Returnee’s Life Report

[I was supposed to upload 5-8 today rip, but I spent a few hours processing some back-end stuff related to this series instead. A few minor terms were changed, and we have already replaced the translator and editor. Since we are burning through the stockpile, there won’t be any delays on the front end outside of today. The current quality according to our in-house metric is around 5.5/10. The new team will be at least a 7-8/10. The better quality chapters will reflect once we upload the stockpiled chapters. As an apology for the inconvenience here are 2 free chapters.]

1. 1. Two-way Gate (1)

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Even after everything, Lee Hwan and his PMC members were not affected by it. They were now in an A-rated gate, known as the ‘Forest of Grizzly’.

A woman was rushing towards the monster. She murmured, “[ Acceleration ].”

Yoo Ee-Na was much faster than the monster now; it was eight meters high, and Ee-Na reached it in less than a second. She then used a dagger to slice the monster. [ Skill, “Weapon Change” activated. ]

Instead of a dagger, she was now holding a pistol, with which she shot the monster in both eyes. The Grizzly, an A-rated monster that looked like a giant bear, lost its sight.

Growl!

With a groan, the Grizzly rushed at her.

Yoo Ee-Na used her skill again and changed her weapon to a dagger. She then stabbed the monster.

Then, she noticed that the bear was counter-attacking. She dodged it and activated more skills.

[ Skill ‘Enhance Strength’ activated. ]

[ Skill ‘Acrobatics’ activated. ]

With buffed muscles, Ee-Na could respond to the attack. She was already on the Grizzly’s head. She then used her skill to quickly summon her other weapon.

[ Your ‘Weapon Change’ skill is now A-rated. ]

After inserting aura into the bullet, Ee-Na pulled the trigger. It literally smashed the Grizzly’s head. Yoo Ee-Na landed safely while the Grizzly’s dead body collapsed.

Now she could hunt A-rated monsters comfortably. Considering that she was just a B-rated hunter, this was huge progress.

Lee Hwan clapped.

“Now your skills are satisfactory.”

Ee-Na smiled. If Hwan said so, then that was it.

She was now A-rated.

Hwan then told her, “As I mentioned before, I’ll only teach you how to use the aura. You must develop your own style through experience.”

In response, she nodded. Then Hwan asked, “Are you satisfied with your level now?“

‘…No.’

Lee Hwan could tell from her eyes.

“Good. Just think of becoming stronger. You should be able to use your skill every time. Get what I mean?”

“Yes, boss.”

Hwan smiled awkwardly. He couldn’t get used to the word ‘boss’; it sounded awkward when she said it.

That was when the forest started shaking. The trees were falling; it seemed that the boss monster was coming.

Yoo Ee-Na turned her head. “It must be the Grizzly King.”

“Do you want to hunt that one?” Ee-Na laughed.

That meant yes.

She was about to charge when a bullet flew at the Grizzly King. It was faster than Ee-Na. The Grizzly King’s head exploded. Soon, a portal formed.

“…”

Ee-Na blinked.

A woman was coming from behind them. It was Yoo-Jeong, the sniper. She was holding a sniping rifle that was larger than her.

“I was about to hunt that!”

“Well, too bad.”

Yoo Ee-Na frowned. Meanwhile, Yoo-Jeong smiled and came up next to Hwan.

“I always thank you for your favor.”

“I haven’t done anything.”

“You are here to take care of us.”

Hwan shrugged. It was not the wrong answer.

Although, he’d also wanted to check whether the two of them could clear the A-rated gate by themselves.

According to Sophie, it was a highly ranked A-rated gate.

Formal D-rated and B-rated hunters cleared them together. The two of them were growing rapidly.

Yoo-Jeong then asked Hwan, “What do you think about the message from the system?”

She meant the war between the Angel Lord and Devil Lord. Ee-Na also was curious about it. Hwan, however, thought of it differently. He was not a fool. He knew that the war between the Angels and Demons was the origin of everything.

“Let’s think that right now is before the change.”

The two women listened carefully.

“When I first went to Valhalla, I was afraid. I had never seen such things as aura and dragons before. In the beginning, I was just an ordinary person. That was why I had to work hard to become stronger.”

There was silence at the gate.

