Month 9 Day 2 Year 709.
When Aracelli rose from her slumber, the world had turned upside down. She woke up in Vivienda, where science and machines didn’t exist at all. Everything was united under magic, and the truth of all things in heaven and earth could be explained from a magical point of view.
“Are you awake?” With her back leaned on the wall, with white wallpaper and sunlight illuminating her face, Empress Sahar asked the struggling Aracelli, while looking up from the book she was reading.
“Ah…” Aracelli slowly removed the blanket and moved her feet to the floor. At that moment, neatly designed slippers wrapped around her feet.
“This place is a hospital. The system is running with magic, not science, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
“…everything has returned to normal.”
She put strength on her feet and forced herself to walk towards the window. Looking at the world beyond the window, Stellar Horizon, which covered half of the sky, was no longer there. On top of it, the existence of aircraft, as well as the drones which made both the clouds and the earth scream, couldn’t be seen.
The city of machines, which didn’t have any other color besides gray, disappeared, replaced by magnificent magic towers that shine in five colors. On the street, children who aspired to be wizards ran with laughter plastered on their faces while holding on to a broomstick on their hand. Meanwhile, on the roof of the building, wizards enjoying their sweet relaxing time on top of their carpet could be seen.
“That is so. It is recorded that 10 years ago, on the 31th day of month 12 in year 699, the leader of the Science Revolutionary Army, Partellian, was killed by the Archmage Elaim, who is said to be the successor of Aracelli Rinekal.”
“What happened to that wizard named Elaim?”
“That… I don’t know.” Empress Sahar closed the book in her hands.
“After that day, she completely disappeared. Just like the hero of the past, Aracelli Rinekal. She may be dead, or she may be wandering somewhere. Who knows…”
“Ah…” Somehow, it felt weird to hear people say that the Archmage Elaim was her successor.
“She left after solving many of the problems the magical society had to solve. In order to root out the reason behind the science revolution that started from the magical knowledge gap between the rich and the poor, she shared all her knowledge about magic with society so that anyone could learn her magic. Compared to the knowledge of the Archmage Aracelli and Elaim, the familial magic owned by all the long-standing families was nothing. So a huge social change occurred.”
Shortly after Elaim spread her knowledge to the public, those who held high positions simply because they came from good families were stripped. And the Vivienda Magic Association were willing to hire anyone talented regardless of their background since Arcmage Elaim herself was someone from a commoner background. Thus, the concept of nobility itself completely disappeared.
Now, anyone can learn and use magic, and anyone can make their dreams come true by putting enough effort.
“I wanted to meet the person who is called my successor…”
“We can’t help it.. But, who knows? Maybe someday, we’ll get a chance to meet her.”
“I hope so.”
Having said that, Aracelli suddenly remembered Yoo Seodam.
“…What happened to Professor? Did he return safely to this timeline?”
Empress Sahar’s hand stopped turning the page of the history book at that moment. She sighed, closed her history book, and stared blankly out her window.
“He didn’t return to this timeline. His presence suddenly disappeared immediately after the world line changed.”
“…”
When Aracelli closed her eyes and focused, she realized that Empress Sahar’s words were true. Anytime, anywhere, if Yoo Seodam was in the same dimension as her, she would always be able to feel his presence, even if the time period was different.
However, for some reason, Yoo Seodam’s existence was currently so far away.
“I think he has returned to his home world.”
“If he really returned safely and is still alive… that alone gives me peace of mind.”
“That’s right…”
But for some reason, Aracelli didn’t feel relieved at all. On the contrary, she felt that something ominous was brewing. After all, even at this moment, his presence was still getting farther and farther away.
‘Just why….’
Aracelli bit her lips as the unknown sense of uneasiness that she had never felt before washed over her.
*
In a huge artificial island in the Pacific Ocean, stood the ‘Hell Gate World Research Center’. It was said that tens of billions of dollars were invested every year in that very place, whose only function was to observe and study Hell Gate. However, no government nor organization had ever voiced their objection, even though they had to pay that outrageous sum every year. It was due to the fact that every single one of them were perfectly aware that their life could really be over when Hell Gate starts running rampant.
An unknown territory that humans cannot conquer.
