D-Rank Constellation Hunter… Stuck Without Internet! - Chapter 67

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 67
Everyone’s elation was evident the moment we successfully eliminated the first boss.
I reminded myself not to grow complacent, yet seeing them find joy in such trivial matters made me realize how fundamentally human they were.
We pushed past the first fork in the path and moved forward. The group’s excitement was unmistakable in their expressions.
“You mentioned there could be relatively more difficult bosses, correct?”
“To be honest, it was practically all Sia who handled that last one…”
“At this rate, we won’t get any clear rewards at all, will we?”
Beneath the cheerful voices, irritating undertones inevitably surfaced.
They worried their contributions would be overshadowed, and feared they might fall out of favor with the Constellation.
Though we’d safely eliminated the mid-boss, the events leading up to it had been rather tense.
‘They have reason to be nervous.’
Considering my own contribution wasn’t insignificant, I felt a twinge of sympathy.
But everything I did had its purpose.
If I’d wanted to intimidate them from the start, I would have done so the moment I first logged into the Server.
That’s when Ji Chae-ah suddenly stopped and cried out.
“It’s a boss!”
“Already? Wait…”
“What is that? I’ve never seen a boss like that before.”
Confusion tinged their voices.
Dungeons never revealed only what you already knew—you of all people should understand that better than anyone.
I was about to offer a pointed remark when I found myself stopping abruptly.
“That’s… not a boss, is it?”
“No, if it were a boss, the form would normally be… wait, that’s a Gate, isn’t it?”
Shock resonated through everyone’s voices.
They were right—what had appeared within the Dungeon was a Gate.
A Gate manifesting inside a Dungeon.
Its very form was ominous beyond measure.
And I recognized it.
“I’ve never seen a Gate like that before,” Kim Gyuwun murmured in disbelief.
Kim Gyuwun muttered in a tone of incredulity.
“Shouldn’t we evacuate? If you’re in a hurry, I can take charge of the evacuation.”
Ji Chae-ah, whose experience at the Hunter Association proved invaluable, remained the calmest among them.
After quickly scanning the Gate with her eyes, Ji Chae-ah spoke.
“Based on the Gate’s form, while its scale is unbelievable, it appears to be a small Dungeon. If we enter it, we cannot escape until the clear is completed.”
Impressive—she knew more than I’d expected.
Had the situation been different, I would have offered genuine praise.
“From the fluctuations, it appears this Gate nearly opened before, and the aftermath of forcibly preventing a Dungeon Break is causing it to pull things in like a black hole.”
“Such cases exist?”
Kim Gyuwun asked urgently, and Ji Chae-ah nodded.
“I’m uncertain about such massive scales, but I’ve read in books that this form occurs when a Dungeon Break is forcibly prevented.”
“Does the Hunter Association really have you read books like that….”
“No, I graduated from graduate school with a major in Gate Studies.”
For a moment, Tasha’s eyes seemed to gleam, but I suspect no one else noticed.
“If my analysis is correct, simply approaching that location could cause your body to be crushed and obliterated.”
“Crushed….”
“Yes, so we should maintain our distance.”
No, maintaining distance won’t be enough.
If what I know is correct.
A mana far more powerful and oppressive than anything they’d encountered thus far was seeping out from that location.
And the werewolf, presumably the mid-boss of this Dungeon, was being dragged into that Gate.
Thousands of monsters were swallowed into the Gate’s gaping maw, as if they were mere prey.
“It’s expanding….”
“….”
Fear dripped from Ji Chae-ah’s voice, her complexion ashen.
There was a palpable bewilderment—she had never anticipated a situation like this.
Yes, likely no one who witnessed such a sight here would ever speak of it.
And they shouldn’t have to witness it at all.
[ Tasha: There was no sign that something like this would emerge from within. ]
[ Tasha: It’s a component that was never originally included in here. ]
Tasha’s gaze fixed sharply upon the Gate.
Had a Gate ever manifested inside a Dungeon before?
Perhaps in other Hunters’ worlds, but certainly not on Earth.
It’s impossible under this world’s laws of physics.
Unless it’s something powerful enough to defy those very laws.
“Se-um!”
