TGIC Ch 119

Chapter 119

Vasily smiled faintly and nodded.

“That’s right. Guide Kwon Gidam will be entering as well.”

Though he answered without revealing any tremor of unease, the anticipation in his eyes was unmistakable. Really… entering the Gate? And with a guide, no less?

Only then did the peculiar clause Gidam had slipped into the contract make sense. He had insisted on adding a provision refusing to enter the Gate—now Vasily understood why.

Indeed, bringing Gidam, who had only just emerged from a comatose state yesterday, into the Gate carried some risk. Moreover, this Gate was of a relatively high rank.

But if he showed any signs of strain, he could rest; if danger arose, Vasily could protect him. Could an S-rank Esper fail to safeguard his single guide within a B-rank Gate?

Vasily left Gidam among the Espers and quietly approached the site manager.

“Send all Espers back.”

“Planning to tackle it alone?”

“No. Not alone—I’ll enter with my guide.”

“Excuse me? Your… guide?”

The manager was utterly flustered. Blinking in disbelief, his face drained of color.

“That’s far too dangerous…! Entering a Gate with a guide…!”

Indeed, this was the natural reaction to a guide entering the Gate. Yet the guide himself, Gidam, remained composed—perhaps slightly tense—but meticulously inspecting his equipment as if he had faced such situations countless times.

Recalling Gidam’s previous feats, it was highly likely he had even faced monsters before. Vasily had no intention of sharing such thrilling spectacles with anyone else.

How could a guide, devoid of any special abilities, confront monsters? Vasily’s heart pounded at the mere thought of leading Gidam into the Gate immediately.

He watched the site manager issue a retraction order to the Espers via radio. Soon, murmurs of confusion spread among them.

“Esper Vasily! What do you mean, entering the Gate with your guide?!”

One of the Espers, who had received the retraction order, approached angrily. Vasily recognized him—likely someone encountered during the last rampage.

“Do you take issue with my decision?”

“Guide Kwon Gidam collapsed trying to stop your rampage. And now you intend to bring him into the Gate as well?!”

“Then will you follow us inside? Of course, you won’t come back out again.”

“…”

The Esper dared not reply, sealing his lips tightly.

Pathetic. Vasily’s gaze, sharp and unflinching, swept over him. A familiar round head pushed into the scene—Gidam himself had apparently grown impatient watching from afar and stepped forward.

“Esper Vasily, I’m ready.”

“Shall we proceed?”

Vasily’s demeanor softened into a bright smile, a stark contrast to the earlier interaction with the Espers.

As Gidam moved forward, he cast a glance back at the remaining Espers. Perhaps he worried he might inadvertently harm them. Concern for others had always been part of him, just as it was now.

“So… what happened? Everyone’s been unsettled for a while…”

“I figured other Espers might get in the way, so I decided only you and I would enter the Gate together.”

Gidam’s expression darkened noticeably. It seemed as though he was disheartened at having to enter the Gate alone with Vasily, though Vasily dismissed it as a mere misunderstanding.

Together, they approached the Gate. Amid the astonished gazes of the Association staff and Espers, Vasily and Gidam entered side by side. Beyond the entrance, the space shifted, and an immediate silence fell.

This Gate led into a dark cave. The damp, cool air seeped into their skin.

It was the first time Vasily had entered a Gate accompanied by a guide…

With Gidam cautiously surveying the surroundings, Vasily too felt the strangeness of the situation. Unlike previous expeditions cluttered with unnecessary burdens, he now had someone beside him he could not afford to let be harmed.

Rushing through the Gate at his usual pace would exhaust Gidam. Unsure of the appropriate speed for the expedition, he decided to proceed slowly.

“Guide Kwon Gidam, yesterday it seemed your memory was incomplete. Are you feeling alright now?”

Gidam paused. Vasily waited expectantly, curious what answer might emerge from that small mind.

“…I seem to have forgotten recent memories.”

“I see.”

Vasily sighed, outwardly expressing sympathy, yet beneath it lay a faint disappointment that Gidam had decided to conceal his true state.

He clearly had no intention of telling the truth. Vasily adjusted his question.

“Do you remember your rank?”

“S-rank.”

Gidam replied instantly, as if he retained at least that much memory. Vasily’s lips curved into a barely concealed smile.

S-rank… Yes, an S-rank guide…

He had anticipated B-rank or higher, but not S-rank. Then again, he should have expected nothing less from his own guide.

“And our matching rate?”

“Ninety-one percent.”

“You remember well.”

Vasily, pretending to test Gidam’s memory, satisfied his curiosity with each answer. With no reason to lie, all of Gidam’s statements must be true. Though the official matching rate test was unnecessary, Vasily wished to witness the figure with his own eyes.

A guide with a ninety-one percent match—capable even of enduring Vasily’s unique aura.

A smile spread across his face, impossible to suppress. Ah, if only he had known sooner, he would not have sent Guide Kwon Gidam away in that manner.

He would have blindfolded him to prevent any distractions, tied him close, and claimed him exclusively. That way, they could remain together for life.

But it was not too late. From now on, he could keep him by his side.

From minor meetings to Gate expeditions, Vasily intended to include him in every activity. No more casual conversations or unnecessary bonding with others.

As he envisioned this perfect future, a monster appeared before them.

A mass of black, crawling, oozing creatures crowded the passageway. Vasily’s expression, however, was far from pleased.

“Hm…”

The pace was slow enough for Gidam to handle, but if the monsters’ fluids touched him, he could be seriously injured. With many monsters present and Gidam’s abilities unknown, pushing him forward recklessly was unwise.

There was no other choice.

Vasily froze the creatures in an instant. Ice spread across the floor, engulfing the monsters before solidifying. The sounds that had filled the cave vanished, leaving a profound silence.

Vasily gazed indifferently at the frozen corpses before turning to check Gidam. He stood calmly, observing the fallen monsters without fleeing or panicking. Walking past the bodies, he remained composed.

Ah, Vasily could hardly wait to see Gidam in combat.

Yet the monsters blocking their path continued to be dismissed one by one for various reasons. Too large, too strong… some too grotesque for Gidam to engage.

Each creature fell to Vasily, failing his criteria. Finally, an appropriate target appeared.

A juvenile Basilisk. Slightly larger than an adult human, its venom weak, essentially no more dangerous than an ordinary snake. Gidam could handle this.

The creature had witnessed two adult Basilisks fall in an instant to Vasily, and thus hesitated to attack.

Generously, Vasily addressed Gidam.

“That one is for you, Guide Kwon Gidam.”

“Understood.”

Gidam finally drew his weapon.

A medium-length greatsword—neither too long nor too short. Initially, Vasily had thought he used a spear, but perhaps this was his preferred weapon. He made a mental note to observe Gidam’s combat style carefully.

Ssshh!

As Gidam approached, the Basilisk raised its head, wary.

“Be careful not to get bitten. Even though it’s young and its venom weak, if it succeeds, you’ll be bedridden for another month.”

“I know, ugh! I know!”

Gidam answered, narrowly avoiding the tail whipping at his side.

Given his nature, Vasily expected a cautious approach, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Instead, Gidam lifted the sword and thrust it straight into the Basilisk’s mouth.

Thwack. The blade pierced its flesh, driving through its neck. Gidam swung the sword, cleaving its head in two.

Quite brutal, for a child Basilisk.

The young Basilisk’s body split in half, meeting a grisly end. Vasily checked the limp corpses before turning to Gidam, who was sprawled on the ground.

“Hah… what, ugh…! This pathetic body…!”

Exhausted after only a few swings, Gidam stared in disbelief at his own lamentable stamina.