"You trying to joke around with me right now?""Joke? Come on, majority rule is one of the pillars of democracy.""Hah."Dojin swept his glare across the room, sizing up the other team leaders. Every single one of them was someone likely to side against him. Realizing that, he spun on his heel."If this goes south, you’re all taking responsibility.""Fair enough," Inho replied easily.Dojin stormed out, the heavy slam of the door leaving his anger vibrating through the walls."That temper, seriously," Inho muttered, chuckling under his breath as if used to it. Yunchae, too, seemed entirely unfazed. Only Raon let out a quiet breath of relief, pressing a hand to his chest."Thank you for stepping in, Team Leader Kwon. You as well, Team Leader Beom.""No need for formality," Yunchae said, waving a hand. "Just talk comfortably—we’re all team leaders here.""But still—""Yeah, what’s the difference between us?" Inho added with a grin."Haha… I’ll work on it."Their boisterous ease made Raon smile awkwardly. He wasn’t used to people being so straightforwardly open."Anyway, we should get moving. Save the chit-chat for after we’ve cleared the Gate," Yunchae said."Right, understood."The combat team leaders turned toward the direction Dojin had gone. Watching their retreating backs, Raon took a steadying breath and returned to his own team."Team Leader, what happened?" Juwon asked as soon as he spotted him.Raon faced his gathered team. "We’ll be entering the Gate soon. Everyone, get ready.""So soon?""Yes. It’s not an irregular Gate, but it’s a new type—and its energy waves are extremely unstable.""I see."Unease clouded Hamin’s face. Raon smiled and patted his shoulder."All we have to do is stay close behind the combat team. Keep formation and follow my lead.""Yes, Team Leader."The recent training seemed to have paid off; determination shone in the team’s eyes.If only we’d had a bit more time.He felt the regret, but there was no helping it now.Soon, all teams assembled before the Gate."On [XX date, 2042], we will commence subjugation of the Gate that appeared in Sector 7."Leaving a brief transmission on record, Dojin led the combat team through the swirling violet rift. The Gate pulsed once, swallowing the troops whole."Let’s move too.""Yes!"As the combat team disappeared inside, Raon’s guide team followed. The world around them twisted—then changed entirely."Wow…"An awed voice slipped out behind him—Dasom’s, unable to hold back her amazement at her first Gate."Stay alert. We don’t know what we’ll be facing.""S-sorry, Team Leader!"Raon nodded and scanned their surroundings with sharp eyes.Fortunately, the landscape was exactly as he remembered it from before the rewind—the same Gate he’d first entered and cleared as the so-called villain Han Raon.A thick mist veiled everything, so dense that shapes blurred beyond a few meters.At first, I thought this was just fog on an open plain…It wasn’t. The mist was mountain fog, the kind that gathered only at high altitudes.Shhhhk!"Everyone, down!""Ugh!"The sound of something slicing through air—Raon shouted instinctively. Almost at once came the noise of the combat team under attack up front."Don’t break formation!"Dojin’s composed command rang out as an Esper with wind ability tried to clear the mist, but it barely budged. The fog was too dense, too heavy."Team Leader, what do we do?""Hold position.""Yes."This Gate’s terrain was a cliff ridge shrouded in fog, visibility near zero. Following Raon’s order, the guides stayed crouched, keeping low."Skreee!""Ahh!"Massive shapes swooped overhead—monstrous birds, their wings whipping up blades of wind with every beat.We have to endure for now.At the entrance, the attacks were still probing, not yet ferocious. The creatures were testing their intruders’ strength.If they held their ground, they could pass this phase with minimal damage.Not that Raon could say that aloud—he wasn’t in command of the combat team."Attack!"Apparently unwilling to wait, Dojin snapped the order. He was still desperate to prove himself after the irregular Gate fiasco. Raon glanced toward him, uneasy.Thud!"Ugh.""You okay, Raon?""Yeah, I’m fine."Siwoo’s water barrier shielded the guide team. A monster’s strike crashed harmlessly against it, the creature shrieking in frustration. Regaining composure, Raon swept the misty horizon again.If memory served, once the cliffside creatures were driven off, a stone structure would appear farther ahead—the key to the next phase.I can’t tell them directly, but I can guide the route.In the previous Gate, he’d been able to act freely because only guides and escorts were present. This time, with the combat unit alongside them, he had to be careful."Esper Song Minjae, you can reach Nam Taegun telepathically, right?""Yes? Y-yes, I can, Team Leader."Radio signals were useless here—the interference was too strong. That was why he’d specifically brought in a mental-type Esper."Relay my instructions to Esper Nam through telepathy.""Understood."Since they were too far apart for direct speech, Raon had to send guidance through Minjae instead.But Minjae’s face soon paled."T-Team Leader…""What is it?""I sent the message, but… he’s not responding.""…What?"Raon frowned. No response?Was it the battle? No—the monsters’ assault wasn’t intense enough to justify radio silence.Then he’s ignoring it on purpose?Given Taegun’s temper, it was possible. He’d blown up just recently over Minjae joining the guide team. Raon let out a long sigh."Fine. Then we’ll just keep observing the combat unit’s situation.""Y-yes."Minjae nodded awkwardly. Raon refocused on the front line."Kraaah!"Boom!Far ahead, a bloom of fire split the mist—Yunchae’s handiwork. Blackened feathers rained from the sky. Raon couldn’t help but admire her precision.Thankfully, it didn’t take long to finish the fight. Once the creatures fell, the dense fog began to lift."Medics and guide team, move up!""Yes!"As the medics advanced to treat the wounded, Raon led the guides forward to begin stabilization."Starting guiding now."The guides moved efficiently, checking their wrist devices and tending to the Espers whose contamination levels spiked. Luckily, it was still early—few needed assistance."Team Leader Dojin, what’s your plan for proceeding?""Why are you asking me that?"When Raon approached and asked, Dojin turned a wary glare on him.Raon had hoped to steer their direction through Taegun, but with telepathy cut off, he had no choice but to speak directly. He pointed toward the clearing fog."Judging by the bird-type monsters, this isn’t a plain—it’s a mountaintop. Just ahead should be the cliff edge.""Hm."Dojin’s eyes followed the line of Raon’s finger. The drop wasn’t visible yet, but any seasoned Gate explorer could tell the terrain wasn’t flat."They attacked with the wind at their backs. That means their nests are on the leeward side. If we advance that way, we’ll minimize rear attacks."The direction he indicated ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) was exactly where the stone structure would appear. In the original run, not knowing that had led to aimless wandering—and needless casualties."One might think you’re the combat team leader, not the guide leader," Dojin said coldly."Just offering my opinion."Raon kept his voice even, though tension coiled in his gut. Would Dojin take the advice or not?After a pause, the other man’s brow smoothed slightly."Fine. We’ll head northeast.""…Good."Raon exhaled quietly in relief. Once the orders went out, Dojin turned and walked off.Still, Raon didn’t let his guard down. Watching him brief the others, Raon returned to his own team."Once guiding’s done, back to formation.""Yes, Team Leader. But, um…""Hm?""Do you hear something?""Something?"Hamin’s face was uneasy. Raon tilted his head."What sound—""Raon!""…!"A sharp cry—then the world dimmed. A vast, black shape blotted out the sky above them.

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