It was Ha Gyuhyuk who pulled me from my increasingly grave thoughts.
“Evacuate.”
“What?”
“Get everyone out of here right now!”
My stern command echoed sharply, and not just Ha Gyuhyuk but everyone wore expressions of shock.
Even Tasha and Franson.
This wasn’t a matter of Constellations rushing in to eliminate it.
The problem was that something which shouldn’t exist here had appeared.
Ha Gyuhyuk harbored no doubts about my judgment.
He showed no hesitation, no thought that I might be wrong.
He raised his voice and shouted to everyone.
“Evacuate immediately using your escape stones!”
“Yes!”
“Ah, damn….”
Whether or not that Gate appeared threatening to their eyes, everyone began retrieving their escape stones one by one.
Escape Stones were typically expensive, so most people didn’t carry one per person—but in a place like this, they were mandatory equipment.
I clicked my tongue lightly, and then heard a small voice trembling as if on the verge of tears.
“I… I don’t have an Escape Stone…”
Someone spoke in a quavering voice.
I turned my head to look at them.
“Didn’t everyone hear that you must carry at least one Escape Stone when entering here? It’s essential equipment for an S-rank Dungeon.”
Ji Chae-ah’s bewildered voice rang out.
And it wasn’t just one or two people.
At least five of them were whimpering because they lacked Escape Stones.
“I sold my Escape Stone to buy an entry ticket here.”
“We… we thought the Constellations would be here…”
“You thought that just by entering here, a Constellation would choose you? Casually save your lives?”
I felt my voice sharpen, and they shrank back.
As I watched them leave one by one using their Escape Stones, I let out a sigh.
Even Franson and Tasha, along with the third Constellation, wore expressions of distrust.
“Se-um.”
“No.”
Ha Gyuhyuk opened his mouth carefully.
“It’s not that I’m asking them to buy Escape Stones…”
“I know what you’re about to say. You’re asking if you can give them your Escape Stone.”
I had generously provided Ha Gyuhyuk with an Escape Stone, telling him to use it whenever necessary.
But that was prepared for him to use, not for strangers.
[ Your desire to save lives is noble. I’ll cooperate fully. ]
[ But I’m against risking your own life in the process. ]
[ The one I want to save is you. ]
[ Ha Gyuhyuk. ]
I sent him a message because I didn’t think I could speak to him gently face to face.
I didn’t want to scold someone with a good heart.
It wouldn’t be mature of me.
As I was trying to compose myself, he silently took my hand.
“What you said is right, but it’s not for them.”
“What?”
“If I leave, you’ll be alone, Se-um.”
“What are you talking about?”
Tasha and Franson were beside me, and there was even another Constellation I didn’t fully trust.
I narrowed my eyes at Ha Gyuhyuk, but for once, he didn’t avoid my gaze.
After hesitating for a long moment, he held my hand.
“You’re not leaving either, are you?”
“This body breaks, but it doesn’t die.”
“Aren’t you lonely?”
My heart, which had stopped momentarily, lurched with a violent thud.
It felt as heavy as if I’d hurled a massive boulder into my chest.
Like the Tin Man finally receiving a heart of his own.
[ The source of the Constellation trembles. ]
[ The flow of the Constellation is disrupted. ]
[ There is a possibility of annihilation. ]
A throbbing headache struck me suddenly.
My vision began to sway.
Squeezing my eyes shut and pressing my temples, I heard Ha Gyuhyuk’s panicked breathing.
“Evacuate quickly!”
“Go first!”
Ji Chae-ah’s voice rang out, and Ha Gyuhyuk turned and vanished.
I could see him pressing escape stones into the trembling hands of those who wouldn’t leave.
They really don’t listen.
Without a second glance at them, Ha Gyuhyuk rushed toward me and pulled me into a tight embrace.
Thump, thump, thump.
I heard his heartbeat.
“Are you hurt? What’s wrong? Se-um.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Your body is burning.”
“Yes, your embrace is cool… my disobedient child.”
The Gate was approaching.
【 Proof, transfer. 】
The moment it consumed us coincided almost perfectly with Tasha’s sonorous incantation.
We were all transported to a different space at once.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————