WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Ceaseless

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ I Became the Gate Summoner Hunters Obsess Over ◈

Chapter 11: Explored a Gate. Was Despised.

──────

Immediately after Team Leader Myo handed over command authority.

The first thing Kang Yul said to Team Leader Myo was neither an explanation of entering the Gate nor the skills he would use during the exploration.

It was something even more important.

"From now on, Team Leader Myo, you need to protect me with everything you have."

Kang Yul's own safety.

'If I die, none of this will matter anyway.'

It was the mindset of a deeply individualistic Hunter, someone who would do anything to survive.

The problem was that the person who heard it had the same mindset.

And Team Leader Myo was a veteran Hunter who had reached a position far beyond anything Kang Yul could compare to.

So now...

"...."

It was only natural that Team Leader Myo silently glared at Kang Yul after hearing that.

From the perspective of someone who had been through everything, it must have seemed laughably presumptuous.

'That glare is terrifying....'

Still, Kang Yul tried not to show it.

A capable underground Hunter like Kang Yul needed to be shameless enough not to back down over something like this.

Of course, Kang Yul had no intention of spending a lifetime locked in a battle of wills with Team Leader Myo, who was currently cursing him with her eyes.

Kang Yul's goal was not merely to have the record of illegal transactions covered up.

'Since we're involved now, I should at least try to turn this into a good connection.'

It might have been greedy, but Kang Yul decided that if he was going to do this, he might as well do it properly.

Team Leader Myo represented one of Seoul's autonomous districts as a Hunter.

If Kang Yul could somehow build a good relationship with her, there would be far more to gain than lose throughout his life as a Hunter.

Mostly things like a route for secretly selling unregistered Gate byproducts.

'Selling to the Friendly Merchant is convenient, but the trading volume is too limited.'

Once a day, Kang Yul could put compensation into the wooden box and make a wish, and it would produce whatever he wanted up to that value.

The problem was that the wooden box was too small, and it was only efficient to put in high-value byproducts.

Kang Yul had not yet found a valuable mineral vein or gemstones like that.

'So if I can establish a sales route through this opportunity...'

Kang Yul's Gate exploration could become dramatically faster in the future.

Perhaps he could even find a way out of the cave.

That was why Kang Yul needed to somehow form a good connection with Team Leader Myo, despite her venomous glare.

So here...

Ding!

[You have discovered the Spore Colony Forest (Entrance).]

[Exploration Rate has increased.]

[Some information about the Gate has been revealed.]

───────────

[Gate Compendium] - [Spore Colony Forest]

- A forest transformed into something dreamlike by the mana of the Spore Colony.

───────────

As they approached the mountain, Kang Yul looked at the notification window and thought that solving Team Leader Myo's concerns would be a better way to build a connection than a hundred nice words.

"From now on, I'll begin exploring. Please watch, Team Leader Myo, and save me if it looks dangerous."

Without waiting for an answer, Kang Yul passed her and walked into the dreamlike forest that seemed to be the entrance to the quarantine zone.

A capable underground Hunter like Kang Yul needed to be a little rude.

'She is following, right...?'

Despite acting that way, Kang Yul was still a coward at heart and worried that she might not follow.

Step.

'Th-thank goodness....'

Hearing the sound of her footsteps as she followed silently behind him, Kang Yul relaxed inwardly and entered deeper into the forest.

Thus began Kang Yul and Team Leader Myo's strange exploration of the Suraksan Gate.

#####

Erosion Quarantine Zone, Suraksan.

The official name given by the Gate Compendium was Spore Colony Forest.

True to its description as a forest dreamily transformed by the Spore Colony's mana, the deeper they went, the more surreal and disconnected from reality the forest became.

'It looks like something out of a fairy tale.'

Kang Yul examined the forest while walking along the trail.

Moss-covered trees tinged green created a dreamlike atmosphere.

Around those green trees grew colorful plants and mushrooms unlike anything Kang Yul had ever seen.

Flowers resembling butterflies, flowers resembling ants, mushrooms resembling cats, mushrooms resembling snakes, and mushrooms that vaguely resembled human figures...

The fairy tale-like forest continued on, and Kang Yul walked farther inward along the trail.

'Is there anything that could raise the Exploration Rate...?'

Kang Yul wandered through the forest under Team Leader Myo's protection, looking for something that could increase the Exploration Rate.

Then, the moment a new type of mushroom caught his eye...

Ding!

[Exploration Rate has increased.]

"!"

The familiar sound rang beside Kang Yul's ear.

Upon approaching for a closer look, Kang Yul saw a grotesque mushroom that looked as though countless human eyeballs had grown clustered together, completely out of place in this forest.

'So that's the Spore Colony.'

Kang Yul had heard that it looked like human eyeballs, but seeing it in person was even more realistic than expected.

