17. Hell Gate of the End
17. Hell Gate of the End
For the first time since coming to this world, I opened my eyes leisurely.
The midday sun shined into my eyes through the curtains covering the window.
I stretched my whole body and got up from bed.
“Hmm, Akasha, what time is it?”
[Answer. It is 11:27 AM, Master.]
“Oh, I slept like a log.”
He stretched again and opened the curtains to the sides.
Then, a lush, grassy path leading to the park came into view.
Beyond that, a group of students could be seen running around busily.
“You’re working hard at training.”
[Q. Don’t masters need training too?]
“I don’t need it. I do need it, but….”
I know that training is essential to survive in this world, but when I actually think about ‘I have to train’, I become extremely reluctant to move.
Just like it was on the original Earth.
“I see you, a cornered bastard, with water, muaaaaahhhh~am. Thud, thud.”
– Gulp.
From the moment I opened my eyes, I was overcome with extreme hunger.
He lifted his top slightly and patted his shiny belly.
The fat that had been filled with meat and time was still not visible.
“You feel good.”
[Answer. It’s a natural result of physical age. If you keep lazing around like this, your body will go back to the way it was in your early thirties.]
“That won’t work.”
I headed to the bathroom, my mouth watering.
The first episode airs at 3pm.
There was still three hours left, so there was plenty of time.
“I’ve packed the stuff in the name of mysticism. All that’s left is the people I’m going to take with me?”
If you’re a hardcore player, this is a familiar section that you can easily clear with a high score.
It’s possible because it’s the episode with the lowest difficulty level.
[Answer. For Easy difficulty, it was ’12. Believer’ level, and for Hardcore difficulty, it was ’11. Prayer’ level.]
“So, even if it’s not possible here, it’s probably the 10th level, the Holy Marriage level.”
In Lapocal, the difficulty level is divided into four levels.
The Ascendant, Third Sphere, Second Sphere, and First Sphere are these.
And in terms of the level of difficulty, there are three levels for each level, from level 1, the Archangel, to level 12, the Believer.
“I don’t think that’s possible, but at least it’s not a yawn. It’s a yawn.”
Veteran gamers considered the first rank of the lower ranks, ‘9. Angel’, as the biggest barrier to entry and a wall of sorrow for newbies.
That is, the first episode that takes place in the ascendant stage is of a difficulty level that is not even included in the lower heavens, which means the path to full-fledged hell.
“Even that level of difficulty is a life-threatening situation.”
Park Jin-woo is a baby.
Oh my, baby Jinu. Give me level 12, please.
[Answer. … … .]
“Well, Inma. I guess we can escape reality a little.”
But this is reality, and the difficulty level applied is very likely to be ‘Last Apocalypse’.
From the start, the probability of entering the highest difficulty level among ascenders, ’10. Holy Soul’, was very, very, very high.
[Answer: It could be a yawn.]
“It could be a king. I think I just planted a flag.”
So, it is true that Yoo Hyeon-seong is anxious alone.
“Let’s see… .”
I thought about the list of people I had become close with so far.
Leah Winterlake.
Luna Moonsphere.
Yoo Hyun-seong.
end.
“… … .”
Wow, after listing them all, I wonder why my network is so narrow.
Perhaps it is a small consolation that the quality of my connections is top-notch.
“Can I use Leah as a connection…?”
It’ll be okay since we’re in the same group. Hmm.
I put the toothbrush with the toothpaste I had squeezed into my mouth and thought about how I could entice them.
* * *
“This kid, Yoo Hyun-seong, is the main character, so he’ll definitely come, right?”
Maybe it’s reality and there are times when it doesn’t come… .
Even though he is the main character, wouldn’t he end up in a place where things happen as if it were fate?
Oh my, I was so happy.
“Just in case, I’ll just send a quick text.”
– Knock knock.
–
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[Me] Until 3 o’clock
(map)
[Jun Gong-ssi] ???
