My Childhood Friend’s Stock Will Never Fail Chapter 69

“Wheeeee-!”

 

Startled, Yoohee hurriedly grabbed her phone. An emergency app notification had appeared on the lock screen.

 

[!ALERT! A C-rank Gate has appeared within 500 meters of the Chungbuk Eumseong Center!]

 

A Gate had appeared…?

 

I guess today really was the day.

 

Apparently, the once-a-month Gate outbreak had happened today.

 

An intern’s duty was to enter Gates personally and gain practical experience.

 

Of course, the Center decided whether an intern could participate based on the Gate’s size and difficulty. Fortunately, this one was an ordinary C-rank Gate.

 

Besides, there was no telling when another Gate might open at this Center. So it was almost certain that Yoohee and Joohoon would be participating in this one.

 

“I don’t know if I’d call it good news, but at least we can get out of the Center.”

 

Yoohee muttered quietly, and Ppyaki immediately perked up.

 

“Music to my ears.”

 

“Finished eating? Shall we go back in?”

 

After putting on the Ppyaki ring, Yoohee returned to the Center, where things were somewhat chaotic due to the Gate that had appeared.

 

“Of all times, it had to happen when we’re busy… We barely have enough time to finish our work.”

 

The team members nearby exchanged worried complaints.

 

The deadline for the project had been moved up to this week, after all.

 

It seemed the busy schedule was making it difficult to decide who would enter the Gate. Yoohee quietly watched the situation when Do young , who had been drinking coffee, suddenly stood up.

 

He walked over and stopped in front of Haeseop.

 

“I’ll go.”

 

For once, his answer was refreshingly straightforward.

 

Thanks to Do young  volunteering so readily, Haeseop’s worried expression finally brightened.

 

“Having Do young  there is reassuring. Then, for the remaining members…”

 

Haeseop looked around at the team members, trying to select the rest of the group that would enter the Gate.

 

Since Do young , an A-rank Esper, was going, there wasn’t much pressure on the others. A capable A-rank Esper could even clear a C-rank Gate all by himself.

 

Since Do young  specialized in illusion magic, Haeseop figured they only needed a few people to support him. That was when Do young  cut him off.

 

“I’ll only take the interns.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Haeseop and the other team members stared at Do young  in surprise.

 

“Even so… The interns have absolutely no practical combat experience. Joohoon may be an A-rank Esper, but he could still be inexperienced in battle.”

 

“Oh my, Joohoon is an A-rank Esper? No wonder his aura seemed different.”

 

One of the team members seemed surprised to learn that Joohoon was an A-rank Esper. Most of the others appeared equally unaware.

 

Do young  was the only A-rank Esper at this Center, so apparently no one had expected an A-rank Esper to show up among the interns.

 

‘Still, Team Leader is right….’

 

As Haeseop had said, Joohoon was still an unpolished gem. Although he had encountered an elf because of the scenario, he inevitably lacked the combat experience and knowledge of how to use mana compared to the Awakened at the Center.

 

“It’s fine. I’ll clear it by myself anyway. I just want to set a good example for the interns.”

 

Do young  stubbornly stood his ground, his voice brimming with confidence.

 

Faced with such absolute certainty, Haeseop could only stand there in bewilderment when—

 

“I’ll go too.”

 

A clear voice suddenly rang out.

 

When Yoohee turned around, Suin was calmly organizing the documents on her desk.

 

“I’d appreciate that, but… Are you sure, Suin? You’re busy with the project.”

 

“I am busy, but I’m responsible for the two of them. We’ll get back quickly and finish it afterward.”

 

At her matter-of-fact answer, Haeseop looked at her with a deeply moved expression.

 

Then Youngsook, who was sitting across from them, chimed in.

 

“Take Jaemin too. He’s better at physical work than paperwork.”

 

Whether that was actually true or not, even Jaemin, who was always complaining, didn’t refuse.

 

Haeseop looked satisfied as he spoke to Do young .

 

“Okay, with the five of you, I feel reassured. Don’t push yourselves.”

 

The five of them quickly got ready.

 

Since the Gate wasn’t far from the Center, they reached its entrance in no time. The entrance to the Gate, a rift between dimensions, shimmered like a purple wave.

 

“Don’t step out in front. It’s enough if you two provide support from the rear.”

 

Before entering the Gate, Suin warned Joohoon and Yoohee.

