Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1108

Chapter 1108

The Great Magyeong Gate

A Great Magyeong Gate—an immense Magyeong Gate that manifests periodically.

It is not like a typical Magyeong Gate; its magnitude is vastly greater, and the quantity of demonic beasts that pour from it is incomparable.

An overpowering presence and a ceaseless tide of monsters.

Left unaddressed, the destruction would not be limited to the nearby territory but could endanger the whole zone.

Long ago, not long after the Blood Demon War concluded, a Great Magyeong Gate materialized. Because the reaction was insufficient, the Yoryeong area was turned into a wasteland.

But nowadays, the system for responding to demonic beasts is firmly in place, and since the emerging creatures are rated Green and Blue, the risk is fairly manageable.

A properly assembled Sword Division should be able to manage containment without excessive trouble.

“If the leader of a major clan were to intervene, they could manage it single-handedly.”

A martial artist of Hwagyeong rank or higher would have no trouble confronting a Great Magyeong Gate.

However—

“…If it’s a Red Great Magyeong Gate.”

That alters the situation completely.

“The scope becomes completely unlike any other.”

As the title implies, a Red Great Magyeong Gate means Red-level demonic beasts appear amid the regular horde of monsters.

The already enormous flood would surge out, and among them—Red-level beasts.

Not even a martial artist at the Haegyeong level could survive such an encounter.

The initial instance a Red Great Magyeong Gate emerged, it was the Heavenly Master himself who faced it.

Despite his extraordinary power, he had been unable to completely suppress it.

“And now it’s occurring here?”

Not just any Magyeong Gate—a Great Magyeong Gate.

And worse, it was Red grade.

It was shocking, to say the least.

“So this explains why the Namgung Clan asked the Martial Alliance for assistance.”

Now it was clear.

That part, at least, was logical.

But—

“Why did they dispatch only us?”

Given the gravity of the circumstances, it was irrational to send only our unit.

Particularly for an incident involving a Magyeong Gate.

“They should have deployed the Wind Dragon Division.”

The Wind Dragon Division handles research on demonic energies and formations. Considering the mission’s nature, it ought to have been given to them, not the Azure Dragon Division, which focuses on battle.

Or even the Flying Dragon Division.

And yet—

“They sent a squad composed mostly of new recruits.”

It was completely illogical.

“What is the Sword Master considering?”

Just as I was wrestling with the purpose of our deployment—

“Focus.”

“….”

I was pulled from my thoughts by the voice.

It was Soi, addressing me as I stood distracted.

“What are you doing, lost in thought in the middle of an operation?”

“…My apologies.”

“Remain alert.”

Having said that, Soi turned back toward the front, and I suppressed a sigh.

“Unbelievable.”

At that moment, we were ascending the mountain path designated by the Namgung Clan.

Guided by clansmen from Namgung, we were making our way up a harsh and difficult trail.

And the higher we went, the more apparent it became—

“This landscape is terrible.”

The Great Magyeong Gate was taking shape at the mountain’s peak, where the dimensional tear was preparing to form.

The positioning could not be worse.

“Such rough ground is ideal for the demonic beasts to hunt in, but makes it a living nightmare for us to engage in combat.”

Of all possible locations, why here?

The Namgung Clan had horrid luck.

I looked over at the group.

Those making the climb presently were Do Yun, Soi, my father, and myself.

Namgung Jin had stayed behind at the clan headquarters, along with Mi Horan and Hyun Soyeon.

My mother, naturally, had not accompanied us. I didn’t know where she was recuperating.

“Hmm.”

We continued upward for a long time without speaking.

Just climbing the mountain with nothing else to occupy us, aside from the growing urge to simply fly to the top.

Then—

“We’re here.”

One of our Namgung Clan guides spoke up.

“That is it.”

I followed his pointed finger and looked ahead.

“Hah.”

My eyes tightened.

It was exactly what I had dreaded.

“A Red Great Magyeong Gate.”

There it stood.

A Great Magyeong Gate—a colossal rift, nothing like a standard gate.

Even after reaching the summit, the fissure was so immense it resembled a hill itself.

And five chains, crimson like mist, encircled and bound the gate in a ring.

“…That means it will fully form in five days.”

Those chains would vanish one by one each day.

That was the pattern of a Red Great Magyeong Gate.

In five days, the gate would shatter completely.

The trouble was—

“…These people aren’t aware of that.”

That was the problem.

This was knowledge only someone who had seen a Red Great Magyeong Gate before would possess.

Currently, no one here knew.

Which meant—

“By the time the reconnaissance team reports and backup comes, it will already be too late.”

Five days would not be enough.

Reinforcements would arrive only after the gate had already burst open.

“…It truly is a Great Magyeong Gate… and it’s red.”