After sending a one-sided text to Yoo Hyun-seong, I went straight to Luna as soon as I finished lunch.
[Me] Huh?
[Daughter] I’m eating and resting.
[Me] Can you give me a minute?
[I] have something to talk about when we meet
[Daughter] Yes, yes.
[Daughter] Where would you like to see it?
[Me] I’m going to go
[Me] Just tell me the location
Luna was also resting on a bench near the restaurant, perhaps having just had lunch.
He approached from behind, then stuck his face out and spoke.
“Ta-da! Do you want to go on a date with me today?”
“I’m sorry! I don’t have any thoughts about dating yet…! I’ll just accept your heart!”
Luna stood up as she said that, then nodded.
Those watching around in awe of her beauty snickered.
“Then that’s true. It’s nothing like me.”
“How dare you dare to approach the goddess, but I acknowledge your courage.”
“… … .”
“So… huh? Mr. J, Jinwoo?”
“Well, a date wasn’t meant to be a date….”
It tastes bitter.
[Answer. If there was an achievement, the achievement name would have been ‘0 Confession 1st Im’, Master.]
‘shut up.’
When he didn’t know anything, he seemed like a stiff robot, but after reading all the records about me, his personality seemed to change little by little.
I tell jokes like this too. Hahaha.
I wonder where and what influence it comes from….
[Answer. … … .]
I explained to Luna, who was looking perplexed, as I shooed away the long message window.
“Since we’re on the same team, I said that to make it more friendly. I’ll invite the other kids too.”
“Is that so…?”
Luna nodded after thinking for a moment.
“Yes, let’s go. If it’s a social gathering, I can’t miss it.”
“Okay. Then go find Han Se-yeon now. I’ll go find Leah.”
“Well, that’s where we have to start… I see…”
“Coincidentally, you and Hyunseong are the only ones who exchanged numbers.”
Luna, who had been smiling bitterly, nodded and declared with a proud face.
“I will definitely find Han Se-yeon and encourage her to come to the gathering!”
“Okay! Deputy Manager Luna! I’ll trust you!”
“Are you, Deputy Manager…?”
Luna’s momentum rapidly diminishes.
It seems that the timid trigger was triggered by a single title that was nothing more than a name.
“I’m the vice-captain….”
“It’s okay. I’m just relaying the message.”
It’s literally just a recommendation.
Anyway, Han Se-yeon won’t come out.
“Even if you decline, there’s no need to feel regretful. It’s not mandatory to participate.”
“Yes… Well, to that extent…”
Luna nodded with a plump face and clenched her hands tightly.
“I’ll try hard!”
“Okay, good job!”
After giving Luna a thumbs up, I headed to Maehwa-dong.
* * *
“Let’s see. Leah Winterlake… Winterlake… I found it.”
Press the call button at the dormitory main entrance.
– Jiiing-
The classic alarm sounds and a message appears on the standby screen asking you to wait.
Like that, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes… .
– ‘I am unable to respond due to an urgent matter. Please leave a message after the beep… .’
“Hmm. Is he not in his seat?”
If I had known this would happen, I would have exchanged numbers yesterday.
Just like in La Focal, I thought complacently that I would be stuck in the dorm anyway.
Ugh, as I was about to turn my steps toward the Department of Mystery, my mouth watering, the intercom screen lit up and a clump of red fur appeared.
There’s no need to do a video call. Did you press it while you were sleeping?
“Hello? Is it Leanna?”
[… Ugh. Ugh.]
“I’m Park Jinwoo, and I’m the victim of your stalking.”
[Pantsu. Huh. Are you going to wear it?]
The pronunciation is clearer in the profanity section, what the f*ck.
It’s a character who lives and dies by desire.
“The sun is high in the sky now, and you’re still sleeping?”
[… Hehe.]
“Come out to the park gate by 2:30. We’ll have a social gathering.”
[X until…]
“Oh, don’t be like that. Come out. It won’t be bad for you… .”
– Stop.
“… Because. … Hello? Hey, really?”
