The Otherworldly Magic Swordsman Who Disciplines the Hunter World Chapter 21

The pattern was similar to the Gate I had entered last time. Since I had seen it once before, I was certain.

A writhing vortex of mana flared up like a flame. The flames wavered, and energy stretched out in all directions like the tongues of snakes.

“At that rate, an hour at most?”

In an hour, the Gate leading to the dungeon would open.

Julian’s gaze lingered on the butterfly drawn next to the sign that read ‘Nabijam Daycare Center’.

He didn’t particularly want to act like he knew everything, but given the location, he couldn’t just let it slide. This world probably had its own countermeasures, but he didn’t want innocent children getting caught up in it.

“…So what you’re saying is, you can see an outbreak dungeon?”

“If that’s what you call an outbreak dungeon, I can see it even now.”

Beep beep! A horn honked from the car behind them. Gong Siyoung spat out a curse and turned on his hazard lights.

The car pulled tightly to the edge of the road. Silence descended inside the stationary vehicle.

People who knew nothing passed peacefully along the sidewalk.

“I don’t know if what you’re saying is true or not… but if there’s even a chance that story is real, we have to check. Get out.”

Unbuckling his seatbelt, he stepped out of the car first. Gong Siyoung tapped on the car window as if asking why he wasn’t getting out yet. Julian followed and opened the car door.

Along with a humid breeze, the scorching afternoon sunlight felt intense. While Julian was fanning himself with his hand, Gong Siyoung took out his cell phone.

After hesitating, he placed a call somewhere. After a moment of silence, the person on the other end responded.

“Hello? Yes, this is Gong Siyoung. I’d like to make an emergency request. Yes, an outbreak. Shall I give you the address?”

Leaving Gong Siyoung to his phone call, Julian looked behind them. Green roadside trees were beautifully positioned along the tidy street. The sunlight shimmering through the leaves was dazzling. The peaceful midday scenery continued all the way to the daycare center.

Behind a low wall, a well-maintained playground was visible. Julian’s gaze moved toward it.

The mass of mana floating above the slide changed from moment to moment. It looked like a ball of yarn clumped together haphazardly, or like flour dough kneaded by an unskillful cook. As time passed, its shape and size grew.

Can they really not see this? It was strange that no one noticed such a vivid energy. Julian reached his hand inside the wall.

Just before his hand touched the mana that jutted out like a long thread, someone pulled him from behind.

“Yes, then I will request cooperation from the daycare center.”

A firm grip caught him by the scruff of the neck. Gong Siyoung glared at him with his phone wedged between his shoulder and ear. Julian, caught helplessly, slowly lowered his hand.

In the meantime, Gong Siyoung, who had hung up the phone, pulled Julian tightly by the scruff of his neck.

Their bodies drew close. Gong Siyoung’s voice reached his ear.

“Don’t you dare try saying it was a prank, a joke, a misunderstanding, or a mistake now.”

He clenched his fist and shook it in the air. His attitude was as resolute as his gesture.

“People who lie about dungeons or Gates—at least to me—I don’t even treat them as human.”

“I didn’t lie.”

Though he felt a bit of regret, wondering if he had stepped out of line too much, he hadn’t made anything up. There was no reason to tell such a lie.

Julian always wanted to live a long, quiet life. He had no intention of overstepping, playing hero, or doing anything that would stand out.

Though, for someone saying that, it felt like he had already done a lot of things that stood out…

“Don’t think about anything else, don’t go anywhere, and stay glued to my side until the people from the Bureau arrive.”

Without saying it twice, Gong Siyoung led the way. Only after confirming that Julian was staying quietly by his side did he press the doorbell next to the daycare center door.

After a moment, the door opened and a middle-aged woman peeked her head out. Recognizing Gong Siyoung, the woman stammered as if flustered.

“Gong… Hunter Gong Siyoung? You are Hunter Gong Siyoung, right? Oh my goodness!”

“Excuse me. Would it be possible to talk for a moment?”

The middle-aged woman nodded.

While the two were talking, several black vehicles stopped around the daycare center.

Julian muttered the words written on the vehicles.

“Hunter Management Bureau?”

