28. Cheongdam-dong, Red Gate – 1
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“······Everyone get off.”
The special attack platoon, including Lee Hyun-wook, got off the transport truck.
At that moment, a red light appeared on their faces and they turned their heads in that direction…
“her······.”
I was overwhelmed.
“”
The red cracks were burning like the eyes of the devil.
“That… Red Gate….”
Before departure, they received quick training from Lieutenant Seo Eun-ha and Warrant Officer Cheon Myeong-ho on information about the ‘Red Gate’ and some of the most basic ‘raid tactics’ needed in the dungeon.
Of course, Lee Hyun-wook already knew all of this, and he even knew a few things in more detail.
“Huh… They said it was a dungeon, and I can already smell the scent of an animal somewhere.”
Just as Ahn Min-tae said, there was a bad smell.
It appears that the gnolls that came out during the eruption were burned and killed with flame magic.
As such, the monster that comes out of this gate is ‘Gnoll’.
Gnolls were canine monsters that were smaller than orcs but larger than humans.
As such, he has a very resilient body.
‘And above all, the numbers are quite large.’
That was the most troublesome thing.
They are crawling around like a ‘herd of dogs’ as they are commonly called.
The company commander, Captain Kwak Yong-jun, and the 1st platoon leader, Lieutenant Lee Taek-ham, got out of the military car that arrived later.
“Hey guys, everyone got off, right?”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
“Okay, let’s move.”
In fact, these two had nothing to do with this operation, but they were sort of leaders.
Still, it made sense for officer-level officers to take the lead in contacting external organizations.
“That’s the AMT attack platoon, right?”
When we arrived at the building construction site, a man in a black suit approached us with a sour expression.
He seemed to be an employee of the Cheonghwa Guild.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Yes, go that way.”
Although it was a joint attack, this place was managed by the Cheonghwa Guild, so we had to follow their control.
Several containers were placed near the entrance to the construction site.
Since there was no place to sit, they had no choice but to stand blankly holding their weapons.
As expected, it was a cold meal from the beginning.
“Hmm, guys, wait here for a moment. We have some business to attend to.”
Even the two executives, Kwak Yong-jun and Lee Taek-ham, disappeared somewhere.
Looking at that scene, Ahn Min-tae and Choi Tae-yong whispered softly.
“Well, company commander, don’t you think you’re acting suspiciously again?”
“Well, isn’t it already famous that the company commander is lining up Cheonghwa?”
“But I didn’t know that the 1st platoon leader would be there too… He said he would rather go to another battalion’s attack platoon leader this time, but is he already planning to be discharged? But everyone goes out with the rank of captain…”
Should we say that it is similar to how a high-ranking civil servant goes on to become an executive in a related industry after retirement? There were also frequent cases of AMT officers joining a private guild before being promoted to major.
As Lee Hyun-wook remembers, Kwak Yong-jun enters the Cheonghwa guild after the 4th wave.
It was a bit much for him to keep lining up from now on, but honestly, it was an unavoidable decision.
‘After the 4th wave, the 1st Battalion became a virtually non-existent unit…’
As the lonely atmosphere continued, I started to hear some conversation nearby.
“Hey, look at them over there.”
“huh? Heh heh… It’s AMT, right? “Are you really here?”
They were players from the Cheonghwa Guild.
“······But what are they saying they can do? “A soldier, not a non-commissioned officer, leads the strategy?”
“I heard that these are the kids who protected the citizens during the Seoul Station dome incident?”
Someone snorted at those words.
“Ha, that’s really being talked about on TV and the internet these days. To be honest, I guess I was just lucky. Common sense tells us that they can’t help us when we can’t do it…”
It seemed like they were probably the Cheonghwa guild strategy team that would enter the gate together.
But to tell such a blatant story behind the scenes…
I didn’t expect a warm welcome, but I couldn’t help but feel bad.
The AMT members were so dispirited that they rolled their anxious eyes.
And then…
“Huh what? hey! “Aren’t you Ahn Min-tae?”
One of the guild members who was telling the story behind the scenes shouted like that.
Ahn Min-tae turned his head with a puzzled expression.
“······uh?”
“Hey, this is awesome! “How can I meet you here?”
A young man approached me with a happy face.
However, the outfit was very strange.
Everything from his head to his toes and from his wrists to his fingers was luxurious.
Plus, the piercings that cover his ears…
It was an inappropriate outfit ahead of an attack operation, but it was actually a very common case.
