Chapter 10
A staff member spotted Cheon-hwi, who was nestled in my arms and observing the gate. They raised a hand to stop me and spoke.
“Excuse me. Is that cat a pet? Currently, pets are quite dangerous, so the entry procedures are strict.”
At those words, Cheon-hwi immediately bristled and hissed in protest.
[*Kyaaah! How dare you treat this Lord like some insignificant creature?!*]
They’d just said pets were dangerous.
And then it goes and hisses while fluffing up its fur?
‘*I need to calm Cheon-hwi down first.*’
“It’s a pet! Situation! It looks like it’s about to go berserk!”
No!
If you react that sensitively too, it makes it harder to calm them down!
[*How dare you show hostility towards this Lord!*]
Ah.
Just stay still for a moment, please.
‘*How am I supposed to handle this…*’
The increasingly troublesome situation was giving me a headache.
I could feel the air around us growing colder.
‘*I need to stop this quickly.*’
– *Pak.*
I quickly turned my body and whispered to Cheon-hwi.
“Cheon-hwi-nim. Please calm down. Things will really get out of hand.”
[*How can you expect this Lord to stand by while someone shows hostility?*]
“I’ll apologize on your behalf. So please, just calm down. We’ll end up being targeted for subjugation at this rate.”
At my words, Cheon-hwi laid its fur flat and said.
[*That fool will think he’s alive because of you.*]
“Thank you.”
“Hey! Get away from that pet right now!”
“It’s not a pet. It’s just a cat.”
“Didn’t it just release magical energy? I definitely felt something strange!”
I quickly pulled out my Hunter ID and showed it to the staff member.
“It really isn’t. Look at my Hunter ID. I’m not a Tamer, I’m an Alchemist.”
A burly man who had appeared from inside the cordon.
– *Bbak!*
He smacked the back of the staff member’s head and said.
“Hey, you idiot! What’s this about a pet going berserk?”
“Senior! Please stop hitting my head!”
“You’re the one making a fuss. Where’s this pet?”
“Right there in their arms, isn’t it?”
“A cat?”
Treating Cheon-hwi as just a regular cat.
‘*That guy might let us through.*’
“Yes. It’s a cat. Not a pet.”
“How can you prove that? If you’re hiding a pet, your Hunter license could be revoked.”
“How could an Alchemist walk around with a pet?”
“An Alchemist?”
“Yes. Here’s my Hunter ID.”
He took my Hunter ID and looked it over.
Then he smacked the back of the staff member’s head again.
– *Bbak!*
“Hey, you idiot! Don’t embarrass the Association. Have you ever seen a non-Tamer walking around with a pet?”
“But it is a pet! I’m telling you, it released magical energy earlier!”
“… Hey, you moron! Can’t you even tell the difference between magical energy emanating from the gate and that?!”
“I’m telling you it’s true…”
“I’m the idiot for leaving the entrance in your hands.”
“You don’t believe a word I say…”
Ignoring his grumbling junior, he handed my Hunter ID back and said.
“You’re Na Min-woo, the gate volunteer, right? Our staff made a mistake. Please understand.”
Of course, I understand.
If we can get past this like this.
“Yes. I understand.”
“But why are you bringing a cat along for a subjugation?”
“Because if I leave it home alone, it causes trouble.”
[*What?! This Lord causes trouble?! You!*]
Cheon-hwi glared at me.
‘*Please. We need to get through this situation first. Just stay still.*’
I tried to convey this to Cheon-hwi with my eyes, but.
There was no way he would listen.
[*What will you do by staring at me like that?*]
Something suddenly intruded between our locked gazes.
– *Seureuk.*
As the staff member’s hand stroked Cheon-hwi’s brow.
Cheon-hwi closed its eyes and let out a small cry.
“Purrr.”
“So that’s why you brought it along? I understand; my cat at home is the same way.”
“Yes. But, how did you…?”
“Ah. It calms down when you touch it here. It might be helpful for you to know when raising it.”
