Tearing the Gate Apart - Chapter 55

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 55.
“Where am I? Who am I?”
Ha Gyeong sat in a chair with a dazed expression.
This was the twentieth-floor executive office of the Association Headquarters.
Being alone in such a spacious room made his head throb strangely.
Then, suddenly, someone entered and bowed.
A young man in a business suit.
He was a practical staffer assigned to Ha Gyeong.
Essentially serving as a secretary.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Committee Member. I’m Jung Tae Won, deputy director of the External Relations team. I look forward to working with you.”
“Hello.”
“It might feel awkward at first, but it would be good if you showed your face here regularly for a while.”
“But isn’t this a bit much? I don’t really need such a large office.”
“It helps paint the right picture, so to speak.”
“Just how grand a picture are you trying to paint…?”
“Let me show you this first.”
Jung Tae Won placed a large tablet in front of Ha Gyeong.
On the screen was a neatly organized document.
It was a public opinion report with sources clearly marked.
[Exclusive] The Immortal Ha Gyeong swept away Gate Breaks on special orders from the Association.
[Breaking News] The Immortal Ha Gyeong appointed as Special Advisory Committee Member of the Awakened Ones Association.
―Did you all see this? What’s a Special Advisory Committee Member?
└A position where you give advice and get paid.
└Wait, they brought in top-tier personnel like the Immortal just for that?
└The Association would want to use him however they can. But can they? He’s ranked number one in melee dealing and even destroyed a Gate Break.
[Breaking News] The Immortal Ha Gyeong ends Gate Break through secret operation deployed by the Awakened Ones Association.
―Did you guys see the AI strategy videos? The fight with the Eastern Defense Corps was insane.
└Really on a different level. Just flew over and took down a field boss in one go. Completely changed the whole situation.
└That was just the first half. Wait till you see the fight with the Core Guardian later. Seriously, you’d need to change your pants like ten times.
└Anyway, so the Association didn’t do anything wrong?
└Right. The manual was a mess, so they came up with a special operation. What could anyone complain about?
└Those bastards biting like rabid dogs demanding accountability—what’s that about?
└Just showboating to grab some status.
Now public opinion had completely turned in the Association’s favor.
The Awakened Ones also voiced no complaint against the Association.
This effect had all come from Ha Gyeong joining as a Special Advisory Committee Member.
“This looks good. There’s nothing else I need to do separately, right?”
“No, as long as you clock in here.”
“That’s fine—I can just use the gates near here anyway. Then I’ll be on my way.”
“Will you be putting that Key you received to use?”
“Yes, I think I need to explore first.”
“Then would you mind taking a look at this?”
Jung Tae Won changed the tablet screen.
A document appeared, listing names and characteristics of people.
Ha Gyeong asked with a puzzled expression.
“What is this?”
“It’s a list of Awakened Ones who have obtained Bottomless Abyss Entry Qualification. I’ve attached their possessed skills and detailed histories, so you only need to select and I’ll reach out to them immediately.”
“Oh……”
Ha Gyeong was genuinely impressed.
Even the Four Major Guilds couldn’t do something like this.
How on earth could they grasp information about every Awakened One?
Unless the person themselves revealed it, such information would be unknowable.
But the Association was different.
They acquired basic information each time someone entered and exited a Gate.
Artifacts they possessed or Dungeons they had cleared.
Things like Bottomless Abyss Entry Qualification.
Ha Gyeong changed his mind.
‘I was just planning to show my face and leave, but this is better than expected.’
Since he’d been given this authority anyway.
There was no reason not to use it.
He immediately began carefully reading through the Awakened Ones list.
Several promising individuals caught his eye.
Ha Gyeong put checkmarks next to the names on the list.
Then he handed it to Jung Tae Won.
“Contact them as listed. Ask if they’d be interested in exploring the Bottomless Abyss with me.”
“How would you like to conduct interviews?”
“Is there a training ground here?”
“Of course. I’ll reserve the training ground as well.”
“Please proceed with that.”
“Yes, Committee Member.”
Jung Tae Won bowed respectfully and then left the office.
Left alone, Ha Gyeong.
He leaned back in his chair and murmured.
“Not bad at all.”
Things just rolled forward with a single word.
It felt like he’d tasted the flavor of power.
* * *
Becoming a Special Advisory Committee Member didn’t change Ha Gyeong’s life.
He simply made use of the Association’s functions.
His entire focus was directed toward the Bottomless Abyss.
‘That wasp nest bastard’s parting words. The word “Your Majesty” really bothers me.’
It clearly meant someone was above that thing.
The Core Guardian, Silent Ruin.
It was the most troublesome monster he’d faced yet.
The Bird Strike attack had succeeded, fortunately.
If that gamble had misfired, things would have gotten truly dangerous.
A king commanding such a powerful creature.
Perhaps it was connected to Ha Gyeong’s ultimate goal.
The lord of the Abyss itself.
While deep in contemplation.
A strange sound came from somewhere.
“Squawk squawk.”
“……”
“Squawk squawk?”
Ha Gyeong couldn’t help but smile wryly.
A massive white man mimicking bird calls with his mouth.
How could it not be absurd?
Ha Gyeong gestured to the seat beside him and spoke.
“Stop radiating body odor and have a seat.”
“Hey! That’s racial discrimination, bro.”
“Then try using deodorant.”
“Once we head into the Abyss, we’ll be a mess anyway. Why bother with that?”
“We’re not in the Abyss yet.”
“We’re right in front of the Gate. Just a few steps and we’re in hell. But a man’s scent like this is nothing.”
John flapped his arms exaggeratedly.
Bobbing his head like he was imitating a chicken.