As popular players were treated as stars, there were quite a few who couldn’t control their desire to show off, and if you go to that type of social media, you’ll see numerous photos taken in front of the gate.
“Hey, your uniform is cool?”
“······Ah, Taeseop. A long time.”
Ahn Min-tae’s voice did not sound as cheerful as usual when he answered.
He didn’t seem to be very friendly.
however······.
“Hey Hyunwook Lee!”
It was Lee Taek-ham, the 1st platoon leader.
He gestured for me to come this way.
“Now the strategy meeting begins. “You have to go in too.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
A little bit wrong. In fact, it was okay for only Lee Hyun-wook to enter, not ‘you too’.
“Ahn Min-tae I’m going to a meeting. “I’m waiting with the kids.”
“Oh yes… I understand.”
“Are you polite? “Mintae, is that person your leader?”
Ahn Min-tae’s acquaintance asked that question, but Lee Hyun-wook paid no attention and went to the conference room.
A screen and a simple table were placed in the space between the two containers.
“······Hahaha, of course, that is an area that Chunghwa will take care of.”
The voice of the company commander, Captain Kwak Yong-jun, was heard.
He was talking with the Cheonghwa Guild with a friendly smile, and the person he was talking to was…
‘······It’s harmful.’
Since her position was the head of the Seoul strategy department, it was natural for her to take up a position in all these matters.
But now, what Captain Kwak Yong-jun was politely holding with both hands was Yoo Hae-na’s business card.
‘Tsk, Captain Kwak Yong-jun was also caught in a spider’s web.’
If you bite that bait carelessly, one day you will end up shedding tears of blood.
At that time, Yoo Hae-na found Lee Hyun-wook and smiled, and Kwak Yong-jun turned her head.
“ah! Director Yu, this friend is the soldier in command of this special attack platoon. Not long ago, he played an active part in the Seoul Station Unlucky event. Although he is an F grade, he received an increase in ability through his achievements, and in many ways, he is doing well in everything these days. ha ha ha-”
“Oh, an achievement? Somehow······.”
At Kwak Yong-jun’s introduction, she nodded as if she knew why Lee Hyun-wook was not F-grade.
In this way, the ‘achievement system’ was a clear excuse that anyone could easily overlook.
Soon the meeting began.
‘······It’s all useless content.’
Operation Overview Issues such as distribution of operational leadership benefits were discussed.
For Lee Hyun-wook, who already knew everything, these stories were not particularly nutritious.
And after about 20 minutes, the meeting ended.
“Okay then, we will start entering the gate in an hour. Please prepare by then.”
“Yes, we can come in at any time. “You can tell us when Cheonghwa is ready.”
Captain Kwak Yong-jun crawled around and shook hands with a bald man named Director Wen.
Immediately after, when Lee Hyun-wook was about to leave…
“Corporal there? Wait.”
Yoo Hae-na spoke separately.
At her words, Kwak Yongjun also paused for a moment and sat down.
However, when Yoo Hae-na gave him an unwelcome look, he had no choice but to stand up with a shy expression on his face.
So only Lee Hyun-wook and Yoo Hae-na remained.
“Corporal…what should I call you special strategy platoon leader now?”
She slowly crossed her legs to rest her chin.
“······It doesn’t matter.”
“As expected, you’re stiff, aren’t you? “Anyway, since we’re meeting again like this, I guess we’re meant to be.”
Anyway, don’t stay. It was a very tangled relationship.
‘You kill Seo Eun-ha and I will kill you.’
Lee Hyun-wook swallowed those words and made an expression that asked what his business was.
“H-Well, they didn’t come because they wanted to come anyway, right?”
“What need does a soldier have of his own will to go into action?”
I don’t know much about military spirit, but I roughly answered like that.
“Well, anyway, what I want to say is this. Once inside the gate, you and your men are just… on one side. “Don’t do anything.”
She smiled with a haughty expression.
Then she placed one of her hands on the table and tapped her index finger steadily on the table.
Knock-knock-
That posture and habit – an intentional expression of composure and arrogance. It was Hae-na Yoo’s habit when she wanted to show off her power in front of others.
“······Well, even though we failed three times, we prepared enough to succeed without difficulty this time. Did you suddenly move out of that three-star room because you couldn’t stand the pressure of the old man? “I know everything.”
An old man in a three-star closet. That meant Jeong Sang-sik, commander of the AMT Seoul Operations Command.
