, and the first thing they developed was—
“A device to measure the Awakened’s strength, a so-called level detector.”
This was what set Hyunseung apart from the Awakened here.
Level.
There was no such concept where he came from, so unlike him, the Awakened on Earth had levels.
“The level detector works perfectly for other Awakened, but for the ones called the First Awakened, it always shows an error.”
“An error?”
“It comes up as ‘unable to measure.’ They were already making a name for themselves, but when every one of them got that result, people went crazy. Calling them the Chosen Ones, the Saviors, and so on.”
Yoon Seulah’s face as she said this didn’t look pleased at all.
It seemed she didn’t like them, regardless of her explanation.
It was interesting, sure, but it wasn’t what mattered to Hyunseung right now.
“So, are you sure a black Gate really hasn’t appeared yet?”
If an Abyss Gate showed up, he had to stop it as soon as possible so the energy didn’t spread.
But right after he said that, Yoon Seulah glanced at him with a look full of pity, and Hyunseung couldn’t help but be suspicious.
“There are no such Gates… Anyway, we should hurry. Hyunseung, don’t think about anything for now and just get some rest. We’ll talk about the details… tomorrow.”
“Huh? Oh, okay. But if a black Gate does show up, you have to let me know right away.”
“Yeah. I promise.”
Even in her reply, Hyunseung could sense a deep sadness, making him tilt his head in confusion.
‘…What is going on?’
***
The place they arrived at in Yoon Seulah’s car was a penthouse he’d only heard about.
…Wow.
Even the car they’d come in was extraordinary, so he had a feeling, but she really wasn’t an ordinary person.
No wonder the other Awakened were so wary of her.
“You can use this room. I’m in the room on the other side, so if you need anything, just come and ask.”
But this woman was almost too trusting.
The house was huge, but still, they were both adults.
And they’d only met today.
For Hyunseung, who had just returned so suddenly, it was a huge relief.
He had no money, no house, not even a phone.
No friends, no family—without Yoon Seulah’s help, he’d have been in real trouble.
Still, curious was curious.
So he asked.
“I might look like this, but I’m an Awakened, you know. If you tried anything, you’d be the one in danger, Hyunseung. And as for why I’m helping you… I’ll tell you tomorrow.”
She answered with a vague expression and quickly left.
‘…I don’t get it.’
But she didn’t seem to have any bad intentions, so Hyunseung gratefully accepted her kindness.
And it was only the next day that he learned why she’d answered so ambiguously.
***
“Hyunseung. Don’t be surprised and listen carefully, okay?”
“Okay.”
The next day.
After filling his stomach with a modern meal for the first time in ages, Yoon Seulah sat across from him with a grave expression.
“It’s not usually good to say this directly to a patient, but… you have to endure it! That’s the only way you’ll be able to fully recover!”
“Huh? Patient?”
Before Hyunseung could ask, Yoon Seulah continued.
“Hyunseung… you’re a Gate Survivor.”
Normally, unawakened people can’t enter a Gate.
But there’s one exception—if you happen to be present when a Gate forms, you can get swept up and disappear.
Those who vanish that way are never found, not anywhere in the world.
Not even inside the Gate itself.
Then, out of nowhere, a tiny handful of people return.
“Most of them go insane.”
At first, they seem normal.
They laugh, they talk.
It’s as if they’ve just lost their memories from after the disappearance.
But then, as those memories slowly come back…
“Their minds break down. They’re terrified, can’t communicate, and beg for help. They can’t sleep at night, burn up with fever, and eventually…”
They take their own lives.
“My younger sibling hanged themselves in front of me.”
Not a day has gone by since then without regret.
If only she’d been a little more attentive.
If only she’d been a little more suspicious, watched a little more closely, tried a little harder.
Maybe she could have saved her sibling.
That regret had piled up inside her, weighing down her heart. That’s why Yoon Seulah wanted, at least, to save this man.
If she could cure his trauma completely, just as she’d imagined and hoped so many times, maybe her heavy regret would lighten, even a little.
“…Don’t worry. Hyunseung, you really can get better!”
“No, but that’s not really…”
“Then. Can you explain where you’ve been the past two years?”
“Well… um…”
Hyunseung was at a loss for words at Yoon Seulah’s question.
Two years in another world, or whatever.
Would that even work? She’d just be even more convinced he was mentally ill.
As Hyunseung fell silent, Yoon Seulah quickly spoke.
“That’s enough. Don’t force yourself to remember. Just take it one step at a time!”
And right then.
Ding dong—the bell rang, and a moment later, someone entered the house.
“You’re here? Doctor.”
A middle-aged woman with a gentle smile.
“It’s been a while, Seulah. How have you been?”
Carrying a briefcase in one hand, she greeted Yoon Seulah like an old friend.
Then she turned her gaze to Hyunseung.
“So, this must be…?”
