Chapter 2: Going to Work Even When the Gate Opens (2)

I am a scientist.

My job is to research the abnormal phenomena that emerge from the Gate and devise countermeasures for them.

“Did you say I’ve returned to the past? Seriously?”

I’ve witnessed phenomena that defied the laws of science plenty of times, but this was on another level entirely. A situation so surreal it hardly felt real.

Why does the scene outside the window look so peaceful?

Suppressing the strange sense of incongruity that crept over me, I stared out the window.

The sky outside looked different from just a moment ago, oddly hazy, and a Disaster Alert from the day the Gate crisis began was flashing on my phone.

There was only one possible conclusion.

Though I had no idea how or why, I had returned to the day the crisis began.

“Ming!”

For some reason, even my summoned creature was with me, just as before.

Without thinking, I reached out and patted Ming Ming’s head. The Hedgewing Dragon flapped its wings briefly.

“Calm down. And think.”

Since today was the first day of the Gate crisis, before any Monster rampages or confusion began, the Government likely still had no idea what a Gate even was.

This was a second chance.

Just like I had desperately wished for at the moment of death.

Maybe I could prevent the catastrophe that happened on the first day of the Gate crisis and keep the first button from being sewn on wrong.

But first, I needed to check my own status.

“Status Window.”

***

Lee Han

Level: 1

Awakening Grade: EX

[Seeker]

[This Awakened is one who delves into the secrets of Providence. The more one researches things from the Otherworld, the more experience points are gained.]

[According to Enlightenment Stage, stats are adjusted upward and limits of other traits may be surpassed.]

[Current Stage: 0]

[Summoner]

[This Awakened can command beings from the Otherworld as summons. (Current maximum: 1 creature)]

[Returner]

[This Awakened has returned. Due to the influence of Return, Awakening Grade has been promoted to EX grade.]

***

“Wait, my level is 1?”

Did all my abilities return to their starting point as well?

But Ming Ming is just as before.

More importantly…

“Returner trait…”

At my last memory, my Awakening Grade was stuck at ㅅ.

That meant I couldn’t grow any further past that stage.

But now, thanks to an unfamiliar trait, my grade had risen to EX.

I didn’t fully grasp this ability yet, but I was confident I could become stronger than before.

This time, there would be no need for trial and error.

I could even secure the Fifth-Rank Awakened from my previous life. Many of them had either turned traitor or fled.

“I need to raise my Enlightenment Stage again.”

The higher the Enlightenment Stage, the greater the stats, and the more summons I could command. I’d even receive other abilities as gifts.

That’s why in my past life, many considered the Seeker trait to have enormous potential, praising it in unison.

“First, reading the flow of mana is also important…”

The Seeker trait grants the power to see what is hidden.

And as an extension, it lets you handle things from the Otherworld more skillfully.

I needed to raise my stage and strengthen my traits as soon as possible.

Because it’s also linked to my Summoner abilities.

You can only summon what you can perceive and comprehend from the Otherworld.

I could also find more resources to aid my research.

Let’s organize my thoughts.

What was I lacking in my past life? Why did we lose to the Gate and those Gate Worshippers?

“Research… We lacked research.”

That was my opinion. Maybe because I was a researcher at the Supernatural Science Research Institute.

In the end, knowledge is power.

“Even just looking at the Hunter Rifle proves it.”

If things had lined up properly, we could have controlled the situation and won.

Before my return, so many directions were proposed for scientific victory, and so many possibilities explored.

Looking back, it was almost laughable.

Things we tried to develop at the Institute.

A bioengineering weapon that could selectively kill creatures from certain Gates.

Robots using technology derived from the civilization beyond the Gate.

Extraction of natural resources from beyond the Gate.

Magic Engineering that used Magic Stones as a core catalyst.

Methods to predict when a Gate would open, and to detect the location of open Gates anywhere.

The possibilities were endless, but we missed out on most of these opportunities.

There were many reasons for our failure then—spending too much time fighting Monsters, too many Awakened betraying humanity, lack of will, and so on.

But I wasn’t about to repeat the mistakes of the past.

What I needed to do today was clear.

Go to the first Gate that would open soon, prepare a response, and research the Monster that emerged from the Gate.

This time, I would find a proper solution.

If memory served, the first Gate was one from which humanoid Monsters emerged.

Orcs and Goblins, for example.

Though Orcs and Goblins were low-grade Monsters that could be handled with firearms even back then, it wasn’t without casualties.

“That’s because we had no idea what the Gate was at the time.”

Before the military could respond properly, Monsters rampaged through the city, causing hundreds of casualties, and even afterward, a few Monsters slipped into hiding here and there, causing ongoing trouble.

It was terraforming, but—

“This time will be different.”

At this stage, I should at least be able to grab a few toys from the Institute.

Even if not, I remembered the Gauss Rifle Prototype from my previous life’s research; if I used the Seeker trait, I could quickly make one.

“It’s a bit sorry, but if I just draw a little blood from Ming Ming instead of using a Magic Stone… it should work.”

I’ve seen enough engineering problems at the Institute.

