I woke up and looked beside me. Si-hyun had already gotten up before me.

  "Sleep well?"

  "Yeah, you too?"

  "Mm."

  Fresh from sleep, I stretched with a big yawn. Si-hyun turned his head and coughed lightly.

  "What's wrong?"

  "Could you mind your appearance?"

  He reminded me that my pajamas had rolled up from restless sleep, exposing my stomach. I slowly straightened my clothes.

  "Aren't you embarrassed?"

  "I am. But what can i do about it?"

  Si-hyun sighed at my response. That reaction showed he trusted me enough.

  We set out for our next destination early. Si-hyun, who was driving, looked tired, probably from poor sleep. We stopped for breakfast at a service area on the highway.

  Our next target was Yeonggwang County. Though we had been to this region before, the Gate location was different this time.

  Today's Gate was C-Class, so we stayed alert.

  "It's already lunchtime."

  We reached the Gate by noon. Traffic delays had cost us considerable time.

  After completing entry registration, we entered the Gate.

  The official on duty was distracted, barely checking our information before waving us through.

  The other side of the Gate revealed dense jungle.

  "What Monsters are here again?"

  "Lizardmen."

  Those lizard creatures that walk upright on two legs?

  "Watch out, their Scales are harder than they look."

  "Really?"

  "But they shouldn't be a problem for us."

  My Spear should pierce them easily, right?

  Once we moved into the jungle, the real trouble wasn't the Lizardmen's Scales, it was how they used the dense foliage for cover, crouching low and using camouflage to sneak up on us.

  Individually, they matched Gray-skinned Orcs in strength, but fortunately they didn't travel in large groups.

  "Si-yeon, left!"

  At Si-hyun's warning, I shoved the Lizardman in front of me and swung my Spear left.

  The attacking Lizardman took the hit and tumbled. I seized the opening to stab another through the chest.

  As I pulled my Spear free and finished off the downed one, Si-hyun had already taken out four.

  "Ugh, not seeing them is terrifying."

  They moved almost silently, low to the ground, ambushing us without warning.

  On guard, we could handle single attacks, but the problem was others would rush in while we dealt with one. I hadn't sensed that last one at all, without Si-hyun's warning, I would have been hit.

  "You okay?"

  "Yeah, thanks for the heads-up."

  "Stay sharp as we advance."

  "Right."

  Though attacks kept coming, we grew familiar with their tactics, and Si-hyun's quick reactions made things easier.

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  The real trouble started when we got lost in the jungle.

  "Finding our way is harder than in the forest."

  "Yeah, and the terrain's worse."

  Tangled vines constantly tripped us up, and we found no good spots to rest.

  But one benefit of C-Class Gates was the abundant Magic Stones.

  We reached a stream and prepared to rest for a snack-

  Just our luck.

  I'd barely taken a bite of my bread when Lizardmen crawled out of the stream.

  "Tch, they won't even let us rest."

  I kept the bread in my mouth and grabbed my Spear.

  "Make it quick, and we can rest."

  With a bread roll in my mouth preventing me from speaking, I could only nod. We split the four Lizardmen between us, two each. Si-hyun finished his quickly, but mine took longer, without using the Light Blade, their Scales proved harder to pierce than expected. The intense movement made me drop my bread.

  Frustrated, I channeled Mana into my arm to enhance my strength and smashed the last one's skull.

  "Done!"

  I felt a pang of regret seeing the bread lying in the mud.

  Then Si-hyun broke his own bread in half and offered me a piece.

  "Eat."

  "R-really?"

  "Yeah."

  Ravenous, I accepted gladly.

  "Thanks!"

  I thought I saw him smiling, but the bread took priority.

  After collecting the Magic Stones, I realized we'd been inside the Gate for five hours.

  "Are we wandering around all day?"

  "Maybe. If we get lost, perhaps..."

  He'd anticipated getting lost from the start.

  But had we been lost too long?

  We'd now exceeded thirty-two hours. Though we'd caught brief naps, the accumulated fatigue far outweighed these short rests.

  Si-hyun's stamina was also running low, his movements growing rough, and we spoke less and less.

  By the fifth hour of searching for the exit, this state felt justified.

  We'd relied on the locator, but jungle interference, or other factors, made the signal flicker, leading us in more circles.

  When we finally found the Gate and emerged late at night, we just changed clothes and collapsed asleep in the car.

