Chapter 2 — The Road to the Gate
Lucas Dilihavia walked down the narrow street toward the bus stop with his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
Morning traffic hummed around him. Cars passed, distant horns echoed, and the usual city noise buzzed like background static.
But Lucas wasn't paying attention to any of that.
He was thinking about food.
Specifically…
The breakfast he didn't finish.
His stomach growled quietly.
"…Damn it."
Lucas frowned slightly.
He hadn't even realized what he'd said until he was halfway down the stairs earlier.
Maybe if you studied less and ate more, maybe your chest would grow.
He rubbed his face.
"…Why did I say that?"
Sure, teasing Anya was a daily ritual. But that one had been especially suicidal.
And now he had paid the price.
No breakfast.
Just the smell of eggs and toast that had lingered in his memory like psychological torture.
His stomach growled again.
Lucas sighed.
When I get back…
He narrowed his eyes.
I'm disowning her.
Of course, that thought lasted about two seconds before he mentally shrugged.
He'd probably apologize later.
Anya would scream.
Sarah would mediate.
Then they'd eat dinner together like nothing happened.
That was just how their family worked.
Still…
His stomach growled again.
"…Yeah no, I'm definitely disowning her."
The bus stop came into view.
A small metal bench stood beneath a faded shelter roof. A few commuters waited there quietly.
And one of them was staring directly at him.
Lucas immediately looked the other way.
He pretended to focus on the street.
On the sky.
On literally anything except the person beside him.
Because he already knew who it was.
And sure enough—
A sigh came from his left.
A familiar voice followed.
"...Ignoring me?"
Lucas remained silent.
"How cruel of you," the voice continued, teasing.
Lucas finally turned his head slightly.
Standing beside him with her hands on her hips was Shinomiya Ayasia.
Childhood friend.
Twenty-three years old.
Bank employee.
And possibly the most painfully obvious person to ever have a crush on him.
She had long dark hair tied into a loose ponytail, sharp brown eyes, and a professional outfit that screamed competent adult.
Which made the situation even more awkward.
Because Lucas had known her since they were children.
She was staring at him expectantly.
Lucas sighed.
"…Morning."
Ayasia tilted her head.
"That's it?"
"What else do you want?"
Her lips twitched slightly.
"You didn't even greet me first."
Lucas shrugged.
"You were already looking at me."
"So?"
"So you already knew I was here."
Ayasia stared at him for a moment.
Then she sighed again and rubbed her temple.
"Lucas."
"What."
"…You're doing that thing again."
Lucas looked at her.
"What thing?"
"The thing where you pretend I'm not here so I don't say what you think I'm going to say."
Lucas looked away again.
"…I don't know what you're talking about."
Ayasia slowly turned toward him fully.
"Lucas."
Silence.
"…Lucas."
"…What?"
"Look at me."
Lucas sighed but finally turned.
Ayasia stepped closer.
"You're going to a dungeon raid today."
Lucas didn't respond.
Her eyes softened slightly.
"…An A Rank dungeon."
Still nothing.
She sighed quietly.
"I wasn't going to lecture you this time."
Lucas blinked.
"…You weren't?"
"No."
Lucas looked genuinely surprised.
Ayasia noticed immediately and crossed her arms.
"What, you think I'm that annoying?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"…Rude."
For a moment, they both stood there quietly.
Then Ayasia did something unexpected.
She reached out and gently grabbed his hand.
Lucas froze.
Her grip wasn't tight.
Just warm.
Steady.
"…Just come back alive," she said softly.
The teasing tone from earlier had completely disappeared.
Now her voice carried something else.
Worry.
Lucas looked at their hands for a second.
Then at her face.
Her expression was calm.
But her eyes betrayed her.
He could see the fear there.
She had watched the news.
Everyone knew dungeon raids could go wrong.
Especially high-rank ones.
Lucas didn't say anything dramatic.
He didn't promise anything heroic.
He simply nodded.
"…Yeah."
Ayasia released his hand slowly.
The bus arrived with a hiss of brakes.
Lucas stepped toward it.
Before boarding, he glanced back briefly.
Ayasia was still standing there.
Watching him.
Lucas gave a small wave.
Then he got on the bus.
---
The city slowly faded behind them as the bus traveled toward the mountains.
Hunters sat scattered across the seats.
Some talked loudly.
Others slept.
Weapons rested against seats and floors.
Lucas leaned his head against the window and watched the scenery change.
Buildings gave way to forests.
Roads became narrower.
Eventually…
The gate came into view.
Even from a distance, it was massive.
A swirling blue vortex floating between two rocky cliffs.
Temporary military structures surrounded the area.
Hunter guild trucks.
Medical tents.
Security checkpoints.
And people.
A lot of people.
