Zero Point

#021

Eunseok saw Choi Hanseo, who stood out due to his tall stature, behind the crowd surrounding him. He maintained his consistently neat appearance. Choi Hanseo glanced at Eunseok once and then approached the PD to speak.

“All footage shot today must go through the White Tiger Guild’s inspection.”

“Of course, Guild Master. It’s not like we’re working together for the first time. Don’t worry.”

The PD nodded.

EBCC was the broadcasting station under the Ability Management Bureau where Eunseok was scheduled to have his first interview. It seemed they had come to shoot footage for the first interview.

“Alright then, we’ll keep it natural and brief, just like this.”

As he spoke loudly, a red light came on the camera pointed at Eunseok.

A neatly dressed female reporter approached Eunseok with a microphone and stood next to him.

“Ready… Go!”

The PD signaled the start before Eunseok had time to mentally prepare.

Is this how casually they do things?

Not knowing how the broadcasting world worked, Eunseok simply stared at the camera with an indifferent expression. The other team members, seemingly accustomed to such situations, continued their tasks, stretching or drinking water, regardless of whether the camera was rolling or not.

“Hello, everyone. This is Moon Hae-young from EBCC Broadcasting. Today, we’re at a site in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, where the White Tiger Guild’s First Team has been fully mobilized despite it being only a C-rank gate. The First Team of the White Tiger Guild, which usually only tackles A-rank gates and above, has been deployed here for this person’s gate experience.”

The reporter turned slightly towards Eunseok.

“This person standing here is Lee Eunseok, one of only four S-rank Guides in the world and the only S-rank Guide in Korea.”

Eunseok thought to himself that they might zoom in on his face or pan over his full body at this point.

“Hello, Guide Lee Eunseok.”

The reporter briefly greeted and held the microphone in front of Eunseok.

“Hello. I’m Lee Eunseok.”

The microphone returned to the reporter.

“Guide Lee Eunseok here has come all the way to participate in the C-rank gate raid with the White Tiger Guild’s First Team today. We know that due to various issues that occurred in the early stages of the gate crisis, guides no longer enter gates. However, Guide Lee Eunseok has volunteered to enter the gate himself. I think this choice befits his background as a former special forces member. Guide Lee Eunseok, is it true that you volunteered?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Aren’t you worried or scared about entering the gate? How do you feel right now?”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Wow, I guess it’s because of your special forces background that you’re so brave.”

The reporter expressed admiration.

“Thank you.”

Eunseok smiled faintly and nodded towards the camera.

“Cut!”

The PD shouted. The camera light turned off without hesitation.

“Um… may I ask for a handshake?”

The young and pretty reporter cautiously asked. Her expression was full of goodwill and curiosity. Lee Eunseok smiled and shook her hand without hesitation. It definitely felt much more comfortable mingling with ordinary people who weren’t ability users.

After the handshake, the reporter discreetly took out her phone from her pocket and gave a subtle look.

“Perhaps we could exchange phone num-“

Before the reporter could finish her sentence, the tall Choi Hanseo appeared like a ghost.

“We need to prepare, Mr. Lee Eunseok.”

Choi Hanseo said to Eunseok with a somewhat skewed look. The reporter turned away with an embarrassed face and scurried off.

“I told you to show your face, but I didn’t say to give it away so freely,” Choi Hanseo whispered to Eunseok, tilting his head slightly.

“What are you talking about?”

Eunseok glared at Choi Hanseo.

“Let’s get ready to go in.”

Choi Hanseo spoke in his usual tone as if he hadn’t just whispered. Although irritated, Eunseok knew that entering the gate was an important task and mission. He took off the duffel bag from his shoulder and unzipped it.

The only piece of armor he had chosen, a chest protector, was a simple design that covered just the heart area. After skillfully putting on the chest protector, Eunseok holstered his backup small-caliber pistol at his ankle. He slung the automatic rifle over his shoulder and holstered his main pistol on the chest protector strap. Preparations were simply completed by sheathing a dagger in the holster tied to his thigh.