Is Hell Gate really a dungeon? Or is it a Gate? Or is it another unobserved natural phenomenon?
Since human beings still had no clues about ‘dimensional science’ yet, scientists predicted that it would take at least 100 years for them to complete their research on it.
So people of Earth waited patiently for the day scientists could conquer all the anomalies that occur in the Hell Gate dimension and finally reveal the identity of the Hell Gate itself.
However, Hell Gate did not wait for them.
-Breaking news from Busan! The Busan Tower had collapsed! S Rank Hunter Kim Kwang-wook and 17 other superhumans died!
-139 civilians went missing due to an anomaly that occurred in the state of Texas. According to the American Anomaly Research Institute, the phenomenon is related to ‘Hell Gate’…
-New Murim League has yet again resolved another anomaly phenomenon. However, as the frequency of the occurrence increases day by day, concerns are increasing among the civilians.
-The International Supernatural Phenomenon Association has announced their official position, ‘We will find out about the anomaly as soon as possible’.
Unexpected phenomena began to occur all over the world. This anomaly– completely different from normal dungeons, gates, and cracks–was characterized by the disappearance of the damaged area.
When everyone across the globe was grasped by the fear of thosr strange anomaly, the situation spiralled even more when otherworlders with power of SS rank or higher begun to terrorize people all over the places.
– It turns out that the otherworlders that terrorised Earth came from ‘Hell Gate’.
-According to the words of Dr. Lacanthal, an otherworlder belonging to the Another League Guild, the otherworlders from Hell Gate is a higher species of humans, and so far, there are no found weaknesses.
-If you find a ‘Gray Human’, please report it immediately.
Gray Human.
It was a name bestowed by the humans for the pseudo-humans which come from Hell Gate. Each of those individuals had at least SS rank level stats, so there’s only been a few cases of successfully killing it so far.
However, since their numbers were still low, there was no major damage thanks to the systematic movement of the Hunters… but people were aware that if this phenomenon continues, there will be no safe place on Earth. Therefore, concerns were spreading.
In the headquarters of the New Murim League, Seol Jungyeon was having a meeting with the head of the “Federal Anomaly Safety Committee” of the United States who came to visit her.
“…so, in other words, you want me to just stay in America without going anywhere else, right?”
“That’s right. For the time being, I hope you will do your best to keep America safe as much as possible. Of course, we will compensate you plenty.”
The Federal Anomaly Safety Committee was a separate organization from the International Supernatural Phenomenon Association. Their sole purpose was the safety of the United States. No matter what happened in other places on Earth, the safety of the United States was their only concern.
Before the Hell Gate phenomenon occurred, their movement was rare. It was due to the fact that there was no danger which threatened the well-being of the United States. Therefore, they were pretty obscured from the light. But when the organization was first established 20 years ago, the United States was criticized severely by the rest of the world.
“I’m speechless.”
When Seol Jungyeon swept her platinum hair behind her shoulder, the chairman of the Federal Anomaly Safety Committee swallowed his saliva and looked down to the floor. She was more seductive than anyone else in the world. However, the chairman didn’t have the guts to even try to seduce her, as at the same time, she was also the most frightening entity in the whole world.
The only superhuman with the strength of SSS rank in the whole world. If only he could tie her to only working for America, the damage America will suffer will decrease exponentially.
“Do you know who I am moving for?”
“Yes. I know that you have a close relationship with Another League Guild.”
“And you still say those words to me knowing that?”
The chairman nodded her head.
“We are aware that they have reorganized your martial arts and provided your group a place to live. But we promise to give you even more than that. Once this situation ends, we will create a city for your group. On a real, gigantic piece of land, not in sub-dimension like this. We will also provide you some financial aid. If you have any desire in the political world, you could also do that….”
“You are wrong.”
“Pardon?” The chairman tilted his head.
Then, the woman across from him stared straight into his eyes, making him quickly stare at the ground. Because her gaze was completely different from her gaze from before.
“The reason I have a close relationship with Another League is not because they have given me so much.”
“Then, then…”
When the chairman asked the reason, Seol Jungyeon kept her silence. After all, it’s not like she could tell people her reason.
“From now on, I will continue to work not only in the United States but also around the world, and that fact will never end, so please go back.”
“I understand.”
