INHO 04

End and Beginning (4)

“It looks like a pyramid. Maybe because it’s surrounded by desert.”

He was right. The structure that suddenly appeared inside the Gate was shaped like a pyramid. Was there some kind of civilization inside? Or was this a joke? Who knew.

It was so massive that its sheer size was overwhelming.

“I guess that’s what made such a loud noise when it appeared.”

“…Yeah, I can believe that.”

If something this huge suddenly appeared without a sound, that would be terrifying in its own way.

“I think that’s the entrance over there. It’s not too late to wait here—”

“I’ll just go in first.”

Too tired to argue, I strode past him without looking back.

‘My mana’s barely holding up. This is risky.’

But if I showed that, he’d insist on staying outside, so I deliberately walked as if nothing was wrong.

As expected, he followed quietly behind me again. I couldn’t tell if that was stubbornness or something else — he wasn’t forcing me to do anything, but he kept suggesting things anyway.

“I’ll open the door.”

The closer we got, the more I felt its enormous scale. The door looked big enough for an elephant to walk through. No way I could open that with my current strength or mana. I gladly stepped aside.

Min Hajun pushed the massive door open effortlessly. A deep, rumbling sound echoed.

“At least nothing seems to have activated yet.”

I whipped my head around at that.

Wait—so he expected there to be traps? That’s why he went first?

Completely oblivious to my thoughts, Min Hajun casually brushed the dust off his hands.

“Do me a favor—don’t die. And don’t get hurt either.”

“You can just heal me if I do, right?”

“No, it’s… not that simple. Long story short, I can’t bring you back again. So just—be careful.”

“Wow, that’s a scary way to say it.”

He was still completely calm. That confidence came from skill, I knew, which made it even harder to argue.

“Fine, fine. I won’t get hurt or die. Promise.”

Maybe my annoyance showed on my face, because he raised both hands in surrender.

“Good. You’d better keep that promise.”

If you die, I’ll kill you myself. I cursed him silently.

“I’m famous for keeping promises. Shall we go?”

He picked up his spear again and started walking. I drew my dagger, keeping my body tense and ready to use mana at any moment. I was here to protect him, not to be a burden.

We walked for who knows how long. Staying on edge drained my stamina even faster. The thought that an enemy could appear any second consumed my focus. Maybe sensing the tension, Min Hajun stopped and turned toward me.

“It’s going to be fine. I’ll protect you, no matter what happens.”

Then he handed me a small piece of ice. Only then did I realize I was sweating.

“It’s hot in here—probably because of the desert setting. I can regulate my body temperature, but you must be struggling.”

It was a kind gesture. I could tell he was trying to ease my nerves. I relaxed slightly and accepted the ice, saying honestly,

“Thanks. Still, I think—”

Before I could finish, Min Hajun suddenly pulled me toward him.

A sharp, deadly sound whistled past the back of my head.

I instinctively turned to look. A gleaming blade had flown past us, its edge blunted with a thin layer of ice.

Shit.

Cold sweat trickled down my back. The heat vanished instantly.

He covered the blade in ice?

He’d not only yanked me out of the strike zone but also used his ability in that same split second. The reflexes and mana control needed for that were insane—beyond impressive, really.

“Looks like it’s programmed to attack after a certain amount of time inside. Stay close to me.”

“Yeah, but… your arm—”

“Oh, sorry.”

I had ended up completely pressed against his chest when he pulled me in. I avoided a blade, sure, but now my face was practically buried in his shirt. When I looked up, his eyelashes were close enough to count.

There was no escaping when he held me that tightly.

He released me in a fluster, and I took a single step back.

“Let’s just keep moving. No telling what else might fly at us.”

“Got it. I’ll put up a shield—don’t stray from my side.”

With that, a round wall of ice formed around us.

Looks like a snow globe.

It moved along with us as we walked. The precision needed to control it like that was mind-boggling.

At least now, no matter where the attacks came from, we’d probably be fine.

I let out a small breath and lightly held onto the hem of his coat as we walked. With him leading, I could barely see ahead anyway.

“What do you think this place is?”

“Good question. I’ve never seen a Gate like this before.”

No one really knew where Gates came from or what they truly were. Theories were all over the place—some said they were artificial virtual spaces, others that they were portals to the other side of the universe.

Debates raged on, but only one fact was widely accepted: There are no intelligent life forms inside Gates.

Most Gates had environments completely unlike Earth—jungles, deserts, glacial wastelands. No chance of communication with the monsters within.

So seeing a massive, civilization-like structure here was unheard of.

If this gets out, the world will go crazy.

It made the whole thing even harder to predict. I already knew this dungeon was special—Min Hajun had died here before.

Clang! Thunk! Crash!

Weapons kept flying at us, bouncing harmlessly off the ice shield. Polished metal, hidden traps—these weren’t things monsters could create.

Even the gleaming ice was now covered in cracks and marks.

“…This won’t break, right?”

“Not unless something extreme happens. I’m reinforcing it constantly. It did crack once before, though—against an S-class monster.”

“…”

“It was fire-elemental. Bad matchup for me.”

The fact that it had cracked once didn’t inspire confidence. I tightened my grip on my dagger. He must’ve sensed my tension because he glanced back, protesting,

“I mean it! I’m really strong, you know!”

The crease in his brow looked genuinely hurt.

Yeah, yeah. Just keep your eyes forward, please. You’re the one driving here.

Then—the air changed.

The mana density shot up so sharply it felt suffocating. Any Hunter would’ve sensed it immediately.

I barely managed to exhale. And then—

“Down!”

A surge of concentrated mana erupted into a wall of flame ahead of us.

Min Hajun grabbed my head, shielding me completely as he ducked down. It happened so fast I didn’t even blink.

Red fire roared over our heads. The ice barrier that had protected us so far melted away within seconds.

“I’ll hold it off—run left! You see that alley?”

“What are you talking about? We’re going together!”

He was spouting nonsense again.

“I can’t block this while moving. If we both run, we’ll both die. But it can’t sustain this forever—just hold out a little longer!”

“You’d better not die, got it?”

He actually smiled. In this situation!

“I told you—I keep my promises.”

The flames spread wider and wider. At this rate, we’d both be roasted alive.

“Now!”

He conjured a massive ice wall in front of us. I could literally see it melting from the outer layer inwards. I got up and ran as fast as I could.

If this dungeon could be cleared, then there had to be something—something!—waiting at the end. It couldn’t just be a death trap.

The air burned my lungs, but I didn’t stop until I turned into the side passage.

Once I was clear, Min Hajun compressed the front wall, layering it thicker around himself. His face was tight with concentration.

I scanned the surroundings frantically. Where was this attack coming from? There had to be a source.

Then I saw it.

There!

It had been hidden before, but now I spotted something red embedded in the far wall. Flames were spewing from it.

With that much mana… it’s probably the Gate’s core.

The problem? To reach it, I’d have to go through those flames again.

“You’re telling me we’re supposed to go through that?!”