“Come on, let’s get this over with,” Moon Bora said loudly. On her back, crossed in an X shape, were a longsword and a medium sword that Eunseok had never seen before. The other team members were also equipped with weapons and defenses suitable for their positions. Eunseok caught a glimpse of the camera filming them as they gathered, each armed, and approached Moon Bora’s side.

“The gate is about 10 minutes up the hiking trail from here,” said someone who appeared to be an Ability Management Bureau employee, starting to walk ahead.

On the narrow hiking trail, walking in a single file line. As befitting elites who only tackle A-rank gates and above, there was no sign of tension among the team members. Lee Eunseok, walking at the very back, turned to look at Choi Hanseo following behind him. Unlike the comfortably dressed and armed team members, Choi Hanseo was wearing his usual suit and dress shoes. Of course, there were no visible armor or weapons.

“Are you going in like that?”

“Is there a problem?” Choi Hanseo asked back.

Does this mean an S-rank Hunter can fight without any weapons or armor?

Whether it was because of yesterday’s guiding or because of his subtly grating words, Eunseok found his view of Choi Hanseo becoming increasingly skewed without realizing it.

Well, he must be confident to go in like that.

Instead of meddling or being curious, Eunseok started walking again, looking ahead.

As guided, after about ten minutes of hiking up the trail, a gate that looked like a bizarre cave entrance came into view beside the trail. The gate, gaping open in mid-air where there was nothing before, looked like an entrance to another dimension. No, since the space beyond the gate was speculated to be another dimension or perhaps another planet, it would be accurate to say it appeared exactly as it was.

“Shall we go in then?” Moon Bora, who had been walking at the very front, asked, turning back. Probably asking because of Eunseok, he nodded at Moon Bora.

The First Team took their positions without anyone needing to say anything.

Han Cheolyong, the tank, was at the very front, followed by the damage dealers Moon Bora, Oh Seongeun, and Shin Jeongho, and then the healer Ji Taeuk forming the formation. Eunseok stood next to Ji Taeuk. Looking back, Choi Hanseo was standing in a relaxed posture with one hand in his pocket. And a little further back, the camera was rolling.

“10:08 AM. White Tiger Guild First Team entering C-rank gate.”

Probably a rule for gate entry, Han Cheolyong at the front said, checking his watch.

After finishing his words, he walked into the gate without hesitation. The team members followed behind in leisurely steps as if they were going for a stroll. One by one, they disappeared into the gate that emitted a mysterious and eerie light.

“There’s no special feeling, so don’t worry.”

Ji Taeuk, standing next to the gate with Eunseok, said in a seemingly kind tone. Eunseok nodded slightly and stepped into the gate alongside Ji Taeuk.

***

Passing through the gate surprisingly didn’t feel like anything. However, the moment they entered the gate’s interior, they were hit by air and scenery that felt completely different from just moments ago.

Swoosh.

What unfolded before their eyes was a vast prairie. Waist-high grasses mixed with green and purple colors danced gently in the wind. The air was filled with a unique scent, probably emanating from the grasses. Fortunately, there wasn’t much noticeable difference in gravity.

“Ah, it’s healing after a long time,” Moon Bora said, reaching behind her back to draw both her longsword and medium sword simultaneously.

Eunseok scanned the team members.

At the very front, Han Cheolyong had a round shield attached to one forearm and was holding a longsword, scanning the area ahead. Shin Jeongho, said to be a melee damage dealer, was holding daggers and short swords of various shapes, while Oh Seongeun, the ranged damage dealer, was holding a strange stick about arm’s length long with an unknown purpose.

“How is it? Not much to it, right?” Ji Taeuk said, adjusting what looked like an ammunition belt worn diagonally across his upper body. Instead of ammunition, the belt was densely packed with small bottles filled with dark green liquid. They were probably the potions that Hunters were said to drink.

“Yes, for now,” Eunseok replied briefly and scanned the wide-open surroundings.

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

The sound of something quickly moving through the grasses, which were swaying with the wind’s direction, could be heard.

“Approaching from 10 o’clock, 1 o’clock, and 3 o’clock directions,” Han Cheolyong warned briefly. As he said, the grasses in each direction were parting in straight lines towards them, getting closer.