– Toot- Toot-
Huh? Hang up?
When I came out, I tried to extract some of the unstable magic power, but you don’t know how to thank me and ignore me?
Era, I don’t know. I guess I’ll pick you next time we meet!
“It’s so exciting! Tsk.”
If only he was there, there wouldn’t be any danger in the first episode.
As expected, life isn’t always easy.
“Should I go without insurance?”
Yoo Hyun-seong and Luna might be okay, but I’m an ordinary person who would die if I got hit, so I needed a place to run to if necessary.
If that doesn’t work, I’ll try to replenish some of my cold magic power, but they won’t even let me meet them.
“Ugh.”
There’s nothing we can do. We have no choice but to follow the rules.
Leaving my regrets behind, I headed to the Department of Mystery to pack my things.
* * *
Just in case, I went out to the park gate at around 2:30, but as expected, there was no sign of Leah.
Well, we’re not close enough to the point where I can ask her out privately.
It was so hard to become close with La Focal, so it was my fault for expecting even a little bit.
I headed to the meeting place before it was too late.
– Boooooooo-
We took a leisurely bus ride and arrived downtown where the first episode takes place around 2:50.
Perhaps because it was Saturday, there were a lot of people walking around the downtown area.
I lowered my gaze and manipulated my smartwatch.
[Daughter] Han Se-yeon said she won’t be attending. I’m sorry.
[Me] Okay okay okay
[Daughter] I’ll be there in 5 minutes!
[Me] I’m here now (on the map), so just come here
[Daughter] Yes!
[Jun Gong-ssi] Aren’t you going to tell me what happened until the end?
[Jun Gong-ssi] Almost there
[Me] Yeah
Both were not too far away.
Let’s wait a moment. Yoo Hyun-seong and Luna arrive at the same time.
“hello.”
“hi.”
Two people who had sat at the same table but had never spoken privately greeted each other.
“My name is Luna Moonsphere.”
“It’s Yoo Hyun-seong. I heard we’re on the same team this time. I’ll be counting on you.”
“Yes, I will take good care of it.”
Luna, who had been observing Yoo Hyeon-seong for a moment, smiled and looked back at me.
“So, Jinwoo, what should we do now?”
“Uh, what are you doing…?”
He checked the time, trailing off.
2:58. In about two minutes, the first episode, Hell’s Gate, opens.
Right here.
“Since it’s a social gathering, shouldn’t we start with something that will help us become closer?”
As he said that, he looked back and forth between the two people.
“After all, there are only three of us gathered here today.”
“Wait a minute, was this a social gathering?”
When Yoo Hyun-seong opens his eyes wide, Luna is also surprised.
“Oh, you didn’t know?”
“I didn’t know. They just told me to come out all of a sudden…”
“You were training at the training ground anyway.”
“That’s true, though.”
Yoo Hyun-seong grumbles, saying that he can still talk.
“I was going to go buy some protein anyway since I was running low on it.”
“Huh? How did you know that?”
“You said it with your own mouth yesterday.”
“…Was it so?”
That wasn’t the case.
I just said it roughly because I got involved when I went out to buy protein at Lapocal.
He shrugged his shoulders silently and tried to glimpse the time.
[Answer. 47 seconds. 48 seconds. 49 seconds…]
‘Oh, thank you.’
There was no need to check the time.
I swallowed hard and gripped the straps of the backpack I was carrying on my back.
Then Luna tilts her head and asks.
“Mr. Jinwoo, what is that? Are we going to play golf?”
“Oh, I bought a few things in advance because I needed them…”
[Answer. 59 seconds. 3 o’clock. Master, get ready.]
As soon as Akasha finished saying ‘Sio’.
– Thump!
My spine froze from the uncontrollable cold.
My eyes widen without me knowing.
For the first time in my life, I feel like the hairs on my whole body stand on end.
Thrills? No.
It is a biological aversion, a soul-wrenching discomfort mixed with ominousness.