Human eyeballs formed the mushroom caps, while optic nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and other connected strands seemed to serve as the stems.

In short, it was extremely grotesque and disgusting.

'Someone actually thought of researching this....'

Despite its appearance, it was said to be a key ingredient in tranquilizers and held high market value.

Kang Yul could not help admiring the stomach of the researcher who had first begun studying the Spore Colony.

Anyway, after briefly checking the surroundings, Kang Yul moved close enough to inspect the Spore Colony in detail.

'Ugh, disgusting.'

It was fortunate that Kang Yul had built up some resistance after seeing all kinds of supernatural gore images on Hunter Gallery.

Otherwise, it might have been impossible to control his expression, and he might have thrown up by now.

Kang Yul had to play the part of a rude but capable underground Hunter. Leaving such a pathetic impression could make Team Leader Myo suspicious in many ways.

Besides...

'I almost got caught mixing coal and dirt into milk.'

Kang Yul had scooped up dirt like cereal before leaving that morning.

If he had thrown it up, Team Leader Myo might have seen Kang Yul as some nonhuman thing in disguise and sent him off to a "laboratory."

'I have to watch every little action. This is seriously stressful....'

Still, what else could Kang Yul do?

To cover up a criminal record and secure a new trade route, he had no choice but to suffer for now.

Kang Yul stared silently at the Spore Colony, wanting to finish quickly and return home.

But...

'?'

Strangely, the Spore Colony gave no response at all.

'That's odd... Shouldn't I be able to see what it's thinking, like I did with Worm, after staring at it this long?'

Kang Yul opened the status window and checked the skill.

Ding!

[Skill]: Gate Compendium

You can check brief information on observed Gates.

The higher a Gate's Exploration Rate becomes, the more detailed information you can check.

※ If your Class is Gate Summoner, you can check the ﹝Special Characteristics﹞ of living beings encountered within a Gate.

'Nothing has changed, though?'

Then Kang Yul should have been able to see the ﹝Special Characteristics﹞ of an encountered living being, just as with Worm.

Yet no matter how long he stared, the Spore Colony's ﹝Special Characteristics﹞ did not appear.

'Does it not work on plants?'

To check, Kang Yul used the skill on nearby trees, flowers, and mushrooms.

Then...

﹝Special Characteristics﹞

: It wants sunlight.

﹝Special Characteristics﹞

: It feels slightly thirsty.

﹝Special Characteristics﹞

: It lacks nutrients.

The skill activated perfectly, as though there were no problem with it.

So it did not seem to be because they were plants.

'Why would it only not work on the Spore Colony...?'

For a while, Kang Yul crouched near the Spore Colony and thought about the conditions of the skill.

Why would other plants work, while the Spore Colony was not a valid target?

Then suddenly...

'Hm? Wait. Now that I think about it....'

As Kang Yul looked over the skill window's description, something unnatural came to mind.

Ding!

[Exploration Rate has increased.]

"?"

'...When I found the Spore Colony earlier, didn't the notification only say that the Exploration Rate had increased?'

Thinking back, that was right.

When Kang Yul found the forest entrance, the skill had even kindly written "(Entrance)."

But when Kang Yul discovered the Spore Colony that formed the basis of the forest, it only displayed a notification saying the Exploration Rate had increased?

Something about that felt unnatural.

'The Exploration Rate rose, but the notification was brief... and it is not a ﹝Special Characteristics﹞ target either... Ah, could it be?'

Kang Yul examined the skill window once more.

Then he formed a hypothesis as to why the Spore Colony was not a skill target.

※ If your Class is Gate Summoner, you can check the ﹝Special Characteristics﹞ of living beings encountered within a Gate.

What if the Spore Colony before him was not the main body, but merely a piece that had broken off from it?

Discovering a living "piece" would increase the Exploration Rate.

But since it was only a separated "piece" with no self-awareness, perhaps the skill did not activate?

And at that moment...

Ding!

[You have discovered a Spore Drone.]

[Exploration Rate has increased.]

[Some information about the Gate has been revealed.]

───────────

[Gate Compendium] - [Spore Colony Forest]

- A forest transformed into something dreamlike by the mana of the Spore Colony.

- Somewhere in the forest, a 'Consciousness Individual' that spreads Spore Drones is hiding.

───────────

As though the hypothesis had been correct, the Exploration Rate rose and a new notification window appeared with additional information.

'A Consciousness Individual?'

That was probably the source eroding Suraksan.

Judging by how it spread Spore Drones while hiding its main body somewhere in the forest, it did not seem particularly unintelligent.

The fact that it had even attempted to evolve toward causing confusion rather than proliferating, after the Association's continuing management made it difficult to expand its territory, proved it.

'How am I supposed to find it...?'

Kang Yul had heard that supernatural life forms like that were cunning and difficult to find if they truly intended to hide.