She was subtly showing her power by saying that she even knew the internal affairs of AMT.
“So honestly, you probably haven’t been trained properly and it’s dangerous, right? I will make it convenient for you. Even if you don’t do anything in the dungeon and come out, your superiors will never know.”
This time, Lee Hyun-wook smiled.
“That, Manager Yu?”
“Call me Catherine.”
“So Catherine… what are you worried about?”
She tilted her head.
“yes? Are you worried? “What do we have to worry about?”
Lee Hyun-wook crossed his arms with a faint sneer.
And he leaned back.
Yoo Hae-na’s expression hardened slightly at that sight.
“Ah… Are you saying that you are afraid that we, not the Blue Flower Guild, will catch the boss monster?”
Lee Hyun-wook provoked in return.
Yoo Hae-na’s eyebrows twitched.
In this place where his authority was clearly revealed, he ignored and provoked Lee Hyun-wook, but it seemed to have no effect at all, and Lee Hyun-wook just relaxed. He even took a conversely arrogant stance.
All of those aspects were bound to sharpen Yoo Hae-na’s feelings.
Lee Hyun-wook smiled faintly and noticed the cracks spreading unconsciously on her expression.
‘It’s easy too.’
Even in his past life, he touched this woman’s feelings many times and made her move in the direction he wanted.
Later on, she became a ‘villain’ and became quite cruel, but she was still just a player who was powerful and rich, but had a slightly strange personality, and was not a villain who did not care about the circumstances.
“Foot, are you going to kill the boss monster now?”
“of course. “Isn’t that the goal of the attack operation in the first place?”
Catching the boss monster meant conquering the dungeon itself, so if AMT caught the boss monster first, it would be throwing food in the face of the Cheonghwa Guild, which had failed three times.
It is also something that the old man in the closet, General Jeong Sang-sik, would be darkly happy about.
“Oh, how could something like that happen?”
“then······.”
Lee Hyun-wook stared into Yoo Hae-na’s eyes.
“······What will you do if I catch the boss monster, Catherine?”
“······.”
“If that’s the case, can you give me what I want among the rewards I get in the dungeon?”
It was another provocation.
A coldness appeared in Yoo Hae-na’s eyes.
“What, you want to bet with me now?”
“Ah, is this how it is… Well, I feel like I was just ignored so much that I feel like something is wrong. “If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to.”
There was no way she would turn down a bet that was not about the material but her pride.
She laughed as if it were ridiculous.
“I’m sorry, but you seem to have guts and skills for an F grade, but to be honest, I think you still lack a lot of perspective on the world.”
Yoo Hae-na raised her index finger and pointed behind her.
“Are you looking at our target team list and making this ridiculous bet?”
About a dozen people were gathered where her finger pointed.
This time, it was the Cheonghwa Guild’s strategy team that would be deployed to attack the Red Gate.
“What do you think? Don’t you know quite a few faces?”
When Lee Hyun-wook glanced at her, she made a proud expression.
“Three of the Players’ top 100 prospects of the year are right there.”
After three failures, they must have put in a lot of effort, including bringing in a lot of promising players.
but······.
‘······I don’t know even one person.’
Even Lee Hyun-wook, who lived in the future, couldn’t recognize a single one of them.
That was natural to him.
Because by entering the Red Gate today, their reputation will come to an end.
Yoo Hae-na, who had no way of knowing that, said with a grin.
“Ha, are you embarrassed?”
This time, it seemed like Lee Hyun-wook’s expression was misinterpreted.
“So how do you think your thoughts have changed?”
“······.”
“I like it if I want to bet.” Instead, if you lose…”
She stood up from her seat and looked down at Hyunwook Lee.
“······You must come under me after you are discharged.”
“······.”
“I told you I thought it was good, right? Well, it doesn’t matter what position you are in, it’s okay without any complaints, right?”
“······.”
“If you think about it, any position would be lucky for you. “I’d rather fly than an AMT soldier, right?”
After saying that, she turned around and said one more thing.
“I guess we’ll be seeing each other more often~”
Lee Hyun-wook looked at her back and nodded his head.
‘Like you said, you must be lucky for me.’
She was troubled as to what item to ask Yu Hae-na for.
***
“What’s wrong with Ahn Min-tae’s expression?”
“Oh…no.”
After returning from the strategy meeting, the expressions on the faces of the members of the special strategy platoon, including Min-tae Ahn, were not very good.
Of course, I had been nervous before, but now I was somewhat depressed.
