Domain Expansion (1)

The flight to Japan was ready in no time.

'A private jet, huh? Impressive.'

It was, in truth, an unreasonable request.

I had only asked to see if it was possible.

In reality, I was planning to put on Rare-grade shoes that let me walk on water and cross the sea to Japan.

But Hyunseo?

She'd had one prepared anyway, so I could leave right away.

She'd apparently answered without even thinking for a second.

As expected of Cheonghwa Group, Korea's GOAT.

I worship you.

'Then shall I go? Might as well make it there in half a day.'

Crick.

After loosening up lightly.

I pulled the invisibility hat down over my head.

I'd promised Serin I'd be back by dinner, so I didn't have much time to spare.

I was planning to go all-out.

'All right, let's go!'

Taah—!!!

I crossed Seoul using Baekrihyang's signature footwork.

It didn't take long to reach the rendezvous point.

-Whisper whisper.

"Ms. Hyunseo, I'm here."

"…Get in for now. I'll explain the details inside."

"Yes, ma'am."

After that, I boarded the plane right away.

As if it had been waiting for us, the plane began to fly.

And what was waiting for me on the plane…

was a truly unexpected person.

"M-Ms. Hyunseo… Are we leaving now…?"

"……?"

What was Yuna-senpai doing here?

'Was getting caught up in the Boar Labyrinth not enough?'

She'd already had a rough time last time.

She didn't even like going out into the field in the first place.

So why had she boarded a plane to Japan?

'Shall I find out on the way?'

Tap tap.

I lightly poked Hyunseo's shoulder.

At the same time, I held Baekrihyang's wraith in my hand.

Perhaps understanding my intention, Baekrihyang immediately started explaining.

[My God, that person….]

'Hmm.'

In summary, this was it.

Yuna was being presented as one of Korea's top-tier information-type trait Awakeners.

They'd told her Cheonghwa was dispatching her as a Gate researcher on humanitarian grounds.

Since I was traveling in secret, they probably brought her along to make the Japan trip look legitimate.

[She readily agreed, despite being afraid, when she heard she might meet her benefactor again.]

One more thing.

The reason she accepted the business trip to Japan was also because of me.

Iron Gangmin was only late due to some circumstances, but he would definitely go to Japan.

He might already be in Japan.

So she would go too.

And if she met him again.

She would definitely express her gratitude from that day.

Apparently that was how she'd agreed to go to Japan…

"……."

'I'm sorry!!!'

The Iron Gangmin you're looking for spent all his time watching children's animations and only just crawled out.

It's actually because of me that you got dragged to Japan too.

Yet you were trembling with fear and still boarded the plane just to thank me once.

If my conscience didn't hurt after seeing this, I wouldn't be human.

-Step step.

"Baekrihyang, tell Ms. Hyunseo to come to the very back row of the plane."

I quickly moved to a corner.

Yuna knew my voice, so I planned to talk in a corner where she couldn't hear us.

After that, I sat alone with Hyunseo and whispered.

"You're an information-type Awakener of Unique grade, right?"

"Yes. Ah, but I absolutely didn't mention anything about Iron Gangmin, so please don't worry…."

"Wow, her trait really is something. She'd be perfect for recruiting Awakeners."

Well, calling it a whisper was a bit of a stretch; in reality, I was just handing out a few perks.

I lavishly praised Hyunseo's trait.

She was in charge of community monitoring, literally the shit work.

I intended to move her to the line of work she wanted while I was at it.

"…Come to think of it, I heard you rescued me last time. Is that when you first took notice of me?"

"Well, something like that."

"Understood. I'll mention it to HR."

Thanks to that, pulling strings with HR worked.

Yuna was free.

Now she no longer had to fear surprise shitposts or search for Iron Gangmin, who would never show himself.

This would honestly have been enough to call it done,

'Let's also write a post on the gallery later.'

Senior Yuna, your life has finally turned around.

I'll show you the true high of Iron Gangmin Coin.

"Ah, and thank you too, Ms. Hyunseo. For coming out like this because of me."

