Requiem Of A Failed Hero



"Hyung!! Hyungnim!!!"

"Raith!! Damned cockroach!!"

All of a sudden the voice and. cheering of two individuals suddenly stood out such that the rest of the crowd had to look around.

'Those bastards, embarrassing me like this.' Raith almost popped a cord in his jaw, gritting his teeth and thinking of what he was going to do to them when he got back from this gate. He had no idea what this gate was but was very sure, this was not going to be his death place.

It's a pity Absalom couldn't be allowed with him no matter what because of his nationality as a Japanese hunter. Although his stay in Korea was permitted, he wasn't a citizen as long as he responded to Japan's needs and calls.

Raith stood in front of the big gate.

"It really is big..." He mumbled, craving his head to see how far high the gate went.

"Are you ready?" Mok Jae-Hwa walked to his side, fully equipped with his sword hung on his back, shining and well-crafted vambraces, breastplate, knee guards, shoulder guards, and boots.

"Are you sure you don't at least need a helmet?" Mok Jae-Hwa pressed the question to Raith as the others gathered around them.

Raith nodded and looked at his black ring. The black ring dematerialized into smoke that soon covered Raith's face materializing a helmet on his head. All of them were gobsmacked and definitely found it very cool.

A helmet like burning darkness.

"Ah, roll call time."

"Come on hyung! It's not like you don't know that all of us are here already, why do you always do this anytime we enter a gate together."

"Shut up Shin, this is for formalities sake and one cannot be too sure so shut up and corporate."

"Hai hai" The young hunter lazily.

"Shin!"

"Why do you have to start with me when I just answered you."

"Yujin"

"Right here bossu."

"Chong-Yol"

"Shin-Hye..."

Everybody turned their eyeball to glance at where she was standing without making it too obvious.

'Ga Yun"

"Is it me or has Shin-Hye Noona been awfully gentle since we got here..." Shin mumbled to Yeon-Woo who responded lifting his hand as Jae-Hwa called his name.

He looked up and looked around, "Right, now that you mention it..."

"Guys..."

Everyone got silent as Jae-Hwa spoke. The atmosphere immediately became tense.

"We are really going to raid an S rank gate huh," Sung Min said, looking at the gate with his radiant big eyes that brimmed with all the good expectations that one could have– even his demeanor showed that he was an incredible and optimistic person.

fuuuuu

Mok Jae-Hwa exhaled and walked into the gate leading the others straight into it.

Like a flip of scenery, a landscape stretched out before their eyes, a vast expanse of dry, golden grasses waving gently in the wind.

The plain before them was vast, with rolling hills and high valleys that broke up the monotony of the flat land. The valleys were shrouded in dense woods, their canopies a mix of vibrant greens and earthy browns, creating a stark contrast against the muted tones of the plain.

The sky above them had a brilliant blue color, unmarred by clouds, and it seemed to stretch on forever, giving the impression of endless possibilities. The sun shone down with intensity, casting shadows that danced across the plain, adding depth to the landscape. Small animals could be seen scurrying about, to seek shelter in the tall grasses or darting between the trees in the valleys.

Birds chirped merrily overhead, their wings painted with vibrant hues, contrasting beautifully against the blue sky. The plain was a delicate balance of serenity and wildness, a place where nature thrived in all its glory.

"It's hard to call this place a gate, I don't know why." Yujin was the first person to break the silence. All of them were indeed awed by the beauty that this S-rank gate offered to them.

The dryness of the plain was evident, with the occasionally cracked earth and withered vegetation. Yet, the sight of the blue sky above seemed to breathe life into the landscape, infusing it with a sense of hope and resilience.

"Kind of thing that makes you wanna build a farmhouse and just settle down with your family." Sung Min said, taking in the vibe of the place.

"Araa, Oppa, do you want to settle down here?" Yujin immediately asked, clinging to his arm.

"I was kidding, who'd want to settle down in a gate full of monsters."

"Well, I don't mind where it is as long as I get to be with you." She replied blushing away.

Ga-Yun irritatedly looked at her and shook her head, "I can't with you Yujin, this is why I don't recommend love for feeble girls." She stated, glancing at Shin-Hye.

"Why do you have to say feeble girls, you are just being careful so your words don't affect Shin-Hye noona," Shin pointed out carelessly not caring about the effect, and Ga-Yun in turn desperately wished that Shin-Hye does not reply.

But like an answered prayer, Shin-Hye paid no attention to her and instead seemed like she was spaced out. Of all of them, she was another one of them that wasn't wearing protective gear, she was donned in a black colored tracksuit, the only noticeable difference was that all her accessories such as necklaces and rings had been taken out and she was wearing on her back– what looked like a guitar bag.

As the group traveled down the plain led by hunter Mok Jae-Hwa, they joked and played around with each other, the atmosphere of the Rain Guild was indeed a lively one.

...

"Ah... it's been like thirty minutes since we have been walking and we have not encountered a single monster." Yeon-Woo said, closing the book he was reading for the first time since they entered the gate.

All of them stopped. Yeon-Woo was right, he had his eyes on the book all the while yet he was the most observant of them all.

'Come to think of it... I didn't receive any message from the abyss when I entered the gate too...' Raith carefully scanned his surroundings but there was nothing noteworthy.

However, a sense of familiarity rushed him, the scenery was not something that anyone would have noticed because it was the same grass, and the same hills and there was no outstanding sign that they would have used in recognizing a checkpoint. But it was different with Raith who had [Metavision] Yes, all the sight he wasn't paying attention to as they walked had been taken into his brain and as he paid attention for the first time, he could realize without anyone telling them.

"We have been walking in circles."