Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant

Chapter 105

The next day.

Reporters crowded the entrance of the Korean Hunter Association.

It was because of Suho’s article that had erupted the day before.

They had been waiting since morning to get even a single photo of Suho on his way to work, but sadly, due to the initial phase of the “Formless Sword,” they didn’t even notice when he passed right in front of them.

‘I apologize. Instead, I’ll give you even better news soon.’

As Suho moved towards the elevator and headed upstairs, he found Jung Chulmin, who had come in early, waiting at the entrance of the Gate Department.

“You’re here?”

“Oh, yes. Did you get some rest yesterday?”

“I went home as soon as I submitted my report and took a break. I left a little early just in case, but the office is quieter than I expected, isn’t it?”

“Honestly, there’s no reason for the office to be noisy. If there’s anything to stir up, it should come from the upper ranks. But you filed a report yesterday, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Well, if it’s still quiet, then I guess that’s that.”

It was exactly as he said.

Anything related to Suho—like clearing the Sealed Gate—might cause a stir outside, but there was no reason for internal commotion.

‘I’ve done this kind of thing more than once or twice.’

Of course, some people within the Association were certainly fans of Suho, but since they worked in the same place, they refrained from approaching him, knowing it would be disruptive.

As for everyone else, while they acknowledged that Suho had done something amazing, they simply treated it as a small bit of gossip.

So, it was usually reporters and outsiders who buzzed over Suho’s actions.

With a smile, Suho said, “More importantly, we’re starting the training with the Detection Department today, right?”

“Yes, we’ll be meeting the Head of the Detection Department soon and then get started with the evaluation. But it’s still early, so how about a coffee?”

“I’d love some morning barley tea. Shall we head to the backyard?”

“Sounds good.”

Within just a day, Jung Chulmin had grown friendlier and warmer in his demeanor towards Suho.

It was all because a secret had come to exist between them.

Feeling pleased that he had become closer to Jung Chulmin, Suho spent some time in the quiet backyard.

The backyard was peaceful.

Since it wasn’t necessary to pass through the front entrance, it was the perfect place to avoid people’s eyes. It had been their long-time hideaway even in Suho’s past life.

When work hours began, Suho and Jung Chulmin went to meet the Head of the Detection Department, Ma Duwon.

“I’m Ma Duwon. It’s an honor to meet the star of the hour.”

“Haha, thank you.”

“I heard about it. You went to the Management Department and then tackled the Valley of Iron?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It must have been quite dangerous, but I’m glad you made it out safely. With that in mind, the evaluation you’ll be doing with our Detection Department won’t be dangerous or anything like that. Have you heard a bit about it?”

“Yes, I’ve been briefed briefly.”

“That’s good. So, how about we have Team Leader Jung take care of the evaluation this time as well? We’ve been dealing with a sudden surge in mana recently, and we’re a bit short-handed.”

“Understood.”

This sort of thing was common among colleagues.

The work of the Detection Department and the Management Department wasn’t all that different, actually.

Ma Duwon checked the time and spoke.

“Let’s see… Are you planning to start right now?”

“Yes, that would be best.”

“Then go ahead. There are about five or six Gate spots set aside for the evaluation. Look over the report and pick one. They’re all at around 90% charge.”

“Yes, understood.”

After finishing their greetings, the two left the head’s office, and Suho spoke with a smile.

“This is nice. I get to work with you again, Team Leader.”

“Indeed. And just like during the Management Department evaluation, you get to choose where we go again, it seems.”

“Oh, are you giving me the choice?”

“I was planning to anyway. For evaluations like these, we usually have multiple candidate Gates selected.”

He knew this already.

But he feigned ignorance.

The two quickly moved to a quiet room and began examining the chosen Gate spots.

‘Please be there…!’

With a fluttering heart, Suho scanned through the candidate Gate spots.

The reason was that a specific Gate was due to appear around this time, just right for being detected by the Detection Department’s radar.

‘I specifically adjusted the schedule to encounter that place.’

It was true.

Knowing the timing of the Gate’s creation, Suho had adjusted his evaluation schedule days in advance.

That way, he could “accidentally” encounter it.

After flipping through the pages for a while, Suho barely held back a laugh.

‘Of course. No way I’d miss the timing.’

The location Suho had been aiming for was luckily one of the candidates.

This was all thanks to the Library of Memories.

Without hesitation, Suho pointed to one of the Gate spots.

“I’ll take this one.”

“Is there a reason?”

“It’s just the right distance—neither too close nor too far.”

“A very practical reason. Shall we head out, then?”

“Yes, let’s. I’ll drive this time.”

“No need. I wouldn’t want people to think we’re neglecting the evaluator’s well-being. I parked right by the back, so let’s head out through the rear door.”

The two who selected the evaluation Gate quietly left the Association.

***

The evaluation Gate spot was located in Dongducheon.

Dongducheon wasn’t as notorious as Paju, but it was still an area with its own safety issues, though not to the extent that people couldn’t live there.

There was a moderate population spread across the area.

‘Still, later on, it becomes fully purified and becomes one of the places brimming with life again.’