 

In fact, Yoohee was the most experienced person there, but she obediently accepted Suin’s advice.

 

“Yes.”

 

Joohoon nodded as well.

 

Suin then looked at Do young . Normally, she disliked him that much, but this time he was leading the team.

 

“Let’s not waste any time.”

 

Do young  confidently took the lead, and one by one, everyone followed him into the Gate.

 

Drip, drip.

 

A dark space appeared alongside the gloomy sound of dripping water. There was a thin layer of water pooled across the floor, and the air was chilling.

 

“This is… a cave, I suppose.”

 

Suin looked around.

 

Sure enough, huge stalactites had grown along the walls and ceiling. Looking closely, Yoohee could see droplets of water falling from the long stalactites overhead.

 

“Visibility is limited, so we shouldn’t spread out too much.”

 

Everyone nodded in agreement.

 

Yoohee carefully surveyed the surroundings as well.

 

Even if it was a relatively low-difficulty Gate, there was no room for carelessness.

 

Just then, Do young  ran a hand through his hair and turned toward them.

 

“There’s no need to worry so much. I’ll take care of everything, so you guys can just sit back and watch.”

 

A relaxed smile appeared on Do young ’s face.

 

He had said his mana belonged to the mental category, so if he really wanted to, he could probably even alter the background of the Gate itself. Though it would likely consume a considerable amount of mana.

 

Flap—!

 

Suddenly, a fierce beating of wings echoed through the cave.

 

It wasn’t just a few creatures. The deafening sound suggested an entire swarm was flying toward them.

 

“Duck!”

 

Jaemin shouted.

 

At the same time, Joohoon grabbed Yoohee’s arm and pulled her back.

 

CRACK—BOOM!

 

An ice wall instantly formed, and the swarm flying toward them slammed into it, crashing to the ground.

 

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

 

Suin also looked startled by the sudden attack.

 

Rustle.

 

Joohoon lowered the towering ice wall himself, revealing what lay beyond it.

 

“This is…”

 

Countless bat-shaped Creatures were sprawled across the floor.

 

Meanwhile, Jaemin and Do young  were still fighting the bats that remained airborne.

 

A sword wreathed in flickering red flames was in Jaemin’s hand. Every time he thrust out his hand, Creatures fell away, but there were simply too many of them.

 

“……Lidimdarum.”

 

Meanwhile, Do young  stood behind Jaemin with his eyes closed, muttering something under his breath.

 

Yoohee was just beginning to wonder whether this was dangerous when Do young ’s eyes suddenly snapped open.

 

‘……?’

 

It was something she had never seen before.

 

The ground writhed.

 

Then, something that had no business existing inside this place burst through the floor—a gigantic green stalk.

 

It was an enormous plant.

 

The massive tropical plant opened its mouth wide, resembling a giant Venus flytrap.

 

At once, as if bewitched, the Creatures flying around them charged straight into the plant’s gaping maw.

 

Jaemin, panting heavily, stared blankly at the Creatures that were disappearing on their own.

 

Flap!

 

Once every Creature had frantically thrown itself into the plant, its jaws snapped shut as though following some predetermined cue.

 

After some time, the frantic flapping from inside finally stopped.

 

And then, as if it had never existed, the plant disappeared when they blinked.

 

“……”

 

Only the corpses of the Creatures, cold and lifeless, remained scattered across the floor.

 

So this was illusion magic.

 

Since it was such an incredibly rare type of mana, this was the first time Yoohee had ever seen it firsthand.

 

Joohoon and Suin were standing there with equally stunned expressions when Do young  grinned.

 

“What are you guys staring at? Let’s go.”

 

Everything went smoothly after that.

 

Whenever Creatures appeared, Joohoon protected Yoohee and Suin, while Jaemin guarded Do young ’s side.

 

And in the end, Do young  swept away the Creatures with his illusion magic.

 

“They’re all just illusions, but the Creatures perceive them as real. If I create a pit of flames, they can actually end up scorched. That’s how much the mind controls the body.”

 

Buoyed by his successive displays of prowess, Do young  strutted along as he boasted.

 

There was no denying that his mana was extraordinary.

 

Unless they were Creatures possessing highly developed minds, like elves, his illusions would probably work on them regardless of their type or compatibility.

 

“But I think it’s about time I got some Guiding.”

 

Do young  stopped walking.

 

His gaze locked onto Yoohee.