– *Tal. Tal.*
[*Kyaaah! How dare you touch this Lord!*]
“Oh my. One moment it seems happy, the next it has quite a temper.”
“Yes. It’s a bit like that.”
“Please go on in. It’ll be time to enter soon.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Guided by the staff member, I stepped inside the cordon and began walking towards the interior.
Cheon-hwi, still bristling at the staff member who had touched him earlier.
Shouted at me telepathically.
[*You wretch! This Lord will definitely cut off that bastard’s hand!*]
“Yes, yes. Let’s think about that later. Please calm down for now.”
– *Seureuk. Seureuk.*
“Purrr.”
Oh ho.
This is quite effective, isn’t it?
Following the staff member’s advice and stroking him.
Cheon-hwi’s hissing stopped.
‘*This is going to be really helpful!*’
[*You too!*]
– *Seureuk. Seureuk.*
And so, I moved towards the gate while diligently stroking Cheon-hwi.
Upon reaching the gate, I saw some people.
As I approached.
One of them spoke to me.
“Are you Na Min-woo?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll check your Hunter ID.”
“Here you go.”
The person took my Hunter ID, compared it with the list, and then handed it back.
“Confirmed. You will enter the gate in 10 minutes.”
“Okay.”
“And please take this.”
The staff member handed me a single smartwatch.
‘*Is this the Gate Watch I’ve only heard about?*’
[*What is that?*]
“It tells you the gate’s location in real-time.”
[*What’s the point of knowing that, and why bother wearing it?*]
“Because there are people who get lost when the gate closes.”
[*Lost, you say. A device prepared for such pathetic creatures.*]
“Well, it’s not like there are signposts inside the gate.”
As I was waiting to enter the gate while talking with Cheon-hwi.
The only female Hunter among those already present approached and spoke to me.
“Hello. I’m Woo Min-ji, an E-rank Hunter.”
“Yes. Hello. I’m Na Min-woo, F-rank.”
“Are you a Tamer by any chance?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then, that cat…?”
“Ah. It causes trouble if I leave it at home…”
[*You wretch! Are you treating this Lord like that again?!*]
“The cat is cute. Can I touch it?”
“You’d probably find it difficult. It’s a bit finicky.”
[*This Lord is finicky? You really have no sense of what you should or shouldn’t say.*]
– *Seureuk.*
“Purrr.”
Woo Min-ji watched me stroking Cheon-hwi, then stared intently at him and muttered.
“It looks docile.”
[*Kyaaah! Stop it! Why does this body of mine enjoy this so much?!*]
Cheon-hwi bristled again, lamenting his own body.
What can you do?
Instincts aren’t easy to overcome.
“Kyaak!”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay. It was cute when it was purring. But I guess I can’t touch it.”
“No.”
“By the way, Min-woo, I don’t see your party members.”
“I’m alone.”
“Ah. You’re a solo player.”
Well, the profit you can make from an F-rank gate in a party is…
‘*Maybe 200,000 won total?*’
Besides, the reason I came to the gate wasn’t for profit, but for training.
“Yes.”
“Then, I’ll see you at the boss fight.”
Woo Min-ji left.
I could hear other male Hunters muttering.
“How can you bring a cat to a gate subjugation?”
“I know, right! He’s totally crazy.”
“Ah. Should I get a cat too?”
“Why a cat?”
“I thought it might help me get a girlfriend.”
“With that face? Forget it. It’s impossible for you.”
“Yah! You’ve said enough!”
“Look in the mirror. Then you’ll know if what I said is true or not.”
“You! Let’s see what happens inside the gate.”
“Fine. Let’s see your pathetic skills.”
Sigh.
How can they be like that?
“How can they be so lacking in tension before entering a gate?”
[*You don’t seem particularly tense either.*]
“Well. I have you, Cheon-hwi-nim.”
[*Do you think this Lord will help you?*]
“Won’t you?”
