DEB 137

Since stopping right at the Gate was illegal, they parked farther out and walked the rest of the way. 

Before them shimmered a Gate, pulsing with an ominous, nauseating light. 

Two figures stood guard before it. 

Both wore tight, all-black clothing with high collars covering their jaws. 

Their first impression was anything but friendly.

Just from appearances, they could have been mistaken for assassination specialists.

“Those must be the Bureau mercenaries, huh?”

“My God. Black from head to toe. They look just like Moot.”

Vita and Verita leaned toward each other, whispering that if they resembled Moot, it was a bad omen, they’d drawn a poor hand with this team. 

Huiyun silently offered a wordless apology to the absent Moot and glanced at Vina. 

“Vina, do all the Bureau mercenaries look like this.”

Vina only shrugged.

“I don’t know much about Bureau mercenaries. This whole Contaminated Gate situation is unusual. Normally, they stick to their own teams or work solo. You rarely meet them on missions. Besides, I wasn’t exactly diligent as a mercenary myself.”

“That sounds about right.”

“Unless it’s a serious threat, other mercenaries usually take care of it. Why should I bother?”

Cold, but true. 

Huiyun himself would have done the same. 

Reality wasn’t a hero story where someone always appeared at the brink of disaster. 

More often than not, letting those in danger fend for themselves was the best way for them to grow stronger. 

That had been his philosophy as Yasha as well.

The thought made him rub the back of his neck, seeing his disciples sometimes was like staring into a mirror.

As they drew near, Huiyun smoothed his expression and stepped a pace behind. 

His identity wasn’t widely known yet, so walking ahead of Vina, an S-rank, would only raise suspicion.

“Are you with the Bureau?”

Vina approached first, voice low. 

The two figures gave Huiyun’s party a quick once-over before nodding. 

As expected, they were taciturn.

“First time meeting you. I’m Kwon Jiwook, Guildmaster of Blue Flame.”

Huiyun hadn’t heard that name in a long while. 

He was so used to calling Vina by his past name that it sounded almost foreign.

The mercenaries’ eyes then shifted to Huiyun, silently probing. 

Huiyun inclined his head. 

“Mercenary ‘Yun,’ Bureau-affiliated.”

Mercenaries didn’t need to use their real names. 

Codenames were common; even Ash and Moot used their past names. 

Of course, hiding his real name hardly mattered, anyone curious could dig it up online, thanks to Huigang’s fame. 

Still, he went through the motions.

The mercenaries nodded.

“I’m Verita. Technically affiliated with a temple.”

“…Vita.”

Their brief introductions done, the two mercenaries finally spoke.

“Ann.”

“Hee.”

The first voice was higher, likely female. 

The second, male. 

Their similar features hinted they might be siblings. 

Probably shortened forms of their real names, like Huiyun’s.

“For smoother cooperation, let’s share our abilities. You probably know mine already, but for clarity: I’m an ice-type Awakened, specialized in memory.”

“I’m holy-type. I can purify, heal, and enhance allies.”

“I’m combat-focused. Nothing else to brag about, but I’m good at it. I can also protect allies decently well.”

Listening to the introductions, Huiyun felt reassured he’d chosen the right trio to bring.

The mercenaries followed suit.

“…Terrain reading, trap disarming, and assassination.”

“Poison-type. Specializing in assassination, chaos battles, and one-on-one combat.”

Just as their appearance suggested: assassination specialists. 

Ann even handled traps, something rare and invaluable.

That’s a thief-type ability… rare indeed. Forming ties with them could pay off later.

Their group had always struggled with traps. 

Even Ash had once blundered into one in a previous Gate. 

Best not to take this one lightly.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Huiyun. 

Only then did he realize he hadn’t introduced himself.

What should I say?

Yasha’s true strength was Domination, but he couldn’t reveal that here. 

After a moment’s thought, he chose the role that would draw the least suspicion.

“Combat, mainly. But I can support in several ways, you won’t find me a burden.”

Ann and Hee exchanged a glance before turning toward the Gate.

“No point wasting time. These Gates only grow worse if left alone. Shall we head in? Any of you experienced a Contaminated Gate before?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

“Good. Neither have we.”

“…What?”

“Better that way. No one has to feel inferior if we’re all first-timers. Let’s go.”

With that bizarre reply, Hee and Ann placed their hands on the Gate and vanished. 

Huiyun blinked, then urged his disciples forward.

“Let’s move. If we fall behind, we may get separated.”

“Yes, Yasha.”

“And remember, inside, mind what you call each other.”

Thank goodness they’d rehearsed this. 

He felt confident they hadn’t given away their master-disciple bond.

A familiar sensation washed over him, like slipping between dimensions. 

When his vision cleared, a system window filled his sight.

***

[You have entered the Contaminated-class Gate: Bellian’s Fallen Castle.]

[Contaminated-class Gate: Bellian’s Fallen Castle]

Description: The castle once belonging to Bellian, a fallen noble of the Demon Realm, has rotted and collapsed under unknown contamination. Enter the castle to uncover Bellian’s identity, his past, and the source of the contamination.

Warning: At intervals, a “Wave of Contamination” will sweep the castle. After three waves, the castle will collapse completely, making escape nearly impossible. Clear the Gate’s conditions before then.

***

As Huiyun read, he wrinkled his nose. 

The air was sharp with demonic energy. 

Clearly, this was part of the Demon Realm. 

But something about the miasma felt… off. 

Sharper, as if the magic itself were afraid of something.

Could this, too, be linked to the Demon Realm’s schism?

Almost certainly. 

With the realm split between the conservatives backing the old Demon God and the reformists pushing a new one, contamination like this could be a symptom.

“Looks like no one was left behind. Shall we advance?” Hee asked.

Huiyun nodded. 

But the ground, blackened and dry as if rotted, suddenly writhed. 

Dead-looking black tree roots shot up, binding their ankles.

“Trying to die, are you…”

Before Huiyun could stop him, Vita drew his sword. 

Three swift strikes severed the roots, freeing them. 

Verita followed with a prayer, purifying the soil until the roots shrank back. 

To be sure, Vina froze them solid. 

The path lay clear.

The seamless teamwork made Ann and Hee blink in surprise.

“…Strange. I hear you’re all from different countries.”

Hee studied them slowly.

“Yet you move like a group that’s fought together for years. You must have trained long together.”

Fishing for information. 

But none of them answered. 

Smiling faintly, Hee turned toward the castle.

Long, huh…

Huiyun exhaled a wry chuckle.

If they knew we’d been together for ten thousand years and were still this clumsy, they’d probably faint.