After arriving at the Gate, we filled out the guide roster and changed into the makeshift combat uniforms for guides.
I pulled on a tough black undersuit made from monster hide, then shrugged into a vest coated with minerals quarried from the Gate. The pants were military-issue made from the coarse, steel-hard fur of a monster—the cold, rough texture scraped against my skin.
Maybe because these were for guides, the setup was way simpler than the combat suits worn when actually entering a Gate. Just top, bottom, and vest—done. No complicated weapon rigs, none of that crushing, full-body weight. If that’s all, this is a piece of cake.
I suited up in an instant and watched the others still fumbling with theirs—when my eyes met those of a senior who looked less than thrilled.
“Rookie, have you been to a Gate before?”
Ah.
Catching the suspicious look in the senior’s eyes, I realized my mistake. Right, this was supposed to be my first dispatch to a Gate, so this should’ve been my first time putting on the uniform. Of course it would look strange that I slipped into the complicated gear so naturally.
I thought fast and answered.
“I learned how to put it on beforehand.”
“Well… sure. I mean, the training videos are pretty good these days…”
He still looked doubtful, but he let it go.
Things I used to do without thinking were now drawing needless suspicion. I quietly patted my chest, resolving to be more careful from now on.
While we rested a bit in the waiting tent, a few espers came by asking for guiding. I pressed close to them for a short while, but once they all entered the Gate, even that work disappeared. Looking around, everyone else was either grabbing a quick nap or fiddling with their phones.
Man, I never imagined I’d be able to work this comfortably at a Gate. With a Gate crawling with monsters right in front of me, and I’m this relaxed. The tent setup is a little rough, but compared to inside a Gate, this is heaven.
I closed my eyes to chip away at the fatigue. I don’t know how long I’d slept when the commotion yanked me out of my nap.
Blinking blearily, I saw a bunch of guides clustered at the tent entrance.
“What’s going on?”
“Looks like a problem outside. Doesn’t seem like the Gate’s rampaging, though…”
If a Gate went into rampage, the ground would shake like crazy—that much I knew. Since it wasn’t that, why the fuss? I poked my head out of the tent with the others.
A little ways off, people were crowding around the Gate’s entrance. In the middle of them sat a strange lump of ice.
I narrowed my eyes and muttered,
“That ice looks familiar…”
Vasily was an ice-type ability user too. But ice-type espers aren’t exactly rare, so I shook it off as my imagination.
Just then, cracks began to spread across the ice.
“It’s breaking out! Call for backup, now!”
The ice shattered all at once—and something pitch-black burst out. The espers surrounding the ice hurriedly fell back, and finally, the thing’s identity came into view.
“A monster?”
I grimaced once I saw it clearly.
Red eyes flashing in a sickening way. It looked dog-like, but bigger than a horse, and grotesque enough that there wasn’t a shred of cuteness to be found. Its black hide gleamed, catching the sunset.
“What the… Did a monster escape?”
The guides peering outside with me started murmuring, scared.
“Bad luck, rookie—first day out and you already get to see a monster.”
“Yeah…”
I nodded stiffly. I’d hoped I wouldn’t see any disgusting monster faces for a while.
The monster and the few espers eyed each other, probing—then it looked straight at where I was. Its red eyes glinted, predator spotting prey. The moment our eyes met, my body went rigid on reflex.
It’s fine. It’ll be fine. Forcing myself to settle, I quickly assessed the situation.
Espers were in a standoff encircling the monster. With espers watching it, it probably wouldn’t come our way—so long as nobody over here did anything stupid like turning their back on it.
“Eek…!”
“Wait! Don’t run!”
One terrified guide bolted anyway. I shouted after him, but he didn’t even pretend to listen.
If there’s one thing I learned from trailing Vasily through Gates, it’s this: don’t turn your back on a monster. Predators, like always, tend to chase whoever looks the weakest. Not that knowing it makes not-running any easier.
Excited by the fleeing guide, the monster bounded over the espers and charged our way. Damn it! The curse slipped out on its own. There were no espers on our side—if that thing got here, then with luck half of us might survive; with bad luck, total massacre.
“I-It’s coming this way! Run!”
“Waaah!”
As the monster barreled toward us, people went completely to pieces—sprinting out of the tent, screaming, tumbling over each other. Now it was my turn to choose: run while it charged this way, or stand still and pray it chased the others who were already running.
But it didn’t look like I had a choice.
“Why is it coming for me?!”
The first one to turn his back was someone else, but the monster was sprinting straight at me. It was faster than I expected—too late to run now.
Damn it, damn it!
Too late to flee. With me marked as the target, I had to hold out somehow until the monster’s attention swung back to the espers. They were already racing over here, but I was sure those claws would tear through us long before they arrived.
Cursing under my breath, I scanned around fast. Right next to me lay some spare temporary weapons the espers had left behind.
'A long spear doesn’t really fit my hand, but it’s better than nothing.'
I grabbed a weapon in a hurry, but the spear was so long and heavy I couldn’t aim it properly. I managed to point it forward, but I couldn’t be sure I’d block the monster’s strike well.
Back then, I could’ve swung something like this without blinking. Should’ve kept up training even after regression.
Regretting it too late, I locked my eyes on the monster rushing in. I died and finally got free of that bastard, and this is what happens? Still, I wasn’t going to give up.
I’ve been in and out of Gates for years. Like hell I’m dying easy to some piece-of-shit monster.
“Screech!”
The monster shrieked and leapt, hurtling at me. Good—this much, I counted on. I thrust the spear into its open mouth as it lunged.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
I managed to block it with the spear, but my arm nearly snapped. I didn’t drop the weapon, thank god—but the force shoved me backward, and I fell. The spear tip barely scraped its flank and buried into the ground.
“Damn, what strength… Ah.”
And then, seeing what was right in front of me, I wanted to look away from reality.
That maw gaping wide in rage, teeth huge and sharp enough to shred skin on contact. Between them, my flimsy weapon jammed like a toothpick, barely holding it back—while those massive claws thrashed inches from my face.
Every time the monster bucked, the spear tip drove deeper into the ground, and the gap between its claws and my face shrank.
Where were the espers? The noise around me said chaos, but my eyes were locked forward and wouldn’t budge, so I couldn’t check.
That was when the spear started to bend.
“Ah.”
So this is how I die.
I squeezed my eyes shut. The moment I sensed death, an image of Vasily flashed through my mind.
He shoved me into Gates, sure—but when I got in trouble fighting monsters, at least he’d save me. Granted, it always came with a “pathetic” tacked on afterward…
The last person I think of isn’t family but Vasily. What a joke.
Thud.
With a dull sound, the violently shaking spear went still. Then something warm and lukewarm splashed across my face.
“Mmff…! Cough! Ugh!”
The mystery liquid got up my nose and into my mouth, and I spat it out fast. But the stuff that had already gotten in filled my mouth with a rancid stench.
It was the worst thing I’d ever tasted in my life. Gagging, I wiped my face clean.
Forcing my eyes open, I checked the scene. The monster dangled limp, its head skewered by a massive ice spear. A second ago, it had been charging to kill me—now it looked like a lie.
And along the ice, black monster blood dripped, drop by drop.
Where to? Onto my face.