In the field of vision observing the world, with the magical power instinctively turned on, I see the sight of the ‘black, heterogeneous magical power’ that should not have been visible before, overflowing and spewing out in all directions.
A hellish force filled with hatred and destruction that disrupts the world’s order simply by existing.
Magic.
– Damn it.
The world is frozen.
It was a mistake.
The natural magic power was frozen in a tremendous storm of magic energy.
A storm of magical energy so dense that it’s ridiculous to compare it to the tiny amounts of magical energy I’d seen at the academy.
This vividly illustrates the grotesque process of natural magic ‘infecting’ us in an instant.
I had to cover my mouth at the vivid scene that I had never seen or heard of in the 10 years of history of La Focal.
‘Ugh, shit. I think I’m going to throw up.’
A shadow receding from it caught my eye.
‘That kid….’
The thought didn’t last long.
The magical energy that had been spurting into the air began to contract rapidly!
“Get down!”
“… … !”
– Kookung!
“Gyaaaah!”
“Eww! This guy is so annoying!”
People are startled by the sudden shaking of the ground.
Cars running on the road suddenly stop or collide with each other, and cars that cannot overcome inertia crash into the safety wall on the sidewalk one after another.
“Huh!”
“Whoa!”
He grabbed Luna, who was staggering and unable to control her body, pushed her against the wall, and hugged her head.
Then, I turned my head to look at Yoo Hyeon-seong, and he was standing in a stable position with his back bent just as I had said.
Beyond that, people can be seen screaming and rolling around on the floor, tangled together.
There is no such thing as a return to normal.
– Dddddddd…!
Eventually, the intensity of the earthquake gradually diminishes.
Yoo Hyun-seong, who had been looking around, lifts his upper body and lets out a sigh of relief.
That moment.
– Kwarung! Kwarung!
– Kwajijijijik –
A storm of intense magical power spreads in all directions, accompanied by the sound of thunder and lightning.
A phenomenon that occurs when the magical power of nature is unable to overcome the rapid expansion of the magical energy that has contracted to its fullest and is pushed out.
“… … !”
“This…!”
Everyone’s expressions, including those of the screaming citizens, immediately harden.
Unlike Yoo Hyun-seong, Luna and I, who had been clinging to the wall, also raised our heads as we were crushed by the force that made our skin tingle.
Two meters above the road, right above a car full of cars that had been thrown overboard by a sudden earthquake.
Under the clear sky, a giant black hole opened its eyes, scattering dead, blood-red lightning.
“That, that, that is….”
Luna is so shocked that she covers her mouth without being able to continue speaking.
A black hole opens across space.
Normally, if a black hole of that size were to open, the Earth would be torn apart and absorbed in an instant, but since it wasn’t a real black hole, that didn’t happen.
Rather, it is a ‘channel’ that exists not to attract, but to spit out.
“…Hell Gate.”
Yoo Hyun-seong put his hand on his waist and said its name.
Then, he opens his mouth and says, “Ah,” while just grabbing the empty space.
I quickly unpacked the golf bag out of the two backpacks, took it out, and threw it inside.
“Yoo Hyun-seong! Take it!”
“uh?”
– Okay.
Yoo Hyeon-seong makes a surprised expression as he skillfully receives the surprise throw.
It was because of a sword engraved with the seal of the Guardian Academy.
“How do I…?”
“You have permission to export! Use it without any worries!”
“okay!”
Yoo Hyun-seong nods and draws his sword with style.
Then, Luna, who had been looking at the Hell Gate with worried eyes, tilted her head with a ‘Huh?’ expression.
“Mr. Jinwoo, why did you bring a sword… to the gathering…?”
“… In preparation for this situation?”
“yes?”
“It’s ubiquitous. It was just what I needed. Good things are good.”
“… … .”
Luna tilts her head left and right, as if she doesn’t know anymore.
‘Ugh…!’
Luna I’m dying~!
I turned my gaze away because I thought my heart would really flutter if I kept watching.
