LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 139
Chapter 139
It was bound to be interesting.
How could the Detection Department Team Leader not be intrigued by methods to distinguish Gate Shock and speed up Gate openings?
“So, if you forcefully inject the mana of a Red Stat player into an S-rank Gate, the opening speed accelerates?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“And during that process, if the mana-injecting player feels calm, Gate Shock doesn’t occur, but if they feel rejection or pain, the likelihood of Gate Shock rises?”
“Yes, that’s what I’ve heard.”
“Hmm.”
Of course, it was a lie.
But there was no need to reveal the truth deliberately.
Even if he gave false information, there was no way they could verify it immediately.
‘It was the same during the last Detection Department test.’
Son Dowon narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“Hmm, that reasoning isn’t very precise. Isn’t it too risky to gamble on such uncertainty?”
“It might seem that way from a safety perspective, but overseas, there are cases where they’re experimenting on purpose. That’s why I believe we need to conduct experiments and build our own data. They rarely share such data, and our country still lacks sufficient data and technology.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Son Dowon hesitated.
But in the end, he would have no choice but to accept Suho’s suggestion.
He knew better than anyone else that, as Suho mentioned, Korea was one of the countries with scarce system data.
Son Dowon asked.
“So, is Mr. Suho saying that he will personally inject his mana?”
“Yes, if you grant permission, I’ll do it myself. My mana color is also Red, and I’m quite curious myself.”
At Suho’s response, Son Dowon glanced at Jung Chulmin.
Jung Chulmin furrowed his brow.
“Why are you looking at me?”
“He’s your subordinate.”
“Well, yes… but honestly, I don’t have the authority to decide. My role is to approve things as long as Suho’s requests don’t cross a major line.”
“You’re a good boss.”
“If I’m incompetent, I might as well be lenient.”
Son Dowon shifted his gaze back to Suho.
“You heard him? That’s the answer.”
“Thank you. Shall we start right away?”
“You don’t need any special preparation?”
“No, there’s nothing in particular. I plan to enter the Gate for exploration anyway, so even if I suddenly get pulled inside, it doesn’t matter.”
“Wow, you’re really confident…”
Son Dowon wanted to say, ‘Hunters like you usually die young,’ but he swallowed the words.
Some things were better left unsaid.
Finally permitted, Suho approached the Gate and, unlike the previous test with the Detection Department, boldly injected mana into the Gate spot in front of everyone.
Everyone watched Suho closely.
As Suho began injecting mana, the mana-sensing machine that had been chiming at a steady rhythm started to ring faster.
The observers murmured.
“It’s… real?”
“The charge speed is increasing rapidly?”
“Is this the fast-opening technique?”
“But how does he even know this? I keep up with the overseas forums…”
Ignoring the crowd’s murmurs, Suho continued injecting mana.
Then, watching from a distance, Son Dowon asked urgently.
“Suho! It’s almost 100%! How are you feeling?”
“I feel fine. Not painful at all!”
“Really?”
No pain suggested a low probability of Gate Shock.
But despite that, everyone was on edge.
Everyone except Suho.
Suho wasn’t nervous at all.
He knew.
The Yeongwol-ru Gate had never caused Gate Shock before.
And finally, the moment the Gate charge hit 100%.
Fwaaaah!
A dazzling light scattered.
At the same time, a system notification appeared in front of Suho’s eyes.
[ The Gate has been created. ]
He had successfully opened the Gate.
As the light dissipated, everyone, including Suho, could see it: the Gate portal, open without any shock.
Everyone watching murmured in awe.
“Wow…”
“Incredible…”
“He actually did it…?”
“I can’t believe it…”
The Detection Department personnel were thrilled.
It was only natural.
Speeding up Gate openings in this way was unheard of—no, it was such an innovative concept that no one had even thought of it before.
Especially shocked was Son Dowon, and while Jung Chulmin was also surprised, he wore an expression that seemed to say, ‘This lunatic caused trouble again.’
Suho looked at their astonished faces, lightly chuckling as he raised two fingers in a V-sign.
“Shall we proceed with the exploration now?”
“R-Right now?”
“It’s the next step, isn’t it?”
“Well, yes, but… Wow… Team Leader Jung… is he always like this?”
“…He amazes and surprises me every time.”
Jung Chulmin shook his head, resigned.
Suho spoke up.
“Then, I’ll enter right away.”
“Be careful in there.”
“Got it!”
Suho saluted with his palm and then stepped into the portal.
A Gate information screen appeared before his eyes.
[ Entering the Gate. ]
[ Retrieving Gate information. ]
[ Ferry of the Restless Spirit ]
– Entry Requirement: Level 100 or higher, at least one Red Stat.
– Max Entry Capacity: Up to 5 people.
Ferry of the Restless Spirit.
The true name of the Yeongwol-ru Gate.
Seeing the name ‘Ferry of the Restless Spirit,’ Suho entered the Gate with a satisfied smile.
***
[ You have entered Ferry of the Restless Spirit. ]
An unfamiliar system notification appeared.