Lucas stepped off the bus and stretched slightly.
At least one hundred and fifty hunters were already gathered near the gate.
Voices overlapped everywhere.
Guild banners fluttered in the wind.
Lucas adjusted his bag and walked toward the registration table.
An exhausted-looking staff member glanced at his hunter ID.
"E Rank?"
Lucas nodded.
"Carrier group," the man muttered.
He scribbled something on a clipboard.
"You'll be assisting A Rank Hunter Grancier Vale. Equipment transport."
Lucas nodded again.
"Understood."
The staff member handed him a tag.
Lucas clipped it to his bag and began walking toward the staging area.
That was when the shouting started.
A crowd had formed near the center of the camp.
Lucas paused.
A man in heavy armor—clearly an A Rank hunter—stood towering over another hunter.
The second man wore lighter gear.
His rank badge was clearly visible.
D Rank.
"…You think you're worthy to carry the Ice Saint's equipment?" the A Rank growled.
The D Rank man looked pale but defiant.
"I was just asking—"
The A Rank's boot slammed into his stomach.
The D Rank collapsed instantly.
"You insects should learn your place."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
Several hunters rushed forward to separate them.
"Enough!"
"Calm down!"
"This is before the raid!"
Lucas watched the scene quietly.
Completely uninterested.
His expression looked less like a young man witnessing a fight…
And more like an old grandfather watching children argue in a park.
Idiots.
Eventually the crowd dragged the A Rank away.
The D Rank was helped to his feet, coughing.
Lucas shrugged and continued walking.
He eventually stopped in front of a woman sitting casually on a crate.
She had short silver hair, athletic build, and a confident posture.
Her gear looked expensive.
Very expensive.
She looked up at him.
Her sharp green eyes scanned him from head to toe.
"…You're the carrier?"
Lucas nodded.
"Yes."
She snorted.
"An E Rank."
Lucas nodded again.
"Yes."
She stood up.
Even standing, she had a relaxed tomboyish aura.
Strong shoulders.
Lean muscles.
Pretty face with a mischievous edge.
This was A Rank Hunter Grancier Vale.
She crossed her arms.
"You know you're basically dirt, right?"
Lucas nodded.
"Yes."
"You're beneath me."
He nodded again.
"Yes."
She tilted her head.
"…You're not even going to argue?"
Lucas shrugged.
"No reason to."
Grancier stared at him for a moment.
Then suddenly—
She laughed.
A bright, amused laugh.
"Well damn."
She walked closer and poked his chest.
"I like you."
Lucas blinked.
"…Okay."
"When this raid is done," she continued casually, "I might hire you permanently."
Lucas nodded calmly.
"That would be appreciated."
She grinned.
"Smart guy."
Lucas didn't react much, but internally he was calculating.
A permanent contract with an A Rank hunter meant stable income.
Way better than random tips.
Even if the Ice Saint might give a larger one-time reward.
Still…
Consistency was better.
He imagined handing Sarah a thick stack of money.
Maybe she could quit those awful double shifts.
Doctors deserved sleep.
Lucas smiled slightly at the thought.
Then a sudden silence spread across the camp.
Hunters turned their heads.
A woman had stepped onto a large rock near the dungeon gate.
Tall.
Elegant.
White hair flowing behind her.
Cold blue eyes that seemed to pierce through the crowd.
Even standing still, her presence felt overwhelming.
The Ice Saint.
Elvanor August.
Her voice carried easily across the entire gathering.
"Hunters."
The crowd quieted immediately.
"We enter today knowing the risks."
Her tone was calm.
Controlled.
"An A Rank dungeon is never trivial."
Hunters nodded.
"But we are not ordinary people."
Her eyes swept across them.
"We are the ones who stand between humanity and extinction."
Her voice grew stronger.
"We fight so cities remain standing."
"We fight so children can grow old."
"We fight because someone must."
Energy spread through the crowd.
Motivation.
Pride.
Excitement.
Elvanor raised her hand.
"And today…"
Ice crystals formed briefly in the air around her fingers.
"…we win."
Cheers erupted.
Weapons lifted.
Hunter spirits ignited.
Even Grancier smirked.
"Damn," she muttered. "She's good."
Lucas simply adjusted his bag.
Then the order was given.
The raid began.
Hunters formed groups and began walking toward the swirling gate.
One by one, they stepped through the glowing vortex.
Lucas followed behind Grancier.
As he walked, he noticed something strange.
Grancier kept glancing back at him.
Studying him.
Finally she asked—
"…You're not impressed?"
Lucas blinked.
"With what?"
"The Ice Saint."
He shrugged.
"She seems competent."
Grancier stared at him.
Then laughed quietly.
"…You're weird."
Lucas simply stepped through the gate.
And disappeared into the dungeon.
The end.....