It hadn't been part of the plan. Everything had been going smoothly, until Ji-Kai overlooked one crucial detail about unlicensed gates.
The very method he had used to detect the gate's presence was the same method known to the Korean Adventurers' Guild—of which he had once been a member, before turning back time.
And now, here he was, seated in a private car, being transported through the streets of Seoul toward the Guild's headquarters—the most fortified and secure building of them all.
Well, I didn't expect this. No, I should have expected it. The method I used to uncover an unlicensed gate was one I had learned from the Guild itself. What a fool—I should have remembered.
Still… this car is surprisingly comfortable.
Beside him, the long-haired girl, Kim Nina, remained silent, never once looking his way.
Yet Ji-Kai stayed on guard, ready for anything—an escape attempt, perhaps? But he knew fleeing now would only make things worse.
If it had been difficult in the past, it would be far harder now, when he was unprepared for sudden changes.
« So… what will happen to me, miss? » Ji-Kai asked politely, careful not to provoke trouble by accident.
But Kim Nina gave no reply, only deeper silence.
What's wrong with you? Is this some kind of punishment by silence? Strange.
If I remember her correctly, she was lively, talkative, almost impossible to shut up.
And now… quiet to the point of unease. Perhaps something has changed. Or maybe this is simply how she was in her younger years. Back then, when I knew her, she was twenty-seven. If my guess is right, she must be twenty-one or twenty-two now.
« You'll be investigated for your knowledge of handling a E-rank dungeon as though you were a seasoned adventurer. And if it turns out you're using a forbidden item, you'll be in serious trouble, » Kim Nina finally said, her voice flat and cold, devoid of emotion.
It irritated Ji-Kai slightly, though he understood more than he let on.
« A forbidden item? What do you mean by that? » he asked, feigning ignorance, though he already knew. He simply didn't want to raise further suspicion.
« It's basically a cheating artifact—something that allows an adventurer, or even an ordinary person, to wield power far beyond their natural limits. Such things are usually banned because of their ties to demons, creatures far more dangerous than monsters. »
« Monsters from rank B to S can be as difficult as demons at times, but demons are different. The lowest rank among them is A..Ah… forget it, I have nothing more to say. »
Her words trailed off abruptly, a faint trace of embarrassment flickering across her youthful features. It wasn't obvious, but Ji-Kai caught it.
So, you're still the same person. Just trying to look impressive.
Still, she wasn't wrong. Monsters are dangerous at any rank, not just B and above.
Even an E-rank can be lethal. But demons truly are on another level. I've never faced one myself, but I can say with certainty—they're powerful.
She mentioned forbidden items, didn't she? In the past, with the party that betrayed me, we confiscated three of them.
One of them was something I desperately needed: the Dagger of Anubis, a weapon capable of summoning the dead.
It was hidden in a dungeon of unclassified rank, meaning it could appear anywhere.
Damn it. I need the Eye of the World and the Dagger of Anubis. Together, they'd accelerate my growth immensely. Right now, this side mission is annoyingly difficult…
[ Side Mission: Gain Kim Nina's Trust ]
[ Details: Kim Nina is an adventurer of the Korean Guild, known for being difficult to win over. ]
[ Objective: Earn her trust and make her your ally. ]
[ Time Limit: None ]
[ Reward: A consumable A-rank item ]
A consumable A-rank item… the only reason I'll accept this mission. Speaking of which, I should check the reward from my first mission.
If I recall, it was a consumable C-rank item. Lower than A, yes, but still excellent and useful.
Hopefully the system will respond to my thoughts alone. System, display the reward from Mission One…
[ Loading… ]
It worked!
[ Item Name: Enhanced Water ] [ Rank: C ]
[ Details: Ordinary water infused with mana. Accelerates muscle recovery by 5%. ]
[ Quantity: 1/10 ]
Well, I wasn't expecting much anyway. Still, it's good. Sometimes my muscles ache after intense training, even now. If the chance arises,
I'll use it. As for analyzing it and extracting its formula, I'm still far from unlocking the Alchemist slot in the system.
Lost in thought, Ji-Kai was jolted back to reality by a sudden vibration. The car had stopped.
« We've arrived. Stay put and don't move, » Kim Nina said, pointing her finger at him in a veiled threat.