In my mind, I pictured the blueprint of the Hunter Rifle.

A piece of equipment I’d disassembled and reassembled countless times at the Supernatural Science Research Institute.

A coil to apply magnetic force to the bullet. The coil was connected to a battery, and the battery held an electrolyte solution.

The goal was to infuse mana into that electrolyte.

To build a device powered by Magic Engineering.

Not a second could be wasted. I needed to grab the gadgets, and get to the site of the Gate as quickly as possible.

***

So much to do, my head spins.

I dashed down the dark corridor of the Supernatural Science Research Institute. Time to tackle the tasks one by one.

Bring the Institute’s weapons to the site.

Support the response to the Gate as much as possible and subdue the Monsters. Once the site was under control, prepare for research.

That was the plan.

Dawn, with no one in sight who’d come in to work yet. I had to move around myself, but I brought everything I needed to the lab.

Ming Ming. A large syringe. Gauss Rifle Prototype.

“Ming Ming, stay still for a moment.”

Patting Ming Ming’s head with my left hand, I slowly fed it a protein bar. While Ming Ming was distracted, I stuck the syringe in its leg.

Doing this with one hand was a hassle.

But I managed to draw the blood successfully.

About 20ml of blood. If I put this into the Gauss Rifle instead of an electrolyte, I should be able to make a Magic Engineering weapon.

Ming Ming shook its body as if ticklish.

At least it didn’t seem to be in pain.

“Ming.”

Why did the Gauss Rifle Prototype exist in the Institute?

As I recall, it was being developed for the Navy. A weapon similar to a sniper rifle that could draw power from a warship.

But when it didn’t work out, they sent it to our research lab, asking if a supernatural solution could be found. Now, it’s possible—I can infuse mana.

– The creature that appeared on Night Island tonight is an extremely dangerous supernatural phenomenon. Please block civilian access around the area and deploy military units to control the situation.

That was the official notice I sent through the Supernatural Science Research Institute headquarters.

The Gate had already appeared.

The Government didn’t know what it was yet, so they’d have no choice but to accept the claim that it was a dangerous phenomenon requiring quarantine.

“As expected, it’s a bit frustrating.”

It would be nice if the Supernatural Science Research Institute could handle everything on its own without needing military support.

“Well, I’ll make it so soon enough.”

I put on my Institute ID badge, sat Ming Ming in the passenger seat, and got into the car. Time to go.

***

Our destination: Night Island, where the Gate had opened.

I expected heavy traffic, but the road to Night Island was quieter than I thought.

“Phew…”

I tried to stay calm, but the tension was undeniable.

I hoped everything would go as planned.

When the car stopped at a signal, I glanced at Ming Ming and spoke. Ming Ming turned its head toward me.

“Ming Ming. This time, things will go well.”

“Ming.”

I wasn’t sure if it believed me, but Ming Ming nodded its head beside me.

My plan was to keep the situation as much under my control—and the Institute’s—as possible.

Before my return, I absolutely had to prevent things from spiraling into disaster like last time.

“Listen, Ming Ming. I notified the authorities that the Black Sphere is an extremely dangerous phenomenon and that a biological supernatural phenomenon will appear nearby, then requested military support through headquarters.”

“Ming…?”

I could feel Ming Ming looking at me with its own serious expression.

To sum up the current situation: I’d already warned the authorities that Monsters would emerge from the Gate.

By now, those Black Spheres—the Gates—should be appearing all over the world, and the authorities would have no choice but to take the situation seriously.

This was the result.

The military had been deployed right near the Gate.

My first goal was to block anything from coming out of the Gate. For now, it seemed to be working.

“We’re here.”

We’d arrived at Night Island.

In the distance, the black Gate came into view, emitting an unpleasant, low vibration. A door to another world.

No matter how many times I saw it, it was a terrifying sight. A gate shaped like a Black Sphere, connecting two entirely different worlds.

Up ahead, I could see barricades set up by soldiers here and there, and the area was buzzing with confusion as people milled about.

I got out of the car and rushed straight to the site.

When I reached the barricade, I showed my Supernatural Science Research Institute ID, but the soldier blocking the way shook his head.

“You can’t come in here.”

“I’m here because of that. Please check with your superiors.”

“Uh… please wait a moment.”

“I’m the one who requested support here.”

The soldier connected his radio.

The headquarters should already have been informed of the situation.

I quietly waited for the radio response.

“Supernatural Science Research Institute… Uh, Dr. Lee! Your identity has been verified. We’ll escort you inside, please follow me.”

“Thank you for your work.”

Passing the soldiers manning the barricade, I looked around at the military encampment set up around Night Island.

“They might be a bit short on firepower.”

As I observed the military encampment surrounding the Gate, a person who appeared to be an officer walked toward me.

Everyone’s expressions were grim.

“Who are you?”

“Dr. Lee Han from the Supernatural Science Research Institute. I’m the person in charge of this site.”

The area instantly quieted.

Among those gathered, some looked relieved, some were shocked, and others watched me with eyes full of curiosity.