And the Cheonghwa Guild’s attack teams are giggling in the background…
‘That guy came earlier and ruined the mood.’
It seemed like something bad happened when Lee Hyun-wook wasn’t around.
He interrogated An Min-tae several times so that he could hear what had happened.
As expected, Taeseop or something was the problem.
“······They literally just subtly scratched their pride by saying they were good.”
Over there, Kim Tae-seop, the archer player, has his entire body covered in luxury goods and expensive items.
He is said to be a classmate of Ahn Min-tae at the player training center and even from the same squad.
“······On the day that bastard was chosen by the Cheonghwa Guild, of course I was not chosen at all. “That’s why I’m here… So I guess he’s excited to see me like this.”
It had been a very long time since we had seen each other after completing the player training center, and when we ended up having such a difficult relationship, Kim Tae-seop was so excited that he went all out.
“Ha, it’s new to me, but I’m really pissed. Being ignored like this…”
“Hey, calm down and think about conquering the dungeon. If you die, you won’t have anything left, pride or anything.”
“······Yes, sorry. “I will come to my senses.”
Mintae Ahn rubbed his face with his palm.
Like this, one was wearing a combat uniform and the other was decked out in luxury goods.
It was a situation where I had no choice but to feel that feeling of relative deprivation.
The two teams soon lined up facing the gate.
“Now, the Cheonghwa Guild will enter first, so please prepare.”
Employees of the Cheonghwa Guild took control of the current situation.
At that time, Gib Tae-seop quietly approached Ahn Min-tae.
“Loyalty! Corporal Ahn Min-tae! ha ha ha!”
He grinned and tapped Ahn Min-tae on the shoulder.
“Hey Mintae, you know that you have to protect yourself in front of me just like you did during the training camp, right?”
“okay······.”
“If you’re a soldier, you have to risk your life to protect the people, right?”
“······.”
“Honestly, if I get even slightly injured this time, I don’t deserve to receive a salary through taxes? admit?”
“I understand…”
Ahn Min-tae suppressed his anger and nodded as he heard the noise of people passing by.
But then…
“······evil!”
Kim Tae-seop suddenly let out a scream and grabbed his left arm.
“huh? “Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?”
His colleagues came to him in surprise.
“evil! What what? “The city clock is weird!”
“huh? Why the clock? Is it broken? “That’s a watch worth 30 million won!”
“······Oh no! “Suddenly the clock tightens my arm!”
It was so ridiculous that everyone was dumbfounded for a moment.
“Wow, do luxury watches these days even have acupressure functions?”
When Lee Hyun-wook asked in a natural way, sly laughter broke out here and there.
Even the members of the Cheonghwa Guild strategy team giggled.
“what? “What are you saying now?”
“Hey, Kim Tae-seop, come here right away.”
Kim Tae-seop glared at Lee Hyun-wook, but the situation did not become more serious as the head of the Chunghwa side’s strategy team stepped forward.
“Hey you bastard, what’s wrong with this watch? “Isn’t it because you suddenly don’t want to go through the gate?”
“Oh brother! “It’s not like that!”
Kim Tae-seop took off his watch and turned around with a puzzled expression.
This was possible because they did not yet know Lee Hyun-wook’s abilities.
Lee Hyun-wook looked at Ahn Min-tae and smiled, and he also burst into laughter.
Soon, gate entry began.
“Well, we’ll go first and lay the groundwork, so you can come without any hesitation.”
A Cheonghwa guild member holding a shield said.
Even though I had already failed three times, I had plenty of time to spare.
This meant that a lot of effort was put into this attack operation.
“Yes, but always watch your head. “You never know what might suddenly fly in, right?”
Hyunwook Lee gave that advice.
However, Cheonghwa only turned its nose up at him.
“yes? Huh, really, who is telling whom to be careful? “Please take good care of yourselves.”
But they didn’t know.
That advice is a very key strategy…
Soon, 14 members of the Cheonghwa Guild strategy team began to line up and enter the red gate.
However, Lee Hyun-wook and his group had to wait one more time.
“Now, we will wait 180 seconds.”
There was a rule that 180 seconds and 3 minutes had passed since the first entry.
This was not due to the system, and as problems could arise near the entrance, each group entered at a distance in preparation for an emergency.
Hyunwook Lee looked back at his group before entering.
“Okay, we’ll be entering soon, so watch your head. Of course, the tanks stand in front and enter with one facing forward and the other raising their shield above their head.”