I took the opportunity to praise Hyunseo too.

Unlike Yuna, she'd come because of a contract, so I hadn't planned on giving her anything in return.

Still, decency demanded at least a word of thanks.

-Mutter mutter.

"Then I, too… like Ms. Yuna…."

"Pardon?"

"Ah, no, it's nothing…."

Then Hyunseo's face turned bright red and her body started twitching and trembling, but… anyway.

After that, I enjoyed the flight in comfort.

Since it was my first time on a plane, I wandered around looking at the sky from here and there.

-Swish swish.

"Don't tremble, Cha Yuna… It's okay…."

"……."

'Oh, how indecent.'

I felt a little sorry when I saw Yuna wiping sweat with her clothes hanging open, apparently thinking no one was watching. Anyway.

As I passed the time like that,

[We will be landing shortly~.]

'Oh, that was fast.'

Arrival in Japan.

After that, I followed Hyunseo's instructions.

'As expected, I really don't even get caught by the security checkpoint.'

First, get through the airport.

The security screening was a little scary, but thanks to the Legendary-grade hat, nothing happened.

-Screech.

"Ms. Hyunseo, and Ms. Yuna. Get in."

"Thank you. Ah, Ms. Yuna, you go in first."

"Yes, ma'am!!"

On the way to the Gate.

I didn't know how they'd arranged the car, but a Cheonghwa Guild member came out to drive us personally.

Even then, Hyunseo's consideration in making sure I didn't come into contact with Yuna stood out, warming my heart a little.

'Ah, we're here now… Hmm?'

Meanwhile, the site we reached at the end of the journey.

The atmosphere there was…

I couldn't honestly call it good.

"That idiot Sugiyama… What on earth did he say to a benefactor who even cleared the Seven Great Gates…."

"We're all doomed…."

"……."

I couldn't understand what they were saying since it was Japanese.

But from their expressions, I could more or less tell.

Their PTSD from taking two brutal knuckle-rappings from their designated bully must have been slowly resurfacing.

'Give me just a moment. I'll finish this within ten minutes.'

Click.

I got out of the car following Hyunseo.

After that, I trailed right behind her.

Speaking fluent English, she eventually headed toward the Gate with Yuna.

"Can you analyze it?"

"Hmm, I don't know exactly how much time remains until the Break, but…."

And at that moment.

With a crisp motion.

Hyunseo formed a V with the hand behind her back.

It was the prearranged signal that I could enter now.

Only then did I hurriedly put on my equipment.

-Ding.

[Aether (Legendary)]

A belt inhabited by a guardian spirit.

It automatically defends the struck area when hit.

Until the spirit's power runs out,

no spear or blade can reach the wearer.

The defensive power drawn out by the spirit

is proportional to the user's strength.

'Put on the safety belt first.'

Next was Aether, my third Legendary-grade piece of armor, which I'd fused after the Shapeshifter.

With this, I would surely be fine even if I were hit by a stray attack.

Of course, I wouldn't get hit, and even if I did, Damage Resistance would keep me fine.

Anyway, there was no harm in being careful.

'I'm already wearing the shoes, so all that's left is the gloves and….'

And then—shing.

Only then did I draw a sword.

A weapon of the highest grade, enough to make even the Legendary-grade items from before look dull, appeared in my hand.

-Ding.

[Genesis Sword (Mythic)]

'Sorry, but I'm going to cut something boring.'

…In truth, I didn't even need this.

The boss was level 1,071.

I, on the other hand, was level 1,087 even by level alone, and with the All Stats +50 title included, my specs overwhelmed the boss.

I even had insanely broken traits and Stigmas.

The boss would probably be a one-hit kill,

'Still, I can't resist testing its performance.'

There was only one reason I'd drawn the sword.

I was intensely curious about the function built into it, 'Inner World Manifestation.'

Originally, I was going to go back to the Tower and test it, but, hmm.

Since I was going to behead the boss anyway, I might as well use it once.

'Then I'll be back.'

Tap tap.

I lightly tapped the back of Hyunseo's hand, then stepped forward.