The Hell Gate fixed in the sky above the road was seen starting to move.
By then, people who had realized what was happening began screaming and running into buildings.
“after.”
I took out the gloves I had prepared in advance from my pocket and put them on my hands.
Then I rummaged through my backpack, took out the item I wanted, and held it.
Yoo Hyun-seong, who saw the silver that was shining like new, out of place, made a face as if to say, ‘What are you doing in this situation?’
Luna asked, slightly embarrassed.
“Mr. Jinwoo, why a cup all of a sudden?”
“It’s my special move.”
It was the
Normally, it would have been poisoned as soon as it was caught, but thanks to the special gloves it was wearing beforehand, the poison did not penetrate inside.
“Blood, a finishing move? … A cup?”
“For now. So, what are you going to do? Stay inside? Or…?”
“Of course we have to fight!”
Luna, who had been speaking loudly, bit her lower lip, then stretched both hands forward and began to form a magical formula.
As Luna stood next to Yu Hyeon-seong, as if waiting for that moment, a blue light began to ripple on the exterior wall of the building where the citizens had taken refuge, forming a sturdy protective shield.
It was a huge defensive magic that blocked entry from inside and outside.
‘Let’s see.’
As we examine the structure with our magical powers, we hear the inorganic voice of Akasha interpreting it.
[Answer: Generally, it is at least level 2 defensive magic.]
If it’s level 2, it’ll be exactly the same magic as what you saw in Lafocal.
It is a defensive magic with a level of durability that will break if it is subjected to concentrated attacks for more than 3 minutes while receiving power from the building, although it can withstand a certain amount of time.
‘They’re installing something this crude as a protective shield.’
Still, I wonder why it isn’t downgraded for reasons like difficulty adjustment.
“Okay, then let’s hold out as long as we can until reinforcements arrive.”
Episode 1, ‘Hell Gate in the City’, is a story about waiting for reinforcements while holding off pawn-class monsters pouring in from a Hell Gate that opens without warning in the city center for a certain period of time.
At around 10 minutes, the highest grade phone mob, the ‘Quintuple Phone’, appears as a boss mob, and the final goal of the episode is to catch it or endure it for 15 minutes.
Although it sounds simple, it has the following limitations:
First, there is only one superhuman around, the main character.
Second, the only weapon he has is an old wooden sword that he can find at a nearby dump.
Third, if even one monster escapes the stage, the points earned will be significantly reduced.
Fourth, if a civilian who was unable to evacuate in time is harmed, the points earned will be greatly reduced, and if not careful, Yu Hyeon-seong may fall into a semi-forced state of frenzy.
This cannot but be the main episode with a murderous difficulty level.
‘However, the behavior patterns of the monsters that appear are very simple. They only care about nearby creatures, so as long as they don’t fall behind, you can ignore the 3rd and 4th ones.’
This is a tactic to avoid running away as soon as the episode starts, but in fact, if you give up on the score, you can still progress through the main story even if you run away.
Fame, reputation, character, confidence, etc. all plummet to the bottom.
This is what makes Rafocal so beautiful.
The point is that as long as the main character doesn’t die, the story progresses no matter what happens.
Except for the official match defeat situation.
‘In that sense, there’s no problem clearing the level even if you just run away without fighting.’
There is a problem that it gets closer to the bad ending though.
I aimed the
Soon, something heavy appeared from the stabilized Hell Gate, shaking the ground.
– Swish – Boom!
“My car! Nooooooo!”
He falls down and smashes a car, then slowly raises his heavy body.
“?”
A body packed with dense muscles.
His skin is covered in black and white spots, and he holds a huge double-edged axe in one hand.
“??”
It was sucking in the air from the ground with its half-open mouth, exhaling pure white breath, and then it cried out, “Woo-woo” and exhaled a heated and cold breath.
It looks more like a cow that has worked out hard than a minotaur.
It almost reminds me of the HellboX version of Hellchang from Dixon.