It had been a while.
So it felt oddly endearing.
Soon the people Ha Gyeong had been waiting for began arriving one by one.
“Long time no— Wait, this guy’s coming with us too?”
Ma Do Hyeok frowned at the sight of John.
When Ha Gyeong nodded, the two immediately began bickering.
“Ooh! The junior punk only John can mess with. You here?”
“Is that even a proper sentence?”
“You’re the only one who can tease. So only John can—”
“Ugh! This decrepit bastard, seriously.”
Rough words were exchanged, but it didn’t escalate to blows.
They both knew there was no real malice between them.
Soon a figure in priest’s robes adorned with an ornate Circlet appeared.
The face was different each time, but Ha Gyeong recognized them.
“How have you been? Dae Hyeonja.”
“Those two are as lively as ever. It’s a pleasant sight.”
“From my position as their caretaker, it’s always troublesome.”
“Still, isn’t it entertaining?”
That wasn’t entirely wrong.
Noisy banter was far better than gloom.
Shortly after, a young man with an animated expression greeted Ha Gyeong.
“Good to see you again.”
“Ah, it’s been a while. Kim Sang Woo.”
“Thank you for remembering!”
The man who had been able to buy the Titan Mace cheaply thanks to Ha Gyeong’s favor.
Kim Sang Woo, the tank of Dae Hyeonja’s party.
This was the first time since the Festering Abyss.
His atmosphere had changed considerably from then.
He carried an air of maturity now.
Finally, unexpected faces arrived.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Park Jun Ho.”
He was Park Jun Ho, the core ranged dealer of the Raiders Guild.
Everyone wore puzzled expressions.
It was a guild at odds with Ha Gyeong.
At that moment, Seo Jun Hyeok suddenly stepped forward to explain.
“For your information, he has withdrawn from the Raiders Guild. Oh, I’m Seo Jun Hyeok from Blackwater.”
Everyone looked bewildered at the mention of leaving one of the Four Major Guilds.
Why abandon such a prestigious position?
Park Jun Ho smiled awkwardly and met Ha Gyeong’s gaze.
“Thanks to someone, I learned a lot.”
Ha Gyeong felt oddly conflicted.
He hadn’t rescued Park Jun Ho with such an outcome in mind.
In any case, all of Ha Gyeong’s acquaintances had now gathered.
Tanks were John and Kim Sang Woo.
Melee dealers were Ha Gyeong and Ma Do Hyeok.
Healers were Dae Hyeonja and Seo Jun Hyeok.
Ranged dealer was Park Jun Ho.
The party composition was slightly unbalanced.
Sensing the oddness, Dae Hyeonja spoke quietly.
“Surely you’re not planning to depart with just this, are you?”
“Of course not. I’ve invited some trustworthy people. Ah, here they come.”
Three figures appeared at the entrance of the waiting room.
They were team members Ha Gyeong had recruited through the Association.
“This is healer Yu Se Ha, and ranged dealers Nam Ki Heon and Oh Ha Rin.”
“We look forward to working with you.”
“Well then, let’s finish preparations and head in.”
The team members exchanged brief greetings.
Then immediately picked up their gear.
They could have raised questions.
But there was not a shred of hesitation.
They were moving this way because they trusted Ha Gyeong.
‘I’m a bit nervous.’
If any of them were below standard, he bore responsibility for bringing them.
Of course, there was no real need to worry.
They were the finest talents carefully selected.
Ha Gyeong’s raid party passed through the Gate and headed directly into the Bottomless Abyss.
The purpose of this expedition was to find a Bottomless Abyss Dungeon.
They had no idea where the Key given by Vice-Association President Jang Myeong Cheol would fit.
Whoosh—
As they crossed the pond set to one side, breathing grew labored.
The landscape of the Bottomless Abyss was completely different from before.
Ha Gyeong nodded as if unsurprised.
‘It’s been a while since I visited, so this is expected.’
Whether upper-tier Abyss or Bottomless Abyss.
These spaces were incredibly mercurial.
Even returning after mere weeks.
There was no way it could be the same as before.
Yet Ha Gyeong still found his way without difficulty.
‘Thermal Vision is really useful for this.’
He could see energy in different colors.
Not only hidden monsters.
He could also respond to naturally occurring traps.
But as he was leading the way.
Ha Gyeong suddenly stopped.
A system message caught him off guard.
[Soul Stigma detects traces of a fragment]
‘Huh? In a place like this?’
An Ultimate Abyss Fragment appearing out of nowhere on the path.
This was almost impossible in the upper Abyss.
Ha Gyeong had found nearly everything there.
But the Bottomless Abyss was different.
This was largely unexplored, uncharted space.
An Ultimate Abyss Fragment on the ground here wouldn’t have been strange.
In fact, wasn’t that exactly what Ha Gyeong had come here hoping to find?
‘Good. Let me investigate naturally.’
They’d come quite deep already.
It was about time to rest.
Setting up camp nearby.
A brief detour should do it.
Ha Gyeong immediately grabbed the Whisperer.
“Let’s take a break here. I’m going to scout the area a bit further……”
But that was the moment.
[Discovered a special space of the Bottomless Abyss: Hollow Mire Field]
[The ground is collapsing at rapid speed]
Shwoooosh—!
Sand pouring down like a transformation of earth.
In that instant, Ha Gyeong let out a brief gasp.
“Wh—”
It wasn’t from panic.
While sliding downward into the darkness.
Something had snagged his awareness.
Crimson eyes watching him from the darkness.
The moment he sensed something unknown.
Suddenly, he realized.
‘That aura is familiar. But…who is it?’
Gate Tearer
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Moraetop
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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