TGIC Ch 5

Chapter 5

Upon arriving at the Gate, I wrote my name on the guide roster and changed into the temporary combat uniform designated for guides.

I put on a tight-fitting black underlayer made from monster hide, then donned a vest coated with minerals quarried from within the Gate. The pants were military-grade trousers crafted from coarse, steel-like monster fur, which scraped coldly against my skin.

As expected of a guide-only outfit, the ensemble was far simpler than the gear worn for actual entry into a Gate. Just the top, bottom, and vest—no complex weapons setup or crushing weight. If that’s all it takes, this should be a piece of cake.

I slipped into the uniform in an instant and watched the others still fumbling with theirs, when I accidentally locked eyes with my senior, who looked somewhat displeased.

“Rookie, have you been to a Gate before?”

Ah.

Noticing the suspicious look in his eyes, I realized my mistake too late. Today was supposed to be my first Gate deployment, so this should have been my first time putting on the combat gear. Yet, I had put it on so naturally that of course it would seem strange.

I quickly came up with a response.

“I learned how to wear it beforehand.”

“Well… yeah. I guess with all the video training available these days…”

He still looked doubtful, but he let it go.

Things I used to do without a second thought now seemed to raise unnecessary suspicion. I made a mental note to be more careful from now on and quietly let out a sigh of relief.

As I rested in the waiting area, a few Espers came by asking for guiding. I briefly pressed against them for contact guiding, but once they had all entered the Gate, even that task disappeared. Looking around, everyone was either dozing off or fiddling with their smartphones.

Ah, I never once imagined I could work this comfortably in a Gate. Even with a monster-infested Gate right in front of me, I felt completely at ease. The waiting room, set up in a simple tent, might have been a little rough, but compared to the inside of a Gate, it was heaven.

To shake off the fatigue, I decided to close my eyes for a while. But before long, noise and commotion snapped me out of my nap.

Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I looked around to see a group of guides huddled at the tent entrance.

“What’s going on?”

“Something’s happened outside. Doesn’t look like a Gate rampage, though…”

I knew that if the Gate had gone berserk, the ground would be shaking like crazy, so it definitely wasn’t that. Wondering what all the fuss was about despite there being no apparent Gate malfunction, I peeked outside the tent with the other guides.

A crowd had gathered near the Gate’s entrance. At the center of it all was a strange lump of ice.

Narrowing my eyes, I muttered under my breath.

“That ice… seems familiar somehow…”

Vasily was also an ice-type Esper. But there are plenty of ice-element Espers, so I dismissed it as just a feeling and shook my head.

Just then, cracks began forming in the ice.

“It’s breaking free! Request backup, now!”

The ice suddenly shattered into pieces, and something black and massive burst out. As the surrounding Espers quickly backed away, its full form was finally revealed.

“A monster?”

My face twisted into a grimace when I saw what it was.

Glowing red eyes flashing ominously. Its shape resembled a dog, but it was larger than a horse and far too grotesque to be called cute. Its black hide gleamed as it reflected the setting sun.

“What the hell… Did a monster break loose?”

The guides around me, who were also peeking outside, began murmuring in fear.

“Tough luck, rookie. First day on the job and you’re already seeing monsters.”

“Yeah, no kidding…”

I nodded awkwardly. I’d thought I wouldn’t have to see a repulsive monster’s face again for a while.

The monster looked around, seemingly testing the Espers as it gauged them. Then its eyes locked onto mine. Its red pupils glinted menacingly as it found its prey. The moment our eyes met, my body stiffened involuntarily.

It’s fine. It’ll be fine.

I forced myself to stay calm and quickly analyzed the situation.

The monster was surrounded by Espers who stood ready. As long as no one did anything stupid, like turning their back on it, it probably wouldn’t charge in this direction.

“S-Someone help…!”

“Wait! Don’t run!”