Then, fwoooosh—!!!

An ominous light wrapped around me.

Unlike the Tower, which was white, blue, or red depending on the difficulty, this was an extremely pitch-black color.

I was unnerved for no reason, so I tightened my grip on the sword and readied myself…

-Flash.

"……."

Entering the Gate.

I immediately surveyed the area in all directions.

Unlike the dungeon-type Gate I'd experienced last time, an open field at sunset came into view.

Particularly noticeable were the marks where the ground had been gouged and crushed here and there.

There were traces of something enormous having passed through.

'As for Japan's number one… Hmm.'

One more thing.

For now, neither the boss nor Japan's strongest—the person who had entered a while ago—was in sight.

I couldn't sense even a hint of presence nearby.

Even so, I instinctively knew he was still alive.

'That's a grave, isn't it?'

A mound of earth rising at one corner of the field.

He must have done it.

Unable to bear leaving the advance party's corpses behind, he must have made them a grave even while fleeing from the boss.

'Was that one of the reasons he suddenly charged in?'

I grew a little solemn.

The reason he'd entered the Gate alone even though I'd tried so hard to stop him.

I felt I could understand it a little now.

'I was definitely in the wrong. After saving Serin, I must have gotten too complacent.'

"I'm sorry I'm late."

After bowing my head to the grave.

Grip.

I readjusted my grip on the sword.

I intended to behead the boss right away and avenge the dead.

'Still, I'm taking the Legendary-grade armor, Japan's number one.'

…Of course, I had to do what needed doing.

Come on, let's wring the reward out of them.

And save him while I'm at it.

'Within five minutes!!'

Taaah—!!!

I launched myself forward.

Unlike in the modern world, I didn't need to hold back at all, so I tore across the field like lightning.

Of course, the Gate was huge too, so if I searched for it blindly, it might take forever…

-Ding.

[The trait 'Dragon Eyes'….]

Dragon Eyes—click.

Thanks to it, Renya's route was clearly visible.

I ran toward it at full speed.

-Boom, boom!! BOOOOM!!!

"Huff, huff…!!!"

"Oh."

He's starting to come into view.

A man with disheveled hair was running at incredible speed.

Behind him walked a giant, its footsteps booming, who looked as though he belonged in the phrase, 'Then humanity remembered.'

The man's speed was slightly faster, but…

'Looks like he's getting tired?'

I could tell just by looking at his complexion.

He had reached his limit long ago, but was squeezing out whatever strength remained on nothing but his survival instinct.

Hmm, he needed rescuing, fast.

"Dohwa, come out—hop!"

"Kyaeung…?"

"See that man over there? Humanize in the outfit you wore that time, take him to the far end of the field, and come back."

"Keng!!"

"You mustn't make a sound in front of him, okay? Ah, and bring back the cloak draped over his shoulders too."

I summoned Dohwa right away.

I ordered her to rescue him.

In terms of speed alone, Dohwa was faster than me.

"Keng!!!"

And then, poof—!

Dohwa leaped from my arms and transformed into human form.

The modest modern outfit she'd worn when we went shopping for clothes.

She was even wearing a beanie, so at a glance she looked entirely human.

-Shashashak.

"……Haaah!!? W-Who are you!? Wait!!!"

Dohwa then dashed over at lightning speed, hoisted the man up in the 'Dohwa Thunder' pose, and ran.

She was faster than me, too.

Her level was higher than mine, and she had her traits backing her up.

The two of them became a dot and vanished into the distance in an instant.

It didn't take long for her to return.

"Master, Dohwa good… Master?"

"That's right, good job."

I took off the invisibility hat too.

Dohwa hadn't been able to find me, and more importantly, there was no longer any need to hide my identity.

"He saw your face, right?"

"Kyaeung~."

"Good. Then Dohwa, stick right by my side from now on."

"Keng!!"

And while Dohwa clung tightly to me.

Click.

I pointed the sword at the boss monster.

Then I murmured softly.

"—Open."

-Ding!

['Genesis Sword' ability activates!]

[The user's inner world….]