"He's the butler of the Lion family."
"Then… that boy must be—"
"You're right… he's the young master of the Lion family."
The murmurs in the crowd grew, though every voice dropped to a cautious whisper. Still, no whisper could escape Jun Lion's ears.
"I think he's the eldest son."
"Huh…? Then he must be that useless son of the Lion family. What's he doing here? Don't tell me… he's going into the gate?"
"How would I know? But it sure looks like it."
Jun walked forward slowly, his expression calm, yet unreadable. The crowd's words were like buzzing flies around his ears—present, annoying, but ultimately meaningless.
"He's actually going in…"
"Won't he die in there?"
"Whether he lives or dies doesn't matter. I just want the gate cleared so we can get our turn."
"Don't worry, it'll be over soon. That good-for-nothing can't do much. Unless the butler, Vermin, helps out…"
Jun paused in front of the gate, then slowly turned his head, just slightly, and let out a cold chuckle. "Humans are so quick to believe rumors. Not once do they question whether what they hear is true. Pitiful creatures…"
Without warning, Jun's dark aura began to leak out—slowly at first, then like a bursting dam. The air grew dense, heavy. The wind itself seemed to choke.
"W-what is this…?!"
"Why… why can't I breathe…?!"
"My legs… I can't move them…!"
Their words were drowned out by pure fear. One by one, the onlookers fell to their knees, their bodies trembling, hearts pounding as if death itself were standing before them. Only Vermin stood unaffected.
"This aura… this pressure… It's like… he's a demon…"
Jun smirked. His eyes glinted like obsidian blades as he looked over the kneeling masses.
"I'll be going, Sir Vermin."
Vermin bowed deeply. But inwardly, his mind raced with thoughts and emotions.
(What happened to the young lord? What did Lord Shan say to him? He never left his room after Madam Shyomi died. He barely ate, never spoke, spent his days buried in silence and sorrow. I… I wanted to tell him to let go, to move on… to live the way Lady Shyomi would've wanted. But I couldn't. I simply prayed… begged the gods to heal his heart. Yet… nothing changed—until now. Whatever happened yesterday… it changed him. And for that, I'm grateful.)
A faint smile appeared on the old butler's face. "Good luck, Young Lord. I'll be waiting for your return."
"No need to worry," Jun said with a calm, deadly certainty. "It won't take long. It's just a low-rank gate, after all."
"I see… Then I suppose I'll make preparations for an early return home."
Jun gave a slight nod. "Very well. See you in a moment."
With that, he stepped into the gate. The swirling energy engulfed him, and the moment he disappeared, the suffocating pressure lifted. The people around gasped, like drowning men breaking the surface.
"He… he really went in alone…"
"Can he actually clear a C-rank gate by himself…?"
"You felt that pressure, didn't you? If he can produce that kind of aura, then… maybe he can do it."
"I thought I was going to die just standing next to him…"
"What a monster…"
Some people began to back away, but most stayed. Curiosity held them like a spell. They needed to see what happened next.
---
Inside the Gate
Jun appeared in a dense, murky forest. The sky overhead was tinged green. The air smelled like damp rot and iron.
"So… these are the monsters guarding this gate…"
Just then—
[Ding!]
[Gate Entry Confirmed — First-Time Bonus Activated]
[You have received two new skills:]
[Skill: Poison Resistance (?)
Description: No poison within this world or others can affect you.]
[Skill: Fear Resistance (?)
Description: In all twelve universes, no being but the God himself can make you tremble in fear.]
Jun raised an eyebrow. "Two new skills… Just like the sword and technique. Another question mark, too. What is the system hiding…?"
[Ding!]
[Gate Mission: Clear the C-Rank Dungeon]
[Task Details:
Giant Goblins – Rank D: (0/220)
Goblin King – Rank C: (0/1)]
Jun looked up—and there they were. A horde of giant goblins stood clustered in the clearing ahead. Over two hundred of them, their eyes glowing with hatred, crude weapons raised. And behind them, a towering figure loomed—easily three times the size of the others.
Jun grinned.
"So… it begins."
He reached into his system inventory and summoned his dagger.
The moment his hand wrapped around the hilt, the very air darkened.
Shadows twisted. The trees withered. The sky dimmed.
And then—Jun stepped forward.
"Let's begin. I want to test the power of this dagger. I want to see if you can even scream before you die…"
Darkness surged outward from him like a tidal wave.
The massacre had begun.
To be continued…