  -

  I was so exhausted that waking up felt difficult.

  I stirred briefly from the bumps during the drive, but fatigue pulled me back under. I only woke fully when my body stiffened.

  "Ugh..."

  Needing the restroom but aching all over, I opened my eyes to find the car moving.

  "Si-hyun, restroom."

  I mumbled it half-awake.

  "Urgent?"

  "Yeah."

  He stopped at a charging station, and I hurried inside.

  Relieving myself felt like a rebirth.

  About ten hours had passed since we left the Gate.

  "Si-hyun, aren't you tired?"

  "I slept enough, don't worry."

  "Okay, how long to the next destination?"

  "Let's see... twenty minutes?"

  "Almost there."

  "Let's eat quickly."

  Our third destination was near. We decided to eat up first, picking the most prominent eel restaurant.

  When I asked why something so expensive, he said the Magic Stones from the Lizardman hunt exchanged for over five hundred thousand won.

  "Hard work deserves good food."

  "Yeah! Agreed!"

  Besides, isn't eel good for men? Si-hyun could use the boost, after yesterday's efforts and him driving alone.

  After a hearty brunch, we looked out at the sea and discussed the next Gate.

  "So what will appear in the next Gate?"

  "Undead, especially Skeleton Soldiers."

  "Just bone piles, right?"

  "Right."

  Stabbing probably wouldn't work well unless I aimed for their larger heads.

  "They say Armed Skeleton Soldiers will appear."

  They come with equipment?

  "Weaker than Lizardmen but troublesome. They keep moving even if you chop off a limb or two."

  "What's their weakness?"

  "Smash the skull and take the Magic Stone inside."

  That might be difficult for me.

  Even though they're weaker than Lizardmen, I still need to be careful without knowing their movement patterns.

  We chatted with the sea breeze, drinking warm coffee while watching the ocean view. Fishermen and passing boats created a particularly peaceful scene.

  "Should we head straight to the Gate?"

  "Hmm, tired already?"

  "A bit. We won't stay too long today, right?"

  "Can't say for sure."

  Right, we might get delayed if we get lost in the gate.

  "Let's enjoy ourselves a bit longer then."

  I took Si-hyun's hand and walked along the pier. Watching the ocean made me want to travel.

  "Want to go to the beach next time?"

  "Weren't you going to keep your distance from me?"

  His tone was somewhat cold. I had indeed said that before, and I felt strangely sorry.

  But since he doesn't have a girlfriend anyway, wouldn't it be fine to travel together?

  "Ahem, when I reach C-Class too, I can go with you..."

  "Really?"

  Si-hyun's eyes lit up instantly, as if glowing.

  My heart suddenly skipped a beat.

  I could feel my heartbeat gradually speeding up.

  I released his hand and turned away.

  "Just considering it."

  I glimpsed his expression darkening again.

  Does this guy have bipolar disorder or something? His expressions are too varied for him.

  "Speaking of which, you've been quite cute lately?"

  "Wh-what nonsense are you talking about?"

  "The Seong Si-hyun I know is supposed to be an expressionless tough guy."

  He let out a long sigh.

  "Is it about that problem you couldn't talk about back then?"

  "So what if it is?"

  "What opinion could I have? You're more pleasant to look at with varied expressions. Hope you solve your problem soon."

  Si-hyun fell silent.

  I sat at the end of the pier, facing the wind while watching the ocean.

  "Sigh, Si-yeon."

  "Yeah? What?"

  "I..."

  Just as he started to speak, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded throughout the city.

  [Emergency Alert! Gate Rupture occurring!]

  The broadcast content was shocking.

  Gate Rupture? That refers to monsters breaking through the Gate due to delayed subjugation. Shouldn't they normally issue the request earlier?

  I jumped up in surprise and nearly fell into the ocean, but Si-hyun grabbed my collar and pulled me back.

  "Th-thanks."

  I regained my footing after dangling in the air. The alarm continued blaring.

  "Si-hyun, did you hear the broadcast?"

  He was already in a furious state:

  "Obviously! Of course I heard it!"

  [Gate Rupture occurring at Geogeum Island Gate!]

  "Is that the Gate we were targeting?"

  "Ah, correct."

  "we're helping?"

  "Correct."

  Looking at Si-hyun's eyes, I could tell he was thinking the same thing.

  "Then let's go!"