Upon entering the Gate spot managed by the Korean Hunter Association, Suho began noticing the presence of the Association members.

Jung Chulmin parked in front of the temporary command post.

“Oh, Team Leader Jung! You’re here?”

As they got out of the car, the head of the temporary command post warmly welcomed them.

He was a member dispatched from the Detection Department, and with a quick introduction from Jung Chulmin, Suho naturally greeted the head, and they took a light stroll around the site before starting the formal evaluation.

“Since the Gate charge is almost 97%, we might even get to witness the Gate creation process if we’re lucky.”

“Yes, it seems we’re in luck.”

“Well, if we’re being exact, it’s not exactly pure luck. Though this place was deemed stable after mana measuring operations were completed, there’s still a chance. You know, with Gates, you never know when they’ll act up.”

“That’s true.”

“Alright, let’s go over the evaluation criteria….”

After a brief exchange of small talk, Jung Chulmin began explaining the evaluation procedure.

However, Suho half-listened, half-didn’t.

He knew the evaluation process inside and out and was confident he could ace it with his eyes closed.

His attention was entirely on the Gate spot, which was just about to reach creation.

‘97%…’

97%.

Ambiguous if you think about it.

Generally, when a Gate charge surpasses 95%, there’s a chance of a sudden mana burst causing the Gate to open all at once.

Though it wasn’t common.

But for Suho, he needed the Gate in front of him to open right now.

Only then could he enter the Gate without arousing too much suspicion.

‘I guess I’ll have to give it a nudge.’

So Suho decided to stimulate the Gate a little to make it open early.

Ordinarily, he would wait for the Gate to open naturally, but that would only result in him finishing the evaluation without ever getting to see inside.

As for a method to stimulate the Gate to open early, it was simple.

At least, it was for Suho, who had lived through the future.

‘In the future, it was discovered that even with only 80% charge, the Gates could be manually triggered open.’

Had the Gate in front of him been at 80% charge, even Suho wouldn’t have attempted it.

Though he knew the method, a Gate at 80% charge required a lot of preparatory steps and couldn’t be triggered secretly.

‘But with it now over 95%, I can manage it without anyone noticing.’

Just then, Jung Chulmin, having finished his explanation, spoke up.

“…So, you understand everything?”

“Yes, I understand. Shall we start right away?”

“Yes, first, take this device and check the area around the Gate spot. Then measure the Gate charge yourself.”

Since Suho had been nodding along the whole time, Jung Chulmin didn’t suspect for a moment that his mind had wandered.

Suho had only ever shown a diligent image until now.

So, he handed over the device to measure the mana concentration around the Gate to estimate the remaining time until it opened, and Suho naturally took it and approached the Gate spot.

‘I can begin immediately.’

The timing for his alibi was perfect.

To stimulate the Gate, he needed to get close to the spot, and since he needed to check the charge, he could approach it without drawing suspicion.

Suho held the device to the Gate spot, and as he did, he channeled his mana into it, subtly allowing it to flow into the Gate spot.

Beep- beep- beep

– beep- beeeeeep!

The machine started beeping at a steady rhythm, but as it picked up on Suho’s mana, the beeping became rapid.

It was only natural.

The device detected mana, and Suho was directly injecting his mana into it.

As expected, people around him began to glance his way, drawn by the machine’s rapid beeping.

Just as they were about to tell him to step back from the Gate spot.

[ A Gate has been created. ]

Flash!

The Gate materialized.

At the same time, there was a burst of light, and Suho, who had been closest to the Gate spot, vanished without a trace.

Click!

The Gate had been created.

Simultaneously, its door closed shut.

“…Huh?”

Watching from close by, a cold sweat ran down Jung Chulmin’s back.

***

The view changed.

As his temporarily blank vision returned, Suho saw a short system notification in front of him.

[ You have entered the Gate. ]

A message that wouldn’t normally appear.

Usually, a series of notifications about entering the Gate, loading Gate information, and details of the Gate would show right before entry.

But sometimes these notifications appeared in such a manner, and it happened only under one circumstance.

‘Only when you’re forcefully drawn into a newly opened Gate.’

In other words, a phenomenon typical of abduction-type Gates.

But that was precisely why Suho had chosen this place.

He knew better than anyone that the Gate he selected was an abduction-type Gate.

Suho looked up at the towering stone pagoda looming above.

‘So this is the famous Library of Martial Arts.’

The Library of Martial Arts.

It had once been designated as a Sealed Gate, and it was conquered not by Suho but by someone else.

And the hunter who conquered it earned the title “Martial King.”

‘Martial King Goo Taeksu. I’m sorry, but I’ll be taking the treasures of this place, which was once your secret domain.’

Goo Taeksu, also known as the Martial King, was the undisputed king of martial prowess.

Specializing in “hand-to-hand combat,” he had shown exceptional skill across genres, making him a classic all-rounder dealer, and the legacy that shaped him as the Martial King lay here in the Library of Martial Arts.

But this time, Suho intended to claim that legacy for himself.

There were skills he could only master with it in hand.

Resolute, Suho began his ascent up the towering stone pagoda.