Two days later, Ji-Kai made his way to Busan via an economy-class bus—he didn't have much money, despite coming from a famously wealthy family. When he arrived, it was just past noon. The air was still cold, as February lingered, so he chose his outfit carefully: a thick hoodie with a large hood to keep warm and obscure his features, paired with a black mask to complete the disguise.
Here I am in Busan. According to the post, the gate is located somewhere in the old districts, inside an abandoned house. The problem is, I don't know the exact location. Even if I reach the old neighborhoods, the chance of finding multiple abandoned homes—none of which are the right one—is high. I'll need a sign, a clue, something to guide me to the right place.
Ji-Kai hailed a taxi and headed toward the old districts, where he began searching for the abandoned house that would host his first dungeon mission since returning through time. Fortunately, it didn't take long to find a lead. A man stood smoking beside a decrepit building. Ji-Kai approached, hoping this was the place.
« Password… » the man said without even lifting his head.
« Coconut on Mars, » Ji-Kai replied immediately.
« Alright. Follow me, » the man said, tossing the remainder of his cigarette to the ground and crushing it underfoot. He turned and entered the house.
The password—"Coconut on Mars"—hadn't been mentioned in the original post, obviously. But if you looked closely, you'd notice specific capital letters embedded in the reversed English text. Rearranged and restored to their proper form, they spelled out a coherent phrase. That phrase was the password, used to distinguish actual participants from random passersby.
The older-looking man led Ji-Kai down to the basement of the abandoned house, where five others were already waiting in silence—except for one who was noisily tapping away on his phone. The sound was irritating, though not loud.
« This is the sixth participant. One more and we'll meet the minimum. Then the gate raid begins, » the man said before leaving Ji-Kai with the others.
Ji-Kai scanned the group, trying to analyze each person. With the system, it would've been easy… if only I had theEye of the World.
That item was special. I could've obtained it once—if I'd completed a certain mission. But I lost it. Not because I didn't attempt the mission, but because I was betrayed before I could even begin. The item's description claimed it could open a status window for the target and even read fragments of their thoughts, provided they were weaker than me.
I remember wanting it back then for… ugh, it's embarrassing to admit. I just wanted to know what the accounting clerk was thinking. I had a crush on her. But now, things like that must stay far behind me. If I get the chance, I'll pursue the Eye of the World again. I need it more than ever.
Time passed, and Ji-Kai didn't speak to anyone. Some of the others chatted among themselves. They were all male—no women in sight. But one of them caught Ji-Kai's attention: slightly short, with soft features, especially the cheeks and eyes. Still, Ji-Kai didn't jump to conclusions. He'd seen people like that before—those born with frail bodies that barely changed over time. It struck him as odd. Why would someone like that risk their life in a monster dungeon? Even an E-rank gate could be deadly for someone like him. Ji-Kai began to suspect something.
Moments later, the basement door opened again. The smoking man returned, this time with a girl. She had a striking appearance—long hair tied back, with a few strands falling gently around her calm face. Physically, she was slender, and her outfit didn't hide it. Thankfully, there was at least a hint of modesty.
She's wearing ordinary clothes… and still looks like that? Strange.
The girl stood beside Ji-Kai, about half a meter away, saying nothing. Ji-Kai glanced at her briefly, then looked away, focusing on the man who would lead the raid—or the invasion, depending on preference. The terms meant the same, but people chose one over the other. Ji-Kai preferred "raid," but kept quiet.
The man approached a brick wall that had been in plain sight the whole time. Nothing seemed unusual about it—until he pressed a specific stone. The wall shifted like an automatic door, revealing the gate: a circular portal formed from rippling blue mana.
« Before we enter, remember this well: we take no responsibility for anything that happens to you. Each of you is accountable for yourselves. If someone dies inside, we won't care. It'll be as if they never came. Understood? » the older man said, his tone slightly agitated, as if nervous.
That's normal. In state-sanctioned raids, there are guarantees—social security, health coverage, even free treatment if something goes wrong. But in illegal raids, entering is a gamble. You either go in and die, or go in and come out alive. Everyone here knows that. No wonder some of them look ready to wet themselves. But maybe they're here for money. No one risks their life here unless life has already spat in their face.
Once everyone confirmed their readiness, the old man gestured toward the gate. The group began to move—some with steady steps, like Ji-Kai and the long-haired girl, others with hesitant ones. They passed through the gate and entered another world: a forest filled with towering trees, where light barely filtered through.
« Oh my god! I can barely see anything! »
« What kind of dungeon is this? Are we in a cave? »
« The smell here is unbearable! »
Goblin Forest. It's definitely Goblin Forest. But not the usual kind—this is the Silent Forest. The goblins here are different. Normally, goblins make noise—grunts, growls, or worse. But these types are always silent. Slightly more intelligent, too. And unlike the typical goblins with grassy green skin, these ones… adapt their color like lizards.
Ji-Kai scanned his surroundings. With a slight movement, he bumped into someone. Thanks to the dim light, he recognized the person—it was the soft-featured one from earlier.
« Sorry… » Ji-Kai said gently.
« No… it's fine. I wasn't paying attention either, » the young man replied nervously, avoiding Ji-Kai's eyes.
Then, without warning, Ji-Kai heard a sound from one of the bushes. He sensed it—but the arrow that pierced one participant's skull had already flown past. Instinctively, Ji-Kai shielded the soft-featured youth.
« They've found us! The goblins are here! » the old man shouted, urging everyone to flee.
YOU FAKEING IDIOT! shouting will only make it worse!
And it did. The old man rushed toward a bush, only to trip over a goblin hiding there. Within seconds, arrows tore through his head and body, killing him instantly.
« Damn it! Two are dead already! What do we do? » one shouted in panic.
« Are we surrounded? » another asked, as if it weren't obvious.
Goblins here can use bows and arrows easily. It's not common for their kind, but their accuracy depends on whether the target is stationary. They're not elves, after all. So we can counter them by moving unpredictably.
« Don't stand still! Move erratically—goblins here can't hit moving targets. If you have a blade or weapon, kill any goblin you find immediately. They hide in the bushes—they're shorter than normal goblins and can't climb trees. The raid ends and the gate closes when the boss is defeated. Just a reminder. Now move! » Ji-Kai shouted, giving detailed instructions despite not wanting to reveal his knowledge. But he did it anyway.
No one had time to argue. They followed his orders—moving quickly and unpredictably, attacking the bushes, killing goblins. They pushed deeper into the forest, and gradually, things became smoother. All thanks to Ji-Kai, who had taken on the role of guide.
And speaking of him—the long-haired girl noticed Ji-Kai was no longer among them. After slaying another goblin with cold precision, she scanned the area with sharp eyes.
« Where did the guy with the mask go? »