ushernet Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Chapter 46: Shouldn’t We Pursue PPL in the Gate? (1)
Immediately after realizing we had been transferred.
I immediately went into a defensive posture.
More seriously than ever before, even in my previous life.
-Whip.
‘What’s different from the first round? An A+ grade, I’ve never even heard of that.’
It wasn’t like me, who had conquered numerous gates before my regression. But I had no choice.
According to the status window notification, this was an A+ grade gate.
It was a danger that neither I nor humanity had yet experienced.
———That day. Just like the colossal gate that had opened in the sky.
‘If those monsters come out, I won’t last a minute with my current stats. We’ll all be wiped out before support even arrives!!!’
In the worst-case scenario, those monsters might appear.
The ones that took my and my master’s arms.
The ones that slaughtered Alice’s family.
The ones that turned Shia’s clan to ashes.
Monsters that embodied irrationality.
Just thinking about them made my hands tremble.
If it was just me in danger, that would be one thing...
But it wasn’t just me here.
Alice, my everything, was here with me.
“Huh... Yu-jin? It looks safe here for now. You can let go...”
-Grab.
“Hng, hng!!?”
I hugged her tighter, just in case.
To protect her with my life if anything happened.
With the two of us pressed close together like that.
I only turned my head to scan our surroundings.
The internal structure. Identical to the first round.
Monsters. After scanning with mana, at least within a 100-meter radius, there were none.
There probably weren’t any traps either...
But traps of a type even I didn’t know could appear.
I had to stay vigilant.
It took me three minutes to feel secure.
‘At least the entrance is the same as the first round. This place is safe.’
“Huaa....”
Only after confirming safety did I let out a sigh.
I quickly looked down.
To reassure my wife, who must be trembling with fear.
“Alice. It’s safe here....”
“Hah, haaa....”
Alice, who was snugly nestled in my arms, met my gaze.
But now, her face was red all the way to her ears. Her eyes were unfocused.@@@@
It took me less than a second to realize the reason.
-Squish.
“......!!!!!!!!?”
‘Damn it. I was so surprised for a moment, I hugged Alice like I did before the regression...!!!’
I was hugging Alice tightly with both arms.
So tightly that our stomachs were touching.
Inevitably, various parts were touching each other.
Her chest, for example. Her breasts, to be exact. Her bust, indeed.
Even the position of my hands was awkward.
One hand was on her back. Where her bra hook was.
The other hand was on the border between her waist and buttocks.
...This was a position right before making love.
A position for a passionate deep kiss, taking off each other’s clothes, and caressing each other.
Fortunately, she had her back against the wall, so my inappropriate hands wouldn’t be visible to civilians...
But she must have noticed.
One hand was on her bra hook, the other about to caress her buttocks.
Even Alice, who knew nothing about such things, must have noticed.
‘She’s in her early twenties now... No, this is sexual harassment!!’
-Hastily.
“I, I, I’m sorry! I was trying to protect you in case of an emergency!!”
I immediately pulled away and apologized.
I was really just trying to protect her.
But my hands had decided to act like a ‘mating man.’
Though it wasn’t intentional, I was really sorry if it embarrassed her.
Even though it was a zero-score apology...
“......? Why are you apologizing, Yu-jin?”
“Because of the hand position... And it touched your, your chest....”
“That’s fine. You didn’t touch anything inappropriate, and the waist is fine.”
She accepted it.
My wife is an angel. I love her so much. Please marry me.
-Mumbling.
45
“I, I should be the one apologizing....”
“It seems something has happened outside. It’s strange that not a single Awakener has entered in an hour.”
“Yu-jin!? Why are you saying that?”
“We might have to clear the gate with only the people here. Without additional support. Essentially, just by myself.”
Despite Alice’s restraint, I spoke honestly.
No matter how long we waited, no rescue would come.
We were in big trouble.
Despair crossed the pregnant woman’s face...
“So....”
“So, what, I’ll just clear it quickly and come back!”
“...What?”
How could I leave her in despair?
I slung my katana over my shoulder with exaggerated movements.
Wearing a confident smile befitting the former top S-rank.
“Don’t you know me? I’m Seo Yu-jin. The future S-rank Awakener Cheonhwa recruited for 20 billion. An A-grade gate is a piece of cake for an S-rank.”
“But earlier you said it was suicidal...”
“I was joking around because I thought the clan leader would scold me if I cleared it first.”
I took one, two steps forward.
My eyes gleaming golden.
“I’ll be back soon, so wait comfortably. It’s dangerous not to feel any pain at all, so just feel a tenth of it.”
-Ding!
[The target falls into a ‘perfect’
state of hypnosis.]
“...Yes!”
The face that had been contorted with pain relaxed significantly.
The cheers from the surroundings were a bonus.
Alice, however, had a completely different expression.
-Whisper, whisper.
“Are you crazy, Yu-jin? You said it’s dangerous.”
“It’s fine. It’s doable.”
“But...!!!”
“I told you before. I’m quite strong.”
Despite Alice’s concerns, I stood firm.
Who am I? The former top S-rank.
I was a seasoned warrior who had closed dozens of S-grade gates alone.
On the other hand, this gate?
Even with the plus, it was just an A-grade.
There was no way those monsters would appear in a mere A-grade gate.
In other words, this gate was no match for me.
And most importantly.
“There’s no way I’m the only Awakener here.”
“Huh?”
“Alice. You’re here too.”
Though it was overshadowed by me, there was a genius Awakener who had swept through the entrance exam’s eighth stage with sheer firepower.
If Alice and I teamed up, we could even break through the lower ranks of an S-grade gate with my current specs.
I had been reluctant to take my wife to the battlefield, but...
Well, things had come to this.
It was embarrassing, but I might as well rely on my wife a bit.
‘I promise. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you with my life.’
-Smirk.
“Lend me your strength. Comrade of the Pine Leaf’s Eye.”
“......!!!”
Alice’s anxious expression changed.
First, a bit of confusion.
Then, eventually, into gratitude.
“Yes!!! I’ll definitely be your strength, Yu-jin!”
“......?”
She seemed excessively delighted.
Was the Pine Leaf’s Eye that good?
Well. I was just relieved she was willing to follow me.
“Thank you. Then let’s go, Alice.”
“Yes!!”
“And everyone, stay put. Once you cross this barrier, you can’t come back. Don’t loiter around.”
As if on cue, we both stepped forward.
Towards the semi-transparent barrier, down the stairs.
Towards the entrance of the dungeon where we couldn’t return until the boss monster was defeated.
Our footsteps echoed in unison as we descended.
Without any fear or hesitation.
Step. Step. Twice.
———Slightly offbeat, hesitant steps followed belatedly. Step.
‘Wait. Footsteps from behind... a monster ambushing from the stairs!!!’
-Whip.
“Alice, behind me!!”
The sound of my katana being drawn, like a bolt of lightning.
Click.