<Inside the Gate>

What we left behind was kind of a desert. However, after entering the Gate, everything changed instantly.

When we got out on the other side, what our feet felt wasn’t solid ground, but water.

Because what greeted us wasn’t a forest, cave, or ruins. Instead... it was an endless swamp stretching before us.

Dark green water reflected the gray sky overhead. Dead trees emerged from the mud like skeletal fingers. And fog covered the distance all around us.

"What is this?" the one leading all of the Hunters entering this Gate spoke up.

His name was Seok. He was an employee of the Association. He also participated in this raid since every organization sent at least one of their people to keep everyone in check and get the share they were supposed to receive.

"I think this is a swamp."

Another Hunter spoke up. Including Seok and us, there were ten Hunters in total who came into the Gate with us.

Seok adjusted his glasses with one hand and tightened his grip on the spear in his other hand. Just like his spear, his clothes were also blue, and his hair was black.

"It seems like there will be sea-type monsters in this Gate. So be prepared for everything that comes out of this water."

He said that and looked at us, then pointed his spear at Vera and me.

"Also, someone try to help those two if they ever get into trouble. Hmph!"

Every other Hunter looked at us and began whispering about Vera and me being a couple who came here to die.

As expected, they thought of us as idiots and fools. Not that I expected anything less, but openly ordering everyone to protect us was a bit out of line considering we had only met outside the Gate for a brief moment.

It wasn’t like everyone focused on us and talked about us. Some of them remained quiet and neutral, just like that couple standing at the end.

They were just talking to themselves like people deeply in love.

’Whatever. We will see who will need help by the end of this Gate and have their jaws drop in shock.’

I thought and looked at Vera, who didn’t give a damn about the guys talking about her or Seok.

She stayed completely still and slowly turned her head toward something, and her brows furrowed.

"Brian."

She called me that instead of Woo Jin since I had told her to use our Hunter names inside a Gate.

"What is it?" I asked, and she raised her finger while pointing in a specific direction.

"There is something there."

Hearing her and seeing her point, a smile appeared on my face. Because that was exactly why I came here.

If my memories were correct... the monster hidden inside this swamp possessed one of the rarest powers in the entire story. Which I was going to obtain for Vera.

And when Vera spoke, a few Hunters glanced in our direction. That wasn’t surprising. After all, everything we did attracted attention because of our paper bags.

Most only looked for a moment before returning their focus to the swamp. One person, however, couldn’t seem to let it go.

A man in his late twenties with short brown hair and a bow slung across his back. He stared at us for several seconds before letting out a snort.

"Seriously?" he said. "People like this got approved to enter a C-Rank Gate?"

Several Hunters frowned slightly. But no one answered him. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop him as his gaze shifted toward Vera.

"Hey, paper bag girl."

Vera didn’t react to his voice. Either she ignored him or genuinely didn’t realize he was talking to her.

"What’s under there? You hiding something?" he continued. "Or maybe you are just embarrassed to show your face."

Saying that, the archer laughed for a bit but still got no response from Vera.

My hands gradually turned into tight fists because this guy was annoying me. Since he was trying to insult Vera.

"And that one too." Soon, he looked at me and pointed toward me. "You two look like you got lost on the way to a children’s costume party."

A few Hunters looked uncomfortable. One woman even sighed and shook her head. The archer wasn’t trying to insult us. He just wanted attention.

And unfortunately for him, someone else spoke before I could.

"That’s enough."

Seok’s voice cut through the swamp. The Association employee adjusted his glasses and looked directly at the archer.

However, the archer rolled his eyes.

"What?"

"They passed verification like everyone else."

"So?"

"So stop bothering them." Seok let go of his spear, which began floating in the water while a blue aura covered it, and folded his arms.

Witnessing it, the archer scoffed.

"I am just having a little fun—ARGHH!!!"

SMACK.

Seok’s hand landed squarely on the back of the man’s head. He stumbled forward and immediately grabbed the back of his skull.

"What was that for?!"

"For acting like an idiot," Seok said while glaring at him.

Several Hunters immediately turned away to hide their smiles. Even the couple at the back looked amused.

"We’re inside a Gate," Seok continued with that same cold tone. "Monsters can kill you. The environment can kill you. One mistake can kill the entire group."

Saying that, he pointed toward the swamp.

"So stop worrying about paper bags and start worrying about surviving."

The archer closed his mouth and looked away. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Fine," he let out.

Satisfied with the answer, Seok adjusted his glasses once more.

"Good." He turned around and began walking ahead. "Shall we move forward?"

With that, everyone began to follow him deeper into the swamp. The farther we went, the deeper it became.

Soon, the water reached our waists.

The conversations gradually died down. Even the archer who had been complaining earlier kept his mouth shut.

The fog had thickened considerably. Trees appeared and disappeared like ghosts among the mist while dark water stretched endlessly in every direction.

Splash.

Splash.

Splash.

The sound of ten Hunters moving through the swamp echoed around us.

Seok remained at the front with his floating spear hovering beside him. His eyes constantly scanned the surroundings.

"Stay alert," he warned. "Visibility is getting worse."

No one argued with that. Even the most inexperienced Hunter present understood that poor visibility inside a Gate was dangerous.

My gaze drifted toward Viora. Unlike everyone else, she didn’t seem bothered by the fog at all. Her head slowly turned from side to side as if she were listening to something.

"Brian. They are coming."

The moment those words left her mouth—

SPLASH!

Something burst out of the swamp. A long dark shape shot toward the nearest Hunter, and a grin appeared on my face.

’There they are. The mermaids.’