If the entry requirement is a minimum level of 100, the Gate is considered a 1-star Gate.
From 1-star Gates onward, there are noticeable changes in the notifications and various other details.
After confirming the system alert, Suho looked around at his changed surroundings.
‘I can’t believe I’m actually here.’
Ferry of the Restless Spirit.
This place was more famous than one might think.
The reason being that in his previous life, a certain Paladin known by the alias “Crusader” had gained his signature power here.
Suho looked up.
A navy-colored sky that seemed like a storm cloud.
But that wasn’t the sky.
It was a ‘river.’
And what Suho stood upon wasn’t dirt.
In other words, this was underground, and instead of a sky, rivers surrounded the area.
Suho lowered his gaze to examine the surrounding terrain.
Even though it was under the river, the ground here wasn’t muddy.
Though not sandy, the ground was composed of fine soil, colored somewhere between black earth and yellow loam.
The soil’s color here was due to corpse poison contaminating it.
‘That’s why this place is called Ferry of the Restless Spirit.’
At that moment.
[ The grudges in the riverbed react to life energy and awaken. ]
A system notification.
Simultaneously, something dark began to emerge from the black soil.
– Darkened Resentment Lv.112
– Darkened Resentment Lv.110
– Darkened Resentment Lv.114
…
The darkened resentments.
They were entities made of grudges, existing in black forms.
– Unforgivable…
– I’ll… kill…
– Grrrrr…
Darkened resentments… the Crusader called them resentment soldiers.
Because these creatures, filled only with hatred, responded solely to life energy and lived only to kill any living beings they encountered.
‘Considering their story, they’re quite pitiful.’
But pity wouldn’t help.
Their only goal was to rip apart any challenger.
Looking at the resentment soldiers now filling the area below the riverbank, Suho clicked his tongue.
“There’s a lot of them.”
According to records, before the Crusader appeared, Ferry of the Restless Spirit was considered one of the difficult Gates to conquer.
One reason was the overwhelming number of resentment soldiers, while only five people could enter at a time.
Maybe that’s why?
The swarm of resentment soldiers resembled a black wave.
But the difficulty of Ferry of the Restless Spirit wasn’t just due to the sheer number of resentment soldiers or the entry limit.
The soldiers summoned densely in front of Suho soon began to prepare for battle.
It began with ‘transformation.’
[ The darkened resentments mimic your appearance. ]
[ The darkened resentments mimic your appearance. ]
[ The darkened resentments mimic your appearance. ]
…
Countless notifications.
Just as they said.
The resentment soldiers started to replicate Suho’s appearance.
In no time, Suho saw a mass of black-and-white resentment soldiers that looked exactly like him, yet despite their form, their type wasn’t undead.
They were ghost-type monsters with an evil attribute.
Seeing the resentment soldiers copying his appearance, Suho clicked his tongue.
“It’s like a doppelganger.”
Suho had cleared doppelganger Gates a few times before.
But the resentment soldiers felt different from doppelgangers, though equally unsettling.
It was only natural.
Seeing a horde of creatures resembling oneself would make anyone uncomfortable.
So Suho decided to kill them quickly.
Exorcising wasn’t an option.
These creatures, completely consumed by grudges, couldn’t be exorcised no matter what.
Of course, he was prepared.
Knowing about Ferry of the Restless Spirit, Suho had already prepared countermeasures.
Suho activated a skill.
[ Blessing has been activated. ]
The first step in his plan was a blessing.
Suho’s stats rose sharply, and he immediately used a second skill.
[ Holy Enchant has been activated. ]
The next skill was Holy Enchant.
Suho cast Holy Enchant once more.
The first Holy Enchant covered his blood sword, and the second covered his body.
Now, Suho was wrapped in a radiant light, standing as the only white figure among the black-and-white replicas.
Preparation was complete.
Suho stepped forward with a grin.
“Come at me slowly, I won’t dodge.”
That remark was the signal.
– Kill!
– Kill him!
– Grrrr!
The resentment soldiers rushed forward all at once.
They looked like moths drawn to a flame.
Suho didn’t dodge their attacks, calmly deflecting them with his sword.
The moment his sword touched the soldiers.
[ The Holy Enchant effect triggers ‘Exorcism.’ ]
Fwaaah!
A brilliant light erupted.
Simultaneously, the exorcism effect embedded in Holy Enchant activated, and the ghost-type resentment soldiers crumbled to ashes as if it were a lie.
That wasn’t all.
Not only when Suho’s sword touched them, but even when their weapons touched Suho, light flared up.
[ The Holy Enchant effect triggers ‘Protection.’ ]
The protection effect was the defensive counterpart of exorcism.
There was no way their attacks could harm Suho.
From that moment.
“Hahaha.”
Suho laughed brightly, walking forward slowly.
Swinging his sword playfully, he obliterated resentment soldiers one after another as his sword touched them.
None of the dark resentment soldiers could stop him.
It was the moment a calamity descended upon Ferry of the Restless Spirit.