Soon, men wearing the same clothes got out of the cars. The same logo was emblazoned on both the cars and the clothes the men wore.

A tiger’s face was placed in the center of the words ‘Hunter Management Bureau’. Because everything else was black and only the tiger’s face was bright red, one’s gaze was naturally drawn to it.

The man standing at the front spotted Gong Siyoung and approached. Giving a slight nod, he looked back and forth between Gong Siyoung and Julian.

“We came after receiving the report. I am Choi Jaeguk, Team Leader of Gate Exploration Team 1.”

Choi Jaeguk held out his hand. Gong Siyoung slowly shook it.

While the two were greeting each other, people appeared from inside the daycare center. Women wearing aprons whispered. Whether they were bewildered by the sudden situation or not, various conversations were being exchanged.

Julian observed the situation from a distance as if it were someone else’s business. It wasn’t a situation where he particularly needed to step forward, and since no one was giving him any special attention, there was nothing for him to do.

While he was monitoring the mana as if keeping watch, Choi Jaeguk went inside the daycare center. Gong Siyoung looked around, spotted Julian, and gestured to him.

“Don’t go anywhere and stay by my side.”

He naturally grabbed Julian’s arm. His fingertips were firm, as if restraining a mischievous child.

“I had nowhere to go anyway. More importantly, did the talk go well?”

“Reasonably so. But is it really true that a dungeon will appear here?”

Gong Siyoung stroked his chin. To his eyes, it just looked like an ordinary daycare center. It seemed like the ones disturbing the peace were not a Gate, but the Gate Exploration Team that had suddenly appeared.

“I’ve contacted the guild as well, so the response team will be here soon. If a Gate opens here like you said…”

He stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth. The look in his eyes as he watched the children evacuating was quite serious.

Even without further explanation, I felt like I understood. Whether it was an outbreak dungeon or whatever, it must have been a very important issue. That’s why so many people gathered so quickly in such a short time.

The children moved along with their teachers, on the verge of tears. The sight of them walking away in a line looked just like baby chicks.

If he hadn’t happened to pass by this place, if he hadn’t spoken up—many things would have changed based on just a few possibilities.

“Looking at things like this, it’s quite fascinating.”

He stared blankly at the air above the slide. Mana was gathering more and more. The writhing and swirling energy sent a chill down his spine.

Julian drew his sword without hesitation.

“The fact that those destined to live will live, one way or another.”

It was then. Sparks flew instantly in the empty air. Soon the space tore open, and a pitch-black hole appeared in the sky.

A dark and distant world was struggling to squeeze its head out. Along with screams, shouts were heard from behind.

Julian didn’t take his eyes off the black hole for a single moment. As the space tore, darkness rushed in. Whether it was sucking things in or being sucked in, at that moment, time and space became ambiguous.

His nerves were on edge. It felt as if the Gate were calling to him. The overflowing mana swept over Julian’s body.

Like a person who only realizes their thirst after moistening their throat, he aimed his sword toward the Gate.

At that moment, Gong Siyoung firmly grabbed Julian’s waist. Julian, who was about to enter the Gate at any second, stiffened.

“We aren’t going into that Gate. That’s why I called the Gate Response Team! So they can handle it on their own!”

“We aren’t going in?”

That much was unexpected. Wasn’t it Gong Siyoung who had reacted so sensitively to the news that a Gate was opening? I thought for sure he would be the first to enter?

“We can’t go now. Who knows how long it will take to clear? We have to go to the overlapping dungeon in a few hours. Besides, the Guild Master hasn’t given permission.”

Julian relaxed his tensed body.

“And here I thought we absolutely had to go in.”

Now, an entrance that fully took the form of a Gate was revealed. The surroundings became increasingly crowded. Employees of the Gate Exploration Team set up yellow lines around the area.

Avoiding the growing bustle, Gong Siyoung pulled Julian back.

Watching the children evacuate, Julian scratched his head. The empty daycare center felt exceptionally hollow. Choi Jaeguk approached the two of them.

“There are a few things I’d like to ask. Is it possible to talk for a moment?”

It was clearly a polite question, but the tone was strangely like an interrogation. Without even taking a breath, Choi Jaeguk followed up.

“How did you know an outbreak dungeon would appear?”