Yoon Seulah nodded solemnly, and the woman nodded back and sat across from Hyunseung.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Son Sujeong.”
“Ah, I’m Hyunseung Lee .”
Son Sujeong spoke softly and calmly.
Like… a teacher talking to a child.
“I’ve heard a bit about you. What’s most important right now is building a strong mind and an unshakeable mental barrier.”
“…Excuse me?”
“A mental barrier isn’t anything special. It’s self-esteem. The love and care you have for yourself, Hyunseung.”
Rummaging through her bag, Son Sujeong pulled out a small sketchbook.
“Why don’t you draw anything you want here first? Instead of stiff, formal tests, it’s better to approach your feelings gently, slowly.”
Hyunseung took the sketchbook with a reluctant expression.
They’d already decided he was some kind of survivor and future mental patient.
Even if he told the truth about being in a game world, all he’d get in return was more pity and even more intense counseling.
Things were getting complicated again.
‘Ha… This is so not the time for this.’
He needed to find the Abyss Gate and locate the other Rankers.
But there was nothing he could do here alone.
He absolutely needed Yoon Seulah’s help, since she was the only one who was friendly toward him.
So, while he grumbled inside, his hand moved busily, sketching away.
He didn’t know about his current mental state, but he just drew whatever came to mind.
A dark night.
The soft sound of grasshoppers.
A quiet mountain village.
A blue sun rising in the night sky.
Himself standing beneath it.
The memory of the day he first used the skill ‘Fire’ came alive through his drawing.
Of course, his drawing skills were terrible, so it looked like something a child would make.
“…I’m done.”
He handed over the hastily colored picture, recalling that day.
Son Sujeong, seeing the drawing, was so shocked she muttered to herself without realizing.
“Do you… want to destroy the whole world…?”
Hearing her mutter, Yoon Seulah clamped her mouth shut to stifle her emotions and ran out of the room, while Son Sujeong, realizing her mistake too late, forced a smile and tried to smooth things over.
“Haha… What a beautiful picture. Is this how you’re feeling right now, Hyunseung? Um… it’s very delicate and… the emotions are…”
As she calmly praised him, as if trying to comfort him, Hyunseung just frowned deeply.
‘Haa… damn it.’
***
That wasn’t the end of the nonsense.
After the psychologist Son Sujeong left, another new person came in.
Some top hypnotist in Korea, apparently.
They went on about the best hypnotherapy in the field, but Hyunseung just lay down on the sofa, resigned to his fate.
He almost got pulled in for a moment, so maybe they really were good at hypnosis.
[Weak mental interference detected]
[Trait – ‘Can’t Live Without Swagger!’ has activated]
His long-forgotten sub-trait’s mental resistance kicked in out of nowhere, breaking the hypnosis instantly.
After that, he just pretended to be hypnotized, groaned when asked about the past two years, and acted like he was suffering…
“Hic!”
Yoon Seulah again clamped her mouth shut and ran out, and that whole farce ended just like that.
‘…She thinks I have the same symptoms as her sibling.’
If he’d known she’d react so strongly… maybe he should’ve just pretended to be happy.
Anyway, the treatment that had started after lunch only ended by evening, and Hyunseung and Yoon Seulah sat at the table again.
“We’ll stop the treatment for now. But Dr. Son will come again tomorrow, so that’s fine, right?”
Apparently feeling guilty about making him act so distressed, Yoon Seulah said they’d cancel the hypnosis sessions.
Hearing that treatment would continue tomorrow, Hyunseung let out a small sigh.
“I really appreciate you wanting to help, but, Seulah, I’m not mentally ill.”
“Everyone says that. That they’re fine, really fine.”
“No, I mean, I really am—”
“My sibling said the same thing. And I believed it without a single doubt.”
He was at a loss for words again.
It was Yoon Seulah’s sad eyes directed at him.
No matter what he said, no matter how much he told the truth, in the end, he’d just be treated like he was mentally ill.
Not that there was any other way.
If it weren’t for Yoon Seulah, he’d probably be locked up in some facility, undergoing all sorts of tests.
He wouldn’t have been able to move freely or get any information he wanted.
No matter what misunderstanding Yoon Seulah had, staying here was the best option for now.
Understood.
As long as you tell me…
“I’ll do my best with the treatment, so if you hear anything about a black Gate, please let me know right away.”
The moment Hyunseung accepted reality and nodded, Yoon Seulah’s phone vibrated.
She checked the name on the screen and frowned.
Unlike when she spoke to Hyunseung, her voice was cold as she answered the call.
“What is it? Did Nam Tae-min say something about yesterday?”
-Oh, Team Leader. No, it’s not that.
Hyunseung could faintly hear the voice on the other end.
It’s just, a new Gate has been discovered, and I thought I should let you know.
At those words.
[A black Gate has appeared.]
Hyunseung’s eyes turned icy cold.