One frightened guide couldn’t take it and bolted. I called out in a rush, but he didn’t even pretend to hear.

If there was one thing I learned while tagging along with Vasily through the Gates, it was this: “Never show your back to a monster.” Like most predators, monsters tend to go after the person who looks weakest. Of course, knowing that doesn’t mean it’s easy to stay put.

The sight of the fleeing guide excited the monster, and it sprang past the Espers, charging straight toward us. Damn it! The curse slipped from my lips. There wasn’t a single Esper nearby—if that monster got to us, best-case scenario, half survive. Worst case? Total massacre.

“I-It’s coming this way! Run!”

“Aaargh!”

As the monster charged in our direction, everyone scrambled in panic, fleeing the tent and screaming in terror. It was my turn to choose now. The monster was heading right for us—I had to either run or pray it chased someone else while I stood my ground.

But it didn’t look like I had a choice anymore.

“Why the hell is it coming for me?!”

The other guide was the one who turned his back first, yet the monster was charging straight toward me. It was coming faster than I had expected, and at this point, trying to run was pointless.

Damn it, damn it!

It was too late to escape. Now that I was its target, I had to hold out somehow until the monster’s attention returned to the Espers. They were rushing over, but I was sure that its claws would reach me long before they did.

I cursed under my breath and quickly scanned my surroundings. Right next to me was a stash of spare weapons left behind by the Espers.

A spear—that’s not a weapon I’m used to, but it’s better than nothing.

I hastily grabbed it, but the weapon was long and heavy, making it hard to aim properly. I barely managed to point it forward, but I wasn’t sure I could block the monster’s attack.

If it were the old me, I could have swung it with ease. I should have kept up with training even after the regression.

Cursing my poor choices, I fixed my eyes on the fast-approaching monster. I’d barely escaped that bastard’s grip by dying—was this really happening again? Still, I wasn’t about to give up.

I’d spent years going in and out of Gates. No way I was going to die so easily to some second-rate monster.

“Kreeeagh!”

The monster let out a screeching roar and leaped at me. Fine, this much was within expectations. As it lunged with jaws wide open, I thrust the spear into its mouth.

Thwack!

“Gah!”

I managed to block the monster with the spear, but my arm nearly snapped in the process. Thankfully, I didn’t let go of the weapon, though I was pushed back and fell to the ground. The spear barely grazed its side and embedded into the earth.

“Damn it, how strong is this—Ah.”

And in that moment, as I looked up, I wanted to deny the reality before my eyes.

A gaping maw stretched wide in rage, lined with razor-sharp teeth that looked like they’d tear flesh apart in a second. A feeble spear wedged like a toothpick between them, barely holding the beast back, and massive claws swiping furiously right in front of my face.

With each thrash of the monster, the spear drove deeper into the ground, and the gap between its claws and my face shrank.

Were the Espers here yet? It sounded chaotic around me, but with my eyes locked straight ahead, I couldn’t turn to check.

Then it happened—the spear began to bend.

“Ah.”

So this is how I die.

I shut my eyes tightly. The moment I accepted death, Vasily’s face suddenly came to mind.

He had pushed me into the Gates, but at least when I was in danger, he would save me. Even if it came with harsh words afterward…

Of all the people to think of at the end, it had to be Vasily—not family, but him. What a joke.

Thump.

Just then, with a dull thud, the violently shaking spear went still. Something warm and sticky splashed across my face.

“Ugh—! Cough! Guh!”

Some unknown liquid had gotten into my mouth and nose, and I spat it out in a panic. But it had already gotten into my mouth, flooding it with a revolting taste.

It was the most disgusting thing I’d ever tasted in my life. Gagging, I wiped the liquid from my face.

I barely managed to open my eyes and assess the situation.

The monster now lay limp, its head pierced by a massive ice spear. That ferocious charge from earlier felt like a lie.

Black monster blood dripped steadily down the frozen lance.

Where to? Onto my face.