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'She wanted to see me? Why?'

[Kukuku, at least she doesn't seem to have become a man-hater like before your regression.]

"Unnie, you said you wouldn't say that!"

Woo Seol-ah's face turned red again, and Yoo So-eun laughed as she pinched her swollen cheeks.

"Then, Mr. Byeong-gi, please do as you said you would in the car."

"Alright."

Her request was to use my skill - she believed it was a skill - to locate the monsters and the missing hunters.

Woo Seol-ah and the hunters from the special forces would take care of the rest.

"Then, Miss So-eun will listen to my request."

"I have to wait for my superiors' decision, of course. But I think it will be positive. If not, don't worry; I'll still make it happen."

It was an answer befitting a special force’s officer.

The request I made was related to the crafting of advanced potions. I said I'd gotten the recipe scroll from the Gangnam Station Gate and needed the Poison Spider's bodily fluids to make them.

The Skill Book would be dropped by the user with the highest contribution in defeating the Boss in this gate, so it was practically mine already.

Seol-ah's level was high, but my attack power was already over someone of level 70, so I was confident in that part.

Then, I asked her about managing the gate for the time being without destroying it.

So-eun hesitated but believed it was essential and immediately contacted her superior.

[She's helping you because she likes you.]

'Don't even try. It's not the time for the heroine to appear yet.'

[You speak as if you are the world's main character.]

'I may not be the world's main character, but I am the main character of my life.'

[I don't think your tongue will break even if the rest of your body does. You're like a Diamond Mouth.]

'What does that mean?'

[It means a mouth as hard as a diamond.]

While arguing with the Heavenly Demon, So-eun introduced the squad members who would go into the gate.

There were four non-commissioned officers from the special forces, each with healing and detoxification skills.

The leader of the party was chosen to be Seol-ah. She was indeed the highest level amongst us, but, most importantly, she had the backing of the entire group.

I felt that there was going to be a difficulty with the reaction after forming the party.

"Byeong-gi Oppa, are you still only level 21?"

When Seol-ah saw my party notification message, she sounded somewhat surprised.

So-eun's eyes widened at Seol-ah, and the other members were visibly upset.

From their point of view, they wanted someone with a high level to watch their backs. This was undoubtedly a dangerous mission.

The mood suddenly changed, so So-eun had to quickly intervene.

"Forgive me for not clarifying the situation for you all, Mr. Byeong-gi can sense the presence of monsters with his skills, and he also has the highest chance of finding the missing hunters, which none of us can do. Because of that, I ask for everyone's cooperation."

So-eun's assurances didn’t improve their expressions, so she spoke again, this time more firmly.

"This is an emergency. If you are dissatisfied with this operation, you can leave, but it will be difficult to escape responsibility."

[You said she wasn't highly ranked?]

'Her rank is higher than the rest of this crew. Also, it seems she has some power in the Management Bureau.'

No matter how high the rank, experience was also necessary. That's probably why brilliant high-ranking officers respected non-commissioned officers.

But So-eun was unstoppable.

The atmosphere calmed down.

"You don't have to worry about him. I wouldn't say I'm an escort, but I'll protect him. And I will do my part as well. Everyone just needs to stick to their roles."

When Woo Seol-ah stepped forward, the crew finally relaxed.

Given her level, they seemed to think they wouldn't have to step in.

[Ha, to be treated like this… Shouldn't you raise your level to some extent?]

'I don't care. I'll give them a big shock later.'

[Hmm… I just said that because it felt like my pride was also hurt.]

'Do you think it didn't hurt mine?'

[Do you think about the past?]

'It's not that I don't think about the old days, but I've become numb to that, so don't worry.'

Since I had told her about the Poison Spiders in advance, Yoo So-eun provided us with gas masks and protective clothing, as I had requested.

The party put on their equipment and checked their gear.

Since I served in the military, I was a bit familiar with this, but it was surprising how Seol-ah was so familiar with it.

[With 40% of Heavenly Demon’s Origin Arts, you can discharge quite a bit of poison with your internal skills. Do you think you need a gas mask?]

'I have to use it, they will be suspicious if I don't wear equipment with my level. It'll be annoying to have So-eun keep asking me questions about my skills.'

When things were sorted out to some extent, So-eun gave the order to depart.

"Okay then, let's all set off."

"By the way, Oppa, what is that big backpack?"

"Ah, this…."

"I made a special request. There's something we need it for."

We needed it to store the Poison Spider's poison pouches and mana stones. I thought my inventory alone would be insufficient.

I was going to collect them, but So-eun feared I would be in trouble, so she said she’d asked for help.

Then she called the senior member of the unit and said that collecting the Poison Spider's bodily fluids was part of the mission, and she asked them to cooperate.

[She's a pretty girl who cares.]

'I’ll admit it this time.'

"Wait, Byeong-gi. Please lend me your ear."

"What? Why?"

So-eun called me over and whispered.