Soyu whispered as she moved closer to the gate.

The vivid red hue seemed to captivate her, and she stared at it, almost spellbound.

Then, abruptly, she reached out.

Her fingers were on the verge of touching the gate—

Thud!

My father seized Soi’s wrist.

“Move back.”

“A-Ah…! Forgive me.”

Soi withdrew at once, and my father studied the Magyeong Gate.

“What is this energy enveloping it?”

“We haven’t fully determined its nature yet, but compared to when it first appeared, the quantity has greatly diminished.”

“…The energy has reduced?”

“Yes.”

“Has there been any other activity?”

“None.”

“When was its initial appearance?”

“Less than a month ago.”

“….”

The instant I heard that, I knew.

“This is because of me, isn’t it?”

The gate had emerged at approximately the same time I arrived in this world.

As I examined the Magyeong Gate once more, Soi spoke.

“It’s a good thing it hasn’t opened yet… but from its condition, we can’t know when it will. If it does, we have no clue what will occur. We must ask for reinforcements.”

She was correct.

The moment a Red-level Magyeong Gate appears, it should warrant a full reinforcement response, not just a scouting party.

But—

“The Namgung Clan would not have desired that.”

Accepting help from the Martial Alliance to resolve this would have diminished the Namgung Clan’s status.

That was probably why Namgung Jeohwi, the clan leader, had only requested an assessment team.

“But what do we do now?”

The outlook was grimmer than anticipated.

At that moment—

“…The chains. They are fading.”

My father murmured while observing the Magyeong Gate.

“Do you know the pattern of their disappearance?”

“The guards monitoring it noted that… one vanishes each midnight.”

“One each midnight. Every day?”

“Yes.”

“…I understand.”

My father spoke with a composed demeanor.

“The Gate Will Open in Five Days.”

“This gate will most likely open in five days. If we report it now, it will be past the point for timely intervention.”

“…!”

Hearing this, my eyes opened wide.

He understood it that quickly?

Well, with the details about the disappearing chains and the overall context, it was a logical conclusion.

«Still.»

The assurance in his tone was striking.

“Five days…?”

Soi’s eyes widened as she absorbed the declaration.

“You are saying the Great Magyeong Gate will open in five days?”

“Almost certainly.”

“Then I will send a request for reinforcements immediately.”

“Sending it is the correct procedure, but it is already too late for it to be effective.”

If the gate was destined to break open in five days, reinforcements would not arrive in time.

“For now, we are returning.”

With that, my father turned around, indicating the investigation was over.

And just like that, we went back to the Namgung Clan’s estate.

**********

“…You are saying five days?”

The moment I delivered the report to the clan head, Namgung Jeohwi’s face grew tense.

“It is the current assessment.”
“…Hmm.”
“Naturally, since the Wind Dragon Division was not directly engaged, I cannot be absolutely certain.”

For an official verification, the Wind Dragon Division should have been involved, but since they were not, I included that qualification.

However,

“Five days, then.”

Namgung Jeohwi was already pondering deeply upon hearing the words.

“We have dispatched a formal inquiry to the Martial Alliance. Under normal circumstances, we would require several more days of observation, but if your prediction is accurate, we lack that luxury, so I have chosen to act preemptively.”
“Thank you. If the deputy’s words hold true, caution is necessary, so I appreciate your proactive stance.”
“Thank you for saying so. Also…”

After pausing briefly to order his thoughts, my father addressed Namgung Jeohwi again.

“If it is permissible, I would like to review the reports from your own internal investigation, to prepare for any potential complications. Would that be possible?”

The reports from the Namgung family’s own inquiry. Namgung Jeohwi’s expression tightened slightly at the request.

He seemed somewhat displeased at being asked for the main family’s internal documents.

“I will have them prepared for you by today.”
“Thank you.”

Namgung Jeohwi acquiesced.

Later, after we left the clan head’s office, my father spoke to us.

“There will be no further investigations or duties for today, so you should all take rest.”
“Understood.”
“Yes.”

After giving the instruction, he left on his own.

Soi, who had been observing, still looked concerned as she moved away.

“Baek, what are you going to do?”

Do Yun asked me.

“I’m not sure. What about you?”
“I…”

Do Yun glanced toward where my father had departed.

“…I believe I will rest for now.”

He said he would rest. I wasn’t entirely convinced.

“Alright. I think I’ll do some training for a while.”

I didn’t question him further.

Leaving Do Yun to his rest, I moved on.

Though I used training as a pretext, there was someone I needed to see.

I headed toward that person.

“…So, what brings you here…?”

A young man, softly pressing his fingers against his slightly bruised jaw, looked at me.

I stood before the awakened Namgung Hyung.