“What if a dragon invaded the Earth?”

Before the change, they did not know how to use aura. In contrast, other worlds learned how to use it and had formed their own cultures.

“If one dragon came to Earth, that would cause a lot of change. Modern weapons? Even with a nuclear weapon, it’s useless. They’ve got teleport skills to dodge. Even Tiamat could become the ruler of this world.”

While people from the Earth were focusing on technology, other worlds were focusing on using aura. That was the only difference.

The system was helping people from the Earth get acclimated with aura.

However, even Hwan didn’t know who made the system. It was like the dragon’s way, but quite different.

“Lee Hwan, can’t you find the origin of the gate? Or the administrator of the system, I suppose?”

Hwan shook his head.

“It’s difficult, even for me.”

“Does that mean the administrator of the system is stronger than you?”

Lee Hwan laughed out loud. “I’d have to meet him to know for sure, but that’s not possible.”

Hwan really was strong. He had never lost in Valhalla. That was why everyone praised him and was afraid of him.

Yet, even Hwan couldn’t trace the system. That meant that they were sophisticated enough to hide their trace from him.

The worst threats were those that could not be seen.

The fact that strong people could hide and appear whenever they wished was a major threat.

The system was using that method. In fact, it was covering the entire Earth. Someone had just inserted the system and left the place.

“If the change occurred because of the war between the Angels and the Devil…”

“What do we do?”

“We have to wait for them to come.”

Yoo Ee-Na and Kim Yoo-Jeong both sighed. They expected a better answer. But Hwan meant it.

“Whatever its purpose is, the system did help us. There must be a reason for it. Since we have been clued, we should observe and wait.”

“…What if it leads to the Earth’s doom?”

That was their main concern.

No one wanted to die. Everyone fought so that they could survive. That’s how they had come this far. If Hwan had not been there, a lot of people would have died. And it was all just the tutorial. Would the Earth be safe?

However, Lee Hwan asked as if he was not sure. “Can that happen?”

“…Huh?”

He then stood up and stepped toward Yoo-Jeong. He then whispered, “As long as I’m here, the Earth is safe. What you said is impossible. So…”

“So?”

“Want to have a drink with me?”

Yoo-Jeong sighed. This man was too confident. But that’s why Yoo-Jeong liked him. So she smiled as well.

“Only a drink?”

“We’ll see.”

Ee-Na, observing them, frowned.

They were at it again. Ee-Na sighed.

***

A danger that cannot be seen is especially dangerous.

The gate could be seen. They’d also had Sophie measure the power of it. But why had the world changed? And why was the gate appearing more frequently?

The war system mentioned was a threat that could not be seen by others. Nothing had happened after Tiamat’s death. Two days had passed. But Ho knew that he needed to do more.

Some thought it was just a minor issue, but Ho could not think of it that way. He was responsible for this situation.

The system had said that the tutorial had ended.

Then, was all that tutorial? All these messes were just the tutorial?

Ho was outraged.

The change was already a disaster. It had changed every human’s life.

It had also caused chaos around the world. The conflict between ordinary people and awakeners, Shilla and the Godfather were all examples of it.

In the past, the collapse of the Twin Towers in the United States was widely known as a representative case of terrorism. But now that has changed.

The largest terror attack had caused Eiffel Tower to collapse.

If it hadn’t been for the change, the world would have been better. Then why was all this happening?

Lee Ho had discussed this with Hwan. One thing was clear. The change had allowed people from Earth to sense aura and utilize it. But why had it done so?

Was the system a credible ally? Or was it a dreadful enemy?

Whatever the system was, it would cause problems. So all hunters had to be united to fix them. It was no use to think alone.

Ho checked the time. It was near lunchtime. He then sent a message.

b Brother, you got some time? }

The reply came immediately.

b Why? }

‘How should I reply?’ Ho wondered. But he managed to reply quickly.

b Let’s have lunch together. }

b You need my advice? }

b …How did you know? }

b Look at your mirror. I can sense your emotion through your face. }

Yesterday, Hwan had asked whether Ho was okay. Ho said he was fine, but Hwan hadn’t believed it.

Lee Ho sighed and typed another message.

b So you got the time?}

The reply came soon.

b LOL. Come back home. I’ll cook you some food. }