[Answer. Individual name: Muscle Cow. Enemy class: Quintuple Pawn.]
“???”
Why are you coming out of there?
[Answer. Be careful, Master. This monster is a boss from an episode that originally appears around the 10-minute mark on Hardcore difficulty.]
“I know yeah.”
No, what the heck is going on? … I was too shocked to even think about what was going on.
Still, I couldn’t hide my embarrassment and just laughed.
“Haha. This is the ‘Last Apocalypse’ difficulty level~ Is this it? Hahaha, right.”
It wasn’t for nothing that they were confident that it would be ‘the final apocalypse’ level of difficulty.
What would it have been like if this situation had been faced as a game?
The only weapon given is an old wooden sword.
There is even a situation where you have to go and acquire it separately.
“Wow~ If I hadn’t brought a weapon, I would have been in trouble~.”
Just imagining it gives me goosebumps.
“Well, it looks strong at first glance… Will it be okay if we just do it?”
“I guess I’ll have to hold out as long as I can. But if that’s the only one… .”
“Hey, wait! Don’t say any more!”
I quickly covered Yoo Hyeon-seong’s mouth, but it was already too late.
Before he could finish speaking, double-pony level health cows poured out from around where the muscle cow had fallen.
‘Wait a minute, Health Cow?’
Where did the single working cows go and why the gym?
– Boom! Kookung!
– Kwajangchang!
“Eww! My beloved!”
“Did I get insurance? Insurance, insurance company!”
“Wow! This is the new product that just came out!”
The pitiful screams of car owners echo here and there.
“Ah, you mouth. You mouth! Do you think it’s all your fault, Inma?”
You really just set the flag straight.
I pretended to hit the corner of Yoo Hyeon-seong’s mouth and reprimanded him, but he didn’t care and just kept his eyes shining deeply.
Then he glances at Luna and me and asks.
“Do you know anything about those monsters?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know…”
Luna bows her head as if she’s sorry even though she did nothing wrong.
He let out a sigh and informed me.
“Ugh, the calf is a health cow, it’s double pawn level.”
“More, so many double phones… Can we do it on our own?”
“Well, but even if it’s hard, you have to do it no matter what, right?”
He said, nodding towards the adult.
“That mother cow. It’s called Muscle Cow, and its rank is Quintuple Pawn.”
“Quintuple…! Is, is that true?”
“Yeah, so what, double phones aren’t the problem?”
Hehehe, let’s say that with a smile, and Luna starts to cry.
But since he wasn’t mentally weak, his expression quickly changed to a serious one.
He said a word of comfort.
“Where is the phone class?”
“… … .”
That look isn’t comforting at all.
Quintuple and Nabal are just mobs that play in the lowest pawn class.
If it was a bishop right above that, it would have been a run angle right away, even if it had just floated single.
“… … .”
wait for a sec.
No?
“Hey, no way~”
No, it won’t be.
Right, Akasha?
[Answer: In this case, the position of the episode boss that appears after about 10 minutes becomes vacant.]
‘… No?’
At that very moment, when I was desperately denying it inside.
A small window appears before my eyes.
Hell and reality are connected!
Erosion contamination is currently in progress!
▶Clear Difficulty
: Third Sphere
My eyes widen and my mouth drops open.
“Ah, no, the flag… .”
▶Estimated detailed difficulty
: 8. ArchangelArchangelus
▶Current contamination rate
: 0.01%
I almost dropped what I was holding.
Is this what it means when they say the sky is singing?
“… … .”
A cruel phrase that awakens us to the reality before our eyes.
▶Estimated detailed difficulty
: 8. ArchangelArchangelus
My mind is roughly blank at a level two levels higher than Hardcore difficulty.
Not an angel, what? An archangel?
Brother Shin, is this right?
“…f*ck, this game is full of bugs. Hahaha.”
At that time, only a dry smile escaped my lips.
“I’ll go first!”
Yoo Hyun-seong jumped forward alone.
fantasy,