“······yes? “Over your head?”
Mintae Ahn, the main tank, asked back.
Raising a shield above your head was definitely not a normal command.
“Yes, you don’t know what will happen as soon as you go in, so prepare thoroughly.”
“Yes, I understand.”
I was skeptical, but if it was Lee Hyun-wook’s words, I followed them without a word.
“Now we’re entering the AMT!”
At those words, everyone looked at Hyunwook Lee for the last time.
“You may be nervous, but don’t panic.”
At Lee Hyun-wook’s nod, the leaders began to step into the red hell.
Hyunwook Lee entered in the last order from the very back.
– caution! The area is [Danger Area].
* Once you enter, you cannot leave unless certain conditions are met.
The moment you break through that message and stick your head into the red crack…
Hung-
The world has changed.
Time Temperature Smell······.
It was bright, hot and disgusting.
This was the middle of a wasteland.
and······.
“-Aaaah!”
“Oops! “Please save me!”
Screams were coming from all directions.
It was the voice of the advance team that entered first, the Cheonghwa guild attack team.
They were lying here and there as if they had been attacked by something.
“Raise your shield!”
The tanks raised their shields at Lee Hyun-wook’s shout.
Empty! Empty! Empty! Empty!
Something poured down on top of it and hit the shields.
Thanks to holding the shield in advance, I was able to respond quickly.
“shit! “The arrows are raining down endlessly!”
It was a barrage of arrows.
Thousands of arrows were stuck like weeds over the dry wasteland.
The companions lowered their posture behind the shield.
‘The number on the hill is about 300…’
Lee Hyun-wook identified the enemies through his shield.
There were a lot of furry bipeds gathered on the sand dune in front.
“Ugh! What are you doing! “Help us!”
The Cheonghwa guild members, who had already been hit by a rain of arrows once, seemed to have suffered a serious blow.
They were scattered all over the place, all dangerously avoiding the rain of arrows.
Lee Hyun-wook sighed deeply.
“So, I told you to watch out for your head…”
Lee Hyun-wook warned, albeit indirectly.
It made no sense to tell him directly, so I did it that way, but still…
‘This is why this dungeon was so difficult to beat.’
As soon as you pass through the gate, you are hit with a barrage of arrows that are close to annihilation from the beginning.
It’s not just an arrow, it’s an arrow coated with poison, and if you block it, a fire attack will soon pour in.
‘Gnolls are clever. Especially if it’s a group with a boss monster called Old Alpha Male…’
Old Alpha Male
It was a high-ranking entity among the various boss monsters of the Gnoll race.
As an older male leader, he has extraordinary leadership skills and is quite wise.
After it preyed on the first raid team, it realized that they were coming through that hole regularly. And like this, he always surrounded the hole and prepared to fire a barrage of arrows.
Since we started with such a big blow from the beginning, the possibility of conquering it was bound to be extremely slim…
‘But as long as I survive here, the rest is manageable.’
Hyunwook Lee placed his hand on Mintae Ahn’s shoulder.
Holding the heavy shield above his head seemed quite daunting.
“Ahn Min-tae, don’t move. Stay where you are.”
“Oh yeah!”
After saying those words, Hyunwook Lee began to walk out of the shield.
“uh? “Corporal Lee Hyun-wook!”
Whoosh- whoosh- whoosh- whoosh- whoosh-
When he appeared, dozens and hundreds of arrows rained down on him.
At first glance, it seemed like an act of suicide.
However, the moment Lee Hyun-wook stretched his left hand to the sky –
Ugh-uh-
The smoky arrow formation stood tall in the air.
However, because the only thing Lee Hyun-wook could control was the ‘point’ made of iron, he could not bear the weight of hundreds of spokes and feathers and began to slowly sink to the ground.
however······.
“Shred.”
T-that-that-that-that-
Hundreds of arrowheads exploded at once, splitting into thousands of metal pieces.
The ribs and collar fell to the floor, and the metal pieces were scattered here and there…
yes-
It stopped in midair again.
Now it is completely within Lee Hyun-wook’s control.
“and······.”
Everyone, especially the Cheonghwa Guild’s strategy team, stared blankly at the miraculous sight.
“You have to watch over your head…”
Then, his left hand, which was pointing towards the sky, slowly tilted towards the ground…
“······Same goes for you.”
Over the heads of the gnoll troops on the hill, countless pieces of metal fell.
It rained down like hail.