"I believe you will do a great job regardless of your level. I didn't know it then, but what you showed in Hyehwa-dong didn’t match your level either.”

"Well, I'm sure I will too."

Though I said that, I couldn’t, however, stop a smile from creeping onto my face.

She recognized me for my skills! Something like this had never happened to me, either before or after my return.

"Huhu, as expected, you’re full of confidence. Still, be careful. Take care of Seol-ah too. She's at a high level, but she’s still just a kid."

She continued.

"Don't worry."

Just then, Seol-ah, walking ahead, noticed us and shouted.

"Unnie! Byeong-gi Oppa! Come quickly!"

***

The Door of Peace had a black portal swirling inside. Seol-ah, the crew and I were ready to enter the gate.

So-eun said she had to get permission to enter the gate from headquarters, so she stepped away for a while.

"But Seol-ah."

"Yes? What?"

"Aren't hunters from the other guilds coming with us?"

"What are you talking about? This became a restricted area after the hunters went missing."

"I see."

That was different from the past. Seol-ah still entered, but the people she worked with were different.

So-eun's survival seemed to be the cause behind that change.

[I think it will change little by little depending on your actions in the future.]

'I know. Still, I don't think the main path will change.'

[Better safe than sorry.]

"But Oppa."

Coming to think of it, I realized she’d been calling me Oppa for a while now.

"Yeah?"

"Why are you only level 21? I thought you would be powerful by now."

"First, you call me a pervert; now it feels awkward that you're calling me Oppa."

[You are good at changing the topic.]

"At that time…."

Seol-ah's face reddened again.

'Please don't think about that time.'

"Gosh! Don't change the topic! I asked you first."

In response to Seol-ah's question, I said I’d been training at home while helping my parents.

"Oh! I see. No wonder…."

Seol-ah's expression darkened when I said I’d been busy helping my parents with their work. It seemed I’d inadvertently reminded her of her deceased parents.

However, she appeared to brush it off and soon returned to her usual sunny expression.

"That scene of you fighting against the Werewolves at the gate in Hyehwa-dong is imprinted on my memory."

[The dangling may be what’s imprinted….]

'Quiet.'

"At that time, I made a decision to become strong like you. After that, I spent most of my time hunting. I wanted to be like you."

Even though she said that, her status window showed revenge and hatred.

'I guess she's trying to avenge her parents by killing the monsters.'

It was understandable that she was just going around hunting for gates.

I was able to go back in time and see my parents alive and healthy again, but the feelings from the time of their death still remained.

For some reason, Seol-ah looked pitiful. She acted cheerful, but it was because she tried to hide her pain.

"You wanted to be strong like me?"

"Yes, that's why I really wanted to see you. And….”

Seol-ah blushed. I didn't feel good about this.

Everyone at the party, but most of all me, was shocked by what she said next.

"You took my virginity!"

"What?"

[Kha-ha-ha-ha-ha!]

The Heavenly Demon laughed hard, and the crew members who heard glared over at me.

"Virginity? Be careful with your phrasing!"

[If this was the Martial World, Seol-ah wouldn’t be so wrong.]

"You took my precious… Mmm!"

Not knowing what Seol-ah would say next, I hurriedly covered her mouth.

The crew’s looks became menacingly cold.

"Seol-ah, stop teasing him."

[Oh, is this your savior?]

Before I knew it, Yoo So-eun had arrived to help.

"Phew~. This is revenge for the time you touched a lady’s body without permission!"

"I’m sorry, I mean, I had no choice then…."

"I know that you couldn't help it... It's a guess, but I think I was able to become stronger much faster thanks to the energy center that was created at that time. I am grateful for that."

Seol-ah wore a mysterious expression. I was suddenly embarrassed to meet her gaze.

[It's hard to read a woman's mind.]

'And here you were talking earlier as if you knew women well?'

[Ahem! Quiet.]

"Seol-ah, stop it. Now! Everyone, please pay attention."

At So-eun's command, everyone’s attention switched.

"We just received the permission to enter. I hope you will all be faithful to your duties and return safely. Also, there is an interview scheduled if the operation is successful, so please keep that in mind."

"An interview?"

[It seems like something interesting is about to happen. Kukuku.]

'Oh, no way... This leads to an obvious twist.'

[They say that security is the greatest enemy to progress.]

"If this operation succeeds, we plan to publicize the existence of the special forces to the outside world. That's why this operation must be successful. Of course, I trust Mr. Byeong-gi."

"Unnie, you have to believe in me too."

"Naturally."

We finally reached the Gate.

"So, Mr. Byeong-gi, please take good care of them."

"Don't worry, Unnie. I will take good care of Byeong-gi Oppa."

"Okay, our Miss Seol-ah~."

'They're having fun with it.'

[That's right. I don't know what kind of situation this is.]

'Did you say situation?'

The Heavenly Demon's modern conversation skills were developing every day.