Ji-Kai understood she wouldn't actually harm him, but he had no intention of resisting anyway. He already had an idea in mind.
Once outside, he followed Kim Nina. She led him through reception, then into an elevator, accompanied by a security guard.
Ji-Kai did nothing, remaining calm and silent, as though everything was unfolding exactly as he had planned. When the elevator doors opened on the tenth floor, he wasn't surprised.
This was the floor of the Guild's Investigation Office—a place he had visited many times before. And ironically, the memory that surfaced was of that bastard, Jayeon Jo.
Kim Nina continued forward, greeting staff members as they passed. Ji-Kai followed, scanning faces for anyone familiar, but there was no time.
Soon, they reached a secured door. Nina swiped her card, and the door opened. Inside was a place Ji-Kai remembered well: the assessment chamber, where adventurers' levels and abilities were measured, and their ranks determined.
He had known he'd be brought here, and he accepted it.
« Mr. Park, I've brought the subject. According to the database, his name is Kim Ji-Kai, eldest son of the Ji family, son of Kim Ji-Hwan, one of the Guild's financial backers, » Nina said to the man in a lab coat, seated in a wheelchair.
Forget the family nonsense. I never expected to see you again, my old friend—Park Yoon-Suk.
For a moment, Ji-Kai felt a pang of nostalgia. Beyond the memories of his treacherous party, he had shared special ones with Yoon-Suk.
The saddest of all was Yoon-Suk's suicide—something Ji-Kai never understood, even after all this time.
Damn it. The clearest memory I have of you is your death. I won't let that happen again. I know you, Yoon-Suk. You'd never do such a thing—not you, of all people.
Meanwhile, Park Yoon-Suk studied Ji-Kai carefully, then smiled and rose from his chair.
« Pleased to meet you, reckless adventurer. My name is Park Yoon-Suk, biometric specialist of the Adventurers' Guild. I'm the one who measures your internal capabilities, and based on that, your rank is determined. So, I hope you'll cooperate with me. » He ended with a warm smile.
Trust me, Yoon-Suk, you're the reason I changed my plans and came here.
And don't worry about cooperation—I trust you more than anyone. Once, we were brothers, more than friends.
« Ah, well… I just hope it won't hurt, » Ji-Kai said, feigning nervousness.
Yoon-Suk chuckled at the reply, then gestured toward a large capsule behind a curtain.
That capsule measured everything, determining an adventurer's rank. For some reason, Ji-Kai had been brought straight here.
He didn't resist. Instead, he decided to take a step forward.
Without protest, Ji-Kai entered the capsule. It activated, humming for five minutes before shutting down. Yoon-Suk unlocked it and moved to his computer.
« You may feel a little dizzy afterward. Don't worry—it's normal. Just rest a bit, » Yoon-Suk said as he examined the data.
This isn't my first time. Even though I've turned back time, the memory of this process is etched into me. Even so—wait. A new mission from the syst—huh? what?
« Congratulations, my friend. After careful analysis, you've been classified as D-rank. And no traces of forbidden items were detected. »
« That means our friend here simply possesses unique potential, like many adventurers who don't yet realize their own strength, » Yoon-Suk said cheerfully, clearly pleased with the result.
« So how do you explain his clearing of an E-rank dungeon? Are you saying he has prior experience? » Nina asked, her tone edged with skepticism, hoping for an answer from Yoon-Suk.
« Well then, why don't we ask our friend here? What do you think, Ji-Kai? » Yoon-Suk gestured toward him, inviting him to explain for himself.
« Huh? Me? Oh, well… I used to play video games… a lot. So I just guessed everything and… it worked. Pure luck, nothing more, » Ji-Kai replied with a nervous tone. It made those present pause and think, but in the end, they believed him.
For Ji-Kai, however, something far more important was happening in that moment…
What the hell is this?
[ New Mission! Main mission ]
[ Mission Two: Save Park Yoon-Suk ]
[ Details: Someone is targeting Park Yoon-Suk and intends to assassinate him. This person is closer than they appear, making the situation extremely dangerous. ]
[ Objective: Save Park Yoon-Suk ] + [ Additional requirements will follow ]
[ Time Limit: 48 hours ]
[ Reward: Luck Item + Park Yoon-Suk's Trust ]
Damn it. A variable has already appeared. Park Yoon-Suk's death is drawing far too close!