Even a rude but capable underground Hunter like Kang Yul, or at least the act Kang Yul was putting on, found it to be a difficult case and pondered deeply for a while.

"This is a special potion that removes spores from the body."

Suddenly, Team Leader Myo, who had been quietly watching, approached and offered a bottle filled with liquid.

"Why is this...?"

"When exposed to spores, people tend to remain in one place for an extended period."

"Ah."

It seemed she had mistaken Kang Yul's thought process for spore exposure.

Kang Yul was about to explain that it was not that, that he had not yet been exposed to spores.

"I'm fine..."

"Also, those exposed to spores tend to feel compelled to put nearby objects into their mouths. So stop eating dirt and drink the potion."

"What? What are you talking about...?"

But Kang Yul could not continue.

By this point, something felt strange even to Kang Yul.

'...Marshmallow flavor?'

Only then did Kang Yul notice the sweet, chewy, fluffy taste spreading through his mouth.

And in one hand was dirt that appeared to be the source of that sweetness.

That was when Kang Yul realized.

'Of all times, my habit from when I finish mining and take a break...!'

While pondering how to find the Spore Colony, Kang Yul had unconsciously begun scooping up and eating the surrounding dirt, a terrible habit that had slipped out.

It was only natural that Team Leader Myo would think that way after seeing such a pathetic sight.

"Do I need to feed it to you?"

﹝Special Characteristics﹞

: She is wary of you.

: She despises you.

"...Team Leader Myo. I think we need to have a conversation."

The ability to see the ﹝Special Characteristics﹞ of living beings encountered in a Gate.

It worked on people too?

Kang Yul had gained knowledge, but somehow felt less human in return.

######

As Team Leader Myo looked at Kang Yul with contempt, Kang Yul explained the whole situation as plausibly as possible.

Suspicious, but understandable to some extent.

"I'm really fine. I just have a habit of eating dirt when I concentrate."

"Dirt?"

"Yes. It is difficult to explain the details, but I will say only that it is related to the Class I awakened to."

It was not a complete lie.

Kang Yul had received that ability from Worm after awakening as a Gate Summoner.

It was only like drawing stripes on a melon and insisting it was a watermelon, so it was practically a harmless lie.

For some time...

"...."

﹝Special Characteristics﹞

: She is wary of you.

: She doubts your words.

Kang Yul had to persuade her for quite a while that he was truly fine, despite having absentmindedly removed his mask and begun eating dirt.

"But even if we accept the dirt, how will you explain being exposed to spores?"

"That is because my stomach is strong enough to chew minerals. My stomach acid dissolved all the spores."

"Then eat one."

"...Excuse me?"

"I will believe you if you eat the mushroom raw."

As the conversation dragged on, Kang Yul ended up having to chew and eat a mushroom to prove he would be fine even if exposed to spores.

Having come this far, it was awkward to back out, so Kang Yul eventually picked up a Spore Drone and thought:

'Worm, I trust you...!'

Mushrooms were plants that grew in mountains too.

So if Kang Yul had learned "how to eat a mountain" from Worm, this should be no problem.

No, it had to be fine. Otherwise, I would die!

"If something happens, I will immediately use the potion to flush your stomach, so you need not worry."

"Ah. All right."

...Well, so she said.

Anyway, after briefly hesitating, Kang Yul brought the eyeball-like mushroom in hand to his mouth and bit down.

Crunch.

'Ugh... That texture....'

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

'...Huh? It's actually pretty good. It tastes good too.'

Kang Yul looked at the mushroom in hand.

The appearance was enough to make anyone throw up, but it was unexpectedly chewy and crunchy, with a faint sweetness, like expensive squid.

'It would probably be fine if I ate it with my eyes closed, or seasoned and stir-fried it.'

Kang Yul seriously considered that, then chewed and swallowed the entire mushroom.

"...."

﹝Special Characteristics﹞

: She is extremely wary of you!!!

: She despises you immensely!!!

: She does not want you to come near her!!!

Team Leader Myo, who had watched the whole thing, began looking at Kang Yul as though he was the most revolting supernatural life form in the world.

'But you were the one who told me to do it....'

Kang Yul could not dare argue.

If I approached carelessly, Team Leader Myo might really fold me in half.

Still, in the end...

Ding!

[You have consumed a Spore Drone.]

[Exploration Rate has increased.]

[Some information about the Gate has been revealed.]

───────────

[Gate Compendium] - [Spore Colony Forest]

- A forest transformed into something dreamlike by the mana of the Spore Colony.

- Somewhere in the forest, a 'Consciousness Individual' that spreads Spore Drones is hiding.

- There is an area in the forest hidden by an illusion barrier.

───────────

...Kang Yul had obtained a clue about where the Consciousness Individual might be hiding.

'Ah, I want to go home and mine with Worm....'

Worm, are you doing well? I miss you so much today.

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