When the chairman left the room, Seol Jungyeon leaned back on the chair and let out a long deep sigh. The chairman she just talked with was already the seventeenth person who came to her. They all asked her to use her powers for themselves.
Amongst them was China and various other conglomerates from all over the world. They all promised her the same; a huge sum of money plus more rewards. That fact made her realize just how grave the situation was.
People were afraid. It was because of the Hell Gate. To be precise, the destruction caused by Hell Gate.
“I just don’t know how the world is going to be…”
However, after a moment of worry, when the light passing through the window went out and the light on her monitor came on, she turned her gaze to it. From the anomalies occurring around the world to the appearance of the Gray Human, everything was being briefed on her monitor in real time.
Standing up from her seat, Seol Jungyeon grabbed her sword. Once she made her mind over something, she will not break that oath until the very end.
‘I’m not entirely working for the world, though.’
But only to protect the ones she loves.
*
Russia, Vladivostok.
Alexandre Blestash, the head of the Blestash family who specialized in light-type power, invited Taylor Blestash for a talk. Taylor, who normally wouldn’t have returned to Russia, decided to accept his invitation because in the handwritten message her father wrote, there was a passage which said, ‘I have something I want to say to you, so please come back.’
Although the relationship between them was by no means good, in the end, Taylor was a human who could easily be moved by family ties.
“What is it?” Taylor asked curtly.
“Taylor, I know you are well aware of the recent phenomena. And since you belong to the Another League, you might even have more intelligence than us.”
“Well, that’s right.” Taylor responded half-heartedly as she twisted her straight hair that mimicked the hairstyle of the female lead in the movie ‘Leon 3’.
The reason why she responded like that was because the place where she was invited to was not Bleshtash mansion, but a restaurant in the downtown area. If she had been told to come home, she might have returned by plane.
Aleksandr Blestash spoke slowly in a low-pitched voice.
“You know, this time it’s different. The world is too dangerous for you to be active any longer. Return to the family now. It’s okay if you don’t show up and just play and eat. I just want you to be quiet and be protected by the knights of our family at home.”
“Ah really….” Taylor snorted at her father’s words. But Alexandre just continued his speech.
“I can’t deny that Another League is a great guild. Afterall, it’s a guild which has become the most famous guild on Earth. However, I judged that our family will be safer at our mansion rather than anywhere else. Therefore, Taylor Blestash, please, can’t you come back to your family?”
“…”
It’s the first time Taylor had ever heard Alexandre make such a request. But Taylor’s heart did not waver.
“Hm… If you’re worried about me like that, why don’t you just lead the whole family into the Another League?”
“That…”
“Of course, I know you can’t.”
The dialogue itself was not established in the first place. Both Alexander and Taylor knew that from the beginning.
However, both of them were not bothered by it in the slightest. They were satisfied with it.
“…Yes, if that is your will, then please remain there.” Alexandre got up first, and said while he passed right beside Taylor. “I just want you to know that this father cares about your safety.”
After saying that, the head of the Blestash family left the restaurant. Leaving Taylor alone fiddling with the steak in front of her with a fork.
“He left without even eating it.” Taylor grunted and put down the fork. Because even if she knew she would die tomorrow, she would never eat alone in a restaurant.
After leaving the restaurant, Taylor fastened her coat and took in a few breaths. The weather wasn’t particularly cold, but somehow, she felt incredibly lonely.
Wooooooonggg-!!
A squadron of fighter planes passed through the sky. It was not the first time today. It was proof that something strange had happened again somewhere. The current Earth was not as peaceful as before. Therefore, the street was deserted and no one came out from their house. Food from stores and shopping stores had long since been out, either bought in bulk, or stolen. There were more and more people on the internet saying they would teach anyone how to build a shelter, and the overall atmosphere of society was changing.
Nevertheless, Taylor remained in the Another League.
“Where the hell did that motherfucker disappear to? And why in the world did he still haven’t returned……”
Because the most reliable person whom she cherished a lot was there.
Tiring!
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As she was walking down the street, her phone rang. When she looked at it, it was a text message notification.
[Sender: Yoo Seodam]
After confirming the sender, Taylor’s expression brightened. However, after checking the contents, her complexion gradually worsened.
“This bastard… What is he thinking?”