[*The original purpose is training, is it not? No matter how dangerous, I have no intention of helping.*]
“Even if you say that, you’ll step in if I’m in real danger.”
[*Do you think this Lord would step in when you treat me like a mere insect?*
He’s really sulking, isn’t he.
How do I cheer him up?
‘*Should I try buying a Churu treat?*’
[*That girl earlier seemed interested in you.*]
“Me?”
[*Which is why she said she’d see you again later, is it not?*]
“No. That’s an unwritten rule of gate subjugation. We hunt the boss together.”
[*What a useless unwritten rule.*]
“Please enter the gate now.”
Time had passed.
I stood side by side with the other Hunters in front of the gate.
“Please enter one by one.”
One by one, they entered the gate.
Finally, it was my turn.
‘*Hoo… Let’s go!*’
I stepped into the distorted gate.
—
* * *
—
**#30 Minutes Ago – Association Branch Office, Hyeonjin**
As usual, I organized the documents and pressed a button.
– *Ding-dong.*
“Customer number 5, please come to window number 3.”
After calling the next customer and waiting a moment.
I saw a man approaching, holding something carefully in his arms.
‘*What is he holding so preciously?*’
I caught a glimpse of an orange hue.
As he got closer, I could make out what it was.
A vivid orange color, eyes so large they took up half its face, and a small pink nose.
It was a cat poking its face out from between the padding of his coat.
‘*What? It’s a cat? It’s really cute.*’
Even though the adorable cat was a welcome sight.
I couldn’t let it show.
Suppressing my feelings, I spoke.
“How can I help you?”
“I want to sell potions.”
“There’s an appraisal fee for potions. Is that okay?”
“Yes.”
“Then, please place them here along with your ID.”
– *Tuk.*
A crudely shaped potion bottle.
‘*This must be Grade 5.*’
I immediately placed the potion on the appraiser.
– *Jiiing.*
I checked the appraisal result that came out shortly after.
**[Appraisal Certificate]**
**[Type: Recovery Potion]**
**[Grade: Grade 4]**
**[Magical Power: 87]**
A Grade 4 Recovery Potion?
‘*Who puts a Grade 4 potion in such a shabby bottle!*’
And look at the magical power value.
It far exceeds the Grade 4 standard of 50.
Considering that the Blue Label, considered top-tier, is 85.
This potion’s quality is unbelievably good.
‘*Did he bring the wrong one by mistake?*’
“Um… Are you sure you want to sell this to the Association?”
“Yes. Is there something wrong with the appraisal result?”
‘*Something’s wrong! The quality is unbelievably good!*’
But I couldn’t say that out loud.
If I buy this and report it up the chain.
I wouldn’t have to worry about this month’s performance.
‘*They’ll go crazy trying to recruit him somehow from the top.*’
“No. It’s been appraised as a Grade 4 Recovery Potion.”
“Then that’s fine. Please process it quickly. I’m a bit busy.”
“Yes. The Association purchase price for a Grade 4 Recovery Potion is 850,000 won, and after deducting the 50,000 won appraisal fee, it’s 800,000 won.”
“Please give me cash.”
“Yes. Just a moment.”
I prepared the cash and handed it over.
The man seemed so pleased.
‘*His mouth is practically reaching his ears.*’
After confirming the man leaving the branch, I took the potion and went to find the team leader.
“Team leader?”
“Hyeonjin. What is it?”
“Just a potion I bought.”
“For Grade 5 potions, you just record them and put them in the warehouse. You don’t need to report them.”
“It’s Grade 4. And I think you need to check the appraisal certificate too.”
“Grade 4?”
– *Chwarak.*
The team leader’s eyes widened gradually.
‘*No wonder. An talent has appeared who can solve the problem of our branch, which is notorious for its low-quality potions.*’
“Who made this?”
“Here’s a copy of their ID.”
“What?! An F-rank Alchemist? Not even a D-rank?!”
